Cultural symbolism vs structural efficiency: Study on “Soko Tunggal” (single column) heritage mosque architecture in Indonesia

Abstract

From the structural angle, the four-column structure is often considered the most efficient and rational way for Indonesia’s common mosque structure. Single-column structure (or “Soko Tunggal”) used in some historic Javanese mosques as the expression of religious and cultural symbolism, in modern times, is often considered as not efficient, not strong enough, or even not essential. The paper presents an argument that a single-column possesses advantages as good as the four-column structure. “Soko Tunggal” represents the “alpha causa prima”, or God as the only divine power, the central premise in Islam which is manifested through mosque architecture. The study employs a mix-research methodology to study cultural symbolism’s significance by applying topological analysis and structural efficiency using the structural analysis method and their correlation, to show the correlation between cultural symbolism and structural efficiency. There is no conflict between these two elements. The paper contributes to strengthening our knowledge in cultural symbolism discourse in the structural aspect of architecture, and understanding that tangible efficiency is not in conflict with the intangible cultural symbolic values.