jailcd2021013: Observing the Growth of Labuan Bajo through Transformation Theory

Abstract

Tourism development has been the spearhead of many transformations in the name of modernization in rural and underdeveloped areas of Indonesia. As the currently highlighted tourism destination in Indonesia and Labuan Bajo has been described by locals as changing rapidly. More than 20 years ago, N.J. Habraken explained a method of observing everyday architecture by acknowledging several levels of forms found in the built environment, the control of those forms, and the agent behind the control. This theory of transformation helps understand the discussion and power dynamics happening behind the ever-going transformations of an urban fabric. This paper explored the application of said theory to observe changes from the building level to the upper levels found in the Labuan Bajo. The hypothesis was that the exterior of a building is the highest level an owner can modify and the lowest level the government officials can intervene which will show how the town is growing. The observation of the Soekarno Hatta Street neighborhood depicted differing scales of transformation and is apparent in the buildings’ footprints, the configuration of said buildings, and supported by the activities they now serve. The findings can provide insights to rural destination development review, especially in Indonesian coastal towns.