Architects Urge Safer Rebuilding as Flores Recovers from Earthquake

Labuan Bajo — The Indonesian Architects Association (Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia, IAI) is using its 2026 national working meeting in Labuan Bajo to press for post-earthquake reconstruction in Flores that prioritises safer, more resilient buildings for affected communities across East Nusa Tenggara.

According to coverage of the meeting and official local government data, IAI is promoting a "build back better" approach so that houses and public facilities damaged in the 15 August 2026 earthquake are rebuilt with greater attention to disaster risk and local conditions.

The 2026 national working meeting (Rakernas) is being held in Labuan Bajo from 12 to 18 September, under the theme #IAIHadir – Bersama Bergerak Indonesia Berdampak. The programme includes seminars and workshops on architecture for resilience and recovery, as well as community-focused activities with residents and children.

Architects urged to work with communities

Luiz Wilson, chair of IAI’s East Nusa Tenggara chapter, said the Labuan Bajo meeting is intended as a space for architects to take part directly in the recovery of Flores communities affected by the earthquake, rather than offering solutions from a distance.

He emphasised that architects should work with residents in planning and rebuilding, so that designs can reflect local environmental conditions and the cultural knowledge of Flores communities. The meeting brings together architects, government representatives, earthquake survivors, academics, construction-sector participants, community organisations and young people to discuss recovery steps.

IAI’s advocacy focuses on replacing damaged houses and public facilities with structures that are safer and better adapted to the region’s seismic risk. The association has highlighted that earthquake-resistant buildings do not have to be expensive if they are designed and built correctly, and has promoted prototype "knockdown" buildings that can be assembled, disassembled or adapted as needed for different uses.

Scale of housing damage in Manggarai Barat

Manggarai Barat Regent Edistasius Endi told local media that post-earthquake verification and validation recorded 13,656 houses affected in the district. Of these, 5,649 houses fall into the official categories of heavy, medium and light damage in the local government’s classification.

Within that total, 357 houses are recorded as severely damaged, 1,400 as moderately damaged and 3,892 as lightly damaged, according to the Manggarai Barat district information service. The remaining houses were verified as having damage below the threshold for these categories and are grouped as "not in classification" for central government assistance schemes.

Endi said that houses with severe damage are not located in Komodo District or the Labuan Bajo area, and that Labuan Bajo remains safe and comfortable for residents and visitors following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. Earlier official updates also stated that tourism activity in Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park was operating normally, with key facilities such as Marina Labuan Bajo reopened and only minor damage reported at several tourist sites.

From advocacy to implementation

The Rakernas in Labuan Bajo is framed by IAI as an opportunity to improve construction quality and community resilience as Flores rebuilds, beyond simply replacing damaged structures. The association is pushing for designs and reconstruction strategies that can better withstand future earthquakes and other hazards.

Participants at the meeting, including representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, have publicly supported the goal of building more robust infrastructure in East Nusa Tenggara after the disaster. However, reports from the meeting and local government statements do not outline new binding building regulations, detailed technical standards or mandatory architect involvement that would apply specifically to hotels, schools, health facilities or tourism infrastructure.

For now, IAI’s role is primarily advocacy and technical guidance, encouraging safer designs and broader public understanding of earthquake-resistant construction, while formal regulatory changes remain the responsibility of national and regional authorities.

Sources

• RRI Ende – "IAI Dorong Arsitek Terlibat dalam Pemulihan Pascagempa Flores"
• POS-KUPANG.COM – "Rakernas IAI, Arsitek Dorong Flores Bangkit dengan Bangunan Lebih Aman Bencana"
• Infomabar – "Masa Tanggap Darurat Bencana Berakhir, BNPB Sampaikan Sejumlah Arahan Kepada Pemkab Mabar"
• Detik Bali/Nusra – "Sejumlah Fasilitas Strategis Manggarai Timur Berstatus Merah Usai Gempa"