Cascading House Architects: Tamara Wibowo Architects Area: 450 m² Year: 2022 Photographs: Mario Wibowo, Fernando Gomulya Lead Architects: Tamara Wibowo Pool Contractor: Bluepool Interior Contractor: Diorrama Cipta Pratama Schematic Design: Rieza Amalia Design Development: Rieza Amalia, Luthfitria Afra Construction Documents: Berda Karendra Putra, Claudia Kondoy Project Architect And Construction Management: Adi Iman Wicaksono City: Semarang Country: Indonesia
Discover Cascading House, a beautifully tiered residence in Semarang, Indonesia, designed by Tamara Wibowo Architects. Created as a tranquil second home for a young family, the 450-square-meter house embraces the natural slope of the land to create a series of cascading volumes. Each level serves a distinct function — from service areas at the top, open living spaces in the center, to peaceful bedrooms at the bottom.
Integrated courtyards, a reflecting pool, and thoughtful transitions between concrete and wood materials create a home that is both functional and serene. This video explores how the house harmonizes with its topography, encourages natural ventilation and lighting, and offers a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. A masterclass in site-responsive design, Cascading House is architecture that flows with the land.
Hidden behind a row of mature trees in Semarang, Indonesia, the Cascading House was designed by
Tamara Wibowo Architects as a second home for a young couple and their two children.
From the street, the house is barely visible as it follows the site's natural slope,
descending about three meters. Instead of standing out, the house integrates with the terrain,
creating a flowing spatial experience, hence the name Cascading House.
each placed on a different level of the sloping land. The top level houses the service areas and
garage, the middle level contains the living area, and the bottom level holds the four bedrooms,
arranged in two tiers. This spatial arrangement not only respects the site's topography,
but also maintains a functional balance between privacy, openness, and comfort.
Two open-air courtyards are inserted between the volumes, serving as transition zones that bring
in light and natural ventilation. A reflecting pool beside the living room enhances the cooling
effect and contributes to a calm atmosphere. As the water flows down into a waterfall feature
at the lowest level, it fills the home with the soothing sound of running water,
blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature.
The house's primary materials, site-cast concrete and wood, create a rich visual contrast.
The cool, gray texture of concrete is balanced by the warmth of timber,
resulting in an interior that feels grounded yet cozy. These materials continue seamlessly from
the exterior to the interior, reinforcing the spatial unity and providing a cohesive
for the structural rhythm of the house. This grid subtly guides the vertical arrangement of volumes
across the site. Upper level bedrooms are connected to balconies, offering an intermediate space
between inside and out, while lower level bedrooms open onto a sunken garden that acts as a tranquil
excessive scale. Through smart passive design strategies, including natural light optimization,
cross-ventilation and sensitive layout planning, the house delivers an elevated
is a thoughtful response to its site, an example of architecture that blends form and function with
nature. By embracing the landscape rather than reshaping it, the home offers a layered spatial
journey that feels serene, interconnected, and entirely purposeful.
