Concrete: Politics in the Development of Modern Architecture in Indonesia

Abstract

The more we get into the modern era, concrete existence precisely becomes a doubt for architects and critics. They have arrived at concrete is something that doesn't have reciprocal principles and forms if we are willing to bring ourselves further by accepting the thought that concrete is the formation of various parameters. This paper aims to see concrete not only technical terms but in how concrete influences the growth of modern architecture in Indonesia, adjusting deep-rooted culture and the political order. I will see the architectural development at the beginning of independence and the New Order era; that use concrete and are significant to criticize architecture, culture, and politics. Analysis of theoretical construction is needed to identify a new perspective of critical thinking of architectural, as well as the analysis and synthesis is applied to the comparative analysis. The use of concrete technology become the countenance and considered monumental, and as a result, the notions from the actors build a modern representation. In material discourse, concrete has been widely studied, interpreted, and innovated. Thus, this research expected to be the content of empty niches in all the diversity of its applications, beyond the sphere of engineering and architectural realm.