MEMORIES OF LAKE COMO, a proposed atrium scenery concept for a boutique mall.

The mall building is part of mix-used building. The building itself is one of first emerging high-rise property developments in Jakarta during 2004 after Indonesia was suffering in 1998’s monetary crisis. The name of building is the name of a place near Lake Como at Italy.

The interior design proposal was elaborating visual detail aspects that related with Lake Como, very far away from Jakarta, based on the name of the building. The elaborate giant Doric Columns are become dominant visual element in the atrium space. Rest of the other details of window awning, street wrought iron lantern and other details might be inspired from Bob Pejman’s paintings such as “Bellagio Memories”, “Lake Como Villa”, “Bellagio Memories” and “Bellagio Village”.

A water feature is proposed in the center of atrium area and many of tall palm trees are proposed to be placed in remaining perimeter area to capture the vertical scale of atrium spaces. There is fixed bench in every palm tree that allowing somebody to sit and having atrium viewing.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING REFURBISHMENT for International Port and Container Terminal

This was refurbishment project for an Administration Building of Container Terminal which is situated strategically in the industrial heartland of West Java at Jakarta Indonesia. The port is Indonesia’s national hub with annual throughput of 1.5 million TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Units). The Administration Building is consisting of 7 storey office floors which are situated in an area that covers a total 100 hectares and is the largest container terminal in Indonesia.

The office renovation program is related with company privatization on 1999 when foreign private port investor from Hongkong became share holder majority. This group of investor world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with interests in a total 292 berths in 47 ports, spanning 24 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

In lined with the existence of new major share holder, the company was having intention to bring new culture into the office environment. The old corporate culture – which was strongly influenced with typical government owned company – need to be significantly changed and improved.

Originally, the office scenery was dominated with cellular individual office. When new management is established, new open office concept need to be implemented to bring the new corporate value. New office scenery provides enclosed private office just for Director. Rest of the managers, supervisors and staff are work in open office enclosure. Also included in refurbishment program was the up-grading of Data Center Room which is controlling the whole related operations of the port and container yard.

Refurbishment works were executed in step by step basis per floor areas. There were changes of design objective when management trying to establishing what function that fit for the penthouse level. Before finally decided as Control Room Facilities that control the whole operations of port and container yard there were also design and planning exercises to study the placement of dedicated executive offices which are placed in the penthouse level.

CIBOGO SERAI HOTEL, Memoir of a Dutch Boy in Java Plantation House as Basic Concept for Hotel Interior Design.

This was my first assignment when I joined with PT. Parama Loka Consultant in 1994, a Jakarta based Architecture and Interior Design Consulting Firm. Firstly, it was difficult since there was no definitive appointment to the Interior Design Team from the “General Hotel Management (GHM)” as the Hotel Operator. GHM required the Interior Design Team to demonstrate potential ability to propose and deliver acceptable design concept as excellent as design concept have delivered by the appointed Architect Design Team.

During first two weeks, we tried to do design researches to find-out specific theme that relevant could be proposed as design concept, something that reflects local characters. We came to the first presentation day and unfortunately the concept we proposed is directly rejected by GHM. The Hotel Operator gave the team another one week to find-out again the concept that properly proposed for the hotel.

After did for another design and research efforts, finally we came into final presentation session. And, the concept was accepted this time. Basically, the design was reflecting simplicity and natural details as always shown as signature in every Serai Hotel everywhere in the world.

Actually, GHM was asking one another requirement, it was a specific theme could be incorporated into the Hotel Design Concept. To responded this, we did a one day visit to bookstores in Jakarta, and what a big lucky, finally we found a literature book that I believe will be matched and could be properly proposed for the Hotel Concept. Yes, I still remember, I have found this literature book in Kinokuniya Bookstore in Jakarta. The book is a memoir of a Dutch Boy who lived in Java Plantation House during Dutch Colonialism Era in Java Indonesia. Very unfortunately, I lost the book and could not remember what the exact title of the book.If not mistaken the book should be Ernest Hillen's "The Way of a Boy".

I only remember that when I was opening the first page, there was wording mentioned when Dutch boy waked-up in the morning he heard somebody’s foot step on wood floor. And when he opened the door in the morning he saw banana tree are found everywhere in the house courtyard. Roughly, this very suitable with hotel venue where situated in concealed tropical mountain area in West Java within tea plantation surround, about two hours from Jakarta.GHM was very pleased when we shown the bookand GHM immediately accepted that Java Plantation House will become main theme for the Hotel Design. Simply, there will be wood plank flooring and also banana tree pots are placed everywhere in the Hotel Interiors.

Of course, after this session we could enter into the design development process smoothly. It was becoming more interesting when we interfaced together with the Lighting Designer, Nathan Thompson from Australia. Many details of ideas are generated which are actually enriched the design concept.

Our latest interaction with Architect, Project Manager and Lighting designer is happened onsite that is already prepared into “cut and filled” stage. We were imagining together, where the hotel 'porte cochere', coffee lounge, bungalow and other facilities are will be situated. But, this was our latest site meeting, because the Hotel is never built and remaining as a set of idea on drawing papers.

LIPPO ICE SKATING RINK, A Design Proposal for Sport and Leisure Facilities

A set of initial schematic conceptual drawings for Lippo Ice Skating Rink have submitted on August 1997. It was prepared when I joined with a foreign architectural design consulting firm in Jakarta.

It was surprising me, when the Managing Director came to my working desk and asking me to join in the next day meeting. When he introduced the project objective, I could not imagine what kind of facility it was.

Based on basic rough initial scheme from Managing Director we started to initiate design exploration sessions. As usual, I did research on several design and architectural reference books to get relevant design standards and references. We both also did survey sessions on 2 (two) Indoor Ice Skating Rink Facilities in Jakarta and of course I was also experiencing how to play ice skating. This was a one day course and unfortunately, I was never sliding my skating shoes and my body in well-balance. These all existing facilities are situated and incorporated as part of leisure facility in a shopping mall. 

The proposed main facilities are 1,745 square meter Ice Skating Rink and Toboggan Slope that enclosed under a giant membrane structure. The Toboggan Slope itself was never found and built before in Indonesia. The Ice Skating Rink is designed for both individual sport activities and sport game event like hockey or gymnastics. In related with these functions there supporting facilities are placed around the perimeter of Ice Skating Rink. Stackable spectator tribune are placed at the opposite side of the Toboggan Slope, meanwhile changing room, shower, lockers, skate rental, toboggan hire and toilet are situated underneath the Toboggan Deck. Of course there was also snow cloth rental, because somebody must wear a snow cloth before sliding in Toboggan slope and playing in Snow Land.

Basically, all of the facilities are differed into two separated areas. First area is facility for visitor with ticket and remaining other area is facility for visitors without ticket. Ice Skating Rink and Toboggan Slope are only accessible from a check point for visitor by having ticket. Another facility such as dining area, refreshment bar, game area and viewing gallery could be accessible by visitor without ticket. These facilities are placed at upper floor level underneath the Toboggan Deck.

A garage for Zamboni Car was also provided. This specific vehicle is prepared to maintain the ice surface of skating rink. In engineering point of view, this facility also required specific approaches particularly in Mechanical and electrical designs. An appointed Engineering Consultant have assigned by the Client to do a research in a Snow Land Facility in Japan.

Actually, this project is never built, one year later Indonesia was suffered in a Monetary Crisis. Currently, the site is remaining as car park belong the shopping mall. But, for me this was a unique design experience that I will never gain in other next opportunity.

DESA SIGMA, A traditional village compound landscaping for an office working environment.

As an Interior Designer for PTI Architect - Jakarta Indonesia, after the completion of Balicamp Project, I have assigned to deliver design consultancy services for their Sigma Group of IT Companies Office at German Center Building. This office building is situated at Serpong West Java, accessible approximately 2 hours form the center of Jakarta.







































As usual, project brief is already prepared by the client including number of companies, department s, sub-divisions and persons that should be accommodated in tenancy offices. Total occupied tenancy space is approximately 3000 square meter. 2/3 part of the space is allocated for office space and rest of the area is allocated for Data Center and banking simulation system.

The unique thing was the client used a participative approach that identified each individual need of the user. In their questionnaire summary is noted that there was somebody’s need to bring his pet when he is working or even somebody want to park his bicycle nearby his working desk. Of course not of all these individual requirements could be accommodated, because some specific and technical reasons.

During the initial space planning stage, the client spontaneously declared that he want an office environment just something ‘dropped-down from the sky’. The office must be prepared as fully borderless office space for everybody. Somebody can work in certain place or desk today and then work in different place or desk next day where he like to work in. There will be no certain dedicated place for somebody in the office even he is a Director or just regular staff. Somebody just need to sit and turn-on the computer and then login into the networks. The office then intended to become more egalitarian working-space.

As Interior Designer I finally got the idea that it will be great should the office landscaping is generated simply just like a traditional compound in Indonesia. Usually, traditional compound is consisting of paddy field, cassava plantation, dwelling blocks, small school, mosque, public hall and traditional market that related with branches of village roads and maybe separated with the existence of small river or lake. This idea is accepted by the client!
And then the office layout is developed as metaphor of the traditional village. Paddy field is become metaphor for working cluster of the business unit. Each paddy field or business unit need to be explored as profit center. Corridors are generated just like the shape of road in the village that connecting every paddy fields to other place of activities. Even there are ponds with fish could be found in the office as simple metaphor for river or lake in the village. Before entering the office at the center area there are timber bridges over the ponds. In central meeting room, a bike park facility is also provided to anticipate if somebody will come into the meeting by riding bike from far-end side of the office area.


































Every working clusters have their own meeting places that differed from one to another. Since the office environment finally become a large open landscaping office space, this is useful to define a certain place when somebody making an appointment to have a meeting. The meeting room enclosure itself is designed based on the idea of local traditional dwelling unit, made from bamboo weaving wall and combined with timber floor, fabric ceiling and glass.

Lighting Designer actually elaborate the strong vernacular character of the office design with several unique detail treatments for lighting fixtures. Bamboo materials are widely used as casing for hanging fluorescent lamps and as a kind of post for street lamps along certain corridors. There also antique head lamps from colonial bicycle that used for task lighting at brainstorming room.

Whether the project generally was successful to accommodate the unique idea exploration, not all of the idea could be implemented properly, because Interior Designer’s scope of work is limited only in the design development stage. Anyway, it was great working together with client with distinctive and progressive way of thinking, particularly in related with how they determining their approach of corporate working environment in a very specific manners.

BALICAMP, a Software Development Camp in the Heartland of Bali

During the year of 1998 I was deeply involved in the design development process of Balicamp Software development Camp in Bali. We were experiencing a great design sessions involving Interior Designer, Architect and Client to formulate and generate the idea from early conceptual stage.

There were 3 (three) main building blocks consisting of the main building block, working modules and dwelling units. All of these facilities are situated in 2 (two) hectares land in a slope of mountain concealed from the main street in the heart of Bali Island. There is a river and paddy fields at the lower end side of the mountain slope.

Main building block accommodates lobby area, coffee shop and function hall at first level where are hidden underneath main street level. Main working space, library and small meeting rooms are situated at lower floors. A pool is situated at the lowest level adjacent to Main Building block including changing rooms, restroom and game room.

Separated from Main Building are working modules and dwelling units which are randomly located away from the main building. Working modules allow the programmers to work in a small team or group. Typically, every working module is provided with a kind of long and continuous working desk which is fixed along perimeter window. Every group members can work facing to their computer monitors and enjoying Balinese landscape as a background. It feel like they work in their own private vacation home. 

 
 A sunken seating arrangement is centralized in the middle of working module that allow every member of the group can have brainstorming session, discussions or just take a break-out. A nice relaxing area in the inside of pyramidal shape space underneath the high 'alang-alang' roof.

 Dwelling unit is place for the programmers where they can sleep and take a rest like they do these in their own home. Lounge area, dining space, pantry corner and rest room are situated at lower floor. Bedroom is situated at mezzanine deck and accessible from a connecting wooden stair which is situated at the internal corner side of dwelling unit.

Most of working desks in Balicamp are designed as sharing bench configuration that enable flexibility and encourage interactivity. Several group of loose lounge seating and small open meeting space are always situated adjacent to the sharing bench configurations that enable work group members to have positive interactions to each others. This, as client hope will encourage everybody to cooperate in devising solutions to fit client’s need.

 Interior scheme is simply natural.  Various type of natural stones and natural wood become dominant design elements. Yellow-red marble from East-Java become major hard flooring surfacing, Kempas wood from Kalimantan become accent wood flooring and yellow cobble stone from Lombok become feature wall treatment. Solid Red-Merbau wood log from Papua become main materials to grand stair at lobby, tall coconut posts become main structure of big bird cage in the lobby and rough teak woods become typical materials to the furnitures. ‘Eceng-gondok’ weaving material from Central Java is typical covering for working chairs.

 The Building itself provide openings that enable maximum view to the surrounding natural environment and bring it to the internal sides as integrated part. A blend and conversation in-between internal enclosure and surrounding external environment creates physically borderless working environment for the programmers. This, as client hope will inspire everybody work in a hybrid culture of creativity that draw on the latest technological advantages to meet the demands of the new millennium.

As Interior Designer we have suggested to the Architect at early design stage, that all internal spaces at lobby level shall elaborate the shape of architectural roof shape. Spacious internal spaces then simply create. Obviously, lighting design become an important aspect that make this spatial design intentions are well defined.

Mezzanine deck which is inserted at the coffee shop become interesting transition element. Nice entry procession is created when somebody walking at the parking yard and walking-through porte-cochere to entering the sunken-lobby area. A tall bird cage, strongly fulfill the high lobby space. Consisting of 4 (four) of 6 (six) meter high coconut three columns and chopper dome, this bird cage is really a main point of interest at lobby space. Hanging wood louvers are floating in the high ceiling space at the adjacent meeting room. This simply create high space feeling and functionally useful to place-down the lighting fixtures.

All design approaches as describe above, basically is a result of collaborative and intensive conversation involving Interior Designer, Architect, Lighting Designer and Engineers that try to capture the client idea that they never imagined before. Maybe, until the Balicamp was completely built and finished, everybody who involved in the project then can have interpretation, what kind of facility is this?

As noted In Balicamp marketing brochure there was an imaginative conversation:”What is this place?” Our visitor asked. Is it a mountain retreat? Is it an artist’s colony? Is it a think-thank or is it a playground? We reply:”A corporation on the cutting edge”.