Designed by Rina Renville and initiated by Written, the Media Lounge at IFFINA+ 2026 translates the idea of berteduh into a space for work, rest, and connection.
Design exhibitions are not only places to discover new products or keep up with industry developments. Amid rows of furniture, material presentations, and professional gatherings, there is a more fundamental need: a space to pause. For visitors spending hours exploring the exhibition, as well as journalists who need to work between scheduled activities, the opportunity to rest can be an important part of the overall experience.
This need became the starting point for the Media Lounge at IFFINA+ 2026, designed by Rina Renville. Built around the concept of berteduh, or taking shelter, the lounge draws on the idea of giving people the opportunity to slow down, recharge, and return to their activities with greater ease. In this context, taking shelter is understood not only in a physical sense, but also as a spatial experience that supports human interaction and everyday needs.
Held from 24–27 September 2026 at NICE PIK 2, IFFINA+ powered by imm cologne served as a platform connecting Indonesia’s furniture, design, and craft industries with a wider market. Amid this dynamic environment, the Media Lounge took on the role of a shared space for media professionals and visitors. Initiated by Written in collaboration with Mahjong Society, the lounge offers more than just a place to sit. It provides an environment that accommodates work, rest, and social interaction within a unified spatial experience.
Translating Berteduh into Space
For Rina Renville, the main challenge in designing the Media Lounge was establishing a harmonious relationship between the artworks and the seating arrangement. Both needed to complement one another without compromising their respective functions or aesthetic value. Visitors had to be able to appreciate the displayed works while also feeling comfortable sitting down, taking a break, and interacting with others.
This challenge placed the visitor experience at the heart of the design process. Spatial planning was not only about how each element looked, but also how the elements related to one another and functioned in real-life situations.
The Media Lounge’s circular layout became one way of translating the concept of berteduh into space. Its flowing form creates a sense of embrace, offering an experience distinct from moving between rows of exhibition booths. Rather than directing visitors toward a single activity, the configuration allows for different ways of using the space, whether to get work done, enjoy a moment of rest, or strike up a conversation with other visitors.
The Collaboration Behind the Spatial Experience
The concept took shape through a collaboration between Rina Renville and several partners who contributed to the lounge’s structure and interior elements. Aluveen and Cellux helped bring the design structure to life, translating the initial concept into a space that could be built and used.
Within the lounge area, Alessio contributed to an atmosphere of comfort and elegance, while Every complemented the work and activity zone, accommodating more dynamic needs. In the snack and retail area, Dusdukduk introduced cardboard as a space-forming material, offering a different approach to material use.
Beyond spatial planning and furniture selection, the Media Lounge experience was further expanded through the presence of Mahjong Society. This collaboration introduced an alternative activity for visitors looking to take a break from the exhibition programme. Through mahjong, the lounge became a place to unwind, interact, and get to know other visitors in a more informal setting. This activity complemented the lounge’s role as a place to work and rest, while creating opportunities for conversations and new connections to emerge naturally.
Each collaborator brought a distinct character and function to the space. The challenge was not to make every element look uniform, but to ensure that these differences came together to form a cohesive experience. Furniture, materials, structure, and artworks needed to support one another without losing their individual identities.
A Pause as Part of the Design Experience
Through the Media Lounge at IFFINA+ 2026, Rina Renville offers a perspective on design that goes beyond how a space looks to consider how it responds to human needs. Initiated by Written in collaboration with Mahjong Society, the lounge was designed to accommodate media professionals and exhibition visitors, providing a place to work, recharge, and exchange ideas. Its presence expands the role of an exhibition support space, transforming it from a simple amenity into an integral part of the visitor experience.
Ultimately, berteduh becomes more than a spatial concept. It serves as a foundation for bringing comfort, activity, and interaction together in a single experience. Amid the energy of IFFINA+ 2026, the Media Lounge is a reminder that design is not only expressed through the objects on display, but also through spaces that allow people to pause, connect, and discover new possibilities through encounters with others.
