Architectural experts advocate infill development for heritage sites

During the Jakarta Architecture Festival 2026, Nadia Purwestri, Executive Director of the Architectural Documentation Center (PDA) Indonesia, discussed the importance of integrating new constructions into heritage areas through infill development.

Purwestri emphasized that new buildings in cultural heritage zones must respect the historical, architectural, and cultural character of the location. She noted that heritage areas are not uniform and can be categorized into three types: areas built during a specific period with consistent architectural styles, areas that have evolved over long periods containing multiple historical layers—such as Jakarta's Old Town—and areas defined by specific ethnic or cultural characteristics.

She warned that the historical and architectural value of these sites is often compromised by unsympathetic new developments that fail to account for the unique identity of the surrounding environment.