Project 01 – Bare Minimalist – My Mayonnaise Jar

Situated in the increasingly crowded West Jakarta area, the 159 sqm house occupies a 196 sqm plot of land. Reflected by its name, Bare Minimalist. Size-wise it is inconspicuous, but its exposed concrete façade gives it a distinctive look. The architecture of Bare Minimalist blocked the heat by completely walling off the west side of the house while opening the rest to let air and light in. The house has no receiving area, no wall, and no living room. In their stead is a spacious lounge. ” After the lounge, the kitchen also takes some importance its final layout is the result of a few adjustments based on the owner’s domestic habits. The only enclosed space in the first story is Client’s study, which doubles as a home theater. A simple foyer and a light well with generous footwear storage- guests are to take off and store theirs there before entering-precede the lounging area.

The second story houses private spaces. At the end of the corridor is a 5 x 6 sqm master bedroom equipped with en suite bathroom and a walk-in closet. An outdoor showering area is attached to the bathroom, while the door connecting its indoor and outdoor area is made of clear glass. An additional bedroom, bathroom, and a multi-function room linked by a corridor leading to an open space beside the void leading o the stairwell and staircase, a pretty bow to knot the horizontal and vertical circulations together.

The project installed a drinkable water tap in this open space. While pure, safe to drink tap water is increasingly common in some countries, it is still a rare, exceptional facility in Indonesia, one that this project was determined to have in this home.

Client’s Brief

Speaking of my imagination (Charles Wiriawan’s imagination), this is a list of requirements I have for my house:

• Bare-minimalist, functional architecture

• Design done in Google SketchUp

• Open source, all access to design, budget files as well as material specifications

• Built on an area of about 200 square meter, bigger is better off course • 3 m ceiling height

• Public area as cozy as a lounge, bedroom as comfortable as commercial hotel

• Green, nature friendly (Maximum natural air flow, natural lighting) • Inexpensive

• Fast, straightforward to build

• Safe from burglars

• Secure (fireproof, flood-proof, quake-proof, child-proof)

• Highly energy efficient, partly powered by (solartiogas) renewable energy source

• Low-maintenance

• Potable tap water system with equalized water pressure

• Efficient waste management

• Bathrooms with urinals and high efficiency faucet, toilet with washlet system

• Walk-in closets with boutique-style clothes racks (See IKEA Stolmen system for reference)

• Modern full LED lighting

• Full HD video, 5.1 audio entertainment system

• Full wi-fi access

Finding a reliable architect who understand the concept of “green building” in Jakarta is not easy, and finding a contractor who’s willing to work for such a small project is another delicate issue. The big guys are outrageously expensive and slow, the small ones are generally fast but incompetent. Can I have such a house in Jakarta? I think so, but it will require a team of forward-looking people who are willing to constantly challenge the status quo, in architecture and property business that is.

I’m going to do this, and I’m calling it Project Open House. Stay tuned.