brick-clad façade of 'griyoase' house hides tree courtyard in indonesia

andyrahman architect has inserted a lush, tree-planted courtyard in the middle of the ‘griyoase’ house in surabaya, indonesia. located in a calm residential area, the home features a brick-clad façade that makes it easy to recognize amid its surroundings. concealed by the brick façade, the inner courtyard serves as an urban oasis, serving to naturally cool the building’s interiors while connecting the rooms that surround it.all images by mansyur hasan, video by anwar efendi

andyrahman architect has built ‘griyoase’ on a plot of 12 x 18.5 meters in the kertomenanggal area of surabaya city. developed for a graphic designer and his plant-loving family, the home serves as a green oasis filled with baobab and moringa trees, originally bought from africa. the courtyard in the middle of the house helps cool the air inside, while strategically-placed openings allow natural light to enter and air circulation to run properly.

the large inner courtyard serves as the center of the three-story building and remains visible from all angles of the layout. together with the voids of the stairs, it ensures that light and air circulation inside the home works optimally. for rooms that are located at the back of the house, small gaps between the back wall of the house to the room are created so that sunlight can still enter. the ground level encloses rooms for common activities, while the upper level is designed for more private activities. meanwhile, the rooftop level is reserved for the family’s pot-based-gardening hobby.

‘when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020, which required a lot of activities at home, the family thought of using the rooftop floor above for their pot-based-gardening hobby,’ notes andyrahman architect. a new staircase was designed and built so that the upper floor could be accessed more easily from the level below. as such, the rooftop became the home’s top floor, specifically for the hobby of maintaining plants.

the residence combines three main colors: gray for the floors; white for the walls; and black on the door and window frames, as well as on the stair railing and fence. the bricks in the façade act more as an accent that makes the house easy to recognize in its surroundings. the doors use ironwood, known for its strength, which blends with the terracotta color of the brick.