Ministry of Culture begins initial stage of National Gallery revitalisation

The Ministry of Culture is currently gathering comprehensive proposals regarding the revitalisation of the National Gallery of Indonesia, which will be carried out by maintaining a balance between the existing buildings and the development of international-scale facilities.

“The character of the buildings in this area needs to adopt a single, harmonious architectural language,” stated Minister of Culture Fadli Zon in an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He explained that preserving the authenticity of the heritage buildings is the primary focus of the National Gallery of Indonesia’s revitalisation, particularly in aligning the existing Neo-Classical architecture with the new landscape.

Through a meeting with architect Jasin Tedjasukmana, the Minister of Culture gathered comprehensive views regarding the initial design draft as a first step in commencing the revitalisation.

Jasin Tedjasukmana noted that revitalising heritage buildings requires a special, careful, and meticulous approach. New building structures must be designed to be lightweight and must not dominate the grandeur of the main building’s facade.

Jasin added that the landscape arrangement could be made more open to create a welcoming atmosphere for the general public.

In addition to enhancing aesthetic value, this revitalisation will also overhaul the spatial planning of the area entirely, including the restoration of Building A and the Hall Building, as well as the development of new supporting facilities through an adaptive approach.

The new design will feature a modern entrance integrated with public transport, as well as an exclusive rooftop facility with a restaurant, allowing visitors to relax while enjoying the view of Jakarta’s cultural landscape from above.

The Ministry of Culture is currently undertaking several revitalisation programmes for various national cultural assets, including the National Gallery of Indonesia. This serves as a manifestation of the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining and advancing Indonesia’s cultural ecosystem and providing a public cultural space that is inclusive, educational, and relevant to modern developments.