Indonesia has a lot of tropical forests and is home to many kinds of exotic woods for our architecture and interior design. In a residential project in South Tangerang, the owner, who is a wood lover, asked architect Djony Gouw to include his favourite element into his house. He went to the right person, as Djony himself is fond of wooden elements. Let’s walk into the house of woods!
The house consists of two buildings: a pavilion, which faces the front yard, and the main edifice, which faces the backyard. The main building has a bigger mass because it houses all bedrooms and common spaces, while the pavilion is prepared for greeting guests and entertainment purposes.
The owner’s interest of wood is apparent starting from the gate that is made of the outer bark of wooden logs. The house shows a strong modern architecture from outside, and you can also tell that wooden elements dominate the façade — from the window, ceiling panels, to the columns.
The entrance is located right in the middle, sandwiched in between two artworks. There is a tree root art piece at the far end of the gate, while an arrangement of antique bricks decorates the opposite side. The terrace, with a bronze door and dark grey marble flooring, leads to the foyer, which is designed in Peranakan style. The symmetrical order of the layout, the ethnic floor tiles and the oriental-patterned wood panel in the end of the foyer give an exclusive look into this room. A formal living room next door continues the Peranakan decoration.
Moving on from the ground floor of the pavilion building to the main building, the design transitions into a contemporary style. The common area, for example, has sleek modern forms, with touches of natural materials. Here, there are the pantry, a dining and a living room in an open-plan space. The décor of this area is dominated with teak panels that run from the living room to the pantry. These rooms are filled with modern furniture and accentuated with wooden elements and artworks by celebrated local artists.
The swimming pool is located at the backyard. It has pool decks on two sides; one is used as a terrace and another for a stunning red sculpture. The view to this area can be enjoyed from the terrace, which is located at the back of the common area, and from the bedrooms on the second floor.
The private zone is located on the second floor. Four children have their own bedrooms. The older siblings share a balcony to the swimming pool, while the younger children have shorter access to the master bedroom, which sits at a corner of the house. It has a walk-in closet, an en-suite bathroom, and the best view to the backyard.
The second floor of the pavilion is dedicated to family time. There are rooms for entertainment, studying and a praying. Djony designed the space with the children in mind, specifically catering to their studying needs and private courses.
The house also owes its luxurious ambiance to the personalised architecture and interior design. From the structural elements to the layout, the design allows the owners to exhibit their wooden collections in this house, naturally warming the house’s aesthetics and character.