Images by Hendra Yana
Samong Haven, Bali
'Bricking it' residency with Praksis
"Traditional Indonesian brick is requires no mortar: water and friction alone fuse the bricks together, creating structures that demonstrate remarkable flexibility and resilience. Because of this, many of Indonesia’s historic brick structures – the Wringin Lawang gate, the Pari Temple, and others – have withstood earthquakes for more than six centuries. In contrast, newer Indonesian buildings made from modern, Western-style brick and mortar have proved catastrophically less resistant to seismic disturbance." –Praksis
Residency 26, Bricking It: An Urgent Situation 2024 drew on Indonesian vernacular knowledge to explore the technology, history, aesthetics and potentials of traditional brick as a sustainable medium. It took place at Samong Haven, a culture and learning centre under development in Sumberkima, north-west Bali.
Residency participants spent a month developing hands-on skills, building background knowledge and testing new concepts using traditional Indonesian brick.
In the later part of the residency participants worked on designing and realising on site facilities such as a temple and events kitchen. Together they designed a toilet using local materials to be built in future.
The residents, Praksis team and Indonesian senior researchers Professor Totok Noerwasito and Dr. I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra
In conversation
During the residency participants recorded a series of conversations and interviews with one another.
"What comes to mind when you think of brick", can be listened to here with researcher Yohannes Arya Duta, artist Elise Hoebeke, and designer Ellie Birkhead.
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More resident interviews and conversations can be enjoyed here.
A written publication will be completed in late 2025.