Cultural relations of the Alun-alun space and the government complex in contemporary Java

Abstract

Essentially, alun-alun (literally means “City Square”) cannot be separated from cultural, spatial, and imaginary links between its traditional concept and the Keraton (Palace) Complex. The concept of alun-alun has a rich history. It is a symbol of authority and inseparable from the government. The contemporary alun-alun cannot be interpreted similarly to the concept from the past because government system and culture have changed. Alun-alun, usually located near government complex, is aligned with its past concepts and beliefs. However, it is not imbued necessarily with contemporary meaning of symbols. Conflict of interest may rise when urban development strengthens or weakens the spatial relationships of alunalun and government complex. It is interesting to see whether the contemporary understanding of a city’s identity is still related closely to alun-alun as a symbol of authority. The transformation of alun-alun as a symbol of authority into an open-spaced city center can be analyzed by observing the physical elements of the environment and the territorial rules specified in the configuration of its physical elements. This is followed by the identification of any additional transformation or adaptation. The interpretation stage is performed by considering spatial and imaginary relationship of alunalun and government complex. The results indicate that, culturally, alun-alun and government complex still have a strong spatial relationship. Physically, alun-alun survives as an open space but it is no longer a symbol of authority.