p house salatiga
A house with a library for sharing knowledge to the local people
The materials are from old houses, maximizing the use of locally available materials from the surrounding area (bamboo, clay, stone, and bricks), and built by the community who lives around the site.
P House uses indigenous technology (low-tech) by the community who are experts in bamboo structural systems and local stone craftsmanship.
This project seeks to interpret the Javanese village houses in multiplication and adds the form of mountains in some space as the interpretation of the surrounding mountains which also serve as skylight to bring natural light as much as possible into the building. In general, bamboo as the material of main structure is easily found around the project.
Almost all existing large trees on the site were maintained. In the centre of the garden, a 'pule' tree was planted. This tree can be used to heal various diseases and is useful to the surrounding community. Floor height is adjusted according to the existing contours.
Homeowners are retired lecturers that would like to share a collection of economic and science books to the surrounding community. They appreciate bamboo structure which began to be abandoned in the community, which raised their passion to learn. Since all the owner's sons and daughters live in other countries and cities, the house needed a collective library.
Later, after one of the owners passed away, it became a creative sharing space for young people in the region to bring them to the next stage of their career.
The library or study room is made with other geometry – an oval – and stand separately as a pavilion. Expected surrounding communities can take advantage of the presence of books in the library.
Only the sleeping spaces are operated independently and remain closed. All the public areas are completely open, facing towards the garden and tropical forest in front of it.
Since the project is in remote area (suburb of a small town), the project uses the sunlight as natural light during the day and uses solar water heater for the shower. Rainwater is collected to be used during dry season.
The front of the house faces the garden and lets in the most amount of light.
This project’s character is showing contemporary interpretation of simple village house shape. Dominant bamboo structure character is significant. The use of bamboo as a roofing material is something new there. From a distance these buildings looked like houses in the surrounding villages.
Concept
P House is located at an altitude of 2000 m above the sea level and located on the ridge of Mount Merbabu and surrounded by several other mountains such as Mount Merapi and Mount Telomoyo. This area is quite cold with an average temperature of 17-22°C.
Conceptually this project is trying to bring a childhood memory of the family with openness and sharing space. The main bathroom is a social space where we can still interact with other areas. Other spaces are connected by liquid spaces; which are kitchen, lounge, pantry, dining room and family room. All is completely open.
Technically, this project gives an example of the use of bamboo with old techniques and new technology for the surrounding community. From the economic and social point of view, this project is built not by a professional contractor but by the local community so as to provide economic and cultural aspects in the vicinity.
Simplicity is the second theme in this project so it uses the same materials as those used in the surrounding areas such as brick, bamboo and stone in another way. The doors are used in each room are recycled doors from the old house, a strategy of utilizing recycled materials.
• Infill – red brick and stone
• Facades – stone, brick, glass
• Floors – exposed concrete, chapped bamboo (bedroom) and andesit stone (bathroom)
• Ceilings – chapped bamboo and insulation foil
• Others – steel profile and glass