Heritage of Nusantara: International Journal of Religious Literature and Heritage
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): HERITAGE OF NUSANTARA

Rethinking Multicultural Resilience through Digging4Data and Heritage-Based Infill Design: The Case of Peunayong Market District, Banda Aceh

Muhammad Naufal Fadhil (The University of Melbourne)
Aji Sofiana Putri (Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Aceh)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

The Peunayong market district in Banda Aceh presents a critical urban paradox: an organic, multicultural heritage marketplace operating since the seventeenth century that currently contrasts with contemporary governance metrics that designate Banda Aceh as an intolerant city. This study examines how architectural history research, when integrated with adaptive infill design, can address the district's socio-spatial fragmentation caused by recent market relocations (2019) and heritage vandalism (2025). Employing the Digging4Data methodology, this study draws on historical cartography and photography, spatial documentation of eight heritage sites, and structured interviews with 6 key informants, including local community leaders and long-term vendors, to identify the historical mechanisms that sustain multicultural resilience in Peunayong. The analysis reveals three enduring resilience factors: (1) modular spatial configurations, (2) robust cross-ethnic merchant networks, and (3) persistent material cultural symbols. Based on these findings, eight context-responsive infill design prototypes are proposed and directly validated through participatory focus group discussions to ensure alignment with contemporary community needs. This study argues that multicultural identity is a dynamic, living heritage asset. The main scholarly contribution is an evidence-based framework for integrating heritage conservation into post-disaster urban recovery, demonstrating that sustainable revitalization requires participatory spatial design and policy mechanisms that prioritize community-generated resilience over centralized displacement.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

heritage

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture

Description

Heritage of Nusantara: International Journal of Religious Literature and Heritage, This journal focuses on religious studies (both contemporary and classical), particularly in the fields of Religious Literature, Cultures, and Heritage in Nusantara and Nusantara (Indonesia), and its relation to the ...