forestation: h3llo university

"Afforestation is process of establishing a forest on land that is not a forest, or has not been a forest for a long time, by planting trees or their seeds."
A railway station is a very functional facility that needs almost similar regulations and codes, especially for a transit station in suburban Jakarta, such as Depok. The competition focused on the design of 2 related stations as entry gates to the university (UI), one functions as transit only (UI one) and the other functions both as transit station as well as train depo for yellow line (UI two). Therefore, this time we proposed a rather evoking experience of how people travels to,across,from,and passes by the university in such way that they could grasp this campus identity or character, during few minutes of traveling. UI is known for its forest as green campus, and that's the way it should stick on one's mind when they arrive at the campus by cars, trains, or bikes.

After the first round, we made it to the big 3 finalist, which we proposed almost different approach than the other two that offers big coccoon-like structures. We tend to propose the spatial experience of moving towards/inside/outside the campus which will occur only in few minutes of traveling. ForestationOne, emerge as one simple linear tree-like structures that opens many view to the forest accross, and provides meeting mall on the underground level that leads people to reach a forest access point. ForestationTwo that has larger area offers many access points towards one large open courtyard on upper level that opens views to the campus' greenery, as it will become the future meeting points between campus, apartements,shopping mall, and public amenities.

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Plaza Quantum Elektro

Inspired by the movement of electrons in atom (as in quantum mechanics) and its relation as part of a single entity, this Electrical Department's Quantum Plaza in Engineering Faculty should reflect the dynamic movement inside,toward,and through the new building and plaza which is located between two similar buildings of Electrical and Mechanical Department. The new additional building should also stands as a compliment, not monument, to the adjacent vernacular buildings that would not obstruct the original concept of Kampong settlement in the faculty, yet maintains its contemporary looks. This building was designed in accordance to the LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) codes that would state its presence as one of the environmentally oriented campus.

Though we got into a shortlisted finalists, we feel sorry that Jury has finally picked contestants that may obstruct the original design guidelines of a 'unity in diversity' looks with its monumentally reason for such additional facility.

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Arsitektur UI 4D

Architecture department of University of Indonesia is currently holding an exhibition in tribute to its fourth decade of journey in academic and professional practices, which was officially opened by vice-president of Indonesia, Yusuf Kalla in 19th March 2008 with many local media coverage on the ceremony. This event will be held until 29 March 2008, that consist of the exhibition of the works from 4 generations of UI alumni, the seminar, and a book launch titled Arsitektur 4D.

The whole event flows under one concept of Under Construction, that reflects a never ending process of architecture that continually evolve as human mind does. The exhibition as well, is a process that started with some projects exhibition and the making of several installation art that will finished by the end of this event on March 29th.

As part of UI alumni association, Pavilion was cordially invited to submit its works throughout its years of practice. This time we present 3 projects for the exhibition, namely: The Miriam Budiardjo Resource Center at FISIP UI, the FIB Library at FIB UI, and Rumah Irman at Cilandak. We also submit 2 other projects for the book coverage, such as Musholla Al-Izzah at FKG UI and Student Canteen at FISIP UI. Both, the exhibition and the book, represent our scope of work that specializes in academic facility, and also residential.

The event was opened with Mr.JK's speech as well as a challenge for fellow architects to design cheaper dwellings for urban Indonesians with a sense of locality attached. The ceremony then proceeded with 'construction music' arrangement from a well known music arranger, Erwin Gutawa who also graduated from UI. Surprisingly, the music was played with many different tools we usually find in construction work by a group of architecture students. The exhibition also presents the work of Jay Subiyakto in art and cinematography, and Oesrifoel Oesman in his search for ancient trace of Trowulan dwellings in East Java. Since the opening and closing ceremony was/will be held at night, we also provide the exhibition outdoor lighting design and construction in collaboration with Phillips.

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New atmosphere means more visitors

In 2005, we took several library renovation projects in our hands, mostly with similar aims of creating new atmosphere and adding newer facility inside the library that might help increase the visitor to the library. At that time, people would still look for another place to read and study rather than in a library, especially a campus library.

Our first library project was the Miriam Budiardjo Resource Center (MBRC) at FISIP UI, Depok. It's located on the 2 out of 3 storeys building, where the resources were kept as hardcopies, books and literatures. We created new layouts and vertical circulation inside the library, with an integrated concept of 'inside a womb'. The ambiance was set to be warm and condusive for people to get their information from the library. After the renovation, MBRC was visited almost four times the visitors before the renovation. As the students increase rapidly, now the MBRC would need more space upto four times the original area, and this has become our next project of extending the MBRC. Even when the resources have become more virtual, the need of new atmosphere is still adequate.
Our second project was the renovation of 4 split levels FIB Library, the library with the most complete and variative collections in UI Depok. It has manuscripts, microfilms, ancient books, and collections from many culture accross Indonesia and even the world. We created new circulation, both for the visitors and the administrators/librarians, where they can reach each continuous floor more easily than they previously have. A concept of 'hypertext' was proposed in order to help them adjust with new layouts and circulations, especially the self-service exchanging of 'texts or resources'. Again, the new atmosphere for a library managed to increase the number of visitors, as well as the interest for browsing further.
The next project was the renovation of 4 storeys FKM Library. In this project, we are faced with multiple storey large area with limited collections of books, and not so many furnitures. The key was to create more open circulation, focusing on the entrance (service counter and catalogues) and the comfortable reading and browsing areas. A touch of purple (represent the faculty identity) and soft pastel furnitures, have made this spacious library to have a sense of warmth and calm, especially in some reading spots where people can also enjoy the scenic view of PAUI building.

Recently, we have the opportunity to design the interior renovation of Sespim POLRI's Library in Lembang. Although quite sceptical at first, the project was then become more realistic over a very short period of time, and thus became interesting. Again, the goals are similar, and our method was unnecessarily new. The room is large in volume (high ceiling, wide range), the collections were plenty yet unvariative, and they need more convinient space to read. The formal and standard guidelines were then replaced by fresh and colorful look of furnitures and partitions, and lucky for us...they agreed. The new library for the high-ranked officers should reflect also their dynamic personality as well as the spirit of go international. Fresh colors walls and partitions, with a contrast from warm wood finished furnishing, have made this library the new icon for the spirit of reformation in POLRI.

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Urban House in Cipete, Jakarta

This design is a respond to the problem of housing typology that can put up the needs of homeowners properly and to provide qualities of a healthy house within the constrains of very limited space and funding. The house is located on Jalan Abdul Majid, Cipete,Jakarta, a rather dense residential area where houses were usually built by developers in various sizes with minimum site width of 6 meters. More often the houses’ backyard would eventually be built as an extension of the houses and resulting in dwellings with poor natural ventilation and lighting.

This 6x22 meters existing site have to left 60 m2 open space at it’s front in regard to residences policy for the future main road development around Cipete. The main concept offered is how to increase the density of a house on a small site, and to enhance the quality of habitual spaces, as well to maintain good environmental quality in natural ventilation and lighting.

Within a feasible area of 6x12m, the house is designed to be compact in its space program. We decide to divide the program by locating the private area, like master's and children’s bedroom on the upper level. While the semi public area containing dining room, kitchen/pantry, and family room are in the lower level. The client also requested for an extra bedroom for their visiting parents in the lower level, which might occupy most of the area. Thus, by using movable divider hidden inside the cabinet, we manage the existing family room to become an enclosed space when it is needed. We also manipulate the dining area by designing a folded table in wall that separate kitchen with the family room. The maid's room and service area are located in front of the house to let the maid give a constant look out of the house.

An attic storage located beneath the roof, while an open green terrace is provided above the children’s bedroom to accommodate inhabitants’ outdoor activity and their needs of open space that was taken in the lower level.

This design tries to maximize the usage of natural lighting and cross air ventilation. Using zincalume walls as the house’ skin accentuate the sense of lightness while maintain the less maintenance cost of the building. Although located in a narrow sided site, the design provides a perfect cross ventilation with the use of a small courtyard as a “chimney” in the center of the house which allows air to flow crossing the spaces and then channeled outside without reducing the inhabitants’ needs for spaces.
Overall, this design illustrates our concern in designing simple urban houses issues. The design may not only contribute to the development of a typology for small and affordable housing, but also initiate an effort to reduce urban sprawling. Furthermore, this design could stand out as a model of an appropriate and suitable dwelling in narrow sites scattered around the urbanJakarta.

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