Pura Manik Toya: Mengembalikan Harmoni Manusia, Alam, dan Tuhan

Presented by Bramana Ajas from Tanareka, at ARCHINESIA “10X10=INFINITY” in Plumeria Ballroom, Padma Resort Legian, Bali; Friday, October 17, 2025

[English text below] Revitalisasi Pura Manik Toya di Tabanan menjadi contoh bagaimana arsitektur dapat memulihkan hubungan antara manusia dan alam. Proyek ini berangkat dari peristiwa banjir besar pada 2022 yang merusak hampir seluruh bangunan pura, menyisakan satu bangunan utama yang terlindungi oleh pohon tua di tepi sungai. Peristiwa tersebut membuka kesadaran baru: intervensi manusia terhadap alam tanpa mempertimbangkan keseimbangan ekologis dapat berakibat pada hilangnya nilai spiritual dan lingkungan yang selama ini dijaga oleh masyarakat.

Pendekatan perancangan difokuskan pada upaya mengembalikan keseimbangan antara ruang suci, masyarakat, dan sungai yang menjadi elemen penting dalam konsep Tri Hita Karana—keselarasan antara manusia, Tuhan, dan alam. Bangunan tambahan yang sebelumnya menutup aliran air dibongkar, lalu area tersebut diubah menjadi kolam yang terhubung dengan sumber mata air alami. Kini, ruang itu menjadi tempat warga berkumpul, berinteraksi, dan beraktivitas tanpa mengganggu fungsi sakral pura.

Orientasi kompleks turut disesuaikan agar lebih responsif terhadap kondisi tapak dan aksesibilitas, sementara zona utama pura tetap dipertahankan sebagai bagian dari konservasi cagar budaya. Area tepi sungai yang dahulu tertutup beton kini dibuka kembali, diubah menjadi terasiring yang memungkinkan masyarakat berinteraksi langsung dengan sungai. Ruang-ruang terbuka ini kemudian menjadi wadah kegiatan sosial dan keagamaan yang memperkuat keterikatan komunitas terhadap lingkungannya.

Revitalisasi Pura Manik Toya menunjukkan bahwa keberlanjutan bukan hanya soal teknologi atau material baru, melainkan tentang menghidupkan kembali hubungan spiritual dan ekologis yang telah lama menjadi dasar arsitektur Bali. Melalui pemahaman konteks lokal dan alam, proyek ini menghadirkan bentuk sustainability yang berakar pada kearifan dan keseimbangan. (uci)

Pura Manik Toya: Restoring the Harmony Between Humans, Nature, and the Divine

The revitalization of Pura Manik Toya in Tabanan stands as an example of how architecture can heal the relationship between people and nature. The project began after a massive flood in 2022 destroyed most of the temple complex, leaving only the main shrine—protected by an old tree by the river—intact. This event became a moment of reflection, revealing how unchecked human intervention in the natural landscape can lead to the loss of both ecological and spiritual values long upheld by the community.

The design approach focused on restoring balance among the sacred space, the surrounding community, and the river—an element deeply rooted in the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. Additional structures that once blocked the river flow were removed, and the area was transformed into a pond connected to a natural spring. The newly formed public space now functions as a gathering place for residents, fostering social interactions without disrupting the temple’s sanctity.

The complex’s orientation was also redefined to better respond to the site and its accessibility, while the temple’s core zones remain preserved as part of its cultural heritage. The riverbank—once confined by concrete—has been reopened and reshaped into a terraced landscape, allowing people to reconnect with the river. These open spaces have since evolved into venues for both communal and religious activities, reinforcing the bond between the community and its natural setting.

The revitalization of Pura Manik Toya demonstrates that sustainability is not merely about technology or new materials. It is about reviving the spiritual and ecological relationships that have long grounded Balinese architecture. Through a sensitive understanding of place and culture, this project embodies a form of sustainability deeply rooted in local wisdom and equilibrium. (uci)