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“I see my Architecture as jazz music. It is about freedom to explore new ideas. For me it is a natural thing to do since I am a composer and a jazz pianist as well as an architect. Jazz and freedom go hand in hand and are similar to my freely improvisation in architecture.”
– SAMUEL A. BUDIONO

With the population of over 10 million people, Jakarta is known as the metropolitan city of lndonesia. A melting pot of many communities, the capital city of lndonesia is also famous for its tall buildings, office areas and big malls making people all over Indonesian archipelago want to migrate there. A fast-growing city, Jakarta surely is different than ten years ago when there weren’t many skyscrapers built all around the city. Seeing these tall buildings being built meaning that architecture is one of the growing industries in Indonesia.

Not a lot of people realize that Indonesia has the best architects who have built award-winning buildings and being recognized internationally. Samuel A. Budiono, M.Arch, BSAS, IAI is one of the examples. He is an Indonesian architect who has received many awards for his designs. Growing up, Samuel has always had the passion for architecture. He likes to travel around the world and visit award-winning architecture designed by star architects to expand his knowledge about a field that he’s interested in. Samuel probably has always known that when he grew up, he wanted to be an architect. That is why he pursued the degree to the United States for Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, USA. In addition, Samuel also took Jazz Improvisation Studies at the same university and became the first Architecture major representative to perform at Jazz Festivals around the Midwestern United States. Samuel founded SAMUEL A. BUDIONO & ASSOCIATES, a full-service architectural firm with the philosophy that design is a total concept, which started in Shorewood, USA The firm was founded because of the commission to design a high end residential building next to Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan house design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Then he moved to California before moving back to Indonesia to open his own firm with his partner Yatty L. Budiono, M.Arch, Ir, IAI who graduated from the United States also.

SAMUEL A. BUDIONO & ASSOCIATES is an award-winning firm with spirit of excellence to produce innovative works applying music expression into architecture. As Principal of the firm, Samuel notes that he always makes sure he is personally responsible for every phase of each project, from analysis and design through detailing and construction, with his associates assuring expert day-to-day management.

Samuel and his team did a variety of projects from resort, commercial, institutional and cultural. Some of his designs have won international awards such as People’s Choice Award at World Architecture Festival & World Festival of Interiors in Barcelona – Spain, Cityscape Architectural Review Awards in Dubai – UAE, World Architecture Awards, BCI Asia Awards, HDII Awards and the list goes on. Even with these achievements, he keeps striving to be the best, “I still have the passion to keep moving forward and improving myself. Frank Gehry still produces magnificent works of architecture even when he is already 89 years old. Compare to him, I am just a teenager that needs to push forward more,” he notes. However, these awards don’t stop Samuel to keep producing ideas and creating out of the box designs with innovative concepts. One of his iconic buildings that he designed is currently under construction.

When asked about the architectural industry in Indonesia, Samuel admits the industry is still developing but hasn’t reached the peak yet. Although infrastructure development is Indonesia’s number one priority, however, most of the people, perhaps, haven’t seen architecture as a work of art, sometimes they see it just as a functional building. Samuel thinks educating people about architecture is an important thing to do and it has to come from all levels, from the government, high profile individuals, and media. “Appreciation about architecture, music, and art will reflect the standard level of a nation. Therefore, I encourage every architects, musicians, and artists in Indonesia to promote all of their works with proper credits to encourage public included clients to appreciate more just like advanced countries,” Samuel says as he encourages artists to familiarize their works to the people so they learn how to appreciate works of art.

“I ENCOURAGE EVERY ARCHITECTS, MUSICIANS, AND ARTISTS IN INDONESIA TO PROMOTE ALL OF THEIR WORKS WITH PROPER CREDITS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC INCLUDED CLIENTS TO APPRECIATE MORE JUST LIKE ADVANCED COUNTRIES.”
– SAMUEL A. BUDIONO

Music Architecture Philosophy

Being one of the most talented architects, Samuel has a unique philosophy which makes him to always be the best. He believes that his architecture is a joy to the senses of uplifts the spirit as well as an extension of modernist principles and aesthetic sensibility. One thing that makes his philosophy interesting is his passion for music and architecture. “I see my architecture as jazz music, it is about freedom to explore new ideas. For me it is a natural thing to do since I am a composer and a jazz pianist as well as an architect. Jazz and freedom go hand in hand and similar to my freely improvisation in my architecture. I enjoy designing dynamic and visually stimulating building as much as I enjoy improvising on my music,” he notes. For Samuel, the creative process for his music and architecture fill each other to a perfect harmony. Architecture and music are complementary and inseparable elements in his life, “composing in architecture is like designing in music,” he says because he believes that both share the same philosophy, feelings, and rules in order to produce a good result. Music architecture becomes his trademark of his approach in many of his works and he believes both of the elements work as a symbiotic mutualism.