1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning
Traditional Balinese Architecture: What is Thought and What is Seen Christina Gantini1, Josef Prijotomo2, Yuswadi Saliya3, Dwinik winawangsari4 1
2
Doctor of Architecture, Graduate Program of Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning, Institute of Technology Sepuluh November Surabaya, Indonesia 3 Doctor of Architecture, Graduate Program of Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia 4 School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development, Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia Email address of corresponding author:
[email protected]
ABSTRACT This conceptual article is initiated with the results of field research associated with two ‘grand theories’ known in the traditional Balinese architecture. These are: 1) knowledge of the concept of Traditional Balinese Architecture (TBA) and 2) hasta koçali scripts. This article states that in the realm of review on the reality of architecture knowledge, architecture consists of an abstraction of reality or called thought architecture and empirical reality, or the seen architecture. In regard with TBA, the findings show that knowledge about the concept of TBA included in the thought architecture (abstraction) is sangamandala, tri angga, and natah (open air ‘court’ concept), while the TBA concept included in the seen architecture (empirically) are scale and proportion, clarity of structure, truth of material and ornaments. From these findings, comparison between TBA and hasta koçali concept is conducted, in which the comparison of these two grand theories lead to the implications of how to view the TBA on which the categories attributed capable of being used either in conducting the study or designing TBA or other contemporary Balinese architecture design and other contemporary Balinese architecture grounding itself on the concepts of TBA. © 2011 1st Biennale ICIAP. All rights reserved.
Keywords: concept of traditional Balinese architecture, hasta koçali
1.
Preliminary
This paper based on the assumption that map of knowing realm to see the reality in the creation and realization of architecture is initiated with the reality built within the Plato and Aristotele’s thinking frame in viewing the world. In Plato’s thinking frame, reality of humans in viewing the world is the abstraction of what he think, while according to Aristotele, reality is what is empirically seen by human or in other words, reality is what is seen/ felt daily by humans. In this view, architecture reality in abstraction – what is thought – and empirically – what is seen will be discussed in this article. The reality of architecture viewed in this conceptual article is about the creation and realization of the reality of traditional Balinese architecture, both at the level of thought (abstraction) as well as seen (empirical). Traditional Balinese Architecture (TBA) as it is known today, is built on two ‘grand theories’, namely a) hasta koçali scripts and b) knowledge of the TBA concept. Hasta koçali scripts is a ‘book’ or guidelines of procedure on how to measure and calculate in building a traditional Balinese housing using the body size building owners, their ideals and caste as the basic measurement and calculation. In principle, hasta koçali scripts can be divided into three major categories, namely: the bulding procedure, the ritual and the physical of the building itself (Gantini, 2007). While the knowledge of TBA was ‘built’ based on the repertoire of knowledge on empirical field (research results). This knowledge is mainly divided into three broad categories of philosophical concept, practical concepts and utility concept (Sulistyawati, 1996:5). There are significant differences in conception between the two categories of ‘theory’ about the TBA. Whereas both are the fundamental conception of TBA which are frequently used by both researchers in of conducting research and practioner in designing buildings referring to the TBA. The differences and similarities between the two have considerable implications, especially when the two concepts are used/ implemented as a physical concept category. The relation between the two is important to investigate considering that both have become ‘grand theories’ in the TBA, and the two conceptions so far have not been compared each other. Based on the significance of writing, the purposes of this conceptual article are: 1) to reveal the relation between hasta koçali and the theories about TBA concepts, 2) to reveal the comparison of TBA theories proposed by various researcher over the years, 3) to put the categories of the various physical concepts commonly used in viewing TBA. With these objectives, the conceptual article is not a study to resolve the problem but rather a study on theories and their empirical implications on the implementation of field conditions. The methods used to conduct study are literature review by using empirical examples reffering to
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning studies previously conducted. In addition, the method of discussion adopted covers introduction containing background, problems, significance of study, research objectives and research methods as wells as the writing methods, and other parts include a discussion and conclusions. 2.
What is Hasta Koçali ?
In order to construct a building in harmonious with the macro and microcosm, Balinese tradition provide a script called hasta koçali describing the basic rules of traditional Balinese buildings. This script has many local versions with slightly different content from each other and has a wide range of topics. Some versions begin with cosmology, while others give instruction in religious ceremony at the building. In each version, the main part is usually filled with rules determining the ideal dimensions of the buildings. Those manuscripts look like a guideline to see certain course of action taken during process of construction from prepration phase, during construction process and after the completion of the construction, in which all cover the process of constructing procedures, the rituals to the physical building itself. Hasta koçali is derived from Sanskrit in which the name is given when there was influence of the Javanese Hindu culture tailored to local circumstances and further considered belongs to the people of Bali. Before hasta koçali was named, people have built using bhuwana mabah rules and use manusa pada measurement. With the arrival of other cultural influences in the arts building, Sanskrit, Old Javanese language, religions and so forth, the fitted elements of culture were accepted, processed in such a way to enrich the culture of Bali in the arts of buiding. With the blending of elements with other cultures, the art of Balinese building with high, great and full of psychological values is called hasta koçali. In discussing the notion of hasta koçali, there is a little bit difficulty to meet a wide range of different opinion which is based on: 1. According to the etymology, the word koçali comes from Sanskrit word with the root is koçala meaning buildings, prosperity and happiness. 2. According to grammatical rules of Sanskrit, when the word koçala is added suffix ‘in’, it will turn into koçalin. In Sanskrit ending in/ i means to have or possess. Thus it means to have knowledge of building or whose expertise on the building. Here ‘i’ means oneself. 3. In Kawi-Balineesch-Nederlandsch Woordenboek dictionary by HN van der Tuuk, the word hasta means hand, arm, pani. Ordinary characters are transcribed as ‘ha’. Thus, the word hasta is interpreted as hand, arm: while the written letter preceded with ‘a kare’ (...) will have different meaning. Thus it can be tentatively concluded that the hasta koçali can be interpreted as ‘wise hand use (bring happiness and prosperity)’. Searching further the understanding of hasta koçali, the following is what Rai Wiryani(1982) wrote referring to the descriptions from some pedanda (priest), also referring to the Kawi-Balineesch-Nederlandsch Woordenboek oleh H.N. van der Tuuk dictionary and after a long consultation in Pura Besakih, an interpretation is taken that hasta koçali is more likely to mean ‘the use of the wise person (expert)’s hands in the knowledge of traditional building’. The people whose expertises on building are usually innately talented. Only talented people can create something well in accordance with his talent, moreover if supported with a good education, their talent can be delivered throught their hands to create what they want. In general, hasta koçali can be divided into 3 (three) major groups, namely: a) ritual, b) procedures, c) physical (see the table below). Table 1: Three major classifications commonly existed in the hasta koçali script.i RITUAL philosophy upakara (ceremony) spell wariga (time)
PROCEDURES working procedure sloka details wood class defect palih jineng wall
PHYSICAL door yard ground room pole lay out
Source: (Gantini, 1997)
From table 1 above, all categories of buildings that can be measured and counted belong to the category of building physical and partly contained in the procedures category (ie teh sloka). The subcategory of physical and procedures given more attention in TBA construction process are as follow: Table 2: Classification of hasta koçali scripts based on physical buildings and procedures NO 1 2 3
PHYSICAL CATEGORY & PROCEDURE Door Residential Yard Front Yard
SUB-CATEGORY Dimension of door leaf measurement(kori size), kori hole and its phala Dimension of residential yard, side yard measurement Distance calculation of the building mass at residential yard (natah)
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning NO 4 5 6 7
PHYSICAL CATEGORY & PROCEDURE Room Pole (building column) Lay out Sloka
SUB-CATEGORY Dimension of room length measurement (rongan dawa), dimension of room width (rongan bawak) Dimension of the measurement of column cross-section thickness, height of long column, height of short column Lay out of kitchen , lay out of barn/ kelumpu, lay out of well Calculation of the iga-iga number, calculation of the likah number, calculation of the bataran height, calculation of the undag height, dimension of sunduk, dimension of lambang and sineb Source: (Gantini, 1997)
3.
Knowledge on Traditional Balinese Architecture (ATB)
In addition to hasta koçali, the previous concepts proposed by many researchers in various writings and other sources have been used as the basis for planning, designing and constructing traditional Balinese architecture. Some of them are: Sulistyawati (1996:5) categoriez the concepts of TBA into: philosophical concept, practical concept and utility concepts. Philosophical concept consists of: tri hita karana, buana agung and buana alit, manik ring cecupu, catur purusha artha, tat twan asi, tri loka, desa-kala-patra, dewata nawa sanga, rwa bhineda. Practical concepts consists of luan-teben, tri mandala, swartika sana, tri angga, natah, ornament, color, function, materials, clarity of structure, sikut, gegulak, the size of the building. Utility concept includes ceremony, pedewasan or wewaran, undagi, pengurip, tri premana. Budihardjo (1986:33) describes the main concepts of TBA are catur ashrama (brahmacarya ashrama, grihasta ashrama, wana prastha ashrama, samnyasa ashrama, marga (karma marga, jnjana marga, bhakti marga), tri vargha (dharma, artha, kama), tat twam asi, tatwa–susila–upakara, catur dresta, panca cradha, panca yadnya, desa–kala–patra, rwa bhineda/semara ratih, bhuwana alit and bhuwana agung, tri hita karana (atma, sarira, trikaya), manik ring cecupu, tri angga (head–body –leg)/ triloka (bur–bwah–swah), nawa sanga/ sanga mandala, human scale and proportion, open air ‘court’ concept (natah), clarity of structure, truth of materials. Gomudha (1999:89-127) identifies the values of TBA from the concept of spatial and buildings. The concept of spatial planning and urban design tri loka, nawa sanga, swastika sana, tri angga, natah, ornaments, truth of materials, clarity of structure, size/ sikut. Sastrowardoyo (undated) identifies the basic principles of TBA consists of divine models of space bhuana agung and bhuana alit/ macrocosm and microcosm, tatwa–susila–upakara, desa–kala–patra, orientation: nawa sanga, hierarchy of space: head–body–legs, bur–bwah–swah, sanga mandala, kaja–kelod, jero–jaba tengah–jaba (at pura), space structure: pempatan agung, proportion and personal statement (physical size of the building owner–the caste and ideal), building material and structure, chronology–procession–cosmozation, maintaining the whole world: panca yadnya ceremony. Saliya, Yuswadi (1975) identifies the concept of ATB as follows: orientation (the need, spatial expression, the nawa sangah, juxtaposition/ composition (the need, spatial expression), proportion (the personalized measurement, pengurip as cosmization, pengurip as a symbol of transitory, state of being), chronology & procession (the time notion, rites de passage), cosmization (the need). Dwijendra (2008) identifies the TBA principles based on studies of traditional balinese house architecture as follows: bhuana agung and bhuana alit, tri hita karana (cosmology balance), tri angga and tri loka (the hierarchy of values), orientation (hulu–teben concept), sanga mandala (cosmology orientation ), natah (open space concept), proportion and scale, procession and chronology of construction, clarity of structure, the use truth of the material, desa–kala–patra, desa–mawa–cara, ornament and color. Table 3: Summary of TBA concepts from some sources
PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPT
SOURCES CONCEPTS Tri Hita Karana Bhuana agung and Bhuana alit Tatwa-SusilaUpakara Desa-Kala-Patra Manik Ring Cecupu Catur Purusa Artha Tat Twam Asi Tri Loka Rwa Bhineda/ Semara Ratih Catur Ashrama
SULISTYA WATI √
BUDIHAR DJO √
GOMUDH A
SASTROW ARDYO
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
SALIYA √
DWIJEND RA √ √
√ √ √
√
√
√
√ √
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning
UTILITY CONCEPTS
PRACTICAL CONCEPT (SPATIAL AND PROCEDURES FOR BUILDING)
SOURCES CONCEPTS Marga Tri Vargha Catur Dresta Panca Cradha Panca Yadnya Swastika Sana Desa-Mawa-Cara Dewata Nawa Sanga Luan-Teben Kaja-Kelod Tri Mandala Tri Angga Open Air ‘Court’ Concept Ornaments Color Function Truth Of Materials Clarity Of Structure Sikut Gegulak Size of building Human Scale & Proportion Jero-Jaba TengahJaba (pada Pura) Pempatan Agung ceremony Pedewasan / Wewaran Undagi Pengurip Tri Premana Chronology & procession of construction
SULISTYA WATI
BUDIHAR DJO √ √ √ √ √
√
GOMUDH A
SASTROW ARDYO
DWIJEND RA
SALIYA
√ √ √
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√ √
√ √
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√ √ √ √
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√ √ √
√ √
√
√
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Source: (Gantini, 2011)
From the description about the ATB concepts, aspects related to utility concept covering ceremony, pedewasan, (related to constructing process) is not assessed as it is not directly related to the realization of physical architecture. Two important points directly related to the realization of physical architecture is the concept of spatial and procedures for building (practical concepts), thus the study will focus on practical concept. Summary of TBA concepts based on several sources in general can be seen in table 3 based on the concept proposed by six sources referred. Thus, the dominant TBA concepts proposed are tri hita karana, bhuana agung & bhuana alit (macro dan microcosm), while desa-kala-patra, tri loka are not discussed in this study because it is a philosophical concept animating some practical concepts, neither does the utility concept such as chronology and procession of constructing. Thus, the concepts of Traditional Balinese Architecture frequently used in the application of traditional Balinese buildings are as follows: 1. dewata nawa sanga (sanga mandala) 2. tri angga 3. natah (open air “court” concept) 4. human scale & proportion 5. clarity of structure 6. truth of materials 7. ornaments Those 7 (seven) categories, have the following sub categories: Table 4: Classification of knowledge on TBA based practical concepts NO
PRACTICAL CONCEPT CATEGORY
SUB-CATEGORY
BUILDING TYPOLOGI
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning NO
PRACTICAL CONCEPT CATEGORY
1 2
Dewata Nawa Sanga (Sanga Mandala) Tri Angga
3
Natah (Open Air “Court” Concept)
4 5
Human Scale & Proportion Clarity of Structure
6
Truth of Materials
7
Ornaments
SUB-CATEGORY Entrance lay out, ‘ordering principle’ of the building representing head, body, and legs of the building natah function, ‘ordering principles’ of the natah saka size (pole/ building column) application of structure clarity concept of the building the use of material on the building the use of material on the head, body and legs on the building application of traditional ornaments on the building
BUILDING TYPOLOGI ‘order’ ‘order’ ‘order’ ‘order’ ‘order’ form form
Source: (Gantini, 2011)
From the summary of the TBA concepts from various sources above and based on the previous study (Gantini, 2011) there are two points to note as a finding at conceptual view as follows : 1. From 6 sources, Sulistyawati, 1996, is the only person investigating the function of TBA. Table 4 shows that the functions discussed is the function of natah and not the function of building (note: discussion of the function of the building in the Traditional Balinese Architecture is not discussed in this conceptual article). 2. That the practical concept of the above categories is more operational definition, and when the categories above are tested to see how its realization on the traditional architecture of the building, those 7(seven) concepts will be clearer when they are divided into two categories. The first category is the conception categories and the second one is constructional/ empirical field categories. The following table can better explain the findings on the conception level in this study (Table 5). Table 5: Findings on the conception level (reformulated TBA concept) NO 1 2 3
CONCEPT (ABSTRACT) SANGAMANDALA NATAH TRI ANGGA
EMIPIRICAL
– – – –
scale & proportion structure clarity natural material ornaments
BUILDING TYPOLOGY ‘order’ ‘order’ ‘order’ ‘order’ form form
Table 5 above discusses the Traditional Balinese Architecture in two different levels, i.e the first level of abstract discussing the TBA in the view of 'architectural thinking' and the second level is in the view of empirical TBA, i.e seen architecture. Sangamandala, tri angga and natah conception is a conception on human minds and not an empirical reality or the reality of the field. For example, the abstract conception of tri angga -head-body-leg. Therefore, the empirical reality is the roof-pillarfoundation. 4.
Findings: Hasta Koçali Versus TBA Concepts Knowledge
The findings above (Table 5) shows that if the two TBA 'big theories' are compared, they would look as follows: Table 1: Three major classifications commonly existed in the hasta koçali script.i THEORY ON TBA CONCEPTS CONCEPT CATEGORY SUB-CATEGORY TBA SANGAMANDALA Entrance access lay out
TRI
Building ‘ordering principle’ Representing head-
HASTA KOÇALI PHYSICAL&PROCEDURE SUB-CATEGORY CATEGORY RESIDENTIAL YARD Dimension of residential yard and side residential yard measurement FRONT YARD Calculation of the building mass distance in the house front yard LAY OUT
Lay out for kitchen, barn/kelumpu, well
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning THEORY ON TBA CONCEPTS CONCEPT CATEGORY SUB-CATEGORY TBA ANGGA body-legs of the building Scale & the size of saka (pole/ Proportion column of the building)
HASTA KOÇALI PHYSICAL&PROCEDURE SUB-CATEGORY CATEGORY
ROOM
COLUMN
Structural clarity
Truth of material
Ornaments
the application of structural clarity concept of roof, column and foundation of the building. The use of material on the building, the use of material on the roof, column and foundation on the building. The application of traditional ornaments on the building (roof, column, foundation) DOOR
SLOKA
NATAH (opening court between building)
Dimension of the room length (rongan dawa) measurement, dimension of the room width (rongan bawak) measurement Dimension of the pole’s cross-section thickness measurement, dimension of the height of long and short pole measurement dimension of sunduk, dimension of lambang and sineb
Dimension of door leaf measurement ( kori size), kori hole and the phala calculation of the igaiga number, calculation of the likah number, calculation of the height of bataran, calculation of the height of undag
Natah function and ‘ordering principles’ of the natah
The comparison is intended to see clearly the domains of discussion on TBA concepts and hasta koçali. For sub - categories - especially those can be seen on the TBA concept - can be added with the existing sub - categories in hasta koçali. For example in sangamandala conception, entrance access and lay out are not the only sub - categories that can be seen. The other sub - categories that can be seen are dimension of residential yard measurement, side residential yard, calculation of mass distance of the house front yard, layout of the kitchen, layout of the barn/ kelumpu, layout of the well as described in hasta koçali manuscript. 5.
Findings and Implications 1. TBA concepts including in the thought architecture (abstract) are sangamandala, tri angga, and natah, while the TBA concept including in the seen architecture (empirically) are scale and proportion, clarity of structure, truth of material and ornament. 2. The four categories of the scale and proportion, structure clarity, truth of material and ornament are grouped in tri angga conception, not without a reason. The practical reason is that the four categories can be justified by using the concept of tri angga in the field condition.
1st Biennale – International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning 3. The comparison betwen the knowledge of TBA concepts and hasta koçali is mainly very important to do given both are ‘grand theories’ in the TBA. Besides, there is no previous comparative study on this. In addition to this, comparing these grand theories will bring implication mainly on how to view TBA especially in the categories they belong to, which can be used either when conducting study or when designing TBA as well as any other contemporary Balinese architecture based on the TBA concepts. 4. That the function in the TBA architecture 'is not’ a significant aspect in the TBA concept. This leads to this led to the conjecture that there is a need in TBA further discussion and differentiation between the traditional Balinese architecture as FUNCTION (function-roleassignment) and Traditional Balinese Architecture as USE (utility). References Budihardjo, Eko. (1986). Architectural Conversation in Bali, Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press Dwijendra, Ngakan Ketut Acwin. (2008). Arsitektur Rumah Tradisional Bali, Berdasarkan Asta Kosala Kosali, Denpasar: Udayana University Press Gantini, Christina. (1997). Telaah Sistem Proporsi Bangunan Tradisional Bali Atas Naskah-naskah Hasta Koçali Asal Kabupaten Tabanan – Bali, Bandung: Tesis S2 Program Magister Arsitektur, Program Pascasarjana ITB _______, (2011). Kajian Tipologi Arsitektur Bale Banjar Adat di Denpasar, Bali Selatan, Bandung: Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian pada Masyarakat ITB Kampus Jatinangor Gomudha, I W. (1999). Reformasi Nilai-nilai Arsitektur Tradisional Bali pada Arsitektur Kontemporer di Bali, Studi kasus Bangunan Fasilitas Umum (Tesis), Surabaya: ITS H.N. van der Tuuk, Kawi-Balineesch-Nederlandsch Woordenboek. Salija, Yuswadi. (1975). Spatial Concept in Balinese Tradisional Architecture It’s Possibilities for further Develeopment (A descriptive Analysis). Thesis: University of Hawaii Sastrowardoyo, R. Sularto. (tanpa tahun). A Brief Introduction: Traditional Architecture of Bali, some basic norms. Sulistyawati. (1996). Pengaruh Prinsip ATB Terhadap Arsitektur Non Tradisional, Denpasar: PT. Trio Mitra Wiryani, Rai. (1982). Hasta Kocali, Salah Satu Dasar Arsitektur Tradisional Bali, Naskah kerja pada Pertemuan Ilmiah Arkeologi ke II, Jakarta 25-29 Pebruari 1980, Proyek Penelitian Purbakala Jakarta Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan
