“The curation of views—like horse blinkers—creates an atmosphere of calmness and detachment from the routine of everyday life, allowing the family members to immerse themselves in the beauty of the surrounding greenery. The goal was to curate a desired atmosphere of isolation while facilitating ongoing connections between the family members,” shares the architect.

He adds: “Starting from the ground floor, the entrance frames the view towards the garden on the east-facing part of the site.” This leads to an intimate living area to receive guests. “The orientation of this space capitalises on the framed view of the adjacent natural landscape,” Iskandar highlights. Large openings provide unhindered access to a terrace on which plants form a living green backdrop.

In a counter-intuitive move, the main living and entertainment spaces were elevated to the second storey, alongside the swimming pool and a generous outdoor terrace. “By doing so, the heart of the house, where family members would spend most of their time [together], would enjoy a good view of the forest behind the property,” says Iskandar.

Enclosed spaces such as the kitchen and the movie room were positioned to block undesirable views of the road and the neighbouring property. An arresting feature here is a coffered ceiling, which adds depth to the interior and gives this zone the feeling of a large cave looking out to an outdoor space. Adds Iskandar: “It integrates the lighting and the air-conditioning system, streamlining the visual aesthetics while ensuring a comfortable and well-lit environment. The detailing on the roof gives the space a more monolithic feel, as if you are in a cavern.”

This coffered pattern aligns with another distinctive motif: on a wall clad in travertine tiles that were cut up and arranged in a graphical sequence. The furnishings were similarly composed with thought and intent, featuring a combination of structured sofas and more playful pieces such as a rotund coffee table and a lounge seat with a curved edge.

The second-storey living area flows outwards to a terrace, where ample seating encourages conversations and activity outdoors. Translucent white curtains along the perimeter of the linear trajectory of communal spaces soften the predominantly rectilinear architecture and diffuse the tropical light. In the screened volume that caps the house, the bedroom spaces lend privacy.

“The layout was designed such that all the family members’ bedrooms are situated on the same floor, the proximity fostering a sense of togetherness. The screens not only enhance comfort but also let the occupants customise their personal spaces according to their preferences and needs,” says Iskandar. Within this floor, the spaces are designed with flexibility in mind, “providing the occupants with versatile zones that can cater to changing family dynamics and individual preferences,” says the architect. Being located on the perimeter, sunlight and breezes can enter each room easily.

Within the house are two staircases, crafted as design highlights. The more dramatic is the spiral staircase that twirls from the ground floor to the second storey. Like a sculptural piece, it rises from a bed of gravel, which appears as a Japanese-style garden. From the second to the third levels, the open risers of a cantilevered staircase endow it with a lighter character as it almost seems to float, as opposed to the solidity of the sinuous central staircase.

“The design of the latter emphasises a sense of elegance, complementing the overall atmosphere of the higher-level spaces,” says Iskandar. It is lit at the top by an architectural device—two arches with clerestory windows at the sides—that suffuse the centre of the house with filtered daylight during the day.

All these components are mini delights enclosed in a larger sculpture, which is that of the house itself. What is commendable is that despite how well knitted the interiors are with the exterior, the architecture itself maintains a strong identity. Proportions are also sensitively thought through, so the sizeable structure incorporates many intimate parts.

Not least is the seamless melding of the garden with its verdant surroundings. This takes a page from the “borrowed landscape” technique commonly used in Asian landscape design to enhance the beauty and appeal of the garden. “[The house] aligns with the desire to embrace and frame the views of the natural outdoor surroundings,” shares Iskandar.

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