Symbolic Meaning of Cultural Space in Nggela Indigenous Settlement: A Case Study from Flores Island, Indonesia

Cultural space refers to the entirety of cultural values and their concretization, encompassing user activities and the physical forms of settlements and architecture. This study aims to uncover the meaning of cultural space in the oldest indigenous settlement in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara: the Nggela indigenous settlement of the Lio ethnic group. This qualitative-inductive research began with data collection through field observation, interviews, and visual documentation. Analysis was conducted through in-depth description to identify the spatial elements and activities within the settlement and the traditional house (Sa’o Nggua). Based on this description, the underlying meanings of cultural space were interpreted. Findings show that the ceremonial activities are primarily centered on the center of customary settlement (Puse Nua), a sacred courtyard located at the heart of the village that serves as the ritual center (Kanga), and traditional houses (Sa’o Nggua). These elements serve as a medium through which elders communicate with the Creator, the ancestors, and nature. The meaning of this triadic connection, human, divine, and natural world, is what compels the community to preserve the spatial configuration and its embedded values, despite the physical degradation or material transformations due to time and natural disasters.