In Maros, a small town outside Makassar, Indonesia, a new project called Common Days is leaning on masonry materials to make a modern gathering space feel rooted in place. Designed by INS Studio, the building sits in a newly developed commercial district where the natural landscape still sets the tone.
The three-story layout is organized to support different types of use while keeping people connected. The ground floor is a coffee shop intended to act as the social center. Above it, the second floor shifts into a quieter working space with private meeting rooms, plus an outdoor terrace finished largely with locally produced terracotta bricks.
Inside, locally sourced andesite stone, harvested from nearby mountains, is used across walls, flooring, and the coffee bar. The stone is laid in a square pattern that makes the surface feel intentionally crafted, not generic. For masonry crews, it is a good reminder that patterning and material choice can do as much for a project’s identity as the floor plan.
On the exterior, terracotta brick perforated screens create a tactile facade that responds to the climate. A perforated breeze block wall adds another layer, filtering strong morning sunlight while still allowing natural ventilation to move through the second-floor terrace and into the building. At the top, an open-air rooftop garden becomes a flexible space for small exhibitions, community gatherings, and outdoor events, all framed by views toward Bukit Cenrana.
Read the full, original article from Designboom here.