Decoding heritage: architectural anatomy of Kalang house principal facades in 19th–20th century Surakarta, Indonesia

The Kalang indigenous community, rooted in cultural and historical heritage, developed distinctive architectural styles embodying social identity and craftsmanship as builder specialists. Among these, the principal facade holds particular significance as the most publicly visible aspect of a building and serves as a reflection of social narratives. However, due to the community’s insular nature, Kalang architecture remains underexplored in scholarly discourse, necessitating a systematic codification of its principal facade. This study aims to decipher and codify the architectural anatomy of the principal facades of traditional Kalang houses from the 19th to early 20th centuries, employing archival studies, field surveys, and architectural analysis. A historical diachronic approach guides the organization of case studies. Fieldwork conducted during 2023–2024 involved architectural drawings, semi-structured interviews, and photographic surveys of surviving Kalang houses. Analysis was carried out by identifying the architectural elements that define these facades. As a result, five salient features were identified as recurring patterns. Showcased kuncungan, transoms, columns, balustrades, and internal eaves as unique features in Kalang houses studied. By codifying within an analytical framework, advanced efforts to decode Kalang architectural heritage in Surakarta offer a foundational reference for future research and contribute to the conservation of the Kalang community settlement.