New HI owner told to get permits

New HI owner told to get permits

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration has called on PT Cipta Karya Bumi Indah
(CKBI), a subsidiary of cigarette giant Djarum that took over the
management of Hotel Indonesia and the adjacent Hotel Inna Wisata,
to stop the hotels' renovation, pending their obtaining all
necessary permits.

Jakarta Culture and Museum Agency head Nurhadi Sastrapraja
said on Thursday the renovation breached regulations, since it
had been undertaken without consulting the agency.

The agency is tasked with monitoring and protecting heritage
sites in the capital.

Nurhadi said a developer should have submitted a design
proposal on the renovation prior to its commencement.

"HI is an historical building protected by gubernatorial
decree. Therefore, any renovation project involving it must be
discussed with us first," he said, referring to the hotel by its
popular acronym.

The hotel was built in the 1960s to host participating
delegates of the fourth Asian Games held in 1962 in Jakarta. It
is also known as the first high-rise building in the country.

The government handed over the two hotels to PT CKBI on a 30-
year build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract.

The firm has invested US$150 million in renovating Hotel
Indonesia, including demolishing its Bali wing and a canopy in
the main lobby, and redesigning its rooms, which would reduce its
capacity by half to 300 rooms. Meanwhile, Hotel Inna Wisata will
be replaced with a shopping mall.

The project aims to enhance the hotel's commercial value so it
can compete with newer hotels.

Located on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, Hotel Indonesia was
declared a Class A heritage site under gubernatorial decree No.
175/1993, which stipulates that any renovations should be
undertaken carefully so as not to alter the original structure.

Naniek Widayati, director of the Architecture Conservation
Center, had previously told heritage lovers to monitor the
renovation project to ensure its proper implementation.