Z Line House: A Masterpiece of Parametric Design

Revano Satria's Award-Winning Residential Design Combines Geometry and Functionality

The Z Line House stands out due to its calculated geometric and sculpture-like interventions on the facade, exploiting the tension between conflicting elements. The internal areas are designed for fluid transition between spaces, both horizontally and vertically. The design's unique properties lie in its ability to combine visually stunning elements with a highly efficient flow of activity, making it a proud possession for the owners.

One of the defining features of the project is the application of a parametric-based system for the geometry and structure. The design is optimized to control water flow from heavy rainfall, a common occurrence in tropical climates. The approach was driven by a detailed solar analysis on the structure, with particular attention given to the eastern and western facades. The distribution of the facade's openings was heavily contingent on view axes, occupant height, and the uniform distribution of natural light.

The Z Line House was realized after a long study and construction phase that took more than five years to complete. The project started in October 2014 and finished in October 2019 in Semarang, Indonesia. The design team, including Mohammed Makki, Pavlos Schizas, and Michel Moukarzel, worked diligently to bring Satria's vision to life.

The project faced several challenges, including meeting the client's specific and detailed requirements. The primary difficulty was to create a visually stunning and unique home that also maintained the conventional cultural requirements of a local home. The other challenge arose from the complicated yet specific flow of activities required within the project, where the house serves as a base for the client's profession without hindering the day-to-day residential activities of the home's occupants.

Despite these challenges, the Z Line House has become an architectural landmark, unique to the fabric of the city. The interplay between function, form, light, environmental performance, social response, and local assimilation has transformed what is usually considered a mundane residential dwelling into a boundary-pushing design. The Z Line House was recognized for its excellence with a Platinum A' Architecture, Building, and Structure Design Award in 2020.