atelier bertiga builds steel-frame house in indonesia that grows along with its owners

atelier bertiga has built a three-story house with a steel frame in the city of bekasi, west java, indonesia, whose side elevations are clad in bitumen roof shingles. titled gro-house, the project is designed for the owners to be able to expand it further in the future, adding more spaces and rooms according their needs and budget. its steel structure allows for easy growth, since such a frame can be easily customized with bolts and a welding system for a second-phase construction.

all images by mahadiyanto & jhony kristian hutapea

on the first phase of the construction, atelier bertiga built the house with all spaces and rooms the owners need, with the intention to prepare for the econd phase of the construction by using the existing structure. occupying approximately 76 sqm on three floors, the residence comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living and dining room, a carport that can accommodate two cars, a terrace, and a side garden. future development will include a storage area under the staircase, a fish pond at the front, a study and play room on the second level, two bedrooms for kids in the attic, and a workspace studio above the carport.

the house incorporates materials such as bitumen roof shingles on the exterior walls – a material rarely used in the area – as well as exposed brick with white paint finishing on the interior and plywood on various surfaces, including the staircase, ceiling, doors, and some furniture and walls. ‘the reason of using plywood material is not only because it is easy to construct,’ explains the indonesian studio, ‘it is also cheaper and saves more time for the application.’ designed with a cross ventilation system, the residence is permeated by fresh air flowing from north to the south, maximizing the air circulation through the building. additionally, a big opening on the west elevation leads to a side garden, which contributes to further fresh circulation within the house.

‘the concept of the “gro-house” could be an alternative solution for those who wish to build a residence with a specific budget in such small area, but still hold onto the “what do we need” idea,’ notes atelier beertiga. ‘this concept is very suitable for younger generations, such as millennials, because of the minimalist lifestyle they maintain. so they only build the spaces they need in the first place, but if they require more space they can easily add it to their house,’ the studio adds, ‘the house is growing depending on them.’