The Role of Heritage-BIM in the Integration of UII Library-Museum Design and Preservation of Kimpulan Temple

The concern of temples buried by nature’s wrath in the Indonesian archipelago is of great untold historical value, and it is an archaeological wonder how so little is done for their preservation. Attempts to conserve these sites based on zoning methods are inadequate, as they both restrain possibilities for further construction and do not resolve the active construction problem at many archaeological sites. This research aims to assess the capability of Heritage Building Information Modeling (H-BIM) towards sustainable conservation practices using Kimpulan Temple as a case study. The case study approach was used to analyze the architectural achievement of the Library-Museum of the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII), which had the Kimpulan Temple as part of the architecture and space design. The design of the multifunctional educational center was the outcome of intensive cooperation and negotiations between archaeologists, builders, and other stakeholders. The end product was a dynamic educational facility integrating conservation, education, and active public participation. Within this context, “H-BIM” served not only as a tool for spatial zoning and integration of the archaeological-historical data but also for the simulation of design approaches sustaining both function and heritage. The results suggest that H-BIM has a meaningful contribution to the physical protection of archaeological remains while revitalizing temple buildings in the current architectural discourse. Supporting this conclusion, the study advocates for the more extensive use of H-BIM to preserve other archaeological sites in Indonesia for more effective, integrated, sustainable conservation approaches.