Truly Indonesian interior design yet to emerge

Rudijanto Contributor Jakarta

The interior design business looks bright as the property sector has started to recover in the past couple of years but like other developing countries truly Indonesian interior designs have still taken time to emerge from a populace who are largely not very aware of interior design.

Unlike in the U.S. where significant numbers of people have both the money to spend as well as a high appreciation of interior design, Indonesians lack both the finances as well as the appreciation of the esthetics of design.

"Most Indonesians are content with having simple houses of their own. They still have no need for interior designers," Prieyo Pratomo, interior design consultant from the Jakarta Design Center, said here over the weekend.

Prieyo believes that only a privileged few at the top of social pyramid have developed a need for the services of interior designers. Though the market for interior designers is still small, it has started to recover along with the recovery of the property sector.

"One indication of this improving market is that cranes have started to operate again at construction sites," said Prieyo.

Another interior designer Kamaludin from Jakarta-based Desimal Sentra Desain shared the same optimism about the prospects of the design consulting market. The surge in the sales of original paintings gives a strong indication of the improvement in the home interior market, he added.

"The high sales of paintings indicates that more houses are being built since paintings constitute an integral part of home interior design," Kamaludin said.

Regarding home interior design, Indonesian interior designer John H.G. Soe of Jakarta-based Megtra said that Indonesians generally follow popular trends.

"In the 1990s many Indonesians rushed to adopt post modernist styles. Currently, a minimalist style with simple details and straight lines is very popular," he said.

Kamaludin agrees that the minimalist style still characterizes global as well as Indonesian home interior designs. Furnishings generally reflect simplicity in shape as well as ornamentation.

"Furniture sets that suit well this minimalist style have simple shapes that have no detail or carving. The paintings that match this style are characterized by minimal lines such as abstract paintings that emphasize esthetic rather than realist elements," he noted.

Along with this minimalist trend, back to nature constitutes the theme for most major European countries. This strong nature theme is shown in the kind of furniture and home furnishings being exported to countries in Europe.

Most of furniture and home furnishings displayed at Indonesian Resource 2004 that is being held in Jakarta from Oct. 15 to Oct. 19 are also mostly made of natural materials such as dried and twisted water hyacinth, abaca, sea grass and rattan. All these materials are handwoven.

"The high demand for furniture and home furnishings of natural materials is an indicator of the kind of home interior designs that are popular in the West. The back to nature theme reflects a high degree of environmental awareness," added Kamaludin.

The minimalist trend is also reflected in the choice of more simple flooring that tends to reflect simplicity. Special ceramic and exclusive terracotta tiles that highlight natural and simple color have become trendy among Indonesians. For most Indonesians, ceramic flooring is still very popular.

Though acknowledging the strong domination of the minimalist style in home interior designs, another young Indonesian designer Leonard Theosabrata of PT Accupunto International said eclectic designs have also started to emerge.

The eclectic theme which combines all design concepts available such as classic and minimalist pieces is now popular in Jakarta's cafes. He believes that people have started to abandon the minimalist look.

"Products with minimalist designs are already cliche. Many people produce such products but they look too commercial," Leonard said.

In spite of globalization, the national identity of some nations remain strong. The Chinese, Japanese or Koreans still show their unique cultural identity through their respective interior designs.

While Indonesians tend to adopt whatever styles are offered to them by designers, one may question whether Indonesia's own unique identity may be able to emerge and grow in home interior design.

Speaking about Indonesian identity in home interior design, one is immediately faced with questions such as which ethnic group could be representative of this ethnically and culturally rich and diverse nation.

In addition, almost all items in home interior design, including furniture and home furnishings, originate from recent introductions.

Even furniture that is made of local materials such as rattan and water hyacinth can hardly represent local furniture since such materials only constitute a response to what is selling well in western countries.

"Our manufacturers simply see that furniture with such natural materials have drawn a positive market response in the West. Thus, they start imitating the product trend without having a concept of their own," Prieyo said.

However, almost all interior designers agree that Indonesia should have its own identity in interior design. With its strong cultural and ethnic diversity, the formation of a truly national identity may not be easy, if at all possible, in the short run.