The charms of art-deco architecture in Bandung

By Mauro P. Rahardjo

BANDUNG (JP): In 1990 the Bandung Heritage Society sent representatives to attend the First International Art Deco Conference in Miami, U.S.A. This group of people, concerned with the conservation of buildings in Bandung presented the potential of art deco buildings in Bandung. There are over 500 old buildings in Bandung that need attention and about half of them (of which the majority have art deco characteristics) meet the criteria for conservation. Bandung is thought to have the largest number of Art Deco buildings of all Indonesian cities.

Art Deco started to gain public recognition in 1925, when the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes was held in Paris, between April and October of that year. The years following the 1925 Paris Exposition saw art deco ideas and output borrowed, refined and adapted for numerous other buildings. No preceding world fair was to have quite the same impact and influence that that one did. In Holland, De Stijl was the ruling architectural style. It was in line with the art deco movement in its concern with exposing technological development in designs. The influence did not stop in the Netherlands, as Dutch architects brought art deco to its colony, the Netherlands Indies.

After Bandung was given the Gemeente, or municipality, status in 1906, the city was cultivated as a colonial city. In Bandung, many art deco buildings were constructed between 1920 and 1940. That is why the style was also called the inter-war style -- referring to the period between the two World Wars. Many of the finest Colonial buildings in Bandung were built during this period.

Many wealthy Dutch plantation managers chose to build their vacation homes in Bandung and with their houses came the shops and restaurants along Braga street (which was then known as Bragadern). They also decided to have a recreation building for an exclusive club, known as Concordia Societet, which later became the Asia Africa Building (Gedung Merdeka). The lure of Bandung had attracted many tourists and, in turns, hotel such as the Savoy Homman, the Preanger, the Villa Isola, and the Wilhelmina (now the Braga) were built.

What is art deco then? What are its characteristics?

The term art deco itself is difficult to define. Patricia Bayer, in her book Art Deco Architecture (1992), explains that "art deco" refers to a decorative style at once traditional and innovative, which absorbed influences from a variety of sources and movements and introduced a whole range of new or improved materials into the vocabulary of architecture. Art deco architecture was an architecture of ornament, geometry, energy, retrospection, optimism, color, texture, light and at times even symbolism.

The explanation above is not yet clear, and for laymen it is still vague. What are art deco buildings like? How can we identify an art deco building?

Ron Facius, a writer on art deco, admitted that art deco has such a variety of expressions, from many sources and influences, that it is difficult to say whether specific objects can be categorized as art deco, since they may not appear to fit the common perception of the style. However, Facius says there are at least four kinds of art deco buildings that can be distinguished: Ornamented or Floral Deco, Zigzag Deco, Greco Deco and Streamline Deco.

Ornamented or Floral Deco employs surface decoration based on organic forms which for centuries have been an essential element of style. Zigzag Deco takes its name from the stepped lightning flash that symbolizes the new and exciting potential of electrical energy and power to turn night into day. Greco Deco depicts the new spirit of independence and freedom which mani fested itself in the Twentieth Century; paradoxically, in both the machine and in the back-to-nature movement. Streamline Deco combines influences of Bauhaus design principles and the discovery of the effects of streamline shaping on speeding objects, and produced a whole new concept of modern design which reduced the decorative elements to a bare minimum, yet still built upon the geometrically-based patterns of deco.

It is interesting to note that, in Bandung, there are far more public than private buildings designed in the art deco style. Among the four kinds of art deco mentioned above, Streamline Deco is most significant. The use of art deco in building design in Bandung started in 1915 (only about six years after its advent in Europe) and these early examples can be found along Jl. Asia- Afrika. These buildings bear icons which suggest speed and mechanization, particularly the strongly-expressed horizontal axis. However, the peak of the Art Deco style in buildings was achieved when the Preanger (designed by Wolff Schoemaker) was built in 1929.

The influence of International Style in the Netherlands early this century was strong. It was particularly true in terms of functionalism. Architects, such as A.F. Albers, who designed the Savoy Homann hotel in 1939 brought together the spirit of functionalism and art deco. The hotel, located on Jl. Asia- Afrika, expresses plasticity, simplicity and strong horizontal stream lining. According to Dibyo Hartono, a member of the Bandung Heritage Society, this building is full of ornaments. However the painting of the building has obscured many of the intended ornaments. The entrance shows splendid decorative elements and the interior has even more decorative elements with reliefs and floor motifs.

The art deco buildings along Braga street are mostly shops and restaurants, hidden behind billboards, and it is not easy to recognize them. However, if one takes a careful, closer look, the decorations along the building facades are really gorgeous. Ateng Wahyudi, a former mayor of Bandung, once proposed that the art deco buildings be revealed for the enjoyment of pedestrians. Surprisingly, the shops' owners agreed with the idea but, unfortunately, nothing ever came of it. If such a plan is implemented at some stage, it will enliven what are currently quiet trading conditions.

Characteristics

Along Jl. Asia-Afrika and Jalan Jendral Sudirman, many buildings have dominant stream line characteristics. Among them are the Badan Koordinasi Pelaksana Daerah Inpres, The Lido Shop building on the corner of Jl. Asia Afrika and Jl. Tamblong, the Maskapai Asuransi Independence building, the P.T. Suryana Megah Lestari building. Of course, the street's greatest art deco monuments are the Gedung Asia-Afrika, also known as Gedung Merdeka, the Savoy Homman hotel and the Preanger hotel.

Some new buildings have also been built in the art deco style. Sadly, some historical buildings, such as the Singer building, have been demolished.

The charm of art deco in Bandung is still strong, but the number of its art deco buildings is diminishing for two reasons: demolition and the reconstruction of the buildings' facades. With more and more art deco buildings disappearing, it is time for the local administration to take an action.

One way to do it would be to engage in revitalization and or, alternatively, revivalism. The term "to revitalize" can be defined as "giving new strength or power to"; this would entail revealing now-hidden art deco elements on the facades of old buildings.

The other possibility is revivalism. "Revivalism" refers to rebirth or renewal. This could be achieved when designing new buildings (particularly those located in areas where Art Deco predominates) by using art deco style in the facades. Only then will the charm of art deco in Bandung come to life again.

Dr. Mauro P. Rahardjo, an architect and now director of Research Institute at Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung.