IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

This study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between urban vernacular, belief systems, and their manifestation in architectural practices within contemporary contexts. It adopts the assumption that architecture and society are inextricably linked, and thus explores how individuals carry their religious traditional values within the creation of urban environments. The research is developed to uncover the nuanced patterns of spatial-religious expressions that have emerged amidst the densification of the environment, while simultaneously delving into the associated ramifications that these expressions have on post-colonial city structures. This endeavor looks into the ways in which religious traditions can be effectively translated to deconstruct and mitigate the spatial issues that are pervasive in a rapidly changing world.
The research is based on an inter-generational observation in Bali Island. Combining interpretive anthropology and pattern analysis, this study aims to explore how a genealogical group incorporates distinctive spatial-religious adaptation strategies. The research employed an ethnographic approach to allow the excavation of meanings embedded in the spatial practices, while the space syntax approach illustrates the changes and persistence of spatial patterns as the house densifies over time. The findings suggest that religion plays a significant role in urban densification, shaping identities, providing a sense of community, and guiding collective behavior and decision-making. Guided by spatial-religious principles, Balinese houses collectively densify, creating multi-generational houses that reflect the cultural values of family, community, and intergenerational bonds. Adapting to the present and future requires an understanding of the dynamic changes in traditions through human agency.