Ciputat, FAH News Online, Monday, December 9 2024 – Faculty of Adab and Humanities UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the theme Philosophical Foundation of Curriculum Development for Interior Design Study Program. The activity, which took place in the FAH Courtroom, 2nd Floor, was attended by a number of Professors, and Heads of Study Programs and FAH Lecturers.

This FGD presents the main resource person, Prof. Robert Philip Buckley, Ph.D., a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Mc Gill University Canada and an expert in phenomenology, discusses the importance of philosophical foundations in the development of Islamic interior design curricula. This event was hosted by moderator Yeni Ratna Yuningsih, MA, Ph.D., who is also a lecturer at the Arabic Language and Literature study program at FAH UIN Jakarta.

In remarks by the Dean of FAH, Dr. Ade Abdul Hak, M.Hum said that it is important to explore relevant classical texts to differentiate interiors at UIN from interiors at other universities such as universities in general. “We need to deepen the existing literature in Islamic culture to understand how Muslims organize their space. In this way, our interior design can better reflect the values and philosophies we adhere to,” he said.

In the introduction to her discussion, Mrs. Yeni stated that interior design is not only related to aesthetic aspects, but also to a deep philosophical understanding of space. He emphasized that as a faculty focused on humanities, it is important for UIN to develop a curriculum that not only teaches technical design skills, but also provides a strong philosophical foundation.

Mrs. Yeni said that interior design must be seen from a broader perspective, one of which is by using a phenomenological approach that tries to understand space in a more objective way. “Space is not only a place to live, but also has deep meaning. By understanding space philosophically, we can create designs that are not only functional, but also meaningful,” he said.

Integral Interior and Exterior Design

One of the interesting topics discussed in this FGD is the importance of seeing interior and exterior design holistically, namely as an inseparable unit. Prof. Buckley highlighted that in many cases, interior design must interact with external elements, whether in terms of function, culture or philosophy.

“Interior and exterior design must support and enrich each other. For example, in Islamic culture, we can see that spatial planning is not only influenced by aesthetic aspects, but also by deep spiritual and cultural values, ” explained Prof. Buckley.

The discussion also raised how interior design could reflect religious and cultural values, with one concrete example being the design of a Catholic hospital. Prof. Buckley explains that in the context of hospital space design, for example, there are different approaches between Catholic hospitals and Islamic hospitals. This distinction is not only seen from an aesthetic aspect, but also from an understanding of the spiritual values inherent in each culture.

This discussion, which took place full of enthusiasm, closed with an agreement that the development of the interior design curriculum at FAH UIN Jakarta must pay more attention to philosophical, cultural and religious values. With this strong foundation, it is hoped that the new Islamic Interior Design study program at FAH UIN Jakarta can produce professionals who are not only skilled in technical matters, but also have a deep understanding of the social and cultural context in every design they create.

This activity is also proof of FAH UIN Jakarta's commitment to developing education based on human values and cultural diversity, as well as making a significant contribution to the world of Islamic interior design which is more meaningful and inclusive.

Documentation Activity: