Unveiling the Significance of Gedung Sate Architecture within the Context of Sustainable Cultural Tourism

Authors

  • Ahmad Ghazy Dananjaya School of Architecture, Planning, and Policy Development, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9744/acesa.v7i2.14465

Keywords:

Heritage, tourism, culture, architecture, preservation

Abstract

One of the iconic historical buildings in Bandung, Indonesia, known as Gedung Sate, represents a unique architectural fusion of European and local styles. As a significant cultural landmark and a major tourist destination, its preservation and management are paramount. This study aims to analyze the cultural significance of Gedung Sate's architecture and to evaluate its role within the framework of sustainable cultural tourism. This research employed a qualitative case study approach, utilizing architectural observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis. The analysis is guided by the cultural significance framework of the ICOMOS Burra Charter and supplemented by conceptual models of tourism impact. The findings reveal that Gedung Sate's significance is dualistic, derived from its value as both a colonial aesthetic masterpiece and a symbol of post-colonial national struggle. Furthermore, while tourism numbers appear sustainable, the analysis exposes significant vulnerabilities in the building's physical carrying capacity and socio-economic benefits. The novelty of this study lies in its application of the Burra Charter to a prominent Indonesian heritage site and its structured, critical evaluation of sustainable tourism that moves beyond simplistic metrics. This research contributes to the discourse on heritage management, offering insights for balancing preservation and tourism at similar sites.

References

Aini, Z. K., Pebrianti, G., Sulistiani, W. F., & Tetep. (2024). Local wisdom values in the architecture of Gedung Sate as cultural heritage and education for the young generation. Journal Civics and Social Studies, 8(2), 172–183. https://doi.org/10.31980/journalcss.v8i2.2176

Alifmulyano, M. F., Permanasari, M. D., & Nefo, A. (2022). Perancangan arloji kayu dengan inspirasi visual menara Gedung Sate. Jurnal Desain Indonesia, 4(2), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.52265/jdi.v4i2.160

Caciora, T., Jubran, A., Ilies, D. C., Hodor, N., Blaga, L., Ilies, A., Grama, V., Sebesan, B., Safarov, B., Ilies, G., Hassan, T. H., & Herman, G. V. (2023). Digitization of the built cultural heritage. Remote Sensing, 15(24), 5763. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15245763

Hazib, S., Suminar, I. R., Hasanah, I. M., Maulana, P. B., & Hermanto, O. (2024). Pengaruh warisan budaya Gedung Sate terhadap identitas Kota Bandung. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Primary Education, 2(2), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.61476/d5a1t393

Herr, F. L., Dascalescu, C., Fusch, V., et al. (2025). Predictors of renal function decline. EJNMMI Research, 15(1), 110. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-025-01305-8

ICOMOS. (2013). The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance.

Izzati, H., Andiyan, A., & Darwin, W. A. (2023). Filosofi Sunda dalam konsep lanskap bangunan kolonial di Kota Bandung. Arsitektura, 21(1), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.20961/arst.v21i1.70709

Mathieson, A., & Wall, G. (1982). Tourism: Economic, physical, and social impacts. Longman.

Nag, A., & Rathore, A. S. (2025). Digital innovation and destination competitiveness. Journal of Mining and Environment, 16(2), 453–478. https://doi.org/10.22044/jme.2024.14852.2821

Nazhar, R. D., & Rosid, Y. S. (2020). Penyajian ruang pameran berbasis AR. Waca Cipta Ruang, 6(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.30813/wacaciptaruang.v6i1.2618

Perdana, F., & Sinaga, D. (2024). Manajemen lembaga informasi di Museum Gedung Sate. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan dan Ilmu Sosial, 3(2), 153–161.

Stewart, E. (2023). Innovative technologies for museums. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 62, 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2023.05.006

Sulasman, F., Latifah, A., & Lestari, F. (2022). Peristiwa perebutan Gedung Sate 1945. Jurnal Tamaddun, 10(2), 415–428.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-08

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Advances in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Architecture

Section

Full Paper Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ahmad Ghazy Dananjaya

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions, with the work simultaneously licensed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) that allows for unlimited use, distribution, and content reproduction on all media as long as the original author and source are properly acknowledged and cited.