The Living Roof of Bukit Duri
Location
Jakarta, Indonesia
Role
Programming, Prototyping & Digital Fabrication
Awards
The Denys Lasdun Award for Excellence in Architecture + Technical Studies Commendation
Intro
The Living Roof of Bukit Duri is a speculative project that responds to the infrastructural 'normalisation' of Jakarta's Ciliwung River. It reimagines the river as an elevated framework that provides an artificial ecosystem to support commerce, public amenities and communal life in the urban Kampung villages.
Process
A working prototype of the artificial river was developed using physical computing and multiple digital fabrication tools, laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC milling, and Arduino-controlled mechanisms to simulate water flow. Atmospheric photography and film translated the concept into a tangible narrative, connecting technology to socio-urban storytelling.
Goal
To explore how technology could repair the damaged relationship between Jakarta's informal settlements and the river. Through speculative design and prototyping, it proposed new techno-social relationships in which infrastructure could facilitate the regeneration of environment and community rather than causing displacement.
Result
The performative model showcased a functioning water system integrated into the roof framework, combining ecological functionality with public space creation. Awarded High Pass with Commendation in Technical Studies at the AA and the Denys Lasdun Award for Excellence in Architecture, the project demonstrates how narrative-led design can inform new technology development and application.