Priastini Amrita, Pioneer of Light - Penta Architecture

© Bram Philip T – Norah Emily Studio

Pioneer of Light Priastini Amrita

24 ONDERWERP

Highlighting urban forms

By Denise Close, Jean-Luc Wittersheim

Architecture and lighting form an essential partnership according to Priastini Amrita, senior project architect in Bandung, Indonesia.

Lighting intensifies architectural design and breathes life into buildings and their interiors. She foresees a future where building visitors will find their way thanks simply to technology-linked lighting systems.

Why did you become an architect?

Because my father was a soldier!

We lived in military housing previously owned by the Dutch army.

The houses all looked the same to me and I wondered why they should be that way. One day I tried to draw my dream house on a scrap of telex paper, and every day since then I did drawings.

My father knew that I loved drawing and kept me supplied with paper. He believed that someday I’d be an architect.

When I was 26 years old I was given my first assignment as project manager of an office building in Jakarta – which I felt was a huge challenge for someone so young.

As an architect, what would you say are the most important factors in architectural design?

The design concept is definitely the most important factor because it leads us to the whole design that is implemented. Most of our projects involve local elements which are properly integrated into modern architecture. Design is teamwork that requires us to explore and translate the client’s needs and respect appropriate requirements.

Aesthetics are also vital to achieve optimum design, especially in building façades. This calls for appropriate lighting systems in every building to make them more beautiful.

For me, architecture is about creating both comfort and beauty.

What achievements by other professionals have inspired you the most?

I’m not always inspired by famous architects, but instead find interesting ideas in many different ways. For example, visiting a place with buildings that I’ve never seen before, where I can learn from the way they translate all the drivers (culture, user needs, etc.) into the building design. The building types that I design the most are sports facilities – including soccer stadiums – and hospitals.

LUMINOUS 2019/23

“Lighting is not only something that’s needed, but also optimizes architectural design” Priastini Amrita

Which of your projects are most significant?

I’ve worked on a variety of projects such as hospitals, stadiums, offices, hotels and airports. They are all important, but stadium works particularly stand out. I’m also very grateful to my former Scottish boss David Gourley at Peddle Thorp who taught me how to design from a different perspective; one of our designs was an apartment tower in Kuningan, Jakarta. I would pick out the following three projects.

The Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) Stadium in Bandung, built in 2010, was one of our most important works – our biggest project at that time. This experience taught me how to integrate the diverse disciplines involved. At the time I was a project manager of design; my job was to maintain the schedule, build intensive interdiscipline coordination between architecture, structure, mechanical, electrical, infrastructure and landscape – and immediately find solutions to any problems that arose during the design process and construction. It also required architectural design flexibility: for example, the National Earthquake Regulation affecting structural calculations meant that the main columns supporting the cantilevered asymmetric roof were about two meters across. Most architects were not happy that the structural calculation led to such unexpected column dimensions.

The Papua Bangkit Stadium in Sentani Jayapura, with 40.000 seats, is another valuable project. It’s “valuable” because it was designed successfully with the innovative solution of a secondary “skin”, made of perforated steel plate in the manner of a local Papuan ornament.

PIONEERS OF LIGHT 25

© Bram Philip T - Norah Emily Studio

Biography Priastini Amrita Priastini Amrita started working as an architect after graduating from Bandung Institute of Technology in October 1992.

She has worked for architectural firms in Bandung and Jakarta. Her first job as a professional architect was with Atelier 6. The second company for which she worked was Peddle Thorp Architect Indonesia, in 1997. This Australian-based Architecture, Interior Design and Urban Planning firm with offices in Melbourne, Victoria, Asia and the Middle East gave Rita’s career a multi-national direction.

Rita has worked for Penta Architecture since 2003 and is involved in extremely diverse architectural projects. She began as a Project Manager then, in 2014, was promoted to become an Associate Director.

This secondary skin surrounds the building’s exterior and covers the spectators’ circulation areas. The stadium’s exterior is an amazing sight at night, with light sparkling from the inside through the perforated “Papua Ornament”. It looks like a golden bowl.

The Grand Mosque in Padang, West Sumatra is another important project for the Penta Team. Although I was not directly involved in this project, my colleague Rina Chaerina - one of Penta’s senior architects - successfully carried out the lighting design for this project; the façade work in particular inspired other architects. The teamwork successfully implemented complex concepts for both the façade architecture and the lighting. I think it’s an amazing work.

What is the role of light and lighting in architecture?

For me, architecture and special lighting together form an essential collaboration.

Beautiful buildings are made by architecture and enhanced by special lighting. Lighting is not only something that’s needed, but also optimizes architectural design. Architecture without lighting effects will look like a “cemetery” – by this, I mean it will look like a mute statue and gloomy.

What place does light occupy in your projects?

In stadium projects the most-needed lighting is in the Field of players (FOP), the roof structure and to highlight the building’s façade. This makes the buildings more eye-catching. For example: Papua’s main stadium’s external corridor is covered by a secondary “skin” whose design is inspired by local details which, lit from within, successfully create a dramatic impression from outside the stadium.

26 PIONEERS OF LIGHT

Penta Architecture profile Founded in 1991, located in Bandung, the capital of West Java in Indonesia, Penta’s stated mission is to design buildings in Asia with the competitive advantages in capabilities, qualities, commitment and the Human resources quality.

Penta has grown as a consulting firm specialized in Planning, Architecture and Engineering, with commercial and public project services.

Some projects are landmarks of Indonesia, such as the 558-meter-high Menara Jakarta in Jakarta and the 75-meter-tall Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue in Bali.

Currently Penta has completed more than 300 projects around Indonesia.

Have you seen an evolution in the way architects integrate light in their work?

Yes I have. Many years ago architects put in lighting just to illuminate the building’s interior at night. Nowadays, lighting technology has become an essential element in architectural design. We need more lighting to adorn our buildings. It’s become a necessity and a trend in the architectural world.

How have you kept your knowledge up-to-date throughout the years?

I travel to many countries, visit interesting buildings, attend architectural seminars, read books, all of which keep my knowledge up-to-date. I’m very grateful to Penta, the company that allows me do all these things.

In your wildest dreams, how do you see urban and building lighting?

I hope that, someday, all of parts of the city will have buildings with different lighting characteristics and color designs, so that the city will still look alive even in the middle of the night. I always dream that someday, lighting could provide guidance for people who enter the building at night without the need for signage; they’d only need to use their cellphone to show the way to their destination.

Related article Grand Mosque, Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia ↩ page 44

Significant projects

The Papua Bangkit Stadium, Sentani Jayapura, Indonesia The Grand Mosque in Padang, West Sumatra

© Bram Philip T - Norah Emily Studio

Website www.penta.co.id

© © Priastini Amrita

– The Papua Bangkit Stadium, Sentani Jayapura, West Papua province, Indonesia – The Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) Stadium, Gedebage subdistrict, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia – Menara Jakarta skyscraper, Jakarta, Indonesia – Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue, Bali, Indonesia – Tanjung Enim Lestari Pulp and Paper, South Sumatra, Indonesia – Grand Mosque in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia – Clinker Storage Dome in Semen Tonasa Factory, Indonesia – Renovation of Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) football Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia – Kertajati Airport, Majalengka, West Java, Indonesia – Kulon Progo International Airport, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia – General Hospital in Kertosono, East Java, Indonesia – Maternal and Pediatric Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia