JABU

Around the end of 2019, I started sketching with the main inspiration of interpreting immortality by trying to infuse ‘life’ into a tomb in order to create ‘a living stillness’.

I found that light is a very powerful element to achieve this purpose. By sculpting the shape of the openings on the wall and the roof, it creates a perpetual composition of light from ten windows and a cross that appear to touch and coexist with the tombs. The ten windows represent ten children and the cross represents Christ.

Another layer of ‘life’ is added with wind chimes that will also generate perpetual sound and frangipani trees placed in select locations as vistas to certain path as well as creating aroma that intended to sooth the soul. 

The site located in a hilly slope, nicely overlooking Lake Toba. One need to climb up and up the stair. Before the point of exhaustion deter one’s effort to climb further, a view of frangipani tree will welcome you to the gate area where wind chimes greet you with a seat to enjoy Lake Toba view as a reward for your effort. Walking further will give you a perspective view of the building with a panel of artwork in front of the building. A shorter stair lead to the main entrance door behind the building. 

Once the door is opened, you will be rewarded again with a view of Toba Lake, the composition of light from the wall and the roof, and of course, the tomb itself.

The play of levels and meandering path direction to approach the tomb creates the impression of physically and mentally going through a transition or portal to a different realm. Design phenomenon and strategies that I have been researching and was the topic of my master’s degree thesis back in my school days.