Homes Article, Indonesia Tatler, August 2013

homes Elegant Living

homes Elegant Living

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life Persian Flair

A house with secluded gardens is archetypical Iranian architecture. Tyara P. Hansel visits the house or iranian ambassador to indonesia, HE Mahmoud Farazandeh

In Paradise The front view of Mr Salans’ majestic residence.

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S iranian touch clockwise from above

The swimming pool surrounded by coconut trees and green foliage; classic furniture highlights the interior of the house; the pond with the fountain in the front yard

itting on 4,000 square metres of land, the official residence of Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia, HE Mahmoud Farazandeh, was built in the colonial era in 1929.

The same structure was finally refurbished two years ago; the Ambassador took the lead by changing the layout and redecorating it. “We had some serious work to do, and we tried to maintain the background. I like the light-coloured background, which is apple white, because it parallels the view.

Apple white is basically greenish white, and the colour makes a great combination with the ceiling,” HE Farazandeh said.

Persian architecture also abounds with open space, and its core lies in what the creator wants to focus on, while the rest only exists for protection and boundaries.

The very front feature of the house is a salon or otagh-epaziraei, which is a receiving area where the ambassador usually entertains his guests; it’s actually one of the best parts of the house, as visitors can find the most beautiful furniture and decorations here. Persian rugs, known for their artistic value, are essential elements of this section. At the ambassador’s paziraei, indonesia tatler

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some Persian rugs are pinned to the wall, splashing an array of colours and patterns, just like paintings.

The paziraei is divided into two open sections surrounded by large glass windows that allow the natural light to brighten the home.

This area—considered the most significant room, as it represents a home within a house— is usually decked with chandeliers, large mirrors, and comfortable sofa, all placed to enhance the sense of space and beauty. “I like the layout most. Of course, I would have done it more differently if I could, but due to some limitations, this is the best that we can achieve.”

HE Farazandeh may consider the paziraei the jewel of the house, but Madame Farazandeh still thinks the outdoor area comprises onein-a-million architectural facets, especially the spellbinding mosaic. “It’s a tile work and is the signature of authentic Iranian architecture.

Many guests actually complement the feature, and not too many of them are familiar about it, which gives me the opportunity to explain about the history,” she said with a big smile.

The two-storey residence houses two bedrooms on the ground floor and four

bedrooms, including the master one, on the upper floor. “We live upstairs. When we have friends or a delegation visiting from Iran, we usually let them sleep in guestrooms downstairs,” she said. The house also features two kitchens—one main large kitchen situated in a separate building, the other, which is a smaller one, connecting to the dining area. The former has a storage room where the family keeps their edibles. “The storage room used

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artistic elements clockwise from above

the mosaic tilework in the front yard; the house façade

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homes Elegant Living

another angle, overlooking the swimming pool; HE Mahmoud Farazandeh and Madame Farazandeh; The dining area

to be a parking lot,” she added. In addition, Iranian houses are also famed for their hayat, which is a back or front yard, where a small garden is usually maintained. The ambassador’s residence has a backyard hayat, located just between the main-kitchen building and the house. The hayat is where the Ambassador grows his own herbs and vegetables. “I garden in my spare time, growing herbs and orchids.

And sometimes I also look around the house to put things in order.”

Indeed, the outdoor area is nothing short of fascinating. The manicured grass and a line of coconut trees, all green foliage makes it hard to believe that the house is actually located in the busy district of Central Jakarta.

While swimming pool is located on the side, the basketball field in the backyard, the front yard boasts a howz—a small pond filled with little fish. A little fountain takes centre stage, exuding a sense of tranquillity that slowly but surely envelops the surrounding atmosphere.

Colourful lighting also makes the pond even more beautiful in the evening. indonesia tatler

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n photography

lavish interior from top The paziraei from

heri b heryanto

“Paziraei is a receiving area; it’s actually one of the best features of an Iranian house”