Kotagede Under Threat of Extinction: Yogyakarta, Central Java

The Kotagede cultural heritage area in Yogyakarta province has been declared one of 100 such places in the world threatened by extinction. The Kotagede cultural heritage area in the special province of Yogyakarta was on the verge of extinction following the powerful earthquake that rocked the province on May 27, last year

“The declaration was made by the World Monuments Fund (WMF) in New York last June 7,” Yogyakarta Heritage Society chairperson Laretna T Adisakti said.

Fortunately, efforts are being made to restore the cultural heritage so that world class cultural assets like traditional and antique kampong houses can be saved, she said.

According to Laretna, the preservation efforts covered not only the area`s physical aspects but also the environmental, artistic, traditional food and handicraft aspects.

“Kotagede town ought to be considered comprehensively as a whole cultural heritage,” Laretna said adding that it would take about 20 years to restore the cultural assets in Kotagede town.

Laretna also said efforts to restore Kotagede town were being supported by the Dutch government, UNESCO, universities and the private sector.

Yogyakarta-based Gajahmada University had set a good example in helping to preserve the Kotagede cultural heritage by buying a damaged traditional house and developing it into a traditional heritage.

Laretna said UNESCO was drawing up guidelines for the restoration of antique houses in Kotagede while WMF was promoting the town among the international community according to the Antara News article.

By Barrie | Permalink

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