Enhancement of disaster preparedness: Approaches of place attachment and behavior to “build back better” mosque as tsunami evacuation building in Banda Aceh City, Indonesia

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences to strengthen preparedness and “Build Back Better” through risk reduction in the phases of recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. On December 26, 2004, Aceh Province in Indonesia was affected by an earthquake and tsunami that caused infrastructure damage and resulted in the death of 160,000–200,000 people. Mc. Caughey simulation (2017) showed that 50% of respondents in Banda Aceh, preferred mosques as tsunami evacuation sites in the future. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the function of mosques as tsunami evacuation buildings through a community-based approach. The method involved participatory observation and in-depth interviews, guided by the principles of Sense of Place Attachment and Behavior Theory. The results showed that the Baitul Musyahadah Mosque satisfied the criteria for serving as a tsunami evacuation facility. A significant proportion of the community (38%) selected mosques as their preferred evacuation sites, considering factors such as ease of horizontal access (22%), ease of vertical access (22%), the call to prayer (12%), and the available space (4%). The analysis of sociodemographic factors indicated that individuals aged 20–30 expressed attachment towards the physical aesthetics of the mosques, while those aged 31–50 exhibited attachment towards the symbolic significance. This study recommended integrating the design concept of mosques to accommodate worship activities and emergency evacuation, thereby contributing to national and international endeavors aimed at mitigating tsunami risks.