A fire engulfed the settlement of Sade Village, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday night, August 22, 2026. The fire broke out while local residents were resting and resulted in hundreds of traditional Sasak houses being burned. Not only buildings and homes were affected, but residents’ belongings, including traditional woven textiles that constitute one of Sade Village’s distinctive local commodities, were also lost in the incident.
Sade Village is one of Indonesia’s traditional villages known as a destination for both domestic and international tourists. The village preserves the rich traditional architecture of the Sasak people, as well as tangible and intangible cultural heritage that continues to be maintained and preserved by the local community. Therefore, the fire not only caused material losses for residents but also posed a threat to the continuity of the cultural heritage and traditional architectural character that define Sade Village.
In response to the incident, Prof. Bakti Setiawan and Prof. Ikaputra from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) joined the UGM Rapid Response Team for Sade Village. The team is tasked with conducting a damage assessment to identify the condition and extent of damage following the fire, as well as preparing a master plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sade Village. These efforts are intended to support a recovery process that addresses not only the physical aspects of buildings and settlements but also takes into consideration the cultural values and traditional architectural character of Sade Village.
UGM’s involvement is further strengthened by its alumni network and collaboration with various stakeholders. Two UGM Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MPWK) alumni, Sisca and Ova, have joined the Universitas Mataram (Unram) team to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Sade Village. In addition, Taufikurachman, who has experience in regional development planning and infrastructure development in Central Lombok Regency, is also contributing to efforts to support the response and recovery process in Sade Village. The involvement of various stakeholders from higher education institutions, local government, and professional networks is an important part of building a collaborative approach to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sade Village.
UGM’s involvement in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sade Village is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, particularly efforts to protect and safeguard cultural heritage while strengthening the resilience of settlements to disasters. The recovery of Sade Village is expected not merely to restore the function of affected homes, but also to contribute to preserving traditional architecture, cultural identity, and the way of life of the Sasak people as valuable heritage for future generations.
Reported by Rindi Dwi Cahyati