A Sustainable laboratory beneath the hill
A sustainable laboratory has opened in Urban Forest, an urban park in Jakarta, Indonesia. Beneath a hilly lawn lies a cavernous, unexpectedly dark space—a chicken coop. This pavilion demonstrates how households can achieve resource self-sufficiency through backyard poultry farming.
Indonesia is the second largest producer of food waste in the world. It amounts to about 1.6 million tons per year, or about 300 kilograms per person. Food waste not only incurs high disposal costs but also contributes up to 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions. The greater the volume of food waste, the more widespread the negative impacts.
According to available data, the majority of food waste originates from households. In fact, it is the households that are the key players in practicing sustainability, rather than the national level. The Chicken Hero Pavilion is an eco-designed prototype chicken coop that addresses this issue. It is designed to be functional and efficient while minimizing environmental impact. The materials used are recycled bamboo poles, a roof made of woven bamboo panels, grass covering the roof, and wire mesh. The structure is simple yet practical. To optimize the coop’s internal conditions, indirect lighting was installed at the darkest point where the sloped roof meets the ground, and cross-ventilation was incorporated. Positioned within the park, the coop utilized fallen leaves from the surrounding area to maintain soft flooring, while the grass-covered roof served as a rainwater catchment system.
For four weeks, the pavilion processed food waste from six nearby restaurants. The collected food waste, along with dry leaves, was used as flooring for the chicken coop. The resulting composted food waste and leaves were collected every three days for uses as garden and commercial fertilizer. In return, more than 40 eggs were delivered to the restaurants every day. For visitors, it was a living harvest experience.
The experiment originated from the question of how sustainability can be decentralized and effectively realized in different ways. Rather than relying solely on sustainable architecture, Indonesia promotes micro-circular economies at the local community level. This aligns with the trend of ‘glocalization,’ a blend of globalization and localization. Glocalization involves adopting global sustainability principles while tailoring them to suit local contexts. For Indonesia, a nation composed of numerous islands, it is essential to develop solutions adapted to each region’s specific needs rather than applying standardized environmental policies.
The Chicken Hero Pavilion reflects this approach, offering a fresh and accessible prototype for practicing sustainability in daily life at the local level.
Project: Chicken Hero Pavilion / Firm Location: Bali, Indonesia / Project Location: Urban Forest Jakarta / Architect: RAD+ar / Lead Architects: Antonius Richard Rusli, Daniel Susanto / Architectural Designer: Lemanuella Ernestine Providensia, Jason Halim, Dame Simangunsong, Shiela Susanto Jaya, Risma Fitriyanti / Contractor: Lana Karya Construction / Lighting Designer: The Dens Living / Landscape Designer: Kroma Lab / Weaving Designer: Byoliving / Graphic Designer: Satu Collective / Indoor Furniture: AlvinT / Outdoor Furniture: Luar Living / Use: Pavilion / Gross Built Area: 900m² / Completion: 2024 / Photograph: ©Mario Wibowo (courtesy of the architect)
