House R+J by DP+HS Architects in Jakarta: Sculptural Home for Art, Architecture and Family Life

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Modern house with elegant architectural design, large glass windows and integrated natural elements, perfectly suited for stylish urban life and innovative home architecture

Located in a quiet green corner of a guarded community in Jakarta, Indonesia, the R+J house by DP+HS Architects represents a sculptural exploration of space, light, and contemporary art. Completed in 2021, this 12,916 square foot home was designed for a young family that deeply values contemporary art, making the house part of a gallery, a sanctuary and an architectural experience.

Space Travel Shaped by Raumplan

The central element of the house design is the raumplan principle — a spatial strategy organizing volume through stepped levels rather than conventional floor plans. This approach enables smooth transitions between living spaces and creates layered verticality, enhancing interaction among rooms while maintaining visual openness.

Each space is oriented around the central atrium, which serves as the core of the house. The floating staircase — a visual and physical anchor — spirals through this center, coordinating the perception of architecture for inhabitants. The space reaches the ceiling with a skylight, flooding interior areas with daylight and uniting multiple levels into a 360-degree living canvas.

Architecture in Dialogue with Contemporary Art

With the client's collection of unique contemporary art works as a driving force, architects made every room a potential exhibition space. Paintings are placed throughout the house — not as focal points but as discoveries — naturally appearing along movement routes, at different eye levels and unexpected angles.

This spatial strategy blurs the boundary between art and architecture, making the act of moving through space an act of curation.

Continuity Inside and Outside

On the first level, the atrium horizontally opens to a 15-meter-wide column-free facade, offering views of the pool and surrounding garden. The entire facade dissolves into sliding glass doors, turning the exterior territory into an extension of the home's interior space.

From narrow transitional zones to expansive views, the journey through the house is filled with cinematic quality and serenity. Even the main entrance plays with perception — it is hidden and partially closed, emphasizing the idea that one must open the house, just like the art within.

Materials of Restraint and Monumental Volumes

Despite its grand spatial ambitions, the materials are restrained and refined:

Polished concrete, wood, and steel provide contrast without excess
Large glass panels enhance the sense of openness and light dispersion
Individual lighting makes artworks prominent and integrated into daily life

Every detail reflects the balance between monumental scale and family intimacy.

Conclusion: A House Where Movement Becomes Meaning

The R+J house by DP+HS Architects is more than just a home — it's a multi-layered experience that unifies drama, architecture and personal expression. Through vertical spatial planning, central atrium design and contextual awareness, the project transforms simple living into a unfolding narrative of art and form.