indonesia tatler. july 2019 131
here’s no mistaking the
unparalleled talent that is Santi
Alaysius. As the Principal of
Interior Design of Domisilium
Studio, Santi’s company has
risen to global fame and caters
to technology giants such as GO-JEK’s office
in Jakarta through to esteemed brands and
companies like Nike and Marriott. Adding
to the list of things to celebrate, Domisilium
Studio also recently won the Kohler Bold
Design Award 2018 in Leisure Category.
Her first encounter with the world of
design came in the form of weekend trips.
Young Santi would spend her Sundays at her
father’s workplace—his job as a contractor
opened her eyes to some of the most lavish of
constructions. An artist in the making, Santi
thought her passion lay in fashion, so she
pursued fashion marketing and management
in the US. It was only after graduating that
she felt something was amiss and decided to
enrol in an interior architecture programme
less than a month after.
“I knew it was going to be difficult from
the start. There are barely any women in
construction, and I had to manoeuvre around
that,” she confesses. “Thankfully, when you’re
young and you’re just starting out, you don’t
know what you’re getting yourself into. All
you can do is jump in, and that’s exactly how I
got here.” Looking around now, she sees more
women in her workplace than men—a sign
that times are truly changing.
Conventional values are now of little use
as more women continue to advance their
careers regardless of their personal lives.
“Today, your happiness takes precedence
and establishing communities has become a
culture,” says Santi. “We no longer need to
worry about giving up work for family, or
vice versa. There are a lot of ways that we can
achieve both.”
Born with headspace that knows no limits,
Santi’s approach to the creative process alsobears the same bold streak. The vivacious
designer knows that there is no shortage of
creativity or possibilities, so she continues
to create daring works of art on a daily basis:
“There’s a lot that goes into a building a
space, such as artistry and socio-economic
factors. These ideas don’t just come out of
thin air, but the process is what makes it fun.
The trickier part is convincing my clients to
take different perspectives and to convince
them to create personal spaces that are out of
the box.”
Co-founded by Santi Alaysius and
Hamphrey Tedja in 2009, Domisilium
Studio’s portfolio is a stunning balance
between vibrance and sophistication. Its
trademark approach of fusing intricate
shapes and rich palettes originates from
Nordic minimalism and Spanish flair. Though
Santi and Hamphrey’s studio has multiple
international awards under its belt, when
asked about her definition of success Santi
couldn’t pinpoint a specific milestone they
would like to reach. However, she does
measure success by the way she is perceived,
further explaining: “Success comes when
people enjoy working with you and see
anything you create as functional and
uplifting.”
As Indonesia’s creative industry continues
to expand, more young people are looking
to thrive in the industry just as Domisilium
Studio has. Architecture and interior design
are no longer just hobbies or passions—it
can and should be taken seriously. Hoping
to encourage the younger generations, Santi
insists that despite conventional beliefs,
this line of business can bring good income
should people put in the effort. And to all the
aspiring interior designers out there, Santi’s
notes: “Be proud in whatever you do and stay
honest with yourself and with your work.
Nothing comes easy, but if you have enough
fuel in doing what you love, it will push you
through the difficult phases of life.”SANTI ALAYSIUS