Old archives building to be restored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Work officially began Saturday to restore the
\ndecaying National Archives Building, a rare 18th century
\nstructure on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A ceremony including the cutting of rice cones, signifying
\ngood luck, was held at the building to mark the start of the Rp 6
\nbillion (US$2.3 million) project.<\/p>\n
The Committee for National Archive Building Restoration hoped
\nthe project would be completed by the time Indonesia marks its
\n53rd independence anniversary on Aug. 17, 1998.<\/p>\n
There were three yellow rice cones. The honor to cut them went
\nto committee chairwoman Pia Alisjahbana, counselor for cultural
\nand press affairs at the Dutch embassy Geeskelien Wolters, and
\nJames Oey, representing the contractors carrying out the project.<\/p>\n
The money for the project came from Stichting Cadeau Indonesia
\n(the Indonesian Gift Foundation) grouping Dutch individuals who
\ngot together in 1995 to present a gift for Indonesia's 50th
\nindependence anniversary.<\/p>\n
The foundation decided on the renovation project and launched
\na campaign four years ago to raise the necessary money. It
\nenlisted 60 Dutch firms, including major companies like Phillips,
\nKLM, Dutch Telecom, ABN MR Bank, Unilever, Shell, Stork, Dutch
\nElectric Company, Heineken and Akzo.<\/p>\n
Two Dutch contractors, Decorient and Ballast, have been
\nappointed to carry out the project.<\/p>\n
Foundation vice chairman Erik Hammerstein said the National
\nArchives Building was not only a rare 18th century structure, it
\nwas also rich in history.<\/p>\n
The building could explain about life in 18th century Jakarta
\nand also about the history of the Dutch East Indies Trading
\nCompany (VOC).<\/p>\n
He said: \"It's strictly not political. It's not only the Dutch
\npast, it's also the Indonesians' past.<\/p>\n
\"Many old buildings in Jakarta are going to be pulled down,
\nbut we hope that we can preserve this one.\"<\/p>\n
Wolters said the Dutch embassy morally supported the project.<\/p>\n
The project would tighten the cultural bond between the two
\nnations, she added.<\/p>\n
Due to the building's deteriorating condition, the archives
\nwere moved to Jl. Ampera Kemang, South Jakarta, three years ago.<\/p>\n
The building was built in 1760 by Reiner de Klerk, a Dutch
\ntrader and member of the VOC council who later became governor
\ngeneral of the Dutch Indies in 1777-1780.<\/p>\n
In 1844, the building was used for an orphanage, and sold to
\nthe Dutch Indies government at the end of the century.<\/p>\n
For the next 25 years it served as the office of the
\nDepartment of Mining, and after that, it was used as the
\nLandsarchief (National Archives). The building retained its
\nfunction, but under the Indonesian name Arsip Nasional, after
\nIndonesia declared its independence in August 1945.<\/p>\n
Han Awal, an architect hired by the committee for the project,
\nsaid the two-story main building would be returned to its 1760
\nlook as far as possible.<\/p>\n
Awal said the condition of the building had been affected by
\nage and poor maintenance. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/old-archives-building-to-be-restored-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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