Microlibrary in Indonesia

Learning Center – “Microlibrary Fibonacci”

Microlibrary in Indonesia

Learning Center – “Microlibrary Fibonacci”

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    Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

    Microlibrary Fibonacci as an “urban ruin” in the middle of the lush park. The parametrically designed, spirally arrayed structure blends in while at the same time, stands out.

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    Microlibrary in Indonesia

    Each Microlibrary has a unique context and community. Some have become neighborhood icons, frequented by kids, teenagers, and locals for a variety of activities beyond just reading.

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    Holcim Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific prize handover ceremony, Kuala Lumpur

    Winners of the Holcim Awards Silver 2017 for Asia Pacific (l-r): Florian Heinzelmann and Daliana Suryawinata, SHAU, Bandung, Indonesia for Learning center, Bandung, Indonesia. Using simple construction, this microlibrary creatively promotes literacy and community across Indonesia.

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    Microlibrary in Indonesia

    The goal was to create welcoming, small-scale libraries, bridging the gap between mobile libraries and larger city institutions.

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    Microlibrary in Indonesia

    Microlibrary: front view.

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    Holcim Awards 2017 Silver winners for Asia Pacific

    Architects Florian Heinzelmann and Daliana Suryawinata from SHAU won the Silver Award in Asia Pacific and view the use of material and passive climate strategies as key to the project's sustainability.

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    Microlibrary in Indonesia

    Set within a park, the Microlibrary Fibonacci aims to raise literacy by offering attractive spaces for reading.

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    Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

    With the concept of a modern urban ruin in the park, parametrically-designed, spirally-arrayed, curved concrete ribs are designed to hold a light-weight roof with a moss-textured finish. Opened to all sides.

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    Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

    Microlibrary Helicoid, Babakan Sari: this microlibrary is designed with flowing geometry, that is a helicoid with dual-usage space while having a minimum footprint. Located in the middle of an urban plaza surrounded by a clinic, a school, a district office and a military base.

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    Holcim Awards prizewinner reception – Jakarta, Indonesia

    Presenting the Global Holcim Awards finalist certificate (l-r): project architect Daliana Suryawinata, SHAU receives the finalist certificate from Oepoyo Prakoso, Sustainable Development Manager, Holcim Indonesia; in the background Next Generation prize winner Andi Subagio, SASO Architecture Studio and Gunawan Tjahjono, Professor of Architecture, University of Indonesia.

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    Holcim Awards prizewinner reception – Jakarta, Indonesia

    How does sustainable construction support the Indonesian government to improve the quality of education? Q&A session with (l-r): Daliana Suryawinata, SHAU; Andi Subagio, SASO Architecture Studio and Gunawan Tjahjono, Professor of Architecture, University of Indonesia.

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    Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

    1:1 partial mock ups of rib corners (12cm thickness) to demonstrate structural abilities, surface quality, and precision of the shotcrete construction.

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    Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

    Microlibrary Lansia, Lansia Park: The second microlibrary in a lush park in the center of Bandung hosting public musholla and toilets. The façade uses PVC pipes of various diameters and lengths where the large pipes are positioned according to the program they represent.

  • Awards Silver 2017–2018 Asia Pacific

Using simple construction, this “micro” library by SHAU architects creatively promotes literacy and community in Bandung and across Indonesia. Set within a park, the social infrastructure project aims to raise literacy by offering attractive spaces for reading.

By Daliana Suryawinata, Florian Heinzelmann - SHAU, Bandung, Indonesia

The proposal is part of a larger project to construct a network of libraries across the country. It will be the fourth completed by the group, each with a unique, site-specific design. SHAU set up the program in 2012 to implement a network of community-run micro-libraries across Southeast Asia. This typology is intended to bridge the gap between mobile ‘books-on-wheels’ libraries and larger city-scale institutions.

Each micro-library is undertaken with different partners and funding models. It experiments with material, social and climatic strategies in architecture to address the needs of the community it is intended for. Eight of these micro-libraries have already reached various stages of completion; several more are on the way. By putting together simple components in a creative way, the project achieves complexity with minimal means.

Status (2024): 8 Microlibraries Completed

Microlibrary in Indonesia

Project authors

Especially compelling is the specificity of each individual project – every building responds to the needs of the local community and the urban context. Holcim Awards 2017 Jury for Asia Pacific

Lightweight & Passive Design | Sustainable design by SHAU

SHAU’s park-based Microlibrary in Bandung champions passive strategies and smart materials to create a sustainable, community-driven reading space.

Jury Appraisal

Set within a public park, this “micro” library seeks to foster literacy by creating attractive and accessible spaces for reading. The pavilion is part of a broader initiative to construct a network of small libraries across Indonesia—this being the fourth completed, each featuring a unique, site-specific design. Resting on four spiraling columns, the structure defines smaller enclosed areas for storage, restrooms, and a prayer room, while the remainder of the space remains fully open to the park. Both ceiling and floor incorporate natural and artificial greenery, effectively blending the landscape into the building. Construction techniques are basic and locally achievable. With modest means and simple components, the project achieves surprising spatial richness.

Global Holcim Awards finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

Microlibrary Helicoid, Babakan Sari: this microlibrary is designed with flowing geometry, that is a helicoid with dual-usage space while having a minimum footprint. Located in the middle of an urban plaza surrounded by a clinic, a school, a district office and a military base.

The jury was impressed by the project's vision to establish a nationwide network of libraries—each tailored to its specific site and community. Especially compelling is the way each building uniquely responds to local needs and urban context. In this case, the design opens on all sides to the surrounding park, inviting people in rather than enclosing them. This open, welcoming layout reimagines the traditional library as a space of community engagement rather than quiet seclusion. The use of unconventional materials—such as a moss-covered ceiling and artificial grass flooring—also makes the structure an experiment in tactile experience and construction innovation. By multiplying these inviting spaces without repeating a singular design formula, the project builds a territorial network that promotes literacy and reinforces a sense of community.

Words with Winners

SHAU’s Microlibraries project won a Holcim Foundation Award in 2018, recognized for its innovative and sustainable contribution to literacy and community engagement in Indonesia. By integrating these libraries into the community fabric, SHAU aims to not only promote literacy but also offer public gathering spaces that foster social engagement.

Microlibrary in Indonesia

Each Microlibrary has a unique context and community. Some have become neighborhood icons, frequented by kids, teenagers, and locals for a variety of activities beyond just reading.

We sit down with Daliana Suryawinata and Florian Heinzelmann, co-founders of SHAU, to explore the evolution of the Microlibraries, their design philosophy, and how the Holcim Foundation Award has impacted their practice and the communities they serve.

  • “We wanted to create infrastructure that is not just a place for books, but an interesting place for the community to gather and interact.”

    Daliana Suryawinata | SHAU, Indonesia

  • “Our goal with the Microlibraries is to create comfortable spaces without the need for air conditioning – using passive strategies to make the spaces comfortable in the tropical climate.”

    Florian Heinzelmann | SHAU, Indonesia

Project authors

Project updates

December 28, 2023 | Project Update | Bandung, Indonesia

Microlibrary Fibonacci: A playful landmark fostering literacy and connection in Bandung

Appearing like a whimsical urban ruin in a public park, the open-sided Microlibrary Fibonacci merges architecture and nature to create a hub for learning and community connection. With its porous form and green setting, it offers an inviting space in a city short on youth-focused public amenities. The library is part of SHAU’s “100 Microlibraries” program, launched in 2012 to boost literacy across Indonesia by placing small, community-run libraries in dense urban areas. The initiative bridges the gap between mobile book services and large institutions, while fostering civic pride and local engagement.

Read full article
October 08, 2018 | Awards Celebration | Jakarta, Indonesia

Smart Design, Stronger Learning: Indonesia’s Holcim Foundation Awards Projects in Focus

Holcim Awards prizewinner reception – Jakarta, Indonesia

Sustainable design is playing an important role in advancing education in Indonesia, as demonstrated by two Awards-winning projects showcased at the Jakarta Design Center. SHAU’s growing network of “Microlibraries” provides vibrant, accessible spaces for reading in underserved communities, while SASO Architecture Studio’s school hub empowers local craftspeople through resource-efficient construction using local materials. Both initiatives reflect Indonesia’s national commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and show how thoughtful architecture can support learning, equity, and community empowerment across the country.

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January 19, 2018 | Awards Reception | Jakarta, Indonesia

Winners' reception in Jakarta for Awards winners from Indonesia

Winners' reception in Jakarta for Awards winners from Indonesia

Indonesia continues to lead in sustainable construction, with recent Holcim Foundation Awards wins celebrated at a special reception and forum in Jakarta. Featuring presentations from prize-winning teams and industry experts, the event highlighted the country’s strong showing in the global competition and showcased how innovative design is improving education, livelihoods, and environmental resilience.

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November 23, 2017 | Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Building sustainably to improve communities – Microlibrary wins Holcim Awards Silver

Holcim Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific prize handover ceremony, Kuala Lumpur

The promotion and dissemination of knowledge is a recurring theme in the Holcim Foundation Awards – and is reiterated within the project by SHAU from Bandung, Indonesia. Their pavilion in a park is as minimalistic as it is well conceived – providing not only a public library, but also storage facilities, public toilets, and a prayer room. “The project is open on all sides to the park surrounding it, inviting the community to enter and explore; it constructs a territorial landmark reinforcing literacy and defining community,” said the jury.

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Statements on Sustainability

  • In 2012, we launched the Microlibrary program with a clear mission: to make learning attractive and accessible across Indonesia—and beyond. Although Indonesia’s economic outlook is promising, the nation’s infrastructure still lags in supporting improvements to its Human Development Index. Many eager learners are held back by a lack of educational facilities, and libraries remain far from popular. We believe that thoughtful, beautiful design can make libraries appealing once again. Instead of locating them solely in city centres, why not bring libraries closer to where people live?

    By 2016, two microlibraries had been built in Bandung, with four more in development—including the Fibonacci Microlibrary. Each library is uniquely designed to respond to the needs of its community and the opportunities of its site.

  • A key challenge was how to design and build within a construction environment reliant on manual labour. Rather than following a conventional “file to factory” model, we pursued a “file to craft” approach. Using a parametric Grasshopper model, we worked with standardized elements—specifically rib structures—that could flexibly adapt in terms of quantity, orientation, height, and spatial arrangement.

    The material solution used shotcrete structural insulated panels: concrete sprayed onto a foam core reinforced with metal mesh. This technique enabled lightweight construction, reducing foundation loads and overall material use. Casting the components in situ also addressed the logistical challenges of transporting prefabricated parts to the site.

  • Situated in a lush park, the open-sided pavilion invites visitors from all directions—making it deeply contextual. We envisioned the structure as a contemporary urban ruin, gradually reclaimed by nature. In contrast to the modernist ideal of functional separation, we designed the column-like ribs to serve multiple purposes. Their larger radius accommodates spiral rooms and integrated bookshelves, blurring the lines between structure, function, and furniture.

    A green roof, moss ceiling, and artificial grass flooring create a seamless extension of the park into the library—merging landscape, architecture, and experience into a continuous green environment.

Related information

Related information

  • SHAU

    Bandung, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

Location

pin Bandung, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

Bandung, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia

News

Project Update

SHAU’s Microlibrary promotes reading and social engagement in Bandung park

Bandung, Indonesia

Holcim Awards prizewinner reception – Jakarta, Indonesia

Awards Celebration

Building sustainably to support education in Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia

“A micro-Bilbao effect!” in Fifth LafargeHolcim Awards – Sustainable Construction 2017/2018

Article – 5th Holcim Awards

“A micro-Bilbao effect!”

Bandung, Indonesia

Global finalist entry 2018 – Microlibrary

Global finalist entry

Bandung, Indonesia

Winners' reception in Jakarta for Awards winners from Indonesia

Awards winners' reception

Winners' reception in Jakarta for Awards winners from Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia

LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific prize handover ceremony, Kuala Lumpur

Winners of the Holcim Awards 2017 for Asia Pacific

Building sustainably to improve communities

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Videos

SHAU Microlibraries, Indonesia | Words with Winners

A unique approach to providing accessible reading spaces in densely populated urban areas comes courtesy of a series of smart Microlibraries.

SHAU Microlibraries, Indonesia | Words with Winners

A unique approach to providing accessible reading spaces in densely populated urban areas comes courtesy of a series of smart Microlibraries.

Building Education Sustainably in Indonesia | Words with Winners

Two award-winning teams show how sustainable design can boost education—from SHAU’s Microlibraries to SASO’s locally crafted school hub. [Bahasa Indonesia with English subtitles]

Building Education Sustainably in Indonesia | Words with Winners

Two award-winning teams show how sustainable design can boost education—from SHAU’s Microlibraries to SASO’s locally crafted school hub. [Bahasa Indonesia with English subtitles]

Lightweight & Passive Design | Sustainable design by SHAU

SHAU’s park-based Microlibrary in Bandung champions passive strategies and smart materials to create a sustainable, community-driven reading space.

Lightweight & Passive Design | Sustainable design by SHAU

SHAU’s park-based Microlibrary in Bandung champions passive strategies and smart materials to create a sustainable, community-driven reading space.

Microlibrary: Silver 2017 Asia Pacific

A compact reading space in a Bandung park, this SHAU-designed “microlibrary” uses simple materials to create an inviting community hub—part of a growing network across Indonesia.

Microlibrary: Silver 2017 Asia Pacific

A compact reading space in a Bandung park, this SHAU-designed “microlibrary” uses simple materials to create an inviting community hub—part of a growing network across Indonesia.