Herianto Sulindro (KHO Lin Hek), a visionary Chinese-Indonesian architect whose career bridged Indonesia and Switzerland, passed away on 24 March, 2025 at the age of 96. His life’s work reflected a profound synthesis of Western Modernism and traditional Indonesian cultural influences, leaving an indelible mark on urban planning and architectural thought.

Born in 1928, Herianto studied architecture at the Bandung Institute of Technology before pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning at Technische Universität Berlin in 1958. His time in Germany, shaped by the late Modernist movement, was pivotal in refining his architectural approach. However, due to political turmoil and anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia, he sought opportunities abroad. In 1963, he secured a permanent position as an architect in the urban planning department of the City of Zürich, where he dedicated much of his career to shaping Switzerland’s built environment.

Though his contributions remained largely unrecognized in mainstream architectural discourse for much of his life, recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in his work. His participation in the exhibition Dipl.-Ing. Arsitek: German-trained Indonesian Architects from the 1960s, curated by Eduard Kögel and Moritz Henning in Jakarta and TU Berlin, brought long-overdue recognition to his legacy.

His daughter, Linda Lochmann-Sulindro (Lindawati KHO), continues her passion by collaborating with SUAVEART alongside Yipei Lee, Sharo Liang, and artists Arne Schmitt, Jill Zheng, and Caroline Ip. Together, they have initiated a series of city walks, archival research and organization, artist in residency, exhibitions, and publications, including The Invisible Trajectory: Drifting Sounds and Shadows Between Cities and Working in Progress: Reimagining the Identity of the Urban Spectrum.

Herianto Sulindro’s journey was one of resilience, adaptation, and a lifelong commitment to architectural innovation. He is remembered not only for his designs and kindness but also for the cross-cultural perspectives he brought to the field. He is survived by his family, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of architects, urban planners and cultural practitioners.

Rest in Peace
The SUAVEART Team & Schubertstrasse