Farah Nabilla Putri

1206221380
Architecture International Program
History of Architecture 2
Final Assignment

Nationalism and Architectural Development

It has been popular to know that Ir. Soekarno, the first president of Indonesia, is a
nationalist, a great leader, and a major figure in the history of the Republic of Indonesia. He
would do everything for his country and he thought about many aspects that he could develop to
make it better. One of the aspects is architecture. Architecture is a physical form of a nation.
Room for living, working, and socializing is part thereof. Therefore, architectural issues need
some attentions, developments and it is as important as economic, quality of human resources
issues and so forth1. But that is not the only reason. Renowned as an aesthetic enthusiast, he
began to design Indonesia to be shown to other nations.
Architecture is a part of politic for him. Ir. Soekarno planned to do the lighthouse
politics (politik mercusuar) which shows the power that Indonesia possessed trough the tangible
aspect, in architecture. Sukarno Lighthouse Project is the project of construction in the capital of
Indonesia, Jakarta in order to get attention from abroad with the aim to build friendly relations
with other countries. It was also meant to declare the existence of new forces of Indonesia that
are growing. Yuke Ardhiati, an expertise of Indonesian history said that Jakarta is the runway
for Soekarno to show off his works, during the field trip to Monumen Nasional that History of
Architecture 2 Class did with her previously.
According to Yuke (2013:9):
'Lighthouse Projects' at that moment was seen as a unique
event in Kebayoran Baru-Thamrin when Jakarta was still
relatively spacious. Line of high-rise buildings through a
variety of form / shape in the empty Jakarta could
resemble a "stage" that became a trending topic in the
neighborhood of Jakarta and also expanded throughout the

country. Given the breadth of events, 'Lighthouse Project'

can be equated as an events-cities (Tschumi: 1999:13). It is
equivalent with Tschumis work Parc de la Villette in Paris
in 1992. The inheritance of 'Lighthouse Project' which has
unfolds exceedingly 50 years, still, the uniqueness of the
event has been tickling the question: How does the process
to present 'Project Lighthouse' architectural works?
'Lighthouse Project' took place as a command to beautify
the city of Jakarta as the front face of Indonesia (Sukarno:
1962), the event was also to affirm Soekarnos power as a
leader and the composer of a nation.2

With Soekarnos engineering mind, he had also able to control the development and
brought the modern faces of architecture to Indonesia. He arranged monuments, grand buildings,
as will be explained further. He also went to 50 different cities that projected to be metropolitan
city in order to get inspired and knowledgeable.
In this essay, I am going to talk about the buildings that built in his era, how it indicates
the development of architecture in Indonesia, whether it considerable as Indonesias
representation, its impact, and what is happening right now. In the following, I will explain about
the architectural works that emerged, first.

Began with Monumen Nasional or usually called Monas by the locals, Ir. Soekarno planned. It is
the zero-point of Jakarta development. He wanted Indonesia to have monument that is
representing the people, thus it is shaped like Lingga and Yoni, (rice mortar and rice pestle),
symbolizing harmony, balance, fertility, and so forth. It was built by the palace architect, R. M.
Soedarsono; but then he told that the name written in the batu penanda supposed to be Ir.
Soekarnos name instead of his. It was due to his own consideration that he was only worked
seemingly as a draftsman, while ideas and directions coming from the President. The National
Monument was originally intended to be able to be seen from 20 meters far, from every angles of
Jakarta. But due to high development in the area, the monument was just stood that way and
hidden by the skyscrapers. Well, at that moment, it was impossible to build a monument higher

than Monas, since the technologies

were still limited.

Monas today and Monas during construction in 1973. Photo

credited to Jakarta National Monument Office

Gelora Bung Karno today and Gelora Bung Karno during construction

Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) in Senayan. It was meant to be the place to held The Games
of The New Emerging Forces (GANEFO). The construction only run for 2,5 years. Soekarno
wanted to make an international scaled stadium, but the one that has a retrieval bracelet roof
(shaping around the circular stadium and met at both ends, can be seen from the picture above).
The work of such architecture is considered something that is almost impossible in the period,
but he made it and Indonesia became one of few countries that possess such structure. But then,
in order to create this stadium, lots of Betawi families that used to dwell in Senayan had to be
relocated and got compensation in returns.

DPR MPR of Indonesian Republic building is

also one of the parts of his lighthouse politic.
Shaped uniquely with the rectilinear forms, it is
initially build to be the Conference of The New
Emerging Forces (CONEFO) building.

This

structure applies the international style. It was built

close to the Gelora Senayan / Bung Karno Stadium.
This large building was built in a period of 17
Gedung DPR-MPR RI

months but construction was also hampered

because the occurrence G30S/PKI.
Hotel Indonesia was built as an accommodation for
state guests that usually stayed in Bogor Palace.
This modern structure was inaugurated by Ir.
Soekarno on August 5, 1962 to welcome the event
GANEFO that will soon be held in Jakarta.
Designed by Abel Sorensen and his wife who came
from the United States, Hotel Indonesia is
occupying an area of 25 082 square meters. This is

Hotel Indonesia back then

also one of the first modern buildings built in

Jakarta.

Welcoming statue is also called as Patung Selamat

Datang. The 7-meter high statue stands facing the
east or toward the Kemayoran airport that is now
the highway to go to Jakarta International Expo
Jakarta Fair venue. The purpose of this statue is
built to welcome guests coming from Kemayoran
airport, especially a GANEFO country. This statue
is unlike the reinassance statue that is smooth and
Welcoming Statue in HI Roundabouts

polished, the shape and the face is more likely

rough. It was due to the sculptor, Edhi Soenarsos first time making a statue with bronze
material.

Patung Pancoran today, surrounded by high rise buildings, and Patung

Pancoran in the previous time which shows the scheme of Jakarta in old time

Patung Pancoran is actually named as Dirgantara Monument. Ir. Soekarno once told the
sculptor, Edhi Soenarso, Dhi, I want to make an Airborne Statue to commemorate and honor
Indonesian aviator heroes. You know that the United States, the Soviet nation, can be proud of
their aircraft industry. Indonesia, what can we be proud of? Our bravery. Well, this sculpture
was initially made as a commemoration for Indonesian aviator heroes due to their bravery and
succeeded in bombing the Dutch position in Semarang, Ambarawa, and Salatiga. The design at
first planned to hold an airplane in the right hand but it was cancelled. Ir. Soekarno,
unfortunately had no chance to inaugurate this monument because he died before it had finished.

Masjid Istiqlal, namely with the Arabic word

of independence, is not only representing the
ideals of Islam but also Indonesians value.
The idea to build the national mosque has been
postponed few years because Ir. Soekarno
wanted this mosque to build with strong
Thamrin Area

materials. And then, they held a competition to

design this mosque and the winner is Frederich

Masjid Istiqlal, applying international style

Silaban, a Christian. People believe this kind

of thing is the way to see Indonesias toleration

towards another belief. Still, our first president played a major role, for instance in determining
the location. According to Javanese Kraton and its Masjid Agung, this national heritage is located
near alun-alun. The mosque is also considered as the largest mosque in Southeast Asia started on
August 24, 1951, and was completed on February 22, 1953. The construction of the mosque
itself spends about U.S. $ 12 million (7 trillion rupiahs).

In my opinion, his works are not merely to show off to the outer nation, but also to bring
pride and erase the sense of inferiority that Indonesian people possessed at that moment-as the
result of colonized for hundreds of year. He was ambitious to transform Jakarta from the colonial
city to be the pride of the nation. For a new sovereign country, Indonesia needs something to be
proud of. Hence, he planned to build stadium, monuments, hotels, mosque, things that can
represent Indonesia well. Although there are social problems that occurred such as September
30th Movement (G30S/PKI), the spirit of improving fight against it and later on produced great
architecture. The intervened attitude of Soekarno in the form of interventions and incorporate his
sesnce of design has given color for architectural work as it embodied. The sense and soul of
Indonesia that Sukarno invested in the elements of elegance, made Indonesias beauty have the
opportunity to be held. No doubt, Ir. Soekarno has succeeded on trying to make landmarks in
Indonesia.
But turns out, this Lighthouse Project had gained many critics from every aspects.
Surely, it spent lots of money. And the bad effect was gained today. It was only a few of

Indonesian architects work that laid in Thamrin-Sudirman area, while, it is the stage of
Indonesia. We are, until today still seek about the characteristic of our own architecture, because
back at the time, the one that is shown was the modern style. I once had a discussion with Ms.
Herlily in one moment, and she asked me to think, if Indonesia, and other countries, all of them
use the modern style, or, at least the same style, and let international brands like Mango, Zara,
Topshop spread everywhere, then, what is the use of going abroad?

These days, Indonesia has gone far from what so called colonized, as well as far from
Soekarnos influence in developing a new country. We shall reject colonialism in any way. This
nation ought to have characteristics. What about modernity? It is certainly fine, yet the buildings
to be developed shall pay attention to the vernacular and traditional, also. Be a creative
generation and no more plagiarism. The spirit that we have to learn is the nationalism one, where
we build for the nation pride and the willing to be different. Indonesia needs its architecture, and
who can bring it up? The young Indonesian architect.