In search for Indonesian architecture

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Is there such a thing as a regional Indonesian architectural style? With the ethnic diversity in the country, it is unsurprising that architects here have yet to make up their mind; but the debate is proving interesting.

Some architects point to the traditional Javanese joglo houses, which represent the shape of a Javanese palace, as an exemplar of Indonesian architecture. Others, meanwhile, sing the praises of the rumah gadang structure of West Sumatra's Minang people; a house with its high, triangular bull's-horn roof. Another group marvel at the simple-but-functional thatched hut of the native Papuans.

Muh. Chottob Wibowo, senior editor of architecture magazine INDONESIA design, said architects here continued to discuss what made up an Indonesian style.

At the recent discussion, Exploring Indonesian Architecture, at Kinokuniya bookstore last month, he emphasized that local architects could not arbitrarily rule that a certain cultural design encapsulated a national style.

"A more important thing is how the architect can create a design that fits the needs of the people and matches the surrounding environment," Chottob said.

Designing houses that suited the climate, weather and the local geography would end up producing a specific style, he said.

Indonesian Architects Association executive member Budi A. Sukada said meanwhile, that the architectural designs in Indonesia were as diverse as the ethnicity of the country.

However, Budi said he believed one set of buildings, the University of Indonesia complex in Depok, best represented the essential character of modern Indonesian architecture.

The buildings, which are dominated with rectangular and square shapes, have high peaked roofs in order to reduce the heat of the burning sun at noon and warm their rooms below at night.

"The design is very practical. It also ensures air circulation," Budi said. The higher the roof, the better the circulation, he said.

House designs in Indonesia shared similarities with those in other tropical Asian countries that had only two seasons, Budi said. They were generally designed in square or rectangular shapes, with high, peaked triangular roofs and similar structures could be found in other Asian cities like Bangkok.

"The design of the UI campus still shows the character of Indonesian architecture," Budi said.

While the campus did not specifically represent any ethnic group, its buildings were typical of those in a tropical country, he said.