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.