MOCKUP BETTERPAD-RAY - The Form and Structure of Houses as Reflections on Lifestyle

As a reflection of lifestyle, home or building can be seen from the structure and basic plan. An example is the houses of Javanese in ancient times, at least it can be known from homes that still survive today or according to the stories of parents (my mother) and elderly people. Usually, Javanese houses in ancient times had roofs with limasan shapes, some also used joglo roofs, and on the central roof were supported by poles called "soko guru". For limasan Javanese houses, there are usually 8 poles that support the central roof. When viewed on a floor plan, the shape of the Javanese limasan house is a symmetrical rectangle and usually there are two buildings, namely the main house on the front and a spacious kitchen on the back. At the front of the main house there is a terrace that extends to the length of the house with a width of approximately 2 meters. This terrace is useful as a place to relax, chat, rest, or be used to store crops temporarily. Indeed, in ancient times in Java, the range of livelihoods was indeed still limited. Almost all villagers have rice fields and work as farmers. Even the villagers have their own livestock such as goats and cows. There are also those who add income by trading that can be done in the market or in front (part) of the house. There are also people who can stop by sheltering on the porch of someone's house when it rains. This is a normal thing and homeowners feel no problem and this is indeed a social home terrace benefit.

Example of Joglo Pavilion

Usually in ancient times, maybe because there were still few people, houses on Java had a large yard. This wide yard is useful as a place to dry crops, such as rice, corn, and beans with bamboo mat. If it enters the main house, it will go directly into a spacious family room or can be used as a living room. For people who have more funds, in front of the main house there is a pendapa (pavilion) which is used to receive guests, so that the privacy in the main house is more maintained. In this main room, family members can chat, eat or lie down. On the side or the back of the main house of Java Limasan there are rooms that can be located as needed. While behind the main house there is a spacious kitchen building. This spacious kitchen is indeed useful if used for cooking in large quantities, usually for thanksgiving or weddings. Old-style kitchens in Java use a beam-shaped furnace or a box made of stone or cement that has a hole above it for a pot and hole container on the side to include firewood or husks if there is one, so that it usually produces quite a lot of smoke. The kitchen becomes a place for storing cooking utensils, food ingredients including crops, and trash bins. Actually the position of the kitchen can also be next to the main house, depending on the needs or conditions of the land. Whereas in ancient times, the well was at the back or side of the house and there was a small building namely the bathroom with water taken directly from the well of the bucket. There is also a bathroom inside the kitchen building. For certain houses, the toilet has become one part with the bathroom, although the shape is still simple. In ancient times in Java, not everyone had a toilet, so they had to go to the river or near a collection of bamboo plants.

Increasingly, the era has become more modern to the present, so that homes in Java are undergoing a constant change, which shows the elements of traditional Javanese houses. The simplest, electricity is already in homes in Java so that there are electric lights, televisions, water pumps, and so on. Because of the parabolic television, there will be a signal capture parabola on the roof of Javanese houses. Because of the distribution of inheritance, sometimes old houses must be demolished and replaced with modern homes with divided land. Modern houses have smaller sizes than the main house. The limasan roof has been replaced with a gable roof or shield roof according to the shape of the house. The house terrace is smaller, about half of the traditional Javanese house terrace. The building that had been made of wood has been replaced with materials from brick and cement. At first, the floor of his house might only have been replaced with ceramics. Previously using a window made of wood was replaced with glass windows. The family room is narrower than before without supporting poles like old Javanese houses. Sometimes there are those who make a family room as well as a living room and there is also a separate (distinguish it). The position of the rooms is also arranged as needed. The kitchen is located at the back and narrower than the traditional kitchen, because it already uses a gas stove. But there are still those who still maintain the main kitchen or make a new main kitchen because there are still those who use wood stoves, to store crops, or cook if there is an event. Usually the position of the bathroom (including the toilet) becomes one with the kitchen in a modern house on Java. Because there are water pump machines and reservoirs, there is no need to draw water from the well, even though there is a form of the weighing well still present. Because of motorized vehicles such as motorbikes and cars, a garage at the front of the house is also made. This is different from Javanese houses in ancient times. Even though there are relatively wealthy people, there are rarely those who own motorbikes or cars because Indonesia was just independent (in 1945), the economy has not been stable, and there is no national car industry until now. The national car industry is still not running seriously. Unlike the United States, which in the 20th year already has a car industry and there are already many citizens who own cars.

Example of a Javanese House with Limasan Roof

In modern times, the existence of various types of work in government, factories, or offices makes some villagers move to cities, at least the closest cities. Then new settlements emerged, both ordinary settlements and housing. Office workers and factories do not have crops like generations before those who work as farmers, so there is no need for a large harvest storage space such as a large kitchen or yard for drying. The house is enough as a place to rest and take refuge. If there is a wedding, it is not done at home like in the villages, but a reception is held at the wedding hall. Things like this must also occur in other regions of Indonesia in the lives of modern society. In addition, differences in social status also lead to differences in lifestyle that appear at home. The lower middle class community only has a simple house with enough space. While the middle and upper groups class community have luxurious homes, large, with various facilities that are rarely found in ordinary homes.

The Betterpad-Ray (Benteng Terpadu Raya / Great Integrated Fortress "Mural Wall") is a complex building design that reflects the true lifestyle of the Indonesian people and the modern lifestyle by taking the positive side. The clearest example is the existence of a broad pendapa called Pendapa Peradaban (Civilization Pavilion). Indonesian people basically like to gather and have a discussion while chatting with a treat. Then the Civilization Pavilion can be used as a place for deliberation on various problems with a banquet. In the Civilization Pavilion, various regional arts from all over Indonesia can be displayed as positive and beneficial entertainment. Then the Betterpad-Ray Main Building is a building that reflects a modern lifestyle. People who see the appearance of the Main Building can guess that the building is used as an office, even though there is an intention to plan it as a museum. Offices are buildings with various indoor work that usually deal with computers and paper for the purpose of agencies or organizations. So the building design is made in which there are various rooms with each task or job.

The Shahada Mosque (Masjid Syahadat) in Betterpad-Ray was created as a place of worship (Muslims). It is an obligation for humans to worship God Almighty. The Shahada Mosque is designed to provide comfort for worshipers during worship. With the breadth of the building, it is expected to be able to accommodate large numbers of worshipers. In addition, sports activities are important lifestyle for maintaining health. Then the Betterpad-Ray yard is made with a large size so that it can be used for exercise, gymnastics, jogging around the building complex, cycling, athletic sports in the field, and so on.

Shahada Mosque (Masjid Syahadat)

Civilization Pavilion (Pendapa Peradaban)

Betterpad-Ray Main Building

This is the explanation of the article about the Betterpad-Ray (Benteng Terpadu Raya / Great Integrated Fortress) model design. God willing, it can be realized. Aamiin. Sorry if there is an error especially in this article.

Reference:

·         Prof. Ir. Eko Budihardjo, M.Sc. Jati Diri Arsitektur Indonesia. 1997. Bandung: Penerbit Alumni.  * Included by: Prof. Dr. S. Budhisantoso, as stated in the reference book.  (https://archive.org/stream/BukuArsitektur/1140_Jati%20Diri%20Arsitektur%20Indonesia#page/n1/mode/2up)

(Architecture Hobby)