As an expression of humanity on this fragile planet, traditional building forms are evidence of imagination and invention. With a population of over 265 million people, Indonesia has the 4th largest population in the world, of which over 55% of the population live in urban areas. Throughout this extensive archipelago, traditional construction has been a tried, tested and accepted method of enclosing daily life by building. Over long periods of time, it has responded to climate, beliefs, social norms and available materials.
In his Biennale exhibit, Andra Matin takes a distance of over 5,000 kilometres in the Indonesian archipelago from Sabang to Merauke – which are places positioned 6 degrees above and 8 degrees below the Equator – and presents research into the local architectural languages, which grew naturally in this tropical climate. This research reveals relationships to the ground, to the sky, to breezes, emphasising the versatility of human thought, traditions, material and technical skill that form these enclosures. It represents the wonder of human inventive skills. Indeed, Andra Matin’s own house with its platforms of interweaving spaces, synthesises contemporary craft, merges modernity with a fluent understanding of spatial tradition. His work searches for ways to value and merge tradition into contemporary work.
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Andra Matin
Elevation