What if architecture could transcend the traditional notion of façades, embracing a design philosophy centred on flexibility, community engagement and sustainability? This question catalyses the innovative approach pursued by RAD+ar, an Indonesian architectural practice led by principal architect Antonius Richard Rusli. Their latest endeavour, the Tanatap Frame Garden, epitomises their commitment to redefining urban spaces through the seamless integration of nature, art and functionality.

Seeking to create a façade-less architecture, the team aimed to blend the indoor and outdoor spaces organically, turning architecture into an interactive canvas. Their design prioritises crafting an immersive experience for visitors, guiding them through the multi-level garden to uncover hidden art and engage with the community.

The essence of façade-less architecture lies in its selfless approach to space creation. Rather than imposing a predefined structure, the design team envisioned a sequence of interconnected spaces that adapt and evolve with the needs of the community. The playful juxtaposition of frame types such as stainless, artwork, GRC and glass serves both visually and functionally, enhancing the two-way perspective and inviting visitors to become part of the artistry themselves.

The design of the Tanatap Frame Garden explores the simplicity of basic geometry. The plan was to introduce a strong volume of cubes, carved by a series of symmetrical playful plans on the ground floor and a contrast of an organic amphitheatre on the second floor. Without a front or back, the building is free to be approached from all directions while taking advantage of the surrounding landscape. The frames act as a catalyst for the wind tunnel effect, allowing us to enjoy the scenery of a public park in the breeze.

As one enters the Frame Garden café, the typical space expression is the sandwich of closure and enclosure of both the width and height of the space. Upon entering the building, they walk underneath a low ceiling of 2.2m height that slowly increases the height of space to 7.5m as the visitor walks from the front garden to the back garden on the ground floor. The pathway access connects two existing gardens that blur the definition of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Upon entering the spaces, visitors are intrigued by what appears to be a sliced skylight above and the bustling activity in the garden. Weaving yet symmetrical, the indoor spaces open up a big intro of similar tunnel experiences connecting to a 9m high sheltered public garden that slowly changes perspective as visitors walk upwards deep inside the garden. Spaces that lead to the main spacious multi-levelled garden area as the ending, indirectly persuade visitors to enjoy more of what a tropical garden could be.

Throughout the café design, the Indonesian architects have created a fluid blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, blurring the boundaries between an art gallery, coffee shop and garden. The open layout encourages interaction and exploration, while the diverse array of furniture and landscaping elements invites visitors to define their own comfort and meaning within the space.

The Frame Garden celebrates its porosity as a contribution to the cityscape. The building is nothing more than just a framed garden, a hovering double-shaded low-energy indoor area. An oasis-like rainbow skylight in the middle of the garden lets the sunset rays penetrate right into the middle of the indoor café, creating many casual contrast spaces that are produced from optimising negative section spaces. Built as a commercial garden in the middle of a compact residential area that has an extremely high thermal environment, the Frame Garden, like many other experimental Tanatap commercial garden designs, uses this particular location to prove a point that regardless of the macro environment challenge, a passive low-energy commercial design would still be achievable and profitable in a tropical-developing country.

This hospitality design project is a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. In a city like Jakarta, where public spaces are often limited, the architects saw an opportunity to create a vibrant civic space that transcends traditional boundaries. By harnessing the natural elements and optimising negative section spaces, the architects have created a low-energy oasis amidst the urban hustle; a place where visitors can escape the heat and immerse themselves in a lush, green environment.

For RAD+ar, the Tanatap Frame Garden is more than just a building—it's a living, breathing testament to the power of architecture to inspire, innovate and enrich lives. By embracing the concept of façade-less architecture, they have created a space that transcends the ordinary, inviting visitors to reimagine the possibilities of urban living.

Following the trend of experimental tropical coffee gardens, the practice has customised its design to redefine the inside-outside dynamic. Through a clever use of shades within the floating garden, they harness the changing visuals from the nearby public park. This offers visitors a unique blend of semi-outdoor and indoor spaces merging into an art gallery nestled within a man-made jungle. The open layout creates an efficient interior unit flow and interaction of the bar area, communal table and circulations. It was designed as experimental programming to see and learn how users will behave once the architect restructures the hierarchy of space.

The Indonesian practice uses this project to learn more about visitor behaviour in defining spaces they don’t understand, that is why most of the furniture in this café is undefined, blended with the hardscape and features of the landscape, therefore acting as an experiment of how visitors/users define their meaning of comfort in using this hospitality interior. It was seen as a social experiment on how people keep redefining their sense of third space, in open space/garden and keep changing it to keep up with the crowds at different times of the day.

Based in Indonesia, RAD+ar comprises architects, designers and researchers committed to bringing the idea of architecture as an art of utilising space in the most provocative utopian-research-based approach. Formed from curiosity about the advancement of tropical architecture by Rusli, the practice believes that to shape a better and more sustainable version of today’s challenges, architecture can profitably be one of the most explored worthy fields. RAD+ar engages in exploration and experimentation to reimagine the significance of hospitality architecture in both globalisation and localisation. Beyond spaces and buildings, it connects history and the narrative of cultures, expanding beyond the limits of what we call architecture.

The new coffee garden will serve as a public living room for the locals and a new exciting destination for everyone with a passion for the arts. A space dedicated to nourishing curiosity, knowledge and creativity. Exposure to great art and music can be flexible and transformative. Enriching our lives with vibrant colours and taking us places we never knew existed. Initiated by Rusli, Tanatap is trying to stay consistent with its vision to decentralise sustainable buildings through sustainable design. In developing countries, such as Indonesia, the design was committed to hosting a creative community in its gallery-commercial garden set-up.

Project Details

Name: Tanatap Frame Garden
Office Name: RAD+ar
Firm Location: Jakarta & Bali, Indonesia
Completion Year: 2023
Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2): 1300 m2
Project Location: Jakarta
Program / Use / Building Function: Café / Restaurant / Gallery
Lead Architects: Antonius Richard Rusli