Protecting old buildings 'not merely for tourism'

Protecting old buildings 'not merely for tourism'

JAKARTA (JP): The act of protecting old buildings and areas
should not solely be intended to woo tourists to visit but more
for the interests of the public in general, experts said on
Saturday.

Victor Chan from the Singapore-based development company
Premas International told participants of a seminar, "The main
reason is to provide a variety of streetscape. Protection is also
meant to be a reminder and representation of the past by keeping
distinctive characters.

"We can achieve these objectives by keeping both the physical
and social features of protected areas and buildings. We must
keep the appearances and characters and traditional activities,
such as trades, crafts and customs."

Chan and other speakers were delivering their papers at a
seminar on the economic potentials of protecting old areas and
buildings, organized by Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian
Institute of Architects (IAI) in cooperation with the City Museum
and Restoration Agency at the Jakarta Design Center, West
Jakarta.

"So, protection isn't about how to attract tourists to visit
the conserved buildings and areas. Not all protected buildings
and areas, such as residential sites, can be visited by
tourists," Chan emphasized.

"We (in Singapore) didn't even intended to turn the protected
areas and buildings into tourism objects. We realized it later,"
he added.

Earlier, IAI's Jakarta chapter chairman, Eddy W. Utoyo, told
the participants that Indonesia still lacked proper attention
toward its heritage of old areas and buildings.

"Residents find it too expensive and burdensome to maintain
because they can't change the construction. They prefer to let it
deteriorate and sell the land at a high price," he said.

"Only a small number of residents can appreciate the old areas
and buildings and these residents mostly are wealthy. The middle
and lower groups of people still find it a luxury," added Eddy.

Eddy also said residents did not find it profitable to own a
protected building. He, therefore, suggested the city
administration publish a catalog of protected buildings in the
capital.

"Interested investors can find suitable locations for their
ventures easily if the catalog contains a full list of protected
buildings and their owners. Owners can sell the buildings without
having to let the building go to ruin," he said.

Chan admitted restoring old buildings was more expensive than
building new ones.

"It takes S$1,800 to S$4,200 (US$1,030 to $1,145) per square
meter to build new buildings while it needs S$2,000 to S$3,000 to
restore old ones," he told the participants.

However, a property consultant with PT Procon Indah, Djody
Trisusanto, said establishing business in restored buildings
could boost a company's image, giving, as an example, those in
London.

"Most offices located in protected buildings have higher rents
compared to nearby buildings. It also applies to apartments
located in protected buildings," he said.

The City Museum and Restoration Agency's restoration division
head, Idrus, said the agency would cooperate with IAI to hold
training to provide architects with conservation and restoration
skills.

"We expect to have more architects with these kinds of skills
to deal with old buildings," he said.

The seminar was also highlighted by several presentations
related to protected buildings.

Shinto Marino of Philips Luminaires presented artificial
lightings to enhance buildings' appearance at nights.

Yoyo Sulistyo of Natour Garuda Hotel, Yogyakarta, and Bradford
Zak of Majapahit Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Surabaya, presented the
current style of their properties, which occupied old buildings.
(nvn)