Sustainable adaptive reuse of heritage architecture in Vredeburg Fortress
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/spms.v3i1.2026.2941Keywords:
adaptive reuse, colonial heritage, sustainable architectureAbstract
Background: Adaptive reuse has become an essential strategy in heritage conservation, particularly within postcolonial contexts where architecture embodies both cultural memory and historical conflict. In Indonesia, this approach is increasingly used to reinterpret colonial heritage as part of a national identity narrative, transforming spaces of domination into venues for learning and reconciliation. However, most existing studies and practices focus primarily on architectural restoration and tourism functions, with limited attention to the broader social, cultural, and policy dimensions of sustainability. This study aims to develop a multi-scalar framework for analyzing sustainable adaptive reuse that integrates building-level conservation with urban governance and cultural identity. Methods: The research employs a qualitative, document-based method that relies exclusively on secondary data, including archival records, policy documents, and scholarly publications. The case of Vredeburg Fortress in Yogyakarta serves as a lens for examining how sustainability operates across architectural, social, and spatial scales. Findings: Findings reveal that Vredeburg’s adaptive reuse supports sustainability through three interlinked levels: micro (building), meso (site), and macro (urban policy). Conclusion: The study concludes that adaptive reuse in postcolonial contexts must be understood as a multidimensional process that connects tangible and intangible values. Novelty/Originality of this article: The article’s originality lies in extending adaptive reuse discourse beyond the architectural scale, offering a transferable model for multi-scalar sustainable heritage management in Southeast Asia.
References
Abdul Huq, S., & Puthuvayi, B. (2024). Assessing the performance of urban heritage conservation projects – influencing factors, aspects and priority weights. Built Heritage, 8(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-024-00116-5
Alghamdi, N., Alnaim, M. M., Alotaibi, F., Alzahrani, A., Alosaimi, F., Ajlan, A., Alkhudhayri, Y. A., & Alshathri, A. (2023). Documenting Riyadh City’s Significant Modern Heritage: A Methodological Approach. Buildings, 13(11), 2818. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112818
Ardhiati, Y., D, A. P., Anggita, D., Putri, R. I., Prasetya, L. E., Intan, W. N., Abi, M. W., Alfiano, R., Izzulhaq, M. R., Putra, R. R., & Arfiansyah, C. (2020). An Adaptive Re-use of Cultural Heritage Buildings in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) as the National Gallery of Indonesia’s Satellites. International Journal of Built Environment and Scientific Research, 4(2), 115–126. https://doi.org/10.24853/ijbesr.4.2.115-126
Armstrong, G. (2021). The adaptive reuse predicament: An investigation into whether building regulation is a key barrier to adaptive reuse of vacant office buildings. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29569.17764
Asman, G. E., Kissi, E., Agyekum, K., Baiden, B. K., & Badu, E. (2019). Critical components of Environmentally Sustainable Buildings Design Practices of office buildings in Ghana. Journal of Building Engineering, 26, 100925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100925
Bertolin, C., & Loli, A. (2018). Sustainable interventions in historic buildings: A developing decision making tool. Journal of Cultural Heritage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2018.08.010
Boeren, E. (2019). Understanding Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on “quality education” from micro, meso and macro perspectives. International Review of Education, 65(2), 277–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-019-09772-7
Bogdan, A., Chambre, D., Copolovici, D. M., Bungau, T., Bungau, C. C., & Copolovici, L. (2022). Heritage Building Preservation in the Process of Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of Brasov Medieval City, Romania. Sustainability, 14(12), 6959. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14126959
Conejos, S., Langston, C., Chan, E., & Chew, M. (2016). Governance of heritage buildings: Australian regulatory barriers to adaptive reuse. Building Research & Information, 44, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2016.1156951
Deacon, H. (2018). Conceptualising Intangible Heritage in Urban Environments: Challenges for Implementing the HUL Recommendation. Built Heritage, 2, 72–81. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03545685
Department of the Environment and Heritage. (2004). Adaptive Reuse: Preserving our past, building our future. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/parks-heritage/heritage/publications/adaptive-reuse
Devina, C., Nediari, A., & Fajarwati, A. A. S. (2025). Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Building for Youth Center with Betawi Culture. Journal of Aesthetics, Creativity and Art Management, 4(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.59997/jacam.v4i1.3735
Djebbour, I., & Biara, R. (2020). The challenge of adaptive reuse towards the sustainability of heritage buildings. International Journal of Conservation Science, 11, 519–530. https://doi.org/10.36868/ijcs
Elrod, J., & Fortenberry, J. (2017). Advancing indigent healthcare services through adaptive reuse: Repurposing abandoned buildings as medical clinics for disadvantaged populations. BMC Health Services Research, 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2752-8
Erkan, Y. (2018). Viewpoint: Historic urban landscape approach for sustainable urban development. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 9, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2018.1517192
Fayez, H. (2024). From ‘Objects’ to ‘Sustainable Development’: The evolution of architectural heritage conservation in theory and practice. Buildings, 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082566
Foster, G. (2019). Circular economy strategies for adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings to reduce environmental impacts. Resources Conservation and Recycling, Volume 152, January 2020, 104507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104507
Grazuleviciute-Vileniske, I., Seduikyte, L., Daugelaite, A., & Rudokas, K. (2021). Links between heritage building, historic urban landscape and sustainable development: Systematic approach. Landscape Architecture and Art, 17. https://doi.org/10.22616/j.landarchart.2020.17.04
Gustafsson, C., & Ripp, M. (2022). A metamodel for heritage-based urban recovery. Built Heritage, 6(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-022-00068-8
Harrison, R. (2013). Heritage: Critical Approaches. Routledge.
Ibrahim, I., & Eltarabishi, F. (2021). Adaptive reuse heritage buildings addressing sustainability potentials: analytical case studies in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (p. 248). https://doi.org/10.2495/STR210201
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). (1964). International charter for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites (The Venice Charter). https://www.icomos.org/charters/venice_e.pdf
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). (1994). The Nara document on authenticity. https://www.icomos.org/charters/nara-e.pdf
Kemendikbudristek. (2012). Forts in Indonesia. Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi. https://repositori.kemdikbud.go.id/23515/1/FORTS%20IN%20INDONESIA.pdf
Leiden University Libraries. (2024). Vredeburg fortress in Yogyakarta [Photograph]. https://digitalcollections.universiteitleiden.nl/search/Vredeburg%20?type=edismax&cp=collection%3Akitlv_photos
Lombard, D. (2000, 2005). Nusa Jawa: Silang budaya: kajian sejarah terpadu; Bagian I : batas-batas pembaratan. Universitas Indonesia Library; Gramedia Pustaka Utama. https://lib.ui.ac.id
Lucchi, E. (2022). Integration between photovoltaic systems and cultural heritage: A socio-technical comparison of international policies, design criteria, applications, and innovation developments. Energy Policy, 171, 113303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113303
Misirlisoy, D., & Günçe, K. (2016). Adaptive reuse strategies for heritage buildings: A holistic approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2016.05.017
Mohamed, R., Boyle, R., Yang, A., & Tangari, J. (2017). Adaptive reuse: A review and analysis of its relationship to the 3 Es of sustainability. Facilities, 35, 138–154. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-12-2014-0108
Nassir, O., Kamal, M. A., & Agrawal, R. (2022). Exploring the Tangible Conservation of Architectural Heritage and History: Bringing Past into the Future. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 10, 147–156. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajcea-10-3-5
Palmer, E. (2015). Introduction: The sustainable development goals forum. Journal of Global Ethics, 11(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449626.2015.1021091
Pickerill, T. (2021). Investment Leverage for Adaptive Reuse of Cultural Heritage. Sustainability, 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095052
Plevoets, B., & Cleempoel, K. V. (2019). Adaptive reuse of the built heritage: Concepts and cases of an emerging discipline. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315161440
Rodwell, D. (2015). Conservation and sustainability in historic cities. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
Salameh, M. M., Touqan, B. A., Awad, J., & Salameh, M. M. (2022). Heritage conservation as a bridge to sustainability assessing thermal performance and the preservation of identity through heritage conservation in the Mediterranean city of Nablus. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 13(2), 101553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.07.007
Sharma, D., Tochhawng, D., Kumar, D., Nikam, R., Deka, D., & Baruah, C. (2024). Cultural Heritage Conservation in Urban Areas: Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Modern Planning Practices. Journal of Applied Bioanalysis, 10. https://doi.org/10.53555/jab.v10i2.181
Smith, L. (2006). Uses of Heritage. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203602263
Triratma, B., Yuliani, S., Sofyan, Y. E., & Basith, A. (2023). Adaptive reused heritage building based on sustainable architecture. ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur, 8(3), 453–464. https://doi.org/10.30822/arteks.v8i3.2635
Tropenmuseum. (2024). Vredeburg Fortress in the 19th century. https://collectie.troppenmuseum.nl
Vardopoulos, I. (2023). Adaptive reuse for sustainable development and land use: A multivariate linear regression analysis estimating key determinants of public perceptions. Heritage, 6, 809–828. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020045
Wang, M., & Yang, J. (2022). Sustainable renewal of historical urban areas: A demand–potential–constraint model for identifying the renewal type of residential buildings. Buildings, 12(8), 1210. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12081210
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (Sixth edition). SAGE.
Yıldırım, M., & Turan, G. (2012). Sustainable development in historic areas: Adaptive re-use challenges in traditional houses in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Habitat International, 36(4), 493–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2012.05.005
Zainudin, N., Lau, J. L., & Munusami, C. (2020). Micro-macro measurements of sustainability. In Affordable and clean energy, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71057-0_91-1
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Andhini Laksita Putri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
