An Indonesian couple's desire for Australian-inspired architecture in Surabaya led to a unique home that prioritises privacy, family living, and tropical adaptation through a central courtyard and natural material palette.
The owner wanted the openness and honesty of Australian architecture, but building in tropical Surabaya demanded a different response. Architect Giovanni Gunawan blended the best of both worlds in a home centred on privacy, family living and the climate.
Inspired by Australian architecture, this house is organised around a landscaped courtyard that shields it from its busy surroundings. Having lived in Australia and met his wife there, the owner of SE House knew he wanted the country's architectural aesthetic to be the starting point when it came time to build his home. This was, however, easier said than done, as the site is located not Down Under, but in a residential community in western Surabaya, Indonesia.
Instead of wide, open spaces, the site is bounded by a busy road at the front and a security guardhouse to one side. The tropical climate - with its heat, humidity and heavy downpours - is also a far cry from the cooler, drier weather the owner had grown accustomed to. It was therefore fortuitous that he engaged architect Giovanni Gunawan. A graduate of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Giovanni brought a strong understanding of Australian design.
Being Indonesian himself, he was also intimately familiar with the country's climate and cultural norms, allowing him to seamlessly meld the two to fulfil his client's brief. Large sliding glass doors strengthen the connection between the living spaces and the landscaped courtyard, bringing greenery into the heart of the home. The home's material palette favours warm browns, greys and creams, with natural finishes chosen over high-gloss surfaces to create a calm, understated atmosphere. We had to do some negotiation.
Even though the finished product is not 100 per cent what the owner wanted in the beginning, we translated it into something different that he still enjoys, said Giovanni, who helms the practice KantorGG with his father. Working in their favour was the plot's square shape at 1,200 sq m, which allowed Giovanni to devise a C-shaped massing that turns inwards towards a central courtyard for maximum privacy.
Totalling three-and-a-half storeys, the semi-detached house also caters to multi-generational living and entertaining - as requested by the client - through the careful planning of its layout and circulation. Privacy begins at the entrance, where a glass wall with a cascading water curtain gently conceals the home's interiors. The Australian influence is perhaps most keenly felt in the material and colour palette.
The owner is attracted to the idea of honesty in the usage of materiality - that they should be used exactly like they are supposed to be, explained Giovanni. Stones such as travertine and marble were therefore left in their natural state rather than polished to a high gloss. Throughout the home, natural materials and planting work together to create a relaxed atmosphere inspired by Australian design principles.
The synthetic rattan screens were customised to give traditional rattan a contemporary twist while allowing airflow without compromising privacy. The selection of colours tended towards the warmer shades of brown, grey and cream. So precise was this approach that even when presented with the opportunity to use darker hues such as black, Giovanni opted to soften them for a lighter effect. These were applied to give the house clean, minimalist lines with a contemporary feel.
Woven rattan screens provide subtle accents throughout. Although synthetic, their porous nature allows for airflow without compromising privacy. We wanted to create a modern twist in the use of the rattan, so the pattern was customised, he revealed. Designed with family life in mind, the generous living spaces encourage everyday interaction while accommodating larger gatherings.
Since there are no external natural views to look out to, the open, relaxed quality of Australian design was conveyed by pivoting the living spaces towards a landscaped internal courtyard. To adapt it for the tropical climate, Giovanni made sure to have large overhanging canopies and various shading mechanisms. The client has been really understanding on this, he added. Standing in front of the building, the most striking element is a cuboid that projects from the second floor.
Instead of a solid wall, it has the rattan weave that makes up three of its sides, concealing a partially sheltered al fresco terrace within for entertaining guests. The dedicated tea room reflects the family's appreciation for Japanese culture, with the owner's mother regularly performing the tea ceremony here
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