Chinese Eclectic Architecture of Kapitan Village Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Palembang City is the oldest city in Indonesia which has various architectural heritages from various nations that have participated in trade and cultural exchanges in the Malacca Straits. One of the nations that settled in Palembang almost 400 years ago was the Chinese. Kapitan village is an architectural heritage of the Chinese nation which is still in use until now and it has now reached the 13th generation. This paper investigates all the traditional Chinese houses in Kapitan village regarding eclecticism in architectural design components and how the typology that is formed relates to the multicultural identity of the Chinese people who live in the area. The methodological approach used in collecting data is the observation of the seven remaining houses in Kapitan village. It was found that the houses in Kapitan village placed Dutch architecture as a functional component for the first-floor structure and adding terraces. Chinese architecture is indicated by the presence of a courtyard in the middle of the house. Meanwhile, Palembang's local architecture becomes the main template which is reflected in the left-right symmetrical facade, roof and internal layout. Cultural awareness seems to be an important factor that makes the houses in this village survive until now. This paper is limited to present data to estimate past events. Further research needs to be more thorough by tracing the collective history of the community as well as the individual history of each house. It is suggested that there is a reconstruction and revitalization of the houses that have been lost in the Kapitan village complex to ensure the preservation of this historic architectural value. In addition, it is necessary to socialize the house owners and village heads in Kapitan village about the importance of maintaining these houses and not selling them immediately so that the loss of the diversity of traditional Kapitan village houses does not happen again.