Symbolic and aesthetic fusion in Keraton Surakarta: colonial influence and Javanese cultural resistance through architectural design adaptation

This study examines the impact of Dutch colonialism on Javanese culture in the 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on the adaptive processes at Keraton Surakarta, as a cultural and political epicenter. It investigates how colonial power reshaped political, economic, social, and cultural structures, and how these transformations are embodied in the palace’s architecture. Employing a historical-qualitative method through archival sources and literature analysis, the study reveals that despite colonial dominance Keraton Surakarta endured as a symbol of Javanese identity and traditional sovereignty. Economically, it engaged with the forced cultivation system while maintaining indigenous socio-cultural practices. Socially Javanese rituals and court traditions despite external pressures. Architecturally, the palace blended European and Javanese elements, reflecting not only adaptation but also a deliberate strategy of cultural negotiation and symbolic resistance. This hybridity was instrumental in asserting identity and resilience amidst foreign rule. The study underscores architecture’s role as a medium for cultural preservation and political expression demonstrating how built environments can serve both as artifacts of adaptation and as living symbols of heritage. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of cultural resilience and the dynamic preservation of historical sites within colonial contexts.