FM House / SontangMsiregar Architects

Architects: sontangMsiregar Architects
Area: 183 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Mario Wibowo
Manufacturers: Toto
Lead Architect: Sontang Muhammad Siregar
Contractor: Sontang Muhammad Siregar
City: Jakarta
Country: Indonesia

FM House residential building designed by sontangMsiregar Architects in Jakarta, Indonesia has been organized around the client’s desire to use brick as the primary material, resulting in a monochromatic structure with a sense of exclusivity. With a total area of 616 square meters, the massing was divided into three functional zones: private, semi-private, and service areas. The house is set back from the street, creating space for a carport and a clear visual identity for the main volume. Iron bar fencing defines the perimeter, allowing for a blurred yet open facade, while solid and semi-transparent outer walls preserve both privacy and openness. A sequence of spatial transitions begins at the sidewalk, leading to a 1.5-meter brick door that opens into a series of volumes defined by long-span roofs, large glass openings, and floating walls. These elements establish a strong relationship between interior and exterior, with all main rooms oriented toward a central pool, separated only by thin glazing. A brick terrace, paired with an extended roof canopy on both sides, enhances the spatial unity between indoor and outdoor zones.

Located in Jakarta, the client requested that bricks be used as the primary material for the house, resulting in a monochromatic tone that gives the building an exclusive character. The building mass is set back from the street to establish a clear visual identity for the main structure and to accommodate a carport in the front yard. With a total area of 616 square meters, the massing was organized into several volumes. These volumes were divided into three main functional zones: semi-private, private, and service areas.

From the exterior, fences made of iron bars give the building a slightly obscured appearance while still preserving the clarity of the facade. The outer wall consists of both solid and semi-transparent elements. These design strategies allow the building to maintain a sense of privacy while offering visual transparency at the same time.

A series of spatial sequences leading from the sidewalk to the main entrance creates a dramatic experience immediately upon opening the 1.5-meter brick door. This transition introduces a distinct atmosphere, noticeably different from the outer area. The combination of multiple building volumes, a long-span roof, large glass openings, and levitated walls contributes to a sense of lightness that contrasts with the more enclosed exterior environment.

The openness maintained through wide openings allows the inner area to serve as a view in itself, establishing continuous interaction between the interior and exterior spaces. All private rooms and the semi-private area are oriented to face the pool, ensuring a direct visual connection. This relationship is separated only by a thin layer of glass, preserving transparency while maintaining spatial clarity.

A brick terrace further reinforces the connection between the interior and exterior spaces. To maximize its usability, the roof was extended to provide protection from both sun and rain. The roof projects 3 meters on the poolside and 2.5 meters on the opposite side. A slight level difference between the terrace and the indoor area enhances the sense of spatial unity within the interior zone.