Studentpolis: UI's new Resource Center

"New libraries don't reinvent or even modernize the traditional institution, they merely package it in a new way..." (OMA, Rem Koolhaas)

The package may refer to the method of retrieving information that evolves along with the technology. The old concept of library has turned into a resource center where many new possible ways of retrieving/ gathering information occur, not just from conventional book readings but collective and interactive discussion as well.

The fact that whole library can be stored in a single microchip or a handheld device has put our new conception of a resource center, a new way of interpreting flexibility and expandability despite the need of real books. Thus, these collections may be contained in a more effective ways, while the need of public activity center is accommodated. This is in fact what the site needs, to become new lively student center that provides many possibilities of receiving information.

University of Indonesia (UI) as part of the academic and scientific community is moving towards World class University. It integrates its faculties into 3 major science namely Medical Science, Social and Humanity Science, and Engineering Science. It aims at academic excellence as an improvement of academic quality, research, and entrepreneurship as its vessel towards good management and university independent income as well.

Like a country, the University of Indonesia contains many islands, cities, and regions. They are represented by the faculties, councils, labs, student center, and their beautiful natural resources that offer conserved green area, lakes and valleys. As a developing City or Polis (as in ancient Greek terminology), UI central area has included several important facilities such as Administration Center (PAU), Research and Social Commitment Directorate (DRPM), Student Service Center (PPM), Multi Function Room (Balairung) and Information and Communication Technology Center (ICT). Yet a lively city would need its complete social experience, as Polis would need its assembly area or market (also known as Agora) where everyone meets and socialize. Such Polis stands on the live and pulsing network; a network of commercial lines, city government, religion, as well as academic network and natural resources.

Therefore, the need for social activity space in the campus, both academic (formal) and non-academic (informal) activities are considered essential. A Polis would depend on its stake holders along with their activities, and a Polis would depend on its Community and Society to live. The new central library as part of the this Student Polis would then functions as assembly area, where the interaction between multiple networks happen, as a place that holds both academic activity and social expression of its users. In order to do so, the central library is placed on the horizontal intersections between many possible courses of activities in the UI central, not vertically as it tends to have lesser chance of interacting. The linear pattern of the Polis will create nodes for people to meet, gather, and socialize, as information would spread easily on such events. Thus, the new assembly point becomes the Resource Center, where meeting, discussion, or simply having fun become the new way of retrieving information, despite the need of actual books that we still provide in a contained area.

One of the main issue regarding the location was how to promote the site into a destination point, where it has been a more passive or 'backstage' area from student activity. This is where we planned to put the axis together, from each activity point from each faculty and student center, thus creating net paths in which people may pass and meet along the way. The axis emerge not as its metaphorical simbolism, but rather function as actual paths and therefore, nodes.

The formal expression of mass placements, ring roads, and axis are combined with the dynamic expression of student activity, under one giant canopy that represents its tropical forest context. The green campus UI needs to contribute more to the global environmental issues, as the new resource center emerges with green design that put larger consideration to natural light and ventilation, the energy consumption, and choosing sustainable materials. The eco-friendly design issue is not a new concept to offer, but rather be an everyday simple action of respecting mother nature.

The designed siteplan is placed on almost similar level to the ground surface, as to provide more open plazas and possible events to occur. These large plazas are sheltered by one giant canopy, yet still maintain their large openings to allow natural sunlight and cross ventilation. Although look big, the enclosed structure actually only occupies merely 3500 m2 (resource center) and 1000 m2 (for each lecture hall and student business activity center), or less than 20% of total ground area. This enclosed structure only covers books collection and special function rooms, while other communal or public functions are planned to occur in the surrounding plaza or terraces.
The water catchment systems will be performed by direct vertical drainage from open/green roof via pipe steel structures downward to the absorption tank and water reservoir. The reservoir may provide local use, such as daily irrigation or plant/grass maintenance; while the absorption tank helps keeping the site to hold its water catchment capacity to a more effective way.

Part of the building facing north west with openings are designed to have louvers on the facades, and additional lines of trees to provide more shadow and shelter during the brightest daylight. Most of the building structures are located beneath a green span surface that helps shelter and filter the needed natural light inside.


The structure materials mainly use steel pipes and concrete to achieve tight construction schedule. The existing Fasilkom building (planned for future ICT) will only be refurbished on its facades, as to create more solid look as one of the tallest building inside the main ring of the StudentPolis. As for the landscape, where big old trees are kept existed on its original locations, while the smaller and newer plants are to be adjusted according to the landscape design (grid and random type of plant groups).

Eventhough we only got into the top 10 Finalist, we felt confident to the statement of resource center we had offered, since none of the top 5 have done so. The new resource center should integrate its collections to the use of technology (ICT) to promote friendlier interface to public/student, thus the new building architecture would prioritize on how the public should interact, meet, and socialize. Creating a resource center is not merely building an iconic structure or new look, but rather offering new ways of people interact and 'learn'. Imagine how would your 'new library' would be if we still perceive its functions as what Singaporeans does a decade earlier?