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.