'Art-full' designing: Melding artistic nuances into a home
'Art-full' designing: Melding artistic nuances into a home
Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta
The house appears like an ordinary two-story residence from the
outside, but once one steps inside there is an immediate sense of
the characters of its owners, noted artists and gallery owners
Nindityo Adipurnomo and Mella Jaarsma.
Located in Danunegaran village in Yogyakarta, the house,
already featured in a French architectural magazine, reflects
freedom through its space and relaxed nuances.
Designed by architect Eko Agus Prawoto, it occupies a 212
square meter plot of land, with only 60 percent designated for
the house and the rest allocated for gardens.
"This house is a work of art, I helped designed it and Eko is
the sculptor," Nindityo said.
The house resembles a compound of three separate buildings,
with many rooms but never leading to a sense of overcrowding.
The first section at the front houses Mella's studio on the
first floor and a bedroom on the second floor. The second
cylinder-shaped building at the center has a bathroom on each
floor.
The third section in the back hosts the kitchen and dining
room on the first floor and children's bedrooms and laundry room
above.
Two stairways connect the first and second floors -- one from
the living room and the second from the first to second floor of
the back building.
On the second floor, the stairway from the living room is
connected to the rear of the house by a long bridge, with another
bridge stretching from the front to the back side.
The two wooden bridges offer unique views -- one allows
passersby to view the family room below, where the couple
displays their art collection, and the other lets its residents
enjoy a scenic view of the outside.
"We have been living here for nine years and all these years,
from time to time, the house has given us inspiration, either to
explore the spaces or simply to place paintings or other
decorations here and there," said the well-known contemporary
artist.
The family room is located next to Mella's studio even though
it seems detached from the three main parts of the house, while
the living room is located on the house terrace facing a spacious
front garden. Two smaller gardens are located in the middle part
of the house and the back.
With the total area of the three gardens accounting for 40
percent of the total land area, the design allows enough space
for rainwater absorption.
The house created with an open design, making it possible to
view most parts of the house from other points within, especially
from the second floor, and for excellent ventilation.
"This design is intended to give a spacious impression to
people in the house, letting them feel they are not living in a
densely populated village. The impression is obtained by
'stealing' the neighbors' views, like leafy trees in their
gardens," Eko said.
The spacious impression can also be felt if someone is inside
one part of the house, like from the dining room, which is one of
the most open parts as it only has one back wall and looks out
onto a garden.
"Whenever my father comes to visit, he always chooses to sleep
in the maid's room since it is the only room which has four
walls...," Nindityo said.
It is hard to pin down whether the house is a modern or
traditional one, since the architect plays with contrasting
styles. From its side, the two main buildings resemble two houses
on stilts with connecting bridges, reminiscent of traditional
homes in Sumatra or Kalimantan.
In between, there is the modern cylinder-shaped building that
presents a unique blend of straight and curved lines.
"The modern element in the house is represented, among other
things, by the creation of rooms, while its traditional aspects
are reflected in the use of materials and technology in
constructing the house," Eko said.
Another strong architectural characteristic of Eko, who many
regard as the successor the late Romo Y.B. Mangunwijaya in
architectural style, is found in his "social-environment
friendliness" principle that is also applied in the house design.
Materials visible from the outside are coordinated with other
houses in the neighborhood, allowing it to blend in with its
surroundings.
The absence of a fence or wall surrounding the house further
accentuates the sense of harmony and openness. There is an old
brick wall at the back, but it belongs to a neighbor and was
there before the house was constructed.
In designing the house, the architect has succeeded in
grasping the wishes of the owners and reflecting who they are --
a couple of artists working on contemporary artwork that is
sometimes experimental in nature.