Given the site’s west-facing orientation that receives the sun’s hottest rays for most of the year, the front of this U-plan house is partially submerged behind a ramped garden. Materials are chosen for their raw feeling and heat-reduction potential. Exposed façade areas are clad in imprinted concrete. A partial secondary skin of wood louvres lets air flow in while limiting solar heat gain. These are angled to appear gradually more open towards one side than the other, lending a sense of dynamism. The (lower-)ground floor houses public and service areas, including prayer room and guest accommodation. The young family’s accommodation is upstairs. All rooms overlook the courtyard, offering plentiful natural light. The reinforced-concrete structure is resistant to Indonesia’s frequent earthquakes.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture