Exploration of Heritage Architecture 2025: Unismuh Makassar Architecture Students Study Indigenous Architecture in Villa Yuliana, Soppeng.

TEKNIK.UNISMUH.AC.ID, MAKASSAR — The Faculty of Engineering, Muhammadiyah University of Makassar, through the Architecture Student Association (HMA-FT Unismuh Makassar), once again organized an annual event titled "Exploration of Heritage Architecture 2025" on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The event took place at Villa Yuliana, one of the historic buildings left over from the colonial era in Watansoppeng, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi.

This exploration is an academic and student insight development program focused on heritage architecture studies, specifically Colonial Architecture as a cultural heritage that adapts to the local Indonesian context. With the theme "Indonesian Architecture of Villa Yuliana, Watansoppeng 2025," the event aims to strengthen students' understanding of the historical value and philosophy of colonial buildings in Indonesia.

The event was attended by students from various batches of the Architecture Program at the Faculty of Engineering, Unismuh Makassar. Notably, the event also involved two international students, namely: Hasna Dorma (Architecture 2023) from Thailand, as an event organizer, and Mehartab Rebeca (Architecture 2025) from Pakistan, as a participant in the event. The presence of these international students is a concrete manifestation of the internationalization spirit and cross-cultural collaboration applied at the Faculty of Engineering, Unismuh Makassar.

The event took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as part of the annual program of the Architecture Student Association (HMA-FT), which aims to develop students' observation, analysis, and appreciation of historical architectural works.

The exploration took place directly at Villa Yuliana, Watansoppeng, an Indis-style heritage building built during the Dutch colonial era and now one of the iconic cultural heritage landmarks of South Sulawesi.

The main objective of the event is to explore the historical, aesthetic, and functional values of heritage architecture as a learning reference for students in designing sustainable and contextual architectural works. Through this event, students are expected to understand how colonial architectural principles are applied and adapted to the local climate, culture, and community needs.

The event was carried out through field observations, thematic discussions, and architectural documentation. Students analyzed the design elements of the building, such as facade, structure, material, and space planning. In addition, the event also became a platform to strengthen collaboration among students and enrich academic experience outside the classroom.

The Head of the Architecture Program at the Faculty of Engineering, Unismuh Makassar, Ar. Hj. Citra Amalia Amal, S.T., M.T., IAI, expressed her appreciation for the event: "Exploration of Heritage Architecture is a very important activity in building students' awareness of the historical value and local architectural identity. By understanding heritage architecture such as Villa Yuliana, students not only learn about its form and aesthetics, but also about its philosophy and social-cultural context.

She also added that the involvement of international students is an important momentum in expanding the global perspective of Unismuh Architecture students. "The presence of students from Thailand and Pakistan enriches the cross-cultural perspective, as well as strengthens the commitment of the Unismuh Architecture Program to become an open and internationally competitive study program," she said.

It is hoped that this event will foster concern for the preservation of cultural heritage architecture, and strengthen the spirit of Unismuh Architecture students in integrating traditional and modern values in every sustainable architectural design.