designer profile Architect

ARA Design

The Process
Oriented
The utilitarian design has been captured in many locations
in Surabaya, thanks to ARA Design who consistently
reveals each element of their architecture. They are also where everyone has the freedom to say that is still maintained to this day.
dedicating their time for the community to enhance their their pieces.
About the design process and how What makes ARA different from
knowledge and design abilities. The bureau was founded
we do it, there is no particular standard, other architecture bureaus in
by Hermawan Dasmanto, Goyatamara Kolondam and Erel just that we have the habit of starting Surabaya?
Hadimuljono. They talk to Indonesia Design about the a project with establishing an issue, We are thankful of the various
focuses on design. collecting data, analysing, conducting opportunities that we have had, ones that
research and exploration, and also not to had not been given to other architects.
be left out is documenting and filing the These opportunities are our chance to
INTERVIEW by Barbara Hahijary project so that it can become the issue keep on processing, not only producing.
and data for other projects in the future. We always see a process as the most
This is the process that we try to maintain, important thing to produce a good
and there is no specific design philosophy. product. We are still trapped in instability
Above all, we still aim to present the best and we shall not be easily satisfied
How did ARA Design first come to we had three personnel in the firm with ARA also designs a lot of public result for each design process. because there are still a lot to be learnt
realisation? Erel joining our team. And also in that spaces. What does the ARA team and finished.
ARA was developed as an ‘after hour’ year you can say that the new face of think is important in the design of Which project is the most challenging
project for Hermawan and Goyatamara ARA Studio was established, the one that such buildings? for the ARA team? Are there any issues/problems in the
around 2009. In the beginning it was lasts to this day. So we could say that For us, architecture can be considered Actually each project has its own set of development of the city that ARA
just a side job because Goyatamara was ARA Design has been resurrected and we successful if the success can relate challenges. But so far, we could say that would like to help fix?
still working in a consultant bureau in have the responsibility to make it a real to many people, because after all, the Kudos project is the most challenging. We have several times been involved in
Jakarta and Hermawan was involved in architecture bureau and nurture it as best architecture is a job for the public From the start of the design we had some researches and data collections
several projects with the architecture as we can. challenged the client and contractor to do regarding Surabaya and the issues
communities of Rurale and de Maya. Can you share the design process of some experiments with shapes, budget that most people have regarding the any exception.
But with the passing of time, we Why do projects by ARA tend to have one of ARA projects? and materials. But after undergoing a city. The most glaring condition is the We have given a special concern
realised that an architecture bureau simple shape, colour and materials? We have several styles in finishing a lengthy process and experiencing a lot people of Surabaya’s lack of sense of for Surabaya, probably because of our
with a freelance nature would not go An aesthetic that can last for a long time project, considering that there are 3 of failures, we felt that we had learnt belonging towards their own city. A lot personal connection to the city as our
well in the business. So we took a leave is usually one that comes out of honesty, principals in ARA, each with their own a lot from this project. We do not feel of people seem to have given up with hometown. Through our works we try
of absence for about a year before not of something that is considered a interest and approach. Each principal has particularly successful in doing the the present condition of Surabaya, which to help the government of Surabaya in
several ‘serendipities’ happened that mere gimmick. We see simplicity not a smaller team to work with, with his own project, but the end result turns out to has led to the low number of innovative completing several public facilities such as
led us to the decision to make ARA a as something tacky or cheap. For us project and approach. But all of these have a business value for Kudos. This is breakthroughs in the city. This is not good Sentra PKL (centre for hawkers), City Parks,
fully-fledged architecture bureau—this simplicity means honesty in each process will be brought together in a forum that one of our projects that we feel proud of because the development of a city should Elementary School building, and other city
time as our main job. That same year, of architecture. we dub the FND (Friday Night Discussion) so far because of its consistency of concept be the responsibility of its citizen without infrastructures.

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