Monash architecture students tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges

When you do a degree with Monash, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in our research projects to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Students from the Bachelor of Architectural Design and Master of Architecture went on a two-week intensive travel studio to Indonesia as part of the ‘Closing the Loop’ studio with Dr Brendan Josey.

The intensive travel studio is led by Monash Art, Design and Architecture’s Informal Cities Lab and investigates circular economy principles in a live action research project in West Java – the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP) which focuses on the Citarum River, one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

Throughout the studio, students observed, mapped and interrogated the damages to the surrounding ecosystems and communities caused by the changing climate, poor sanitation infrastructure, industry and agriculture.

For the first site visit of the study tour, students visited the remote fishing community of Muara Gembong, approximately three hours outside of Jakarta and situated at the connection point of two significant water bodies of Indonesia; the Citarum River and the Java sea. The water of the Citarum, by this point in its journey, has been heavily polluted by agricultural runoff, inadequate sanitation, industrial contamination and general waste as a result of decentralised systems.

Students had the opportunity to explore the river system by the local primary school boat, as well as a guided tour on foot of the adjacent fish farms, wholesale fish shops, fisherman refuges and the protected nature reserve between the mangroves, home to the endangered Langur monkeys.

Students also visited the water source feeding the Citarum River: the Cistanti Lake. They were joined by fellow architecture students from Institut Teknologi Bandung who provided Monash students with local knowledge and a clearer understanding of the social, political and historical context of the site and wider Citarum watershed.

Lay Moo Tun said: "Traveling to the Citarum River was a profound awakening. Witnessing the challenges firsthand revealed a stark truth: while we might not see trash in our daily lives, our planet is burdened by it, hidden from our view. In addition, exploring Bandung, with its rich culture and biodiversity, underscored the beauty worth preserving."

Dr Brendan Josey said: “As well as being an incredible opportunity for students to travel and experience remote regions in West Java, the studies unit was a way for students to engage directly with some of the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, and to meet collaborate, and share knowledge, with a range of local industry partners and academic institutions who are working to address the challenges facing the Citarum River.”

This program was supported by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Colombo Plan.

Photography by Chantelle Lappin.