FuturArc Exchange and Exhibitions (FEX) | 1Q 2024

Due to the tropical climate in Indonesia, the weather in various major cities is generally warm year-round with equally abundant rain and sunlight. As a rule of thumb, architects can design open-air areas inside buildings and bring in natural daylight to achieve healthier spaces, but must protect their buildings and users against rainstorms or other extreme climatic events. The architects invited as speakers in FEX events shared their experiences to design for users’ well-being amidst different challenges, with an audience of fellow professionals throughout the country.

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Date 3 November 2023
Audience Jakarta
Venue Binakarna Auditorium, Hotel Bidakara Jakarta
Technology reviews Muliaglass; Servvo Fire Indonesia
Supported by Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI) Jakarta

The first-ever FEX that was held in Jakarta invited two architects who have strongly advocated for sustainability throughout their careers. The first speaker was Sigit Kusumawijaya of SIG, who began by reminding the audience about the urgency of climate-related crises. According to data, the most commonly recurring disaster in Indonesia is not flooding, but rather hurricanes. Not only do Green buildings play an important role to reduce carbon emissions to keep global warming in check, they are helpful to become more resilient against future disasters.

Aside from tailoring each design to their site for resilience, SIG’s projects such as the regional public hospital in Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Region further applied concepts of respect—for users and for natural ecosystems alike. As natural gardens are considered therapeutic, hence a garden is placed at the heart of the hospital to aid with patients’ recovery.

Realrich Sjarief of Realrich Architecture Workshop (RAW) shared about his “extreme shifts in perspective” over the years of practising sustainable architecture. The studio has three ‘streams’ of activity: the RAW architecture office that practises design; DOT Workshop to study building tectonics; and OMAH Library that often holds collaborative events to synergise with like-minded practitioners.

The culmination of their learnings throughout the years can be seen in their continually updated project called Guha the Guild, which is the studio’s ‘home’ as well as Realrich’s residence. Its design responds to challenges as they appear—for example, as the pollution levels in South Tangerang were found to increase multiple times beyond the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s safety guidelines, the office’s open-air labyrinthine entrances were supplemented by planters that could filter certain toxins. Realrich believes that there is a need for architects to deeply rethink how and why they practise to align the built environment towards a harmonious balance with Nature.

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Date 3 November 2023
Audience Medan, North Sumatra
Venue Grand Mercure Medan Angkasa
Technology reviews Indogress; Knauf; TOA Paint
Supported by IAI Sumatera Utara

On the same day, another FEX event took place in Sumatra’s most populous urban area. Puguh Ramos Swaradana of NSTR Architect presented on how the team has been inspired by traditional buildings like candi (temples) to create contemporary projects. This has contributed to the truncated accent roof, distinct pillars and stepped forms of Garrya Bianti Resort in Yogyakarta, placed upon a hilly contour. Taking advantage of the relatively cooler mountain air, the rooms are designed with wide sliding doors to allow for a better flow of air inside the spaces.

Pandya Pradipta of studioPAPA believes that good design plays a role in extending its relevance and use in society: “When people don’t love the buildings, they are more likely to demolish them.” While acknowledging the demand for minimalist-style housing, they personalise the houses’ exterior and interior spaces with skylights and inner courtyards alongside exercise spaces for healthier lifestyles.

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Date 10 November 2023
Audience Semarang, East Java
Venue Aston Inn Pandanaran
Technology reviews Dulux; Muliaglass; Epson
Exhibitor Kayu Asri
Supported by IAI Jawa Tengah

Religious complexes—whether funded by the public sector or from private interest—are drivers of development across many regions in Indonesia. Gustav Anandhita of Nodes Architect Studio studies the ‘identity’ of various traditional architectural forms to adapt them into the contemporary context. For example, the project called Wana Alit Ngampeldenta reuses an existing building to become a museum, Islamic education facility, hotel and convention centre. The complex reinterprets the tajug-style roof, which is characteristic of the Java region, to become accessible masses that are filled with greenery. Aside from replanting an urban forest around the buildings, the central courtyard provides space for community activities like Eid prayers.

Legacy is something that Arief Isrefidianto of AI-CTLA holds strongly within his practice, believing in architecture as cultural markers of civilisation that will be used by the generations to come. The Islamic centre called ASBIC situated in the cape of Tanjung Selor, North Kalimantan is designed to be a ‘next-gen’ religious centre, with design concepts that prioritise flexible spatial usage. This includes a circular mosque designed without internal pillars so that it can be used for a variety of religious functions, as well as applying passive strategies like ornamental double skins for sunshading.

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Date 1 December 2023
Audience Palembang, South Sumatra
Venue Aston Palembang
Technology reviews Epson; Sun Power
Supported by IAI Sumatera Selatan

Deo Demai Kopaba of RAN Architecture Studio undertook a residential project that had been halted, with the owner intending to revise the design and build upon what had already been constructed instead of starting over anew. “This was an exercise in toning down one’s ego,” Deo said. The design applied porous breeze blocks throughout the façade. For the interior, wooden panels were used to highlight and add warmth to the triangular spaces beneath the ceiling.

Agung Rudianto of deAMAYA Studio presented MNIBS Makassar, a mixed-use education complex with dormitories and a commercial area that is open to the surrounding community’s economic activities. The riverside site, which is at risk of flooding during torrential rains, implements hydrological strategies, including: several mini-wetlands; pre-treatment systems for stormwater runoff; and rainwater retention pools. They hope these will also prevent flooding of the surrounding area.

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Date 15 December 2023
Audience Denpasar
Venue Grand Mega Resort and Spa
Technology reviews Super Teknik; Roda Bangun Mandiri; Sahabat Agritama
Exhibitor Exterpark
Supported by IAI Bali

According to Balinese philosophy, water is a medium that can be used to symbolically cleanse one’s soul. This element is what Titus Pandu Wismahaksi of W+M Design Studio emphasised in their resort buildings, such as the Kayumanis Spa. Its design references the Kerta Gosa—a traditional Balinese court of law—that is constructed in the middle of a pond to foster a calm atmosphere that ‘purifies’ the mind against earthly judgements.

In contrast, Pandya Praditya of studioPAPA experiments with bold colours and playful geometries for the design of Selim House, created as a personal residence and home office for the owners of a fashion label. Various textured finishes are used throughout the house, which can also serve as photoshoot backdrops to represent the label’s identity. Abundant natural daylighting is an important design consideration, both for the residents’ well-being as well as the office activities.

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Read more stories from FuturArc 1Q 2024: Health/Wellness!