The experience of visiting Indonesia Design District (IDD) at Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 might feel disorienting at first. Spread across 12 hectares with over 200 stores, arriving at the compound tugs at one’s ambitious streak as they devise a plan on how best to get the complete experience of the complex in under two hours. But a visit there is best enjoyed unhurried.
As the first design compound of this scale in Indonesia, IDD is the newest project under developer Agung Sedayu and Salim Group, designed to be a centralised hub to showcase emerging and reputable local talents as well as international players and brands that reflect the spirit of the design landscape today.
“From the beginning, we want IDD to set the stage for local creators across product design, lighting to hardware. Indonesia’s design landscape is actually very large, but we’re still underdogs when it comes to local sales—most of our products are shipped out for exports. So hopefully with the presence of IDD, we can slowly change that and be a hub for inspiration,” explained Ipeng Widjoyo, Business Development Director of Agung Sedayu Group.
Building off this intention to raise awareness of design and offer a comprehensive look into the craftsmanship behind each product, the complex features homewares, furniture, lighting, kitchen appliances, tiles and wood panelling. Over at alvinT, natural materials and techniques are turned into rattan-woven chairs; at Fredhelligh, kitchen and bedroom essentials sourced from Jogja to Nusa Tenggara Timur tap into the materiality of woven bamboo and teakwood; while at Gaya Ceramics from Bali, beautiful displays of handcrafted ceramics fill the turquoise-tiled room.
From respected names like SMEG, OSLO, BIKA, Box Living and Magran to on-progress developments like the collaborative Kayu Lapis store designed by household name Andra Matin, and Viro World by Yori Antar just beside it, the space also comes equipped with electric buggies to take visitors from one end of the complex to the other.
Though the standing joke is that there are nine suns in Pantai Indah Kapuk, the IDD layout takes that into consideration and integrates canopies to provide much-needed shade and breeze Still, breaks are much recommended to take time out from the heat, and there’s plenty to keep visitors occupied. Take shelter in One-Fifteenth Coffee’s largest outlet to date to kick back with an iced coffee, or opt for some fresh oyster or seafood bucket from Oyster Dealer to cool down. Heartier options are also available; simply head over to Medan Baru for a Padang spread, or Bandar Djakarta to satisfy one’s seafood cravings.
Not only meant to be looked at or observed from afar, at IDD, design also finds its way into experiences like the playscape and semi-outdoor plaza. The former comprises an indoor and outdoor playground for young children, where a giant trampoline deck is made to resemble a congklak, a traditional toy board hollowed with holes on each side. While the latter features relaxed scenes of small gardens and ponds adorned with sculptures by Semarang-hailed outdoor furniture company MAMAGREEN and a series of furniture made from rice grain by Alvin Tjitrowirjo of alvinT.
On weekends, scenes shift from young kids running around the playground, couples wandering around browsing through homewares to fill up their home with a furry friend in tow, to fellow designers meticulously observing the material and artistry of the products for a creative stimulant. Even with such a high volume of both space and tenants, there is a sense of close-knit community and collaboration that IDD is fostering in its home, which also rolls out through the row of workshops and exhibitions quickly filling up the calendar.
