D+N2 House / DP+HS Architects

Architects: DP+HS Architects
Area: 640 m²
Year: 2022
Photography: Don Pieto
Lead Architects: Don Pieto, Henny Suwardi
Manufacturers: Vibia, FLOS, MM GALLERY, Marga Agung, Molteni and C, Poliform, Quantum Windows and Doors
City: Tangerang
Country: Indonesia

D+N2 House is a residential extension in Tangerang, Indonesia, designed by DP+HS Architects to support an existing home previously completed by the same practice. Conceived as a secondary structure dedicated to leisure, the project accommodates a swimming pool, sauna, lounge, playroom, and basketball court. The design explores the duality of enclosure and openness through a compact architectural envelope that shelters a generous internal void. Daylight enters the building through a skylight system equipped with layered screens that temper sunlight and create shifting shadow patterns. Passive environmental strategies, including cross ventilation and evaporative cooling, are integrated through the placement of water features and air circulation elements. Material contrasts and a linear composition define the exterior expression, while spatial sequencing becomes a primary tool for shaping movement and experience within the building.

Rather than presenting itself as an expressive recreational facility, D+N2 House adopts a reserved and inward-looking posture. The extension is designed as a place of retreat, emphasizing privacy and ritual over visibility. This architectural restraint responds directly to the client’s brief for a space that feels luxurious without being overt, offering the sensation of outdoor activity within a controlled and enclosed environment.

The project’s conceptual foundation is articulated through the metaphor of a modern cave. A simple concrete volume combined with a timber gate establishes a strong threshold and reinforces the building’s protective character. This envelope conceals the most active spaces within, allowing the architecture to mediate between solidity and openness. At its core, a large void spans multiple levels, visually linking programs and encouraging interaction while maintaining a sense of spatial calm.

Natural light plays a defining role in shaping the interior atmosphere. A laminated glass skylight crowns the central void, drawing daylight deep into the building. Double-layer screens moderate glare and heat while casting evolving patterns of light and shadow across interior surfaces. These elements introduce a temporal dimension to the architecture, allowing the spaces to change character throughout the day.

Environmental comfort is addressed through integrated passive strategies suited to the tropical climate. A waterfall positioned along the swimming pool wall enhances the sensory quality of the space while supporting evaporative cooling. Together with strategically placed air outlets, the water feature promotes cross ventilation, helping to reduce indoor temperatures and reliance on mechanical systems.

Circulation is conceived as a deliberate spatial sequence that heightens awareness and emotion. Entry begins with a low and narrow passage that compresses scale and creates a moment of tension, reminiscent of a cave opening. This compression gives way to the dramatic release of the double-height pool area beneath the skylight. The same strategy is repeated vertically, as a slender stair ascends to the upper level and culminates in the expansive basketball court. Through careful orchestration of proportion, light, and material, the extension transforms a straightforward program into a layered architectural experience.