RUANG IMAJINASI KOLEKTIF SEBAGAI DAYA HIDUP RUANG PERKOTAAN KAJIAN SPIRIT OF PLACE BERBASIS LOKALITAS

Abstract

Urban spaces, as nurtured environment, have undergone each of their historical development, making them to be place and space. That development determines their character or identity, reflecting the connection of life, which are culture and tradition, with the physical-spatial environment. In an urban space, groups of form in a city scale when it is inhabited by its people and it gives all things they need, therefore, that form is considered as having soul and spirit. As the elements of an urban space, the groups of physical forms may change even die; however, the soul and spirit should be striven to be still alive. Those soul and spirit should be captured, which are then manifested again dynamically-creatively-innovatively, with new idioms or expressions representing novelty. This paper is a part of a research dissertation entitled “Rukun Kota : Ruang Perkotaan Berbasis Budaya Guyub” which takes the case of Urban Spaces in the Malioboro Area of Jogjakarta, conducted by the writer by using the naturalistic-phenomenological research method. One of the research results states that the dynamics and continuity of this urban spaces life are influenced by their ability to produce collective memory. The collective memory are not formed and created in a short and instant process, however, they have gone through a long process as connections of causes and effects among the actors of spaces and these urban spaces. In filling the cause and effect relations, the actors of spaces cruise, build experiences, explore actively and dynamically in building their collective memory quality. As collective memory, these urban spaces are highly connected to the problems of symbols, the problems that can only be stated through the expressions of thought and conscience of their actors of spaces. The collective memory are built based on holistic substances of the themes consisting of: [i] the space that is rich of memories; [ii] the space that is rich of inspirations; [iii] the space of art and cultural expressions. The collective memory have created the emotional connection among the actors of spaces and the spaces that have been built since long ago and repeatedly, which finally they become institutionalized into the relationships binding each other and preserved fervently in the cognition of each actor of space forever. This collective memory are then mentioned as the urban spaces vitality, which are the power and energy to maintain the continuity of this urban spaces life, based on the local wisdom grown and developed by its actors of space.