Socio-Spatial Relation in Small Island (Case Study: Karanrang Island, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)

Abstract

Social interaction is an influential factor in shaping a community in a small island. There is a lack of study on how multi-ethnic groups of people living in a small island have shaped their community and maintained social harmony. This study identifies and analyzes the social interaction of residents in Karanrang Island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It focuses on how the social behavior of the residents has formed the spatial pattern of residential and community areas, including open spaces. Data of the residents' social behavior, activities, spatial layout of buildings, pathways, and major amenities were gathered from spatial mapping and on-site surveys. The analysis of socio-spatial patterns used the space syntax analysis method, namely Axial Analysis and Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA). The result shows that socio-spatial integration tends to occur in the irregular spatial configuration of residential areas, whereas socio-spatial segregation tends to occur in the regular spatial configuration. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of socio-spatial relation, the factors of activity location, residential density, and distance between houses significantly relate to social aspects such as community participation in social activities and willingness to assist neighbors. These findings are expected to provide consideration for the development of the socio-spatial structure that is suitable with the characteristics of small island communities, also to contribute to the sustainability of social order in the residential neighborhood of small islands.