Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2023
Tranquil By The Sea Private Apartment
by Darren Pirono and Jefferson Frans Tan
- A' Design Award 2023 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Upper Room Collaborative Studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 12,098
- Verification code E838C42193 · Verify this award
About Tranquil By The Sea Private Apartment
The property has an advantage of surrounded by sea as it is located at the northernmost point of Jakarta. The designer took advantage of the sea to emphasize it by creating a contrasting color palate of wood and dark features. It highlights and frame the ocean, allowing it becoming the main focus. In addition, the sequencing of space using their directive approach divides the area accordingly, along with different usage of materials and style on each sequence, to break the area so that it would not feel too wide and short as the ceiling height is low.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The suite is a product of two individual units that are combined onto one unit, Thus, a space reconstruction needs to be done in order to place both public, private, and service area in adjacent without compromising the spaciousness and the sea view. The property holds two master bedroom with one kids bedroom, open living and dining space, office space all viewing continuously towards Java sea.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The property has a net area of 250 square meter. It has two master bedroom where one master bedroom has private office, walk-in closet, vanity room, and a walk-in bathroom. One kid bedroom, one living and dining area with counter-table and kitchen sets, two powder rooms, two working wet kitchens and service area behind camouflage panel doors.
- Tags
- interior, interior design, apartment, luxury apartment, living room, bedroom, architect, interior decor,
- Production Technology
- The use of material that are luxury, economical, light in weight, easy to transport, modular, and to withstand corrosion are essential to build this project and making it long lasting. For example, the stone wall behind dining room are produced by screed and special stone texture paint, to reduce weight and practicality, also easier in maintenance and cleaning. Another one is The lighting system use magnetic light system allows the user to set up their own light placement.
- Design Challenge
- The needs to re-arrange the space to accommodate the programs needed in reasonable adjacency and sequencing, involving a total reconstruction of MEP systems and placement of the rooms.
- Project Duration
- The Project is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was commenced in October 2021 and Completed in October 2022.
- Operation Flow
- The programs are composed by using a directive method and the use of either solid, transparent, camouflage doors, or translucent partition to direct the flows and produce sequence. As people moves from one space through another they will be directed to view the extensive collection of displays and then revealing onto another style of design on each room, and finally ends by the edge of the curtainwall viewing 180 degree towards the sea.
- Research
- The design begins with a meeting with client that wants to combine their two-unit apartment into one. As a result, the designer decides to reorganize the layout, creating a spacious living-dining area and flanked it with corridors to access the room so it become more private. Also The designer choose material that has dark, warm and contrasting color with the blue tint of the curtain window and the sea, so that it emphasize the feeling of surrounded by ocean and directs attention to the sea-view outside.
- Inspiration
- The Property, Regatta Apartment is located at the Northernmost point of Jakarta, and surrounded by sea, thus creating a perfect escape from a hustling city crowds. The sea, flanked by curtain wall is the main vocal point, thus the main living space of living, dining, and bedroom space are arranged and pushed towards the edge to maximize the view towards the sea and to promote stillness away from city noise, while the rest of the program is placed towards the opposite.
- Image Credits
- Fernando Gomulya
Colors of Tranquil By The Sea Private Apartment
Grand Interview about Tranquil By The Sea Private Apartment
When we first entered the apartment units, we and the clients were stunned by the view of almost 180-degree sea view; virtually all areas of the apartment have this direct natural sea view access that has currently no reclamation development, combined with the apartment's iconic slight blue tint glass, it enhances the image of endless blue sea as if we are in a cruise ship. We decided to use very contrasting materials, such as wood and dark colors, to shift the attention toward the sea view. However, we juxtapose the interior by adding touches of blue and beige color for the accessories, decorations, and loos furniture to pull a bit of sea essence towards the interior.
The inspiration is back to essential proportion and geometry ratios. As we could not alter the ceiling height, we divided the spaces into a couple of sections using partitions and into a couple of intimate areas. Thus, it will create the illusion of the space not being too cramped as it becomes proportional in ceiling height to room area ratios. In addition, this is where the directive approach plays a part, as we want to avoid dividing the spaces using straight-up solid walls. Instead, we assess each area and determine whether the partition material is solid, transparent, or translucent, also giving the sense of continuity and curiosity and hide-reveal as a person navigates from one space to another.
As mentioned, where almost 180 degrees of the unit faces a clear ocean, it is constantly affected by the sea breeze, which causes the salt content to be very high and damp. It is essential to look at each material and construction method to avoid corrosion on the units as they are inhibited, and a child's child is on them. For each fixed piece of furniture, we ensure it is constructed with 100% anti-termite-coated engineered wood and finished with laminate. We minimize steel construction; the thin black frame and furniture accessories are made of hollow stainless steel, which has been powdered and coated in multiple layers to protect the material even more. In addition, all the "marble" like countertop countertops and backsplashes are replaced with sintered stone slabs imported from Spain, which are durable and can handle high humidity and damp areas. Finally, for the stone wall treatment, we don't use a natural stone skin texture as it is porous and prone to mold; we use a play of thin plasterwork and apply a coating of synthetic granite finish texture paint to mimic natural stone looks and texture, we also fill the gaps with light plaster so that it won't sound hollow when knocked.
The space is inhabited by a young family with children where activity is very flexible; for example, hosting a gathering on the unit, playtime with the children, Parents and Kids sleeping together in the master room, and switching the office space as a temporary playing space. With this, the need for the space to be flexible is imperative. In addition to implementing a high number of loose furniture placed in the area, the lighting conditions need to be adaptable following the change in room configurations. Thus, the magnetic lighting system helps the owner. In a simple plug-and-play system, they could change and alter the lighting placement according to their new room configurations. In addition, the air conditioning diffuser is connected to the magnetic lighting track, making it easier for the owner to shift the diffuser following the new configurations without any significant work on the ceiling.
The most crucial lessons learned are to be humble and understanding toward all parties involved and not push for one's sole agenda. Simply trusting your partner vendor to perform their work is also essential, while keeping regular supervision to make sure it aligns with the design goals.
The property is unique, especially in Jakarta, where a luxury apartment that has an unobstructed view of the sea is rare. We took an opportunity where the apartment was just a home and tried to make it a healing space. As the owner come home from their "city" activities such as school, work, shopping, or simply running errands, they will transition through the foyer area, which is like the rest of the interior, has wood and dark features but has this fluted glass panel that reveals slightly blue tint from the sea view, In this foyer, they will open up their shoes, jacket, and placing all stuff in the cabinet, as they then moved to the main living space, they will be invited to this framed blue sea view that they will enter a state of vacation in a seaside villa or cruise and left behind their "city" errands. The sequential spatial revelation adds up the anticipation of relaxing at home after a long day in the "city."
It started mainly from how the space was wide and open after the primary inter-unit partition was demolished, also how the main living-dining-pantry area was opened up towards the entry, and all of the rooms surrounding it, making the space look like a cage and visually accessible from all areas, even from the service areas for Household helper. We decided to study each area space and try to work on how human behavior works when transitioning from one space to another; what do they see first? What do they expect to see or not to see? Do they feel comfortable relaxing in the living area, directly adjacent to the household helper and the main entrance area, which can always be opened? We then try to break the viewpoint from each room and direct their view with a directive approach method explained before to ensure each transition from one room to the other has its own unique experience, maintaining privacy but keeping openness from its owner and towards the sea view.
We think that the recognition is not being awarded to us just because of its aesthetics; we do acknowledge that many of the design out there has better aesthetics than our design, but it is the "fruit" that has been produced in the background in all aspects of the projects starting from the design process, the permit, the construction process, until the after-service, it helps to shape each design features placed so that the design is not just aesthetically pleasing, but it is fully functional, philosophical, and catered personally towards the client, and of course to elevate the living conditions of the owner. We are blessed and thankful that the A' Design Award Jury could recognize the hard work implemented towards this project.
Effective and transparent communication was essential in collaborating with the client, contractors, engineering team, property management department, and all the vendors involved in this project. By prioritizing clear communication, we could address most of the challenges. Maintaining a humble attitude and continuously educating ourselves helped us brainstorm alternative solutions for those encountering built or technical issues in real-time. Our primary focus was not solely on prioritizing design aesthetics for the project's success—while preserving design integrity is essential—but on effectively confronting and adapting to challenges with design alternatives that could be just as good or even better.
Luxury living in apartment space is not just concerned with aesthetics but is curated towards the site's conditions. Even though it is a typical apartment, considering the climate, dampness, humidity, and salinity level is essential, and it affects the use of materials and functionality in this apartment, especially in the coastal areas. In addition, even though the condo has provided us with a stunning sea view, we could elevate it more by using materials and geometry element placement throughout the apartment to frame the view more. In conclusion, having inclusivity towards the site as well as the needs of the clients is essential. It helps to shape the design aspects, especially in apartment renovations in coastal settings.