R U Mnml?

Modernism and its resulting derivative, Minimalism, though around for decades, are once again emerging as popular design styles of recent.  There is something hauntingly appealing about the bare and stark aesthetics of things simple.  Rooted on the principles of reducing elements to the bare essentials, minimalism does away with embellishment to give favor to function and practicality.  The design philosophy adopted by Arch. Mies Van Der Rohe, "less is more," has become the motto of minimalist designers the world over.

So we know what it is, we know what it looks like, and we know how its architecture is designed.  But contrary to its very essence, which is simplicity, minimalism is not so simple and easy.  We are a culture of butingting and knickknacks--which is a nice way to say clutter.  People (much more, Filipinos) just love to have things.  We can't seem to do away with acquiring more and more.  It seems there's an underlying rule with Pinoys when it comes to space, that as long as there is room to occupy, it should be occupied.  So before you want to design a minimalist home for yourself, or live in one, you should first decide whether you can indeed live minimally.  For minimalism is truly a lifestyle more than a style.

How does one live the minimalist lifestyle?  Before even answering that question, another one must be answered first: Do you want to live a minimalist lifestyle?  Habits are among the most difficult things to change in this world, and assuming your answer to the question is yes, then you would have to make an honest assessment of your habits.

There are several publications that promote the minimalist lifestyle, and many websites dedicated to it as well.  In a nutshell, it actually goes back to the "less is more" motto.  It might not be obvious for many, but this ideal means by losing something, you gain something else.  Having less material objects, you gain more valuable space.  Doing less activities, gives you more precious time.  Having less desires, gives you more peace in mind.  You get the drift.  But don't just start tossing out your possessions, or stop doing your daily activities and quit your job.  One very important principle in the practice of minimalism is being able to determine what is essential in your life.  When you are able to identify the things that truly matter to you, it will be easy to get rid of the things (or even people) that don't.

Minimalist home designed by Andrea Oliva from Cittaarchitettura

Photo courtesy of www.everydayminimalist.com

One has to work at becoming minimalist.  It does not happen overnight.  To reiterate, it is about habit forming.  Habits are formed by repeatedly doing things a certain way.  Purging your belongings once, but allowing yourself to acquire and accumulate things all over again is obviously a failure in principle.  So, if you are new to the concept of simplifying your life, it would be helpful to actually have an outline of goals and a schedule to achieve them, until the acts become second nature, thus becoming a habit.  Do baby steps, so as to not be overwhelmed.  Start with things you have direct control over.  Choose specific aspects and areas, and break them down even further.  If, for  example, you plan to clean up your house, start with one room.  And in that room, do the clean up by area, by corner.

As a designer, I have very strong leanings toward minimalist details and design principles.  But before implementing such details, I try to assess if my clients can actually live such a lifestyle.  It is easy to connect to minimalism and appreciate its aesthetics, as the style is quite universal.  But still, it is not for everyone.