Young Takes Over a Mid-Century Home in South Jakarta

Designed by Rafaelmiranti Architects, new Thai grill restaurant Young combines heritage architecture and contemporary interiors in a leafy pocket of Indonesia’s commercial capital

Set in a modernist edifice in South Jakarta’s Kebayoran neighbourhood, contemporary Thai grill Young feels like home. ‘The building is an old single-story house in Kebayoran with a unique layout,’ explains Margareta Miranti of Jakarta-based Rafaelmiranti Architects. A facade of breezeblocks, inspired by Thai patterns, greet guests on arrival. Once inside, in keeping with the domestic flow, guests walk through an entrance foyer before passing the bar and proceeding down a dimly lit passage. The original living and dining rooms allow diners to enjoy a lush outlook to the home’s garden, all elements the architects chose to preserve.

The scent of the smoky grill fills the ample yet intimate space. Miranti and her co-founder Rafael Arsono sought to ‘honour the nobility of materials, craftsmanship and culture,’ says Miranti. The original cement tiles were preserved, while supporting columns were wrapped in a smoke-patterned marble. The architects were inspired by traditional Thai motifs and worked to ensure the design ‘felt contextual yet not overly thematic’.

The studio worked with designer Sashia Rosari, a founding partner of Young, to create custom furniture through her studio Sors Furniture. All of the furniture in Young is Sors-designed, including custom items inspired by the pieces found in mid-century homes by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Ray Kappe. The home’s original features make a charming backdrop for these new additions. ‘We love the spirit of reusing and upcycling,’ says Miranti. ‘We’re particularly fond of the bay window in the bar area, which integrates the old louvre window into a fresh design.’

But what excited them most, she says, was ‘transforming the existing layout into a cohesive, unified design.’ The result is a rich, inviting space, reflective of the collaborative efforts that brought Young to life and honouring the architectural spirit of both the home and its neighbourhood.

Text by Jeremy Smart
Images by Ernest Theofilus