Territorial claims and the privatization of public spaces in the Tugu Yogyakarta heritage area

Research on the Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta reveals that public spaces within heritage areas, such as Margo Utomo Street near Tugu Yogyakarta, are increasingly privatized by food vendors and customers through territorial claims. These claims, marked by both physical and non-physical elements, create a social gap between paid and unpaid spaces, altering spatial patterns and the symbolic meaning of the site. The study identifies two typologies of privatization: one driven by vendors personalizing their workspaces and another by customers marking their movement areas. This shift poses challenges to the site's sustainability and philosophical significance, highlighting the need for inclusive urban planning to preserve cultural and spatial integrity. The research applied a qualitative case study approach using Altman’s concept of public territory to analyze these dynamics.

Wiyatiningsih, Respati, A. D., Mandayu, C. O., & Hartono, S. (2026). Territorial claims and the privatization of public spaces in the Tugu Yogyakarta heritage area. ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur, 11(1), 239–248. https://doi.org/10.30822/arteks.v11i1.4828