SPATIAL ORIENTATION AND THE PATTERNS OF THE TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENT IN THE EASTERN BALI: INVESTIGATING NEW TOURISM ATRACTIONS

Abstract

The configuration of the traditional Balinese settlement is translated from a spiritual orientation related to the polarity concept. In this concept, the world is constructed upon opposite poles. It inspires spatial orientations and configurations, including the layout of villages. Since this spiritual orientation is based on geographical orientation, the highland, which stretches in the middle of Bali from east to west, causes the variations of spatial orientation system. This system produces the variations of spatial orientation patterns between the southern and northern. This system also generates a pattern’s variation in many villages in the eastern part of Bali. This uniqueness influences the traditions of the communities, including the pattern of the architectural setting and the traditional settlement pattern. This uniqueness can be used as a means to present their identity and in the tourism economy can attract tourists. However, the variations have not been investigated yet, so tourists, even the local people, have not been aware of the uniqueness. In order to investigate this uniqueness, this paper examined the pattern of some villages in the eastern part of Bali. It uses architectural examination and spatial stories of people’s activities as a method of investigation. This method involved architectural documentation, visual analysis, and narratives of people’s cultural activities. This paper states that the geographical orientation is the impotent component to create the settlement pattern. The traditional settlement patterns of each village vary even though the villages are located close together.

Keywords

• spatial orientation
• geographical condition
• landscape of bali