When a young family needed a modern refresh for their small home in West Java, they sought help from Jakarta and Bandung–based architecture studio dua to conceive a new design that would offer better connections with the outdoors.

Working within a tight 602-square-foot plot, and a lean budget of approximately $20,000 USD, the architects created a skinny two-story property that would match the height of its residential neighbors.

However, unlike the surrounding architecture, the new design is strikingly modern, and features a boxy facade painted white, along with a concrete roof.

Dubbed the 4x6x6 House after the building’s measurements in meters, the small home comprises a bedroom, bathroom, a reading room, and an open-plan living area, kitchen, and dining space in just 484 square feet.

To create the illusion of spaciousness, the interior has a minimalist look, while windows of varying sizes establish a connection with the outdoors. Instead of dividing walls, the architects have arranged the rooms within a series of split-levels.

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“Programs and privacy are separated using different levels and points of views, instead of using wall partitions,” explain the architects. “This no-wall situation sets up a roomy and flexible space, and at the same time, creates a particular experience and intimacy.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: dua studio

Builder/General Contractor: Yodi Juliardi - Fx Nugraha Aji

Structural Engineer: Hermanto Subagijo

Landscape Designer: Dadan Kebon

Interior Design: dua studio

Other: Ars.app