'Cafes, shops in museums are fine'

'Cafes, shops in museums are fine'

The country's first high-rise hotel, Hotel Indonesia in Central
Jakarta, will be soon be integrated with a 'super-mall', while
the ongoing renovations on the 200-year-old Luar Batang Mosque in
Pasar Ikan, North Jakarta, have given it a modern aspect. The
Jakarta Post talked to two people about what should be done with
heritage sites.

Multazzam, 28, is a journalist with the Tempointeraktif
website located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. He lives in a
rented house in Karet, Central Jakarta:

I don't know whether I should blame the city administration or
other institutions for the poor condition of historical sites or
old buildings in Jakarta. To be honest, I've never visited one of
the historic buildings or museums here because I don't know much
about them. I don't even know how many there are or what they
offer to visitors.

I think if the administration promoted these old buildings and
museums and provided information about them, people would be more
interested in visiting them.

Aditya, 26, is an account executive with a communications
company in South Jakarta. He lives in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta:

I like the heritage buildings in the Kota area, West Jakarta,
particularly the Arsip Nasional building (on Jl. Gajah Mada). I
also like the National Museum (on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat).

Renovating such buildings is fine with me as long as it is in
keeping with the historical value of the buildings.

Adding some functions to such buildings is also fine with me,
as long as the function, once again, will not ruin the historical
form.

For example, establishing a cafe where people sit and relax
drinking coffee is fine. Gift shops are also fine.

In my opinion, the city has not yet managed its heritage sites
optimally. I mean, don't stop at renovating the faces of the
buildings -- telling the story behind the building is also
necessary if you want to attract people.

--The Jakarta Post