Known for his clean lines and modern approach to architecture, Andra Matin is one of Indonesia’s best-known and prolific architects. The clean lines and patterns of his designs articulate a contemporary take on traditional Indonesian values, yet are deeply rooted in their particular context and its sensitivity to the environment. He is also known for his penchant for using indigenous Indonesian materials and how he incorporates these into his designs. Many of his works blur the lines between interior and exterior environments, creating spaces which are “in-between”, filled with natural light and good air flow.

Born in Bandung, Andra Matin first wanted to be an engineer, but was persuaded by a school aptitude test to go into architecture. He finished his degree at the Parahyangan University in his hometown and spent the first decade of his career working at Grahacipta Hadiprana (now renamed Hadiprana Design) before founding his namesake firm in 1998.

One of Andra Matin’s best-known works is the destination Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak, Bali, where he used more than 6,600 antique windows and shutters collected throughout Indonesia. Inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, the shutters form the curving shape of the building, hiding the interiors in plain view from the outside. His firm remains one of the most prolific architectural firms in Indonesia, producing private homes, offices, places of worship, cultural buildings and even an airport.