Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Fahri Hamzah Attends the International Joint Conference HABITechno 7 – THE VISACA – WUICAE at Udayana University

Jimbaran, November 6, 2025 — The Faculty of Engineering of Udayana University, through its Architecture Study Program, once again hosted the International Joint Conference & Workshop HABITechno 7 – THE VISACA – WUICAE 2025, carrying the theme “Habitat for Tomorrow: Affordable, Inclusive, and Sustainable Living.” The international conference took place at the Theater Room, Lecturer Building, Jimbaran Campus, and was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas of the Republic of Indonesia, Fahri Hamzah, S.E.

In his remarks, Rector of Udayana University, Prof. I Ketut Sudarsana, stated that this year’s theme aligns with Udayana University’s vision to become an excellent, independent, cultured, and globally competitive higher education institution.

“Amid the rapid pace of urbanization and environmental uncertainty, the responsibility of academia is not only to produce research and education but also to shape a future that balances innovation with local wisdom, sustainability with inclusivity, and progress with cultural identity,” said Prof. Sudarsana.

He further emphasized that the collaboration between HABITechno and VISACA serves as a tangible example of inclusive sustainable development practices. The collaboration merges the technological excellence of Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in building sciences with Udayana University’s regional and cultural expertise to provide solutions to the challenges of climate change, housing affordability, and social resilience.

“Through this event, we hope that the ideas generated will not remain confined to the conference hall but will translate into policies, community initiatives, and future architects who play an active role in shaping a sustainable Indonesia,” he added.

In his speech, Deputy Minister Fahri Hamzah expressed his appreciation to Udayana University for its consistent efforts in fostering academic discourse on sustainable and inclusive architecture. He underlined the importance of synergy among universities, the government, and the industrial sector to realize decent housing for all levels of society.

In a separate interview, Fahri Hamzah reiterated his appreciation for the event, saying:

“This forum involves cross-sector stakeholders—academics, practitioners, both domestic and international. We are pleased that Udayana University, ITB, and their partners have consistently organized this event. This is already the seventh edition and represents a strong collaboration, especially for Udayana. Going forward, Bali needs to prepare ideal future change clusters, in line with the theme Habitat for Tomorrow.”

The conference brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners from various universities in Indonesia and abroad, including Institut Teknologi Bandung, Warmadewa University, as well as speakers from the United Kingdom and the United States.

Among the topics discussed in the plenary and parallel sessions were:

  • “Digital and Sustainable Transitions Toward Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Habitat” presented by Prof. Surjamanto (Indonesia), Prof. Zeeshan Aziz (UK), and Dr. Aoife Houlihan Wiberg (US) (online session).

  • Followed by a second discussion titled “Democratizing Sustainable Design: From Innovation Diffusion to the Right to Home” presented by Dr. Robby Soetanto (UK) and Prof. Gusti Ayu Made Suartika (Indonesia).

The event concluded with a Closing Session titled “Recipes for Habitat of Tomorrow” led by Dr. Jehansyah Siregar.