Svarga Residence: Bali Villa Design Without the Typical Balinese Style
The residence designed by RT+Q Architects is located on Jalan Danau Tamblingan, South Denpasar, Bali. This elegantly designed and modern residence differs from the typical homes in Bali. The project presented a challenge in expanding the local community's primitive perception of architecture.
The description and function of this residence were also questioned due to its departure from the typical Balinese home design. The idea behind this house was to create a challenging, open, and integrated living space with an S-shaped form. The S-shape provides a garden area in the front and a private pool at the rear of the house.
The house was designed with a series of interconnected spaces without dividing walls on the ground floor, allowing people on the ground floor to connect with each other. Access to the private areas can be reached through separate staircases to each unit, divided into three separate units within the house.
As seen in the floor plan, the S-shaped layout and interior connections of the house are oriented towards the outdoor natural environment. Having open spaces like gardens and a pool makes the house cooler and more comfortable. The ground floor, with its glass window walls, allows air and light to enter the space maximally.
On the upper floor, there are various connections to outdoor spaces as well. Two houses are connected via an outdoor garden, while the other two are connected to a water pool where the bathroom area of each unit protrudes from the building mass. Green roofs like this need regular maintenance and inspection to prevent unwanted issues such as rainwater leaks or other problems. The green roof is also equipped with drainage channels, allowing rainwater to be efficiently disposed of without overloading the roof structure.
All three unit forms have the same size but different room orientation, offering different views. What remains consistent is that each unit's bathroom is situated adjacent to the water pool.
The comfortable and warm living room is evident from its design and the incoming light. All three unit sections are directly adjacent to the swimming pool, making them easily accessible to anyone.
The concept of a traditional Balinese-style house was broken in the design of this house. The architect reconsidered the arrangement of the house's courtyard, replaced traditional roof elements, and substituted traditional timber materials with steel to create a new image and living environment.
Building a house in Bali is certainly different from building one elsewhere, posing a challenge for the architect. Drawing the house design required consideration of site conditions, incorporation of details related to local wisdom, and substitution of materials due to limited local resources.
Because of the limited materials available in Bali, some construction elements had to be produced elsewhere and then shipped to Bali. For example, the steel staircase was produced in Jakarta, the windows came from Surabaya, and the aluminum cladding from Jakarta.
The uniqueness of this house is not limited to its landscape but also the decorative elements on the walls. For instance, the bathroom enclosure wall is composed of wood with a specific motif. In addition to providing privacy in the bathroom space, the wall adds a unique pattern to the house.
source: Svarga Residence
