REINTERPRETING WEST JAVANESE ORNAMENTATION IN CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE: AESTHETIC MORPHOLOGY ANALYSIS OF THE AL-JABBAR MOSQUE MA’RODH

Abstract

This article explores how traditional West Javanese ornamentation contributes to the construction of regional aesthetic identity through its integration in the architectural design of the Al-Jabbar Grand Mosque in Bandung, Indonesia. In 2020, when the designer researched this work, aesthetic morphology was precisely applied to investigate the visual forms, structural elements, and symbolic meanings embedded in the decorative ornaments of the gate of ma’rodh (museum). The study identifies specific traditional ornaments—such as mega sumirat, wadasan, and other West Java geometric ornaments—and examines how these forms are transformed and contextualised within a contemporary Islamic architectural framework. Using aesthetic morphology analysis as the primary approach to support the exploration and literature on Sundanese or West Java cultural aesthetics, the article reveals that the Al-Jabbar Grand Mosque is a spiritual and cultural landmark. It represents Islamic identity and preserves and reinterprets local traditions through form. The findings suggest that incorporating regional ornamentation through the aesthetic morphology approach strengthens cultural continuity while fostering a dialogue between heritage and modernity in public architecture. This research contributes to broader discourses on cultural identity representation, architectural character, and the role of ornamentation in place-making.