THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE KAMPUNG MELAYU SETTLEMENT IN SEMARANG

Kampung Melayu Semarang is a trader cosmopolitan settlement formed in 17th century. It lies at the edge of Semarang River near Semarang Harbor. Islam is embraced by most people here and Malay language is spoken here. There is a mosque called ”masjid Menara” and a temple. They stand side by side at Layur Street. These two primary elements are the landmark of Kampung Melayu. Kampung Melayu grows and develops along with the potencies of the former Semarang Harbor, commerce activity, Islamication and the influence of the Dutch Colony. The uniques of Kampung Melayu is seen from the various building styles, facades, building details, and the housing of the people as a reflection of the multi-ethnic society culture such as Arabic, China, Malay, Banjar (Kalimantan), Bugis, Madura, and Cirebon. The arrangement and toponym patterns of the settlement blocks show the identity and kinship community of each ethnics.

The condition of Kampung Melayu is very apprehensive now. This settlement seems crowded, slum, unhealthy, unsaved, and it is prone to decreasing on the environment quality and it is also in a flood area. These problems are caused by various factors and aspects, related to development of Semarang City now. The existence of Kampung Melayu in the process of development was evicted by new settlements in ”Tanah Mas” that did not observe the condition of surroundings. They are afraid that this problem and transformation that happened in this settlement can omit locus solus and the Kampung Melayu identity as a cosmopolitan settlement for the multi-ethnic traders.

In an effort to dig up and to describe the characteristic of Kampung Melayu in Semarang, an architectural research has been done with an urban history, morphology, and typology approach. The research was explorative, research analysis pointed to the connection among the series of urban history, morphology and typology. The discussion on Kampung Melayu settlement was emphasized on the architectural and socio-culture aspects found in settlement.

The discovery they got expresses the precedent and the characteristic of Kampung Melayu settlement. The precedent has been obtained from the chronology of the historical development and phenomena happened at the settlement. The precedent is a benefit for the development of Kampung Melayu in the future while the characteristic of Kampung Melayu expresses and reflects a cosmopolitan settlement to the multi-ethnic traders. This condition can be seen through the harmonious relationship among the democratic ethnics.

The architectural characteristic of Kampung Melayu expresses a heterogeneity and plurality cultural society :
• As a whole, the characteristic of Kampung Melayu expresses such a dynamic and a variety constructed environment containing meaning and produces a unique and specific architectural work.
• These elements of variety forms, style, and ethnicities can be found, felt, and explained one by one up to now, as a historical phenomena description and as a socio-cultural community.
• The forms and styles of houses in Kampung Melayu express meaning, syncretism (hybrid and ecliptic building) as well as the ethnicity development on the housing’s occupations.