'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.