What is an ideal house?

What is an ideal house?

JAKARTA (JP): People have different ideas about houses. We interviewed a number about their houses and what they thought an ideal house would be like.

Here are some of their comments:

Apong Herlina, 29, lawyer. She lives with her younger sister in a rented house in East Jakarta: I want to have a small house with a big garden, where I can grow shady trees to beat the heat of the city. Well, Jakarta is hot and I think the trees will help a lot. I prefer a small house because maintenance will not cost much. It will be easy to clean the house and I won't need a pembantu (domestic servant) to help me do it.

Novindha S. Tradjumas, 25, a bank officer. She is newly married and lives in the Bintaro housing estate, South Jakarta: My house is small. The building is about 60 square meters while the land is only 90 square meters in size. I can't say that it is my ideal house. If I had money I would buy a much bigger house. My ideal house would be located on 800 square meters of land. A swimming pool would be great, but it is not essential. The most important thing is that there should be fresh air and a clean environment.

I don't like living in an apartment, especially because there is no garden. What you see in an apartment is only walls and walls. If I were rich, I might buy an apartment as an investment.

Chalid Mohammad, environmental activist. He rents a 3.5x10 square-meter house in East Jakarta for Rp 175,000 a month: What is important is the neighborhood, the atmosphere. I like togetherness and a "collective" atmosphere is important for me. I don't want to be surrounded by people who are individualists. High fences are a clear indication of individualism. They are the barricades against communication between neighbors.

Every inch of my ideal house should be utilized effectively and it must have good ventilation to allow the circulation of fresh air. Air conditioners and electric fans are not necessary if a house has good ventilation.

It is nice to have a garden, but if there is none, I will not mind. I can have potted plants.

Angel (not her real name), 24, finance analyst with of a foreign oil company. Next month she is moving from her aunt's house in South Jakarta to the elite Menteng area of Central Jakarta. She will occupy a 3 x 3.5 meter room, for which she will pay Rp 500,000 a month: The first thing I will be concerned with, if I am able to buy a house, is the location. The house must be located in a peaceful neighborhood with a lot of trees; one which is pleasant to live in and is not too far from the center of town. I would like a simple house, without too many details. It need not necessarily be big, but should not be very small, either. I think 300 square meters will do.

If I had money, I might want to live in an apartment close to my office -- for practical reasons. I lived in an apartment for over four years when I was in the United States, so I don't have any problem about living in such a place. But if I have a family, I would rather live in a house than in an apartment, because a house offers a better environment and is more comfortable.

Pudji S. Pratjihno, 44, a conservationist at the Ministry of Forestry. He lives in his own house in Bogor, which he bought only two months ago: It is my ideal house. The building is only 150 square meters but it stands on 900 square meters of land. I think an ideal house must have a spacious garden, where you can play sports or relax. You spend a lot of time at the office but you spend more time at home. So, it is very important to have a house which allows you to develop your hobbies. As for myself, I will grow lots of flowers and keep some birds.

My house is located quite a long way from the office, but it's okay. The type of house is more important than its distance from work.

Rahmawati, 58, general practitioner. She has been living in her house in densely-populated Tebet, South Jakarta, since 1972: When I was a child, I always dreamed of a small house with a big yard... a house which was "fresh", with a green view. I am now living in a 275 square meter house with an open space of about nine square meters in the middle of the house. We use the front yard to park our car and we don't have any back yard. The air is heavily polluted. Despite all that, we like living here because it is safe and our house is located in a strategic area.

I still want a house with a big yard. I don't know when, but one day we might sell our house and move to an area where the air is clean and there are a lot of trees.(sim)