matahouse

Project type : Landscape & Interior

Project year : 2018

Professional work under Larchstudio –

Individual Project

Having a thin fence and low wall between the neighborhood builidngs, the client wanted tall plants to provide privacy. I suggested using Calathea lutea for its round and playful looking leaf. The existing Ficus trees on the front were to be left alone to provide shade. Originally, the balcony was going to be filled with plant beds and hydroponic. The first design for the playground area included small delicate flowers like Plumbago auriculata and tabebuia trees for additional shade.

Because the rainy season was coming and the client want plants that grow tall faster, it was decided to use another kind of banana palm as fence–Heliconia caribaea. Smaller Heliconia is also used inside of the fence and the Tabebuia trees were replaced by one Alstonia scholaris on the corner. For the balcony, the client eventually wanted two plant beds and a small hydroponics set. Plumbago shrubs was planted around the pool and dollar plants were to climb the walls. Groups of potted tropical plants and white Bougainvillea are also scattered around the building to bring greens on every corner.

Interior

The client wanted a playful reception area that contains desk, cabinetry, a shoe rack and a small seating. Taking inspiration from scandinavian design, I created a mini house. The four main elements for the interior is the colors green, yellow and white, also the light scandinavian wood.

Hardscape

The brief was to create a natural looking playground, thus features like wooden treehouse and hobbit like hills and tunnels was the focal point of the first design.

Because of the limited budget, they decided minimize the built area, remove all freestanding features and prioritize the rubber racetrack and wooden treehouse set. A parking spot with rubber flooring and a safety net under the monkey bar was added to the final design. During the construction process, the client changed their mind and wanted the playground to be more colorful

The client approved of the wooden treehouse set and wanted to add a smaller slide. Other additional features on the ground: a rubber racetrack for the children to ride mini cars and bicycles and sand areas to soften the landing from the swing and both slides.