In several parts of the world, the month of May is a time to organize and participate in Jane’s Walk—a global event that celebrates the legacy and ideas of Jane Jacobs, a renowned urban activist whose 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities challenged the myopic views of modernist urban planning. Jacobs was widely influential in reshaping how we think about cities and livable neighborhoods. One of the central ideas in her work is the importance of walking—not just as a mode of movement, but as a way to experience and understand urban spaces.
This year, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, a group of students joined a local celebration of Jane’s Walk, initiated and guided by Diananta Pramitasari, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D. (Head of the Master’s Program in Architecture, UGM), in collaboration with Melania Alvianti from Kota Kita, Surakarta. A total of 14 students from UGM’s Master Programs in Architecture and Urban Design participated in the event. The walking route began at Pathuk Market, continuing through Ngampilan and Kauman neighborhoods, Masjid Gedhe Kauman, and along Malioboro Street, concluding at Djoen Lama Bakery. This activity, which supports the achievement of SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), offered students a meaningful opportunity to sharpen their sensitivity to urban experiences—through one of the simplest daily acts: walking.
“Look, listen, linger, and think about what you see.”
— Jane Jacobs
Source: https://mars.ft.ugm.ac.id/2025/05/26/listening-to-place-through-janes-walk/