graphic white volumes and open courtyards build family residence in jakarta

W office has designed ‘house H’, a private family residence focusing located in jakarta, indonesia. the design is centered around a lush tropical courtyard which acts as the ‘lung’ for the home, providing the residents with an oasis and escape in the middle of the urban metropolis. 

all images by arti pictures 

the project by W office has been formed responding to the family’s creative taste in visual culture; the couple comprises a toy collector and avid traveler who loves the outdoor. the family members have asked for a living space with lots of open areas, plenty of fresh air and playfulness. thus, the design concept focuses on strengthening the residents’ health, relationship and connectivity. 

the site with the unique dimension of 7.5 meters narrow street-front and 30 meters length, provided challenging conditions as a starting point for the design. the architects decided to approach the project by dividing the plot into two buildings (front and rear), placing spatious gardens in between. this strategy allows the architecture to maximize cross-ventilation, natural lighting and provide unobstructed views to the middle courtyard.

the front building has three floors with the garage on the ground level, the living and dining room on the second level, and the study and guest room on the top level. meanwhile, the rear two-storey building includes the kitchen and service quarter on the ground level, and the master bedroom on the second level along with a rooftop garden. the two volumes are connected by a semi-outdoor staircase, allowing for fluid circulation between the separate structures. 

each room is designed for specific functions and features a number of large openings, offering maximum natural daylight and visual connections between the rooms. the graphic form and neutral palette of the house repents the playfulness and humbleness of its residence while still connected to the local context. the house has a very distinct, yet subtle form embedded within the courtyard as a sanctuary away from the busy city life. 

project info:

name: house H 
architecture office: W office
locati0n: jakarta, indonesia
area: 250 m²

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