The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 marked a turning point for Kobe City, transforming it into a center for expertise in safety management, particularly in disaster prevention and mitigation. Over the years, Kobe has become a hub for national and international organizations, institutions, researchers, and academics seeking to learn from the advanced safety management systems developed in response to the disaster.

As part of the Asian Cooperative Program (ACP), Kansai University of International Studies (KUISs) in Kobe, Japan, hosted an activity titled “The Japanese Safety Management and Japanese Culture.” This program ran from February 6 to 17, 2025, bringing together students from various ACP member universities, including Bramertha Salsabella Roseli (Mertha), a student from the Department of Architecture and Planning. The initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as quality education (SDG 4), innovation in infrastructure (SDG 9), and fostering global partnerships (SDG 17). read more

The Ecobreeze Team won 1st place in the Paper Competition SIGMA 2025, organized by the SEG & HAGI Student Chapter of Universitas Padjadjaran on February 22, 2025. The team consists of Ilkarizia Etro Candra Gabesya (KPJ 2023), Mulky Djati Sabila (KPJ 2023), and Zuhud Ahnaf Fauzi (PWK 2022).

In this competition, the Ecobreeze Team presented a scientific paper titled “ECOBREEZE: An Adaptive, Educational, and Constructive Spatial Technology Program Based on Land Surface Temperature for Reducing Air Conditioning in Urban Heat Islands as a Representation of SDGs 11 and 13 in Surabaya.” This research highlights the impact of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in urban areas and offers a Land Surface Temperature (LST)-based solution to reduce dependence on air conditioning (AC). Through this approach, their research supports the achievement of SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDGs 13 (Climate Action). read more

During the peak of the 79^th Hari Pendidikan Tinggi Teknik (HPTT) celebration last February, the Department of Architecture and Planning (DTAP) achieved a milestone by winning third place in the Jagoan Kompos Competition. Composting organic waste, such as fallen leaves and food scraps, is a simple, practical, and eco-friendly method to support responsible waste management. It helps prevent bad odors, reduces the risk of disease, and maintains a clean and pleasant environment. Through this competition, the Faculty of Engineering aims to inspire departments to actively contribute to the Zero Garbage Campaign. This aligns perfectly with this year’s HPTT theme, ‘The Role of Engineering Science in Responding to Global Climate Change and Creating a Quality and Sustainable Environment,’ addressing SDGs 3, 11, and 13. read more

A team of alumni from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully earned an Honorable Mention in the EPOCH45 International Planning Competition, a multidisciplinary competition for students and young professionals in spatial planning for Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN). The competition was organized in collaboration between Diponegoro University and MARS Architects, aiming to find innovative solutions for urban and landscape development in the next phase of IKN’s construction. The award announcement took place on March 18, 2025, at Erasmus Huis, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Jakarta. read more

On Thursday, December 11, 2024, the Closed Thesis Examination of Ade Nurma Prasetyo was conducted for the thesis titled “Performance Analysis of Balconies as Shading on Cooling Energy and Visual Comfort in Vertical Residential Buildings in Jakarta.” This thesis addresses the issue of sustainable development goals (SDG 11): sustainable cities and communities.

The Closed Examination took place in Room K1, 3rd Floor, Department of Architectural Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FT UGM) and was attended by Dr. Eng. Agus Hariyadi, S.T., M.Sc. (Examiner), Ir. Jatmika Adi Suryabrata, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Examiner 1), and Ir. Sentagi Sesotya Utami, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU. (Examiner 2). read more

Yogyakarta, 11 February 2025 – Master program for Urban Regional Planning conducted a guest lecture was held in the Development Management course, featuring three remarkable speakers: Prof. Andrew Butt, Dr. Melissa Neave, and Dr. Serene Ho. Prof. Andrew Butt is from RMIT University, he is an expert in rural and regional planning, blending technology with urban planning to create smarter and more sustainable cities. Dr. Melissa Neave is from RMIT University, she is an environmental geographer, focuses on managing natural resources and understanding the environmental impacts of urbanization. Dr. Serene Ho, from The University of Melbourne, known for her work on land tenure governance, shed light on the challenges of managing land data. read more

Yogyakarta, 7 February 2025 – Dr. Sonia Roitman, an Associate Professor in Development Planning at the University of Queensland, recently visited Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to share her insights on Indonesian Planning in Southern Planning Context, especially her insight on urban inequalities and housing policies. The event brought together UGM students, Paguyuban Kalijawi, and ARKOM, sparking a lively discussion about the unique and complex challenges and opportunities in urban development, particularly in Indonesia. read more

On March 7, 2025, the Doctoral Program of Architecture, DTAP FT UGM, held a Closed Examination for Doctoral Candidate Sri Sunarti with the dissertation titled “Owah Ora Malih, Malih Ora Owah, Malih: The Semiotic Meaning Behind Architectural Changes of the Pagelaran of the Yogyakarta Karaton in the 20th Century.”

As with previous royal palaces that have undergone changes, restorations, or renovations, the Pagelaran of the Yogyakarta Karaton also experienced significant transformations. While traditional environments of the Pagelaran are believed to remain unchanged, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana VIII made a series of changes in the 20th century that re-established noble values. Therefore, the researcher views the concept of “owah” and “malih” (both referring to change) as compelling phenomena worth studying. read more

As rapid urbanization continues to shape Southeast Asia, the need for sustainable water management becomes increasingly critical. Addressing this challenge, PolyUrbanWaters is a groundbreaking research and project network funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It brings together academic institutions, municipalities, government agencies, civil society, and private-sector stakeholders from Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Germany to develop a polycentric approach to urban water management. read more

Monday, February 10th marked the first day of the second semester of Academic Year 2024/2025 at the Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada. To commence the new semester, the Architecture Study Program; in association with the Professional Architect Education Program, had successfully held a public lecture titled ‘Architecting the Future: Urban Innovation for SDGs’. The lecture was held in Room K1 – K2 and was attended on-campus by students from Bachelor, Master, Doctoral, and Professional Program and through an online platform by active students who were still undergoing their internship. read more