Architect says old town project needs support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The old Jakarta revitalization project needs the
\nprivate sector and the community's greater involvement and
\nparticipation, a Dutch architect said yesterday.<\/p>\n
R.W. Heringa, the author of an architectural book Ir.F.J.L.
\nGhijsels, Architect in Indonesia (l910-1929), said
\nhe was glad to know the city administration had already started a
\nprogram to refurbish its old city sites.<\/p>\n
But he lamented the fact that the participation of the private
\nsector in this huge project was still limited.<\/p>\n
Heringa was speaking on his book at the Omni Batavia Hotel, to
\nbe launched Wednesday at the Erasmus Huis Dutch cultural center.<\/p>\n
The book launching will be highlighted by architectural
\nexhibitions in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang in Central Java,
\nSurabaya in East Java and Denpasar in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"The city government should first clean up all rivers,
\nincluding Opak and Kali Besar rivers, in this old area and turn
\nthem into a center of attraction,\" suggested Heringa, who is the
\ngrandson of the prominent Dutch architect Ghijsels.<\/p>\n
He believed once the rivers were clean, private investors were
\nwilling to run their businesses in the areas.<\/p>\n
\"The government, for instance, could establish water
\ntransportation facilities for tourist attractions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the private sector could also play a significant role
\nin the renovation of old buildings along the riverbanks and
\nsurrounding areas.<\/p>\n
\"Look at this building,\" Heringa said, pointing at the Samudra
\nIndonesia office building on Jl. Kali Besar Barat, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The authority can ask the building's owner to refurbish this
\nold beautiful structure. Since a whopping fund is needed to
\nimplement the Old City project, the government cannot do it
\nalone,\" Heringa said.<\/p>\n
Since early l990s, the administration has been carrying out an
\nambitious program to transform its old city, home to hundreds of
\nneo-classical and art-deco style buildings, into a potential
\nbusiness and tourism site.<\/p>\n
The old city includes a 134-hectare area stretching from West
\nJakarta to North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Heringa said his book on Ghijsels might be used as a reference
\nfor those who are involved in the project.<\/p>\n
The 127-page book contains an overall survey of important and
\nextensive works of the architect Ghijsels in Indonesia between
\nl910 and 1929.<\/p>\n
The book was based on personal archives of Ghijsels who died
\nin l947.<\/p>\n
Ghijsels inherited all the archives to Heringa.<\/p>\n
\"For almost 40 years, these important archives were kept in
\nour house's attic,\" Heringa recalled.<\/p>\n
The book reveals under his company, Algemeen Ingenieurs-en
\nArchitectenbureau (AIA), Ghijsels designed several important
\npublic and private buildings in Jakarta and other cities in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Among his significant works were Kota railway station, Samudra
\nIndonesia office on Kalibesar street, West Jakarta, KPM hospital
\n(now Pelni Hospital) in Petamburan area, West Jakarta, the now
\ndefunt Hotel des Indes and Societe de Harmonie in downtown area.<\/p>\n
He also designed the famous Villa Isola (now the campus of
\nIKIP Teacher College), Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung and
\nPanti Rapih hospital in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I hope this book will encourage those interested in
\npreserving historical buildings to work harder to preserve their
\narchitectural heritages,\" Heringa said. (raw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/architect-says-old-town-project-needs-support-1447893297",
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