Architecture in Indonesia, a project in progress
Architecture in Indonesia, a project in progress
By Bagoes P. Wiryomartono
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is seasoned with a diversity of building traditions resulting from land and aquatic cultural evolution. For several centuries houses on stilts with steep roofs formed the regional identity. The openness of the archipelago to the outside world constituted a formative structure of flexibility and impermanence of human settlement for centuries.
The architectural expressions based on wall construction began with the Hindu-Buddhist influence, especially in Java and later in Bali. States called 'negara' and proto-capital towns were established in Java in the 10th century. Though the existence of such states are confirmed in many inscriptions, lack of archeological remains make it difficult to identify the architecture of ancient towns. Traces of past urban architecture in Java is dominated by the Hindu and Buddhist temples.
The presence of Islamic and European influences provided Indonesian towns with other ritual features. By the 16th century, mosques and churches had become important elements of architecture in the archipelago.
The growth of modern towns with various building types was controlled by the Dutch until the mid-20th century. In terms of architecture, the colonial rule introduced Indonesian people to modern infrastructure and building techniques based on the modern industrial materials of steel, concrete and glass. Although modern buildings started to change the image and structure of Indonesian towns at the beginning of the 20th century, the traditional centers can still be recognized by their 'alun-alun', or squares, administrative building and principal mosque.
The urban fabric has developed rapidly since the five-year development program began in 1970. Land speculation emerged with the growth of commercial and industrial centers.
Tourists arriving in Jakarta for the first time are astonished and disappointed to see that glass box skyscrapers along commercial strips have replaced the traditional pitched roof architecture. However, if we carefully observe these new physical structures in relation to its people, we can see that a trace of order and Indonesian characteristics still remains. The answer doesn't lie in what you see, but in what you understand about Indonesia.
Spatial concept
Historically, Indonesian architecture never paid much attention to spatial concepts. In Indonesia, space as a physically definite structure is not perceived as the object of man. Thus, space is traditionally neither manipulated nor treated according to the laws of strict geometrical composition. Space is always grasped as a mobile and dynamic place where events occur. Space is not an object of visual perception, but only architecturally significant if something happens there. This is also why rituals play a very important role in Indonesia. Without the ritual, the building is nothing.
Impermanence and mobility are considered as important metaphysical dimensions of Indonesian traditional architecture. In the Indonesian sense, to build is not to finish the structure, but to be ready to deal with new things. Here, the past and future are not divided into different temporal categories. The important thing is now -- the present. Understanding the present is a way of Indonesian life. Architecture is not understood as an implement of living, but rather as life itself.
"To build" in old Malay is 'membina', which means to cultivate or to develop. The intention of 'membina' is not only to produce something, but also to keep the product in harmony with other aspects. A beautiful building is not only seen in terms of its conspicuous character but also as a totality in relation to its surroundings. The Indonesian term for beauty, 'indah', is never detached from harmony, 'selaras'. Dealing with foreign influences has always been considered to be in conjunction with the search for harmony, 'keselarasan'. The Indonesian verb 'meramu', which means to compose things with different characteristics and origins, is usually used for the mixing of remedial potions and therefore has a positive connotation.
Identity
Openness toward interplay could be an important aspect of the development of Indonesia architecture. Indonesian architects have never spent much time searching for a national architectural identity. Instead, they strive to improve and develop ideas and expressions. Building is a process no less important than the product. Buildings in Indonesia are likely to be unfinished projects, continually in-progress, all constructed for the sake of development and regeneration. Only the most important elements from the past should be taken into consideration. The ruling power plays an important role in embodying them into new rituals. The usage of forms of the past will never enter modern architecture without the support of the political and economic powers.
During the five-year development plan, the interplay of administrative and economic powers have altered Indonesia. Uncontrollable urban sprawl is due to the rapid spread of commercial activities. Development is in reality always one step ahead of institutional development. Planning instruments like regional and urban master plans become ineffective and irresponsive to the real problems. The reevaluation of master plans never take place in time. Market forces, though, need a more immediate response on all levels. Local authorities are required to pragmatically accommodate the market trends that will benefit local economic growth and development. Public interest has always been given lower priority than market forces.
Instant urban policy often results in public facilities like sidewalks, public transport and public spaces being neglected. Private cars are given priority in areas which could be used for public space. The space between buildings is neglected as a potential urban feature for public amenities. Public transport, an important factor of productivity, has always been considered too late. These factors illustrate how the meaning of Indonesian architecture has been reduced to merely a means of doing Business
Urban architecture is today dominated by the establishment of a central business district which is characterized by the formation of urban corridors, such as the Sudirman-Thamrin and Kuningan corridors. These corridors are neither convenient for pedestrians nor friendly for public transport. The failure to properly treat public space in the corridors has made it impossible to reach neighboring buildings without getting into a car.
The global economy calls for architecture to be handled as part of a business package. Therefore, architectural expression is often expected to communicate a corporate identity. Glistening buildings are in demand. Nothing defies generalization quite so perfectly as corporate identity. The search for an image provides an opportunity for architectural development and also may result in vulgar and untasteful expressions. Indonesian skyscrapers are but a mask of business promotion. Jakarta faces the problem of how to architecturally deal with business and social interests.
Physical development in the country since 1970 has generated the most powerful change of cityscapes. Market forces have transmuted the traditional dominance of institutional buildings. The notion of an urban center has developed from the concentration of institutional facilities; now it is seen as a commercial focal point. Shopping malls and shopping plaza become the new centers of daily urban activity. Here, the idea of a town is redefined in a new artificially packaged environment: the mall-block building. In dealing with the idea of a town, service apartments, hotels and rental offices are composed into the super-block system, in which urban life seems to be perfect.
This ultimate attempt of urban architecture began with Ratu Plaza in Jakarta at the end of 1979. Today, such super-blocks are growing in strategic areas of Jakarta and Surabaya.
Residential aspects
Characteristically, the growth of urban economic activities increases the demand for houses. The number of private developers entering the property business is constantly increasing. Many have conceived the establishment of new towns and estates as a response to the market forces of the growing middle class. The consumerism of this new class opens a new market for luxury houses. Californian and Mediterranean building styles are the leading architectural trends for this McDonald's and Gypsy Kings- loving social milieu. The image of a new life in a more environment friendly location is marketed as an architectural response to a rapidly industrializing economy.
There is nothing new in these ideas and designs. The so-called new towns are nothing but new ghettos of commuters who work at least 15 km away from their homes. Time consuming trips through heavy traffic opens the opportunity to market high-rise apartments in the city, which are also growing in Jakarta and Surabaya. In turn, this development makes the promotion of the new towns near industrial estates difficult.
The 1990s has seen a new trend toward luxury high-rise apartments. Apartments have been intensively promoted for their investment value rather than as facilities of a new lifestyle.
While the real estate business is growing, housing for working class families has been neglected. Slums and squatters play a large part of the urban scene in Indonesian cities, especially in Java. Although the last decade saw a decreasing number of these informal settlements, they will not disappear completely.
Economic growth may increase their income and develop a lower middle class. As squatters move from the urban core to the periphery, shopping malls and townhouses will replace them and reviving the inner city. Urban rejuvenation where slums and squatter areas once where has in many cities polished the urbanscape.
The past three decades of development has led architecture in Indonesia into a new constellation of professional patronage. The authority of design is no longer under the architects' control; architects are no longer master builders with the capacity of self-expression. The architectural profession is now sensitive and responsive to market oriented demand.
Public accessibility and convenience has become a selling point for commercial facilities. Shopping malls and supermarkets flourish in all strategic areas in cities. Commercial facilities have democratized public access. Exclusive shopping malls like Plaza Indonesia and Pondok Indah Mall are accessible to anyone, from working class families to the upper middle class. This trend is a significant improvement in the social responsibility of architecture. In the age of global information, every building should be open to the public.
Architecture in Indonesia will always go in various directions as choices and possibilities increase. Indonesian thinking tells us not to worry about change and development. Let the world find its order on its own. Remember,the old Malay word "to build" is 'membina' which also means "to be in the search for harmony ('keselarasan')." For centuries Indonesians have learnt that architecture is always a project in progress.
Bagoes P. Wiryomartono is a practicing architect who received his Ph.D from the Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen and a lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology.