kantorgg Transforms a Colonial Mansion into a Contemporary Dwelling with Lush Inner Courts

Located at downtown Surabaya, Pb House designed by kantorgg is a renovation project of a 100-year-old mansion. The façade of Pb House has the characteristics of colonial architecture as the main feature and historical value of the building that needs to be retained. However, considering the homeowner’s needs and lifestyle, the renovation of Pb House has resulted in a contemporary living space while still taking into account the original shape and style.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

PB House is renovated, still as a one-storey house, by optimising the length of the land plot to accommodate the required programmes. kantorgg combines at least three functions in one main room, which includes the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen. Such a concept of open plan generates a significant change as the original house had partitions for each room.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

At the same time, this concept also gives a sense of spaciousness, especially because these rooms have height that reaches 4 metres. Behind the main room, there is a master bedroom facing the rear garden; and service rooms spanning across the land plot at the back, attached to one side of the site area.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

The proportion of the length, which exceeds the width of the house, encourages kantorgg to come up with interesting ideas. Because the original shape is retained, the remaining space for the outdoor or the open area is on the left and the right side of the house. With a very limited area for green space, kantorgg utilises the perimeter walls as vertical gardens.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

Slots of vertical greenery are positioned to face the main room and the bedroom. To allow the room to optimally enjoy the greenery, the openings are designed to be as wide and as high as possible. Both the main room and the bedroom are enclosed with floor-to-ceiling glass panels to create an impression as if the room extends towards the vertical garden.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

Other than its function as green space, the vertical garden also limits the intensity of sunlight that goes through the wide openings of the room, preventing it from being overexposed. For the bedroom that faces the garden at the back of the house, kantorgg designs a canopy that is wide enough for indirect sunlight to enter the room. The canopy also creates a terrace, as an extension to the bedroom, which allows a direct contact with the outdoor area.

©kantorgg / Mario Wibowo Photography

The extensive floor-to-ceiling openings of Pb House clearly exhibits a contrasting element against the 100-year-old house. However, since the height of the room is retained, the majestic atmosphere associated with colonial buildings remains, especially through the open plan spatial planning. Seeing the flow from the outside and the inside of the house, kantorgg creates a smooth transition of space experience from a colonial exterior impression to a contemporary living space.