The Value and Meaning of Urban Space: The Transformation of Peneleh European Cemetery into Urban Green Open Space

Abstract

The development of Surabaya in the 19th and 20th centuries was significantly shaped by the growing demand for urban spatial functions, including burial grounds as a consequence of increasing population. The Peneleh European Cemetery, covering an area of 4.5 hectares, was one of the major burial areas of that time. This study aims to examine the spatial transformation patterns triggered by population growth and its impact on the emergence of recreational urban spaces. A qualitative research method was employed, with data collected through field observations, interviews with local residents, and literature studies. The data were analyzed using Henri Lefebvre’s Theory of the Production of Space, which includes spatial practice, representations of space, and representational space. The findings reveal that the cemetery’s function has shifted: in spatial practice, it serves as a pedestrian route and social space; in representations of space, it is no longer seen as a fearful site but as a space with practical utility; and in representational space, it is increasingly viewed through the lens of heritage, enabling tourism and economic uses, which may conflict with the social use of the space by the local community. These findings indicate that the transformation of space at the Peneleh European Cemetery reflects the ongoing socio-spatial dynamics of the city and illustrates how communities respond to spatial needs through adaptation and reinterpretation of existing spaces.