Pendhapa

Pendhapa in Kraton Kasepuhan,Cirebon

Tumpanganceiling within a pendhapa

Apendhapaorpandhapa(Javanese:ꦥꦼꦤ꧀ꦝꦥ or ꦥꦤ꧀ꦝꦥ, Indonesian spelling:pendapa,nonstandard spelling:pendopoorpěndåpå) is a fundamental element ofJavanesearchitectureunique in the southern central part of Java;a largepavilion-like structure built oncolumns.Either square or rectangular inplan,it is open on all sides and provides shelter from the sun and rain, but allows breeze and indirect light. The wordpendhapais cognate to theSanskritwordmandapa( "hall" ).

TheDutchwriter,Multatuli,in hiscolonialreformist novel,Max Havelaar,described thependhapathus: "After a broad-brimmed hat, an umbrella, or a hollow tree, a 'pendoppo' [sic] is certainly the most simple representation of the idea 'roof'. "

Derived from ancient Javanese architectural elements, pendhapa are common ritual spaces primarily intended for ceremonies and also for purposes such as receiving guests in the compounds of wealthy Javanese and even as cottage industry work spaces. Pendhapa is constructed as a stand-alone structure or, attached to a walled inner structure (dalem), may form the front part of atraditional Javanese house(omah).

History

The oldest surviving images of ancient Javan vernacular architecture appear inBorobudurreliefs, among others the stepped roof typependhapa.They once sheltered the institutions of ancient Javanese kingdoms, such as law courts, clergy, and palaces, and for public appearances of the king and his ministers. In the 9th centuryRatu Bokocomplex near Prambanan, there is traces of square elevated stone bases withumpaks,and stones with holes to put wooden pillars on it. Similar structures also can be found in 14th centuryTrowulandated fromMajapahitera, where square brick bases withumpakstones suggest that somependoposonce stood there. Because the pillars and the roof were made from wooden organic material, no trace of thependhaparoof remains. Thependhapawith faithful Majapahit brick-base style can be found in 16th-century Kraton Kasepuhan,Cirebon,as well as 17th-centuryKota Gede,Yogyakarta.This evidence suggests that the design has not changed much for over a millennia.

They remain fundamental components of Javanesekraton('palaces'), with European influences often being incorporated since the 18th century. The majority ofpendhapaare constructed fromtimberbutmasonryversions are in existence such as in theKraton KanomaninCirebon.Wealthy modern day home builders, in attempting to design homes that draw on traditional Javanese experience of space, have dismantled, transported and re-assembledpendhapato form modern-traditional hybrid homes. The pendhapa is used as a batik making place for women.

See also

• Javanese culture
• Kejawèn
• Joglo
• Indonesian architecture
• Kraton
• Zayat

References

• Schoppert, P., Damais, S.,Java Style,1997, Didier Millet, Paris, 207 pages,ISBN962-593-232-1