Amid the growing concerns around mental health in major cities, a crucial question arises: are our cities truly designed for people?

July 20, 2025—Addressing this issue, Dr. Ir. Tri Mulyani Sunarharum, S.T., a lecturer and researcher from the Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, delivered a powerful message in a national discussion forum titled Transforming Cities Through Intergenerational Resilience: Integrating Eco-Wellbeing and Social Equity as Pathways to Sustainability. The event, initiated by I AM OKAY X UNA Indonesia, was held via Zoom and brought together speakers from various disciplines, all with a shared concern for sustainable urban development. read more

Master’s students of Architecture, Class of 2024, Architectural Design Concentration, Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully held their final Studio presentation on Monday, June 16, 2025. In this event, each student participated in a display and exhibition to present their works as the outcome of the Studio 1 Architectural Design course, which has been carried out over the past semester.

Throughout the course, students were divided into two thematic groups: the “shadow” group and the “corner” group. Three lecturers guided the students in developing these themes: Harry Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. (supervisor for the “corner” theme); Dr.Eng. Alexander Rani Suryandono, S.T., M.Arch. (supervisor for the “shadow” theme); and Ar. Arief Isrefidianto, S.T., MAUD., IAI (supervisor for both themes). read more

On Tuesday, June 16, 2025, six Master’s students of Architecture (Class of 2024), Universitas Gadjah Mada, who are enrolled in the Studio 2 course within the Architectural Design Research Group (KBK Desain Arsitektur), conducted their final presentations showcasing the research they had undertaken throughout the semester.

Each student carried out a semester-long research project under the supervision of the KBK Architectural Design faculty members: Prof. Ir. Tarcicius Yoyok Wahyu Subroto, M.Eng., Ph.D., IPU; Diananta Pramitasari, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D.; Syam Rachma Marcillia, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D.; Mario Lodeweik Lionar, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D.; and Odilia Renaningtyas Manifesty, S.T., MA(UD)., Ph.D. read more

In response to the challenges of climate change and energy efficiency in tropical urban environments, the Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has conducted an experimental study focused on the implementation of a green wall system on a campus building. The research, titled “Effect of Greenwalls on Building Energy Use and Urban Heat Island: Insights from a Campus-Based Case Study on Facade Systems, Plant Performance, User Perceptions, and Social-Educational Impact,” provides an in-depth evaluation of the vertical garden installed on the east-facing facade of the Department’s three-story building, examining its technical, environmental, and socio-educational impacts. read more

Architect and professional practitioner Ir. Adi Utomo Hatmoko, M.Arch., who also serves as a lecturer at the Architecture and Planning Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has once again achieved national recognition. His design for the Bali International Hospital received the highest recognition for architectural masterpieces in the Hospital and Healthcare category from IndoBuildTech on July 4, 2025. This award highlights the excellence of the design concept, the precision in planning, and the contribution of architecture to sustainability and quality of life. read more

Pushing the boundaries of classroom learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration, a revolutionary course is redefining how students engage with real-world construction challenges. The Undergraduate Architecture Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable architectural education through the launch of a special course titled Sustainable Materials and Construction. Delivered in the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, the 3-credit course was developed in collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Integrated Engineering) at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia, and officially commenced at the end of May 2025. Far beyond blueprints and design theory, this course offers a holistic view of the construction industry—integrating architecture, civil engineering, and environmentally conscious technology. read more

Efforts to find sustainable solutions in architecture are no longer limited to land-based development, but now also extend to coastal and marine environments. In response to this growing challenge, the Undergraduate Architecture Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has partnered with the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) to offer a collaborative elective course titled Floating Architecture. The course was held during the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, and was designed to broaden students’ perspectives on the potential for human life at sea, and how architecture can contribute sustainable solutions in this context. read more

A Master’s student in Architecture from the 2022 cohort, under the Building Technology Research Group (KBK Teknologi), Department of Architecture and Planning, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has completed his final thesis defense in June 2025. The student, Ade Nurma Prasetyo, presented his thesis titled: “Performance Analysis of Balconies as Shading Devices on Cooling Energy and Visual Comfort in Vertical Residential Buildings in Jakarta.”

This research addresses an issue relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9): Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The findings indicate that balconies located on the exterior of vertical residential units—characterized by their Horizontal Shadow Angle (HSA)—can perform effectively in reducing cooling energy consumption by up to 22%, without requiring changes to the building’s shape or what is referred to in the study as the shape factor. read more

Ir. Adi Utomo Hatmoko, M.Arch., IAI., AA., an architect and active academic from Department of Architecture and Planning, Universitas Gadjah Mada, was invited as a guest lecturer for the Architectural Design Studio 2 course in the Master’s Program of Architecture at Petra Christian University, Surabaya. The session was held on Friday, June 20, 2025, from 16.00 to 18.30 WIB at the Main Hall Pascasarjana, Room P 03.04, 3rd Floor. His presence brought valuable insights and strengthened the students’ learning experience through a practical, real-world-based approach.  read more

Students of PPAr UGM had finished submitting their design proposals for C40: Reinventing Cities Competition. Accordingly, the students had also completed their journey in participating the Professional Studio II course as they now wait for announcements from the competition. To end the course, on its final exam as well as its final display, the students presented their designs to their supervisors and two guest architects: Ar. Syaref Pramono,S.T. IAI., AA and Ar. Aditya Noor Hadhy Utama, S.T., M.Ars., IAI. read more