Unique Trapezoidal Brick Creates Breathable Wall

Designed by: Andyrahman Architect.

Location: Surabaya City, Indonesia | Latitude: 7.29025° S

The stunning brick wall on the upper front façade of this home creates a breathable layer. These unique trapezoidal bricks make a beautiful brise soleil that allows breezes to pass through.

Andyrahman Architect is the designer for “Trapezioma”. The name comes from the Trapezoidal Brick and Omah, the local word for house.

Site and Community

The house sits on a 7 x 15m2 site. At the front of the house, there is a narrow 3.5m wide road.

Trapezioma is in the village of Kampung Pakis Tirtosari. The village is in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. 

In the capital city of Jakarta, the villages do not have much more than their names left. However, in Surabaya, there is still a strong community life.

“…in Surabaya, there are many villages that are still able to survive today, with friendly neighbourhood life and based on togetherness in the midst of an increasingly selfish/individualistic city.”

– Andyrahman Architect

Hence, there is an opportunity for an authentic communal village atmosphere. How the streets interact with the homes fosters community and culture. 

“With fairly “narrow” streets and crowded houses, the community have built and continued their lives from generation to generation.”

– Andyrahman Architect

Oma or omah is the local word for house. Andyrahman explains how the design of the house integrates into the life of the community. 

“…this house is an inseparable part of the neighbourhood or village, it is not a house that stands totally alone as an “individual house”. Conceptually, it is a house that has a double existence: as itself and at the same time as a unit with the other houses in this village.”

– Andyrahman Architect

Use Of Outdoor Spaces In The Pandemic

The village’s social conditions are friendly and incorporate a sense of togetherness. Hence, the house, which is in the middle of the community, can be a hub of social activity.

Construction of this home finished in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, it tries to incorporate strategies that encourage communal activities. However, it does it in an environment that is safe and responds to the conditions of the pandemic. 

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

Hence, there is a communal outdoor space at the front of the home. This area is called badhukan, which is the local word for seating. 

Essentially, it is an outdoor terrace at the front entrance to the house. It carries an L shape seating area. Therefore, this terrace becomes an outdoor living room ideal for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In the current pandemic, people feel more comfortable not having guests indoors and prefer to meet them in a more open space (outside) to prevent transmission of the virus.”

– Andyrahman Architect

There is also a sink and soap on the terrace as you come off the street. Here, visitors can wash their hands before greeting members of the household.

Also at the front of the house is a carport for two cars. This carport is next to the badhukan terrace. Hence, both spaces combine to create a more extensive gathering area.

“…in front of the house can also be used for activities of the local residents such as community meetings, pengajian or Qur’an recitation and other activities in the neighbourhood.”

– Andyrahman Architect

Hence, Trapezioma truly is a house that is part of and serves the community.

“So, this really becomes an omah in the village, an inseparable part of its left and right neighbours by providing communal space for residents in the neighbourhood.”

– Andyrahman Architect

Unique Trapezoidal Bricks and the Breathable Wall

On the upper facade of this tropical house is a brick, breathable wall. The terracotta bricks have a trapezoidal shape. 

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

Trapezioma is the first time that Andyrahman Architect used this “unique” brick. The trapezoidal brick is a custom design and is not a standard product. Hence, there was cooperation with the local material and the craftsmen who work with it. 

This approach is an attempt by the architect to encourage the development of the local material industry in Indonesia.

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

The trapezoidal bricks carry two pre-made holes to insert the reinforcing iron bars. 

As such, the installation costs of the bricks are cheaper due to the existing holes. Drilling holes in the bricks after making them would be more costly. 

Because of its trapezoidal shape, they give a different effect on the appearance of the façade compared to the square bricks. It is like woven bamboo.

The concept behind the brick breathable wall facade is the gedheg-brick. An original gedheg comprises woven bamboo. You could find it in people’s houses in Java. As a result, the woven screen creates tiny holes in the pattern that allow natural ventilation.

Andy Rahman Architect uses the trapezoidal bricks to represent the gedheg in a new, stylish way. It transforms the wall into bricks with holes or a breathing wall. Hence, air can flow freely through and into the house.

This contemporary application creates a home responsive to the tropical climate while providing a modern aesthetic.

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

Layout and Climate Response

At the front of the house are the terrace and carport. They are tall metal gates with expanded metal panels separating the home from the road. These gates provide security while allowing breezes to flow through.

From the terrace, you enter the home into the living room. The timber door has jalousies next to it for ventilation.

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

The house has an open plan arrangement between the living, dining and kitchen. Hence, breezes can flow through with no interruption.

There is an outdoor terrace and garden to the northeast corner. This terrace is next to the dining room and the master bedroom. It creates a courtyard and provides natural light and passive ventilation to that portion of the home. They are louvres or jalousies and full-height casement windows to maximise natural air movement.

Photo: Mansyur Hasan

A skylight is above the stair. This skylight brings a flood of natural light down through the middle of the home.

The trapezoidal brick breathable wall is next to the bedrooms on the upper floor. This wall surrounds a balcony which the two bedrooms share.

Spaces in the brick breathable wall allows natural ventilation to the bedrooms. However, it also provides privacy and security since these rooms face the busy street.

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These strategies are good, fundamental principles of architectural design that are great for the tropics. Trapezioma creates a climate-responsive home while addressing the current issues of communal living in the pandemic.

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Photographer: Mansyur Hasan
Architect: Andyrahman Architect