Urban Paths Transformation in Surakarta: From Royal City to Modern City

Abstract

Paths, including roads and rivers, are the main elements determining urban form. The understanding of the urban paths’ typologies could explain the urban form transformations. Surakarta as case study, is a Javanese city has experienced the urban function change from royal city into modern city. This research aims to understand the paths typologies influence towards the urban form transformations relating to the urban function change. The data gathered from study documents including cartographies, photographs and historical documents, and also field observations utilizing google streets views. The data is composed through the periodization from 19th Century to recent era. It relates to the government authorities in Indonesia including kingdom era, colonial era, and Indonesian government era. The data sources are explored by the descriptive qualitative method and the spatial analysis method. The research revealed that the transformations of urban paths forms have been occurred, and these transformations are in conjunction with the urban function change. The essential factors influencing those transformations are transportation system modernization, flood risk reduction, and urban expansion. This research enhanced the comprehension of the urban function change being correlated to urban form transformation occurring in Indonesian cities.