Indonesia enters post-mo in architecture<\/p>\n
Foreign influence on the architecture of Jakarta and its
\nsurrounding area has resulted in the city's houses and buildings
\nbecoming more and more internationalized. The Jakarta Post
\ninterviews experts on foreign influence, the U.S. in particular,
\non local architecture. The following is the excerpt of their
\nviews.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): One impact of globalization is housing designs
\nin Indonesia have become more varied than ever. Jakartans, in
\nparticular, are quite trendy when it comes to housing and have
\nadopted many designs.<\/p>\n
\"There has been a tremendous change in architecture, from the
\nClassic to the Renaissance, the Art-deco and the Post-Modern.
\nIndonesia is entering the age of Post-Modern with a combination
\nof the other styles,\" said Ciputra, a pioneer in Indonesia's real
\nestate business.<\/p>\n
\"There are houses designed in colonial, country, Mediterranean
\nand post modern styles. In general, all are well-adapted to the
\nclimate here,\" added Herman Soedarsono, an executive of the
\nIndonesian Real Estate Association.<\/p>\n
The Mediterranean houses, for example, are equipped with
\ncanopies which are not found in the original design, said
\nSoedarsono.<\/p>\n
\"In the original countries a canopy allows snow to pile up,
\nwhich can be dangerous. Here, we need it to protect our house
\nfrom sun and rain,\" Soedarsono explained.<\/p>\n
\"We also see a lot of changes and adjustments. A colonial
\ndesign, for example, was more complicated before, but now it has
\nbecome lighter and more simple. One of the reasons is the cost of
\nlabor is higher,\" explained Soedarsono. He is a director of PT
\nDuta Putra Mahkota, a developer who is currently building Legend
\nCity.<\/p>\n
A city's architecture is strongly influenced by the lifestyle
\nof the public and what they need from buildings, said Ciputra.<\/p>\n
\"The lifestyle of Indonesians is similar to Singaporeans,
\nIndians, Europeans, Americans, Australians and Arabs. People in
\nthese countries achieve material value through trade and
\nindustrialization. They talk the same language: the language of
\ntrade and economics, and emphasize efficiency and productivity,\"
\nCiputra told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Local Style<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia lacks a local style for urban architecture.<\/p>\n
\"Today, clients want to be international, because of their
\nextensive travels to Europe and the U.S. They are also highly
\ninfluenced by television. They aren't too keen on ethnic
\narchitecture,\" offered Gordon G. Benton, the Lippo Village
\nTownship manager.<\/p>\n
\"They want Mediterranean style, Los Angeles style and Beverly
\nHills style. Our marketing people have been successful in
\nidentifying the market and we are very sure of what they want,\"
\nBenton asserted.<\/p>\n
According to Ciputra, 99 percent of condominiums and houses
\nare sold to locals, who are not interested in the Indonesian
\nstyle.<\/p>\n
Ciputra believes that \"the local flavor can be maintained in
\nthe interior decoration which has a less economic function.\"<\/p>\n
Interior decoration has an \"emotional function\". Therefore,
\nlocal art is best suited for the tourist industry, in Bali for
\ninstance, but not for office buildings or condominiums, he added.<\/p>\n
\"In Jakarta, the most we can do with national art is apply it
\nto interior decorating, like what the Hilton and Horizon hotels
\nhave done,\" Ciputra pointed out.<\/p>\n
Unlike painting or sculpture, which deals mainly with
\ncreativity, architecture has much to do with science and
\ntechnology. It is therefore more accurate to trace the progress
\nof a nation through its architecture than through its art, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
One style<\/p>\n
Benton believes that houses in Indonesian cities will
\neventually only have an international style, heavily influenced
\nby the U.S.<\/p>\n
\"It would be very nice to see Balinese or Sundanese styles.
\nBut in reality, very few people buy such houses,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Balinese and Sundanese architecture requires a lot of space
\nand is inefficient in light of the limited land available.<\/p>\n
\"One basic requirement for international style is efficiency,\"
\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
Benton pointed out that Wisma Dharmala Sakti building on Jl.
\nSudirman in Central Jakarta is very tropical but also very
\ninefficient.<\/p>\n
\"It looks like many kampong houses. It's very good-looking,
\nbut hard to clean,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
Even though all cities may have one international style, said
\nBenton, planners can insert some local content and adjust to
\ngeographical situations. Houses in tropical countries, which have
\nlots of rain and sun, require ventilation and good roofing. The
\nhouse can be big or small, but the yard needs to be spacious
\nenough.<\/p>\n
Houses in elite complexes in Jakarta don't follow these
\nbasics. The houses are so big that only narrow gardens remain.
\nThe walls are very tall, preventing the flow of fresh air.<\/p>\n
\"As far as housing is concerned, Indonesians are
\nindividualists. They build high walls so everybody can mind their
\nthings. They don't know anything about their neighbors. Even in
\nthe West there are no such high walls,\" Benton pointed out.<\/p>\n
Soedarsono believes Indonesians \"don't feel secure without
\nfences. Not only to protect their household goods, but also their
\ngardens.\"<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesians prefer to make maximum use of their
\nproperty, and therefore don't give too much thought to the beauty
\nof a house.<\/p>\n
\"In Western countries, you can enjoy your neighbor's garden,
\nbut not here. We don't want people looking into our garden, and
\nwe don't want to see theirs because of jealousy,\" Soedarsono
\nargued.<\/p>\n
Soedarsono said a no-fence policy would create problems if
\napplied to the small plots in Lippo Village.<\/p>\n
\"You can imagine what you would do if your neighbor's dog
\nmessed up your garden or their son jumped into it. If it happened
\neveryday, you would build a fence. Only if strict rules are
\nenforced will Indonesians live comfortably without fences,\" he
\nargued.<\/p>\n
Challenge<\/p>\n
To quench Jakartan's thirst for anything new, developers
\ncompete to offer new concepts.<\/p>\n
Jakartans, Soedarsono said, are aggressive when it comes to
\nhouses. \"Just imagine, in only two years 89 new apartment towers
\nwere built. If a design is well accepted, other developers will
\ncopy it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Increased wealth is a major factor of the booming property
\nbusiness in the past ten years. Many Jakartans own houses or
\napartments as an investment.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Architects,
\nSuntana F. Djatnika, said that the boom poses a challenge for
\nlocal architectural firms, construction companies, building
\ncontractors and other related businesses.<\/p>\n
\"Between Rp 10 and Rp 15 trillion will be spent annually
\nduring the fifth Five Year Development Plan (Pelita V) on
\nconstruction. Only 27 percent of the projects will be implemented
\nby the government, the other 73 percent will be handled by the
\nprivate sector,\" disclosed Suntana.<\/p>\n
Most of the endeavors have become mega projects which require
\nexpertise that Indonesian architects just don't have. As a
\nresult, most large-scale projects are handled by foreign
\narchitectural firms.<\/p>\n
\"I view the deluge of foreign architects as a positive
\nchallenge rather than a serious threat. Their presence has made
\nus aware of our own weaknesses,\" Suntana, also a director of the
\nTeam 4 architectural firm, said.<\/p>\n
\"It isn't a sin to benefit from the experience of foreign
\narchitects. It is a learning process that Indonesian architects
\nshould go through,\" Suntana stressed.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot build 60-floor skyscrapers or develop a super block
\n(an integrated business district) or develop a master site plan
\nfor a mega city if we don't have any experience in dealing with
\nthese big projects. It's a very risky venture because the
\nprojects deal with public facilities. If we fail, it would ruin
\nour reputation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The best way to absorb new technology and expertise is to be
\ninvolved in these mega projects by acting as an active local
\npartner.<\/p>\n
Regulations prohibit foreign firms from applying for building
\npermits in Jakarta so they must cooperate with a local
\ncounterpart when implementing any project.<\/p>\n
Many foreign architects hand over conceptual designs to their
\nlocal partners for them to develop. This enables local architects
\nto absorb design and management skills, Suntana explained.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many local architects and firms are quite
\nsatisfied to be \"sleeping partners\", meaning they only apply for
\npermits and receive a fee for their services.<\/p>\n
\"It violates morals. Local architects lose out because they
\ndon't gain expertise. They ruin their own names for being
\nincapable of standing beside their foreign counterparts,\" Suntana
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
Suwarmo Soepeno, president of the architectural firm PT Parama
\nLoka Consultant, shares Suntana's view.<\/p>\n
Local architects, he said, actually have a strong bargaining
\nposition because they know the social and economic conditions of
\nthe country. They know how to handle problems concerning
\nlicensing permits and the workforce.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, we shouldn't apply all the technology and management
\nsystems of foreign architects because they may not be suitable,\"
\nSuwarmo warned. (als\/jsk\/raw\/sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-enters-post-mo-in-architecture-1447893297",
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