Lessons from the past: The bale-bale as a model for sustainable and participatory public space design

Ahmadin

Authors

Ahmadin Faculty of Social Science and Law, Universitas Negeri Makassar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7123-5216

Keywords:

lessons, bale-bale, model for sustainable, public space, participatory

Abstract

This article examines the role of Bale-bale in the socio-historical landscape of various rural communities in Indonesia. Beyond its basic function as a place of rest, this traditional pavilion is discussed through a sociological paradigm in the context of public spaces that played a vital role in the dialectic of communal life in the past. This study uses qualitative methods through historical and ethnographic literature reviews, which aim to reveal the dynamics of the Bale-bale as a multifunctional space. The results show that historically, the Bale-bale facilitated daily social interactions, served as a vehicle for information and deliberation, was a center of economic activity, and was a space for cultural practices such as the transmission of local knowledge and values. Its open and accessible architectural design represents the principles of togetherness, mutual cooperation, and transparency. Learning from the past, the role of the social institution known as Bale-bale can be reflected upon in the modern era to provide a perspective on the value of conceptualizing participatory and sustainable public spaceshome

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmadin, A., Sanur, I. S., & Nur, R. J. (2025). Review of public space studies in Indonesia: Research identification and future social agenda. Journal of Water and Land Development, 136–147.

Ahmadin, M. (2022). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Jurnal Kajian Sosial Dan Budaya: Tebar Science, 6(1), 104–113.

Ahmadin, M., & Amiruddin, M. (2018). Galampa as Public Space on Fishermen Societies in Holimombo Jaya Village on Eastern Coast of Buton Island. 1st International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS 2018).

Akhmedova, E. A., & Kuznetsov, I. I. (2022). Principles of preservation of the historical and cultural multilayer public spaces: dialogue of times. Urban Construction and Architecture, 12(2), 54–62.

André, F. J., & Cerdá, E. (2006). On the dynamics of recycling and natural resources. Environmental and Resource Economics, 33(2), 199–221.

Armiwaty, A., Idrus, R. T., & Romadhani, N. F. (2023). Tipologi Fasade (Dego-Dego) Rumah Tradisional Makassar. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknik Sipil Dan Arsitektur, 1(1).

Asmal, I. (2015). Bale-bale as a space for social interaction. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 179, 176–182.

Berman, N. (2020). A critical examination of informal learning spaces. Higher Education Research & Development, 39(1), 127–140.

Bodnar, J. (2015). Reclaiming public space. In Urban studies (Vol. 52, Issue 12, pp. 2090–2104). Sage Publications Sage UK: London, England.

Bravo, L. (2020). Public space and the New Urban Agenda: Fostering a human-centered approach for the future of our cities. In Companion to Public Space (pp. 85–93). Routledge.

Creang, E., Ciotoiu, I., Gheorghiu, D., & Nash, G. (2010). Vernacular architecture as a model for contemporary design. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 128, 157–171.

Dassopoulos, A., & Monnat, S. M. (2011). Do perceptions of social cohesion, social support, and social control mediate the effects of local community participation on neighborhood satisfaction? Environment and Behavior, 43(4), 546–565.

Ergashev, I., & Farxodjonova, N. (2020). Integration of national culture in the process of globalization. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(2), 477–479.

Fernandes, V., Carvalho, G., Pereira, V., & Bernardino, J. (2024). Analyzing data reduction techniques: an experimental perspective. Applied Sciences, 14(8), 3436.

Foroutan, Z., & Tabibian, M. (2023). An Analysis of the Most Important Influential Components of Globalization on Public Spaces. The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, 20(123), 5–18.

Gehl, J. (2007). Public spaces for a changing public life. In Open space: People space (pp. 23–30). Taylor & Francis.

Gupta, A., Yadav, M., & Nayak, B. K. (2025). A Systematic Literature Review on Inclusive Public Open Spaces: Accessibility Standards and Universal Design Principles. Urban Science, 9(6), 181.

Handayani1, R., Ahimsa-Putra, H. S., & Budiman, C. (2020). Out of crisis: maintaining hegemony through rambu solo ritual in toraja.

Hariyanto, H. (2022). Implications of State Policy Through Village Funds Towards the Cultural Values of Mutual Cooperation in the Village. De Lega Lata: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 7(1), 46–64.

Hasbi, R. M. (2017). Kajian kearifan lokal pada arsitektur tradisional Rumoh Aceh. Vitruvian: Jurnal Arsitektur, Bangunan, Dan Lingkungan, 7(1), 265311.

Jaszczak, A., Žukovskis, J., & Antolak, M. (2017). The role of rural renewal program in planning of the village public spaces: systematic approach. Management Theory & Studies for Rural Business & Infrastructure Development, 39(4).

Johansen, P. (2014). Arsitektur Rumah Betang (Radakng) Kampung Sahapm. Patanjala: Journal of Historical and Cultural Research, 6(3), 461–474.

Karkikawening, D. (2001). Public Space Dynamic in Minangkabau Rural Area, Indonesia. Master of Community Planning Program University of Cincinnati OH, Www. Asu. Edu/Caed/Proceedings02/S-KARTI/s-Karti. Pdf, 19, 2006.

Katabarwa, N. M., Richards Jr, F. O., & Ndyomugyenyi, R. (2000). In rural Ugandan communities the traditional kinship/clan system is vital to the success and sustainment of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 94(5), 485–495.

Lee, M., Pant, A., & Ali, A. (2010). Does the individualist consume more? The interplay of ethics and beliefs that governs consumerism across cultures. Journal of Business Ethics, 93(4), 567–581.

Lentini, L., & Decortis, F. (2010). Space and places: when interacting with and in physical space becomes a meaningful experience. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 14(5), 407–415.

Liebrucks, A. (2001). The concept of social construction. Theory & Psychology, 11(3), 363–391.

Nuraini, C., Djunaedi, A., & Subroto, T. Y. W. (2011). THE CONCEPT OF BANUA IN MANDAILING ARCHITECTURE. Proceeding CIB International Conference–Local Wisdom in Global Era”, at UKDW Yogyakarta, 21–22.

O’Donoghue, R. (2019). Engagement in local social-ecological knowledge practices in a seasonal cycles approach for transitioning to future sustainability. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 35.

Parung, C. A. P., Antariksa, A., & Suryasari, N. (n.d.). Pola Ruang Dalam Banua Tongkonan Dan Banua Barung-Barung Di Dusun Tonga, Kelurahan Panta’nakan Lolo, Toraja Utara. Brawijaya University.

Post, R. (2006). Democracy and equality. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 603(1), 24–36.

Prianto, A. L., Subair, N., Wardana, D., & Amri, A. R. (n.d.). Lego-Lego and Informal Politics: An Exploration of Cultural Democracy in Bugis Society, Indonesia. Frontiers in Political Science, 7, 1662683.

Price, K., Higson, H., & Silungwe, N. D. (2022). The Value of Togetherness Across Cultures. In The Palgrave Handbook of Innovative Community and Clinical Psychologies (pp. 523–543). Springer.

Purnomo, A. D., Maharlika, F., & Utami, W. D. (2023). Symbols and images of Javanese Nobles at the Pendopo Dalem Wuryaningratan. ARTEKS: Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur, 8(1), 21–30.

Putra, G. S. A., & Larasdiputra, G. D. (2023). The influence of accountability, transparency, participation, and characteristics of satya on the management of village funds. Journal of Applied Sciences in Accounting, Finance, and Tax, 6(1), 20–28.

Rabie, M. (2013). In Global economic and cultural transformation: The making of history (pp. 59–77). Springer.

Radja, A. M., Takeshi, S., Yuko, Y., Mariko, K., Kiyoshi, Y., Aoi, Y., Shigeki, M., & Toshinobu, O. (2012). System For Sharing Good Environment In High-Density Island. Journal of Architecture and Planning, 77(675), 979–986.

Rahman, A., Wirastika Sari, N. M., Fitriani, Sugiarto, M., Sattar, Abidin, Z., Irwanto, Nugroho, A. P., Indriana, Ladjin, N., Haryanto, E., Ode Amane, A. P., Ahmadin, & Alaslan, A. (2022). Metode Penelitian Ilmu Sosial. In Metode Pengumpulan Data (Klasifikasi, Metode Dan Etika). CV WIDINA MEDIA UTAMA.

Sunarmi, S. (2025). Nusantara Aesthetics: The Beauty of Traditional Javanese Houses as A Foundation For Social Harmony and Respect. Journal of Social Research, 4(4), 735–746.

Sunnland, T. (2013). A River Runs Through It: Re-imagining Kuta’s Neglected River.

Suswandari, S., Armiyati, L., & Azid, N. (2022). Local wisdom of dayak ethnic groups in central kalimantan, Indonesia. ETNOSIA: Jurnal Etnografi Indonesia, 7(1), 67–85.

Watkins, C. (2005). Representations of space, spatial practices and spaces of representation: An application of Lefebvre’s spatial triad. Culture and Organization, 11(3), 209–220.

Wazni, M. K., Muliadi, A., & Yamin, M. (2023). Ethnoscience Studies in Making of Bale Adat: Literature Review. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(6), 168–177.

Webster, C. (2007). Property rights, public space and urban design. Town Planning Review, 78(1), 81–101.

Wicaksono, D. H. (2024). Traditional Principles in the Urban Vernacular Environment: Study of Persistence and Erasures of Belief System’s Architectural Expressions in Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia. University of Oregon.

Wijaya, I. (2020). The local wisdom study of luan and teben concept on balinese ethnic houses (Case Study: Balinese Ethnic Houses in Denpasar, Bali). Local Wisdom: Jurnal Ilmiah Kajian, 12(2), 156–166.

Yuliyanto, H., & Musthofa, B. M. (2018). Transformation of Traditional Arts Performances as Cultural Tourism Attraction: Case Study of Saung Angklung Ujdo. KnE Social Sciences, 1229–1248.

Zahnow, R., & Corcoran, J. (2025). From communal places to comfort zones: Familiar stranger encounters in everyday life as a form of belonging. Urban Studies, 62(4), 754–771.