Story by Vira Tanka | Photos by Bagus Tri Laksono, Unless Stated Otherwise
For a busy couple who lives their life to the fullest and are often away from home, having a comfortable house that makes them feel like they’re on holiday is important to keep a balanced life. For their new home, Kris Adidarma and Linda Tan had pretty strong ideas of what they wanted, which is much like a resort house. Architect Yori Antar of Han Awal & Partners and interior designer Rudy Dodo of Trivium Design Group translated them into a design that couldn’t have been better.
A SYMBIOTIC PROCESS
Being globetrotters, Kris and Linda got much of the ideas about the house from their own travel experiences. “My idea is to feel like we’re on holiday all the time. It has to be cosy and have complete facilities so that we don’t need to get out much,” Linda said about her request in the beginning of the project. She also wanted the house to be a perfect home for her two kids to create childhood memories with family and friends. “I want the kids to have enough space to run around,” she added. For this reason and the fact that they are outdoorsy, they requested to have an ample outdoor space.
“We like the resort type of house that’s open and suitable for entertaining people,” Kris added. Resorts in Bali became one of their inspirations but they wanted the modern one. “We chose Yori Antar to design our house because he is good at modern tropical design. We liked his portfolio and we felt that he really understood what we wanted,” Linda said. They did not want anything over the top, instead they wanted something simple, easy to maintain and long lasting.
The house is located in a private area in Karawaci, Tangerang, and sits on a 2000 sqm land. Such condition gives quite a lot of freedom for the architect to design the house while still in the corridors of the homeowners’ aspiration. Answering to the request, Yori got to know the couple really well. The same thing with Rudy Dodo who emphasized the importance of collaboration in the project. “The end product of our design is a combination and compromise of inputs coming from all ends,” Dodo said.
A lot of natural and local materials are applied on the house, such as wood and stone, from the façade to the furniture and art installation. “Dodo can come up with very classic traditional designs. We both like to combine minimalist style and maximalist carved works. But for this house, we agreed on something simple. We didn’t create a lot of detailed profiles,” Yori explained.
THE RESORT HOUSE THAT ENTERTAINS
The house consists of four levels. The basement is for parking, service area and wine cellar. Granite from PT Sandimas, a company that Linda leads, is fittingly used at the carport and in the wine cellar. There is a flight of stairs that connects the basement to the back area of the kitchen, which supports service activities that doesn’t bother the activities in the house.
The first level is where the family’s daily activities mostly take place, including where they have guests over. Upon entering the house through the teak doors, you’ll be welcomed with a paper cutout artwork by a notable Indonesian artist Mujahidin Nurrahman hung on a large wooden partition. On both sides of the doors two paintings are hung on the wall; one is by Ay Tjoe and the other is by Arin Sunaryo, both were purchased before the family moved in this house and are coincidentally in the perfect size for the space.
Behind the partition is a capacious living room with a cosy and restful white sofa from Laflo with more artworks on the wall. “We needed something vibrant to complement the massive and a bit dark wooden partition, to make the room feel more modern as opposed to traditional. So, we got this big yellow piece by Arin Sunaryo,” Linda explained. As for the piece on the partition, it’s one of M Irfan’s recent works. “I normally go for the modern and contemporary art, but we needed something that wasn’t abstract here. Kris loved this black and white piece and I thought it goes really well with the furniture. Almost each time I sit on the sofa while sipping wine and whatnot, I would find details from the painting that I haven’t seen before,” Linda said excitedly.
From front to back, the floor is covered by exquisite looking marble. To further beautify the house, they experimented with materials from Kris’ company, PT Propan Raya, like the stucco paint on the living room walls and epoxy terrazzo at the patio. The living room looks out to the side patio where a set of William Sonoma sofa is placed. Floor-to-ceiling glass window and sliding doors connect the living room to the patio and side yard, where the swimming pool is also located.
“Indonesian people are basically two seasonal people, who are used to live outdoors more than indoors. We are social, we need to be outside to meet other people. This concept of living is what underlay the design of the windows as a connector to the outside and as ventilations,” Yori explained.
The living room is sandwiched between the music room on one side and a massage room and a guest room on the other. In the guest room and music room, there is some Oriental touch to the furniture, like the imported daybeds. This style combination, modern tropical interior with an Indonesian and Oriental touch, was a result of a few discussions with Dodo. The love for music is not only expressed in the music room but also on the entrance door handle, which was designed exclusively by the Trivium team in the shape of a musical note. Another great artwork collection can be enjoyed in the music room, which is a painting by Mella Jaarsma.
Located further in the back is the heart of the house: the kitchen and dining room. Kris and Linda like to cook in the weekends and when they have a get-together with friends. “I usually cook mussels in wine sauce and make grass jelly for dessert, while Linda makes mean foie gras and duck breast dishes,” Kris said. Preparing the food in the kitchen island is part of the fun of the party, while the side dishes are prepared in the service kitchen in the next room.
Unlike most of the wood used at the house, which is teak, the dining table is made of solid oak with reinforcement installed underneath to prevent it from expanding or shrinking due to the tropical climate. It seats 14 people on chairs designed also by Trivium.
The kitchen has a sliding window which opens to the back patio, under which a long wooden table and stools are placed. It functions as a serving window for anyone who wants to have meals outside, which is often used after swimming so they don’t have to bother drying up before going in and eat. “I am very happy with the architectural flow. Everything is well thought of,” Linda said.
FAMILY COMES FIRST
Three towering stones are gallantly installed at the stairs area, just behind the elevator that goes to all the levels. The level two is a more private area. It’s divided into two wings, each with an entrance with a smart lock: the master bedroom area for the parents and the children area with bedrooms, living room and billiard room. “The bedrooms are all on the same floor to give the family to see and spend time with each other. A strong family value is important,” Yori said.
The master bedroom is perfect to unwind after a day’s work. A full glass window on one side overlooks a well-manicured golf course. Normally a sofa would be placed at the lounge area, but Kris and Linda would rather stretch their legs on individual lounge chairs. Additionally, a backless sofa is placed by the window for alternative seating and in case the kids want to watch TV together in the room. The carpet, parquet floor and wooden bedhead add warmth to the atmosphere.
A simple walk-in closet is built at the other end of the room. The predominantly white wardrobe adds brightness to the area. Next to it is the master bathroom. As you walk in there, you’ll see his and her washbasins on your left and a built-in vanity on your right. Further in, a freestanding tub sits between glass-doored shower and toilet. A blind by the window beside the tub rolls down with a remote control if more privacy is needed. The whole look is sleek with marble floor and walls, with a touch of warmth from the wooden ceiling above the bathtub.
The living room at the children’s area is where they would normally play video games when not caving in their own rooms. Opposite to the bedrooms is a wall adorned with a painting by the rising artist Arkiv Vilmansa. Behind that wall is the billiard room. “After the house was completed, Kris and Linda decided to add more facilities, which is the billiard room. It occupied the space where a large balcony used to be,” Yori said.
The fourth level is the rooftop with garden, a fitness room, a bar and a multifunctional open area. It is semi-public because it’s accessible through the elevator from the basement or ground floor, which means another perfect area to entertain guests.
AFTER HOURS
When the sun is down, the house lights up like it’s emanating the vibrant life of the occupants. The most special illumination is the fibre optic lights in the swimming pool. “It was pretty tricky because during construction we couldn’t find anyone that could make fibre optic lights. So, my team and I did the research,” Kris said.
He wanted the lights because they look like stars which would really beautify the house, plus they could change colours. So, on one of his overseas trips, Kris bought the lights and brought them in a hand carry, and struggled his way with the house technicians in installing them. Persistence paid off. The swimming pool lights became one of the most attractive features of the whole house.
Now the family of four has occupied the house for a year. Naturally a few things changed from the initial plan because the house is growing with the owners. Something that still stays the same, the house is an extension of who they are and what they aspire to be. Groups of friends have yet to continue to be invited over and enjoy the homeliness of the marveous abode.
Top photo courtesy of Yori Antar