Ungaran Harmony Garden

Ciputra University (UC / Universitas Ciputra)

Project idea

The goal is to create an agro-tourism destination that optimally utilizes contoured land to meet client business needs, ensuring efficient circulation and well-organized rooms that comply with standards. The design focuses on modern, timeless, and attractive buildings with an efficient system aligned with permaculture principles, fostering a harmonious atmosphere with the surrounding environment. To achieve this, the design approach integrates Permaculture, developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in 1978, emphasizing sustainability, biodiversity, and harmonious human-environment relationships through efficient resource use, soil health maintenance, and natural cycles. Additionally, The Tangible Nature method by Antoniades (2014) enhances this by integrating natural elements such as plants, water, and habitats into human spaces and buildings, promoting sustainability in design and construction practices while strengthening connections between humans and nature.

Project description

Ungaran Harmony Garden is a unique agro-tourism destination nestled on the slopes of Mount Ungaran, blending natural beauty, local wisdom, and environmental consciousness. It offers an immersive experience in Durian cultivation and processing through an interactive museum and a garden-view restaurant. The buildings harmoniously integrate with the natural terrain using eco-friendly materials. Beyond being a tourist spot, it serves as an inspiration for sustainability. Using a permaculture design approach, the site optimizes contoured land by mapping buildings into vertical zones, aligning with Gordon Cullen's "Here and There" principle for spatial depth. Visitors explore foreground areas with functional amenities, middle-ground agricultural spaces, and expansive background vistas, enhancing their interaction with the environment. The design incorporates Francis D.K. Ching's spatial relationships to interconnect rooms, with a Spiral Path Configuration enhancing discovery. Enclosed entryways evoke mystery, contrasting with the stunning natural landscape that surprises upon exit. The geometrically designed buildings promote a modern, timeless aesthetic while supporting efficient systems aligned with permaculture principles. Semi-outdoor dining areas maximize natural ventilation and light, reducing energy consumption. Increased vegetation not only cools but also educates visitors on plantation conservation.

Technical information

The building structure is primarily supported by steel with various layers of materials. The overall aesthetic highlights wood with interior bamboo furniture sourced locally. It features Bamboo Charcoal, Marmoleum Tiles, and Terazzo flooring, all environmentally friendly materials. Some wall materials include Glass Blocks for maximizing natural light and Stone Walls for a natural aesthetic. Sustainable materials like Natural Fiber Tiles and Gypsum are used for ceiling finishes. Overall, the selected materials aim to create an atmosphere and concept that harmonizes with the environment, utilizing natural resources that align with permaculture principles of sustainability and recyclability. The cohesive use of colors, shapes, and textures enhances visitor appeal, while providing recreational facilities can further promote business efforts.