Kota warehouses will undergo transformation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is striving to make the
\ndowntown, Kota, area in West Jakarta a major tourist site, by
\nchanging the function of old warehouses to entertainment centers,
\nincluding discotheques and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Wisnu Murti, head of the City Building Design and Renovation
\nOffice said over the weekend that a decision has been made by the
\ncity administration for the alteration of the function of old
\nwarehouses to entertainment centers.<\/p>\n
\"There will no longer be warehouses in the area. The
\nalteration of these old buildings to entertainment centers, is
\nexpected to help support the city's tourism industry,\" Wisnu told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The decision is part of the city administration's plan to
\nrevive the glory of the downtown area, the oldest part of the
\ncity. This is also designed to support the tourist industry in
\nthe area, especially the number of prominent museums, including
\nthe maritime, wayang (leather puppet show) and Jakarta History
\nmuseum.<\/p>\n
Wisnu said that warehouse owners have been ordered to relocate
\ntheir activities, including to Pluit in West Jakarta, Ciracas in
\nEast Jakarta and Sunter in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Data from the West Jakarta mayoralty shows that, at present,
\nthere are about 63 warehouses, built by the Dutch-Indies Company
\nduring the colonial era, in the downtown area.<\/p>\n
Last week the City Museum and Historical Affairs Office held a
\nseminar on the revival of warehouses in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n
A.J. Bonke, an archeologist from the University of Amsterdam,
\nsaid at the seminar that there are many possibilities to reuse
\nthe old warehouses and integrate them with modern architecture.<\/p>\n
\"In Amsterdam old warehouses are used as apartments, hotels,
\nshops, offices, restaurants and theaters, as well as a university
\nlibrary,\" Bonke said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the most important thing is to keep the
\nheritage, as part of the country's history, as well as making
\nthem one of many tourist attractions in the city.<\/p>\n
Another speaker, Lodewijk J. Wagenaar, a curator of the
\nAmsterdam Historical Museum, stressed that reviving or renovating
\nold historical buildings will link the current society with its
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
\"Old warehouses or other buildings reflect the ever changing
\nenvironment of mankind, its history, socio-economy and cultural
\nlife,\" Wagenaar said in the seminar.<\/p>\n
However, there are questions being asked about the plan: can
\nthe city administration keep the architectural structures of the
\nold warehouse, and how will the city finance the project?<\/p>\n
Wisnu guaranteed that the renovations will not change the
\narchitectural structures of the buildings because the Kota area
\nhas been earmarked as a protected area under a gubernatorial
\ndecree, which means that buildings, including warehouses, should
\nbe preserved. The buildings' owners are not allowed to renovate
\ntheir buildings as they like.<\/p>\n
\"The office has been advising owners not to change the
\narchitectural structures of their buildings, so that the
\nhistorical value of those buildings is not reduced,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Building owners, he said, warmly welcomed the idea because
\nthey know that changing the function of those warehouses, to
\nentertainment centers, will give them more benefits.<\/p>\n
\"It is a fact that using the old buildings in the Kota area as
\nwarehouses is not as profitable as entertainment centers. So it's
\nnatural that the owners welcome the idea,\" Wisnu said.<\/p>\n
Currently, the city administration is trying to attract
\ninvestors, interested in renovating warehouses, to work in
\ncooperation with the owners.<\/p>\n
Wisnu said the city administration will help build the
\ninfrastructures, including streets and pedestrian walkways. (yns)<\/p>",
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