MICHELLE CLARA

Portrait courtesy of Michelle Clara.

Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design Candidate at Columbia University GSAPP.

Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Michelle Clara is an architectural designer with four years of experience in architecture and journalism. She graduated in October 2019 from Universitas Tarumanagara (UNTAR) with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. She is currently a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design candidate at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP).

With her hometown at the forefront of her mind, Michelle aspires to gain a deeper understanding of aligning new models in response to new architectural modes of practice, especially in the face of unknown future scenarios within the communities.

To New Beginnings, Filled With Actions

What inspired you to pursue architecture?

As a kid, I have always been fascinated by the idea of creation - how and why things are made. Growing up, I developed a keen interest in learning how a system operates. To find my calling, I actively participated in extracurricular activities throughout high school and decided to join a drawing class where the teacher was an architect. I quickly fell in love when she introduced geometry composition and orthographic projection drawings - and that's when architecture found me. I was intrigued as to why buildings are made and how it relates closely to our daily lives. With that curiosity in mind, I decided to focus my undergraduate study on architecture, which exposes me to our community's dynamics and challenges in creating space. I'm currently furthering my study in advanced architectural design with my hometown, Jakarta, at the forefront of my mind to better align new models in response to new architectural modes of practice, especially in unknown future scenarios within the communities.

Final Project model, iMortal: Redefining Death (Hospice and Funeral Home at Tanah Kusir, Jakarta). Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

Third year project: The Voyage City Master Plan. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

What is the most important thing that you learned in the past year?

In the past year, I learned to navigate my idealism through reflective habits. The idea of reflective habits is nothing new, but the unstable and challenging time emphasizes its relevance in figuring out what kind of architect I aspire to be. I started to reflect and realize a visible gap between educational and professional expectations that had rendered this juxtaposed reality and the inherited legacy of the past colonial hierarchical system attached to the profession. Not to mention, the rooted idealism as an architecture student might lead us to a paradoxical identity in the changing nature of architecture work once we start our practice. Therefore, as a student, I decided to challenge myself and engage in various activities such as journalism, research project, and community projects to understand better the feasible steps I should take to become an architect and define my value - which is not determined by my idealism alone. I developed a keen interest in participatory architectural design to create a livable environment. I enrolled in Urban Tourism Design Studio and was chosen as a project leader for rural tourism planning at Desa Cempaka, Tegal, West Java. I worked with twelve colleagues for six months, learning about theories, researching, living with the community, and generating rural tourism planning ideas. Here, I learned to listen. I tried to gain a deep understanding of community expectations and their living situation. This approach allowed access to a diversity of ideas and potential plans to increase sustainable tourism in the village. Together with the community, we developed a strategy to promptly rebuild the village, focusing on short and long-term ways to increase ecotourism. Through discussing with the communities from different backgrounds and where the problems started, I learned that in the long run, the satisfaction we get from architecture prevails in how we can directly improve people's lives. Moreover, by rethinking how to make an impact as an architect, we can start to shape our practice equitably and reach the communities in need.

Pasar Slumpring, weekly food market by Desa Cempaka. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

Desa Cempaka rural tourism team. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

What are some architectural organizations (or specific person/role model) that helped you learn to overcome an obstacle? How did they?

I was actively involved as a SKETSA Magazine journalist for three years, one of the oldest architecture publications by architecture students in Jakarta, Indonesia. Bringing out my observant side to the table and voice out engaging topics in the architecture world was never an easy task. However, I gained broader perspectives as a journalist, and this opportunity allowed me to complete numerous conversations with some exceptional architects. I was fascinated and motivated by how the architects shape their practice with their specified goals in mind. The rapid exchange of knowledge and experience keeps us going to shape and adapt our practice as an architect through the unknown future scenarios. As a journalist, I was honored to keep the conversation going through the articles that I wrote.

SKETSA Magazine Committee. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

Decades of SKETSA International Conference. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

If you were given the opportunity to repeat the year, what is one thing you’d do differently?

The past year has been a roller coaster for me, but I wouldn't change anything because the experiences helped me grow. I would want to live those days again - writing down a personal statement for graduate school and questioning my life, also the late-night discussion with my colleagues and professors that are twelve hours apart on the other side of the world. I want to replace the time I've spent hesitating and worrying by taking on more challenges and being involved in more community projects. I've learned that the first step to bringing our aspirations into reality is to take action. The path that we take might not lead us directly into our goal, but we can come up with a more precise direction by walking those paths.

Exploring Boston before starting graduate school. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

As you reflect on the past year, what did you discover as your biggest strengths?

As I reflect on my past year's decisions, I realized that I would not survive the late nights as an architecture student without my passion, curiosity, and tenacity. These strengths had led me to opportunities I would never think of before. It gives me the courage to cross the boundaries that I made for myself and expose me to numerous conversations on how others see architecture shaping our daily lives.  Architecture fascinates me, and I am prepared to work tirelessly at it. As an architect, I believe it is my duty to participate in the community's development, creating a more sustainable, livable city for future generations. I am positive it will be rewarding both personally and professionally.

Small gathering with Columbia GSAPP AAD’21 Students at Brooklyn Grange. Photo courtesy of Michelle Clara.

In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wished would happen and it did not? This can be in an educational or work atmosphere. 

I wish I saw more passionate architects rethinking their business practices and focusing less on profit from wealthy clients while rethinking a more equitable approach to serve the communities.