Taman Bima Microlibrary, Bandung Public Building, Reading Facility, Indonesian Architecture, Images

Taman Bima Microlibrary in Bandung

Sustainable Modern Library in Indonesia – design by SHAU Architects

8 May 2019

Taman Bima Microlibrary

Design: SHAU Architects

Location: Bandun, Indonesia

photo © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden

Taman Bima Microlibrary is a pilot project for a series of low-cost, eco-conscious reading facilities in urban and rural villages, the Microlibrary aims to help combat Indonesia’s low literacy rates.

photos © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden

An elevated library and book storage space was added above a pre-existing stage used for community events. The upper structure is steel and concrete, with façades made of 2,000 upcycled ice-cream buckets, which help with day light and cross-ventilation.

photo © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Cemal Emden

The pattern, in zeros (open) and ones (closed), presents a binary coding of a message from a former Bandung mayor that translates as “Books are the windows to the world”. The stage below remains as a semi-open public space, and the stairs also serve as seating. Various social-oriented events that take place every week have proved highly popular among locals.

drawing © SHAU Architects