Behind the Façade: When Architecture is Not Just a Façade

By Fivien Nur Savitri, ST, MT

Editor Fivien Nur Savitri, ST, MT

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - Architecture is an art of designing structures and environment that starts with imagination. Indonesia has a long history of Architecture that could be easily recognized from numerous historical buildings with local genius elements. High enthusiasm for Architecture initiates The Architecture Study Program of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to manage Behind the Façade, a workshop and sketch day, on Saturday and Sunday (11-12/02/17) at Gedung Arsitektur, ITB.

The discussion of architecture did not stop on sketch; on the following day, Architecture's Sneak Peek was conducted. The activities includes a discussion about activities in Architecture ITB, a workshop on architectural design, and a mock-up contest. In this session, the discussion about design process and role modeling was presented by Ir. Achmad D. Tardiyana, MUDD as a professor at ITB and Principal/Design Director of PT Urbane Indonesia. Participants were also invited to go on a tour at Architecture program of ITB. The high enthusiasm and attendance showed that public started to take interest in Architecture. This could make Indonesia rich with new architecture designs that can promote the culture of Indonesia. The event was concluded with the announcement of contest winners and distribution of certificates to the participants.

Behind the Façade began from a field study held by class of 2015 of Architecture study program to examine what it is behind a façade because Architecture is not just a Façade. “It started with a field study that makes us want to create something new to introduce architecture profession to public,” said Nikolas Fiansa Buddhisuharto (class of 2015 Architecture ITB), the head of the field study. Behind the Façade presented discussion on activities in Architecture, workshop on architecture design, and contests. ITB in Sketch, sketch contest and workshop, was held on the first day with Thufeil Gumilar as a speaker. Thufeil Gumilar is an urban sketcher and the Head of External Affair of HDII Muda Jabar, who emphasized the importance of sketching and how inseparable sketching is from modeling. Thufeil asked participants to sketch using a drawing pen. He believes everyone has different style in drawing, thus it is important to be confident in their sketch. The first day participants were dominated by high school students. "I’m interested in drawing so I expect to later continue my education at Architecture program in ITB," said Sarah Devonia Rahmadi, a XII-grader student of a school in Bandung.