Daily needs stores in the collective memory and living heritage of Malioboro, Yogyakarta city, Indonesia

Abstract

The historic Malioboro area is a dynamic tourism destination in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. Located along the city’s cosmological axis, it requires thoughtful preservation that encompasses both tangible and intangible cultural elements. Among these is its living heritage, which is actively sustained through the daily practices of local residents and contributes to Malioboro’s unique identity. This study employs the concept of collective memory to examine how residents recall everyday activities in Malioboro. These memories and cultural experiences play a crucial role in shaping the area’s character and development. The presence of a significant elderly population in the surrounding neighborhoods presents a valuable opportunity to document rich historical narratives of Malioboro. This study explores the elderly’s collective memory of the area and its contribution to Yogyakarta’s living cultural heritage. Data collection was conducted through observation, semi-structured interviews, and cognitive mapping methods involving 27 informants from nine subdistricts around Malioboro. Findings reveal that retail stores selling daily necessities, operating between 1950 and 2010, constitute an important part of Malioboro’s collective memory and form a multicultural folk heritage. This study recommends adopting a commodity-based spatial configuration in Malioboro, integrating spaces for both daily needs and tourism-related products, to support heritage preservation and commercial sustainability.