Yogyakarta, September 17, 2025 – Students of the Architecture Study Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN) Yogyakarta, conducted a field study to deepen their knowledge of the Architectural Design Studio IV course. The study took place at two different locations: the Al-Hasani Islamic Boarding School in Kalibawang, Kulonprogo Regency, and the Integrated Campus of the Mu'allimin Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta Madrasah, in Bantul Regency.

The visit to the Al-Hasani Islamic Boarding School was conducted as part of the course's main case study. Students directly observed the site context, the characteristics of the Islamic boarding school's spaces, and the needs of the occupants to support the architectural design process based on Islamic education and spirituality. Through this activity, students were expected to understand the relationship between function, space, user behavior, and Islamic values ​​in Islamic boarding school architectural design.

Meanwhile, the visit to the Integrated Campus of the Mu'allimin Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta Madrasah served as a precedent study, providing insight into the concept of modern educational architectural design based on Islamic values. During the visit, students had the opportunity to engage in direct discussions with the architect, Ar. Arief Isrefidianto, S.T., M.A., IAI, Founder & Principal of AI-CTLA Studio Architecture. Ar. Arief explained the campus design process, from concept development and design approach to the technical and philosophical challenges in realizing a contextual and Islamic educational building.

This activity received positive feedback from students, providing real-world experience while broadening their understanding of professional architectural practice. Through a combination of case studies and precedent studies, students are expected to develop more sophisticated design analysis, conceptualization, and synthesis skills for their studio design assignments.

The course instructor emphasized that this field trip is an essential part of the experiential learning process. "Through this direct visit, students not only learn theory but also witness how values, context, and function are embodied in concrete architectural works," he said.

The field trip concluded with a reflective discussion and the collection of field data to serve as analytical material for their design assignments. The results of this case study and precedent study will be the basis for developing the design concept for Islamic educational architecture in the Design Studio IV project.