This Shophouse is Not For Sale

Idea by

devina amelia

http://www.instagram.com/devina.36

Den Haag, Netherlands

Devina is an architect dedicated to redesigning traditional shophouses in Indonesia. She aims to propose a more empathetic approach towards architecture to achieve a balance on three pillars of sustainability: social, economy, and environment. The shophouse project was a part of her master thesis project during her study in the Netherlands. She was one of the recipient of Asian Young Designer Awards 2016 and Malaysian Institute of Interior Design student award in 2016 & 2017

Call for ideas 2021

Redesigning the commercial and traditional shophouse to evolve in the time of crisis: post-pandemic situation and the rising socioeconomic tensions between the Indonesian Chinese bourgeoisie and the locals.

# Economy

Systemic changes

This project deals with a revitalization of the shophouse of my late Chinese grandparents who in West Java, Indonesia. Following rising tensions between segmented population in Indonesia, culminated in the 1998 anti-Chinese riot, countless shophouses were looted and burned.

This year, 2020, my grandparent passed away. Facing the change of generation and challenging economy situation, the shophouse is one of hundred shophouses in the city which will be sold to private developers, threatening the position of poorer segments of society in the disadvantaged neighborhoods.
This shophouse is not for sale is a message that extends beyond shophouse as a source of income but to also include the social and unifying character of the informal and micro businesses in the surrounding space. This strategy would ensure shared opportunities in this time of crisis that also help to shatter stereotypes relating to the position of the ethnic Chinese Indonesian as the commercial bourgeoisie.