INTERPRETING THE HISTORIC CHINESE QUARTER OF SEMARANG THROUGH SMELLSCAPE APPROACH

• Main Author: Maula Alqadrie, Auliya
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Arsitektur
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/52044
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

A new interpretation is needed to give meaning to architectural conservation frameworks that support a sustainable cultural environment. Based on the Québec Declaration (2008) and Burra Charter (2013), the intangible dimension matter to give richer and deeper meaning to cultural heritage areas. A shift has been seen in theory, urban policy, and architectural critique that emphasize the attention to perceptual phenomena through a multi-sensory approach. Furthermore, audiovisual dominance has begun to be grasped by practitioners and scholars, in contrast to other senses such as smell, which still tend to be neglected and misconceptions. This research outlines findings from a preliminary study of the smellscape approach in understanding and interpreting a historic district of Chinese Quarter. This study will discuss the different types of smells detected, personal perceptions of smellswalks, and the role of aroma in the Pecinan area. All these data were collected using the smell walk method, questionnaire survey, and interviews. The data collected were analyzed with open coding to gain insight into the participants' attitudes and experiences towards smells in the Pecinan Semarang. Axial coding is also carried out for grouping and managing odor traces for easy reading of the data. Further discussion is the interpretation and understanding of how to experience the smell perspective in each corridor and the contribution of smells in the Pecinan Semarang. There were 209 smell marks, 67 variations of odors, and categorized into 10 categories: fishy, burnt, emissions, vegetables and fruit, waste, people and nature, food, rotten, spices, and industry. Then, there is also a configuration of smells in Pecinan Semarang which is divided into background smells, episodic smells, and short-lived smells. Background smells are represented by the smell of spices and food, episodic smells with fishy smells, fruit and vegetables, burnt, waste, and industry. Short-lived smells belong to the types of emission and people and nature odors, and rotten. From Gang Warung whose spatial experience is represented by industrial smells and emissions as a business area that is dense in mobility and flexibility of space represented by various changes of smell in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Then, Gang Gambiran has a fresh smell, as well as the aroma of cooking and incense which alternates and reflects the residential area in Pecinan. Then a rich variety of overlapping smells, from pungent, refreshing, to pleasant smells can be found at Pasar Gang Baru. Even though each space experiences are different, all these situations still have a common thread reminiscent of the Pecinan area as represented by the smell of food, spices, and incense that are always in every corner of the area. The experience of this unique smellscape is influenced by emotional ties, activities, culture, and the shape of the built environment (including the layout and building mass, the form of the building and the opening system rlated to airflow). The denser and narrower space is, the smaller the movement of odors, which makes it easier for people to be exposed to various kinds of odors. Then, the spacious and more freely circulating air in space will result in experiences of smells that keep changing or even circulating at their respective points. The quality of the spatial experience based on the olfactory approach was found to have a relation to familiarity towards odor. The more familiar you become with the smell in the space, the more likely it is to add a fun factor to the room experience. These include odors that usually have a negative connotation, such as a pleasant, fishy smell reminiscent of a favorite memory or food. Smells are a reflection of social, cultural, and place characteristics. This distinctive characteristic is unique as it is easier to feel, experience, understand, and remember. The perception of space through smell can conceptualize the invisible world around us and is useful for spatial orientation, legibility, understanding and interpreting, and spatial experience. The four roles of smellscape approach will be useful in architectural conservation activities, which should refer to the contribution of intangible element, especially smellscape approach. This uniqueness happens as the characteristics of olfactory influence a person's emotions, behavior, and attitudes. Therefore, the study of smellscape will be adding value to the place attachment, become one of the holistic methods for understanding historical areas, and for architectural conservation.