'Cutting Wall' improves circulation
'Cutting Wall' improves circulation
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
It used to be an ordinary single-story house identical to the
others on the block, but a relatively low budget renovation
project in 1997 turned the now two-story home into an interesting
showpiece of architecture that also provides more comfort for the
owners.
The house, situated in the Pamulang housing complex in
Tangerang, stands on a 140-square-meter plot -- a relatively
small piece of land that has become the norm of most urban homes
in crowded Greater Jakarta.
Before the renovation, the owners -- a young couple with two
children -- had grown tired of the house's poor air circulation,
which seemed to trap heat inside the house.
The couple then entrusted the renovation project to architect
Adi Purnomo, who, after a series of briefings, fixed in his mind
an aim to create an environmentally friendly, energy-saving and
budget-cutting dwelling.
He later came up with a design called "the Cutting Wall,"
derived from the appearance of one of its walls that seems to cut
through the structure. The design, Adi said, was also the outcome
of the problem-solving plan.
Adi recalled that when he accepted the project, he noticed
that the roof could hold the solution to the owners' problems.
"From this point, we discussed a plan to experiment with the
house's air circulation, while aiming at creating an air
generator to enable the hot air from inside the house to escape
through the upper vents," he explained.
"I wanted to build a more efficient and energy-saving house,
and even without air conditioners, the house can be comfortable,"
he added.
To improve circulation, the house was designed with an open
area at the rear of the building and for an optimal view of the
outdoors, some tall but slim windows were added, through which
the sun could also shine optimally into the house.
"From these windows, the orange-hued sunlight is captured
during sunset," Adi smiled.
With a budget of Rp 136 million (US$15,111), the architect
used simpler details and exposed the home's plastered walls and
concrete floors. He used iron for the railings and scrapped the
roof tiles, replacing them with polycarbonate and concrete
instead.
"This was a strategy to limit project expenditures as we
started it when the (economic) crisis hit," he added.
As a result, the renovated house has a determined look and at
the same time gives a minimalist but functional impression. "The
style of the house was not the focus of my work. It's rather an
expression of the concept," Adi explained.
After the renovation, the two-story house has five bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a family room, a living room near the terrace and
an open landing on the second story that can be converted into
another terrace, Adi said.
For lighting, pendant lamps are used to provide sufficient
illumination for the interior. The lamps have two purposes: to
give proper illumination only to the areas that need it and to
allow an easy change of light bulbs.
The house practically requires a minimum of maintenance and
for cleaning, apart from the ordinary household tools, a long-
handled broom is needed to reach the high ceiling.
Over the years, Adi said, daily cleaning and exposure to the
outside elements might give the house a desirable effect.
"Daily mopping will make the surface of the floor smoother and
exposure to heat and humidity will encourage moss growth, giving
the impression that the house has blended in with its
surroundings," Adi explained.