Omah Library

A look into OMAH Library, the self-funded facility by initiated in 2015 by architect Realrich Sjarief, provides a place for students and professionals with a thirst for architecture and design, to hone and ever-expand their knowledge via a vast collection of books and even seminars for the like-minded of this field. The organization is dedicated to producing knowledge through writing, researching, and publishing books. In the age of clicks, a trip to the library may seem like a foreign concept, but there’s something about the said place that can spark creativity like nowhere else. Hidden at Taman Villa Meruya hoping to jumpstart that spark is OMAH Library, a quiet sanctuary that carves a space for designers and architects by bringing more than books. A first of its kind, the library was created by Realrich Sajarief, the founder of RAW Architecture, of his own desire to gather with colleagues beyond the coffee shops and workplaces. What birthed is a library with tomes and volumes of architecture books and other genres, collected from the circle of friends and colleagues in the founder’s residential compound that houses his firm as well. OMAH has been through a lot of changes, but the vision of the library has always stayed the same: to help future generations of architects grow their skills and for professionals to master their careers. Discussions at OMAH Library explore various architectural discourses, retrospections, and interpretations. The topics discussed include Theory, Criticism, History, Method, and Curation of architecture, as well as intersections with other disciplines. The sessions are interactive and temporary, fostering two-way dialogues. From these conversations, a range of lectures and collaborations have emerged with diverse stakeholders, such as the Indonesian Architecture Archive Network (JAAI), various universities, and independent researchers.