Dadit and Dina House

Architect Yori Antarhan Awal & Partners, Architects

Pondok Indah, Jakarta

Left At the back of the house, stilt-like supports, frameless glass walls, and pivoting wood panel doors contrast with the bold protruding box housing the master bathroom. All elements reflect the architect’s interpreta- tion of the modernist concepts of inside–outside, open–closed, and opacity–transparency.

Right A wild composition of inter- woven rattan containing lighting forms an attractive screen be- tween the living and dining areas backed by the pivoting doors that lead out to the garden, which is dominated by a single willow tree.

The design of the Dadit & Dina House originated fromthe clients’ keen interest in modern architecture, especially the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and MarcelBreuer. In terms of the spatial layout of their house, they asked architect Yori Antar to explore the modernist notions of inside–outside, open–closed, and opacity–transparency. The architect responded by designing a house with a dis- tinct layering of spaces and an interplay of architectural elements.Two elements in particular—horizontal and verti- cal circulation—form a kind of translucent membrane that protects the main spaces of the house from the outside.

The dominant feature of the house and the innermost “sanctuary” is a dark box clad in damar laut/bingkirai wood (Shorea glauca/Shorea laevis) and coated with lasur, which extends from the balcony facing the street to the large bathroom window overlooking the back yard.The space beneath the box, which always remains “outside,” forms a Above and opposite below Box-like showcases and a lit rattan screen separate the living and dining areas. Sofas and carpets designed by Melanie Hall of Mimpi Design lend a classical modern air to the living room. The pantry adjoining the dining area features a cement stove counter created by Yorgo Papadimitrou. The wooden dining table is by local designer Kamal.

Right The front elevation shows the use of machine-manufactured industrial products and hand- crafted natural materials: steel- framed polycarbonate sheets on the left, a timber-clad compart- ment supported on a steel frame on the right, and a pine log wall screen and glass walls below. Opposite above The three levels of the house topped by a pitched roof screened by other elements.

corridor that continues right through the building, allow- ing visitors to proceed directly to the garden at the back of the house or to enter the enclosed living room to the left of the corridor.The owners, who both work in the film industry, use the corridor space for viewing films and other functions. A reflecting pool alongside the corridor is a welcome cooling element.

The façade presents a combination of precise machine- manufactured industrial products and hand-crafted natu-ral materials: a timber-clad compartment supported on a steel frame, transparent glass walls, movable polycarbonate louvers, a pine log screen wall. A ramp running along the verandah at the front of the house leads to the secondaryor private entrance and to a staircase going to the upper stories. Similarly, the back of the house is an exercise in marrying man-made and industrial materials.The starkness of the building’s glass and steel structure is balanced by the use of warm natural materials in the interior, and the use of highly textural linear plants along the perimeter wall.

Opposite above The light and airy master suite, comprising bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom, stretches the entire length of the main timber-clad compartment. The curved ceiling in the bedroom relieves the rigidity of the “box.”

Opposite below left In the child- ren’s bathroom, a white terrazzo sink and small white mosaic tiled walls offer a retro nuance.

Opposite below right A “transpar- ent” staircase composed of paint- ed checkered steel plates and steel wire leads to the bedrooms.

Right Flanked by a shower on the left and a toilet on the right, the big white terrazzo bathtub is placed in front of a large window overlooking the back garden. Glass projections above the terrazzo walls of the bath contain lighting.

Below A wall of sawn pine logs blocks views of the main entrance and aids air circulation.The crank allows movement of the polycar- bonate louvers on the exterior.

Opposite Pivoting doors and glass walls offer transparent views and access to the back garden. A band of gravel at the bottom of the terrazzo steps demarcates thehouse from the garden.

Above from left to right The timber-clad compartment facing the street does double duty as a drop-off canopy and balcony for the master bedroom.

The multifunctional corridor below the compartment is reached by steps, high- lighted at night by concealed lighting, and a set of sliding glass doors. The garden is visible at the rear.

A ramp to the left of the public entrance leads to the private quarters of the house. The ramp is flanked by adjustable polycar- bonate louvers and a transparent glass wall, both designed to mask views into the house from outside. The entrance to the house is to the right of the far wall composed of sawn pine logs painted black. A staircase inside the entrance leads to the bedrooms.

Left The upper (second) floor plan shows the dominant longitudinal box housing the master suite and the two children’s rooms above the dining area. All bedrooms open on to a balcony at the back of the house, enclosed by planter boxes and iron balu- strades. A spiral staircase gives access to the garden below.

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