Microlibrary Bima in Bandung, Indonesia by SHAU

Article source: SHAU 

With high illiteracy rate in Indonesia and lack of reading facilities, SHAU -a multi-awarded rising architecture practice- started a mission: to rekindle interest in books by offering a designed place for reading paired with multiple community activities.

Microlibrary Bima: the first pilot of 100 Microlibraries program, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

• Architects: SHAU ( Florian Heinzelmann, Daliana Suryawinata, Yogi Ferdinand with Rizki Supratman, Roland Tejo Prayitno, Aditya Kusuma, Octavia Tunggal, Timmy Haryanto, Telesilla Bristogianni, Margaret Jo, Angga Rosiawan, Aistyara Charmita)
• Project: Microlibrary Bima
• Location: Taman Bima, Bandung, Indonesia
• Photography: Sanrok Studio
• Client: City of Bandung
• Signage Graphic Design: Nusae
• Contractors: Yogi Pribadi, Pramesti Sudjati, Joseph Lunardi
• Sponsors: Dompet Dhuafa (Pocket for the Poor), Urbane Community, Indonesian Diaspora Foundation (IDF)
• Budget: 40,000 EUR
• Area: 160 m2 (including stage)
• Project End Date: 15 September 2015

HIghschoolers doing homework together at Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Microlibraries: Small but Many, From Bandung to the Global South

In 2012, the ‘100 Microlibraries’ program was initiated to make learning attractive and reachable for Indonesia and beyond. Although the economic forecast for Indonesia is optimistic, the current infrastructure does not support to improve its Human Development Index. Eager-learning students are hindered by the lack of facilities; libraries are far from being popular. The role of beautiful design can make libraries attractive again. Instead of positioning libraries only in city centers, why not bringing libraries closer to homes?

The glowing microlibrary in the evening, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Community activities take place daily around and under the floating box of Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

The mayor of Bandung Ridwan Kamil accommodated the idea and immediately provided a site. ‘Microlibrary Bima’ is the first realized prototype of a series of Microlibraries in different locations throughout Indonesia and the Global South. More microlibraries are under construction and in planning in thirteen different neighbourhoods and parks in Bandung. Each microlibrary is uniquely designed to fit programmatic demands of each site and community.

Children reading at Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Children looking out through the ice cream bucket facade of Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Microlibrary Bima: Upcycling 2000 ice cream buckets
Microlibrary Bima is located at Taman Bima in Bandung, Indonesia. The neighborhood consists of diverse middle and lower-income residents. The building is situated in a small square with a pre-existing stage that was already used by the local community for gatherings, events and sports activities. The planning intention was to add rather than take away, so SHAU decided to enhance the open stage by shading it, making it rain protected and cover it in form of the floating library box.

Children reading inside Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Inside the Microlibrary Bima with natural light, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

The building is constructed via a simple steel structure made from I-beams and concrete slabs for floor and roof. The stage was reworked in concrete and a previously missing, full-length stairs were added. As the building is located in a tropical climate, the aim is to create a pleasant indoor climate without the use of air conditioning. Therefore, it is important to use available façade materials in the neighborhood that were cost efficient, could shade the interior, let daylight pass and enable enough cross ventilation. Initially, the architects found several small vendors selling used, white and translucent jerry cans. However, prior to construction the jerry cans were no longer available in the required quantities. Instead, the team found used plastic ice cream buckets that  were being sold in bulk. This turned out for the better as they have a more positive image and are more stable when cutting the bottom open for cross ventilation.

Children reading together inside Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

The interior of Microlibrary Bima: optimal ventilation, plenty of natural light, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

While studying design options of how to arrange 2000 ice cream buckets, SHAU team realized that  they could be interpreted as zeros (opened) and ones (closed), thus giving them the possibility to embed a message in the façade in the form of a binary code. SHAU asked the Mayor of Bandung, Ridwan Kamil, a supporter of the project whether he had  a message for the Microlibrary and neighborhood and his message is: “buku adalah jendela dunia”, which means ‘books are the windows to the world’. The message can be read starting from the top left (facing the front) and spirals  down around the perimeter repeatedly. Not only does the facade give additional meaning to the building but the buckets also generate a pleasant indoor light ambiance since they scatter direct sunlight and act as natural light bulbs.

Glowing ice cream bucket facade in the evening, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Ice cream bucket facade glowing in the evening, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

The buckets were then placed in between vertical steel ribs spanning from floor to roof and are inclined towards the outside to repel rainwater. For more harsh tropical rainstorms translucent sliding doors in the inside can be closed temporarily. Mounting 2000 buckets, making the fixture and punching out bottoms of more than half of them is time consuming. However, the local craftsmen made their own punch out/cutting tools to be faster while also maintaining sharp and clean edges.

Upcycling 2000 ice cream buckets for the facade, Image Courtesy © Sanrok Studio

Overview of 6 microlibraries in Bandung: 2 built, 4 in planning, Image Courtesy © SHAU

The Microlibrary adds identity and is a source of pride for all the people in the neighborhood. The activities and teaching are currently supported and organized by Dompet Dhuafa (Pocket for the Poor) and the Indonesian Diaspora Foundation. However, the ultimate goal is to enable the local people to organize the content and maintenance independently. A local elementary school has started to visit the microlibrary 2 times per week as a part of their curriculum.

The Architizer A+ Awards 2017
Microlibrary Bima received both the jury and public choice awards from New York-based Architizer A+ Awards 2017 in the ‘Community + Architecture’ category. The project competed with entries from 100+ countries.

Binary code facade of Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © SHAU

Section of Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © SHAU

About SHAU
SHAU is a rising architecture and urban design practice creating innovative and imaginative designs which aim to pose statements on societal and environmental issues, by incorporating alternative energy sources, new and recycled materials, and multi-programmatic spaces. Established in 2009 by Florian Heinzelmann, Tobias Hofmann and Daliana Suryawinata in Rotterdam (Netherlands), SHAU has expanded to Passau (Germany) and Bandung (Indonesia). Their key built and ongoing projects include a high-rise community residential tower ’Swarnabumi residence’ in Bandung, a 70 hectare-alternative reclamation masterplan in Jakarta, a 1000m2 semi-open air ‘Film Park’ and 100 ‘Microlibraries’.

100 Microlibraries for Indonesia and the Global South, Image Courtesy © SHAU

Plan of Microlibrary Bima, first floor, Image Courtesy © SHAU

Front elevation of Microlibrary Bima, Image Courtesy © SHAU

Tags: Bandung, Indonesia

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