Social structure, culture and political systems create architecture that we live in today. In the time when urbanization, nature, climate, beliefs, democracy, current political systems or power are being challenged, architecture need to be the reckoning force in the global and local societies, especially for the future. To survive, appreciate and prepare for the future in this fragile planet, architecture needs to emphasize the nature’s free gifts. Solar radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation and airflow are the climate elements that define architecture around the world. The combination of these elements will create different climate, which will be one of the major factors in the creation of the architecture.
Indonesia is one of the countries which runs through by the equator. On the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes in March and September 21st. Indonesia is also located within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn line. Tropic of Cancer is located 23.5 degree north of the equator, and the tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5 degree south of the equator. The area bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south is known as the tropics. In the world climate classification, Indonesia is included in the rain forest climate. It is very humid because of all the rainfall, which amounts to about 250 cm per year. The rain forest climate has lots of rain because it is very hot and wet.
The discourse of Indonesian architecture always has a big context toward the climate. The climate elements in Indonesia become key factors on how precedents architecture through traditional houses and others man-made shelters are shaped and functioned. The Indonesian Pavilion at The Venice Biennale 2018 will examine on how five climate elements (solar radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation and air flow) affect and influence the modern Indonesian architecture. The Indonesian Pavilion would like to elaborate within the luxury and the security of the buildings and public spaces that have been created over the past decade. We want to encourage the freespacesto embrace the climate – to create Spatial Equity, a balance within the climate, human and its creation.The research will look at recent works of Indonesia architecture, which will study through the building function, program, and typology. Spatial Equitywill investigate further on how the architectural elements bring positive impacts to the individual, society and environment. The exhibition will showcase through photographs and narratives from the architects and the users of how the chosen modern architecture responds to the five climate elements in Indonesia. They will highlight the architectural elements of the chosen architectural projects. The architectural elements such as roof, canopy, window, louvre, sun screen, materials, and other features will be researched, explained, investigated and presented in the Indonesian Pavilion.
In the end, the exhibition will emphasize the importance of architectural elements that would respond to the climate, especially the rain forest climate of Indonesia. Finally, it would provide the opportunity to highlight the architecture in Indonesia within its specific elements, on how they correspond to the gifts of nature in this delicate planet. Architecture will not only be just a building, but with these architectural elements, it can encourage and support global sustainability focusing on the user and environment.
The Indonesian Pavilion
The Indonesian Pavilion would like to elaborate within the luxury and the security of architecture (the buildings and public spaces) that have been created over the past decade. We want to encourage the freespacesto embrace the climate – to create Spatial Equity, a balance within the climate, human and its architecture.
The design of the exhibition contains a box core as a datum that ties the five climate elements, which different meanings and potentials towards its architectural elements are projected. The core upper layer represents Indonesia’s multicultural background, showcasing the colorful elements of its culture and its 260 million population.The cluster configuration signifies the equality and rationality of the all five climate’s elements, not in the ordered sequences, but in its similarity and importance. The pavilion configuration however, also provides openness and freedom. In the exhibition space, the cluster system allows everyone to move freely, to appreciate the diversity of stories that thrive within.
The effect and strategy created is close-open, and massive-transparent atmosphere to envelope, and engage the viewer. We (The curatorial team) attempted to make a powerful and emotional impact through drawings and stories that would be printed and drew on the acrylic media, added with the lighting configuration, and the double scale structure to immerse the viewer.
The juxtaposition strategy, adding the new, slick, and modern materials within the old and rough space would involve the viewer intimately in the curated collected information of Indonesian architecture, an intensified dialogue and experience between its people, climate and architecture.
Credits
Albertus Prawata, Rony Rahardian, Arya Triadi.