Located in the East Region of Surabaya, the Auditorium of Widya Mandala University began simply as a need for a huge hall that is able to accommodate 2000 graduates. This project is actually a submission from a close competition, but rather than following the initial need rigidly, we always tried to broaden the given brief by questioning some fundamental things.
In this project, we propose some questions which are going to enrich the experience, such as :
“Is there any other value needed to make this auditorium more student-centric and can support its users on a daily basis instead of annually?".
In the end, the idea of injecting new programs came into the design as a solution. The result is quite straightforward yet unique.
WM Plenary HallSurabaya, East Java
WM Plenary HallSurabaya, East Java
ForWidya Mandala University
Area7162 sqm
StatusBuilt
Project TypeEducational
Published2017
LocationSurabaya, East Java
Auditorium Universitas Widya Mandala
Infused Activity
A big atrium is placed on the ground level, which leads to a multifunction hall on the second floor. We put another function such as meeting room on the mezzanine floor to create a connection between the main void and student’s activity. It’s purposely designed to accommodate both communal, specific and private program. The auditorium fully occupies the entire 3rd floor alongside with backstage area and cafeteria.
Section of Program
A new problem arises with our understanding through the program and the building mass. With a much bigger upper floor, the building will need to compromise the efficiency of its floor plates and facade as the occupancy between floors are going to be unbalanced
Mass Transformation
To achieve an efficient floor plate and beautiful facade, we try to accommodate it by combining both factors. An effective and minimal-waste skin configuration is tailored to dynamically follow the different floor plates while also maintaining the identity of its program. This is certainly done by deep research through different types of material and modules, including the involvement of digital simulation, in order to feasibly construct a unique yet responsible building.
Waste-less Facade
We try to experiment with the facade in 3 steps.
1. Splitting configuration
2. Part Mix & Match
3. Perpendicular panels
Each plane is perpendicular, which is formed from a divided plywood-sized panel. In the simulation, there are 3 types of point set, resulting in 6 pairs of panels with two different colors. These panels then rejoined as random puzzles with on
7% of waste, whereas normally it can reach up to 20-25% of waste.
We really focus on creating and controlling a balance between materiality and building form. This building should not only become alive occasionally but the student can experience its architectural value every day.
Compared to the initial design in the competition, there are a lot of adjustments being done as the project goes, especially for the facade as we need to control it with the help of a computer. Negotiation with the owner help us more in establishing the aesthetic, the performance, and the building’s impact.
