Carrying the theme “Indonesian Architectural Historiography – For Tomorrow,” the event brought together academics, practitioners, students, and observers of architectural history, theory, and criticism to revisit how the history of Indonesian architecture is understood and written amid evolving perspectives and emerging knowledge.

Revisiting How Architectural History Is Written
The event was opened by Head of KK-STKA SAPPK ITB, Dr. Indah Widiastuti, S.T., M.T. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of reexamining how the history of Indonesian architecture has been written, including questioning who has been recorded, who has been overlooked, and what kinds of knowledge have been given a place within historical narratives.

^{Head of KK-STKA SAPPK ITB, Dr. Indah Widiastuti, S.T., M.T., delivers her remarks during STKA DAY 5 at the Gallery Room, Labtek XIB Architecture Building, ITB Ganesha Campus, Friday (September 11, 2026). (ITB/Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz)}

“What matters most is the emergence of a shared awareness of the urgent need to find a format for writing Indonesian architectural history that is credible and can be held accountable,” she said.

According to Indah, historiography is not merely concerned with recording events from the past, but also with the process of selecting, organizing, and shaping knowledge about the past. Therefore, it is important to continuously question who is included in history and what kinds of knowledge are given space within the narrative of Indonesian architecture.

The opening remarks continued with Vice Dean for Resources of SAPPK ITB, Dr. Allis Nurdini, S.T., M.T. She expressed her appreciation for the return of STKA DAY and noted that the chosen theme was highly relevant to the development of architectural knowledge.

^{Vice Dean for Resources of SAPPK ITB, Dr. Allis Nurdini, S.T., M.T., delivers her remarks during STKA DAY 5 at the Gallery Room, Labtek XIB Architecture Building, ITB Ganesha Campus, Friday (September 11, 2026). (ITB/Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz)}

“Architectural history is not merely a record of the past, but also a foundation for understanding the present and imagining the future of architecture,” she said.

Reading History through Archives, Tradition, and Changing Times
The main session was moderated by Dr. Eng. Arif Sarwo Wibowo, S.T., M.T. in a roundtable discussion format. The session featured three speakers presenting different perspectives: Setiadi Sopandi, S.T., M.A.; I Nyoman Gede Mahaputra, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D.; and Prof. Ir. Iwan Sudradjat, M.S.A., Ph.D.

^{Dr. Eng. Arif Sarwo Wibowo, S.T., M.T., moderates the discussion during STKA DAY 5 at the Gallery Room, Labtek XIB Architecture Building, ITB Ganesha Campus, Friday (September 11, 2026). (ITB/Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz)}
Setiadi Sopandi opened the presentations with a session titled “Write Your Own Adventure in Architectural History.” He discussed how architectural history can be examined through perspectives and sources that continue to evolve. The emergence of new archives, for instance, creates opportunities to uncover information that can enrich historical narratives that were previously underexplored.

^{Setiadi Sopandi, S.T., M.A., delivers his presentation during STKA DAY 5 at the Gallery Room, Labtek XIB Architecture Building, ITB Ganesha Campus, Friday (September 11, 2026). (ITB/Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz)}

He also highlighted the importance of adopting more thematic and reflective approaches to reading architectural history. Through such approaches, history is not understood solely through established narratives, but can be continuously revisited as new questions, sources, and needs emerge.

The next presentation was delivered by I Nyoman Gede Mahaputra under the title “Negotiating Modernism and Tradition: The Paradox of Balinese Architectural Development, 1900s–1990s.”

He discussed the development of Balinese architecture through the relationship between tradition, modernism, and the various interests that emerged within colonial, postcolonial, and tourism-related contexts.

^{I Nyoman Gede Mahaputra, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., delivers his presentation during STKA DAY 5 at the Gallery Room, Labtek XIB Architecture Building, ITB Ganesha Campus, Friday (September 11, 2026). (ITB/Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz)}

Nyoman emphasized the role played by various actors in this process. The transformation of Balinese architecture did not progress linearly from tradition toward modernity, but rather through ongoing processes of selection, adaptation, and negotiation.

“So, when we look at the architecture found in Bali today, it represents a practice of negotiation that continues to remain alive,” he explained.

Toward a More Critical Historiography of Indonesian Architecture
Meanwhile, Prof. Ir. Iwan Sudradjat, M.S.A., Ph.D. presented a session titled “Toward a Critical Historiography of Indonesian Architecture for the Future: A Project of Interpretation.”

He began by critically examining the concept of operative history, referring to the tendency to use history in support of particular agendas within architectural practice. According to him, history needs to be freed from overly instrumental uses and approached more critically.

Iwan encouraged participants to look at architecture not only in terms of form and style, but also as a product of the social, political, economic, and power-related contexts surrounding it.

“We must understand that architecture is a product of a context that depends on its situation. And that situation also changes,” he said.

The three presentations then served as a foundation for an open discussion involving the speakers and participants. Through the roundtable format, STKA DAY 5 brought together a range of perspectives on how Indonesian architectural history can be read, interpreted, and written.

Rather than aiming to produce a single conclusion, the discussion opened space for more diverse questions and interpretations of Indonesian architectural historiography, including possibilities for incorporating new sources, perspectives, and interpretations in the future.

STKA DAY 5 was organized by KK-STKA SAPPK ITB in collaboration with the Indonesian Architectural History Institute (LSAI) and the Indonesian Architecture Museum, with support from Leica. The event forms part of an ongoing effort to sustain dialogue on architectural history, theory, and criticism as new perspectives, sources of knowledge, and questions continue to emerge.