Two students from the Faculty of Engineering’s Undergraduate Architecture Program at Untar, Juan Nathanie Willianto and Frans Michael, have achieved a remarkable accomplishment in the Thesis of the Year Award (TOY) ARCASIA 2024, an annual competition organized by the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA).
Both students were selected among the Top 13 finalists following the regional jury evaluation held on 15 July 2024. Juan Nathanie Willianto’s project, titled “A Symphony of Rain, Carbon, and Fish,” advanced to the Top 3, earning the opportunity to represent Indonesia at the international level. His project aims to preserve the cultural heritage and local economy of Kampung Nelayan Kamal Muara through a natural and sustainable aquaculture system.
Juan explained that the project implements a vertical aquaponics system that allows water to flow naturally from top to bottom using a Voronoi-based pattern. “Aquaponics is a method of cultivating fish and plants in a mutually beneficial ecosystem, and this vertical system was designed to address the challenges of a site that is entirely surrounded by water,” he said.
During the development process, Juan faced several challenges, including understanding the environmental conditions and cultural characteristics of Kampung Nelayan Kamal Muara and integrating them into his design concept. After identifying water pollution and sedimentation as key issues affecting the fishing village, he developed the idea of a vertical aquaponics system that utilizes gravity to circulate water, eliminating the need for electricity and pumps while incorporating a capillary system to process wastewater.
Juan with his work titled “A Symphony of Rain, Carbon, and Fish”
The innovation also includes a rainwater filtration mechanism using fabric bags filled with sand to maintain the sustainability of the aquaponics system. In addition, the system produces activated carbon from rainwater sediment, which can be used to purify water around the site. Through an incremental design approach, Juan created a new ecosystem that harmonizes with the village’s social and environmental context.
Meanwhile, Frans Michael presented a project titled “Niche @ Harmon(Y): A Place Where People Meet Nature.” The project began with an in-depth analysis of the site’s history, current conditions, and future development potential. Frans’ design carefully considered spatial aspects, user needs, and its impact on the Harmoni area and Jakarta as a whole.
The project introduces the concept of a “breathing place,” emphasizing interaction between people and nature while creating a new landmark for Jakarta through a split-building form and a diagonal axis. The green roof serves not only as an aesthetic feature but also as an air-cooling system and dust filtration mechanism supported by vegetation and a misting system. Furthermore, Frans incorporated a vertical coffee farming element using an aeroponic system, which is capable of producing coffee at a rate three times higher than conventional soil-based cultivation methods.
Juan and Frans expressed their hope of continuing to learn, develop their expertise, and contribute innovations to the architecture industry. Through their work, they aspire to create positive impacts on society, the economy, and the environment. (VH/YS/KJ)
Keywords: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)