The Efforts to Preserve and Develop Jakarta's Old City to Meet the Criteria as a World Heritage Site

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FORMOSA NEWS - Jakarta - UKI Study: Jakarta Old Town Still Falls Short of UNESCO World Heritage Criteria. Research conducted by Dr. Ir. M. Maria Sudarwani, M.Arch., Sri Pare Eni, Gabriela Natasya, and Candra Dwi W. from the Indonesian Christian University, was published in the Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS) Vol. 5 No. 2, 2026 is important because Jakarta's Old Town has been on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2015 under the title "The Historic Old City of Jakarta and the 4 Outlying Islands," but has yet to achieve official World Heritage status. This study by the Indonesian Christian University team highlights a fundamental issue: weak aspects of authenticity and regional integrity.

Art Deco as a Cultural Identity Marker
A central focus of the research is the architectural typology of Art Deco heritage buildings in Jakarta’s Old Town. Art Deco, which flourished in the early 20th century, symbolizes modernity, progress, and colonial-era adaptation to tropical climates.
The study closely examined four key buildings:

• Gedung Jasindo.
• Museum Bank Mandiri.
• Museum Bank Indonesia.
• Jakarta Kota Railway Station.

These buildings share defining Art Deco features such as symmetrical composition, bold geometric forms, repetitive vertical windows, and minimal classical ornamentation. They also demonstrate Tropical Art Deco characteristics, including high ceilings, cross ventilation, and wide canopies suited to Indonesia’s hot and humid climate. The researchers found that while several buildings retain their architectural integrity, others have undergone alterations that diminish their historical value.

Three Categories of Building Conditions

Field observations, visual documentation, literature review, and interviews led the researchers to classify heritage buildings into three main categories:

• Well-restored buildings - Examples include Fatahillah Museum, Museum Bank Indonesia, and Museum Bank Mandiri. These restorations maintain original façades and apply material conservation methods.
• Revitalized buildings with reduced authenticity - Several colonial shophouses along Jalan Kali Besar Barat have replaced original wooden windows with aluminum frames or added oversized signage that disrupts visual harmony.
• Neglected or abandoned buildings - Some small shophouses on Jalan Pintu Besar Utara remain unused and covered with temporary materials, reflecting uneven conservation efforts.

This disparity indicates that revitalization has not been implemented consistently across the heritage zone.

Revitalization vs. UNESCO Standards
In recent years, Jakarta’s provincial government has improved public spaces through:

• New paving and street furniture at Fatahillah Square.
• The transformation of Kali Besar into a waterfront promenade.
• Enhanced pedestrian connectivity.
• Promotion of cultural tourism and the creative economy.

While these initiatives have improved visual appeal and visitor comfort, the study identifies critical shortcomings:

• Replacement of original materials such as teak wood and colonial bricks with PVC or exposed concrete.
• Additions of balconies and canopies inconsistent with historical architectural styles.
• Inappropriate repainting that ignores the historical color palette.
• Visual clutter from billboards and overhead cables.
• Disharmonious modern developments around the core heritage zone.

Managerial challenges also persist. Coordination among agencies such as the Kota Tua Technical Implementation Unit (UPK), the Tourism Office, and private building owners remains suboptimal. Enforcement of conservation guidelines is inconsistent, and funding for privately owned small heritage buildings is limited.

Strategic Recommendations
To strengthen Jakarta’s nomination prospects, the researchers propose:

• Reinforcing historically based architectural design guidelines.
• Establishing a dedicated heritage conservation fund to support private building owners.
• Regulating the height and architectural style of new developments within buffer zones.
• Expanding public education and historical interpretation systems.
• Developing a collaborative, community-based heritage management model.

Such measures would not only meet UNESCO’s requirements but also ensure that Jakarta’s Old Town remains a vibrant and sustainable historic district rather than a static tourist enclave.

Author Profile

Dr. Ir. M. Maria Sudarwani, M.Arch is a lecturer and researcher at Universitas Kristen Indonesia specializing in architectural conservation and heritage preservation.

Sri Pare Eni, Gabriela Natasya, and Candra Dwi W are academics and researchers at Universitas Kristen Indonesia focusing on architecture and urban heritage studies.

Source

Sudarwani, M. Maria; Eni, Sri Pare; Natasya, Gabriela; Dwi W, Candra. 2026. The Efforts to Preserve and Develop Jakarta's Old City to Meet the Criteria as a World Heritage Site. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS), Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 663–676.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i2.19
URL:  https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas