INDONESIA
M
OST populous nation in South- east Asia and fifth largest in the world. Indonesia has had more severe birth-pangs in her attempt to enter the mid-twentieth century than any other developing country. The position in new building and engineering clearly reflects this.
Indonesia is a huge assortment of islands and peoples that has never been welded into a uniform whole, yet it has a strong character of its own and there are many traditions that it would be a tragedy to lose in the struggle to modernise. Each area has its own unique building form. often to be seen most clearly in the roofs, which have the vital function in this equatorial climate of giving pro- tection from the blazing sun and the seasonal downpours.
The two problems facing the con- struction industry are to build up from slight beginnings to be able to meet the need for new building on a large scale; and to produce modern designs that are sympathetic to the traditions of the country.
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Quite apart from the mass of more
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less primitive village buildings which house the majority of the peo- ple, Indonesia has in the past produc- ed a variety of noble and lasting building forms. The country is now almost entirely Mohammedan al- though having once welcomed both Hindu and Buddhist influences fine examples of mosque architecture can be found. To enclose an agree- able and useable space without rigor- ously defining how it must be used, that is the strong point of Indonesian building; it is just such a space that mosques, audience halls, and places for public performance demand.
Drift to Cities
In the cities, and particularly in the capital Djakarta, an enormous amount of housing accommodation needs to be built to house every one at even the most basic standards of space and facilities. The population is increas- ing fast, and there is a drift to the cities which have greatly deteriorated in the last 20 years.
This is a situation which requires only an improved economic climate for the construction industry to be able to build the necessary houses. However, much is also needed in the way of large and complex buildings which present more of a problem. Schools, colleges and universities in particular are necessary to meet the great increase in education
now, in
Far East Architect & Builder April, 1967
NEW BUILDING IN DJAKARTA
by Dean Sherwin
theory, freely available to all. Ad- ministrative buildings. hospitals, re- creation facilities and indeed complete urban reconstruction are needed if Indonesia is to become a modern country with opportunities for all.
Unfortunately the economic situa- tion has become worse and worse in recent years, and there is at present chaos in financial and administrative
affairs. This cannot fail to affect the building industry and make the financ- ing and construction of new building very difficult, in both public and pri-
vate sectors.
The government does not have the necessary capital, any more than pri- vate business, and prices and wage rates are constantly rising. The coun- try has exhausted its foreign exchange.
Asian Games stadium, showing sloping structure and access galleries
Open air swimming pool in Games park
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