Amanda House, Irianto Ph Architect

Lime green and burnt orange are used as accents throughout the house: on external walls, in upholstery and cushions, in flower arrangements, and in this cup- board and sofa placed in front of the exposed concrete wall shield- ing the central staircase.

Imposing palatial houses with pseudo-historical styles such as double-height Corinthian columns crowned with Man- sard roofs dominate the élite Pondok Indah housing estate in South Jakarta. Among its upper middle-class occupants, the idea of space and spaciousness is largely determined by the built-up area. As a result, most houses in the estate occupy as much of the land area as possible, with little consideration given to the environmental surroundings.

Amongst Pondok Indah’s “concrete jungle” there do, however, remain some sites with pleasant panoramic views of the heavily wooded surroundings, such as the corner site on which this house is built.The sloping site is bordered on two sides by a road at the bottom. A river runs through a valley further east.To take full advantage of this splendid setting, the owners requested a design in which the natural surroundings could be seen and appreciated.

Impressed by the sweeping views to the east, architect Irianto PH responded by creating a multiple split-level house that followed the slope of the site, its spaces con- nected by a large staircase in the middle of the house that functions as a light-cum-air stairwell.The house is thus a fractured composition of levels and platforms in which space and spaciousnesss are not defined by the floor area but by the extent of the interrelationships among the spaces and their environmental surroundings.

A mixture of four colors— lime green, burnt orange, white, and brown—set against a variety of textures—steel, wood, stone, and vegetation—enhance the kampung atmosphere of this house, as shown by the entrance.

An eclectic mix of orange upholstered sofas, rattan chairs cushioned in off- white, and simple wood furniture in the main living room on the lower level complements the dominant architectural colors. A built-in cabinet enclosing a television set emerges from a granite ledge in front of the exposed concrete wall that extends from the lower to the upper level of the house, shielding the staircase.

The east elevation, showing the timber-framed glass doors covering the upper and lower level living rooms, and the tall hip roof, equipped with a skylight, crowning the house.

Handsome timber- framed glass doors installed on floor pivots on three sides of the living room allow the ceramic tile flooring of the living room to continue smoothly out to the terrace, thus forming one continu- ous space. The balustrade of the upper level terrace, constructedof metal, protrudes over the wallof the living room, forming a small canopy and protecting the open- ings below from rain.

The most prominent spaces of the house are two living room platforms on the first and second levels from which the views can be enjoyed.To the left of the staircase are bedrooms on each of the two levels. On the third level, to the south of the house, is the master bedroom, while the area below it on the ground floor is occupied by the dining room and kitchen.The garage is located in the basement.

The house is entered via an unusual circular concrete ramp that brings visitors from the sunken entrance gate up to the main entrance to the house on the first floor.On this level, to the left of the entrance, the spacious living room platform extends out beyond a set of pivoting glass doors to a terrace and further on to the lawn in one con- tinuous plane.

The inside and outside are united by means of this continuous surface. Even though it terminates at the edge of the lot where the grass drops, the grass edge seems to extend visually on to the surroundings, much like an infinity-edge pool. On the second floor, the living room platform is extended out by means of a tapered concrete slab.The slab, kept thin and left exposed, and without supporting beams, provides a protective cover for the large openings of the lower level living room, at the same time leaving the elevation simple and uncluttered.

The first floor plan shows the relationship of the house to the corner lot. Entry is via a circular concrete ramp.

Adjust- able fins on the steel entrance canopy control the entry of sun and rain. 

A skylight above the staircase brings light into the house. 

Lights set into the wall illuminate the steps at the bottom of the main stairwell.

The orange wood-lined and railed staircase is the central element in the house, providing access to the various staggered levels. Screening the stairwell from the living room is an exposed concrete wall imprinted with a pattern of planks, complementing the other natural materials used. The wall stops just short of the full height of the ceiling of the second floor living room.

Share :