雅美族家屋以地下「主屋」、半地下半高架「高屋」、高架之「涼臺」、「穀倉」、前庭之有機組合為特色。本論文就其整體構築與設計之邏輯，進行檢視與論述。採取的方法包括首先分析其結構、構造與空間、形式之實質特色，再澄明其背後蘊藏之社會、文化意義。同時溯源雅美族人之來處，巴丹群島Ivatan族人建築、聚落的文獻，以與雅美族傳統建築、聚落相比較，推導其間之關連與雅美族人可能創新之成份及其背後的原因。經過上述探究，得到以下發現：1.雅美族傳統的地下主屋與高屋在結構與構造基本上採「盒子」構築。尤其地下主屋木工工法精細，堪稱臺灣原住民建築之最。2.主屋地下化、高屋半地下、半高架與「盒子」構法，於巴丹群島族人的建築並無任何先例或線索。因此此設計與工法應源自於雅美族人自己的創新、發明，以抵抗每年強勁颱風之威脅。3.主屋內三階段空間分劃以及面寬以門之數量增大，以及其落成禮（也包括高屋、大涼臺的落成禮）。一方面展現了雅美族平頭社會裡，屋主夫婦藉努力建屋，以增加社會聲望之社會意義。而前後、左右空間使用方式與喻意之不同，同時也蘊涵了族人們的宇宙觀與性別觀。4.由家屋各房舍與前庭之空間、形式、構法，以及其擔負的不同生活功能，蘊涵的不同社會文化意義，並得以順應蘭嶼自然環境氣候。均顯示族人住居內外在的一切一致性強，亦即其居住文化在傳統時代的時空、物質科技條件下，已發展得相當成熟。

The Yami house’s characteristics is shown in its organic composition of undergrounded main house, half-undergrounded/half-piled ＂high house＂, piled pavilion and granary, and their front courtyard. The thesis aims to examine and interpret its logics of tectonic culture in terms of wholesome design. The methods employed are to analyze four buildings’ structure and construction, physical composition of space and form first, then clarify their socio-cultural meanings respectively. In addition, the origin of the Yami is retraced, i.e., the Batanese Islands where the Ivatan live. And the literatures regarding the Ivatan architecture and settlement are reviewed and compared with those of the Yami. So that their connections and discontinuities are identified, especially those parts maybe invented by the Yami and the reasons embedded are scrutinized. After in-depth investigation, the following findings are recovered: 1. The structure and construction methods that main house and high house employed basically is ＂a wooden box＂. Especially, the wood craftsmanship shown in two kinds of houses is so precise that they may be seen as the finest ones among Taiwanese aborigines’ architectures. 2. Main house been putting underground, high house half-undergrounded and half-piled and their wooden-box construction are not found in the Batanese’s traditional architectures or in term of any for-running traces, therefore it may justify that the Yami invented their own main house and high house through their own experience and creativity in order to resist strong wind and heavy rain during typhoon season. 3. The three-leveled interior and two lines doorways of main house in which the number of doors represent its hierarchy, and its completion ritual (including those after completing high house and larger pavilion) all embody the social meanings that a man and wife couple may build up and increase their social reputation through building the house by their own hard-working in the Yami egalitarian society. The different usage and meanings between the front and rear rooms and right and left hand side spaces reflect the Yami’s cosmology and gender conception. 4. From the unique space, form and construction of house compound and their different functions as well as socio-cultural meanings, in addition to its nicely adapt to Orchid Island natural environment and climate, all show that all aspects of the Yami dwelling are innately consistent and interlocked as a whole, that means under the material and technological conditions of the Yami traditional era, their dwelling culture, i.e., the design of house compound and settlement had been developed maturely.