Old archives building to be restored

Old archives building to be restored

JAKARTA (JP): Work officially began Saturday to restore the
decaying National Archives Building, a rare 18th century
structure on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta.

A ceremony including the cutting of rice cones, signifying
good luck, was held at the building to mark the start of the Rp 6
billion (US$2.3 million) project.

The Committee for National Archive Building Restoration hoped
the project would be completed by the time Indonesia marks its
53rd independence anniversary on Aug. 17, 1998.

There were three yellow rice cones. The honor to cut them went
to committee chairwoman Pia Alisjahbana, counselor for cultural
and press affairs at the Dutch embassy Geeskelien Wolters, and
James Oey, representing the contractors carrying out the project.

The money for the project came from Stichting Cadeau Indonesia
(the Indonesian Gift Foundation) grouping Dutch individuals who
got together in 1995 to present a gift for Indonesia's 50th
independence anniversary.

The foundation decided on the renovation project and launched
a campaign four years ago to raise the necessary money. It
enlisted 60 Dutch firms, including major companies like Phillips,
KLM, Dutch Telecom, ABN MR Bank, Unilever, Shell, Stork, Dutch
Electric Company, Heineken and Akzo.

Two Dutch contractors, Decorient and Ballast, have been
appointed to carry out the project.

Foundation vice chairman Erik Hammerstein said the National
Archives Building was not only a rare 18th century structure, it
was also rich in history.

The building could explain about life in 18th century Jakarta
and also about the history of the Dutch East Indies Trading
Company (VOC).

He said: "It's strictly not political. It's not only the Dutch
past, it's also the Indonesians' past.

"Many old buildings in Jakarta are going to be pulled down,
but we hope that we can preserve this one."

Wolters said the Dutch embassy morally supported the project.

The project would tighten the cultural bond between the two
nations, she added.

Due to the building's deteriorating condition, the archives
were moved to Jl. Ampera Kemang, South Jakarta, three years ago.

The building was built in 1760 by Reiner de Klerk, a Dutch
trader and member of the VOC council who later became governor
general of the Dutch Indies in 1777-1780.

In 1844, the building was used for an orphanage, and sold to
the Dutch Indies government at the end of the century.

For the next 25 years it served as the office of the
Department of Mining, and after that, it was used as the
Landsarchief (National Archives). The building retained its
function, but under the Indonesian name Arsip Nasional, after
Indonesia declared its independence in August 1945.

Han Awal, an architect hired by the committee for the project,
said the two-story main building would be returned to its 1760
look as far as possible.

Awal said the condition of the building had been affected by
age and poor maintenance. (04)