Cover The Pondok Indah home’s backyard is occupied by a lap pool and a massive vertical garden that itself almost like an artwork
The Pondok Indah home’s backyard is occupied by a lap pool and a massive vertical garden that itself almost like an artwork
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A sculptural residence in Jakarta’s Pondok Indah neighbhourhood frames art and architecture as inseparable elements of domestic living for a family of six
Pondok Indah, an upscale residential area in South Jakarta, is known for its tree-lined streets, gated compounds and the ever-expanding Pondok Indah Malls. In this enclave, a new residence by Willis Kusuma Architects stands out curiously thanks to the playful sculpture perched on its modernist façade, which is articulated with concrete and timber, and softened with a biophilic touch by way of planters of swaying grass.
It was commissioned by a business-owner couple, who share the house with their four children—two boys and two girls, ranging from teenagers to young adults—and their domestic staff. The husband was a returning client already familiar with Willis Kusuma’s work, having previously engaged the architect to design his restaurant. “The couple knew our approach from earlier commercial projects,” says Kusuma, the founder of his eponymous firm. “That familiarity made them comfortable entrusting us with their home.”
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Above The design maximises its Pondok Indah plot but leaves breathing space inside
The design maximises its Pondok Indah plot but leaves breathing space inside
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The Pondok Indah house distils a dense programme into a clear vertical sequence. “We had to maximise the plot, so the house is stacked very straightforwardly,” Kusuma explains. The interior spatial programming itself borrows from across typologies.
“Like a sequence from the foyer to the living area to the bedrooms, almost like a hotel,” he adds. At its core is the wife’s sculptural practice: her works occupy the facade, stair landings and poolside, while a dedicated studio anchors the ground floor. Exposed concrete and teak imbue the structure with a timeless restraint, softened by marble interiors and a vertical garden designed for ease of maintenance.
Above Artworks with cheerful colours complement the subdued material palette on the Pondok Indah home’s ground floor
Artworks with cheerful colours complement the subdued material palette on the Pondok Indah home’s ground floor
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Like a Hotel
On a 5,400 sq ft site, the Pondok Indah house rises with geometric discipline. The brief demanded maximum use of the plot while retaining clarity and light, resulting in a gross floor area of about 10,800 sq ft. Kusuma responded with a stacked sequence of spaces that echo a hospitality programme: foyer and services at ground level, living and dining on the second, bedrooms on the third, and wellness and leisure on the roof. “The circulation is simple and functional, but the effect is generous,” he says.
Above Timber and concrete facade create a distinct look in South Jakarta’s Pondok Indah neighbourhood
Above The exterior of the Pondok Indah house also features sculptures playing peekaboo among the grass planters and the timber-and-concrete facade
Timber and concrete facade create a distinct look in South Jakarta’s Pondok Indah neighbourhood
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Material choices reinforce this order. “We chose exposed concrete for durability, softened with teak to bring warmth,” says Kusuma. “It is meant to be timeless, not trend-driven.” Inside, marble and timber veneer continue the restrained palette, balancing permanence with comfort.
Above The living area’s marble floor is one of the few reflective surfaces in the home, a deliberate choice to let the artworks shine
The living area’s marble floor is one of the few reflective surfaces in the home, a deliberate choice to let the artworks shine
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The landscaping follows the same principle, with planting pared back to the lawns at the front and a vertical garden at the rear. “They don’t want to be bothered with maintenance,” Kusuma explains. “An automated vertical garden is very practical for an urban family. It keeps the greenery lush without the daily effort.”
Above Playful artwork add pops of colour to the Pondok Indah home’s interior
Above The stairwell is envisioned as an art gallery, dotted with openings and pieces to admire along the vertical journey through the home
Playful artwork add pops of colour to the Pondok Indah home’s interior
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House as Gallery
If the structure is disciplined, the interiors are animated by art. The client’s wife is an avid sculptor, and her works are installed throughout the home. “She considers herself more of a hobbyist than a professional artist,” Kusuma shares. That being said, her works animate the house.
Above A view of the vertical “art gallery” from the second floor shows how the muted material palette provides the perfect backdrop for the art pieces
A view of the vertical “art gallery” from the second floor shows how the muted material palette provides the perfect backdrop for the art pieces
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A figure stands on the façade above the garage—a hint to the outside world of a home full of personality inside, a sculptural rendition of the family of six occupies the stair landing, and a ballerina watches over the rooftop garden. A dedicated 650 sq ft workshop on the ground floor allows her to create within the same environment where her works are displayed, with natural ventilation ensuring comfort and safety.
Above View of the Pondok Indah home’s living and dining area from the pool
View of the Pondok Indah home’s living and dining area from the pool
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The house also accommodates the family’s wider collection of paintings and sculptures. Kusuma designed the foyer and stair hall as a gallery-like transition. “We wanted to lead guests through a sequence of collections before arriving in the living area,” he says.
Above The Pondok Indah home’s layout is left as open as possible
The Pondok Indah home’s layout is left as open as possible
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Niches and ledges were deliberately incorporated for display, while lighting designer Litac Consultant, led by Paul Gunawan, fine-tuned the illumination so every piece is shown to best effect. In this way, the architecture becomes a canvas, open to evolving installations as the family’s collection grows.
Above The sculptures and paintings adorning the house are expertly lit by Litac
Above The massive vertical garden is a substitute for conventional landscaping and satisfies the owners’ brief for fuss-free maintenance, also leaving the pool area free for more sculptures
The sculptures and paintings adorning the house are expertly lit by Litac
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Family and Flow
Although conceived as a gallery, the residence remains, first and foremost, a family home. After all, the couple live here with their four children, and the spatial planning reflects their needs.
Above The double-loaded corridor to the bedrooms is envisioned as a luxury hotel lobby, dotted with art, while the staircase to the roof features openings to facilitate delightful visual moments
The double-loaded corridor to the bedrooms is envisioned as a luxury hotel lobby, dotted with art, while the staircase to the roof features openings to facilitate delightful visual moments
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The bedrooms are arranged along a corridor, with each recessed into an alcove for privacy. “This configuration was indeed inspired by a hotel corridor,” Kusuma admits, “but with a zigzag opening that follows the spiral stair, so it feels alive.”
Above The generous rooftop deck features oversized outdoor furniture and a ballerina sculpture by the lady of the house herself
The generous rooftop deck features oversized outdoor furniture and a ballerina sculpture by the lady of the house herself
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The second-floor family areas are more open, with living, dining and pantry spaces connected to the pool terrace. Here, colourful paintings enliven the walls, offsetting the restrained palette of concrete and timber. Furniture selections were led by the mother, with support from a young interior designer, Aditya Samodra of Byarsa studio, while Kusuma’s team steered the overall direction and specified the key lighting fixtures.
Above The living-dining area of the home overlooks the pool, with a lush vertical garden serving as a backdrop for a vibrant unicorn sculpture
The living-dining area of the home overlooks the pool, with a lush vertical garden serving as a backdrop for a vibrant unicorn sculpture
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Above, the roof garden holds facilities for recreation and wellness, including a massage suite and an outdoor dining terrace. “The lift even reaches the roof, where there is a gym, games room and barbecue area,” Kusuma says. “It’s almost like a self-contained establishment of its own.” This choreography of circulation gives the house its hospitality character, while also ensuring that the family can traverse private and communal activity effortlessly.
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Credits
Photography: Mario Wibowo
Topics
Jakarta-born, Bandung-raised and Singapore-based, Asih Jenie trained in Visual Communication Design at Bandung Institute of Technology and Architecture at Parahyangan Catholic University. She brings both rigour and heart to design journalism, infused with a distinct Southeast Asian voice.
As a child, she doodled on the edges of her schoolbooks and never outgrew her fascination with all things well-made and well-told. Her 15-year career spans editorial roles and bylines in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia, across spatial design titles such as Dwell Asia, Cubes, Design Anthology, Habitus Living, and Home & Decor.
After a brief stint in public relations, she returned to publishing in 2023 to lead Tatler Homes Singapore, where she continues to tell stories about how we shape the spaces that shape us.
