This project is a competition entry which held by the government of Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. The brief was to design a landmark located in Babalayar intersection, a major intersection of the city. Participants are asked to design a vertical monument with an already decided dimension for the building/structure envelope. Based on our study, there are already two monuments erected near the location, so our proposal is not to design a monument-like landmark and explore an alternative way to design it. Our study found Mandala as the city’s local wisdom that can be an inspiration for landmark design.
The landmark design is based on Mandala. Mandala is an order originating from Hinduism or Buddhism, which became the principle of city planning in the Majapahit era (ancient kingdom era in Indonesia). In city planning, Mandala means dedicated its center to nature and represents the supernatural connection or interaction. Therefore, instead of designing a monument-like massive vertical structure, this landmark design proposes a void space dedicated to nature, creating a space for life.
The void space dedicated to nature is a garden with an eco-pond that planted by trees and vegetation that create new life. The trees and vegetation are planned not only for a visual purpose but also take into consideration the ecosystem that will be shaped. The selected trees and vegetation will invite various animals such as birds, insects, and water animals. The eco-pond also functioned as a retention for rainwater, so the water can be absorbed into the ground. Hence, this proposal design for a landmark intersection in the middle of the city not only has a symbolic value but also environmental and social value as a public space.
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