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2-2
The Space Feature Element upon
Dense Settlement in Downtown
toward Social life Harmony
(Case Study: Kauman Kampong of Semarang)
1
2
Atiek Suprapti B ), Eko Budihardjo ),
3
4
Galih Widjil P ), Nurdien HK )
ABSTRACT
The old-settlement in downtown (Kampong) is grown traditionally through a
long time social process. Inside its oldness, there has been some
degradation in both spatial and social life. The current space became more
crowded at that time filled with many activities. Furthermore, the commercial
business pressure of downtown had made some function intrusion inside
space kampong area. As a space developed by time, the dense kampong of
downtown tends to be slum area, but it has specific meaning for its
community. The transfer of values by social relation arrangement and
culture ideas that has been inherited becoming a tradition-way to solve the
problem of limited space against a high activity intense.
The dense row house has been designed without fence to accommodate
social relation, a little terrace as a transition space; a narrow alley curved
connects controlled places. Those were managed by culture roles and social
conventions. Consideration of feature elements has been chosen. They
were related by using the feature elements of fixed, semi-fixed and nonfixed one.
Observation was arranged upon Kauman Kampong that is located upon
Semarang downtown so that it has experienced heavy pressure of
commercial-business center. Nowadays, this kampong is still exist with a
1
Architecture Department Diponegoro University
Architecture Department Diponegoro University
3
Architecture Department Brawijaya University
4
Letters Faculty Diponegoro University
2
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Sustainable Slum Upgrading in Urban Area
strong local character. For this method of analysis, the researcher used
ethnography-architecture method that concern with understanding of how
community organized their space (the idea), and then how they used this
culture in their life.
Keywords: dense settlement, space feature element
1. SPACE THOUGHT
Upon these four decades, the thought of mind has shifted to the significant
parameters. Cullen (1959) stated the theory upon the townscape. Moreover,
it changes into the morphology stress; three elements of city morphology,
which are (1) road network, (2) building, (3) functions Johnson, 1981 in
Yunus, 2005:108). Upon the part, it is seen that the view of townscape is
upon the geometrical planned city or regular and unplanned city or irregular
(Spreiregen, 1965, Lynch, 1984 & Koztof, 1991). Then, Hanson, Hillier and
Peponis (1987:218) called the regular and irregular that is differed upon the
feasibility of the contented meaning or massage.
It seems that the space definition does not only provide stress upon
spatial physic, road network, and function but also on the social condition that
has been influenced by morphology.
Whereas, the meaning of space was stated by Trancyk (1986:97) in one
of his thesis related to the theory of place that focuses on the relation
between space and culture of human, history and nature. Trancyk (1986:12)
stated that every place is unique carrying certain character of the
circumstances. This character consists of material, form, color, texture, and
abstract cultural value. Completing the discussion on social-culture Hayden
(1991) in “The Power of Place” was explained that the local culture along with
the architect has created history of urban social, including the element of
history, culture, and production spaces. According to Lefebvre, producing a
space could be also like producing certain commodity, as long as it is the
result from capitalism or the result through the urban idealism that is related
by the social life along the time. In the other words, space is non-political
object that is a determining moment (social-culture).
Rapoport (1977:20) defined space through the arranging elements.
According to him, space is a structural union of the physical elements and
human within. He considered the importance of regulations upon the form of
values and norms, since they will differ places from one to another.
Regulations influence the way of society interacting and arranging the space
and time. Furthermore, Rapoport (1995) argued the importance of the socialcultural value upon the establishing of cultural-supportive environment. The
mentioned principle is that by the locating of time, material, and symbols of
culture. Rapoport explained the importance of system of space, time, and
communication upon the discussion upon the space.
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The other perception is from Pangarsa (2006:27) that stated the
existence of other dimension that is energy, forming character of a space.
5
This Transcendental spatial aspect that makes space viewed having energy
and makes the space dweller could feel the situation of comfortable,
frightened, chilled and others. He stated that if the space energy were upon
the large scale, it would give influence to the social environmental character,
since it is moving upon the social communication process. Inam (2002)
stated that contemporary critic upon the city planning, since the field was
considered indistinct among the science principles including architecture,
landscape, city planning, and civil engineering. Inam has observed the
importance of understanding the local phenomenon condition. The concept
focuses on the thought of the approach of society subject through the
exploitation of social culture and sustainability. Moreover, he proposes the
approach of comprehensive city space planning, including the approach of
6
teleological, catalytic, and grounded .
Thus, it could be explained that space always moves and shifts, and
completes each other. It is from the definition of physical aspect, morphology
space, meaning place, and social culture that is moved by time-space,
communication, and energy. Together with the critic of the modern
perception, which stresses the universalism, individualism, and efficiency, a
shifting to the postmodern one that stresses the culture relativism and reward
7
to the subject subjectivity has happened . Upon the view, it is possible to
explore space upon the human existence upon the real meaning, which has
a role behind “the creation of a space”.
2. METHOD TO INTERPRET THE SPACE CULTURE
The space scope of architectural ethnography-space will arrange the point of
view of community as the main purpose of the research. The research limits
the problem upon the single/ simple case, and exploring it in detail on the
purpose of discovering the hidden and abstract thought. The method focuses
on community perception through in-depth-interview and participative
observation. Thus, ethnography will reveal the science fact from the point of
view of the society as the achiever, because of the existence of the particular
cultural space.
According to Spradley, there are three steps in the ethnography
observation, which are: (1) the observation of broad description to gain the
5
6
7
Space transcendental aspect, spatial aspect related to spiritual objects.
Teological approach is derived from conventional science discipline, catalytic approach is
generated from the socio-economics science and humanity values, and grounded approach
upon every case has humanity value (Inam, 2002).
Subject subjectivity is the way of view that puts science (subject) from the achiever, upon the
method of respecting, understanding, and comprehending as a creation, not the way to
measure with another theory.
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situational description; (2) observation focus by narrowing the research; and
(3) selective observation. The ethnography study provides stress to
participative observation as the main mode upon the data mining.
Participative observation or direct observation as the participant has a
purpose to acknowledge what is upon individual-society, and the instrument
made and used to support the settling tradition, upon the research, it is
completed by acting as the participant upon the society of Kauman. As the
instrument to communicate to the informant, participative observation
possesses many advantages, the researcher will involve directly upon the
society’s life, sometimes as the insider at the same time as the outsider,
upon the case of avoiding getting subjectively involved.
3. KAUMAN SEMARANG URBAN KAMPONG
th
The history of kampong in Semarang started approximately in the end of 15
century. One of the oldest inheritances is Kauman kampong, because, it has
been developed since the first establishment of the mosque in Bubakan area
th
th
in 16 century (Budiman, 1977). In the end of 19 century, Dutch suffered
loss within wars in many places. This condition forced Dutch to sell land upon
the area to the landlord; one of them was Kauman. After that, the landlords
rented it to the incomers who were dominated by traders and Moslem
students, which came from out of the town that used it to stay and inhabit. In
the beginning of 1900s, the incomer started to come and stay through the
method of renting the parcel of land from the landlord. The rented land had a
width of approximately 7x21 m². The measurement recalls the model of
wooden traditional building construction that was appropriated to that past
period technology application. Such kampongs are often recognized in
Semarang, such as Gandek Puspo, Kulitan, Jeruk Kingkit, etc. with the linier
road network with the appropriate dimension (2m) for the inter-kampong
moving facility.
During the independent time, the territory was getting more crowded,
together with the growth of the city to become commercial territory, the
unplanned kampong pattern was undeniably getting crowded, viewed from
the irregular pattern of the road that is narrowed and widened. This was the
effect from the road authority method. Familial and social system was
admitted by the society.
The linier shape did not experience changes. The changed form was
the content. From the interview, the kampong (horse saddle) roof traditional
house, symmetrical façade form, with three passages of door, and the
lengthened small terrace in front that was lifted a bit. The shape is usually
recognized in the area of Javanese kampong and it is the simplified version
of the landlord house. This form is also familiar in the area of Demak and
Jepara whereas the difference is only upon the use of pencu roof shape.
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During the post-independent period, there was no significant change except
the density that became worse, causing the less of opened space except the
road. An alley with the strong corridor was caused by building upon the both
sides that were closed. The non-fence building and the terrace that was
directly closed to the street showed the friendly and high social relationship.
4. SPACE FEATURE ELEMENTS
Space feature elements are spatial elements that influence the form or
performance of a space. Those elements could be categorized into: (1) Fixed
feature element, (2) Semi-Fixed feature element dan (3) Non-Fixed feature
element. The spatial thought fix-ability emerges after observing the
developing space because of the growth of human activity over the fixed
space. Thus, the categorizing of space in here is determined by factors of
arranging elements, space and activity spreading. Therefore, space could be
categorized as:
(1) Fixed Space
It is a space that is arranged from permanent spatial element and
the high land covering level. It has a fixed function and the limited
space. The occurrence of the fixed space is caused by the effort
to develop space for particular activity, then, it is strengthened by
the land authority by individual or private institution, such as public
facility or commercial space and dwelling building.
(2) Semi-fixed Space
It is a space that is arranged by fixed spatial elements but it could
be moved or semi-permanent. It has a fixed function as well as
temporal one. The occurrence of the space is caused by the
expansion of the fixed space to accommodate the environmental
condition. It is owned by private such as terrace.
(3) Non-fixed Space
It is a space in that the performance is uncertain and opened (has
no covering). It has a significant primary function as well as
secondary one upon the high intensity. The occurrence of the
space is caused by the use of public space that is subsequently
used for the other importance suppor, such as opened space and
street.
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4.1 Dwelling
The dwelling function spreads in the kampong, mixed with the social religious
activity that leads directly by Muslim teacher or leader. The tradition develops
widely upon the village Muslim students, whereas, after their graduation, they
will spread the ideology to the surrounded society.
The entrepreneur and trader in the main corridor buy building upon the
backside of their stores, which is the expansion of the commerce and
accessibility. Upon the backward of the stores, separated by small alley,
there are residences upon the bigger parcel of land. They are the residence
of the storeowners. There has been tendency to use the building as the
expansion effort of the business. Because of the matter, upon the row, the
residence faces backward of the stores, this causes the difficulty to reach the
direct access to Kauman Street. In the other words, the residence row is a
private space when it joins to the store that is public. Together with the row of
stores, the pattern of the row looks different from it is in the prior built alleys.
4.2 Social-Religious Education (Children School of Koranic Study/TPA)
The class construction of TPA that is derived from the function shifting of
traditional residence possessed by earliest Islamic leader that was donated
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(wakaf) for the activity of TPA. In the row of residence there is one building
used as TPA which is scheduled as follows: morning class: 7.00-10.00 AM
and afternoon class: 3.00-5.00 PM.
The activity of the mentality reforming toward the student has completed
like a habitual order in Kauman, the activity is like a reproduction space that
teaches the religius-spiritual mentality of the young generation in Kauman.
The limited space is not a problem as long as it still can play the role to
accommodate teaching and learning activity. The function shifting of the
residence to the Koranic study place is commonly happened, for the society,
the meaning of religious school is sacred and it has been a noble duty for
them to continue it. Shifting function to a commercial function tends to be
stronger, which spreads from the outer spatial part that spreads slowly to the
middle and inside the territory. It shows that the adaptive people thought
toward the environment and the dynamic of coastal society that is opened
upon the internal response received. The inner residence mixed with the
commercial activity that supports the main commersial function in front
showing a high social economic sensitivity. Meanwhile, the social-religious
function lies upon the middle of the territory that is managed by the Moslem
students. The function shows the big role upon the controlling of the society’s
mentality internally, the motivating of the meaning-energy from inside to the
all other functions so that it gives influence to people spiritual mentality.
.
The structure of space management is divided into commercial zone
upon the frontside with a very easy access, and then social-religious zone
upon the middleside with a limited access, and residential zone with the very
limited access. The zones are related by the road network upon the limitedlinear that stands as the controller of the access as well.
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4.3 Fence
The fence or the parcel of land’s border does not exist upon the original
building. This phenomenon could also be seen in other locations. The similar
pattern is also seen on the large land managed by the landlord, even the
residence of the landlord does not need border, once because of the
limitation of the managed land, whereas, almost100% of the parcel of land
are covered by buildings. Fence is also considered not necessary because
the neighbours are their relatives. The non-existence of the fence makes the
narrow street in front of the house looked wider. So that, there has been a
function overlapping, which is street could be private and terrace could be
public.
The use of the space is more varied and efficient, since they have no
doubt to develop the building vertically, although the used fence is upon the
category of low and transparent, they choose to use fence upon the safety
consideration.
4.4 Terrace
Terrace stands as well as the link between building and Narrow Street in the
frontside. The front terrace is a part of an opened building that is bordered
with front façade with the living room. Frontside terrace, commonly called as
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tritis, is covered by tritisan roof that is the extension from kampong traditional
one. The small terrace, previously, was lifted a bit from the ground surface,
so that it looked like the building feet, however, subsequently, the feet were
drown caused by the elevating of the street in order to avoid flooded. Upon
the original building, the terrace is not considered joint with the street since
there was no fence, which caused the mentioned overlapping.
Upon the new building, there has been line of the parcel of land through
the fence. The building terrace is lifted upon the height of ±1.00m from the
street surface. The new building possesses wider terrace, and more liberated
form. This terrace is a link from the street to the main door of the building
and so that the opposite, the pattern looks different and separating it with the
traditional.
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5. THE SPACE FIX-ABILITY
The occurrence of semi-fixed and non-fixed space is caused by the land
limited condition that is contradictive comparative toward the functions (of the
work) (Fx) = W Land/ Function. The space previously was planned for the
residence on the limited parcel of land, so that during the time there will be
public service function (social religious activity) that was admitted by the
community, and accommodated by them with the management of space fixability.
For the Javanese, the residence cannot be separated from the yard,
and upon the place, there are houses with no yards. It is happened because
of the shifting of the landlord perception that is influenced by the Dutch that
developed housing block with no yard upon the old city or following the
housing block in Chinatown Thus, the land could be lent with the economic
price.
The orientation of building to North-Southward shows the influence of
cosmological thought that considers South-Northward as the sacred
direction. Thus, there is East-Westward corridor; which is according to
Javanese ideology, this is the working direction of terrestrial energy .It means
that Pompa Kampong has given the correct space for the terrestrial energy
to work. Upon the Islam perception East-Westward axis is an axis of sacred
prayer direction (Qiblat), so that Pompa Kampong possesses the sacred
orientation.
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The existence of terrace upon the Javanese house is a transition space
to the more polite character, derives to the better morality in Islam ideology.
Islam is based upon Koran and Hadist/ Prophet Muhammad guidance
that teaches Moslem to establish amar ma’ruf nahi munkar (struggling the
rightness and fighting the crime). The morality establishment is part of the
ideology to be completed that is understood by the people of Pompa
Kampong, so that sharing the space is not a matter for them, since using
their terrace as the semi-fixed space will gain reward for them. The mental
management completed upon the Koranic review group is to stimulate the
energy to their belief and thought so that they coul comprehend the meaning
of their spaces. Thus, there is an informal agreement upon the society to
support the social-religious activity in public and private space of Pompa
Kampong. The commerce principle gained from the parents is learnt rapidly,
without being in formal education. Through commerce Kauman people could
receive enough profit to support the activity of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar. The
people of Kauman could not be separated from commerce life.
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The limited space in Kauman possesses important role in the urban life.
Kauman is able to show the existence as the center of the mental social
spiritual-religious management in downtown. According to the space
expression, Kauman functional settlement is a space of mental-spiritual
production of the urban society that plays important role upon the
management and development of mental-social of the new urban generation.
6. CONCLUSION
Since the latest four decades, the thought of space have been shifted to give
a significant appreciation for human being culture as the main target of space
development. The local theory explored with inductive approach to
comprehend the real science.
Generally the primary problems of urban kampongs concerns with land
insufficiency compared with high intensity of enthusiasm, especially at
ethnical kampongs.
Management of space feature elements earn to enable this limited
space of kampong become rich in several things, those are: the arrangement
for domestic activities and also external activities.
The Space feature elements are divided into three categories: (1) Fix,
(2) Semi Fix and (3) None Fix. The fix feature of space includes: permanent
building such as house building, house of economical used or building of
social-religion education. The semi fix feature of space consists of the
building terrace with elements such as curtain, a permanent bench, furniture
and so on. The non fix feature of space consists of alley with alley furniture.
The dwelling function, has a close relation with commercial function.
The division of public and private are the important thing; contribution of
public space for private activity or on the contrary; include one of them is
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social space contribution for commercial activity. This represents a
convention result between the social group, which is constituted by a balance
idea between social life and economic life.
At the social-religion education function part, it seems that a private
space has a significant contribution to public activity (social-religion
education). The social agreement happened with a contribution of house
terrace and by left a house fence. In here, space has a function of social
mental construction of community which intended for re-generation
preparation,
Fence and terrace of the building represent an important element of
space feature elements in Kauman kampong. The house fence unused will
extend public space (alley) and the extension a head for the house terrace in
alongside the corridor. This will be very useful for the domestic activities and
also for external activities. In here the space has meaning as togetherness
space.
In this case, it looks like the management of balance creation between
social-economic-and religion spaces. That is the independence character of
community. Although independence support in social-economic-and religion
space, but there are depending much in physical to environment
surrounding, especially because of access with external world. So it would be
important to protect this from any kind of trouble.
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