Simple Refurbishing: The TAS 63 House in Indonesia
Simple refurbishing projects can do so much for a home when done right. With the right replacements and process, a dilapidated home can regain this certain dignity that gives it a unique personality. In Kecamatan Waru, Indonesia sits the TAS 63 House–a 16-year-old house that was initiated as a small refurbishment project to fix mainly the facade, the front yard, and the carport that previously weren’t planned and built well.
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Pre-refurbishments, the house was wrapped in basic issues that revolved around the carport structural failures that in turn resulted in a mottled carport canopy and columns, finishes that allowed the deterioration of the facade, and unorganized cabling issues alongside an undefined front yard. With the local architectural group OTONOM, the existing structure was reinforced and redefined with new architectural gestures that contrast the home’s preexisting banal developer facade aesthetic.
After stripping down the ornamental facade elements, the house’s bare structural form was revealed and helped the designers to read through the site where more bold, new gestures emerged. Some of these include a porous concrete screen made of a thousand 18-centimeter by 18-centimeter concrete breeze blocks that create a new passively-cooled enclosed space in front of the house. A canopy with its detached and oversized column meanwhile freed the carport from the structural clutter that used to limit parking maneuvers.
The refurbished house uses common materials but each of these was executed in a playful manner that resulted in a modern home that has a subtle edgy character. Laser-cut steel plates make up the front gate material and extensive parts of the canopy. Perforated metal sheets were used as railing and hanging storage that provides both privacy and breathability. The bare concrete beams meanwhile are supported by a stack of concrete blocks and a network of thin steel bars that work as structural reinforcement. The flooring throughout also utilizes Andesite tiles–materials that don’t require constant maintenance despite the floor being constantly exposed to rain.
With its new style, this Indonesian house has a simple design but one that still leaves the impression of a private home that still allows its owners breathability.
Photos courtesy of Richo Wirawan
