Architecture, space and power in historical multi-ethnic city Gresik

The study of historical-morphology cities is conducted to discover the socio-cultural characteristics which influence the formation and development of spatial patterns and architecture. Gresik as the historical multi-ethnic city on the north coast of East Java, is known as a major trading port, the center spread of the Islamic religion, and the government city in the colonial era. This research has been made to know the morphological phenomenon of the historical city, by using a qualitative method. The result has shown: 1) the urban structure with the segregation of settlements based on ethnicity indicates the authority power to control its territory, 2) the building form which is dominated by colonial architecture shows the authority power to control the physical changes, 3) the courtyard-house concept which is widely applied in Kampung Arab indicates about the ethnic power to arrange the environment, and 4) the use of landhuis type and luxury mansions in Kampong Kemasan represents the power of successful people as government officials and entrepreneur. The spatial patterns and architecture of the historical multi-ethnic city - Gresik were influenced by the power aspects in the form of efforts to dominate each other and self-defense in the personal and communal levels.