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Just like the city she lives in, Zarrabida Sutowo cannot be defined in a few words. She’s an architect by profession, but cares about the environment and has a desire to help people. She’s also a bit of a bon vivant. Today, Zarrabida explains where her name comes from, tells us what she would name a book about Jakarta and explains why, through no fault of her own, her first house design was a stunner for birds.

If Jakarta were a crayon, what color would it be?

The first color that comes to mind is pink. Jakarta is very vibrant, very alive, and full of opportunities. It gives me a chance to be anything that I want to be.

And what do you want to be?

I want to be someone who matters, who brings change. It might be by introducing an ergonomic or sustainable design to Indonesia or simply by giving first aid to help individuals.

And what is it that you do? How do you introduce yourself to people?

I’m an architect, an aspiring businesswoman and, hopefully one day, a paramedic.

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment as an architect?

My first project was my mother’s house. Thank you, mom [laughs]. I achieved integration between the interior and exterior through the use of large windows. From the living room it’s possible to see squirrels outside on the electricity cables eating fruit on the mango tree, or birds outside in the garden crashing into the windows [laughs], thinking they can fly into the house. It’s nice to block out the pollution and traffic noise of Jakarta and just capture the beauty the city has left to offer. Sustainable house designs are my aim, reducing the use of natural resources. I’ve designed a house that utilizes rainwater harvesting and gray water recycling to reduce water usage.

Where did you go to school?

I went to school in Sydney. I left Jakarta in 1998 and attended high school, undergrad and postgrad school there. After 10 long years, now I’m back to Jakarta.

What did you miss about Jakarta?

My family, and definitely the food. The empek-empek Palembang [fishcakes] delivered to me from my grandma’s house, salak, durian [types of fruit], martabak tipker AA [type of pancake] in Manggarai, and this is a weird one, foie gras at Cassis. They don’t have fresh foie gras in Sydney. And Kinokawa’s sushi. I tried to cook these things myself in Sydney but it never worked [laughs].

Why do you want to be a paramedic?

I volunteered for the St. John Ambulance unit in Sydney. To be able to comfort patients, apply a Band-Aid to a baby or deliver first response is an amazing feeling. Something that should be mandatory in Jakarta is to have a proper system of ambulances and paramedics, and to have a standard operating procedure for them to negotiate the never-ending traffic here.

Where can we find you at 10 p.m. on a Saturday?

Sitting somewhere with friends trying out new food.

Is there anything you wont eat?

Pork. I even ate fish sperm once [laughs].

Where can we find you on a Sunday at 4 p.m.?

Sunday is family time so I do whatever mom wants. I just like being with her, watching TV or DVDs. So the question should be, where can we find your mom on a Sunday at 4 p.m.? Most probably I’ll be right beside her.

What’s your favorite place in the city?

Four Seasons Residences is a good getaway. The pool area and the tennis courts are nice. It’s really secluded; like a rain forest in the city.

If it was your last day in the city, how would you spend it?

I’d wake up at 4 a.m., pack my bags with all the lenses I could carry and make my way to Sunda Kelapa Harbor to wait for the sunrise. Then I’d take photos of the beautiful scenery of old Jakarta in a trading context. After that, I’d head to Fatahillah Square to photograph Indonesia’s architectural history. Next would be a photo session with some friends, followed by porridge for breakfast in Kota. Chill out before lunch at my favorite Manado restaurant in Kelapa Gading before getting stuck in traffic and enjoying every minute of it with a bunch of friends. Sunset photo session from the rooftop of the Sultan Hotel to capture Semanggi or from on top of the Hyatt to get Hotel Indonesia. Then dinner with my family at Nippon-Kan before heading out for some martabak at Manggarai.

If you wrote a book about Jakarta, what would you call it?

“Look and You Shall Find.” It would have everything in it; photos, where to eat, where to find things at a low price, upper-end products, where the views are and just good places to hang out.

Where does your name come from?

Za is from my grandmother on mom’s side, Zaleha. Ra is from my grandmother on dad’s side, Laura. Bida is my grandpa’s sister on my dad’s side. My middle name, Ibnu, is from my grandpa on my mom’s side. Sirad is from my grandpa on my dad’s side, and last but not least, Sutowo is from my grandpa on my mom’s side.

Do you ever get tired of explaining that?

[Laughs] No, it’s interesting.

 

Zarrabida Sutowo was talking to Zack Petersen.