Conservation of Ndalem As Part of Sustainability Efforts - Case Study: Ndalem Tedjokusuman

Abstract

The Conservation process of a traditional building usually experiences several problems relevant to the responsibility, the ownership, the maintenance, and eventually the financial support. These also apply to the case of ndalems as Yogyakarta's traditional heritage in which Yogyakarta Special Region declares its important cultural characteristics for the territorial local identity of this special region. The important role of ndalem should be supported by the policy of conservation and sustainability. However, in fact, it is difficult to find harmony between conservation and sustainability, because people usually evoke any tangible relevant matters. This paper discuss ndalem, in particularly by taking the case of Ndalem Tedjokusuman as the main case study, in giving the idea of conservation as a part sustainability effort. The research methods of this paper employ observation, surveys of physical identification, and interview. The analysis applies 3 dimensions visualization to show the category of spaces and building condition. The heirs described the spaces and activities during their past livelihood. The process of 3 D refinements was developed according to this long term memory. Sustainability, within its three pillars, which are social, economy, and environment, can be conducted to ndalems by adding culture. Ndalems embrace the core of a community. They support each other in term of tangible and intangible contribution. The process revealed that the problem of inheritance will affect the sustainability of ndalem as cultural heritage. Problems happen when the community experiences transformation and changes in terms of way of life, relationship, and ownership, which influence the intensive relationship between ndalem and its immediate community. Their intensive relationship may experiences either gradual or extreme decrease. However, the public space of a ndalem, namely pendopo, tends to have stronger sustainable capacity and longer existence. Therefore, conservation attempt shall include a certain radius or area of surrounding periphery of a ndalem to be included in conservation process in order to ensure the sustainable goal of a ndalem can be fulfilled. The sustainability of cultural heritage, neighborhood, and environment will address the sustainability of activity that involving the immediate community who supported the existence of the aforementioned cultural heritage.

Architecture Regol nDalem Mangkubumen

“…Ornaments or various head ornaments when in traditional Javanese buildings are classified as ornamental fauna, where ornamental fauna functions as a repellent of evil and vengeance and courage. Regol placement with ornate barriers indicates that buildings in the rear zone area are sacred or deemed important, supported by an ornament type of fauna that is usually placed at the main entrance or sacred space (Cahyandari, 2017). In this area, there is the Prabayekso Ward building, which functions as the family room or the main bedroom of Prince Adipati Anom.…”

“…The njeron Beteng area is a cultural heritage area where its development is ongoing until now (Sektiadi, 2015). nDalem Mangkubumen, as part of nJeron Beteng is a cultural heritage and is one of nDalem registered as cultural heritage buildings in Yogyakarta in 2010 (Cahyandari et al, 2019). Its position on the west side of the Yogyakarta Palace with the northern, eastern and western boundaries is the Kadipaten village and in the south bordering the Kadipaten Street can be seen in figure 1.…”

“…nDalem is a building that functions as a dwelling prince or relative of the king, nDalem or dalem itself in Javanese means me or me. Besides, the placement of nDalem was also influenced by political, geographical, and social conditions in which the king gave absolute rights to the owner of nDalem to manage it (Cahyandari et al, 2019;Wardani, 2007). Based on the inscriptions that exist nDalem Mangkubumen was founded in 1874, during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono VI.…”