Efforts to display the expression of the functions and local identities of buildings are merely copying ornamental variations of vernacular architectural elements. As a result, the relation among function-formmeaning remain unseen. This study aims to explain the application of the concept of synthesized architectural expressions on government owned buildings. Based on the research objectives, the Mayor's office building of Kupang City was chosen as the object of this case study. The initial step of this research is to elaborate the theory of archetypal anatomy and the relation of architectural function-meaning-functions. Furthermore, the observation unit is redrawn in three dimensions and analyzed based on ordering principle of balance and orientation. The analysis shows that the interpretation of the appearance of Mayor's office building of Kupang City displays monumental, formal, local expressions and represents democratic ideologies. Interpretation of synthesized expressions occurs in the dominant aspects of local architecture in the elements of the roof, walls and entrance columns. The results of this study confirm that the concept of synthesized expression plays an important role in the midst of change pressure and for the sustainability of architecture nowadays.

Preservation of cultural heritage is an obligation so that future generations can still enjoy the cultural riches that their predecessor generation has made. In reality, changes occur over time. These changes are sometimes uncontrollable and cause damage to artifacts. They ultimately eliminate the source of discourse and even its characteristics. To maintain cultural sustainability, preservation must be based on the characteristics of the cultural heritage itself. The problem is how to explore and obtain these cultural characteristics so that they can become a foothold in developing further designs. The graphic method for artifacts is one method that helps to explore archetypes, basic characters contained in artifacts in an easier way. This basic character will later become a guideline for the development of a sustainable design.

This study aimed to explain the synthesis design approach of the architectural expression in the Town Hall building of Kupang city. This is necessary due to the need for Town Halls, as public facilities, to reflect technically correct building standards, environment, and the aspects of political symbolism. Kupang Town Hall design uses the roof image expression of the Timor, Flores, and Sumba ethnic architecture in a harmonious composition and this means it is an example of an ethnic architectural synthesis in a modern building which represents a function, meaning, modernity, and local cultural identity. This research employed the social semiotics method to examine the design in relation to the surrounding social life context and the design was found to be produced from the symbolic regionalism approach which involved mixing the architectural images of Timorese, Flores, and Sumba ethnicities to modernize and conserve ethnic architecture and represent the cultural identity of East Nusa Tenggara. This, therefore, means architectural synthesis methods which are established on the symbolic regionalism approach have the potential to be used in designing public facilities in different places of Indonesia to reveal local cultural identities in modern buildings through symbolism based on an ethnic architectural image.

Citra kota menjadi gerbang awal mengenal sejarah, budaya, ekonomi dan sosial suatu kota. Namun, sebagian besar citra kota terbatas hanya mengikuti trend kota-kota modern tanpa melihat sejarah awal terbentuknya kota tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan penerapan konsep produksi ruang publik sebagai citra kota. Sejalan dengan tujuan tersebut, Kota Larantuka dipilih sebagai studi kasus. Teori Lefebvre “The Production of Space” dan elemen primer kota digunakan untuk membaca isu dari studi kasus, kemudian interpretasi diperoleh dari analisis deskriptif. Penelitian ini melengkapi penelitian yang ada tentang ritual Semana Sancta dan ruang publik kota, dengan mengeksplorasi isu penelitian secara mendalam pada kasus studi. Diharapkan bahwa proses perancangan citra kota dan ruang publik kota terwujud dari meaningful; responsive; dan democratic. Hasil penelitian ini juga dapat menjadi referensi bagi para pemangku kebijakan dan pelestarian arsitektur, serta masyarakat awam.Kata Kunci: Citra Kota Reinha Rosari, Ruang publik sakral, Semana Sancta Larantuka