What comes to mind when you hear the word 'Yogyakarta'? A cultural city? A student city? Malioboro? The richness of art and culture, easy accessibility from anywhere, and adequate facilities make Yogyakarta one of the frequently chosen holiday destinations in Indonesia for both domestic and international tourists.
In one corner of Yogyakarta, precisely on Prawirotaman Street, there is a uniquely designed hotel called Greenhost Boutique Hotel, designed by Paulus Mintarga from Timtiga. He is known for his works that consistently focus on the environment and his concern for the use of local and recycled materials. The hotel itself is designed with environmentally friendly principles and implements the concept of agricrafture, a combination of agriculture (cultivating the land) and craft (craftsmanship).
Facade
The hotel immediately captures attention with its unconventional appearance. Unlike typical hotels, Greenhost covers its front facade with hanging plants, specifically Vernonia Elliptica, also known as Curtain Creeper. These plants serve to lower the room temperature inside. The entrance to the lobby is open without doors and partitions, making this area not require artificial ventilation. The walls are made from recycled wood offcuts arranged in an attractive manner.
Lobby and Reception
The temperature difference between the exterior and interior is immediately felt upon entering the lobby area. Despite lacking artificial ventilation, the hotel lobby feels cool with a semi-outdoor concept without partitions and various plants placed in almost every corner. The floor is made of concrete designed to resemble wooden planks. Adjacent to the lobby area is a swimming pool that gives the entire space a tropical forest ambiance.
Interior
The hotel's interior follows an industrial concept dominated by wood and walls without paint. The floor is made of smoothly finished concrete. Connecting corridors between rooms are open and equipped with perforated PVC pipes for hydroponic plants, in line with the agricrafture concept. These pipes, serving as both hydroponic planting media and corridor railings, complement each other in terms of beauty and safety. A brilliant idea.
Room
The hotel has 96 rooms designed by Ivan Christianto, Paulus Mintarga, and Erick Dangian. The industrial-themed interior design features exposed unpainted concrete walls, and the floor is made of the same material without carpets. The furniture is crafted from recycled and reclaimed wood, maintaining an aesthetic and unique impression.
Rooftop
This area is the most unique part of the hotel. The rooftop floor is utilized as a gardening area, following the concept known as urban farming. Urban farming is a form of urban agriculture that involves growing food in urban areas, usually in backyard spaces, vacant land, or overlooked spaces like rooftop buildings, typically not dedicated to food production. The produce from urban farming can be enjoyed by hotel guests or sold to hotels and the surrounding community. To reach this gardening area, one must cross an iron bridge with a wooden floor that connects to the elevator area.
Art
In addition to being an accommodation, the hotel also provides space for art exhibitions. The hotel collaborates with local communities and artists to showcase and sell their artworks within the premises. Several artworks can be enjoyed in various corners of the hotel.
The unique concept embraced by Greenhost Boutique Hotel makes it a distinctive choice for accommodation in Yogyakarta, especially for the young and creative community. If you find yourself in Yogyakarta, experiencing something new by staying in this hotel, with rates around 500 thousand, is definitely worth considering.