Traditionalising of Yogyakarta’s urban landscape: The return of the cosmological axis

Yogyakarta's Sultanate has significantly strengthened its influence over the city's spatial planning and conservation efforts through the Yogyakarta Special Region Law of 2012. This law grants the Sultanate exceptional powers, which, combined with charismatic authority and budgetary reforms, have enhanced the recognition of Yogyakarta’s royal palace and cosmological axis as a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate. The study highlights two key cases where royal influence shaped spatial planning norms: regulating building heights within the walled palace area and relocating semi-formal street traders along the axis to meet UNESCO criteria. These actions demonstrate an aesthetic governance logic that expands the Sultanate's authority by traditionalizing the urban landscape, blending legal reforms with cultural preservation.

Kurniadi, B. D. (2025). Traditionalising of Yogyakarta’s urban landscape: The return of the cosmological axis. Urban Studies, 63(13), 2945–2964. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980251365478