Discarded plastic crates in Tangerang, Indonesia have a new purpose thanks to Parisauli Arsitek Studio. Now a 440-square foot “Space of Kindness,” the crates have created a new space for use by groups of all sorts. Dubbed Kotakrat Pavilion, it’s currently being used as a small mosque.
The designers wanted to use public space as a means to use discarded items. The red crates are common in the area but are often thrown into landfills or found sitting curbside. The crates were first stacked on top of each other and then screwed together and reinforced with steel beams to create the rest of the space and make it feel like a building.
The crates provide the perfect roof for a mosque that serves congregants that pray five times a day. The roof protects them from rough weather. The studio said of the project, ” KotaKrat is a ‘ruang kebaikan’ (space of kindness) that starts with the diversity of people’s needs, behavior and habits,” the team said. “The existence of this space of kindness adapts to the context, location and needs of its user community. Space of kindness may appear as a stall, prayer room, emergency posts, shelter, bus stop and others.”
