May

24

Retracing My Early Steps in Ratmakan, Yogyakarta

Filed Under architect journey, architecture, urban design 

retracing-my-early-steps-in-ratmakan-yogyakarta

I came home to the smell of half burnt coal, traditional incense, and the hide out between alleys of the busy street of Yogya. Many memories hit realities that during these years while I was a way venturing the world, things had certainly also changed there. There’s a different beauty you will find here in contrast with Venice. Although both have similar canal view, they are not comparable.

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The ancient architecture of Java blended with Indische style still is available to be seen on the side of the alleys. Things that are physical still stayed the same for the last 25 years or so. But, there are signs of changes once the alley move down wards toward River Code. Feeling uneasy, I found that some old heritage were torn down and replaced with modern style buildings.

Some of the walls are full of graffiti, which are not always pretty. Although the settlers there consider them to be the color of the Kampung (organic or unregulated urban settlements) hence they are a part of the vista. Some I can tolerate, they beautify the scenes and add value to the overall sights. Some are ugly that I will not try to accentuate in this article.

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The story of this Kampung started as early as the formation of Yogya in the 17th century. It was developed under the instruction of the Sultan whose aim was to house the Mataram Kingdom’s soldiers just out side of the Dutch fortress. His order was held by a soldier named Ratmoko, therefore the site was named Ratmkan (in Javanese this means the place of Ratmoko). Although in the development of the city, the site was later being used as steel factory’s dumping site and now being used to housed immigrants and about 400 of the city’s dwellers.

Walking passed under the old roofs and by the old Javanese front doors brought back nostalgia to one’s soul. The Yogya that you’ve known during the last decades is still moving in slow paces there. You can still find urban spaces being used by dwellers even in tightest areas. Communal life is still thick and the strong paguyuban (togetherness) and social tolerance also gotong royong (helping each other; gemeinschaft) spirit. These are the things that are the taste of Javanese society and indigenous fabric of urban Yogya.


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Comments

5 Responses to “Retracing My Early Steps in Ratmakan, Yogyakarta”

  1. dizzie on May 25th, 2008 1:29 pm

    Sure it can make a mix of a blend new taste from the traditional culture to the modern atmosphere in architecture. I like to read the post here!

  2. neourbanizm on May 25th, 2008 1:30 pm

    nice to see those pictures of rural settlement! lets go back to green, everyone! :)

  3. folks_architect on May 25th, 2008 1:32 pm

    its good to know that the presence of this rural settlement can be exist in this modern age. Hope that there is a way to conserve this!

  4. variyanti on May 30th, 2008 3:38 pm

    Yes, I really love seeing this existence there. Thanks for the comments. Wish me luck on my further research on this site!

  5. Daniel on June 13th, 2008 12:24 am

    I read similar article also named ng My Early Steps in Ratmakan, Yogyakarta | ar-chi-tect.org, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me

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