Shau architectural firm has designed in Indonesia, precisely in Taman Kasmaran, a public square in the city of Kayu Lapis a micro-library called Warak Kayu. It is a significant project, in fact, the library is located in a difficult area and encourages reading in a low-income neighborhood.
Built entirely of FSC-certified wood, the library also aims to promote both Indonesian wood products and the city’s manufacturing capabilities.

The project is inspired by the old “rumah panggung” (house on stilts), in fact, the library has been raised from the ground. By raising the library, various spaces can be offered for a wide range of activities. On the ground floor, there is a large semi-outdoor area that can be used for workshops, as well as a large grandstand at the entrance to watch presentations or films and to catch the children’s attention a beautiful wooden swing. The ground floor area is framed by many flower boxes to create a joyful atmosphere, surrounded by greenery. On the upper floor of the library itself, there is still a children’s area where you can lie down, relax and read, but also communicate directly with parents and friends in the space below.

The Warak Kayu Micro-Library is designed not to have a big impact on the environment, besides the use of recycled wood, there is no air conditioning, despite the torrid temperatures, no energy is spent. The building is cooled by cross-ventilation and the heat from the sun is prevented by various shading elements created specifically for the library. Apart from the concrete foundations, all the wooden elements were prefabricated at the factory in Semarang and then transported within 20 km of the building site.

The micro-library does not require any entrance fee and is managed by a local nonprofit organization in the city, in coordination with the local government.