Interlocking Brick in Indonesia: SIG Precision Blocks Cut House Build Time to a Month
Interlocking brick technology is reaching commercial housing outside Java in Indonesia: the Sunrise City estate in Maros, South Sulawesi, is the first in Sulawesi to use Semen Indonesia Group's (SIG) Precision Interlocking Brick (Bata Interlock Presisi, BIP). The developer and SIG say house construction time can drop from 4–5 months to at most about one month, while reducing the need for plastering and skim coating.
Sulawesi's first interlocking brick estate opens in Maros
According to Tribun Timur and Mata Sulsel, the launch took place on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Sunrise City in Tellumpoccoe village, Marusu district, Maros Regency. The project is developed by PT Nusantara Land Development (NLD Group), led by Tri Wijaya. This phase offers 17 commercial houses of type 42 on 84-square-metre plots, with a Scandinavian design and exposed brick walls.
For the launch, the developer offered an all-in promotion of Rp1 million, with instalments from about Rp2 million per month depending on the mortgage bank. NLD Group, active in six cities, also plans to expand to Bogor and is considering BIP for subsidised housing.
How SIG precision interlocking brick works
Interlocking bricks are designed to lock into each other like toy blocks, making installation faster and more precise. According to Topkonstruksi, a conventional house usually takes 4–5 months, while a BIP house can be completed in at most about one month with trained labour. Because the surface is flat and precise, walls need neither plaster nor skim coat, saving cement, sand and steel. The developer also says the houses feel cooler and quieter.
SIG representative Adi Akmal said BIP is already used quite widely in West Java and Jakarta. The product is made domestically, is certified, and can be used in earthquake-prone areas as long as structural standards are followed. Semen Tonasa, SIG's Sulawesi subsidiary, supplies cement for the project, while the blocks are produced through SIG's concrete unit with a facility in the Makassar Industrial Estate (KIMA).
What to consider before using interlocking brick
- Trained crews: the one-month pace is achieved with trained workers; crews new to the system may work more slowly.
- Structural design: use in earthquake-prone areas must still follow structural standards, including columns and beams.
- Finishing: exposed walls save skim coat, but owners need a suitable coating or paint if they want a different look.
- Services: electrical and plumbing routes should be planned early because the walls are not re-plastered.
Impact on the building-materials market
If BIP is adopted more widely, the sand and cement needed for plastering per house could fall, while demand for precision blocks, adhesives and wall coatings would rise. Cement makers are moving from selling bags of cement to offering complete building systems. For homeowners, choosing between red brick, AAC block, concrete block or interlocking brick now needs to be calculated not only on unit price but on total time and cost of the work.
homeX, an integrated building-materials and furniture service platform in Indonesia, supplies renovation materials from its showroom and warehouse in Tangerang with delivery to site, while partner tukang (craftsmen) help with installation. To compare wall materials and request a quote, contact WhatsApp +62 821 1818 998.
FAQ
What is SIG Precision Interlocking Brick? A wall block made by Semen Indonesia Group that interlocks precisely, so walls can be built quickly without plaster or skim coat.
How long does it take to build a house with interlocking brick? According to SIG and the Maros developer, about one month at most with trained labour, versus 4–5 months for a conventional house.
Is interlocking brick safe in earthquake zones? SIG says the product is certified and can be used in earthquake-prone areas if structural standards are followed.
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Sources: Topkonstruksi, 5 Oct 2026; Tribun Timur, 3 Oct 2026; Mata Sulsel, 3 Oct 2026