ASEAN Journal on Hospitality and Tourism, Vol 9, pp.15-28 Printed in Indonesia.All right reserved. 15 Address correspondence to Haryo Winarso, Urban Planning and Design Research Group, School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, Gedung Labtek IX A, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132. Phone 022 2509171, Fax 022 2501263. Email: hwinarso@pl.itb.ac.id URBAN HERITAGE CONSERVATION IN ACEH, INDONESIA: CONSERVING PEUNAYONG FOR TOURISM HARYO WINARSO School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia CUT DEWI Department of Architecture Syiah Kuala University Banda Aceh, Indonesia INTRODUCTION: ISSUES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENTAND CONSERVATION IN BANDA ACEH On the morning of December 26, 2004, the world witnessed one of the most destructive acts of mother- nature in the earth; two inter-connected disasters, a powerful earthquake followed by a massive tsunami hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The result was devastating; one report said that the economic loss resulting from the disaster amounted to US$4.5 billion or 2.3 per cent of Indonesia’s GDP. Between 90,000 and 125,000 new houses needed to be built, and another 40,000 had to be repaired (ADB, 2005). But the most appalling impact of this catastrophe was the loss of live. More It has been more than a half decade that the very destructive tsunami hit Banda Aceh, the capital city of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province, located at the northern part of Sumatra Island. So far the urban planning and development in the city is focusing on reconstruction and rehabilitation, which can be absolutely understandable considering the devastating impact of tsunami at that time, however as the time passes by, a new intention has to be created to the conservation effort not only to uphold the value that Aceh once had, but also as an attraction to boost tourism. The paper argues that, despites some challenges in the interpretation and institution side, Puenayong would be the suitable place for conservation in Banda Aceh. Peunayong old shop-houses still retain the heritage architectural value. The long history of the area and the typical old Chinese architectural type of shop-houses make the area just the place for conservation. The regular maintenance by the owner such as painting, cleaning, and other efforts to protect old materials from decay have enabled this old shop-houses still stand at its architectural value today. As the economic value of the area is now increasing, reuse strategy could be used to maintain the character and the architectural value of the shop-houses and at the same time enhancing the environment quality of the site for tourist attraction. Conservation, Aceh, reuse strategy, tourism, Peunayong