urban concrete home in indonesia blooms among four green gardens

Omah Manyar: Spatial Balance Between Built Form and Garden

Situated on an alley named Manyar (an Indonesian term for weaver bird) in a densely populated area of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this 98 sqm ‘omah,’ or house, is designed by pulezstudio to connect with nature. Four concrete masses are placed between four gardens, allowing every room to have natural ventilation and daylight. In this way, the circulation space becomes part of the outdoor area, resembling the concept of a ‘kampung,’ or village, with its narrow alleys. To minimize direct sunlight, glass windows and doors are strategically placed on the south and north facades. The west facade, in contrast, is designed with breeze blocks for the bathroom and service area, which effectively serves as a buffer.

all images by ©Kurniadi Widodo

Optimizing Space and Resources in Compact Urban Living

Embracing a sustainable approach, most of the windows and doors were salvaged from an old house, while the old roof tiles were repurposed as a fence. By dedicating almost half of the area to outdoor space, Omah Manyar’s design by architectural practice pulezstudio reduces the functions of the house to the essentials. The first floor is for public use, where family and friends usually gather, while the second floor is intended for private functions such as bedrooms and bathrooms. The staircase serves as a transitional area and can be folded to close off the second floor when needed.

Omah Manyar is located in a dense neighborhood of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

designed by pulezstudio, the 98-square-meter house connects daily life with nature

four concrete volumes are positioned between four gardens

the layout evokes the structure of a kampung, or traditional village

a steel grating bridge allows sun and rain to pass through to the garden below

narrow alleys between gardens create a sense of communal openness

nearly half of the site is dedicated to outdoor gardens

pulezstudio conceives an asymmetrical staircase as a space-saving solution

Omah Manyar demonstrates a small-scale, sustainable response to urban density

project info:

name: Omah Manyar
architect: pulezstudio | @pulezstudio

lead architect: Titik Puji Lestari

location: Yogyakarta, Indonesia

area: 98 sqm

photographer: Kurniadi Widodo | @kurniadiwidodo