Description

Building Gross Floor Area : 321 sqm Status : Completed   Project Background: The project started when a client approached us and wished for an urban house to be put up on the market. The client challenged us to envision a simple ideal house, yet comfortable and sophisticated within a small piece of land that he owned. Furthermore, he also requested an intimate space experience with an effective air flow circulation and efficient use of lighting, all while having thoughtful details throughout the house. ‘HHH’ house was inspired by our childhood memories and perception of a house to begin with. As a kid, we often picture a house with a single triangular roof (pitch roof) over a square wall with a door and a window, and we were greatly inspired by these humble forms and unpretentious materials used on the houses we have seen when we were young. A vision of a simple home with cozy ambiance is the space quality that we would like to offer.   Mass Concept and Building Materials: ‘HHH’ house is located on a challenging piece of land of 8m x 24m and the client had requested a number of space programs to be incorporated into the layout, as well as having maximize air flow circulation and efficient use of lighting. Based on our initial studies, air flow circulation and the use of lighting will be more effective and efficient if we have an opening on the side of a building, especially with a project within an elongated rectangular space. Therefore, in the early stage of our design process, we decided to create an opening on the east side of the building to serve as the rooms’ main orientation. The process to building experience continued by allocating the public/semi-public areas in the front section of the house’s ground floor, with an open-plan living room-dining area-pantry as the core of the house. Furthermore, private areas were then planned on the back section of the house’s ground floor and most of the upper floor, whilst reserving the west side of the house for service area. Having these design approaches for zoning study, consequently, we managed to produce a dynamic and adaptable flow as well as generate a rather unique walkthrough experience throughout the house. While designing the façade, we wanted to have a proportioned mass to balance the 8m wide space, thus we proposed a cantilevered main form in the center with two supporting masses on each side as background. By applying this design strategy, we were able to have a layered façade which double functioned as canopy to the carport below. We also selectively chose the façade materials and color compositions to convey an intimate tropical modern ambiance. Different shades of grey exterior paints were applied on the upper floor façade to enhance the signature silhouette as opposed to white travertine slabs which cover most of the ground floor walls, while a white planter box on the balcony serves as a highlight to break the dimmed upper floor façade. Ultimately, grey textured cement on the boundary wall serves as a reception to connect exterior to the interior colors scheme.   Simple Appearance in Complex Experience: A simple yet distinguished appearance on the façade was utilized as a result of environment potential analysis as well as considering the changes that may happen in the next few years within the area. Since beginning of the project, we always emphasize on the idea of “from inside to outside” design approach, hence, the space experience may begin with a modest appearance yet containing many surprise elements once one embarks on the journey inside the house. These surprise elements can be found from the functional space layout to the carefully selected interior materials and custom furniture, and complimented by the interaction between indoor and outdoor, which will evoke a luxurious experience after one encounters.   Homey Most of the people in Surabaya may describe a luxury residence as a massive house located in an extensive high-end area, applied with extravagance materials and equipped with opulence furniture. While we wanted to change the paradigm and share that eventually a sense of luxury can also be achieved by having a functional layout plan, a carefully selected materials and a well-designed lighting plan, regardless the size of the house. For ‘HHH’ house, we try to explore a darker shades and ambiance and study different colors and materials combination to enhance the luxury feel. In general, we utilized different shades of greys and combined them with gold metal, walnut veneer, and white granite to infuse the sense of lavishness. The grey granite tiles on the floor and dark painted walls are well-balanced by the crisp white painted ceiling and carefully positioned spotlights, creating an intimate space experience as we go through.   Hale In addition to the cozy space experience, our client also requested for a healthy house, with a good air flow circulation and effective use of day light, thus the house will have an added value. We decided to create a number of openings to the house, such as the inner courtyard located in the east side of the building, which is exposed to daylight during most of the days and provides orientation to the rooms. A dry garden is also inserted adjacent to the main staircase on the west side of the building to serve as a background accent to the staircase and master bedroom on the upper floor with Loc Vung (Barringtonia acutangula) as the point of interest. Each room is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows and openings to allow maximum daylight to penetrate, while the bright colored ceilings and well-positioned openings will keep each room bright in most of the day, regardless the dark colored floor and walls. Furthermore, we attempted to build a healthy house by extending the dimension of the house, through the use of glass-covered skylight over the main staircase, as well as in the master bathroom and in the service area bathroom. Moreover, the placement and selection of the softscape for the front and inner courtyard, and in the planter box on the upper floor balcony also brings a sense of sustainable living in the house. These interactions were expected to blend the boundaries between interior and exterior, hence a better living quality.   Heed Most of clients, contractors and architects may have encountered a classic issue of limited land and budget. As a designer we need to be selective in choosing and considering materials as well as carefully develop design details to meet the solution to the above matter. Our design strategy for ‘HHH’ house was to prioritize the vital areas of the house, yet having a maximum comfort, in accordance to the agreed budget Significant areas such as living room, both of master bedrooms on the ground and upper floor are some of the areas that we focused on since beginning of the project. At the same time, open plan area of living room-dining area-pantry which has become the core of the house, has flexible layout plan, allowing the future resident to enjoy different activities. Additionally, we also carefully custom-designed all the camouflage doors, door handles, the treads of the main staircase and most of the furniture to complete our interior design concept, a value-for-money homey residence with luxurious ambiance.   This project has become our example of highly attentive and meticulously designed home. As designers, we are determined to produce a suitable design regardless of all the limitations. ‘HHH’ house has certainly been one of our proud achievements, for we are able to educate our client to appreciate that “less can be more”, and that a simple appearance can still offer a luxurious experience.  

Building Gross Floor Area : 321 sqm Status : Completed   Project Background: The project started when a client approached us and wished for an urban house to be put up on the market. The client challenged us to envision a simple ideal house, yet comfortable and sophisticated within a small piece of land that he owned. Furthermore, he also requested an intimate space experie...