From Inside Looking Out House, Between Privacy and Openness, a House Offering Scenic Ocean Views – From Inside Looking Out is a four-story residence designed for a couple who wanted an airy family home with a tropical resort ambiance. Situated in Jakarta’s upscale Pantai Mutiara neighborhood, the site features an east-west orientation, with the eastern side overlooking a canal and the western side facing the main street and a busy cafe. K-Thengono Design Studio utilizes this orientation to arrange the building’s programs based on their contextual views.
© Indra Wiras
The residence comprises two distinct blocks connected by a central circulation space. The western block accommodates the bedrooms, while the eastern block contains the living and dining areas. The circulation connector divides the open space between these two blocks into two courtyards: one serves as the main entrance, and the other functions as a private garden for the residents. This spatial arrangement facilitates natural light and ventilation throughout the residence.
© Indra Wiras
In the Western block, each floor features a shared balcony connecting the bedrooms. These balconies are covered with bifold wooden screens that shield the interiors from harsh afternoon light. The screens are tapered, with thicker lower sections providing privacy and thinner upper sections allowing light to filter through. At the uppermost level, which surpasses the height of the cafe across the street, the volume shifts to accommodate an entertainment room that offers views of the open sea and sunset. A reflecting pool in front of this room moderates temperature and extends visual perspectives.
Project Info
Architects: K-Thengono Design Studio
Country: Indonesia, Kecamatan Penjaringan
Area: 1435 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Indra Wiras
Lead Team: Kelvin Thengono
Design Team: Nadia Lee
Technical Team: Fachrudin Faruq
Engineering & Consulting > Lighting: Erreluce
Landscape Architecture: Larch Studio
General Constructing: Bonucci (Interior Contractor)
Engineering & Consulting > Other: PT Susanto Ciptajaya
Isabelle Laurent is a Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, recognized for her editorial insight and passion for contemporary architecture. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Theory from École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. Before joining Arch2O in 2016, she worked in a Paris-based architectural office and taught as a faculty adjunct at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. Isabelle focuses on curating projects around sustainability, adaptive reuse, and urban resilience. With a background in design and communication, she brings clarity to complex ideas and plays a key role in shaping Arch2O’s editorial