Guha Bambu, an evolution of The Guild in Taman Villa Meruya, West Jakarta, tests two hypotheses: Can a compact, mixed-use project blend renovated and new structures to foster community, work, and privacy while pushing material innovation? How can a bioclimatic bamboo structure address Jakarta’s tropical climate while balancing open and private spaces? Spanning a 7.5x26m lot, this project weaves a renovated Omah Library, dental clinic, residence, and a new three-story bamboo studio, Guha Bambu, with two basement levels, into a cohesive urban retreat.
The facade, a blend of concrete, steel, and bamboo vertical louvers, shields west-side heat while opening north-south for light and air, drawing on lessons from Alfa Omega’s experimental school. A steel plane truss roof caps a bamboo structure supporting three floors, crafted with nine materials—steel, wood, glass, metal, gypsum, bamboo, plastic, stone, concrete—melding traditional fish-mouth bamboo joints with modern steel methods. The renovated Omah Library gains bookshelves, a bookstore, and gallery, with circulation split by a public-private entrance foyer for privacy.
Flexible layouts, with rooms accessible by at least two doors, allow evolving uses, from education to future coffee shops, challenging typical Indonesian housing. The open studio (ground floor) and residence (upper floors) connect via fluid circulation, while the sunken library maintains coolness. The courtyard, an open-air corridor with a small pond, links programs, fostering calm. The landscape, integrated with a retention basin, manages runoff sustainably, echoing The Guild’s neighborly ethos.
Built by West Javan craftsmen, Guha Bambu marries tradition and innovation, proving a small site can balance micro-business, home, and community in Jakarta’s tropics.
May 14, 2025
Realrich Architecture Workshop
Realrich Sjarief
