THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPRESENTATIONS: PRESERVING THE MEANING AND IDENTITY OF SAWAHLUNTO THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE

• Main Author: Rosa, Maya
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/83854
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research examines the use of identity as a dynamic strategy within cultural landscape conservation. In this research, cultural landscape is a cultural construct asthe result of close interaction between people, nature and the environment, which is formed from layers of important history, tradition, and local culture. Furthermore, all those form a very valuable characteristic and uniqueness of a cultural landscape, therefore, it is crucial to maintain its sustainability. However, globalization and modernization pose challenges to conservation as they have the potential to erode the distinctiveness and uniqueness of cultural landscapes. Thus, it is crucial to establish cultural landscape conservation strategies that are dynamic, relevant to current conditions, and inclusive of all levels of local society. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, Sawahlunto Indonesia is one of three components of the Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (OCMHS) which was built during the Dutch colonial era as a coal mining administration town with a long and important history to Europe. Sawahlunto has a variety of cultural heritages both tangible and intangible spread throughout the region along with a multi-ethnic community and beautiful nature that forms a distinctive and unique cultural landscape, thus it is crucial to make efforts to conserve the cultural landscape of Sawahlunto. Based on prior research, the preservation of cultural landscapes involves dynamic efforts to protect and also utilize them, making the term 'conservation' most suitable. Furthermore, conservation of cultural landscapes is closely tied to identity guiding this research towards an identity-based approach. While significant theoretical work exists on identity, limited research specifically addresses its application in cultural landscape conservation. This study aims is to broaden the knowledge in arts and design by developing a substantive strategy or theory related to using identity in cultural landscape conservation. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative approach employing the grounded theory method was utilized. Data collected from semi-structured interviews with 54 respondents connected to Sawahlunto were analyzed through three coding stages: open, axial, and selective coding, identifying factors shaping identity as the primary basis for discussion. Given its exploratory nature, correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were conducted to further explore the data and address the research questions The results of this study indicate that Sawahlunto demonstrates a unique cultural landscape that is progressively adaptive-reusing its identity to make it relevant and sustainable. Consequently, identity-based cultural landscape conservation is achieved by providing quality cultural spaces, both in design and ecology, for the core community to engage in cultural activities and social interactions, continuously imbuing the place with meaning to ensure its identity remains relevant, inclusive, and sustainable. This study also identified two key actors in dynamic identity management: sub-culture as a catalyst for innovation and cultural-sphere as a stabilizer of change. Additionally, it found that there were progressive adaptive reuse activities that keep the identity of the cultural landscape relevant, conceptually broadening the understanding that adaptive reuse, typically applied to physical elements such as buildings, can also be used for identity as an intangible entity. As an intangible entity, the meaning of cultural landscape identity is represented as culture-valuescape, peoplescape, and creativescape, which are closely interrelated. These three representations of cultural landscape identity are additional findings of this study. Ultimately, this identity representation must be visualized so that cultural landscape conservation efforts can be better understood by the broader community. The process of visualizing identity representation must be conducted with the awareness that it will enhance the quality and maintain the significance of the cultural landscape, necessitating a design approach within the context of cultural heritage preservation. This study also identified a design approach in visualizing the representation of cultural landscape identity, namely the reverse Heskett design theory, which can also be applied to other design activities in the context of preserving cultural heritage. The contribution of this research proposes a substantive strategy or theory in the discourse of art and design on identity-based cultural landscape conservation. Practically, the results of this study can serve as a strategy for the development of other cultural landscape sites worldwide and provide a guiding framework for the conservation of Sawahlunto after its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.