Maros' Common Days: Andesite, Terracotta for Climate Response

Maros Project Integrates Local Materials

The Common Days project, a three-story community gathering space in Maros, Indonesia, incorporates locally sourced building materials to connect with its natural surroundings. Designed by INS Studio, the facility is located in a developing commercial area on the outskirts of Makassar, where the natural landscape remains prominent.

The building is structured to offer distinct functions across its levels, ranging from a ground-floor coffee shop to second-floor workspaces and an open-air rooftop garden. This design positions the structure to offer uninterrupted views of Bukit Cenrana, a local landmark, making the scenery a core part of the architectural experience. The studio emphasized a strong sense of place through its material selection and craftsmanship.

Andesite Stone and Terracotta Brick Specified

Locally harvested andesite stone serves as a primary interior material throughout the Common Days project. This stone, sourced from nearby mountains, appears on walls, flooring, and the coffee bar, arranged in a distinctive square pattern. For the exterior, perforated terracotta brick screens form a tactile and climate-responsive skin.

These natural textures aim to establish a physical connection between the architecture and its environment, reinforcing the building's regional identity. The outdoor terrace, extending from the second-floor workspace, also features locally produced terracotta bricks, contributing to a familiar architectural expression.

Passive Climate Control and Green Elements

The design of Common Days includes passive environmental strategies, notably through its perforated breeze block facade. This screen filters intense morning sunlight on the front elevation while enabling natural ventilation from the surrounding hills to flow into the second-floor terrace and interior spaces.

A moss wall introduces greenery into the workspace, enhancing visual comfort. Local gardeners cultivated and installed this moss, further demonstrating the project’s commitment to supporting local resources and skills.

The open-air rooftop garden extends these environmental considerations, providing a space for relaxation, small exhibitions, and community events, with panoramic views that merge the building with the landscape.

Sourcing Local Materials for Regional Identity

For architects and procurement teams across Asia, the Common Days project illustrates how leveraging local materials like andesite stone and terracotta brick can define a project’s regional identity while also addressing climate considerations.

Specifiers can evaluate similar regional sourcing strategies for projects aiming to integrate with their local context, potentially streamlining supply chains and supporting local economies. The inclusion of local craftsmanship, such as the moss wall installation by local gardeners, shows a pathway for projects to enhance their material narrative and community engagement.

This approach provides a tangible model for incorporating sustainable, context-specific material palettes in new developments.