Budi House Wungkal Semarang City, Design by Sardjono Sani Kreasindo Architect

The sudden presence of a stunning composition of pristine forms on the Wungkal Hill surprises passers-by as well as the residents of Semarang, Central Java, which lies to the east, much like the revelations of the latest make of car at an automobile show.The three-story residence of auto- mobile dealer Budi Taruno and his wife Lilly has been deliberately designed to reflect the owners’ obsession with the automobile: the sophistication of its engine and the elegance and aesthetics of its streamlined aerodynamic forms.The main components of the house, built of con-crete, corrugated metal, and glass, are detached architectural elements that have seemingly been derived from the auto- mobile engine.

A suspended dark wood and glass entrance canopy, a dramatic curved metal roof, a variety of perforations in the white con- crete façade, and black andesite stone lining the base of the house combine to create a rhythmic composition of light and dark.

A sculptural staircase of laminated glass on a steel frame, its treads lit up at night, appears to float weightlessly on its way to the second floor. A simple cabinet in the narrow sliver between the lower and upper part of the stairs is an ideal showcase for treasures.

Architect Sardjono Sani believes that every architec- tural creation is a unique response to a number of factors. Every site, client, program, and social and cultural context differ and, hence, the architectural outcome is truly unique. Above all, Sardjono avoids developing a particular “style”in his works, and this house, one of his most recent cre- ations, is evidence of this philosophy.

Laminated glass laid over a water reservoir and lit with blue tube lights forms a highly original floor in the sunken sitting area. The blue glow and reflections from the movement of water be- low add a sensual touch. A row of round plastered concrete columns, painted gray, extends from the sitting room to an open patio.

The sitting room is entered from inside the house through a pair of tall wood-framed doors flanked by low soapstone pede- stals from Yogyakarta. Its lami- nated glass flooring is in stark contrast to the white marble used in the living room on the right. Black granite borders the space, enhancing the oval shape of the living room.

A bed of white gravel lead- ing to doors on the opposite side of the sitting room

adjoins the patio paved in andesite stone.

The laminated glass staircase ends at a bridge that leads to the oval family room on the second floor. The ceiling above the stair- case is lined with a subtly colored sycamore veneer. A narrow sky- light adds more light to an already bright and airy house.

A combination of wood and glass is used for the flooring at the entrance to the marble- floored oval family room, located directly above the oval living room. The tall glass walls offer panora- mic views of the surroundings. Sy- camore veneer covers the ceiling.

None of the elements in the architectural composition conforms to the irregular geometry of the site. Rather, the strong central axis, oriented towards views of Semarang, is the main factor determining the layout of the house.The strong axis is reinforced by rectangular elements of various sizes at the center of the composition, all “pointing” east, ending with an azure pool on the second story.

The oval area on the ground floor, designated the living room,is in fact quite open and can also be used for other functions. The centerpiece, a large, formal flower arrangement on a podium, sits surrounded by views of the gar- den. Visible through the glass walls is the outdoor staircase leading to the pool on the second floor.

A large, lofty area just inside the entrance extends two stories high through a circular void in the middle. Lead- ing off it are the living and sitting rooms on the right (east) and the staircase to the upper levels on the left (west). The space can also be used as a formal dining room.

A small inner terrace offers a space for more relaxed, less formal dining. While it gives the impression that it is located outside the house, it is placed inside, though its sides are open. Fine bamboo softens the high perimeter wall. A bright hanging lamp adds a colorful touch to the pale walls and flooring.

The spacious master bed- room suite on the second floor of the house faces panoramic views to the east. One side of the sitting area also overlooks the swimming pool, protruding from the façade, through picture glass windows.The glass-lined family living room is located on the other side ofthe pool. Behind the sitting area,a passage leads to the master bathroom. On the west of the second floor, behind the master bedroom, three other bedrooms wrap around the central staircase.

Above the entrance, an extraordinary vertical plane of corrugated metal, supported by a simple concrete frame, extends upwards and then curves towards the east.This seemingly aerodynamic roof not only becomes a symbol of the owners’ keen interest in cars, but also channels morning light into the house and blocks afternoon sun.

The living room, located just inside the entrance, is oval in plan, yet enclosed within a rectilinear frame, echo-ing the rectangular plan on the other side of the central axis. Leading off the living room is a formal dining area and, beyond that, the kitchen with attached breakfast bar, and other service areas. A guest suite to the right of the kitchen opens up to a patio, which is also accessible from the main entrance and the living room.

Visitors can access the swiimming pool via an outdoor staircase. The infinity- edge pool, standing high on stilts, protrudes from the eastern façade. Tall palms pop above its edges. The wood-slatted flooring at the entrance to the family living room continues alongside the pool.

A spectacular, illuminated view of the southern (entrance) side of the house showing the oval glass-encased formal living room below and family living room above contained within a rectilinear plan under a massive curved roof.

Echoing the plan of the first floor, an oval-shaped, glass-lined family room and the master bedroom on the first floor face east towards Semarang, the infinity pool sandwiched between them. Likewise, a studio-office on the third floor faces east. The rest of the second floor is occupied by three bedrooms on the west side.

The first floor plan shows the orientation of the main elements towards the east.

As this east elevationshows, rectangular elements of various dimensions at the centerof the composition, punctuated by expansive windows and a pool on the second floor,

point towards a view of Semarang city to the east.