Backyaard Collective is a prefab laboratory that celebrates creative community activities in a modular environment, located at the backyard of Aaksen Responsible Aarchitecture’s office amidst dense neighborhood in Bandung, Indonesia. The space was initially an unoccupied warehouse of Kayu Lapis Indonesia’s carpentry workshop that was established during the 1970s.
Backyaard Collective consists of two main modular spaces, the Pixelated Papandayan, a modular amphitheatre made of bricks for community events and AAND Sayana, a modular prefabricated cabin as the prefab hub and as an extension of office functions. A measured modular component is one of design method that contributes to sustainability issues, where materials construction waste can be eliminated by efficient process, and also opening new possibilities in defining the space for living. Often associated as rigid or bland design, Backyaard Collective explores that modular design can be human centered as well, without compromising the advantages addressed in modularity.
Adopting the shape of Papandayan Mt. in Indonesia and the interactions that occur when climbing the mountain, the Pixelated Papandayan manifests a modular design experiment by setting seven bricks that line up horizontally as one module. The installation is designed to form steps that can be utilized like amphitheatres. Module size is made so visitors can comfortably sit on the steps of the amphitheatre to interact, also for the office’s daily morning scrum. While at several points, the module serves as a planter pot to give shade for activities throughout the day.
AAND Sayana is a prefabricated modular micro house that can be fully assembled within 3 weeks. The cabin is used as meeting room and podcast studio for #aaksentalks, where the building primary purpose itself can be very versatile depending on the user needs and activities. The building components were made in Kendal, Indonesia, and later gathered for assembling process. The construction system was intentionally designed without involving any heavy equipment, therefore, the construction is possible to happen anywhere from a lot amidst a narrow alley of the city centre, to even in a remote island.
In AAND Sayana, the wall is made of CLT, an engineered wood panel in which were factory-made that has been calculated, tested, to be finally labelled as an earthquake-resistant structure. The structural timber was made of certified local burflower-tree or Neolamarckia Cadamba, local fast-growing trees commonly used for building materials. Living in Indonesia where it is surrounded by active volcanoes due to the ring of fire, the situation urges us for disaster prevention that can happen anytime.
Additionally, the energy here is supported by on-grid solar panel system, where in times of excess energy occur, the energy will supply the office. All electronic system is controlled by IoT from the phone, making every future occupant is conscious of energy consumption. AAND Sayana is hoped will foster a faster development in a remote area, especially in East Indonesia, with a focus on high-quality standardized prefabricated local materials that can be effortlessly constructed by anyone, while keeping the environment at its natural beauty, with minimum footprint left.
AAND Sayana, won a merit award of SDAY 2019 (Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents), representing Indonesia and Bandung as UNESCO City of Design @bccfbdg with the theme “Inclusive Design” that encompass creativity and contribution of designers from UNESCO Creative Cities to make more livable environment. In this situation of facing the unexpected new normal living, AAND Sayana exemplifies the feasibility of having home-office pods in any backyard, with the new ethical standards that put the importance of functions and emotional values of design towards a more livable and productive environment.
