Redefining Urban Architecture in the Decentralization Era.

Urban architecture can be used to assert thru supremacy via symbolic capital and symbolic domination. In turn, the architecture becomes a product of the future and of social change that is leading to both recognition of symbolic dominance and a field of power contestation. However, despite can generate positive effects, the reassertion of power practice in the architecture does not always occur smoothly and peacefully. The implementation of the power such as progressive societal and legislative agendas is also possible, in common with the rhetoric of unity in pluralism. This becomes a symbol of production of a group with its own set of preferences and is also mostly used to an increasingly broad distribution of power ruling regime. In this situation, the representation of the architecture can lose its aesthetic autonomy and becomes an effective medium in structuring and representing the power in the framework of everyday life. This paper is written based on a qualitative approach by collecting and structuring field data through several methods such as observation, fieldwork study, interviews, and group discussion. Through this paper, it is used to show how the practice of power has been connecting to urban architecture in Pekanbaru city. This connection became a key role in reinvigorating the existing field of privileged practices. This can be found Malay architecture has been appointed the main reference for urban architecture that must be applied on built forms of the city. From this case, urban architecture becomes a designated agent that is regulated and directed by whoever holds the power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]