Balinese architectural legacy under threat<\/p>\n
By I Wayan Juniarta<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The Taman Ujung water garden was once a
\nfavorite resting place for the Karangasem royal family in East
\nBali.<\/p>\n
Located eight kilometers south of Amlapura, Taman Ujung is now
\nin a dilapidated condition. The once tranquil and well-designed
\ngarden is now made up of badly damaged buildings and has been
\noverrun by wild plants.<\/p>\n
Its current condition is partly due to series of natural
\ndisasters, like the eruption of Gunung Agung volcano and
\nsubsequent earthquakes several years ago. Lack of funds and the
\ngovernment's land reform policy have worsened its condition.<\/p>\n
To restore this historical site, a number of experts are now
\nplanning to carry out an integrated conservation program of the
\nTaman Ujung water garden.<\/p>\n
Ida Bagus Pangdjaja, head of the Bali Cultural Office,
\nmentioned the planned program will be implemented soon after the
\napproval of all related parties.<\/p>\n
During the recent international symposium on cultural heritage
\nconservation, the Bali cultural heritage conservation project
\nteam listed Taman Ujung as one of its pilot projects.<\/p>\n
\"Taman Ujung is a part of Bali's significant cultural
\nheritage,\" Pangdjaja commented.<\/p>\n
I Gusti Made Rena, an expert on Balinese architecture,
\nexplained that Taman Ujung was built in 1919 by the last king of
\nKarangasem Anak Agung Bagung Djelantik, who was a self-taught
\narchitect.<\/p>\n
\"The garden was a beautiful combination of Balinese and
\nEuropean architectural elements. Such a mixed combination created
\na harmonious balance between the man-made creations and its
\nnatural surroundings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The garden is comprised of five water ponds of various sizes
\nand shapes, a waterfall and fountain, three gateways and nine
\nbuildings, said architect Endah Meigawati.<\/p>\n
Some of the more important buildings are Balai Bundar, the
\nround building, and Balai Manikan which functioned as a
\nmeditation shelter for the king and his family.<\/p>\n
Other buildings include Balai Lunjuk, an administrative
\nbuilding where the king worked on the construction of the water
\ngarden and administered the traditional subak (irrigation system)
\nfor the surrounding rice fields. Balai Warak was intended as a
\nplace of worship where all religious activities took place.<\/p>\n
\"The eruption of Mount Agung in 1963 and the following
\nearthquake destroyed the beauty of this architectural work,\"
\nMeigawati said.<\/p>\n
Previously, due to the land reform policy imposed by Dutch
\ncolonialists, the 400 hectare garden was reduced to a mere 8
\nhectares. The Dutch forced the king of Karangasem to give up most
\nof his water garden property and was only allowed to retain a
\nsmall part of the land.<\/p>\n
The seized land was then sold to outsiders, Meigawati
\nclarified.<\/p>\n
\"The land ownership has become a serious problem if we want to
\nundertake the conservation project at Taman Ujung,\" explained
\nPangjaya.<\/p>\n
But Meigawati is convinced that the community living in the
\nnearby area have shown their strong support for the plan. The
\nKarangasem royals have given their nod to the project as they
\nhave inadequate funds to conserve the family property themselves.<\/p>\n
According to Meigawati, the restoration project will cost
\naround Rp 14 billion. The project will consist of reconstructing
\nseveral buildings, restoring the garden, renovating the water
\nponds and their water supply systems, as well as the construction
\nof a parking lot and other necessary facilities.<\/p>\n
The project will probably be financed by soft loans from the
\nWorld Bank, the Bali provincial government and other parties.<\/p>\n
The team will also establish an agency responsible for
\nmanaging and controlling the water garden soon after the
\nrestoration project is complete.<\/p>\n
There are still many obstacles to realizing this planned
\nrestoration of one of Bali's precious architectural heritages,
\nbut Pangdjaja and his fellow experts may probably be given the
\ngreen light.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/balinese-architectural-legacy-under-threat-1447893297",
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