Candra Naya, test of commitment to preservation<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Even now, straddled by a monstrous, unfinished, concrete and
\nsteel structure and stripped of all its splendor, the Candra Naya
\nChinese mansion on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, still looks
\nmajestic.<\/p>\n
Two buildings, one in front of the other, with their
\ndistinctive "swallow's tail" roof are what remain of the once
\nextensive and imposing mansion. There wasn't even the excuse of
\nwar, but like most other traces of early culture in Indonesia,
\nthis may also disappear from the place it has stood for the last
\ntwo centuries.<\/p>\n
"Items of cultural property are important resources of the
\nnational culture, related to the understanding and promotion of
\nhistory, science, and culture that require protection,
\npreservation and conservation for the fulfilling of an
\nunderstanding of national identity and the national interest,"
\nLaw No. 5\/1992 concerning Items of Cultural Property stipulates.
\nYet in many cases the national interest is defined in economic
\nterms and national identity is forced to take a backseat.<\/p>\n
So where do we draw the line between progress and the
\npreservation of our cultural past? The question has been
\npestering experts for years, torn between economic necessity and
\nnational pride.<\/p>\n
"If it was the only one in existence. If it is rare, unique,
\nand special," senior archaeologist from the University of
\nIndonesia, Mundardjito, said when asked what historical buildings
\nshould be preserved.<\/p>\n
If those are the requirements then Candra Naya perfectly fits
\nthe bill.<\/p>\n
Constructed sometime in the 19th century by the affluent and
\ninfluential Khouw family, Candra Naya is considered the city's
\nbiggest and most complete building in the Chinese architectural
\nstyle. It is also the only one, as two other mansions -- built by
\nthe same family -- were demolished long ago.<\/p>\n
According to research by Irma Hastuti from the University of
\nIndonesia's School of Archaeology, the earlier inhabitant of the
\nmansion was businessman Khouw Tjeng Tjoan, who lived in the 100-
\nroom mansion with his 14 wives and 24 children.<\/p>\n
Candra Naya then was an extensive 67-meter by 43-meter
\nbuilding with a courtyard in the middle, all standing on 1.5
\nhectares of land. Following the traditional Chinese architectural
\nstyle, the back building was where the head of the family lived,
\nthe buildings on each side of the courtyard housed the children.<\/p>\n
The mansion's most famous resident was Khouw Kim An (1897-
\n1945) -- a prominent businessman and banker -- who became a
\nmajoor (major), or the highest ranking Chinese leader in the
\nDutch East Indies.<\/p>\n
The book The Chinese Captain of Batavia 1837-1942 said that
\nBatavia had only five majors, of which Khouw Kim An was one
\nbetween 1910 and 1918, and reappointed between 1927 and 1942.<\/p>\n
After Khouw's death in 1945, the mansion became headquarters
\nfor the Sin Ming Hui (New Light Foundation), a Chinese social
\norganization that provided health care and education, as well as
\nsupported sports and photography clubs. The foundation was later
\nrenamed Candra Naya, and the headquarters became Candra Naya
\nBuilding.<\/p>\n
During the war for independence, the mansion became witness to
\nthe establishment of the Pao An Tui, an organization to ensure
\nthe protection and safety of the Chinese in Indonesia during the
\nwar.<\/p>\n
Cultural expert, Wastu Pragantha Zhong, in an earlier
\ninterview said that Candra Naya founded the Sumber Waras Hospital
\nin West Jakarta and Tarumanagara University.<\/p>\n
"The university's school of architecture, law, economics, and
\nEnglish were initially located at the mansion," he said.<\/p>\n
Candra Naya Building also played an important part in grooming
\nthe glory of Indonesian badminton history as it housed the first
\ntournament ever organized by the Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia (PBSI) in 1955.<\/p>\n
Among the shuttlers were Ferry Sonneville, Eddy Yusuf, and Tan
\nJoe Hok, who all went on to win the first Thomas Cup team's
\nchampionship for Indonesia in 1957.<\/p>\n
Irma said the building became the headquarters for the
\nIndonesian Student Action Front (KAMI) during the upheaval
\nfollowing the aborted coup in 1965, blamed by most Indonesians on
\nthe Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), and became the site for
\nraising money for financing the city's development during the
\ngovernorship of Ali Sadikin (1966-1977).<\/p>\n
Architecturally, Candra Naya is also special. Blending
\ntraditional Chinese values in architecture with the practicality
\nof the Indisch style of architecture, a reflection of the melting
\npot of Batavia society.<\/p>\n
"It has many non-Chinese touches not found in pure Chinese
\narchitecture," heritage observer David Kwa said, citing the
\nwindow shutters and window bars, marble floor, glass skylight,
\nironwork ornamentation, which are obviously Indisch-style
\narchitecture.<\/p>\n
The uniqueness of Candra Naya earned it protected building and
\ncultural property status from the Dutch in its Monumenten
\nOrdonantie Stb. 238\/1931, the Republic of Indonesia's Minister of
\nEducation and Culture edict no. 0128\/M\/1988, and Jakarta
\nGovernor's decree no. Cb.11\/1\/12\/1972 and no. 475\/1993.<\/p>\n
It was further protected under Law no. 5\/1992 concerning Items
\nof Cultural Property and Government Regulation no. 10\/1993 on
\nimplementation of law no. 5\/1992.<\/p>\n
So why is Candra Naya's existence still questioned? The laws
\nprotecting it should ensure the building is preserved and
\nutilized for the advancement of the national culture of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
However, Law no. 5\/1992 also stipulates that "without
\npermission from the Government, each and every person is
\nprohibited from taking away or removing items of cultural
\nproperty either in part or whole, except in case of emergency".
\nWell, the government could be persuaded could it not?<\/p>\n
The government had already allowed the current owner -- the
\nModern Group, owned by business tycoon Hartono Samadikun who
\nbought the property in 1992 -- to build a hotel and apartment
\nblock on the property to generate income for the maintenance of
\nCandra Naya.<\/p>\n
According to Wisnu Murti Ardjo, Chairman of the Jakarta
\nAdministration's Advisory Team for Cultural Heritage, the
\ngovernment has also given in to demands that the back building be
\ntorn down to make way for a 24-floor apartment, and the side
\nbuildings be dismantled temporarily to construct the foundations
\nof a walkway connecting the apartment and the hotel which was to
\nbe constructed in front of Candra Naya.<\/p>\n
And so what was left of the historic Candra Naya building
\nwould stand inside a "cave" of glass, steel, and concrete. Wisnu
\nsaid this was acceptable at the time because of Soeharto's
\nregulations against the preservation of Chinese culture in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"That in itself was all wrong," Mundardjito said. "In
\nprinciple, a cultural property should never be changed out of its
\ncontext, its authenticity in space, and neither could its
\nworkmanship be modified."<\/p>\n
The economic crisis in 1998, however, halted all construction
\nand the Modern Group fell into the hands of the Indonesian Bank
\nRestructuring Agency (IBRA).<\/p>\n
New investors for the property refused to have Candra Naya as
\npart of its business development, and hence Modern Group's
\nproposal -- together with the Indonesian Chinese Social
\nOrganization (PSMTI) - to move the building to Taman Mini
\nIndonesia Indah (TMII).<\/p>\n
Strong protests ensued from the architectural, archaeological,
\nand heritage communities, as well as from the people living
\naround Candra Naya.<\/p>\n
"On behalf of the Chinese community living around Candra Naya,
\nwe reject the proposal that the building be moved to TMII. As who
\nwill maintain the upkeep of the building? We will campaign for
\nit," Virja Surja Tonowidjaja, a community leader, said.<\/p>\n
They, together with the city administration's advisory team
\nand other relevant government institutions, have submitted their
\nrejection of the proposal together with recommendations to
\nGovernor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
"One is for the governor to appeal to IBRA to give special
\npriority for the maintenance of Candra Naya while the process of
\nthe Modern Group's assets goes on," Wisnu said.<\/p>\n
Candra Naya's future hangs on how much importance the
\ngovernment is willing to put on the preservation of its cultural
\nhistory.<\/p>",
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