Following advances in the creative economy in Indonesia, people are more aware of architecture and interior design. This has prompted the rise of more local bureaus, such as Sontani+Partners. The husband-and-wife duo heading the firm has opened their office as a collaborative space to creative professionals—making it a home for cool creative types.
Photo by Fernando Gomulya
Vincent Sontani started his career as an architect in 2014 and married interior designer Christle Ratnawati in 2016. One year prior to the wedding, Christle and Vincent established their own bureau in a 34-sqm space in The Bellezza Shopping Arcade in South Jakarta.
The office is located in a retail space, hence they keep the space open and welcoming with a glass wall emblazoned with their logo at the entrance. There is a small window on this panel that keeps the privacy for the working area but still gives connection to the outside.
The interior puts its axis on the left as an aisle. A collaborative working space is located to the right with a capacity of seven people. The seat that is closest to the entrance also functions as a reception desk and has a window overlooking the door. The work table is illuminated by a long light suspended above the table, that, besides being functional, gives a modern form with its rigid shape.
The small office has storage space secreted inside wall panels. This way, the need for storage can be achieved without having a heavy or messy look. Built-in wall panels also give the room a contrasting tone, as it is finished with concrete tiles. The tables and bookshelf are covered with the same tone of ash wood veneer, making the room look harmonious. The bookshelf and the ceiling have been left open, giving the room an industrial vibe. Lockers are also kept inside the wall panel, so the work tables can be left clean for more comfort. Each table is large, considering that the creatives might need some space for laptops and to do sketches.
The office has been done in only four colours: White, grey, black and a touch of wood. The combination makes the room feel spacious. People would feel calm and comfortable when working in this working space. The palate and resulting ambiance has been favoured by the principals, who favour modern design and minimalism. This comforting look is one of the signatures of Sontani+Partners, who have used it in most of their projects.
Casual meetings and discussions can be conducted at the end of the room, where there is a garden table. There is no boundary between the meeting table and the workspace, hence people can continue working while getting involved in the meeting.
This office is a second home not only for the couple, as their friends, who are just starting their own business, come here to work here as well, including a graphic designer, a wedding photographer and a videographer.
This office is not only as comfortable as a home, it is also a studio for fruitful collaborative work. From this small space, great works have been produced, with greater works to come.