Blobitecture and Fashionarch in Abstract

Architecture and fashion have been correlated in design aspect (principals and elements) for decades and have shared the same function of product that’s to protect the human body. Both are rooted to art, and supported by the development of technology and other knowledges that are growing with them. But in the last decade, since the Japanese invasion in design culture in 1980’s, architecture and fashion shifted culturally. Wavy character in fashion clothing turns rigid (fashionarch) while rigid character in architecture building turns wavy (blobitecture). The shift also happens to the creator; fashion designers get involved in architectural project, and architects invade fashion area. It happens from urban scale to single building, as knownly designed by Zaha Hadid, also in her clothing and accessories design. This cultural shift in single building can increase the building value since society nowadays has put more respect to fashion in their lifestyle.

What is Indonesian (Nusantara) Architecture

Prologue

Hundreds of year ago in Indonesia, once created ultimate cultural and architectural creations that still be admired by the world until now. The cultural creations are scattered throughout the Indonesia’s regions. Some of the value have been shifted until now and may even be up to the future.

But what is actually Indonesian architecture? Is everything that Indonesians do in architecture can be referred to as Indonesian architecture? If so, then it can be reflected as the architectural style that is now popular amongst the public, or is 'in trend', such as the style of 'minimalism' which in fact looks 'maximal' as a result of the insignificant details here and there. Or is it a style of modern architecture synergyzed with the certain traditional architectural style of Indonesia’s ethnicities which are mostly only be attached as a building’s accessories? Or maybe it was just the Indonesian architecture approaching of tropical climate? If so, we may need to retrace about how many countries in the world that are in tropical climate conditions. Actually there is nothing wrong about this, but perhaps we should not determine it only through the approach of tropical climate, but also about the culture as a source of inspiration for the formation of Indonesian architectural works.

Old-Fashioned VS Modern Value Indonesian Architecture

In the midst of progress and exploitation of technology, it may be useful if we turn away for a moment and turned back to the old values ​​that gave birth to many historical works in this country. Old architectural concepts which in some common run of men has been considered old-fashioned, slowly returned to be believed as the true concepts because they rest on the harmony and respect for the environment.

For example, in the Indonesian ethnic architecture, there are certain rules that must be adhered to within the roof’s distance from its posts. When later it is reviewed, the meaning of it is to harmonize the building with its surroundings by giving more space for the social interaction with the neighbors which thus also aims to the house not be dusty quickly. The rule itself accepted by the society at that time, that the will to assert themselves in society had to be limited. A ban on cutting trees on particular season and time may also be a reflection of a sense aware of the need to balance the ecosystem.

But in the last dozen years development, it is very clear that the symptoms in residential buildings and apartments in Jakarta, our nation’s capital, seems to 'crave' for more diversity and plurality. There is where the 'modern development' of Indonesia centralized. There is also where almost all ethnics and cultures in Indonesia gathered. Entire cities in Indonesia will refer their regional development to the nation's capital.

Psychologically, such behavior is normal according to Maslow's theory about self-realization as the peak level of human basic motivations. But in the context of human monodualism, this development shows as if we no longer care about the environmentally-awared architecture that had been developed by our predecessors. As quoted from Bruno Zevi "...modern construction has been made as if it is a big party so that everyone participate and do not care about each other anymore".

The Changing Face

Jakarta is now changing its face of architecture, being knocked by the gust of global warming that influence the thinking and statements of the previous ‘modern’ architecture. Green-actions are encouraged, regulations regarding environmentally-awared building are begun to be discussed. These symptoms are pioneered by those who are able to meet the desire for brilliance shapes and architectural ornaments of the what-was-called-as-‘old-fashioned’ Indonesian architecture. It is begun to feel that humans are leaving the days, back to the past, endeavored to do the reincarnation of their architecture. It seems like a setback that is away from future steps but yet it has be done. 
Followers of these symptoms may not be aware that that-kind-of-architecture has ever been born and grown on their own land through a reasonable and proper explanations, along with the cultural background of the society. Beyond all that, we who live in this period are the continuation of the past. We have to be awared that we are currently overburdened of tasks to develop good culture of the past and to keep our nation’s personality in along with contemporary culture. [AKD]

*as written in KOMPAS newspaper on Feb 15, 2009