'Art-full' designing: Melding artistic nuances into a home<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The house appears like an ordinary two-story residence from the
\noutside, but once one steps inside there is an immediate sense of
\nthe characters of its owners, noted artists and gallery owners
\nNindityo Adipurnomo and Mella Jaarsma.<\/p>\n
Located in Danunegaran village in Yogyakarta, the house,
\nalready featured in a French architectural magazine, reflects
\nfreedom through its space and relaxed nuances.<\/p>\n
Designed by architect Eko Agus Prawoto, it occupies a 212
\nsquare meter plot of land, with only 60 percent designated for
\nthe house and the rest allocated for gardens.<\/p>\n
\"This house is a work of art, I helped designed it and Eko is
\nthe sculptor,\" Nindityo said.<\/p>\n
The house resembles a compound of three separate buildings,
\nwith many rooms but never leading to a sense of overcrowding.<\/p>\n
The first section at the front houses Mella's studio on the
\nfirst floor and a bedroom on the second floor. The second
\ncylinder-shaped building at the center has a bathroom on each
\nfloor.<\/p>\n
The third section in the back hosts the kitchen and dining
\nroom on the first floor and children's bedrooms and laundry room
\nabove.<\/p>\n
Two stairways connect the first and second floors -- one from
\nthe living room and the second from the first to second floor of
\nthe back building.<\/p>\n
On the second floor, the stairway from the living room is
\nconnected to the rear of the house by a long bridge, with another
\nbridge stretching from the front to the back side.<\/p>\n
The two wooden bridges offer unique views -- one allows
\npassersby to view the family room below, where the couple
\ndisplays their art collection, and the other lets its residents
\nenjoy a scenic view of the outside.<\/p>\n
\"We have been living here for nine years and all these years,
\nfrom time to time, the house has given us inspiration, either to
\nexplore the spaces or simply to place paintings or other
\ndecorations here and there,\" said the well-known contemporary
\nartist.<\/p>\n
The family room is located next to Mella's studio even though
\nit seems detached from the three main parts of the house, while
\nthe living room is located on the house terrace facing a spacious
\nfront garden. Two smaller gardens are located in the middle part
\nof the house and the back.<\/p>\n
With the total area of the three gardens accounting for 40
\npercent of the total land area, the design allows enough space
\nfor rainwater absorption.<\/p>\n
The house created with an open design, making it possible to
\nview most parts of the house from other points within, especially
\nfrom the second floor, and for excellent ventilation.<\/p>\n
\"This design is intended to give a spacious impression to
\npeople in the house, letting them feel they are not living in a
\ndensely populated village. The impression is obtained by
\n'stealing' the neighbors' views, like leafy trees in their
\ngardens,\" Eko said.<\/p>\n
The spacious impression can also be felt if someone is inside
\none part of the house, like from the dining room, which is one of
\nthe most open parts as it only has one back wall and looks out
\nonto a garden.<\/p>\n
\"Whenever my father comes to visit, he always chooses to sleep
\nin the maid's room since it is the only room which has four
\nwalls...,\" Nindityo said.<\/p>\n
It is hard to pin down whether the house is a modern or
\ntraditional one, since the architect plays with contrasting
\nstyles. From its side, the two main buildings resemble two houses
\non stilts with connecting bridges, reminiscent of traditional
\nhomes in Sumatra or Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
In between, there is the modern cylinder-shaped building that
\npresents a unique blend of straight and curved lines.<\/p>\n
\"The modern element in the house is represented, among other
\nthings, by the creation of rooms, while its traditional aspects
\nare reflected in the use of materials and technology in
\nconstructing the house,\" Eko said.<\/p>\n
Another strong architectural characteristic of Eko, who many
\nregard as the successor the late Romo Y.B. Mangunwijaya in
\narchitectural style, is found in his \"social-environment
\nfriendliness\" principle that is also applied in the house design.<\/p>\n
Materials visible from the outside are coordinated with other
\nhouses in the neighborhood, allowing it to blend in with its
\nsurroundings.<\/p>\n
The absence of a fence or wall surrounding the house further
\naccentuates the sense of harmony and openness. There is an old
\nbrick wall at the back, but it belongs to a neighbor and was
\nthere before the house was constructed.<\/p>\n
In designing the house, the architect has succeeded in
\ngrasping the wishes of the owners and reflecting who they are --
\na couple of artists working on contemporary artwork that is
\nsometimes experimental in nature.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/art-full-designing-melding-artistic-nuances-into-a-home-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}