Architecture student reimagines Indonesia's London embassy as a cultural hub

Muhammad Sidiq Pramono, a BA (Hons) Architectural Design and Technology student originally from Indonesia and a student of the linked Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), has made the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in London the centrepiece of his Final Major Project.

The project envisions a building that bridges diplomacy, culture and public life in one of the world's most diverse cities.

"My journey in architecture has taught me that design is not only about creating buildings, but about understanding people, culture, and emotion," says Muhammad. "Coming from Indonesia and studying in the UK has allowed me to see architecture from different perspectives, from strong cultural concepts to technical detailing and construction thinking."

At the heart of the design is the Tirta Hening Garden, named from the Indonesian words for water (tirta) and stillness (hening). The landscaped entrance garden features reflective pools, timber walkways and tropical planting, designed as a calm transition from the streets of London into the embassy.

The cultural centre also features an inner courtyard conceived as a flexible space for exhibitions, workshops, performances and cultural gatherings, where formal diplomatic functions and informal public exchange can coexist.

For Muhammad, the project is a deeply personal one. As an Indonesian student navigating life in the UK, he wanted his final year work to reflect what it feels like to belong to two places at once.

The Indonesian Embassy, he says, is more than an administrative building. It is a symbolic home for Indonesians abroad and potentially a window into Indonesian culture for the wider British public.

"This experience has shaped the kind of designer I want to become," he says: "someone who can create spaces that are meaningful, welcoming, and connected to the people who use them."

Matt Swan, Lecturer in Architectural Technology at Solent, says: "Muhammad Sidiq Pramono has adapted with remarkable maturity, embracing UK design influences and regulations while retaining the distinctive architectural essence shaped in Indonesia.”