Design Anthology - Asia Pacific Edition
Creative Compound, Jakarta
This slower retail experience is a curated community of homegrown brands housed in charming micro-shops
Dreams are often associated with imagery of clouds, an idea the founders of Kumulo Creative Compound had in mind when they named the newly developed enclave in Jakarta. The visual imagery of a pillowy, heaped cumulus in the vast blue sky was both the inspiration behind the compound's name and the perfect illustration for their core vision — a cluster of dreams realised together in the spirit of collaboration. Founded by Askar and Scarlete Moniaga of lifestyle brand kokken+ and creative entrepreneurs Paulus Susanto and Natasha Natalia, the space is an initiative to support local artisans and creatives, and acts as an incubator for its residents to explore and grow creatively.
Designed by award-winning local firm DUA and constructed by Accossa Lab, Kumulo is spread over a once-vacant 4,200-squaremetre plot within The Breeze, a semi-outdoor retail and lifestyle complex on the outskirts of Jakarta. The compound breathes new life into the space. Each of its 25 prefabricated micro-shops houses a local homegrown brand, all carefully curated by the founders for their enchanting brand story, creative outlook and, most importantly, sense of community. The figures behind these artisanal brands behave like friendly neighbours ready to welcome visitors into their homes. Their stories are told through their products and their shop interiors, which are meticulously designed to reflect their respective identities while complementing the distinctive geometric prefabricated structure.
Among these are Fredhelligh, which offers a dose of charming nostalgia via vintageinspired homeware beautifully crafted with local sensibilities; Adinegara Ceramic, a tranquil gallery-like space that allows visitors to be fully immersed in craftsman Reynold Adinegara's work; artisanal sweets and savoury bites in the homey Shuga store; and the serene Pourie store, which reflects the natural skincare brand's values of mindfulness and purity.
While each shop reflects the characteristics of its residents, they all carry the unifying spirit of a community dynamic — and it's this dynamic that helps the members to constantly evolve and challenge themselves, which is exactly what the Kumulo founders hoped to achieve. Currently, the remainder of the open space in Kumulo is reserved for future public art installations, further emphasising the spirit of communal collaboration.