Project Name: From Inside Looking Out House

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Design Team: K-Thengono Design Studio

Total Floor Area: 800 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Indra Wiras

Feature: Indonesian architecture studio K-Thengono Design Studio completed the From Inside Looking Out House project in Jakarta, creating a contemporary sustainable residence that exemplifies how sophisticated spatial strategies and climate-responsive design can transform challenging urban sites into refined living environments. The project is positioned within Jakarta's prestigious Pantai Mutiara neighborhood, drawing inspiration from tropical modernist principles to create an architectural work that both celebrates Indonesian building traditions and embodies innovative urban residential design approaches.

The project's most compelling design feature lies in its strategic east-west orientation response. Rather than choosing conventional urban development approaches, the architects masterfully capitalized on the site's dual frontages—embracing serene canal views to the east while thoughtfully screening the busy street and café activity to the west. This ingenious two-block configuration connected by a central circulation spine creates two distinct courtyards, effectively facilitating natural ventilation and light penetration while establishing a sophisticated hierarchy of public and private spaces.

The building's spatial choreography unfolds through carefully orchestrated functional zoning: the western block accommodates intimate bedroom quarters, while the eastern block houses expansive living and dining areas that frame tranquil waterfront vistas. Each floor of the western block features shared balconies connecting the bedrooms, covered with bifold wooden screens that effectively shield interiors from harsh afternoon light while maintaining ventilation. The screens demonstrate remarkable sophistication—featuring graduated opacity with thicker lower sections providing privacy and thinner upper sections allowing light filtration.

The living spaces center around the eastern block's living and dining areas, where large windows frame the peaceful canal views. The building's uppermost level surpasses the height of the neighboring café, accommodating an entertainment room that offers unobstructed sea views and dramatic sunset vistas. A reflecting pool positioned before this space serves dual functions—moderating the tropical climate while extending visual perspectives toward the horizon, creating a unique spatial experience.

Material selection demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to tropical modernist principles. The warm timber screens become the residence's signature element, contrasting with concrete structures to create a modern yet welcoming living atmosphere. To ensure thermal comfort and sustainability, the design team incorporated comprehensive tropical climate adaptation strategies during construction, including natural ventilation, light control, and rainwater management systems.

Landscape design by Larch Studio plays a crucial role in achieving harmonious integration with the surrounding urban environment. The central courtyards serve both as main entrance and private garden spaces for residents, creating green retreat areas within the dense urban context.

From Inside Looking Out House represents a thoughtful climate-responsive design approach, demonstrating how Indonesian traditional architectural wisdom can be integrated into contemporary urban residential design without compromising modern living comfort.

Design Team - K-Thengono Design Studio stands as a distinguished Indonesian architectural practice that has established an exceptional reputation in contextually-responsive sustainable design. Founded by Kelvin Thengono in 2019 and based in Jakarta, established after Thengono's extensive experience with major architectural firms in the United States, the studio has developed into a comprehensive architecture and interior design practice covering residential, commercial, and cultural architecture typologies.

K-Thengono Design Studio brings exceptional contextual responsiveness design experience and deep understanding of sustainable building practices to the practice. Under the leadership of founding partner Kelvin Thengono, supported by a professional team including design team member Nadia Lee and technical team leader Fachrudin Faruq, the practice has garnered recognition for its commitment to cultural identity preservation and dedication to traditional craftsmanship. This combination of holistic approach with contemporary design innovation positions K-Thengono Design Studio uniquely within Southeast Asia's architectural landscape.

The firm's design philosophy emphasizes that deep contextual responsiveness and client-focused solutions are equally important, not rushing to standardized architectural solutions but believing that architecture should be a result of thorough understanding of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Through intensive collaboration with clients, they are committed to transforming client visions into clear, distinctive spatial narratives. K-Thengono Design Studio believes that the best spaces strengthen the connection between inhabitants and their surroundings, prioritizing inhabitant well-being through natural light optimization, water access integration, and comprehensive ventilation strategies.

Through this thoughtful application of vernacular architectural principles, locally-sourced materials, and time-tested construction techniques, K-Thengono Design Studio has established itself as a significant contributor to contemporary Indonesian architectural discourse, creating architectural works that are both rooted in Indonesian culture and embrace global design vision.