Designed by local firm Isso Architects, this Jakarta house marries a geometric, concrete structure with simple and airy interiors, instilling a sense of calm and harmony. Here studio principal Wibisono Soegih tells us more about the project

Design Anthology : Who is the client? Can you tell us about them and their lifestyle?

Wibisono Soegih: The clients are a couple of young professionals in their thirties. They wanted an uncomplicated and homely house with space for their individual and shared activities. They like to entertain friends and requested a comfortable living and dining area for this purpose.

What was their brief to you for the project?

The brief was to create a simple yet pleasant single-storey house where the clients could find a sense of calm and retreat from the city. Since it’s their first home, they requested a reasonable budget, so we had to carefully consider the materials we chose.

What’s unique about the house and the location?

The 87-square-metre house is built on a long, narrow site in a dense residential area surrounded mostly by two-storey houses.

How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate into the space?

We began by considering all of the elements of the site and working out the best possible layout to suit the clients’ needs. The experience when entering the house is intended to be a very down-to-earth journey. The wooden lattice ceiling allows plenty of sunlight to enter the main entrance, which leads to a foyer and an inner courtyard. The foyer acts as a transitional space that softens and blurs the boundary between the living space and the outside world.

The living room, dining room and master bedroom all have a direct view of the courtyard and are designed with direct ventilation to maximise air circulation and natural light. The tall tower seen from the facade not only adds character to the house but is also crucial to the home’s ventilation system. Behind the half-moon shaped concrete facade, a service kitchen with large windows also helps with air circulation.

Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.

The house is minimalist and harmonious in nature. Every object in the space carries a purpose. We used a palette of concrete and timber throughout, which makes the spaces feel cosy and clean and creates a neutral canvas that makes the architectural details and organic elements stand out.

Please tell us about some of the custom pieces for the space.

We designed the kitchen island with a sturdy semi-circular leg, which divides the pantry and the living area without blocking or limiting the space.

Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?

We incorporated the half-moon shape as a motif throughout the home: in the facade, in the interiors as well as in the furniture. This familiar detail subtly ties the design together.

Images / Ernest Theofilus