R Micro Housing / Simple Projects Architecture

Curated by Hana Abdel

Architects: Simple Projects Architecture
Area: 518 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs:Mansyur Hasan
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Alexindo, Asia Tile, Carta Laminates, Dulux, Infinity Granite Tiles, Nero, Toto, Trimble Navigation
Lead Architects: Nikko Lendra
General Contractor: PT.Barito Anugrah Sejati, Barito Anugrah Sejati, Leo Purnomo

Project Background
Most of the people in the metropolitan cities, especially in Surabaya, dream of an urban living, where they can own a decent home within proximity to the CBD with an affordable price tag. In response to this issue, we carefully designed R Micro Housing to provide a functional yet comfortable landed house which is suitable to be applied in a limited size of land and located in one of the most densely populated areas in Surabaya.

Low Cost Compact Housing
R Micro Housing is a small housing complex consists of only five units and is available in two different types. It sits on 12m x 29.8m land located in one of the densely populated villages in the eastern suburbs of Surabaya. Considering its location which is just off a crowded main traffic, street accessibility and safety, and also current neighboring houses, therefore we decided to have a refreshed façade concept in combination with a simple yet compact mass, thus the construction process would take less time with efficient costs.

R Micro Housing / Simple Projects Architecture - Interior Photography, Stairs — © Mansyur Hasan

We settled on modern minimalist design approach with basic geometric shaped mass and monochromatic color scheme for R Micro Housing. Due to the nature of the area, we developed solid and introvert masses as a respond to the safety and convenience issues around the location. Eventually, this monochromatic appearance has well distinguish the housing complex apart from the existing neighboring houses, and hopefully could be a representative of its future inhabitants’ lifestyle
that is simple, functional and efficient with an integrated open plan interior layout.

A Maximized Mini House
A limited land is often becoming a major issue when it comes to designing a healthy home. R Micro Housing has experimented to incorporate as much natural daylight as possible by strategically positioning a number of sizable openings for an effective cross ventilation as well as integrating an inner courtyard within the interior layout plan. A private parking lot for each unit and a selection of crafted yet easy-to-maintain material finishes have certainly added values to this small dwellings. All of these features completes the unique spatial experience that this house has to offer.

R Micro Housing / Simple Projects Architecture - Exterior Photography, Facade, Windows — © Mansyur Hasan

Considering its location within one of the most densely populated areas in Surabaya, thus having greeneries and courtyard within this tight plot land can be considered as a bonus. The layout of each type of the house in R Micro Housing complex has been planned to accommodate a good sized courtyard, which has been one of the important tools to support the cross ventilation system within this introvert house. Ultimately, R Micro Housing can be considered as a precedent that a unique façade design with a reasonably good quality building materials and finishes is definitely feasible regardless of the limited space and budget available.