Hotel Jakarta is more than a hotel—it is a living, breathing public building, a tropical retreat in Amsterdam’s city centre, where natural light, exposed timber, and living greenery define an immersive, human-centered interior experience. The subtropical atrium, combined with careful material choices and intelligent climate design, transforms the building into a second living room for guests, neighbours, and the city alike.
At the heart of the hotel is a subtropical atrium. Designed with the Hortus Botanicus, the garden features plants native to Java—including teak, lianas, screw palms, magnolia, Indian almond, chili, and banana—carefully calibrated for light, temperature, and humidity. The atrium functions as both a thermal regulator and immersive living environment: in summer, evaporative cooling lowers indoor temperatures, while in winter, solar gain passively warms the interior. Oversized doors allow twelve-meter-high palms to be moved in or out as needed, while PV-integrated skylights provide shading, energy, and ventilation. Seating areas, bars, and restaurants wrap around the garden, creating intimate moments and evoking the lively atmosphere of a traditional Indonesian pasar.
The interior is defined by a 30-meter-high load-bearing timber structure. Beams, columns, ceilings, and window frames are crafted from FSC- or PEFC-certified timber, left exposed to celebrate the material’s warmth, tactility, and longevity. This “structural shell as finish” approach minimizes non-recyclable finishes while reinforcing a calm, grounded aesthetic. Bamboo floors in the living and public areas enhance the tropical character, while concrete screed floors in functional zones provide acoustic comfort, thermal mass, and durability.
Hotel Jakarta’s hotel rooms are fully prefabricated timber modules. Each module—equipped with passive façades, balconies, bathrooms, and technical installations—was delivered fully finished and installed on-site in just three weeks. These modules seamlessly integrate structure, architecture, and interior design, offering high-quality, plug-and-play luxury with the warmth and tactility of timber throughout.
Sustainability and comfort are embedded into every interior space. Heat from greywater, kitchen cooling systems, and ventilation is reused for space heating and hot water. Balanced ventilation systems with CO₂ demand control ensure a healthy indoor climate, while the atrium absorbs CO₂ and actively shapes circulation and experience. All rooms feature covered exterior spaces that provide structural shading, buffer noise, and protect from winds, seamlessly extending the interior experience to the outdoors.
Throughout Hotel Jakarta, materials, light, and vegetation combine to create an interior that is durable, sustainable, and sensorially rich. Every element—from the subtropical atrium to the prefabricated timber rooms—is carefully calibrated to balance tactile warmth, visual transparency, and a sense of openness, making the interior both a refuge and a vibrant social environment.
