Case Study: Chinese Settlement in Pekalongan, Central Java

Transcription

1 CHINESE SETTLEMENT THROUGH THE AGES 1 Chinese Settlement through the Ages Case Study: Chinese Settlement in Pekalongan, Central Java TANTI SATRIANA ROSARY NASUTION Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) MUHAMMAD FAQIH Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) JOHAN SILAS Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) ABSTRACT Urban development brought changes in society that makes them more dynamic and responsive to new demand. This dynamic society tends to have high rate of life-style changes and inevitably brought impact on their housing, including one of which is the old settlement. Chinese settlements, as one of old settlement are also affected by those changes. New generation in this society who lives there tend to make some changes to the old buildings to follow the new trends. In this research, the case study taken is the Chinese settlement in Pekalongan, central java, which is directly adjacent to Arabs settlement, European settlement, and indigenous settlement. The cultural encounter of these various ethnic also influenced the social dynamics occurred, which affected the adaptation and changes in the settlement. The aim of this research is to find out and understand the adaptation occurred in Chinese settlement, especially to the old buildings that are still used or maintained. By finding the forms of adaptation, it will be known whether these old building and the settlement can last for a longer time or be rotten because of age. Research was conducted by using explorative and descriptive method through field surveys on the settlement and through studies of the recorded changes and developments in Pekalongan that brought impact on Chinese settlement. The result of this research shows that there are some adaptation pattern of building usage and development occurred, which are: (1) old buildings that the physical condition and

2 2 function are preserved; (2) old buildings that were preserved physically but given a new functions; (3) old buildings that were modified in order to be able to fulfill their original functions; (4) buildings that were modified and given new functions into them; and (5) the entirely new buildings that were replaced by demolishing the old buildings. The result also shows that old building has problem in its physical condition, but it happened after a long period of usage. On the other hand, some new buildings are not as durable as the old ones since they had been renovated in a shorter period of usage. Thus, this research shows that long lasting buildings are not always emerged from innovations for new buildings or the one that is about to built. Old buildings, in fact, are able to be long lasting buildings through the right use and management. This will also ensure that the old settlement will have its future that basically will be useful for the next generation. Keywords: Chinese settlement, Pekalongan, building usage, long-lasting buildings THE STUDY ABOUT BUILDINGS ADAPTATION IN TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENTS The issues raised in the study of the adaptability of the settlement through the ages are closely related to how people living in the neighborhood response their home and the environment around them. Many studies have been conducted to observe the changes in settlements, especially in settlements that still contain traditional values. About the traditional values in settlements, Locher 1 states that traditional societies emphasize the continuity of tradition as a human being. On the other hand, during the growing, modern society tends to emphasize the transformation as a fundamental change of human existence. Meanwhile, in relation to transformation as an effort in adapting, Rapoport 2 states that there are indications that people tend to choose the best design that can meet their needs and 1 G.W. Locher, Transformation and Tradition and Other Essays (The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff,1978). 2 Amos Rapoport, Culture, Architecture, and Design (Chicago: Locke Science Publishing Company, Inc.,2005). considerations. Pearson and Richards 3 showed that transformation is a change that happens gradually, depending on the context of space and time such changes occur. Transformation can occur in various aspects, both the physical (buildings, regions, cities) to non-physical aspects (social, cultural beliefs). From some of the theories above, it can be learnt that basically, transformation on settlement is a "regular" and a natural process because this action taken is part of human development. Settlements that have adapted through a transformation, both in terms of form and its utilization is one of human endeavor to meet their needs in line with the changing times. CHINESE SETTLEMENT IN PEKALONGAN Pekalongan is a city located on the north coast of Java, and is included within the jurisdiction of Central Java. The city is known as the city of batik and its batik is unique because it has many influences from different ethnic groups living there, one of them is from Chinese people. The emergence of Chinese settlements in various regions in Nusantara begins with the arrival of traders from China by the sea. They are generally sailing according to the season, so sometimes to wait for the next sailing season, they settled temporarily in a place, usually on the banks of the river. After arriving in a place, they set up temporary shelters as well as a place for their trading activity. These temporary settlements, along with their increased trading activity, have also changed from temporary to permanent. This is what ultimately forms a Chinese settlement. Pekalongan Chinese settlement began to grow from about the 18th century when traders from China began to come to Nusantara. Merchants who come, later docked in the River Loji and establishing settlements around. This settlement is adjacent to other ethnic settlements, namely Arabs Quarter, Native 3 Michael Parker Pearson and Colin Richards. Architecture and Order: Spatial Representation and Archaeology. Architecture and Order: Approaches to Social Space (1997):34-66.

3 CHINESE SETTLEMENT THROUGH THE AGES 3 Kampung, and Colonial Settlements. Its location adjacent to rivers and other settlements makes this area a strategic area for economic and trading activity. sampling principle by first determined the area of study, which is shown in Figure 3. As trading activity increased, other traders from China began arriving. This causes the Chinese settlement area is becoming increasingly crowded. The area began to grow, so in Chinese settlement various forms of buildings began to emerge, ranging from the courtyard houses, row houses, houses of worship, and shop-houses In the Chinese settlement in Pekalongan, shophouses dominate the building type. Shophouses spread from the river up to the major streets. In fact, today, the region dominated by shop-houses has been transformed into a market which is a trading center in Pekalongan. Figure 1 below shows the Chinese settlement area. Figure 3: Area of study. The red lines shows the corridor observed, the blue line shows the whole Chinese settlement area. Of the 30 buildings that were observed, there are types of adaptation in these buildings, namely: (1) old buildings that the physical features and functions are preserved; (2) old buildings that were preserved physically but given a new functions; (3) old buildings that were modified in order to be able to fulfill their original functions; (4) buildings that were modified and given new functions into them; and (5) the entirely new buildings that were settled by demolishing the old buildings. These five forms are summarized in the table as shown in Figure 4 below. Figure 2: Chinese settlement in Pekalongan (shown in blue line). Note that the blue shaded area is market or trading area nowadays. BUILDINGS AND SETTLEMENT ADAPTATION Data about buildings and settlements type of transformation and adaptation in Chinese settlement in Pekalongan were collected through direct observation. A total of 30 buildings were observed for this case study. Buildings selection follows a purposive Figure 4: Type of buildings observed

4 4 Type 1: Old Buildings that the Physical Features and Functions Are Preserved Most of buildings which have their physical form and function preserved, are dwellings, especially the large houses. This phenomenon may occur because for Chinese people, house is usually passed on to succeeding generations. To appreciate the ancestors who have passed it, the house is not much changed both in function and form. Some of the preserved buildings in terms of conditions and function are shown in Figure 5. Figure 5: A three stories building (Left) and gabledroof house (Right). Both are still functioned as house with no particular changes were made. Type 2: Old Buildings that Were Preserved Physically but Given A New Function The second type is old buildings that were preserved physically but given a new function. This generally occurs in buildings that are no longer used, or even have a limited function (warehouse, swallow house, etc.). The physical conditions of these buildings also tend to be in poor condition. This happens because the residents do not pay much attention to the condition of the building or have a desire to fix it, so that the buildings are used as necessarily. Buildings that are adapted to this type are shown in Figure 6. Figure 6: Buildings that are preserved in its physical condition but given a new function. Above: A house used as swallow nest. Below: house that is used as storage. Type 3: Old Buildings that Were Modified in order to Be Able to Fulfill Their Original Functions These buildings which are concluded in this type are mostly commercial building; in this case they are mostly shop-houses. This was caused because of these buildings are basically still suffice their original function. But, in order to optimize its function, some slight changes need to be done. For example, old type shophouses are made of wooden material while today, wooden material is considered as an unsafe material. Then, the owner changes the wooden material into metal or others, which they consider as the best to fulfill their needs. Another example of action taken in this adaptation type is doing some change in the interior plan. Even if the function is still the

5 CHINESE SETTLEMENT THROUGH THE AGES 5 same, but it is possible that the owner need some changes, i.e. more or less storage. Figure 7 shows some buildings that have some changes in their physical condition while their original function is preserved. Type 4: Buildings that Were Modified and Given New Functions into Them Another type of adaptation occurred in this settlement is the modification of the building while adding a certain function into them or change its function entirely. It has to be emphasized that the changes occurred are not major changes. Mostly, the main structured are kept while the facade and/or the interior plans are modified. In Chinese settlement in Pekalongan, the most phenomena occurred is the functional change of house into shop or vice versa, which is shown in Figure 8. In order to fulfill the needs of the new or additional function, some changes have to be addressed. Figure 7: Buildings that have their physical condition modified in order to be able to fulfill their original function. Above: a drugstore that has its facade modified. Below left: house that has its facade and room changed. Below right: A store with its facade modified, note the yellow folding door. This adaptation type can be said as the most type of adaptation found in this Chinese settlement in Pekalongan. As mentioned before in Rapoport 4, people tend to choose the best design that can meet their needs and considerations. While the old design is no longer able to meet their needs, they will do some modification until their needs are sufficed. Figure 8: Buildings that were modified in order to fulfill their new or additional function. Above: a house with additional function as grocery store. Below: a shop-house which is converted into a house. 4 Rapoport, op.cit.

6 6 Type 5: Entirely New Buildings That Were Settled by Demolishing the Old Buildings This type can be said as the most extreme adaptation that was done by people who live in this Chinese settlement. This phenomenon can be read in several points of view. First, the physical condition of the original building is no longer possible to meet the need of the owner in any way so that the owner needs to do major changes to their building. Second, the owner needs a new building which is entirely different with the old ones. While slight changes are more unreasonable for them to do, the demolition has to be done and then they build the new building above. CONCLUSIONS It can be said that a settlement is a dynamic area because it has a close link with the inhabitants. Inhabitants have an important role in determining the form and life that occurs in this region, thus allowing the occurrence of various forms of adaptations made by its inhabitants into the buildings they own. Adaptations taken by residents are adaptations that they feel most appropriate and best ones to meet their needs. This adaptation may have occurred at the most simple kind to the most complex or extreme. Whichever option is taken cannot be said to be the best option or the worst because of the choices made in this adaptation are highly subjective. However, the adaptation they did will ultimately support their living in this settlement so that it won t become a dead area. RECOMMENDATIONS There is one thing that needs to be discussed afterwards: how far the adaptation is allowed to be taken. Is extreme action to destroy the old building is fully allowed? Therefore, the Chinese settlements which are famous for its architectural uniqueness in time will just be a common neighborhood of no more uniqueness than the other settlements once the old buildings are just finished off the grounds in order to keep this area alive. In other hand, there are still no certain limitations or regulations that can claim what is allowed and what is not. Figure 9: New buildings in the Chinese settlement Above: a new built house with entirely different architecture style and form with the old one. Below: a new building (a vihara) that is built by demolishing the old one. One way that can be considered to answer these questions is to initiate conservation. According to Oliver 5, conservation is often seen as a technological problem, while fundamentally, conservation is a cultural problem. Why and how a house or an area being conserved is part of the society s view about their history and respect associated with their predecessors. So that, it can be said that basically, every person s critical view of 5 Paul Oliver, Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture (Oxford: Elsevier Ltd., 2006).

7 CHINESE SETTLEMENT THROUGH THE AGES 7 whether or a building will be conserved or not is highly subjective. It is a challenge to raise awareness and understanding among the public about the value of this settlement. Based on reasons above, some things that can be recommended for residential areas are: 1. Considering this Chinese settlement as an area that has historical value, both in terms of cultural and architectural that allow the protection of the building and the settlement area using a set of rules. Pearson, Michael Parker dan Richards, Colin. Architecture and Order: Spatial Representation and Archaeology. Architecture and Order: Approaches to Social Space (1997): Towers, Graham. At Home in The City. Oxford: Elsevier, Ltd., Drawing up plans for the reusing of the abandoned buildings without ignoring the area characteristics and land use regulations. As mentioned by Towers 6, reusing old buildings can give many benefits rather than rebuilding from scratch. From the economic side, the use of old buildings (existing buildings), will reduce the cost and time of construction. In terms of the environment, it means no waste of energy to the construction process and reduces construction waste. In addition, it also possible to maintain the image of the settlements which has been long-established and has its own history. By doing both of the above, it is expected that the future development of an old area of the city will be an integral and sustainable process. BIBLIOGRAPHY Locher, G.W. Transformation and Tradition and Other Essays. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, Rapoport, Amos. Culture, Architecture, and Design. Chicago: Locke Science Publishing Company, Inc., Oliver, Paul. Built to Meet Needs: Cultural Issues in Vernacular Architecture. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd., Graham Towers, At Home in The City (Oxford: Elsevier, Ltd., 2005)