A celebration of Indonesia's new architecture<\/p>\n
By Reita I. Malaon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): To feast your eyes on an object d'art is an
\nenriching experience, particularly when what one sees is not
\ncustomarily presented in this country as an art form. This time,
\nthe creative energy was aspirated through the hands of
\narchitects.<\/p>\n
The enchanting realm of Indonesian architecture is currently
\nbeing exhibited at Erasmus Huis. The exhibition, which was opened
\non Dec. 7, is staged by the Young Indonesian Architects (AMI).<\/p>\n
In April, AMI had the opportunity to exhibit 21 panels of
\narchitectural work and urban design at the Staat Heuse in The
\nHague. The presentation was held through the cooperation of the
\nIndonesian Architect Association and the Royal Dutch Architect
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
The current exhibition is also in conjunction with The Hague
\nshow but with an extended format. Dozens more works are now
\nincluded in the display, which will run through Jan. 4, 2000.<\/p>\n
AMI is an informal discussion group formed in 1989 by a number
\nof young architects who shared the same anxiety as they watched
\nthe trends that were happening in the Indonesian architectural
\nworld. Architecture as a profession was deemed as elitist and
\nexclusive. Moreover, the architects were not known by the general
\npublic and their works mostly were just an interpretation of
\ncommon commercial demands.<\/p>\n
A 10-year journey has brought AMI to this exhibition and a new
\nresolution: \"... Architecture for the new Indonesia will not bow
\nto be a commodity for the oppressive economic market. We will be
\non the side of sociocultural values, humanity and environmental
\nconservation ...\"<\/p>\n
The result of this resolution is works of art with respectful
\nregard to function. Pathways, the angle of the roof, the
\nstructural beam, open spaces, they all became something similar
\nto what words mean to poets.<\/p>\n
The Paramadina Mosque, Bogor, is an exquisite example of the
\ningenuity in utilizing a light-and-shadow concept. In this
\nmosque, the calligraphy is embossed on the walls without
\ndifferentiating paint color. So, the calligraphy can only really
\nbe seen when nature's light infiltrates through the clefts on the
\nwalls.<\/p>\n
The building, which was designed by architects Andra Martin
\nand Avianti Armand, is nothing like a traditional mosque. For
\nthis project, the architects tried to reassess the essence of a
\nmosque back to the value of prayer, which in the end manifested a
\nvery simple form. A horizontal mass, pure box, depicting the
\nhumbleness of men. It is just an impression, contemplation
\nwithout decorative adornment.<\/p>\n
The three-story building was designed to deal with the humid
\ntropical climate, while simultaneously creating a feeling of
\n\"nothingness\" for the people within. The area of the main
\nbuilding is not too spacious, just right for the efficiency of
\ndaily usage. However, on Fridays, and big religious gatherings,
\nMuslims can expand the space to the exterior, which has various
\ndifferent expressions. So, people can go through different space
\nexperiences. From inside the main building, to under the striped
\nshadows of the pergola, to the plaza, to the ground floor,
\nupstairs, downstairs, it is an endless exploration. The mosque
\neven has a ramp to accommodate the old and the disabled.<\/p>\n
Then there is the Architects Studio by Ranuwijaya, which is
\ntruly a celebration of form. The building is designed as an
\ninformal gathering place or a padepokan, where the
\narchitect\/owner and his educator wife can interact with local
\nvillagers in the stimulating process of learning and creating
\nwhile contributing to the social life of the village. The site's
\nsetting is calm and natural, with a large lake and thick forest
\nnearby.<\/p>\n
The architect's experience of living in a crowded urban
\nneighborhood -- characterized by informality and community --
\ngives a strong orientation to this design. Open spaces and
\npathways become extensions of the living room, which provides a
\nplace for chatting, visiting and informal encounters. The house
\nis practically always open to passersby.<\/p>\n
The upper level is the architect's work area with a small
\nlibrary. The south wing contains a bedroom and bath, and a void
\nspatially links this level with the level below. The top floor
\ncontains only a design studio devoid of any furniture.<\/p>\n
The building form is a metaphoric juxtaposition inspired by
\nhiking adventures through the forest and dealing with social
\nsituations in an urban context. The building facade is a
\ncomposition of large planes, which give shade to the inner areas.
\nGaps between these planes let in the sunlight as an imprint of
\nthe time of day. Shadows from the window fall on the floor and
\nwalls, providing an artistic painting to the interior.<\/p>\n
In principle, the design is a process of exploration in
\npresenting nature in a building and sharing the spirit of human
\nactivity with its environment.<\/p>\n
However, the works of these idealistic young minds are not
\njust about art and beauty. They contain social responsibility as
\nhigh up on their agenda.<\/p>\n
Aaron Purbo's Shelter from Recycled Material is one example.
\nHis creation is a proposed solution to the problem of the urban
\nhomeless, who usually live in shanty dwellings.<\/p>\n
Recycled materials are used for the shelter, which provide
\naccommodation for sleeping, bathing and cooking. Flexibility is
\nthe main concept of the shelter's design. To achieve this, the
\nconstruction has been designed as modules of main trusses and
\ncolumns, enabling it to expand easily. The main trusses use
\nrecycled bamboo supports from used building frame supports, with
\nfoundation blocks made of used paint cans filled with cement. The
\nroof is covered with plastic sheeting.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, it is the near-future project with Surakarta's
\nresidents that is AMI's current main challenge. Paguyuban Wong
\nSolo is a socially aware group of Surakartans with renowned
\ndancer Sardono W. Kusumo as spokesman. The group has invited AMI
\nto discuss and explore the possibility of rebuilding Surakarta
\nafter most of the city was affected by fires.<\/p>\n
Yori Antar from AMI said they had made a proposal to the
\npeople of Surakarta; to awaken the conciseness that architects
\nand the people could be master planners of their own city -- that
\nnow is the time to deconstruct the prevailing standard that city
\ndevelopment was only a government project, and the people have no
\nsay about their own dwellings.<\/p>\n
So far, AMI had proposed several design projects such as the
\nSurakarta Master Plan, the rebuilding of Pasar Beteng and several
\nmore.<\/p>\n
With its exhibition, AMI has been successful in translating
\nthe ideal balance between creativity and responsibility as
\nprofessional architects. Furthermore, it has brought an evocation
\nto Indonesia's architecture world that is long overdue.<\/p>",
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