Cover A view of the clean-lined structure from the garden of this lush Jakarta house
A view of the clean-lined structure from the garden of this lush Jakarta house
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Located in one of the city’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, this two-storey Jakarta house by Pranala Associates is a verdant haven with a seamless indoor-outdoor transition that’s designed to age gracefully
Mitsugo House is a curiosity in its prestigious address in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Located in one of the Indonesian capital’s oldest and most prestigious neighbourhoods, just a few blocks from the National Monument, the two-storey abode presents an introverted facade articulated with ironwood slats, concrete surfaces sporting a woodgrain texture, and natural stone. Yet when one looks closely enough or chances upon it in the evening, one can catch glimpses of greenery peeking out from the timber screen, hinting at what the home is to its occupants and their guests: an urban oasis that offers a soothing respite from the congested city.
With over 17,000 people per square kilometre, Jakarta is one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas, second only to Tokyo. It is no wonder, then, that when the husband-and-wife clients approached Bandung-based boutique architectural firm Pranala Associates in 2019 to build their future home, their design brief included a request to design it such that it “does not feel like they are living in Jakarta”.
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The airy living room is the home’s social hub
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“Typically, luxury homes in the area maximise their site footprint and are practically hermetically sealed from the environment, with minimum access to fresh air and greenery,” explains the firm’s co-founder and design development director Erick Laurentius Sugiharto. That said, the Indonesian architect has noticed a shift in what younger clients want from their strategically located addresses. He kicked off the design process by discovering the couple’s long-term vision of how they wanted to live in this Jakarta house. “Because you don’t just live in a house in the most coveted location like this for just five or 10 years, you stay for generations,” he explains. Then, informed by their dialogues, he started planning the spaces to facilitate their envisioned life.
Taking three years over the pandemic period to complete, the result is a beautiful home with seamless indoor and outdoor transitions, generous green spaces and porous barriers with uninterrupted visual access, augmented with raw and honest materials that embody understated luxury.
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Above Backlit shelves highlight the husband’s treasured collection of spirits
Above The indoor and outdoor spaces share the same material palette, as shown by the gravel bed beneath the stairs
Backlit shelves highlight the husband’s treasured collection of spirits
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“I would say that the strength of our design lies in the spatial planning, which provides room for the family’s growth,” says Sugiharto. This included creating not one or two, but three common bedrooms in addition to the master bedroom on the upper level. “Two for future children and one as a spare or guest bedroom—that was the plan in 2019,” he recalls. By a stroke of luck, during the final stage of the construction last year, the clients welcomed triplets to their family, which inspired the naming of the home—mitsugo is Japanese for “triplets”.
The architect also advised the clients to have only one family living room to serve as the social centre of the house, as opposed to having one on each floor. “That way, you have one centralised space to gather in, aligning with their vision of a tight-knit family,” he says.
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Towering koptri trees form a dramatic living backdrop in the master bedroom
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Some facilities, like the linen and laundry room on the second floor, were created to foster independence in the triplets by enabling them to participate in the housework and share duties as they grow up.
Around half of the 11,260 sq ft plot is dedicated to green spaces, both open and sheltered—a rarity in the neighbourhood. Entering the premises, one is treated to a view of a double-volume garden with two koptri trees, provided by landscape consultant Larch Studio. This verdant canopied strip is nestled between the Jakarta house and its ironwood outer layer. “We chose this species because of the visual softness of its foliage,” says Sugiharto. “When they mature, their canopies will peek through the ironwood skin and give the facade a green touch.”
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Above The master bathroom is furnished with a custom vanity incorporating a travertine countertop
The master bathroom is furnished with a custom vanity incorporating a travertine countertop
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Further in is an open-air sitting area surrounded by a sizeable koi pond that naturally cools the breezes circulating through the house’s openings. The walkway leads to a courtyard carpeted in lush grass, which also features large rocks and a moringa tree. From this vantage point, one notices that the ground floor’s interior spaces have been articulated as glass-encased groupings of activities spread around a zen garden.
The main living area comprises the TV lounge, dining room and powder room. Here, timber ceilings provide a warm contrast to the architecture’s raw concrete. The iconic Eames lounge chair and ottoman are paired with a Living Divani sofa and a couple of Cassina Utrecht armchairs. Meanwhile, in one corner, Isamu Noguchi’s Akari E hanging lantern grabs the eye with its sculptural form.
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Above The sunroom’s green roof and skylight foster a sense of intimacy with nature
Above Two mature trees mediate the ironwood screen and the rooms
The sunroom’s green roof and skylight foster a sense of intimacy with nature
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Furnished with Thonet bar chairs and Lindsey Adelman lighting, the kitchen and breakfast counter occupy a separate glass enclosure in the Jakarta house to contain the fumes from cooking. Also in their own individual glass enclosures at the rear of the site are the entertainment lounge and the sunroom. The former uses the husband’s whiskey collection as a striking decorative element, while the latter features a green roof with a skylight and also houses the couple’s plant collection.
“Collaborating closely with the architect, we ensured that the architectural layout contributed to a sense of individuality within each room while still maintaining a cohesive flow throughout the entire residence,” says Lianggono Susanto, founder of interior design firm Studio Lianggono, which handled the home’s interior design and furniture curation. “Neutral hues, natural materials and a touch of Japanese influences contribute to a soothing and informal ambience.”
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Above This outdoor sitting area is bordered by a cooling pond
This outdoor sitting area is bordered by a cooling pond
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On the upper level of the Jakarta house, parquet flooring, solid timber and soft linens create comforting, cosy cocoons for rest. The three common bedrooms share a continuous balcony lined with gravel and fountaingrass, while the master bedroom enjoys verdant views of both the front garden and the courtyard.
“The indoor and outdoor spaces share the same material palette, contributing to the seamlessness of their connection,” says Sugiharto. “You can find, for example, the same gravel we have in the garden below the indoor stairs.” And when their many glass doors are open, the home transforms into one large oasis that is bright and breezy in the day, and hushed and moody in the evening—a stunning urban hideaway that will grow with its occupants.
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Above The house sports subtle Japanese influences and a minimalist aesthetic
The house sports subtle Japanese influences and a minimalist aesthetic
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Credits
Photography: Ernest Theofilus and Melanie Tanusetiawan / Studio Melt
