Rotterdam, Germany and Indonesia based-architecture firm SHAU completed a microlibrary- Taman Bima in the city of Bandung, Indonesia, which was made out of 2,000 recycled ice cream buckets. The microlibrary is a small reading facility for community use, which was created by participation of the local community. 

Interior of the library offers wooden desks

The architectural concept is to free the ground for multiple functions, while the library is elevated at the second floor. Continuous stairs allow additional seating area. The facade material is made by upcycling used ice cream buckets. The pattern on the facade is a coding of a message by Mayor Ridwan Kamil, "buku adalah jendela dunia".

Microlibrary offers a flexible space for children to read, work, and relax

The microlibrary covers 160 square-meter in total. The facade of the building consists of open and closed buckets, creating different zones and patterns inside-outside, which also arranges lighting in different scales inside. The 2,000 recycled ice cream buckets provide insulation and scatter light on the first floor of the building. 

Light is scattered inside through 2,000 recycled ice cream buckets used on the facade

SHAU design attractive buildings and cities which are socially and environmentally responsible. The individual offices collaborate on a project basis and combine their extensive working experiences in well-established and internationally-recognized architecture firms where they successfully worked on numerous projects on various scales. Eco House Bandung and Microlibrary-Taman Tegelega in Indonesia and Proto Tamansari Workshop are a few of the recent projects of SHAU. 

Microlibrary at night-a shining library

Detail view of the buckets

Pattern of buckets are coded on the facade 

Facade of the microlibrary

Transversal section

Plan of the library

Project Facts

Programme: Cultural, Educational

Size: 160 m²

Location: Bandung, Indonesia

Client: Dompet Dhuafa, City of Bandung

Status: Completed 2016

Team: SHAU Bandung/Jakarta, Florian Heinzelmann, Daliana Suryawinata, Yogi Ferdinand with Rizki Supratman, Roland Tejo Prayitno, Aditya Kusuma, Octavia Tunggal, Timmy Haryanto, Telesilla Bristogianni, Margaret Jo

All images © SHAU

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