Jakarta offers many hidden architecture and interior design gems that are not visible to the common eyes. Some of these gems do not focus on the facade, but instead keep all the marvels inside. Indonesia Design recently found a beautiful two-storey penthouse in one of the top apartment towers, the serene Pakubuwono Residence compound.
Situated in an 800 sqm area, this penthouse is done in the true spirit of contemporary design with black, white and light brown palate surrounded with glass elements. Its aesthetic is sleek and unfussy, with clean lines and an open-space layout. The cold nuance that’s often reflected by this contemporary style is balanced with various artworks in bold colours and accentuated with great design furniture.
According to the owners of this stunning penthouse, it was really love at the first sight, especially for the layout that enabled them to express their individual design ideas and decoration without structural alterations. The entire interior of the penthouse was altered from its original state, with large marble slab flooring, closets and bathroom fixtures imported from Italy.
Indeed, this penthouse is completely different than the likes in other Pakubuwono towers. As we arrived at this penthouse, there is a small foyer surrounded by glass walls. This led to one big space that connects the kitchen, dining room, living room, and three bedrooms. The kitchen that is dominated in white was completely refurbished with high-end appliances, with an extension to a small sitting corner adorned with a bronze sculpture by Wahyu Sentosa. To avoid clutter, they designed spaces to to hide closets and cupboards from plain sight, which are maximised for storage.
On the other side of the kitchen lies the dining room with a Cassina Boboli dining table and leather armchairs as its main centrepieces, accentuated with Tom Dixon famous glass ball pendant lights. A bold red and gold songket woven textile from Padang, West Sumatra, as well as a Popo Iskandar painting called Rooster and The Moon, are the background to this dining room to give warmth nuance.
The living room has a spectacular high-ceiling in a circular pattern that glows with light in the evening. As the penthouse’s architecture highlight, the living room is dominated in white and glass elements with a long metallic bar table and its stools facing the tall windows overlooking the city, adding subtle edginess to the contemporary interior.
Here, a minimalist textured white L-shaped sofa and a white lacquered Vibia samurai floor lamp are the pieces-de-resistance of the space. The rays of light in the morning fill this living room, whereas at night, the city lights reflect on the various surfaces in the penthouse. Lighting designer Tim Hakfoort did an excellent work on creating the mood of the entire penthouse through his design.
Going on to the second floor through the elliptical staircase with glass accents brings us to the unique features of the penthouse: an entertainment room and a beauty treatment room. Originally designed as a bedroom, the entertainment room is part of the alterations that were done by the owners. The room is divided into a sitting area, a mini bar with a beaming glass shelf, and a stylish karaoke room with mood lights, custom-made pattern carpet and lines of Swarovski crystals as a wall accent. Juxtaposing the entertainment room is the beauty treatment room with an en-suite sauna, following the penthouse white and minimalistic theme. The second floor is also where we can find the master bedroom, which has a private sitting area, a walk-in wardrobe, and a spacious bathroom in white with gold tiles.
The contemporary interior design and minimalist feel chosen by the owners allow an appreciation of their various objets d’art that they have collected from their travels over the years. When we asked them what the winning design element in their penthouse was, they said, “We don’t believe there is a single most important design element in the penthouse but rather we believe in ensuring a balance to all the design elements which allows a seamless transition from space to space.”