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Architect: Studio Jencquel
Area: 500 m²
Completion Year: 2019
Project Location: Bali
Photographer: Tommaso Riva, Maximilian Jencquel

Upon entry of the property's outer gate, you are welcomed by this intricate sculpture with multiple tiers.

After the sculpture is a wooden deck bridge with wooden railings on the side over a stream.

From the bridge walkway, you can see the surrounding landscape of tropical trees, plants and shrubs.

This side of the house shows a red brick base and dark wooden shiplap upper walls.

The dark wooden deck walkway and bridge leads to the main entrance of the house with wooden double doors.

The entry walkway of the house is complemented by the surrounding tall trees that also bring shade to the area.

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This is another look at the wooden walkway that is surrounded by tropical trees and shrubs of the landscape.

On the sides of the walkway are multiple lamps that can aid the way towards the main entry of the house.

This is a close look at the garden just beyond the bridge walkway with a stream and pond surrounded by lush vegetation.

This is a another look at the lush landscaping that surrounds the walk through the wooden walkway that leads to the main entrance of the house.

This is a close look at the fish pond and stream under the bridge walkway with various fish swimming in it surrounded by decorative rocks.

This is a view of the house showcasing the roof and the tall tropical trees.

This view of the house shows the layers of dark brick walls, red brick walls, dark wooden shiplap walls and red clay tiled roofs.

This is another look at the lush landscape with tall tropical trees and thick shrubs.

This is a close look at the grass lawn beyond the house with a couple of bamboo armchairs that has cushions.

This is a close look at the red brick exterior wall of the house with patterns and slats topped iwth metal beams on the higher floor.

The red brick base walls of the house matches well with the red clay roof tiles.

The red brick exterior walls of the house matches well with the thick shrubs and tall trees of the landscaping.

This is a close look at the glass door of the bedroom that has a set of thich shrubs just outside its glass doors.

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This is a view within the bedroom that has a bed topped iwth curtains that match the bed sheets.

On the side of the bed is a small study area with a wooden desk paired with a wooden chair.

This is a close look at the bed with four posts that support the curtains and a glass door on the side leading to the outdoor areas.

This is a look inside the room that has a daybed facing the large window that looks over the pool area of the house.

This is a close look at the large window that looks over the pool area of the house with thick trees in the background.

This is a close look at the shower area with an overhead shower and brick walls with small slats.

This is a view of the pool area from the vantage of inside the bedroom with a white bed and slatted brick wall.

This is a look at the base of a staircase with bright beige steps to match the tone of the walls.

This is a close look at the two-sink vanity of the bathroom topped with a large mirror within a large alcove.

This is a close look at the bathroom's freestanding bathtub paired with a large leaning mirror and a shuttered window.

Thisis close look at the cooking area of the kitchen that has an electric stove, shuttered windows and hanging pots.

This is a close look at the main entry's wooden double doors adorned with a wooden sculpture on the side.

This is a full view of the dining room with a large rectangular dining table topped iwth a tall cathedral ceiling that has exposed beams.

This is close look at the dining table that has a centerpiece of pottery that complements the rustic dining table.

The living room has a light gray sofa paired with a dark brown coffee table that matches the hardwood flooring.

This is a view of the living room showcasing the natural light coming in from the glass walls.

This is a look at the glass walls supported by metal beams above the red brick wall of the base.

This is a look at the balcony from the side with glass railings and a dark wooden shiplap flooring.

This is a closer look at the balcony fitted with a large sectional sofa and a low wooden coffee table facing the view of the treetops.

This is a close look at the lounge area inside the bedroom with a sofa and an oval dark coffee table.

The bedroom has a row of shuttered windows that can open from below.

This is a closer look at the sofa of the bedroom with an earthy orange sheet on it that matches the wall-mounted artwork behind it.

This is a close look at one of the balconies of the house fitted with a hammock.

This is a view of the home office area from the vantage of the entryway with a wooden desk facing the glass wall.

The bedroom has a four-poster bed flanked by bedside tables and surrounded by curtains.

The bedroom has a set of glass windows that can open from below.

This is a close look at the pool area of the house adorned with tall trees and dark stones.

This is a close look at the study area just a few steps from the bed with a dark wooden desk facing the glass window.

This is a close look at the round bedside table of the bedroom topped with a pendant light.

This is a closer look at the bedroom that has an earthy orange tone to its sheets and pillows contrasted by the headboard and the curtains.

This is a close look at the wooden desk of the study area at the foot of the bedroom by the corner window.

This is another look at the bedroom showcasing the bed and the study area on the far corner.

This is a close looka t the narrow hallway of the house with dark brown walls and warm lighting.

This is a close look at the bedroom with a large bed topped with curtains and has a rustic wooden bench at the foot.

This is a close look at the glass windows of the bedroom that can open from below.

This is a close looka t the row of shuttered windows that can open from below.

This is a close look at the exposed beams of the tall cathedral ceiling.

This is a close look at the side of the living room sofa by the row of shuttered windows.

This is a close look at the infinity pool with a wooden deck flooring on the side fitted with armchairs facing the view of the treetops.

This is the view of the treetops from the vantage of the infinity pool.

This is the view of the treetops and landscape from the vantage of the poolside that has a couple of wooden armchairs.

This is a far view of the house during nighttime to show the warm glow of the windows and glass walls of the house.

Rumah Fajar, which means “The House of Dawn” in Bahasa Indonesia, is a modern architectural interpretation of a traditional Balinese longhouse bale agung. Boasting spectacular views of Bali’s most sacred volcano Gunung Agung, the home is steeped in the local vernacular through its design and choice of materials.

Studio Jencquel began building in August 2017 — simultaneous with the eruption of Gunung Agung — and finished construction two years later in August 2019. The abundant use of volcanic stone represents an allegorical element of the completed design, entwining the great volcano and the “great pavilion” in its shadow. Nestled seamlessly into a lush hillside and facing the rising sun, the luxurious 4-bedroom Rumah Fajar presents a humble abode that is not so humble, after all.

Entering the space through a small, unpretentious Balinese door known traditionally as angkul-angkul, twin gate guardian statues known as Men Brayut sit on either side upon the local terracotta brick gate, blessing all who pass with strength, fertility, harmony, and prosperity. Past the threshold lies a candi (a shrine or temple), here playing the role of aling-aling, an obstacle often seen in the entrance to Balinese homes intended to deflect and confuse unwanted guests or spirits.

The house is accessed by a sinuous bridge hovering above a large koi pond; a zigzag path designed not only to confuse spirits but to give one the elevated sense of entering a treehouse with a castle-like feeling of protection. Ensconced among a verdant tropical garden of coconut palms, tree ferns, heliconia, orchids that emanate a whiff of chocolate — along with fruit-bearing trees such as durian, breadfruit, and rambutan — this journey into botanical reverie culminates at the main entrance door.

From the outside, we see how Gunung Agung and traditional Balinese living inform the design of Rumah Fajar. The house blends into its wild natural setting along the hillside in great part due to the combination of only two dominant materials — Bata Tulikup, a Balinese terracotta brick from Tulikup village; and charred ironwood following Japanese techniques of Shou-Sugi-Ban.

Bale agung means “great pavilion”, and here the great main pavilion of the house is elevated upon an elongated brick “podium”. This creates an exterior view ruled by ironwood, brick, and the sacred volcano — all reborn from the earth with strength and beauty in the fire.

In creating the mainframe of the house, a steel structure was designed to saddle the timber roof structure to a millimeter precision; and to perform with the highest degree of endurance in case of an earthquake. H-beams are positioned on the floor plan in a similar fashion to the timber pillars found in the traditional Balinese longhouse, reinforcing the idea of a modern vernacular.

The overall design is meant to be open and not boxed in, with ample airflow through cross-ventilation. The landscaping and gardens, designed by Maximilian Jencquel, supplement the home with cooling shade and plenty of space for gentle breezes to pass through.