LIVING CANVAS

A sculptural residence in Jakarta's Pondok Indah frames art and architecture as inseparable elements of domestic living for a family of six

- By Asih Jenie.

Photography by Mario Wibowo Pondok Indah, an upscale residential area in South Jakarta, is known for its tree-lined streets, gated compounds and the ever-expanding Pondok Indah Malls. In this enclave, a new residence by Willis Kusuma Architects stands out curiously thanks to the playful sculpture perched on its modernist façade, which is articulated with concrete and timber, and softened with a biophilic touch by way of planters of swaying grass.

It was commissioned by a business-owner couple, who share the house with their four children—two boys and two girls, ranging from teenagers to young adults—and their domestic staff. The husband was a returning client already familiar with Willis Kusuma's work, having previously engaged the architect to design his restaurant. "The couple knew our approach from earlier commercial projects," says Kusuma, the founder of his eponymous firm. "That familiarity made them comfortable entrusting us with their home."

The house distils a dense programme into a clear vertical sequence. "We had to maximise the plot, so the house is stacked very straightforwardly," Kusuma explains. The interior spatial programming itself borrows from across typologies. "Like a sequence from the foyer to the living area to the bedrooms, almost like a hotel." At its core is the wife's sculptural practice: her works occupy the facade, stair landings and poolside, while a dedicated studio anchors the ground floor. Exposed concrete and teak imbue the structure with a timeless restraint, softened by marble interiors and a vertical garden designed for ease of maintenance.