Waste Not, Build With Nusantara, Kalimantan, Indonesia
Columbia GSAPP Spring 2025 | Studio Critic: David Benjamin of The Living
The Center: Waste Not, Build With addresses Indonesia's waste management challenges in low-income villages by converting local waste into building materials. Each center prototype is customized for its regional context, utilizing locally sourced waste transformed into familiar construction materials to encourage community adoption. More than just waste collection hubs, these centers redefine Indonesia’s architectural identity by integrating local material innovation with localized construction methods, exploring new possibilities in form, assembly, and the future of contemporary Indonesian architecture.
With Indonesia's capital relocating to Nusantara, Kalimantan, the first prototype of the Center is strategically placed on the outskirts of the new capital, surrounded by palm oil mills, plantations, and low-income villages. Here, it repurposes the vast amounts of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS), a byproduct of palm oil production, into [P]MU Blocks. This facility signals progress, sets a precedent for waste collection and management, and addresses population growth and shelter needs through sustainable development.
In addition to redefining Indonesia’s regional material identity, the Center aims to re-establish the country's architectural identity by analyzing and reinterpreting traditional architectural characteristics.
The success of the first prototype in Kalimantan paves the way for localized approaches to material innovation and evolving architectural identities across Indonesia. Regions like Jember could harness tobacco waste, while Bali could transform coastal agricultural byproducts into building materials. By tapping into the country’s agricultural and manufacturing strengths, transforming raw waste into functional, familiar materials, this project reimagines how architecture can be deeply rooted in local place, culture, and sustainability.