An investigation of the work of Suman Sorg, FAIA, and how principals of contextual modernism are integrated into a variety of projects she has designed.
Suman Sorg's design for the new U.S. Consulate in Surabaya, Indonesia is a quiet elegant building that embodies U.S. democratic ideals while satisfying challenging program and security requirements. To create a building that would withstand the test of time, Sorg researched indigenous temples and other ancient, sacred and representational gathering spaces. Inspired by the prevalent use of a local hardwood called paduk in these vernacular buildings, substantial geometric shading devices organize the subtle granite canvas of the façade and a primary sustainable design strategy. The wood louvers of the sunshades are brought into the interior spaces, connecting inside and out. These strategies are just a few that weigh the project equally as a representation of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission and of the extended context of its home on the island of Java.
