Name : Nik Elyssa Nadhirah

Student Id : 0327733

Tutor : Ms Fadzwin

Assignment 3 : Weekend Retreat

The Upstairs House - Wahana Architects

Yakarta, Indonesia

This tropical modern abode stands on 560 m2 corner

plot in a townhouse complex, in South Jakarta. Located in

a densely populated area and immediately adjacent to a

busy road, with no interesting views on its surrounding,

were the main challenges for the architect in designing

this house. It is the wish of the owner to have a house

that has a strong interaction with the natural

surrounding environment and natural landscapes, just

like a holiday resort.They hope that the house will be a

place where their close friends and families would come

and gather on the weekend. These needs are the main idea

for the designer in order to design the house. While many

regular houses place the private areas on a higher level,

the architects consciously have the private areas such

as bedroom areas on the lower level. This decision made

simply because of the daily activities of the owners and

their children. So they can access their bedrooms

directly after a long tiring day.

Entering this house, people will be brought directly to an open stair located next

to a garden and a reflection pool. The entrance stair then leads to the Main

Entrance area. The craftsmanship-which considered as the architectural practice

in Indonesia- is strongly applied in this Entrance area, which is all covered with re-

used waste teak woods. The usage of this material gives more depth and texture to

the space. It creates a strong visual effect, producing a new experience from a

wasted good treated in a new way.

The living room and dining room,

along with other public areas

which designed on the upper

level, interestingly creates a

more open and wide-feel space.

This might help the usage of this

area as a public space, to have a

communal and gathering area.

The Upper level which is

surrounded with clear glass

and partly covered with wood

lattices also creates

interspatial relations between

the inside-the building and the

natural surroundings.

On the lower level, the wood

lattices on the corridor leading

to bedrooms, allows natural air

to breeze into this area. The sound

of the water from the reflection

pond next to the semi-outdoor

corridor creates a strong resort-

feel to this area. It helps people to

calm their senses after tiring daily

routines, leading them to their

own resting areas.

The children’s bedrooms are designed with connecting

courtyards. These wooden-deck courtyards are filled

with trees which grow through the void connected to

the upper level. The presence of this courtyard is

essential to the main concept of this building. On the

other side, the main bedroom also has a courtyard with

its own reflection pool and a vertical garden. This

courtyard helps to give a non-formal feeling to the

bedroom area while creating a serene atmosphere.

The courtyards and the natural surroundings which

integrated to some rooms and the material selection of

this building, fulfills the client’s need to have a house

with Resort feel and Tropical touch in the middle of a

densely populated area. The courtyards and the

landscapes not only become the main orientation of this

house but also become an extension function space from

the inside area.

References

https://www.archdaily.com/910498/the-upstairs-house-wahana-architects?ad_medium=gallery

https://www.homedsgn.com/the-upstairs-house/

Sekeping Serendah Glass Shed - Seksan

Design Rawang, Selangor

The sheds are designed based on traditional

Malay House to fully accommodate the

tropical climate and context as well. They have

maximum high ceilings contributing to great

lighting and ventilation.

Cross ventilation is activated by placing inlets

and outlets to optimize the air path flow in the

building. In sekeping serendah, the concept of

openness has minimized the number of walls at

the same time maximizing openings.

In sekeping serendah, sheds are designed with

higher ceilings to collect hot air at higher

height and openings are present at the ceiling

roof for easy elimination of hot air. This

ventilation is called stack ventilation.

Sekeping Serendah is

built on heavily

vegetated irregular

slopes. Surrounded by

500 year old tropical

rainforest with canopy

trees blooming over 40

meters high in average,

the Sekeping retreat

gets all the natural

shading it can have.

With the presence of

canopy layer above

building, sunlight is

mostly filtered and

with some areas even

fully blocked.

Exterior shading plays an

important role in controlling

heat gain and are more effective

than interior shades because

sunlight is fully blocked before

entering the window. Exterior

shadings devices include awnings,

louver shades, and overhang

eaves.

Overhang eaves are very effective

because they block direct

sunlight. Their materials and

effectiveness are determined by

the roof. A gap is usually present

between the uppermost layer and

the floor level to allow

accumulation of heat directly

under the eaves of roofs. This is

to prevent direct heating into

entire interior space.

In attaining openness and

minimalism in Sekeping

Serendah Retreat, stilts

are widely used as an

essential vertical

structure to lift up and

support the slab and roof

in constructing the sheds.

Metal stilts, timber stilts

and concrete stilts are

strategically applied in

different sheds according

to the particular design

based on various function.

Most of the sheds are

elevated up by stilts which

sat on slope as to tread

the land lightly. Instead of

using slab on fill

foundation by clearing

land and fill the sloppy

land with concrete

foundation, raised

foundation with the used

of concrete stilts is more

practical in preserving and

conserving nature. In

addition, stilts are also

used to highlight the

vertically in reference

with the surround trees

and blends it into site.

Cleo’s Sanctuary

Design Narrative

This site features natural slop down to the creek and is surrounded by dense jungle. Cleo’s

Sanctuary is intended to not impose itself to the site but rather sits within the existing area. Inside

spaces are arranged around a tropical atrium that rises to the living spaces which is located on the

highest level. It is possible to see the sky all the way to the jungle floor In addition creating a

stronger connection to the jungle, the atrium with it’s large opening also helps to ventilate the

house. To avoid overheating, the house is shaded by large deep overhangs.

Introduction to site

This site is located in Taman Alam KuALA Selangor. This Park is recognized as nature reserve for

conservation and ecotourism for tourist to see many species of wildlife. The 296 hectares are

divided into 2 main sections, covering 201 hectares of tropical rainforest and the rest is a mangrove

Forest .

Mangrove Tree Importance

protect coastlines erosive wave action and strong coastal winds, and serve

as natural barriers against tsunamis and torrential storms.

prevent salt water from intruding into rivers.

retain, concentrate and recycle nutrients resources

can be sustainable ywood and other products,

important breeding ground many fishes, crabs, prawns and other marine

animals, essential for sustaining a viable fishing industry.

Site Plan Scale 1:100

Duality

Dark and underground

vs Light And open

Double Volume

Amplified on interior,

Dark spaces into light

New Life

New mangrove in

courtyard as a symbol

of new beginning

Unbroken

Massive sheets of frameless

glass ensure the views are

completely unbroken in living

area

Changes

Changes of materials such as concrete

in Sleeping Area, Metal trellis in

courtyard and timber columns with

glass Panels

Forest Box

Complimenting

Surrounding Area of

Site

Advantages of trellis

Heat and sun path

Ventilation Views

Rainfall

Contrast

Contrast is created due to the

different materials used.

Concrete is used in the sleeping

area to create a dark and heavy

ambiance while the living spaces

uses timber columns and glass

panels which creates and open

and Light Ambience.

Repetition

Rectangle shapes are used

repetitively on façade as well

as the elongated plan . Hence,

creates rhythm throughout

the house.

Emphasis

The courtyard creates is

emphasized in this house as it

acts as a transition space

between two different

contrasting space. Other than

that, it is also fully open to the

outer surroundings.

Balance

This house has asymmetry

balance. Arrangement of spaces

on both sides. The courtyard

acts as the transition space

between living and sleeping

spaces.

Ground Floor Plan Scale 1:100

Sleeping Area

Courtyarddeck

Entrance one

Entrance Two

Scale 1:100

First Floor Plan

Scale 1:100

Sleeping Area

CourtyardLiving Space

Entrance one

Entrance Two

Roof Plan Scale 1:100

Scale 1:100Section A-A’

Scale 1:100Front Elevation

Scale 1:100Rear Elevation

Scale 1:100Left Elevation

Scale 1:100

Right Elevation

Scale 1:100Section B-B’

Scale 1:100Section C-C’

Scale 1:100Section D-D’

Scale 1:20Sectional Detail

Scale 1:2Detailed folded door

Living Space

Sleeping Area

Courtyard