Thomas Karsten and the Java Traditional Architecture Development and Innovation

Abstract

Thomas Karsten is very well known as an architect and town planner in the colonial period in Indonesia. In the field of his architecture are among others in Semarang, Surakarta, Yogyakarta and Medan. Works of architecture consisting of various types of buildings, the main among others building schools, hospitals, museums, theaters, office buildings, terminals, residential and others. When examined Thomas Karsten building design from time to time, from 1916 up to the time before the jail in Cimahi 1942, there was development of architectural design influenced by the architecture that evolved at that time apart is the biggest influence on the development of traditional Javanese architecture. This is evident in the work of theater Sobokarti in Semarang and Sonobudoyo museum in Yogyakarta. The second planning period of the building is a period where the colonial architecture at that time challenged to design a modern building with regard to the value of local architecture and local climatic conditions. What is interesting is how Thomas Karsten observed innovate modern architectural design with a variety of functions by basing the development of function space, shape, structure and materials in the building of traditional Javanese architecture, with attention to building technology that developed at that time. How is the embodiment of innovation in building theaters, schools, markets, museums or office buildings, other than in residential buildings.