INTO THE LIGHT

The proposed Japanese Embassy for the new capital of Indonesia, Nusantara, is not an authoritative building, but a medium for promoting mutual respect and co-operation between the two cultures. The project explores how the embassy can redefine traditional power dynamics (often marked by imposing architecture) and bring a new interpretation to diplomatic space by adopting a humble and open form. The design embraces the principles of ambiguity, transparency and deep harmony with nature, in keeping with the values of the White School Architecture. It invites public engagement and presents a space that connects past and present, tradition and modernity, and promotes reconciliation.

Inside the Embassy: Shakkei (Borrowed Scenery) Through subtle orientation adjustments, the design ensures that each room frames a different scene, offering variety in the experience of space and nature from one area to another.

Typical Plan and Section: The spacious size of the site allows to design with a low profile building, spread horizontally over the slope to achieve the idea of continuing interaction with the natural landscape.

Each box massings have a particular function within the embassy (e.g., consular, cultural or social, office), and their varying orientations help to distinguish these functions while maintaining visual and symbolic coherence.

Ambassador's Residence: A Harmonious Blend of Tradition and Modernity Reflecting Tranquility and Private Comfort.