Dipl.-Ing. Arsitek: German-trained Indonesian Architects from the 1960s

Initiated by Sally Below, Moritz Henning, and Eduard Kögel

Artistic direction: Avianti Armand, Sally Below, Moritz Henning, Eduard Kögel, Setiadi Sopandi

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Indonesia, Dipl.-Ing. Arsitek: German-trained Indonesian Architects from the 1960s examines an inspiring aspect of this joint architectural history that has received little attention to date.

Indonesia’s development after gaining independence from the colonial rule of the Netherlands in 1949 and Germany’s reorientation after the Second World War resulted in new opportunities for knowledge transfer. Starting in the mid-1950s, a growing number of young people from Indonesia came to study in West Germany, with some studying in East Germany as well. After gaining their degree, the majority of them returned home, often going on to pursue impressive careers.

Dipl.-Ing. Arsitek: German-trained Indonesian Architects from the 1960s provides insight into German-Indonesian knowledge transfer in the field of architecture, based on the final projects of Indonesian architecture students at Technische Universität Berlin and Technische Universität Hannover in 1960 and 1961. It explores the lives and work 12 architects, amongst them Bianpoen, Han Awal, Mustafa Pamuntjak, Soejoedi Wirjoatmodjo, Suwondo Bismo Sutedjo, and Yusuf Bilyarta Mangunwijaya, who returned to their homeland and became protagonists of modern Indonesian architecture. Jan Beng Oei and Heriantro Sulindro who found a new home in southern Germany and Switzerland, are featured as representatives of those who remained in Europe.

Dipl.-Ing. Arsitek: German-trained Indonesian Architects from the 1960s is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Indonesia.

From 12 December 2022 to 12 January 2023, an exhibition in Jakarta will give an in-depth look into the careers of the selected architects. Historical documents and previously untapped archival materials allow for an intensive examination of the work of these architects against the backdrop of their training in Europe, particularly from Germany. New photographs created for the project depict exemplary buildings by the architects in their present-day context and raise questions about the cultural significance and future of architectural modernism in Indonesia and Germany.

Exhibition curators: Avianti Armand and Setiadi Sopandi with Sally Below, Moritz Henning, Eduard Kögel

Two online symposia in December 2022 will present the contents of the project to an international audience and open up topics raised by this collaborative endeavour to an interested public.

Symposium curators: Sally Below, Moritz Henning, Eduard Kögel
Consultants: Avianti Armand, Setiadi Sopandi