the little prince likes this feature
With the economy booming, Indonesia’s housing market has also recovered from a slump brought about by excessive real estate investment. Seeing news of the US housing market collapse was a bit like observing the same thing happening in Indonesia a few years previously. There were differences, of course. There weren’t so many loans involved, it was mostly a case of people switching money out of their (once) high yeilding bank accounts into real estate. But the results were similar – thousands of building sites returning to nature.
If this example is anything to go by, a few other things are changing in the current boom. Previously, new houses were built with the sole apparent reason being to impress. They were huge Colonial Dutch Style McMansions like this one under construction:
save money by not using proper scaffolding
Other than having little consideration for the future occupants, these buildings were built with no regard to the climate. They are naturally hot and the interior spaces are too big for air conditioning. Oddly, even the interior design is usually uncomfortable, using synthetic fabrics, thin upholstering and straight-backed chairs and lounges.
If Aboday’s Playhouse is anything to go by, Indonesian architects are at last designing houses for the people who will live in them. What child would not love to use that slide? It’s a feature I haven’t seen before.
Playhouse by Aboday
They have also considered factors such as planting big enough trees to protect the walls from the sun; providing ventilation to allow a natural cooling air flow and also wall cavities to insulate the house and alleviate radiant heat entering the house from the cement exterior.
Some of the design features are not to my taste, but that’s beside the point – it’s not my house. If the occupants like it, then it’s successful. I see it as part of a social change to a higher regard for personal style away from the mercenary considerations of the past 80 years.
Richard Branson to Visit Indonesia
Lock up your daughters, Indonesia!
Billionaire businessman Richard Branson is to give a public lecture on entrepreneurship next week in Jakarta. Tempointeractive gave the news but no details of how to get a seat. It would be well worth hearing what he has to say. If you have any more information than I, please tell us.
I wonder whether he is planning to start a business in Indonesia? There’s huge potential in an economy that’s growing so fast. It’s also a good sign that high profile people such as him are starting to visit Indonesia.
It says that Branson is also in this picture:
Where's Branson?
I’ve searched and searched, but I can’t find him in it.