51 LANTINGJournal of Architecture, Volume 2, Nomor 1, Februari 2013, Halaman 51-61 ISSN 2089-8916 OLD TRADITION WITH NEW APPROACH: WATER-BASED DWELLINGS IN THE NETHERLANDS Indah Mutia Program Studi Arsitektur, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarmasin mutia07@gmail.com ABSTRAK Eksperimen yang terus-menerus di bidang tata air ditandai dengan pembangunan tanggul, polder, bendungan dan reklamasi lahan serta integrasi manajemen air ke dalam perencanaan tata ruang di abad ke-21 telah menghasilkan pandangan dan penerimaan baru terhadap keberadaan air di Belanda. Bentang alam kota-kota di Belanda saat ini ditandai oleh cara baru dalam bermukim di atas air seperti rumah terapung dan rumah di bantaran air yang dianggap sebagai salah satu solusi terhadap tantangan-tantangan baru perubahan iklim dan pembangunan kota. Pandangan klasik seperti suasana lingkungan yang menarik dan menyenangkan juga melatarbelakangi alasan orang tinggal di atas air. Makalah ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki perkembangan hunian berbasis air di Belanda sejak zaman dahulu (rumah perahu tradisional) sampai saat ini (perumahan terapung) dengan cara membandingkan alasan dan isu-isu terkait bermukim di atas air beserta karakteristik spasial (lokasi). Kata kunci: hunian berbasis air, perumahan terapung, rumah perahu, Belanda ABSTRACT On going experiments in water management marked by dikes, polders, dams and land reclamations as well as integration of water management into spatial planning in the 21th Century have resulted in the new insight and acceptation toward water in the Netherlands. Dutch landscape is currently highlighted by a new way of living on the water such as floating houses and waterside living that is regarded as a solution to contemporary challenges of climate change and urban development. Other „classic view‟ such as attractive and pleasant environment also emerge as motives behind living on the water.This paper is aimed at investigating the development of water-based dwellings in the Netherlands from the past – traditional boat houses to the present days – floating neighbourhoods by comparing the motives and issues living on the water and its spatial characteristics. Keywords: water-based dwellings, floating neighbourhoods, boat houses, Netherlands INTRODUCTION Living on the water has been the picture of Dutch cities since thousands years ago; not only because the country is located at the low-lying area but also due to its long history as a trade nation with Amsterdam as a central marketplace. After Dutch sea trade declining end of the 19th Century, many retired sea barges were converted into permanent residences that moored at the canals and the waterways. This was the beginning of the famous house boat living in the Netherlands that still exists until present days. On the other hand, constant battles with floods since 800 AD have brought the „love and hate‟ relationship with water and influenced the formation of towns and settlements in Dutch cities. On going experiments in water management and engineering marked by dikes, polders, dams and land reclamations as well as integration of water management into spatial planning in the 21th Century have resulted in the new insight and acceptation toward water that was merely defensive (e.g. building dikes) and offensive (e.g.drying lakes). Dutch landscape is currently highlighted by a new way of living on the water such as floating houses and waterside living that is regarded as a solution to contemporary challenges of climate change and urban development. Other „classic view‟ such as attractive and pleasant environment also emerge as motives behind living on the water. This paper is aimed at investigating the development of water-based dwellings in the Netherlands from the past – traditional boat houses to the present days – floating