Ajrih Asih as Transcendental Structure of Heritage Architecture: A Phenomenological Exploration at Van Lith Complex, Indonesia

This study investigates the transcendental meaning of the Van Lith Complex, a Catholic educational heritage site in Muntilan, Central Java. Conservation practices in the country remain dominated by material indicators, such as physical restoration or tourism output, because the intentional and spiritual dimensions of users were often overlooked. Therefore, this gap was addressed by applying a transcendental phenomenological approach, centred on the disclosure of meaning beyond descriptive accounts. Spatial awareness was analyzed through epoché, horizontalization, eidetic reduction, and noematic synthesis, enabling the identification of essential structures grounded in the lived experiences of clergy, educators, alumni, and residents who actively participated in religious and educational practices. Additionally, the findings resulted in the formulation of Ajrih Asih, a phenomenological construct that united reverential respect (Ajrih) and compassionate service (Asih). This construct showed that heritage space functioned as collective consciousness, continually renewed through rituals, relationships, and intergenerational values. A four-quadrant model was developed to explain how Ajrih Asih dynamically bridged leadership and architecture. Ajrih-Leadership focused on moral authority rooted in Christian faith, while Asih-Architecture celebrated inclusive communal spaces. Both collaboratively ensured continuity of spatial function and spiritual significance across generations. The present analysis contributed to heritage scholarship by connecting Catholic–Javanese experiences with global frameworks such as UNESCO's Historic Urban Landscape, the Nara Document on Authenticity, and resilience theory. Furthermore, Ajrih Asih offered a culturally rooted yet internationally relevant approach to heritage governance, positioning reverence and compassion as moral ideals and practical strategies for sustaining heritage architecture amidst ecological and social challenges.