This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. A town in Indonesia that was affected by the tsunami 2004. Surprising resurgence of coffee culture came as a side effect of a global-scale tragedy: the 2004 tsunami. Today, Kupi Culture brings together architects, designers, and entrepreneurs with the youth in these coffee shops, to brainstorm creative solutions to social, economic and urban needs in Banda Aceh.

Vida is a coffee lover who believes that coffee shops are the best places to discover new ideas. She is passionate about humanity, people, community engagement, cultural and social issues, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and their relationship with architecture.

Vida is the co-founder of Kupi Culture, an innovation hub in Banda Aceh, a town in Indonesia that was affected by the tsunami 2004. As part of her project she is researching post-conflict architecture and how a community can rebuild their city. Vida and her business partner Joanne Taylor use coffee shops as public spheres as a platform to generate ideas in these communities.

Vida came to Australia through a Rotary International scholarship as part of an exchange program with the faculty of Architecture Sydney University to design an orphan village for the victims of the 2004 tsunami. She obtained a Masters of Architecture from the University of Technology Sydney and currently is working as a designer/ innovation facilitator at Fusion Labs (corporate co-innovation) located in Fishburners, a co-working space in Sydney, Australia. She also used to work with UTS U-lab as a mentor and research assistant on innovation and entrepreneurship.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)