Dynamic Canvas of Gondangdia: Integrating Deconstructivism and Kinetic Facades in Contemporary Art Museum Design

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FORMOSA NEWS - Jakarta - Moving Architecture Meets Cultural Heritage: How Moving Facades and Dynamic Shapes Redefine Jakarta’s Museum Design. A study by researchers at Universitas Kristen Indonesia, published in August 2026, presents a design for a contemporary art museum in Jakarta that uses dynamic moving exterior panels and fragmented structural forms to protect art from tropical heat. Jakarta supports a growing community of over 24,000 artists and 12,000 art enthusiasts. However, the city faces a shortage of specialized exhibition venues that can host large-scale, interactive, and new media art installations. At the same time, central urban districts like Gondangdia undergo continuous commercial development, which often replaces distinct cultural character with uniform high-rise glass towers.

Architectural designers also face environmental challenges in tropical climates. Direct sunlight and high temperatures increase indoor cooling requirements and threaten delicate artworks with light exposure and heat damage. Standard static shading systems cannot adapt to changing sun angles or cloud coverage throughout the day.To address these cultural and environmental challenges, the researchers applied a qualitative descriptive methodology based on the professional design guidelines of the Indonesian Institute of Architects (IAI). The research team evaluated a 4,500-square-meter site on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Gondangdia. The methodology integrated three analytical stages:

• Macro-analysis: Examination of local zoning policies, legal plot ratios, and spatial regulations.
  
• Meso-analysis: Mapping of public transit access, including nearby commuter rail, busway, and underground train stops.
  
• Micro-analysis: Assessment of site-specific weather parameters, solar pathing, shadows, and acoustic constraints using meteorological data from Meteoblue and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).
  

The team also analyzed physical space usage at Galeri Nasional Indonesia and reviewed precedent studies of international structures, including the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Heydar Aliyev Center, and the Al-Bahr Towers. The resulting design integrates structural mass fragmentation with automated facade movement to form a climate-responsive building envelope.

Key Findings

• Cultural Form Reinterpretation: The building mass takes inspiration from the pucuk rebung (bamboo shoot) pattern, a traditional motif in Betawi batik art. The designers split and rotated this four-petal configuration into interconnected, angular volumes that break away from standard rectangular tower shapes.
  
• Automated Solar Shading: The central skylight and eastern facade use a modular, mechanical shading network inspired by traditional geometric screens. The network consists of triangular modules measure 125 centimeters by 250 centimeters.
  
• Advanced Material Selection: The dynamic modules use lightweight Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) membranes set in aluminum frames. ETFE provides thermal insulation while weighing approximately 1/100th of standard architectural glass, making it suitable for rapid motorized movement.
  
• Sensory Climate Control: Linear hydraulic-pneumatic actuators connect to a Centralized Building Management System (BMS). Under low sunlight, the modules flatten to allow diffuse daylight inside. When light intensity increases, the modules unfold into three-dimensional umbrella shapes, reducing direct heat gain and protecting artworks from ultraviolet exposure.
  

Real-World Impact and Industry Relevance
This structural approach offers practical applications for urban planners, real estate developers, and architectural practice in tropical metropolitan centers. By incorporating automated exterior systems, large public venues can lower energy consumption caused by heavy air conditioning relies. The design demonstrates that cultural facilities can maintain distinct visual forms while serving as high-performance environmental systems. It provides a blueprint for transit-oriented urban developments that seek to integrate cultural public spaces into commercial transit corridors without sacrificing climate performance.

Author Profiles
Elshaday Meylansari Sitompul, S.Ars. holds a degree in architecture from Universitas Kristen Indonesia. Her research focuses on contemporary art museum design, deconstructivist architecture, and climate-responsive facade engineering.
Ir. Margareta Maria Sudarwani, S.T., M.T. is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Architecture at Universitas Kristen Indonesia. She specializes in urban design, architectural theory, and historical heritage conservation.
Stepanus Andi Saputra, S.T., M.Ars. is an architectural researcher and academic at Universitas Kristen Indonesia. His field of expertise includes building technology, digital modeling, and dynamic architectural systems.

Source
Elshaday Meylansari Sitompul, Margareta Maria Sudarwani, Stepanus Andi Saputra. Dynamic Canvas of Gondangdia: Integrating Deconstructivism and Kinetic Facades in Contemporary Art Museum Design. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol, 5 No. 8 Hal 1773-1785
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i8.108
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas