Prof. Dr. Ir. Erni Setyowati, MT from Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering Diponegoro University as the head of community service in Gondoriyo sub-district-Ngaliyan, having two things that underlying the community service program, the first is the exploration of local potency and human resource potency from the Architecture Department. The activity is called “Design and Workshop of the Making of Food Court from Bamboo Material in the Salam Kerep Tourist Village, Ngaliyan district, Semarang”. The participants were Dr. Ir. Eddy Prianto, CER, DEA (the head of the Building Technology laboratory), Prof.Dr.Ir. Edi Purwanto, M.T. (the head of the Building Environment laboratory), Dr. Ir Djoko Indrosaptono, Dr. Ir. Budi Sudarwanto, MT, MT, and Ir. Dhanoe Iswanto, M.T. (Architecture Design Laboratory). There was also HMA (Himpunan Mahasiswa Arsitektur / Architecture Student Association) which was later got involved as a volunteer to study and formulate the Forest Tourism Village with the locals for the last few years.
Gondoriyo district in Ngaliyan is located in the Teak plantation area owned by PT. Perhutani, which is located in the Southwest of Semarang. This place is surrounded by a much well known potential tourism area such as the Gondoriyo waterfall. In general, the locus of the teak forest is becoming the thematic of forest tourism for Semarang. Some potential products of the home industry have been developing for the past few years by the community empowerment activities chaired by Mr. Agung, said Mr. Rudi (Head of RW Gondoriyo sub-district, Ngaliyan district). “That is the glance of local potential in this village,” said Prof. Dr. Ir. Edi Purwanto, MT.
The Workshop of Bamboo installation was followed by training and practice of making a shelter of the Food Court and has started since the beginning of 2020. On the days and nights, even in the rainy days, it did not weaken the spirit of the locals and the team in making the bamboo installation. This spirit was motivated by the strong willingness of the people in accelerating the Sobo Alas culinary tourism activity. Some notes were taken from the head of the Building Technology laboratory, Eddy Prianto, that there were four principals in this bamboo installation: First, bamboo material is stronger than concrete steel bars. It is shown by a lot of plastering for the open areas like a parking lot or the footpaths made by concrete steel bars are now replaced with bamboo tiles. Second, bamboo will be stronger if it is placed in the right place. It means that we have to put the bamboo in the right place, plant it in a complete cast report, soak it in water entirely or put it ‘above the wind’ completely. If it is done by half-measures, it will quicken the weathering process. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of doing things like this.
On this occasion, the team reminded that the placement of the food court shelter must be placed on a base (local stone/foundation). Third, the art of bamboo construction is not just about tying on the straight bamboo stem but also tying it into a curved shape, letter S even up to a circular shape. Fourth, the element for tying up the bamboo (from pegs, ropes or fibers) is not becoming a primary component for the bamboo connector, as far as we have been right in treating the natural character of this bamboo stick material. Even in the current trend, the element of rope from palm fibers has shifted to be part of the decoration/installation of bamboo connections.
The activity does not end here, the sustainability and the exploration in applying the architecture science and other scientific disciplines from Diponegoro University are still be waited by the locals of the Gondoriyo sub-district, Ngaliyan district, Semarang. The continuity of the activity will prove the level of community participation/empowerment said Prof. Erni in the closing ceremony.
