Architecture, Arts

Award winning Soeman HS Library in Riau

Soeman HS Library in Pekanbaru, Riau, won the 2015 ASEAN Architecture Award, eliminating 19 other building designs from eight Southeast Asian countries. Judges from each country selected the former legislative building of Riau renovated into a five-floor library for its striking amalgamation of the traditional features and the influence of modernity. Decorative sculptures showing the local artistry and life values fill the walls. The exo … Continue reading Award winning Soeman HS Library in Riau

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Environment, Social

FIRE IN JIN DE YUAN TEMPLE

jin de yuan glodok

Fire gutted the rear building of Jin De Yuan Temple, Glodok, at 4AM, when the people living in the Chinatown were asleep. The area suffered blackout to prevent electricity catastrophe due to the electrical transformer mounted on a pole located just a few meters away from the blaze. The main buildings, fortunately, remained intact. Jin De Yuan is the oldest temple in Jakarta, a historical building in Chinatown, and a major part of history surrounding the 17th century Chinese overseas settlers in the then Dutch East Indies. For its rich history, the temple has always been a major place of interest in the eyes of both domestic and foreign tourists visiting the Big Durian. Continue reading “FIRE IN JIN DE YUAN TEMPLE”

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Social

WARY AND WEARY PART 3: BLOK G

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Located at the west-end of Tanah Abang textile center, access to Blok G not only poses setback due to the relatively far distances from the central blocks, the chaotic traffic caused by a concentration of public minivans makes the building even harder for visitors to come take a look. Blok G is now in dire condition, but officials said workers are speeding up refurbishment, especially in the third and fourth floor, where estimatedly over 700 kiosks will be ready to use by September. With just a month to go, there is a lot of work to do. Perhaps, the success of mass removal program to clean up streets from street vendors is not about hastening the restoration project in Blok G, but more than that, a sound policy based on thorough studies. Continue reading “WARY AND WEARY PART 3: BLOK G”

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Social

WARY AND WEARY PART 2

Tanah Abang

Tired and cautious, street vendors in Tanah Abang market share similar expression as the tension rises amid the rigorous plan to organise the largest wholesale and retail textile blocks at the center of the city. Losing a place for income source seems imminent. Business doubles up especially in August where the nation celebrates Islamic holy month, but this could be the last chance to taste a boon. Continue reading “WARY AND WEARY PART 2”

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Social

WARY AND WEARY

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Street vendors have occupied the streets in Tanah Abang market for at least two decades. Since then they changed the overall look of the area into a slum-like, yet it remained bustling as one of the city’s retail centers. They have also severed the access to the area and the traffic flow of the proximity. As is commonly the case in developing economies, the formation of infomal sector like this swells sporadically in the densely populated spots of the city. There is no place to spare, which translates into the occupation of public places such as parks, train and bus stations, pedestrian precincts and plazas. Continue reading “WARY AND WEARY”

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