Indonesia has lost an architect and artist who has been an inspiring figure in architecture and art, Eko Prawoto. Artist and architect known for his design principles prioritizing humanism and ecology in his creations passed away on September 13, 2023. Eko Prawoto's ideas on architecture as a journey to discover the balance between human life with their home, society, and environment have made him an inspiring figure for many people.

Eko Prawoto 

Eko Prawoto's Career Journey

Born in August 1958, Eko Prawoto, who accomplished his bachelor's degree in architecture at Universitas Gajah Mada and master's degree in architecture at Berlage Institute Amsterdam, established his own architecture studio called Eko Prawoto Architecture Workshop in 2000. Besides his profession as an architect, he is also a founder of architecture major at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta, and served as a lecturer until he passed away.

Starting from his studio, Eko began to create amazing architecture projects, unlike other architects, where in his projects, he always integrated his projects with the society, culture, and environment. Some of the most popular projects from Eko Prawoto are Cemeti Art House, Ngibikan Village, and Butet Kertaradjasa's House. Besides that, his art installations also participated in some world architecture festivals such as the Venice Biennale 2000 Arte all'arte, Gwangju Biennale, Echigo Tsumari Art Triennial, Kamikatsu Art Festival, Anyang People Art Project in Korea, Common Ground Australia, Regionale XII in Austria, Singapore Biennale 2013, Holbaek Denmark 2016, and Sonsbeek 2016.

Achieved an Indonesia Architecture Award through Cemeti Art House

This Cemeti Art House, a place for local and international artists to express their creativity and creations, achieved an architecture award from the Indonesian Architect Association (IAI) as a cultural building in 2004. This building, located at D.I. Panjaitan Street, 41, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, has actively displayed and communicated a lot of projects from contemporary artists.

Cemeti Art House by Eko Prawoto 

Contributed His Bright Ideas to the Reconstruction of Ngibikan Village

From the bad conditions of hundred houses at Ngibikan Village that were broken and affected by a huge earthquake in Yogyakarta on May 27, 2006, Eko Prawoto contributed his ideas to do the reconstruction for Ngibikan Village by building hundreds of limasan houses (traditional structures for house in Indonesia) using wood structure. This reconstruction project of Ngibikan Village managed to create a new and safe living environment for the Ngibikan Villagers and also achieved a world architecture award, the Aga Khan Award. 

Ngibikan Village, Yogyakarta 

Combined Natural and Waste Materials for Butet Kertaradjasa's House

Butet Kertaradjasa's House is owned by an Indonesian theatrical artist in Kasihan Village, Bantul, Yogyakarta. While designing this house, Eko Prawoto presented elements of simplicity and closeness to nature by using natural materials in the building. The use of wood and stone materials has succeeded in creating a cool and shady atmosphere in the house. He also used waste materials such as ceramic shards and wood from a lumpang (traditional rice pounding tool in Indonesia) to highlight the artistic and creativity of the user.

Butet Kertaradjasa's House by Eko Prawoto

Wormhole, A Bamboo Installation at Singapore Biennale 2013

Inspired by the "wormhole", an open space in the galaxy where time and place travel, Eko Prawoto offered a mysterious yet exciting experience for the visitors at the Singapore Biennale 2013. This cone-shaped bamboo installation, with a small hole at the top of it, reflected the natural richness and contours of the mountains in Indonesia.

Wormhole, a bamboo installation at Singapore Biennale 2013 by Eko Prawoto

Bale Kambang Decorated Antwerp's Waters at the Europalia Art Festival 2017

Bale Kambang is an art installation at the Europalia Art Festival 2017 in Belgium. This installation embodies water plants that float and dance beautifully on waters that decorated the Bonaparte Dock, Museum aan de stroom (MAS) in Antwerp.

Bale Kambang, an art installation at the Europalia Art Festival 2017 by Eko Prawoto