Nature first in a Mediterranean style home

Nature first in a Mediterranean style home

Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor, Jakarta

Suffocating amid our fast-rising concrete jungles, we all know
how much we need the beauty and rejuvenating power of nature in
our lives.

That is why architect Shonny Archaul ensures that nature
reigns in what he calls his Medijavanean house.

"We should not defy nature. To me, a real house is one that
respects nature, is functional and has a philosophy. The latter
is important for our psyche because a home should also meet our
psychological needs," said the architect.

His two-story house on a 240 meter plot in Bintaro, South
Jakarta, was designed with subtle divisions between the interior
and exterior to help unite the house, the interior and the
landscape.

Huge openings allow plants and objects in the backyard to be
part of the interior; besides giving a soothing view, the
arrangement also meets some of the architectural principles of
providing a healthy, comfortable design.

Inspired by elements of the Mediterranean style found in
countries from Spain to Greece, Shonny carefully combined it with
Javanese design in the hybrid Medijavanean tropical house, a
design concept which he has developed and patented.

Mediterranean houses, he said, were unique from one country to
another, the cultural elements from their respective region
delicately reflected in the cultural nuances they embody.

"I love the Mediterranean house because it is flexible, the
designs are far reaching and, most importantly, it is suitable
for the tropical region," said the architect, who won the
International Best Executive Awards 2004/2005.

While the Javanese influence is seen in the house's staggered
roof height, reaching its high point at the center, in the
interior it is found in the choice of ornaments and the antique
furniture.

The house's limited interior space is divided into service,
public and private areas. The public area is cleverly separated
into the living room, a sitting area, the family room and dining
room. There is special access to the service area to avoid any
disturbance to the other parts of the home.

At the rear part of the house, there is a tropical garden with
beautiful leafy plants; the owners and their guests can relax on
simple wooden benches at a table made of old timber and wrought
iron.

The back wall is covered with a traditional carved wooden wall
with a door from Malang, East Java, giving the impression that it
opens on to another room or garden.

For the second floor, the architect added eaves above the TV
set to blur the interior and exterior division. Here, a mezzanine
floor is added and used for a mushola (prayer room) or as a den
for family gatherings.

He used materials that are readily available and inexpensive,
such as the wood of old coconut trees, which is rarely used for
houses despite being highly durable and with a coarse-looking
surface that has a natural, rustic quality.

"People didn't believe that the house was built using
inexpensive materials but more and more people are now using
them," Shonny said.

The tropical house is an example of the architect's energy
conserving design that relies on the use of huge windows and
doors to generously expose the interior to fresh air and natural
light during the day. Cross ventilation has been provided by
adding openings to the upper part of the building.

"The master bedroom is the only air-conditioned room and we
only turn it on during the evening," said the architect's wife
Anggraini Agustin.

Shonny's artistic talent is also found in the objects and
materials that adorn parts of the house, like the hanging lamp in
the living room, the railings and decorated tiles used for the
staircase and the accents on the floor and columns.

The couple is passionate about antiques and has opened an
antique gallery in Rempoa, South Jakarta. Naturally, the home is
also artistically furnished with antiques.

Their Bintaro house is the sanctuary they return to after a
stressful day, but it is also a second gallery for friends,
relatives or visiting clients.

"Some of our guests came here, took a look around the house
and ask us to sell an item or two. This is why the interior is
ever evolving," said Anggraini with a laugh.

Eye-pleasing details are found at every turn.

"I love details and I designed the house with a lot of them so
that people have things to look at and to feel," Shonny said.

The architect's designs have distinctive characteristics that
set them apart from others.

"I don't mind people trying to copy my designs. I'm glad they
like my work, but you can rest assured they could not capture the
soul (of the design). Besides, I'm evolving and so are my
designs."