The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial #6 competition Honorable mention winner - Abraham Chintianto

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winner of the The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial #6 competition - Abraham Chintianto from Indonesia!

Abraham Chintianto

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

I was formally trained in architecture at Universitas Indonesia, where most of my learning happened somewhere between studio deadlines, professional practice, and asking questions that were slightly outside the brief. Academically, I am grounded in architectural design and research; professionally, I have worked across practice, competitions, and independent projects. This mix has taught me to stay curious, flexible, and slightly skeptical—in a productive way—about how architecture is taught, practiced, and discussed.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

I tend to approach architecture quite seriously, often while doing things that look completely unserious. From designing a tiny reminder sign for my brother who always forgot to close the door to contributing to large and complex buildings, my experience spans a range of scales and typologies. I have been involved in projects including housing, mixed-use developments, disaster recovery, and urban interventions. Beyond the practice, I actively engage in architectural research, teaching, and critical discourse.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

“Architecture is like asking ‘So… what do you want to do tonight?’” There’s no correct answer, only better questions, depending on who’s involved, the budget, the weather, and how tired everyone is.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Because here, architecture behaves more like a question than an answer.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Joining an architecture competition is like playing in a sandbox. Some sand castles collapse spectacularly, some survive, but every mess teaches how to build better.