Pusaran Ocean Deck: A Floating Vernacular Architecture Experiment in Indonesia

Pusaran Ocean Deck, designed by RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + architecture), is an experimental public architecture project located on a private island within the Karimun Jawa Archipelago. Completed in 2024, the 300-square-meter installation explores how architecture can coexist with fragile marine ecosystems while enhancing tourism, education, and cultural identity.

Conceived as an extension of an existing shark observation pool, Pusaran challenges conventional ocean construction methods by avoiding seabed intervention altogether. Instead of relying on heavy concrete or invasive foundations, the project demonstrates how floating architecture, vernacular construction systems, and reclaimed materials can generate durable, low-impact structures in extreme marine environments.

Reclaimed Ironwood and Vernacular Construction Systems

At the core of Pusaran Ocean Deck is a commitment to material reuse and local craftsmanship. The entire structure is built using 100% reclaimed ironwood, a durable tropical hardwood traditionally used in Indonesian maritime architecture. This vernacular timber system allows the deck to withstand saltwater exposure, wind loads, and constant movement while aging naturally with the ocean environment.

By working with a single reclaimed material, RAD+ar reduces construction waste, minimizes embodied carbon, and demonstrates how traditional building knowledge can be adapted to contemporary architectural experimentation. The timber structure creates an ever-changing play of light, shadow, and movement, reinforcing the sensory relationship between architecture, sea, and sky.

Whirlpool Geometry and Parametric Spatial Design

The name Pusaran, meaning “whirlpool” in Bahasa Indonesia, directly informs the project’s spatial concept. The deck’s swirling geometry radiates outward from the existing shark observation pool, forming a sequence of multi-level platforms, diagonal structural elements, and layered facades. These elements act simultaneously as circulation paths, shading devices, windbreakers, and viewing frames toward the ocean horizon.

The parametric timber composition responds dynamically to climate conditions, creating shaded areas during peak sunlight while remaining open and breathable. This fluid spatial arrangement transforms the deck into a continuously evolving public space that shifts from morning activities to sunset observation.

Floating Program: Tourism, Education, and Marine Awareness

Pusaran Ocean Deck functions as a floating ocean observation platform designed for both recreation and learning. Visitors can engage in diving, water sports, sunbathing, and marine observation without disrupting the coral ecosystems below. Glass flooring and transparent railings reveal coral growth cultivated by visitors and the island owner, reinforcing environmental awareness through direct visual connection.

Hidden storage areas integrated into the decking support water activities while maintaining visual clarity. The roof structure doubles as a water-jump runway, adding playful interaction to the architectural experience. Together, these programs position Pusaran as a hybrid space where leisure, education, and ecological stewardship intersect.

Cultural Sensitivity and Spiritual Space at Sea

Acknowledging the Muslim majority of Karimun Jawa, the project includes a dedicated praying deck oriented toward the Kaaba. Floating above open water, this spiritual platform introduces a rare typology of ocean-based religious space, where worship is directly connected to natural forces such as wind, waves, and shifting light.

This sensitive integration of cultural practice elevates Pusaran beyond a tourist attraction, transforming it into a meaningful civic space that respects local beliefs while expanding the possibilities of public architecture in marine contexts.

A Prototype for Sustainable Coastal Architecture

Pusaran Ocean Deck is part of RAD+ar’s broader research-driven prototype aimed at decentralizing sustainable construction practices across Indonesia. By combining open layouts, reclaimed materials, and vernacular logic, the project demonstrates how simple architectural systems can become long-lasting environmental assets.

Rather than dominating the seascape, Pusaran adapts to it: allowing coral ecosystems, marine life, and human activity to coexist. As climate resilience and coastal preservation become increasingly urgent, this project offers a compelling model for low-impact floating architecture, eco-tourism infrastructure, and future ocean-based public spaces.

All photographs are works of  William Sutanto