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Architecture of the Archipelago: Andra Matin brings exhibition home
The question of how to portray Indonesia’s extensive architecture in a limited space was asked by celebrated architect Andra Matin at the Venice Architecture Biennale last year. His answer, Elevation, is now on display in Jakarta.
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Elevation: Some Korowai homes in Papua rest in the treetops 12 meters above ground. This scale model is placed at the highest point of architect Andra Matin’s installation.
(Courtesy of Museum MACAN/-)
A
s the first Indonesian architect to be invited to showcase his work at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Andra Matin did contemplate using the platform to show off his own spectacular designs to coincide with his 20 years as an architect.
Rather, he hit on a unifying feature common not only his own architecture, but also in the designs of traditional Indonesian homes, highlighting the variety, ingenuity and beauty of traditional dwellings.
“I am very proud of Indonesia’s vernacular architecture and I feel that its rich architectural history is very important […] I wanted to interpret how a person experiences a space, not only from my point of view, but to experience it in a way that showcases Indonesia’s architecture,” he told The Jakarta Post.
This unifying feature is elevation; more specifically the use of stilts or pillars to raise a building off of the ground, be this by 30 centimeters or 12 meters.
Andra’s own home is constructed on pillars, giving the impression that the home is floating.
Stilts of varying heights are a common technique used throughout the archipelago to deal with the unpredictable environment and weather that frequently flummoxes builders and architects alike. Stilts raise the structures high enough so that they can avoid being impacted by floods. They also allow for animals to be kept underneath and create air circulation, keeping residents cool.
