Limited concept and theory of architecture descriptively and normatively make the practice of urban planning in Indonesia adapt to Western concept and theory. As a result, the existing design of architecture still does not fulfill suitability and characteristics of Indonesian people who are specific and heterogenic. “This situation encourages the development of architecture theories based on phenomenon of city architecture which develops in Indonesia,” said Ir. Djoko Wijono, M.Arch., at UGM Graduate School, Wedenesday (16/2) in his open doctoral exam.
In maintaining his dissertation The concept of Saged: Architecture Spirit of Small Town, Djoko Wijono said that city architecture is an entity of human work on the abstract to the concrete in the form of configuration of cross-geometric and functional space. It is an incidenta product, but meaningful for the community both in physical elements or natural ones which have been modified.“ This is the practical consequence of the forum of city community, including private and state ones which last daily, regularly, and periodically, which are the practical application of prevailing customs which are interpreted practically from the values in the power of the concept of saged,” Djoko explained.
He added that drastic change in social, politic and economic system in a nation may strike Indonesia quickly. Monetary and economic crises in other parts of the world may cause similar crises in Indonesia. This kind of crisis is like natural disasters, destroying community’s capacity if it has no good social, politic and economic strength. Therefore, capacity to manage disaster by building strength in all fields is expected to become the strong foundation for dealing with crises. “It is the post-disaster advanced jump that needs to be built to manage all crises,” he said.
Besides Governor of Province of Yogyakarta Special Region, also attending the event were Board of Trustees, Academic Senate, Council of Professors and Auditing Council, University and Faculty leadership, civil and military officials, and specially volunteers of Merapi.
According to Djoko, the desired quality of life in various dimensions of economic, social, cultural, political, and psychology is the central and most important aspect in human life. This quality of life has great power in shaping and developing the city’s architecture in a variety of character.
The concept of Saged has the potential to develop and apply in various different scales and even outside the context of urban architecture, such as architecture in space, architecture and landscape architecture. It has also the potential to develop in the architecture of the city in large cities and towns which are built based on architectural blueprint design for the city. "The values which are always inherent latently in the human mind will always emerge and become formidable force when the environment is not capable to fulfill the mindset," Djoko Wijono who passed with honors and became the 1346th doctor from UGM.