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House 48
House 48
Jakarta, Indonesia
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House 48
Jakarta, Indonesia
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2019
SIZE
3000 sqft - 5000 sqft
BUDGET
$50K - 100K
Adaptive reuse is often associated with large civic or commercial projects, yet its principles are equally valuable in residential architecture. Rather than beginning with demolition, thoughtful renovation starts by understanding what already exists, identifying latent potential, and making selective interventions that dramatically improve the way a home performs.
House 48, located in West Jakarta, embodies this approach. Commissioned in 2019, the project involved transforming a neglected two-storey residence on a 12 × 30 meter site into a contemporary family home for a family of four. While the clients were open to structural modifications where necessary, the primary objective was to maximize the value of the existing building through carefully considered architectural decisions rather than extensive reconstruction.
The original house occupied a generous 360-square-meter site but felt unexpectedly constrained. A solid staircase divided the public areas, separating the guest room from the living and dining spaces beyond. The kitchen was confined to a dark corner with limited access to daylight, while circulation fragmented what should have been a cohesive family environment. Although the rear garden introduced natural light, the relationship between interior and exterior remained weak, and several outdoor service areas on the upper floor had become residual spaces with little practical function.
Rather than approaching the project as a cosmetic renovation, the design process began with a reassessment of spatial organization. The most significant intervention was deceptively simple: relocating the main staircase.
This single architectural move unlocked the entire ground floor. The guest area, living room, dining room, kitchen, and rear garden—later transformed into a swimming pool—were reorganized into one continuous open-plan living environment. Service spaces, including storage and staff accommodation, were consolidated along the eastern edge of the property, allowing the principal living spaces to occupy the full width of the house.
The staircase itself became an organizing element rather than a physical barrier. Beneath it, a concealed connection between the wet and dry kitchens allows household operations to function efficiently without interrupting daily family life or entertaining. The resulting plan offers flexibility, visual continuity, and stronger relationships between previously disconnected spaces.
Interventions on the second floor were more restrained but equally strategic. Rather than increasing the building footprint, unused outdoor terraces originally intended for mechanical services were reclaimed as habitable space. A narrow exterior corridor adjacent to the master bedroom was incorporated into the bedroom itself, while the master bathroom was relocated to the northern edge of the house, creating opportunities for improved daylight, natural ventilation, and an outdoor deck. Another neglected terrace was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom for one of the secondary bedrooms.
Throughout the project, the design team adopted a conservation-minded approach toward material use. Existing marble flooring was carefully dismantled and reinstalled in key spaces, while supplementary areas employed homogeneous tiles and timber decking that complemented the original palette. Existing timber doors were retained and reclad to create a cleaner, more contemporary expression without unnecessary replacement.
These decisions were driven not only by budget considerations but also by a commitment to reducing construction waste through selective reuse. The project demonstrates how sustainability can emerge through intelligent preservation as much as through new technologies.
Once the interior architecture had been fundamentally reorganized, the exterior naturally evolved to reflect the new spatial hierarchy. Decorative planters and ornamental elements were removed, allowing the composition to become quieter and more restrained. Fortunately, both the existing roof structure and terracotta roof tiles remained structurally sound and were preserved.
The most visible architectural gesture was the transformation of the original hip roof into a contemporary gabled form. Combined with enlarged ground-floor openings that promote cross ventilation through the double-height living space, the revised façade expresses the renewed organization of the house while improving environmental performance in Jakarta's tropical climate.
House 48 demonstrates that meaningful residential renovation is not measured by the amount of demolition or new construction involved. Instead, its success lies in identifying the interventions that generate the greatest architectural impact while respecting the value embedded within the existing building.
By reorganizing circulation, reclaiming underutilized spaces, preserving viable materials, and strengthening the relationship between architecture and climate, the project transforms an ordinary suburban house into a contemporary family home that feels significantly larger, brighter, and more connected to its surroundings—without losing sight of efficiency, sustainability, and the enduring qualities of the original structure.
House 48, located in West Jakarta, embodies this approach. Commissioned in 2019, the project involved transforming a neglected two-storey residence on a 12 × 30 meter site into a contemporary family home for a family of four. While the clients were open to structural modifications where necessary, the primary objective was to maximize the value of the existing building through carefully considered architectural decisions rather than extensive reconstruction.
The original house occupied a generous 360-square-meter site but felt unexpectedly constrained. A solid staircase divided the public areas, separating the guest room from the living and dining spaces beyond. The kitchen was confined to a dark corner with limited access to daylight, while circulation fragmented what should have been a cohesive family environment. Although the rear garden introduced natural light, the relationship between interior and exterior remained weak, and several outdoor service areas on the upper floor had become residual spaces with little practical function.
Rather than approaching the project as a cosmetic renovation, the design process began with a reassessment of spatial organization. The most significant intervention was deceptively simple: relocating the main staircase.
This single architectural move unlocked the entire ground floor. The guest area, living room, dining room, kitchen, and rear garden—later transformed into a swimming pool—were reorganized into one continuous open-plan living environment. Service spaces, including storage and staff accommodation, were consolidated along the eastern edge of the property, allowing the principal living spaces to occupy the full width of the house.
The staircase itself became an organizing element rather than a physical barrier. Beneath it, a concealed connection between the wet and dry kitchens allows household operations to function efficiently without interrupting daily family life or entertaining. The resulting plan offers flexibility, visual continuity, and stronger relationships between previously disconnected spaces.
Interventions on the second floor were more restrained but equally strategic. Rather than increasing the building footprint, unused outdoor terraces originally intended for mechanical services were reclaimed as habitable space. A narrow exterior corridor adjacent to the master bedroom was incorporated into the bedroom itself, while the master bathroom was relocated to the northern edge of the house, creating opportunities for improved daylight, natural ventilation, and an outdoor deck. Another neglected terrace was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom for one of the secondary bedrooms.
Throughout the project, the design team adopted a conservation-minded approach toward material use. Existing marble flooring was carefully dismantled and reinstalled in key spaces, while supplementary areas employed homogeneous tiles and timber decking that complemented the original palette. Existing timber doors were retained and reclad to create a cleaner, more contemporary expression without unnecessary replacement.
These decisions were driven not only by budget considerations but also by a commitment to reducing construction waste through selective reuse. The project demonstrates how sustainability can emerge through intelligent preservation as much as through new technologies.
Once the interior architecture had been fundamentally reorganized, the exterior naturally evolved to reflect the new spatial hierarchy. Decorative planters and ornamental elements were removed, allowing the composition to become quieter and more restrained. Fortunately, both the existing roof structure and terracotta roof tiles remained structurally sound and were preserved.
The most visible architectural gesture was the transformation of the original hip roof into a contemporary gabled form. Combined with enlarged ground-floor openings that promote cross ventilation through the double-height living space, the revised façade expresses the renewed organization of the house while improving environmental performance in Jakarta's tropical climate.
House 48 demonstrates that meaningful residential renovation is not measured by the amount of demolition or new construction involved. Instead, its success lies in identifying the interventions that generate the greatest architectural impact while respecting the value embedded within the existing building.
By reorganizing circulation, reclaiming underutilized spaces, preserving viable materials, and strengthening the relationship between architecture and climate, the project transforms an ordinary suburban house into a contemporary family home that feels significantly larger, brighter, and more connected to its surroundings—without losing sight of efficiency, sustainability, and the enduring qualities of the original structure.
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