During the current field phase in Surakarta (Solo), the PSSI team has begun introducing the project to local communities in the neighbourhoods of Semanggi and Mojo through a series of community and neighbourhood meetings.
Together with our local partner Kota Kita Foundation, we presented the objectives, methods, and timeline of Passive Solutions in Self-Build and Incremental Housing (PSSI), and discussed how residents can be involved in the research process. These meetings provided an important space to explain the project’s focus on incremental housing, passive design, and climate-responsive solutions, while also listening to residents’ initial questions, expectations, and concerns.
The sessions marked the beginning of a collaborative research process grounded in transparency and mutual learning. Establishing trust and open communication is a key step in PSSI’s action research approach.
In parallel, the team has officially launched the detailed architectural inventories in selected areas. This includes systematic documentation of housing typologies and incremental extensions.
These inventories form the empirical foundation for the project’s diagnostic phase. By combining spatial documentation with community engagement, PSSI seeks to understand how everyday housing practices already respond to climatic conditions and where there is potential for further climate-responsive improvements.
The coming weeks will continue to build on this groundwork through in-depth interviews, participatory research activities, and the preparation of co-design workshops