On Friday, (20/10), the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia held seARCH (Public Lecture Series on Architecture) vol. 5. Featuring Prof. Nangkula Utaberta from UCSI University Malaysia, the public lecture was themed “Reconstructing Sustainable Mosques: Between Object and Value Centred Discourse.” The public lecture was attended by students of Architecture Design Studio 5 Heritage Unit and Postgraduate students of the Department of Architecture.
In his opening remarks, Dr Achmad Hery Fuad, M.Eng., Head of the Department of Architecture at FTUI, expressed his hope that this guest lecture would trigger a sustainable collaboration in education between the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Indonesia and UCSI University Malaysia.
Prof Nangkula Utaberta, the guest speaker, brought an interesting perspective on mosque reconstruction. He emphasised that so far, mosque construction has emphasised its physical aspects rather than social values and community needs. According to him, mosques should not only be buildings of worship, but community centres that are actively used by the community.
“Based on a survey I conducted in 2009, only 15% of the total mosque space is utilised, while the other 85% is abandoned. This is a warning about the underutilisation of mosques as centres of social activity. It is necessary to map the space as a community activity facility to increase the utilisation of the mosque,” explained Prof. Nangkula.
In his comment, the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, said, “The information shared by Prof. Nangkula Utaberta reminds us of the important role of mosques as centres of community activities. It reflects how architecture can positively impact our social and cultural life. Hopefully, this learning will encourage more attention to the sustainability and usability of mosques in Indonesian society.”
Prof Nangkula Utaberta conducted several studies which resulted in new perspectives on reconstructing sustainable mosques as physical forms of community-related to social, religious, and economic activities. At the end of the public lecture session, Prof. Nangkula Utaberta urged the students to restore the function of the mosque as a community centre, not only as a worship space but also as a place for community activities. The mosque must be a place that invites social interaction, and economic space, and can provide benefits to its users and the wider community.
Prof Nangkula Utaberta is a professor of architecture at UCSI University Malaysia. He is also an international author and researcher who has published 26 research books in Malaysia. He was born in Jakarta and studied architecture at the University of Indonesia, then completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Currently, he is the head of the research and postgraduate architecture programme at UCSI University. His research interests include Islamic architecture, culture and heritage, architectural history and theory, and architectural education. With his rich insights and experiences, he provides valuable perspectives on how to understand and utilise mosques in the Indonesian social and cultural context.
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Public Communication Bureau
Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia