Adaptive Reuse and Interventions of Chinese Architectural Heritage in the City of Lasem, Indonesia

Abstract

<jats:p>In Indonesia, Lasem identities as a China Town are constructed and developed over time, and Chinese architectural heritage is one of the main qualities and identity of the city. Recently, these unique Chinese architectural heritages have been transformed for tourism needs. This paper aims to document the transformation of functions or adaptive reuse, and its impact to forms and meanings of the Chinese architectural heritage of the city, and focuses on whether the interventions occurred was by the principles of architectural conservation. In April 2019, the study surveyed and documented five Chinese historic buildings in Karangturi area in Lasem to understand how the architectural heritage has transformed. The result shows that tourism has a direct influence on changes in the building functions in Lasem, such as the Oei House and Little China that have changed from residences to homestays to accommodate the needs of tourists lodgings. The other two buildings, namely House of Nyah Giok and Nyah Lasem museum have also changed their functions from residences to a batik home industry and a museum related to tourism attractions. Interventions on the four buildings with sensitive uses are following the principle of minimum intervention that preserved the original main buildings and changed only in the wings buildings, and new buildings for lodgings were infilled in vacant land of the site for the Oei House case. For one building, however, tourism has no direct influence on changes in the building functions, it has changed from a residence to an Islamic boarding school for the development of Islamic education that had nothing to do with preserving Chinese culture. Indirectly, the building remains a tourist destination because of its unique Chinese architectural features. Findings shows that for the four Chinese owners, the meaning or significance for the adaptation of the building is preserving historic values of the Chinese architecture, and economic values as well by developing commercial spaces and historic areas for tourist attractions.</jats:p>

Pengaruh Gerakan Pelestarian Pusaka Terhadap Adaptasi Bangunan Bersejarah Di Kota Lasem

“…Karakter Kota Lasem sangat kuat dengan karakter pecinan (Wulanningrum, 2017;Sudarwani dkk, 2019;Rachmayanti dkk, 2017;Kwanda, 2020;Riyanto dkk, 2020). Karakter pecinan tersebut telah mengalami akulturasi dengan langgam jawa yang terlihat melalui langgam bangunan hunian (Wijayanti, 2020).…”

“…Beberapa riset mengenai karakter kota maupun gerakan pelestarian pusaka di Kota Lasem telah dilakukan oleh peneliti-peneliti terdahulu. Penelitian terkait karakter kota yang telah dilakukan antara lain mengenai karakter pecinan (Wulanningrum, 2017;Sudarwani dkk, 2019, Rachmayanti dkk, 2017, adaptive reuse (Kwanda, 2020), dan arkeologi (Riyanto dkk, 2020). Penelitian mengenai gerakan pelestarian pusaka antara lain berhubungan dengan wisata budaya (Wulandari dkk, 2020).…”

Cultural Character Analysis on Architectural Elements of the Chinese Temples’ Buildings before the 19th Century in Central Java

“…Historical records, including Javanese inscriptions and accounts of Chinese voyages, testify to the long-standing relationships between the Javanese kingdoms and China. Such interactions date back to periods long before the modern era, indicating a deep and enduring connection between these cultures (Kwanda, 2020).…”