An Experimental Retreat in West Jakarta

Indonesian architect Realrich Sjarief, founder of RAW Architecture, has built himself a unique retreat on the west side of the sprawling capital city, which he’s named Guha

Jakarta has inherited the burden of insufficient infrastructure, over development and a lack of public space — particularly of the green variety. The Indonesian capital was originally founded by the Dutch, who went on to establish an extraction economy in the colony, constructing an urban landscape that has left a legacy of wealth and opulence juxtaposed with squalor. Since the nation’s independence, each political leader has subsequently left his indelible mark on the megalopolis, whether deliberate or by disregard. Consequently, the city suffers some of the worst traffic and air pollution in the region, to name but a few predicaments that the next generation of emerging architects and urban planners, of which there are many graduating each year, are tasked with the challenge of addressing.

Realrich Sjarief, founder of RAW Architecture, is one such architect. Sjarief studied architecture at the Bandung Institute of Technology, staying on to work in the student ‘town’ for another year before heading to Singapore and then to London, where he worked for Foster + Partners, a period that left a lasting impression on him, particularly in terms of systems and technology. Sjarief’s next stop was Sydney, where he studied for a master’s in urban planning before returning to Indonesia.

Sjarief designed and built his office in West Jakarta as both a refuge from and a response to its urban context. Located at the intersection of a private gated community and a kampung (a traditional neighbourhood), the building was constructed over two phases and finally completed in late 2019. The structure houses studio space, an experimental furniture workshop, accommodation for Sjarief, his staff and many of the craftspeople they employ, and a variety of spaces that are regularly used for public lectures on contemporary architecture. There is also a modular structure that functions as a community library.

Guha, the name Sjarief has bestowed upon his creation, comes from the Sanskrit word for ‘cave’. ‘It’s also another name for Kartikeya, the god of war. In terms of architecture, Guha is the realisation of the wish to continue to explore, to battle your comfort zone,’ the architect explains. Guha is an experimental patchwork of different structures grafted together. Concrete, steel and glass are brought together with finesse in phase one, a structure originally known as The Guild. In contrast, phase two is constructed entirely from bamboo. Each phase of the building has a dedicated entrance that allows for separation between public and private spaces, and a highly flexible layout accommodates constantly evolving programming.

Text / Suzy Annetta
Images / Ernest Prakasa and Eric Dinardi