How reconstructed houses become homes: place attachment in post-disaster housing reconstruction in Ngibikan, Bantul, Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to explore how residents of Ngibikan, Bantul, came to perceive reconstructed post-disaster houses as home after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative phenomenological approach based on two reconstructed houses in Ngibikan. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with five participants, field observations, documentary sources and spatial analysis of housing layouts before and after reconstruction. Findings The study identifies four interrelated themes through which residents experienced attachment to reconstructed houses: inherited land ownership, direct participation in reconstruction, continuity of culturally meaningful Javanese spatial elements and the restoration of comfort, familiarity and ontological security. These processes enabled residents to perceive reconstructed houses not only as shelters but also as meaningful homes. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to two case houses in one village and one reconstruction programme. Given the 18-year interval between reconstruction and data collection, participants’ narratives might be affected by recall bias. The findings should therefore be understood as exploratory rather than generalisable. Practical implications Post-disaster housing programmes should address more than structural safety. Resident participation, cultural continuity and emotional attachment to place are important for supporting long-term recovery and acceptance of reconstructed housing. Originality/value Existing studies on Ngibikan have mainly discussed structural resilience, community participation and physical reconstruction. This study extends that discussion by examining how reconstructed houses became meaningful homes over time.