Hybridity of Peranakan Chinese House Design in Lasem: A Case Study of Rumah Merah Lasem Heritage



Author Information

July Hidayat, University of Pelita Harapan, Indonesia
Ira Brunchilda Hubner, University of Pelita Harapan, Indonesia
Bambang Tutuka Adi Nugroho, University of Pelita Harapan, Indonesia

Abstract

The dynamic interaction between history, culture, and power relations forms cultural identity, which is represented in visual design. The case study is the design of Peranakan Chinese houses in Lasem, which the complexity of the identity representation issue makes it interesting. In addition to experiencing external colonialism originating from Dutch colonialism, they also experience internal colonialism originating from the dominance of Javanese culture. The Peranakan Chinese ethnic group acculturated Javanese culture as part of a survival strategy to be able to interact with local communities and gain social positions, to enter the highest class of society held by Javanese nobles before the 19th century. The research question relates to the problem of hybridity of form due to the acculturation of Chinese-Javanese culture. How is the shift in form that occurs when this Peranakan design is compared with its original design in China? What is the meaning behind the hybridity? The study uses a case study research method. The case is Rumah Merah Lasem Heritage. The analyzing variables are generated from hybridity and cultural identity theory. The result is that the tropical climate, the communalism of the local Javanese community, and the colonial design style originating from the Dutch colonial culture have influenced the Peranakan Chinese design forms in Lasem. The meaning of hybridity is related to the negotiation of identity, that hybridity as a third space is a dialogue between differences. Identity, constructed by history, culture, and power, is always in the process of formation (identity of becoming).


Paper Information

Conference: ACAH2025
Stream: Aesthetics

This paper is part of the ACAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Hidayat J., Hubner I., & Nugroho B. (2025) Hybridity of Peranakan Chinese House Design in Lasem: A Case Study of Rumah Merah Lasem Heritage ISSN: 2186-229X – The Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 557-566) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2025.46
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2025.46


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon