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.