Latest trend: Going 'glocal'
Latest trend: Going 'glocal'
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta
"Glocal". This word might not be found in any dictionary, but it
is becoming quite an important term in today's home interior
design world.
"Glocal" is the combination of global and local - a word that
refers to a global spirit with local touch.
So says interior design and art consultant Ananda Moersid. The
lecturer at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts, observes that the
elements of global spirit and local touch are found in excellent
designs that have captured the hearts of so many people in the
world like those who won the Aga Khan award for architecture.
Such designs are the ones that can compete on the global
market, Ananda says.
In Indonesia, they are clearly seen in Bali, which has many
cosmopolitan residents and visitors from New York to Sydney to
Tokyo and Amsterdam and other big cities around the globe.
Creativity and sensitivity by designers make it possible for the
global spirit to blend in with the local atmosphere.
"When we talk about the local touch in Bali, it does not
necessarily mean (wood) carving, or Balinese statues. The design
could be very clean and modern with a proper space scale. It also
applies, for example, in the interior of a Japanese restaurant:
with the tatami (woven rice stalk mats), you can feel the
Japanese touch or the oriental impression," Ananda says.
"Glocal" also applies in the trend of accessories, like what
is seen in the creation of Warwick Purser or Vinoti Living, which
has modern, simple lines. The use of local materials is
particularly important, but more importantly is the
environmentally friendly concept.
"The concept of environmentally friendly has become a trend
especially among the young people," says Ananda. The term
environmentally friendly implies the use of materials that are
not harmful to nature and the implementation of energy-saving
concepts. It also it requires a good knowledge about the
characteristics of the nature. In home design, it refers to the
careful consideration of nature and the environment often
allowing the minimum use of air conditioners, because they
utilize shade trees and natural breezeways.
Hendramianto Syamsulhadi, an associate of Grahacipta Hadiprana
design consultant, also observed the wide use of local materials
that come from the natural world in today's trend of accessories.
"In the past, a vase was always made of glass or ceramic
materials. But now you can find ones made of coconut shells,
bamboo or solid wood," he says.
There is also much creativity in the design of the products,
thanks to the organizing of many handicraft exhibitions. Those
made of crystal and silver are still in demand among a limited
group of wealthy people while fewer people now prefer the gold-
plated ones.
Minimalist concepts remain popular among some people who would
carefully select the items to be put in their house. In this
case, it could be costly because people might also put great
emphasis on the high quality of the products.
The design of a house, the interior style and the accessories
indeed reflect the character of the owner and it should also be
in accordance with his or her needs and lifestyle.
Overall, according to Ananda, the trend is polyphony - it is
plural and multifaceted or, in other words, there is a respect
for diversity.
In the 1950s and the 1960s, the post-war designs were mostly
streamline with the popular use of plastics and laminates. The
period also saw the dominance of Scandinavian designs. And then,
there was a cultural revolution as a result of the reaction of
the "flower children" in California, which gave birth to many
alternative styles. This was followed by the post-modernism style
in the 1980s and early 1990s.
"Post-modernism is the root of polyphony. There is no dominant
style and people start to respect diversity," Ananda says.
As for colors, it is also hard to mention any dominant color
in the trend of house paint.
It was colorful in the 1980s and 1990s, but then people
preferred neutral colors like gray, brown and off-white. Ananda
said that over the past few years, following the New Age movement
with its call to live in a harmony with nature, "spiritual
colors" like purple, gold, deep green or sea green became popular
as an accent.
Syamsulhadi also agrees that the trend in house paint colors
does not refer to a certain style. There is a great variety,
depending on what the owner wants. The trend in a house's color
hardly changes from year to year.
"This is different from the trend in fashion. You may wear a
dress only for a few hours, but the color of your home interior
is long-lasting," Syamsul says.
The paint of a house usually has a natural or basic color like
white, light cream or gray. A different color like blue or pink
would be put on a certain wall as a focal point.
"It also depends on the style. If it is classic, many people
prefer cream, but if it is modern, gray will do," Syamsulhadi
says.
Globally, he says, people like the earthy colors of cream and
brown. As an accent, people used to apply monochrome colors, but
now there is a tendency to apply bright colors like red, purple
and orange or the "pop" colors.
Syamsulhadi says that people here now have a wider horizon
about the trends due to the wide availability of books and
magazines on interior designs, not to mention the information on
other media like television and the Internet.
"Ten or 20 years ago, many of my clients had no idea about
what they really wanted. But now, they know exactly what they
want. They show me pictures from a book and say that they want
things like this and like that," he says.