Visual Transformation on Alun-Alun Region of Semarang

Ref.: 218
Key theme: 03 Visual integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 14/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

HADI PUTRA, Yohanes Khrisna * (Indonesia) - Soegijapranata Catholic University

ABSTRACT

Alun-alun region is a region that consists of space elements like kraton (palace), mosque, kampong, and green field (on the center), that often called alun-alun. The region composes a unity of landscape, and it could be seen through observing carefully. The idea about alun- alun, truly derived from Javanese cosmology, that is Mancapat. The imaginary axis (North-South) between palace and the field is the specific character from the shape of alun-alun region. The region typology such as above, usually found on alun-alun of Yogyakarta and Surakarta Palace.
Semarang is one of the coastal cities on Northern Java Island, which grow up from trading. Indirectly, the city has several differences with two cities above (Yogyakarta and Surakarta) in establishment history of alun-alun region. At the beginning, the location of alun-alun region is not settled, even it had been moved until four times. On the last location, region space order is shaped not only by local elements, but influenced by another elements, like Djohar market, Dutch Colonial buildings (post office, telegraph office, governor office), also Chinatown. The space order bring up visual order that is specified and characterized on landscape of alun-alun. But, the visual character was damaged since the erection of two new markets (Yaik and Yaik Permai) on alun-alun field.
The alun-alun region of Semarang has transformed on space and visual scale. The transformation is divided into three historic periods. First period is started when alun-alun had been cut down, and the new role of Bodjong street as trading strip (1700-1910). On the second, the shaping of new trading zone, from Bodjong street to the Djohar market (1910-1944). The third period, it was forced by commercial building that grew concentrically, and because of that identity of alun-alun region had lost (1955-2008).
Historic Urban Landscape could be perceived as urban landscape there were on historical site, and it has specific character and order in space and visual. This paper is a continuation study about history of alun-alun region of Semarang, into focus more on investigating landscape visual character. In order to achieve that, it is necessary to approach from history and architecture, through historical timeline, typology-morphology, photography, and 3D visualization. The result that will be got is visualization of the region on each historic period. Considering that the region identity had lost, so this visualization become important for understanding the transformation.
The objective will be categorized into general and specific objective. The general objective is to know the visual transformation on the region, especially on the urban landscape. And to find out the factors that caused the visual transformation. The specific objective are to know the visual character on alun-alun region of Semarang, to identify historic urban landscape on that region, also to give a kind of suggestion or recommendation to the preservation or conservation efforts in visual ordering.

Keywords: identification, transformation, visual character

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