FOR FOCUS ISSUE ; INTERIOR DESIGNS -- MAcrh 28

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Latest trends: Simple, compact and more flexible

Debbie A. Lubis Contributor Jakarta

The shift toward urban living has had its impact on home design. Many housing experts believe that, with exposure to modern lifestyles and economic hardship, Indonesian homes will see a growing trend toward simple and compact layouts.

This trend is gaining ground since it focuses on affordable housing and allows for maximum flexibility in domestic room arrangement.

Architect Edwin Sahdie said that people's social, cultural and educational background influences the way they arrange the rooms in their homes.

In addition, factors such as the homeowner's financial situation, needs, habits and lifestyle also determine the number and size of rooms. "Peoples preferences differ, from one to another. Those with a modern, practical lifestyle seek quality in the rooms instead of having many rooms," he said.

Edwin said homeowners have now begun to demolish the walls that separate the dining room from the kitchen, thereby creating an open, flowing space in which the family room and dining room coalesce. It can function as a place for sitting, for activities, or as a terrace.

"This simple, solid layout promotes principles of openness and unity," he said.

Halistya Pramana, managing director of Vinoti Living, said that the merger of several rooms is possible today, especially in a dwelling whose floorspace is less than 100 sq m, like an apartment. "A trend that promotes practicality is suitable to the changing lifestyle of modern Indonesian society, especially those living in Jakarta.

They tend to adopt minimalist styling, either ethnic- minimalist, classic-minimalist, or modern-minimalist, so they can save money."

Combining a living room with a family room, a dining room with a kitchen or a study with a bedroom is an effective way of saving space in a house or apartment. Buying multifunctional furniture has also become popular.

"A sofa that can function as a bed is much in demand because it can transform a living room into family room or bedroom if there are unexpected guests who would like to spend a night."

Lecturer at the University of Indonesia architecture department Sonny Sutanto said that home layout is not a matter of fashion because "tailor-made" homes tend to have their own uniqueness. The massive flow of information and financial status shape differing perspectives and expectations of homeowners, not their needs.

When homeowners plan to make cuts, usually the living room is the first to go. Sonny admitted that there is a tendency for the living room to fade away and be replaced by a "foyer" -- an open space with chairs and roof at the front of the house. "Surely, this reflects the busy life of urban people," he added.

The living room, however, is no longer a part of the house for guests only, since it can be located inside the house, in a bid to create a more friendly and private atmosphere.

According to Edwin, a service quarter like a kitchen can be relocated to the front of a house as a buffer for other rooms that require more privacy, and even improve safety.

"The kitchen is not always located at the back of the house as it can also function as a place for chatting with guests before sitting down to dinner," said Halistya.

Today's kitchen can be transformed into a more attractive site with the presence of modern appliances such as microwave cookers, etc.

Technological advancement has also prompted people to build space for their computer, stereo, large-screen television, CD player, home satellite system and video games. A room for audio- visual media appears in most modern homes. Edwin said that nowadays, most houses in the 600 square meter (sq m) to 700 sq m category have a dedicated room for audio-video or mini home theater.

It is also a zone for browsing the Internet, watching television, conducting business or even eating and drinking.

Halistya said that the so-termed Gen-X and Gen-Y (young generation) were very familiar with using electronic gadgetry. "They often use a laptop or desktop computer until late at night. If they do not have special place for it in the home, they will do their work on the bed."

Fast-paced lifestyles indeed cause people to embrace the idea of making their home not only a dwelling place but also a place that can offer the convenience and cozy atmosphere of a second home.

"They dream of being able to rest in a villa without having to go out of town, and this affects the way they lay out the home," Sonny said.

To realize such dreams, people start to limit the size of rooms, creating open spaces that link in to other rooms to afford access to nice views of the small garden and provide good circulation of fresh air and sunlight. "There are no unlit areas in the house anymore that can cause smelly, moldy areas."

To accentuate the modern, simple style of the home, Edwin suggested the use of natural colors such as cream, gray and earth tones. Such monochromatic color can be supported by natural materials.

"For this particular style, it is taboo to use bright colors. They are usually employed only to emphasize the features of a building. However, it is essential for Mediterranean style to use contrast and bright colors."

According to Halistya, contrast colors such as reds, yellows, and greens are used during summer in the West but for Indonesian homes, such colors will simply create a hot ambience.

"Color trends change quarterly, in accordance with the seasons in Western countries. It's better if Indonesian homes use contrast and bright colors purely to give accent to interior accessories, such as cushions, flowers, and other things, but not for walls or other furniture."

Sonny, however, considered the influence of "Moie" color with coffee-brown had taken its toll because it had been used in so many projects.

"The tendency toward rainbow colors has already begun but of course will not last much longer as people's preferences will change once the style is overused. It also depends on the architect; I personally favor a colorful house since our bright nature gives us the ability to enjoy many colors appropriately."