Ministry of Creative Economy Emphasises Role of Architecture in Disaster Mitigation

Minister of Creative Economy (Ekraf) Teuku Riefky Harsya has emphasised that the role of architecture extends beyond aesthetics to become a vital component in disaster mitigation and national resilience. “Architecture is now transforming from the art of design into a science of survival. Through design innovation, architects can turn hazards into manageable risks,” said Teuku Riefky in a written statement received and confirmed in Jakarta on Saturday. The Ministry of Ekraf has affirmed its support for strengthening the role of architecture as one of the strategic subsectors capable of contributing to economic resilience while addressing global challenges related to disasters. This commitment is manifested through the presence of the Minister of Ekraf at the International Disaster Resilience Workshop & Conference 2026 themed Rethinking Architecture: Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience & Recovery (DR3) in Banda Aceh on Friday (17/4). This international architecture forum raises strategic issues regarding the role of design in facing natural disaster threats and post-disaster reconstruction processes. Teuku Riefky stated that the government’s presence in this forum represents a commitment to promoting innovation and high-quality works in the field of architecture as part of the national creative economy. He noted that the architecture subsector absorbs around 61,442 workers with a GDP value exceeding $2.1 billion and total investment of about $22 million in 2024. According to him, this demonstrates that architects in Indonesia play an important role in driving the national economy. Furthermore, the Minister of Ekraf emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening the creative economy ecosystem, including cooperation with the Indonesian Institute of Architects (IAI). For information, the event held at Hermes Palace Hotel in Banda Aceh serves as a global forum to discuss risk reduction, resilience building, and recovery based on architectural approaches. The conference also marks the inaugural hosting of the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) agenda in Indonesia since the organisation was established in 1948. Banda Aceh was selected as the host without a bidding process. This decision considers Aceh’s position as a real example of resilience practices and post-disaster reconstruction internationally recognised.