Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
There is something visually odd about the Margo City mall in Pondok Cina, Depok, just south of Jakarta.
A nine-meter wide neo-classical facade of a house built in the 1860s stands awkwardly against the backdrop of the mall's newly-built four-story glass structure.
It was not until the project started that anyone cared to preserve or even notice the existence of the house of 18th-century Chinese landlord Lauw Tjeng Shiang.
Historian Adolf Heuken has named the house one of Greater Jakarta's historical sites, but the city administration has not followed suit.
Now, mall developer Puri Dibya Property is trying to keep and renovate what is left of the house and develop it into a cafe. The media, along with history lovers, have pushed for the conservation of the building.
The property company is owned by the family that runs Indonesia's third largest cigarette manufacturer, Djarum group. They are also developing the mixed-use Grand Indonesia project in Bundaran HI, Central Jakarta.
"It was pure coincidence. The old house just happened to be standing in our project site and we finally decided to keep it and make use of it," said one of the company's managers, who asked for anonymity.
The 7.6 hectare mall complex lies on a large piece of land that was owned by the fourth descendant of Lauw, the Kapitein der Chineezen -- a Dutch term used by the VOC for leaders of Chinese Indonesians.
Heuken wrote in his 1997 book, Historical Sites of Jakarta,-- that the building was last owned by the Tan family.
Currently under renovation, what is left of the original structure is its front and inner veranda, and a 225-square meter living room now strengthened with additional columns.
Its roof has been replaced with concrete slabs, but the elegance of its slightly ruptured Corinthian columns remains -- although they are now supported by two large new ones standing behind them.
It's not what historians and architects would define as a preserved heritage, but the effort is worth acknowledging.
"The cafe will be open to the public in a couple of months," the manager said. The eatery will be part of the complex's outdoor sports and playground area.
According to the company's initial plan, the cafe will feature pictures of old Depok and the Kapitein's family.
The remains of Kapitein Lauw and his descendants still lie in a family cemetery located just a 10-minute walk behind the mall complex.
A large Chinese tomb beautifully decorated with inscriptions and colored reliefs lies inside a 120-square meter patio. Two liong or statues of mythical lions guard the grave.
A smaller grave lies to the right, while several newer ones are scattered throughout the area.
"The son and wife of this one still visit the place regularly," said complex caretaker Rahmat, pointing to the grave of Lauw Tjian Ing, the third descendant of Kapitein Lauw, who died in 1985.
Haji Bahruddin, an elder in the area, explained that Kapitein Lauw's family used to own the northern part of Depok, including the 50-hectare land now occupied by state university Universitas Indonesia.
"A large part of the land was rubber plantations, but this area, Kampung Gedong, is the residence of the Kapitein," Bahruddin said. "Gedong refers to his grand house."
In late 1948, after Indonesia's declaration of independence, people claiming to be native Indonesians took over properties and land belonging to the Chinese and other foreign nationals.
"The family moved away, and when they came back what was left was the house and the cemetery," he said.
The area is known as Pondok Cina (house of Chinese).
"This place used to house Chinese traders from Jakarta heading for Bogor. They rested from their journey before continuing another day's walk to Bogor," Bahruddin explained.
Behind its modernized facade and rapidly-sprouting shopping malls, Depok hides a history that also contributes to Greater Jakarta.
Taken from The Jakarta Post
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