Dwelling with the Fault: Cultural Landscape and Spatial Formation in Kampung Batu Lonceng, Indonesia
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Abstract
Since UNESCO formalized the concept of cultural landscapes in 1992, heritage discourse has shifted from monument-centric approaches toward values-based perspectives that foreground the dynamic interplay among people, place, and ecology. Within this framework, cultural landscapes offer a critical lens for understanding rural settlements not only as spatial configurations but also as embodiments of intangible knowledge and ecological adaptation.
This study investigates Kampung Batu Lonceng, a vernacular settlement situated along the active Lembang Fault in West Java, Indonesia. With historical traces dating back to the Neolithic period, the kampung exemplifies how spatial formation is shaped simultaneously by geomorphological vulnerabilities and long-standing cultural practices. In the absence of formal planning, the settlement has developed an organic, linear morphology aligned with the fault line.
Drawing on qualitative fieldwork—site mapping, semi-structured interviews, and a literature review—the findings reveal that spatial practices are grounded in local belief systems and environmental knowledge. Geological features—particularly scared stones—are not merely avoided but embraced as symbolic landscape markers guiding everyday activities. The study argues that resilience in disaster-prone areas depends not only on conserving physical structures but also on safeguarding the intangible cultural values and practices that shape spatial logics and adaptive strategies over time.
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