Just found this article that I wrote almost 2 years ago..
Tanjung Priok station is one of the heritage buildings from Dutch colonization in Indonesia. This station is located really
close to the terminal and the port of Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, the largest and busiest port of exported and imported goods in Indonesia. With a Neo-classical style of ancient architecture, this building looks very unique and elegant,
contrast with the chaotic conditions around, with hot weather and dusty air. Since it was first
established to present, this building has undergone various changes, and hopefully the changing is still continuing to be better on the future.
Tanjung
Priok Station is one of the historical buildings that witnessed the triumph of
the Dutch colonial government in the archipelago for 2.5 centuries. Actually
this building was first established in 1885 with its first location was approximately
1km to north of the current building. But because at that past time the
transportation flow of the Tanjung Priok Port was very busy then to facilitate
further transportation this station was moved to the current location that was
cosidered more strategic. The station was built precisely in 1914 in the
reign of Governor-General AFW Idenburg (1909-1916) on a land area of 46,930
m2 with building area of 3768 m2 and designed by Ir.CW Koch
who was a principal engineer of the Staats-Spoorwegen (SS-fire-State Railway
Company Dutch East Indies who stood since 6 April 1875). (Stasiun Tanjung Priok: Sejarah, 2011)
After
the Dutch’s colonization, Tanjung Priok station was still operating normally. Unfortunately,
after Indonesia's independence this station was neglected and vulnerable, till
finally in the early 21st century it no longer actively served passengers but
only goods railway toward Pasoso. Then the condition of the station became
increasingly worse, completed with the existence of the homeless who made the
station as a place to stay for free, shabby tents set up around the station, as
well as the PT Kereta Api who leased the front parts of the station to the Ships’
ticket sales agent and currency exchange services.
During
that hard period, Tanjung Priok Station was physically messed up. The roofs
of the platform had already lost, glasses was broken, floors, walls, and other
rooms, especially toilets, were incredibly damaged. This condition was
also compounded by dirty and shabby atmosphere with the smells of urine and
feces from animals and humans, it perfectly drowned the beauty of history that
was engraved on every inch of this building.
Finally
in 2008 the Directorate General of Railways Ministry of Transportation
renovated Tanjung Priok Station. The building was renovated but the shape
was still kept initially. It even attempted to be restored as close as it was
in the past to become a place to study the historical and cultural heritage of
Indonesia. After renovation, the condition of this station was much better
although there were still many slum tents stood around. Likewise with
trash, broken roads, and traffic chaos, which was so contradicted compared to
the luxury of this station.
This
station has a magnificent main lobby with three long lights hanging from the
ceiling high. Two-fifths high walls are made from a kind of dark green rough
marble natural stone, still original from the first built, but still look
beautiful with no damage. On the right and left side of the lobby there are
blocks of tickets selling with five blocks on each side. A total of nine blocks
are used as a counter while the other one block is used as an information
center.
Going
further inside there is a free space that connects the lobby with a large room that
normally used as the waiting room for the passengers. On each side of the
right and left free space before, there are halls that were previously used as
a place to dance for the guests in the past. There is a large main hall on
the right side, while a smaller one is on the left side. Unlike in the
other room, the architecture design in both ballrooms is mostly using the wood
element. This can be seen from the country style of bulkhead doors, a
large bar in the main hall, and the high walls of the two halls that are all
coated with thick brown teak wood and are still strong till this day.
The
passengers in Tanjung Priok Station were not too crowded and busy compared to
other stations in Jakarta, this would give the impression of comfort and
control to the visitors. Currently Tanjung Priok Station operates 24 hours a
day to transport passengers and goods. Freight trains operate from 7:00 p.m.
to 07:00 am, and the passenger trains operate from 7:00 to 19:00 pm. The
routes taken are Bekasi and several cities in Central and East Java.
The historical legacy left by Dutch’s colonization in Indonesia brings its own benefits for Indonesia in various aspects. For example in terms of tourism, this station can be a new destination for local and foreign tourists who want to know and learn about the history of Indonesia through the physical form of the building. Moreover now, at this station there has been a "Smart Home" that provides various information about the history of Indonesia, especially Jakarta.
Besides, in terms of art, this station can also be a learning object or a reference for those who study the arts of building design or architecture, because Tanjung Priok station has a unique design with classical architecture style that was so popular in the past. Moreover, in building this station it took a former great
architect. In the present, this kind of building is rarely found, and this
station is a witness of the popularity of the old ancient architecture.
Tanjung Priok station is rightly made as a
cultural heritage of Indonesia, one of the Dutch colonial legacies that should be preserved. Hopefully Tanjung Priok station can be
well maintained, so this station can “tell” the stories about the Indonesian history
to the future generations.
Stasiun Tanjung Priok: Sejarah. (2011, January 21). Retrieved June 2, 2011, from
wikipedia: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasiun_Tanjung_Priok
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