Indonesia's microlibraries draw young readers

There is an ambitious effort under way in Indonesia to build a network of microlibraries across the country. Pictured: Microlibrary Babakan Sari, also known as Hanging Gardens, in Bandung.

SHAU architecture firm’s Microlibrary Project promotes literacy while offering respite from the heat through a combination of shading and cross-ventilation.

The project was launched in 2012 by SHAU co-founders Daliana Suryawinata and Florian Heinzelmann, who have built eight libraries to date.They have called the libraries “laboratories for material experimentation”, using recycled materials, FSC-certified wood and lightweight concrete in their builds.

The microlibrary Babakan Sari, which was completed in 2019 in Bandung, features a rooftop garden.

The structures are built using a range of materials and passive cooling principles. The facade of the Bima microlibrary in Bandung was built in 2015 with 2,000 discarded ice cream buckets.

“The ice cream buckets are very interesting material for translucency in a wall material,” Suryawinata said. The team cut out the bottoms of the buckets, offering natural lighting and cross-ventilation.Pictured: Bima microlibrary, in Bandung.

“No matter what material that we use, we want to protecting the people from overheating,” said Heinzelmann.The buckets spell out a hidden message in binary code: books are the windows to the world.Pictured: Bima microlibrary, in Bandung.

The libraries partner with local youth organizations to plan activities in recreation spaces.Pictured: Bima microlibrary, in Bandung.

Nearby schools send classes to the Bima microlibrary during the week.

The Warak Kayu microlibrary was built in 2020 in Semarang, in Central Java. The designers have said the “micro” concept was intentional, making the spaces more approachable for local residents.

Placing the Warak Kayu microlibrary on stilts left room for a swing and open recreation area.

In 2024, Heinzelmann and Suryawinata created a foundation to support the microlibrary project’s growth. The goal? Expand to 100 branches by 2045.