Nature first in a Mediterranean style home<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Suffocating amid our fast-rising concrete jungles, we all know
\nhow much we need the beauty and rejuvenating power of nature in
\nour lives.<\/p>\n
That is why architect Shonny Archaul ensures that nature
\nreigns in what he calls his Medijavanean house.<\/p>\n
\"We should not defy nature. To me, a real house is one that
\nrespects nature, is functional and has a philosophy. The latter
\nis important for our psyche because a home should also meet our
\npsychological needs,\" said the architect.<\/p>\n
His two-story house on a 240 meter plot in Bintaro, South
\nJakarta, was designed with subtle divisions between the interior
\nand exterior to help unite the house, the interior and the
\nlandscape.<\/p>\n
Huge openings allow plants and objects in the backyard to be
\npart of the interior; besides giving a soothing view, the
\narrangement also meets some of the architectural principles of
\nproviding a healthy, comfortable design.<\/p>\n
Inspired by elements of the Mediterranean style found in
\ncountries from Spain to Greece, Shonny carefully combined it with
\nJavanese design in the hybrid Medijavanean tropical house, a
\ndesign concept which he has developed and patented.<\/p>\n
Mediterranean houses, he said, were unique from one country to
\nanother, the cultural elements from their respective region
\ndelicately reflected in the cultural nuances they embody.<\/p>\n
\"I love the Mediterranean house because it is flexible, the
\ndesigns are far reaching and, most importantly, it is suitable
\nfor the tropical region,\" said the architect, who won the
\nInternational Best Executive Awards 2004\/2005.<\/p>\n
While the Javanese influence is seen in the house's staggered
\nroof height, reaching its high point at the center, in the
\ninterior it is found in the choice of ornaments and the antique
\nfurniture.<\/p>\n
The house's limited interior space is divided into service,
\npublic and private areas. The public area is cleverly separated
\ninto the living room, a sitting area, the family room and dining
\nroom. There is special access to the service area to avoid any
\ndisturbance to the other parts of the home.<\/p>\n
At the rear part of the house, there is a tropical garden with
\nbeautiful leafy plants; the owners and their guests can relax on
\nsimple wooden benches at a table made of old timber and wrought
\niron.<\/p>\n
The back wall is covered with a traditional carved wooden wall
\nwith a door from Malang, East Java, giving the impression that it
\nopens on to another room or garden.<\/p>\n
For the second floor, the architect added eaves above the TV
\nset to blur the interior and exterior division. Here, a mezzanine
\nfloor is added and used for a mushola (prayer room) or as a den
\nfor family gatherings.<\/p>\n
He used materials that are readily available and inexpensive,
\nsuch as the wood of old coconut trees, which is rarely used for
\nhouses despite being highly durable and with a coarse-looking
\nsurface that has a natural, rustic quality.<\/p>\n
\"People didn't believe that the house was built using
\ninexpensive materials but more and more people are now using
\nthem,\" Shonny said.<\/p>\n
The tropical house is an example of the architect's energy
\nconserving design that relies on the use of huge windows and
\ndoors to generously expose the interior to fresh air and natural
\nlight during the day. Cross ventilation has been provided by
\nadding openings to the upper part of the building.<\/p>\n
\"The master bedroom is the only air-conditioned room and we
\nonly turn it on during the evening,\" said the architect's wife
\nAnggraini Agustin.<\/p>\n
Shonny's artistic talent is also found in the objects and
\nmaterials that adorn parts of the house, like the hanging lamp in
\nthe living room, the railings and decorated tiles used for the
\nstaircase and the accents on the floor and columns.<\/p>\n
The couple is passionate about antiques and has opened an
\nantique gallery in Rempoa, South Jakarta. Naturally, the home is
\nalso artistically furnished with antiques.<\/p>\n
Their Bintaro house is the sanctuary they return to after a
\nstressful day, but it is also a second gallery for friends,
\nrelatives or visiting clients.<\/p>\n
\"Some of our guests came here, took a look around the house
\nand ask us to sell an item or two. This is why the interior is
\never evolving,\" said Anggraini with a laugh.<\/p>\n
Eye-pleasing details are found at every turn.<\/p>\n
\"I love details and I designed the house with a lot of them so
\nthat people have things to look at and to feel,\" Shonny said.<\/p>\n
The architect's designs have distinctive characteristics that
\nset them apart from others.<\/p>\n
\"I don't mind people trying to copy my designs. I'm glad they
\nlike my work, but you can rest assured they could not capture the
\nsoul (of the design). Besides, I'm evolving and so are my
\ndesigns.\"<\/p>",
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