The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) in conjunction with HDII Jakarta is pleased to announce the winners of the design camp for young Indonesian designers.

The design camp ran from January to March this year, culminating in the closing ceremony on 31 March where the winners were unveiled. Over the course of the three months, 48 young designers, including 28 students and 20 young professionals, were mentored by highly regarded industry professionals to ensure their designs were aesthetically-pleasing, practical and marketable.

The winners of the design camp are:

• • Best Design for Furniture (Young Professional): Fable Collection by Aryawan Mantra
• • Best Design for Furniture (Student): Kaleles High Stool by Alouyxius Bertrand Cleviandro
• • Best Design for Interior Space (Young Professional): Baluran National Park Safari Lodge by Muhamad Abdurohim
• • Best Design for Interior Space (Student): Rumpi by Margaretha

American red oak was used for all the designs. Designers had the opportunity to learn about the unique properties of the material, including its strength and versatility, which makes it an excellent option for furniture, interior panelling and ceilings. As the most abundant species in the American forest, it also is an excellent value timber.

The winning furniture pieces will be produced for display.

Best Design for Furniture (Young Professional): Fable Collection by Aryawan Mantra

Mantra seeks to inspire children’s imagination and aid their learning through this versatile furniture set that was inspired by Indonesian children’s fables. The crocodile-inspired desk doubles up as a sturdy book shelf. In addition, the detailing on the desk allows it to serve as a stand for gadgets in order to facilitate remote learning, which became the norm during the Covid-19 pandemic. Accompanying the desk is the deer-inspired stool that can be turned into a rocking deer – perfect for both studying and playing. American red oak is a porous material which means it accepts stains and finishes particularly well.

Best Design for Furniture (Student): Kaleles Bar Stool by Alouyxius Bertrand Cleviandro

Bertrand set out to design a piece that was inspired by Indonesian culture as he feels contemporary design does not sufficiently reflect Indonesian’s rich cultural heritage. He took inspiration from the Indonesian island of Madura, which is famous for its centuries-old tradition of bull racing. The stool itself is reflective of the kaleles (the saddle) used in the race, the backrest is representative of the bull’s horns and the curved brass detailing on the leg represents the horseshoe support on which the jockey stands.

Best Design for Interior Space (Young Professional): Baluran National Park Safari Lodge by Muhamad Abdurrohim

Through his design, Abdurrohim would like to bring the luxury African safari lodge experience to the Bularan National Park in Indonesia as he feels that the exquisite views and abundance of flora and fauna need to be supported by equally excellent lodging. His building is inspired by the shape of the firefly, and comprises 4 bedrooms as well as common areas for dining and other leisure activities. His design taps on American red oak for the ceiling structures and American white oak for the exterior with both American oak species bringing different dimensions to the space.

Best Design for Interior Space (Student): Rumpi by Margaretha

Through the creation of a Rumpi, a portable edu-space that can be used for discussion, training or even self-reflection, Margaretha hopes to play a part in supporting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in reducing poverty and social inequality through education. The discussion space will be situated in public areas in Indonesia, equipped with reading material and discussion spaces, that will allow for an exchange of ideas as well as the gaining of knowledge and insight. American red oak despite being hard and heavy, is flexible too, allowing Margaretha to create beautiful curves.

John Chan, AHEC’s regional director for Greater China and Southeast Asia said, “We are glad that the design camp played a role in inspiring young Indonesian designers. We saw so many good designs that choosing the winners was not an easy task for the judges. I have been personally inspired by the various pieces that are rooted in Indonesian culture and make use of American red oak, which is beautiful, durable, sustainable and legally harvested.”