The image of Gresik Town Square based on participatory design of multicultural society in Gresik

Gresik Town Square, or Alun-alun Gresik, was originally an open space that was used by local residents for various activities. However, in 2017, the Gresik Town Square was converted into an Islamic Center, which caused pros and cons in the society. This refusal is based on the position of the Gresik Town Square as a cultural heritage and the conditions around the Square are not only based on Islamic culture. This is marked by the existence of the Pentecostal Church and Kim Hin Kiong Temple near the Alun-Alun. This phenomenon generates a “placelessness”, which describes the ignorance of special feature of places in the creation of the new landscapes. The existence of Alun-Alun Gresik, which is an Islamic Center, can slowly replace the special meaning of places, such as the Pentecostal Church and Kim Hin Kiong Temple which are also highly related to the cultural traditions. Based on this problem, the multicultural condition of the Old City of Gresik is the basis for restoring Gresik Town Square by respecting other cultures. Using participatory design approach, this project is trying to involve participants’ contributions in seeing this issue and giving aspirations on the design of multicultural Gresik Town Square. The research employs field observation, interview, survey, and literature review for data collection. The results showed that two groups (accepting and rejecting the design) are likely to have multicultural image of the town square, supported by activities and facilities that accommodate each communities’ culture.