In the clear: A house of glass without full exposure

Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor, Jakarta

You know the old adage about people in glass houses, but glass doors and walls, combined with wooden screens, can make for quietly comfortable and stylish modern living.

The extensive use of glass walls and doors as well as a semiopen top area give a natural, open feel to this luxurious tropical house in Surabaya.

The glass walls and doors allow plenty of sunlight into the interior at daytime while at night, with the shutters open, it's a stylish accent for the neighborhood's architecture.

"(People might assume) because the interior is exposed to the street, this house was designed for people with an outgoing personality but actually the owner can choose whether to keep the interior exposed or not," said Andi Pratama from Andra Matin architect's design team.

In the design phase, the plan was to construct a Mediterranean-style house, but the team of architects managed to convince the owner that a tropical concept worked best for local conditions and climate.

Standing on a 400-square-meter plot, it was divided into two sections of the house and the garden/pool.

Since the house is located in a housing complex that will be developed as a thematic village, the team of architects put the garage outside the house, so the owner has to walk from the gate to the building.

"The entrance opens to another open area, the garden. There is a walkway that leads to the side door facing the swimming pool and to the service area," the architect said.

The walkway is directed in such a way as to allow the owner to enjoy the landscape before finally entering the house. With this blurred interior-exterior division, the soothing view reigns in almost every part of the interior, exuding a pleasantly cool, natural atmosphere.

Glass doors and walls almost completely cover the sides of the house, with the only plastered walls on the second story on the side facing neighboring houses, and a wall to shield the master bathroom on the second story.

Wooden screens are added in the exterior to shield the house, act as an esthetic feature in the exterior and keep the house looking neat, as well as soften the house's overall appearance.

"They (the wooden screens) have an important role for the house's external appearance because we also use them to hide the air conditioning and water heater, among other things," Andi explained.

Furthermore, as the day changes from morning to dusk, the sunlight that is sieved through the wooden screen leaves an interestingly shifting shadow in the interior.

In the interior, the glass walls are also shielded using wooden screens that can shut the interior from outside to maintain privacy, such as in the private areas on the second floor.

Andi said the team of architects played with different lighting arrangement to give a completely different atmosphere during the day and the evening. The lighting is arranged in a certain way so that the interior light can spill outside in the evening, positioning the house as a "focal point" in the neighborhood.

Apart from functional lighting, the house is also equipped with spot lighting to create a desirable mood -- both can be used together, especially when throwing a party or other special occasions.

The interior is divided into different zones based on a grid pattern, resulting in efficient and neatly divided spaces of varying functions. The ground floor accommodates a living room, a dining room and a pantry/bar, while the second floor is allocated as a private area, like for bedrooms.

The interior arrangement, the landscape and extensive use of timber for the flooring, screens, windows or door frames work well to radiate a tropical atmosphere.

"We try to respect nature as much as possible. Every room is equipped with an air conditioner, but there is no need to turn it on in the evening since opening a door or window is enough to allow fresh air in," said another architect in the team, Rooseno Aji.

The staircase is a simple and light feature in the house, designed with wooden treads and a stainless steel railing. It is located near the fish pond from which the sound of water comes into the interior.

The architect said the house requires low maintenance and only needs regular sweeping and dusting, especially to clean the external wooden shield.

"In order to make cleaning easier, a narrow access is created between the glass wall and the external screen from which dusting can be done," said Rooseno Aji.

Proper air circulation is ensured, including in the bathrooms. Unlike other parts of the house, the powder room was specially designed with a gap on the top from which raindrops can enter, falling on a trench with loose stones along two sides of the room.

It's what the architect calls an interesting "climatic experience".

"The owners can hear the raindrops and touch them if they want to," Andi said.