Bali is one of
thousands of islands constituting the Indonesian Archipelago that has long been
renowned as an eminent tourist destination in the South Pacific or even in the
World. Many names have been given to this beautiful island, like, 'The Last
Paradise on Earth', 'Morning of the World', 'The Island of the Gods', as well
as many other names.
The island covers
5,632,86 square kilometres, consisting of mountain ranges stretching from the
West tip to Mt. Agung in the East, considered as the holiest by the Balinese,
being the highest peak.
The volcanic range
divides the island into two parts of plain which are constantly cultivated with
rice as the staple crop. About 70% of the whole island is agricultural ground,
while another 22% consists of forests and the remaining 8% is left
uncultivated. It has for centuries lured visitors from various countries with
its exotic and vibrant culture, natural scenic beauty, and friendly smiles of
the people.
The stronghold of their traditions and beliefs based on Hinduism, has dotted the island with ancient remains, ornately sculptured temples or holy places and this is most likely the main factor in keeping away any negative outside influence.
To the wide variety of
landscapes and marvellous panoramas, the Balinese add their colourful
festivals, ritual ceremonies, traditional music and dances and it is no wonder
that tourism plays a significant role as a source of income within the national
economic development.
As has been mentioned
in many articles, Indian influence has been great on all aspects of Balinese
culture. That includes architecture. It is evident in the mandala-like
groupings of houses in the villages. The Chinese were a major influence on
Indonesian culture, but not on architecture, and neither were the Dutch.
The family compound
(kuren) is a centre of religious life for the family and is constructed
according to traditional rules. It undergoes periodic cleansing rituals. The
materials used have to cope with equatorial conditions, which are hot and
humid, and heavy monsoon rains. There are wooden or bamboo walls and thatched
roofs. Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Java and Bali do not build their houses on
stilts.
Traditional Balinese
houses, temples, rice barns and other structures are built according to
traditional Balinese rules, called Asta Kosala Kosali, written down in lontar
palm books and interpreted by traditional architects called Undagi. Balinese
architects do not design buildings; they merely interpret the traditional
rules.
The roles of
architect, builder and client are a phenomenon of an industrialized society.
Such classification is unknown in Bali.
Materials
Housing consists of a
series of small constructions. They mostly consist of wooden pillars raised on
a masonry base, which support a roof of radiating beam work, covered by thatch,
tiles or bamboo. Roofs are crowned by a terracotta finial (ornament).
The buildings are
assembled with very few nails. Tools are simple hammers, chisels, saws, axes
and a plane. Walls are generally of brick, tuff or other masonry. Posts and
beams carry the load of the roof.
Some roofs are still
made of alang-alang grass. This thatch, often 45 cm (18 in) thick used to last
for up to 50 years. But nowadays it is almost impossible to get good quality
alang-alang and ceramic tiled roofs are more common. They are also less of a
fire risk.
A patron of arts, Dewa Agung Gusti Sideman took greatness in supervising
the design and construction of his palace in Klungkung - an example of
Hindu-Balinese architecture. Kertha Gosa architecture took shape of a mandala -
a Buddhist influence domed-mountain shape. Mandalas help people further their
enlightment; pure forces of good come from a mountain. Kertha Gosa’s first
major function pertained to court of law and justice. The Kertha Gosa pavilion
was the meeting place for the raja (Hindu prince) and Brahman judges (Kerthas)
to discuss issues of law and human affairs. Whether or not the king instructed
his court painters to decorate the ceiling at the time Kertha Gosa was built is
impossible to know. Moreover, it is impossible to know whether or not the story
of Bhima Swarga was the first painting in the pavilion.
The earliest and only record of paintings at Kertha Gosa dates from the
year 1842 and is written in a lontar book (a book that holds prayers, history
of Bali, and epics)
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Balinese house (kuren) consists of a family or a number of related
families living within one enclosure, praying at a common family temple, with
one gate and one kitchen. The square plot of land (pekarangan) in which the
various units. of the house stand is entirely surrounded by a wall of whitewashed mud, protected
from rain erosion by a crude roofing of thatch. The Balinese feel uneasy when
they sleep without a wall, as, for instance, the servants must in the unwalled
Western-style houses. The gate of a well-to-do family can be an imposing affair
of brick and carved stone, but more often it consists of two simple pillars of
mud supporting a thick roof of thatch. In front of the gate on either side 'are
two small shrines (apit lawang) for offerings, of brick and stone, or merely
two little niches excavated in the mud of the gate, while the simplest are made
of split bamboo.
Directly behind the ' doorway is a small wall aling aling that screens
off.The house of a poor family is called pekarangan, that of a nobleman is a
jero and a Brahmana's is a griya, but these differences are mostly in the name,
the quality of the materials employed, the workmanship, and of course in the
larger -and richer family temple. The fundamental, plan is based on the same
rules for everyone.
Only the great palace (puri) of the local ruling. prince is infinitely more elaborate, with a lily pond, compartments for the Radja's brothers and his countless wives, a great temple divided into three courts, and even special sections for the preservation of the corpses and for the seclusion of " impure " palace women during the time of menstruation.
