Homedec showcases ‘Aged Care Living and Design’

PETALING JAYA: Homedec (Home Décor and Design Exhibition) 2015 expects over RM160 million in sales and an attendance of 140,000 visitors, said Datuk Vincent Lim, Homedec organiser and president of C.I.S. Network Sdn Bhd, during its launch at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, yesterday.

The two-weekend exhibition has two parts: “Design +Renovate” from Oct 22 to 25, and “Furnish + Decorate” from Oct 29 to Nov 1.

“We have over 550 exhibitors for this year’s exhibition, and a total of 1,600 booths for both parts,” said Lim.

For the first time, Homedec will feature exhibits on “Aged Care Living and Design: Creating homes for smart ageing”. This is a collaboration between Homedec, C.I.S. Network, Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) and National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nacscom) that showcases three life-size show units related to aged care living, designed by Malaysian interior designers of repute.

“Every senior citizen aims to age in a dignified manner and live in independence. It is our job to provide these needs as best as we can,” said Lim, who officiated the launch of these special units, along with Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh, president of Nacscom and Chris Yap, president of MIID.

“We must take proactive steps to design living spaces that are functional, safe, comfortable and pleasant, starting from today,” said Lim.

“When you design for the young, you exclude the old, but when you design for the old, you design for everyone,” said Nacscom deputy president Susan Suah.

Each show unit has a concept based on the different stages of ageing; “Awakening” shows non-assisted aged care, or low-care living, in a 40 sq m space designed by Leong Ta Wan. “Style without borders” (mid-care living; 43 sq m) is by design director Ooi Boon Seong and Lisa Ong of PDI design and associates, and “Calm realisation” (full-care living; 41 sq m) is designed by Idzam Othman, senior interior designer of Majidah Design.

These special show units will also be featured in future Homedec exhibitions. “We intend to bring the show units to Penang in April 2016, and Johor in July 2016. We have allocated approximately RM1.5 million for these special show units, so we are going to fully utilise them and spread awareness of them among northern and southern homeowners,” said Lim.

This article first appeared in The Edge Property pullout on Oct 23, 2015, which appears every Friday with The Edge Financial Daily. Download your free copy of The Edge Property pullout here.