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."