Wioletta Marzena Sarara
Architectural Engineering
Into the climate: improving living conditions in a bioclimatic and sustainable manner
Indonesia, like many developing countries, struggles with informal settlements. One of such off-the-grid areas is in Cigondewah, Bandung, where people live in unsafe, self-built houses made from poor-quality, modern building materials, unsuitable for hot-humid climate, which leads to unhealthy living conditions.
‘Into the climate’ aims to improve those conditions by creating a bioclimatic and self-sustaining in water and energy development for local families and migrant workers.
Therefore, dwellings are shaped accordingly to the tropical climate by applying bioclimatic principles learned from Javanese, vernacular architecture to provide healthy living conditions without any need for mechanical support.
Additionally, those low-tech, tectonic houses are not only made out of natural, breathable materials available on site but also circular building methods are used, creating no waste aside.
Finally, the whole community is supported by the closed circulation of water and organic matter, which aside from the water it provides food as well as building materials.