Prof. Ir. T. Yoyok Wahyu Subroto, M.Eng., Ph.D. was officially inaugurated as Professor of architectural science on Tuesday (11/7) at Senate Hall UGM. In front of hundreds of participants, Prof. Yoyok delivered his speech entitled Synergy Between Architecture and Cultural Wisdom for the Future Nusantara Civilization.
Yoyok began his speech by explaining one of four phases of living style which is domestic architecture. This phase refers to the development of human experiment in developing the residential building that is marked by the cultural complexity and the pragmatism of human activities structure and its natural environment spatially. Those influence the development of techniques and building’s shapes that are used to create a residential space based on the local cultural characteristics. Semantically, the elements of residential space and building are expressed through symbols in those elements.
Yoyok further said the discussion regarding architecture and cultural wisdom in Nusantara will be disembogued on the peaks of cultural works of the nation’s ethnic groups. He explained that overall the cultural bonds architecturally are united in the concept of cosmological space that creates a surface of the peak of Nusantara culture.
“It also touches the surface of Nusantara civilization which is established based on the widest horizon of civilization from all the works of humankind in Nusantara,” said Yoyok.
Finally, the existence of architectural cultural works is potential to maintain as well as strengthen the identity and uniqueness of the society who owns the cultures. It also emphasized the originality of the society. This potential will affirm the power of the cultural owners to keep having high spirit and enthusiasm in maintaining their existence.
“The development of the cultural-based architectural works not only creates the pillars of Nusantara civilization but also strengthens those pillars,” said Yoyok.
At the end of his speech, Prof. Yoyok said architecture through the development of architectural anthropology science has roles, functions, and super power in giving contributions to the pillars of Nusantara civilization. However, there are several requirements in order to realize it which are high awareness of the architects on the comprehension of cultural identity and authenticity, the positive initiation from the architects in making cultures as a basic and orientation for their ideas, as well as awareness from the society as the cultures’ owners, to consistently maintain their cultural wisdom in the architectural works.
“If those three requirements can be fulfilled, it is possible for Nusantara civilization that is encouraged by the architectural anthropology science to really exist,” he added.