'Old buildings, museums treated like stepchildren'<\/p>\n
The renovation projects for Hotel Indonesia, built in the 1960s
\nto accommodate athletes participating in the fourth Asian Games,
\nand for the 265-year-old Luar Batang mosque, Pasar Ikan, North
\nJakarta, prove that heritage sites sometimes have to accommodate
\ndevelopment. The Jakarta Post talked to some people on what
\nshould be done with heritage sites.<\/p>\n
Aditia Sudarto, 28, is an associate at a PR company in South
\nJakarta. He lives in Tanah Kusir, also in South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I prefer to preserve heritage sites in Jakarta, at least their
\nexterior architecture. If they want to upgrade or change the
\ninterior, that doesn't really matter.<\/p>\n
Such places have historical value and can be interesting to
\ntourists. Old buildings can even serve both as offices and
\ntourist attractions, for instance.<\/p>\n
I remember a well-known coffee shop in Bandung, an old white
\nart deco building, where visitors could buy coffee and also enjoy
\nthe old building when it was open for business.<\/p>\n
It's just too bad if all old buildings are destroyed in the
\nname of development.<\/p>\n
Elita, 34, is a journalist with a daily newspaper in Palmerah,
\nWest Jakarta. She resides with her family on Jl. HOS
\nCokroaminoto, Ciledug, Tangerang:<\/p>\n
Old buildings and museums are like stepchildren for the city
\nadministration. They get only meager funds from the city budget
\nfor maintenance, which is nonetheless very costly. That's why we
\nfind them unattractive and many are in poor condition.<\/p>\n
The administration pays too much attention to erecting new
\nbuildings and projects in its development program. It is a
\nglaring irony to know that even developed countries, like Germany
\nand the Netherlands, which I have visited, preserve their old
\nbuildings, museums and prioritize conservation policy.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/old-buildings-museums-treated-like-stepchildren-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }