Managing The Threat To The Los’ Vernacular Quality In Java, Indonesia1

Abstract

The tobacco plantation in the area of Klaten Regency (Central Java) and Jember Regency (East Java) has many huge barns which dominate the surrounding landscape since the year of 1850s, named Los. This Los is for drying tobacco. The Los(es) can be found in remote area in the villages; such as in Bendo Gantungan village within Gayamprit tobacco plantation in Klaten Regency; and in Ajong village within Ajong Gayasan tobacco plantation in Jember Regency. Both areas of tobacco plantations are under the management of PTPN X enterprise (government's enterprise). It was confirmed from previous research of Los in Klaten Regency that the Los has high vernacular values, not only from its organization of space, but also from its form, its local materials, and its local techniques. But the vernacular quality of Los is threatened by the nowadays situation we never expect before. For instance, the global change of the climate makes the wind blows more severe. This has been damaging many Loses in Jember Regency due to the light materials the Loses have which could not be saved from the harm of harsh wind. The light materials apply to the main structure of the Loses are from bamboo materials. Moreover, there were also some Loses which accidentally burnt out because of their vulnerable materials to the fire. In addition, there is a Los in Klaten Regency in which its main structure now was changed from bamboo piles to reinforced concrete columns, and so forth. It is unavoidably expected that in the future the vernacular quality of Los will be ruined. This paper will explore the possible ways to reconstruct the Los in the future with very little destruction to its vernacular quality. This means that the vernacular traditions of the Los should be continued as much as possible.