Title : architecture of our old building, make us eager to know the history inside.

Thesis statement :

We must protect and maintain old national historical buildings because indonesian heritage is reflected not only in the history books and museums, but also in the architecture of our buildings and the sites of significant historic events..

Opening

As the indonesia moves into the 21st century, many decisions are being made in both the public and private sectors which affect our historic resources. For some reason the government destroy the old building to make an area for houses and offices. In the other hand we shouldnt let this happen any longer because could lost the trace of our history or let it remain at the history books. Historic significance is not only defined as that of importance to the indonesia, but also at the local level of county, city, indonesian tribal groups, and community. It is a heritage we all share. Our history was made by the people of the past; it belongs to the people of the future. We must protect and maintain old national historical buildings because indonesian heritage is reflected not only in the history books and museums, but also in the architecture of our buildings and the sites of significant historic events. The architecture of the old building enrich our treasury of architecture. Old building usually show the true architectural type of that region. In the past local people receive less influence from the others culture because they were exclusive. Their exclusivity make them build something different from the other, they had typical architecture. The heritage of it is the old traditional building. As example is the Toraja of the Sulawesi highlands are renowned for their tongkonan, houses built on piles and dwarfed by massive exaggerated-pitch saddle roofs. The tongkonan at Ke'te' Kesu' is reputed to be 500 years old; too old to trace a direct descendant from the founder to maintain the title that goes with the house. The buildings themselves, however, are constantly maintained and renewed, thus this age refers to the length of time years for which that particular site has been used as a meeting place. In the period of colonialism, many people from the other country or maybe other continent came here bringing their own religion and culture. They did same like they‘d done in their country, so they build their houses and offices in their taste. The sosial cultural condition around influence the architectural type of old building and that’s different with new building. One of the old buildings which it was built by colonist is Gedung Sate. Gedung Sate is the beautiful shaped building-complex, by design of the architect J. Gerber (1921), both elements of western and eastern architecture were assimilated. You can see Gedung Sate is the only one big building around its area in 1925. It is the real terasury not just the word of description or the old picture, remembering that we had this type of achitectural design in the past.

Each old building have its history. It had recorded some of historical events of our struggle to get the independence for years. Explaining the sequences of history through their existence and make us asking ”this building is unique yet old, when it was built, who built it and what’d done here long time ago”. Gedung perundingan Linggajati where linggajati agreement conduct is one of many historical building. The Linggarjati Agreement, brokered by the British and concluded in November 1946, saw the Netherlands recognise the Republic as the de-facto authority over Java, Madura, and Sumatra. This building was built before linggajati agreement by Syahrir.

Old building enrich our treasury of architecture type. We have to make it for real, maintaining it and studying what history that’s recorded in there. Studying history and remembering the merit of our national heroes is our obligation. Some people may buy a history book, reading it to know the national history and the heritage of it. Some other people may have chance to go to museum, look at the memento of history. Otherwise some people couldn’t read history book yet go to the museum because of their workload. But everyone need to get vacation refreshing their mind and. The existence of old building build bridge that link their needs. They could study the national history while their vacation. Having fun while they learn some stuff of history.

Bibliography of references:

1. Sunda, abun (2003). " arief budiman: jangan bingung ketika jakarta tanpa gedung bersejarah”. Kompas, , may 5.
2. Suyanto, bagong. (2003). “upaya melestarikan benda dan bangunan cagar budaya di kota surabaya”, kompas . June17
3. Mambo (2007, november 8). “belajar sejarah sambil jalan jalan“ retrieved november 8, 2007 from http://www.duniaguru.com - portal duniaguru.
4. Guntur Gantara (2003). “Gedung Sate“ retrieved november 10, 2007 from http://www.geocities.com/bandungcity/gesat.htm.
5. Wiki Media (19 September 2007). “Tongkonan“ retrieved november 10, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongkonan

KUNINGAN is NOT ONLY YELLOW

KUNINGAN is NOT ONLY YELLOW

507 years ago Pangeran Aria Kamuning was inherited an area from his father, Sunan Gunung Jati, which then he called the place Kuningan. Kuningan is one of 16 Kabupaten (regency) in West Java Province which located at the most eastern of West Java. At north side of Kuningan is border on Cirebon, Brebes at east, Ciamis at south and Majalengka at west. Read map of West Java, and you can barely see that Kuningan is a little regency which have no beach but just mountainaous area within. It's about nine hundred people live in Kuningan Regency. Not very big city but I love it very much.

There are two ways to go to Kuningan. You can pick public transportation through Cirebon or Majalengka, and both ways journey take 5 hours from Bandung. Once you came to Kuningan you can feel fresh air and see that there was no traffic jam, because there's not many people have vehicle. People usually go by public transportation such as angkot, angdes and ojeg maybe to reach their destination. Beside motorized public transportations, there also traditional transportation called delman. Delman is kind of two wheeled buggy that pulled by animal, or horse exactly.

There are few industries that can be found in Kuningan, home industries and craftsmans only. Lack of potency in industry and commerce aspect make a lot of people leave this town to earn living, most of them go to Jakarta and Bandung. But I think Kuningan have big potency at tourism. There are so many beautiful places in Kuningan such as unharmed mountains and jungle, reservoir and basin, caves and also waterfalls that located at the edge of city. I would like to describe some places that you can visit in Kuningan.

If you fond of hiking, I suggest you to visit gunung Ciremai. Gunung ciremai is the highest mountain in West Java. It's about 3078 metres high above sea surface. To reach the peak of this mountain climber must passing through one of three routes available, two of them are located within Kuningan. The first route is Palutungan route, Cisantana Kuningan, the most known and smoothest route of all. From the downtown you can use angdes to Cisantana village then you can continue on foot or ride in farmer vehicle to Palutungan. There is a beautiful waterfall name Curug Putri in Palutungan, you can just rest there or collecting water for your journey. There are eight resting posts between Palutungan and Peak of Ciremai, and the last fresh water source that we can find during journey is at second post, Cigowong. Another route from Kuningan is Linggajati Route, you can access this route from desa Linggajati. If You intersted in seeing historical site you can visit Gedung Perundingan Linggajati (Linggadjati Agreement 15th november 1946) for a while then. There are 10 resting posts in Linggajati route, it's because this route is route.

If you fond of fishing or you just wanna see fish, I suggest you to visit Talaga Remis, Waduk Darma, and Darmaloka. Talaga Remis is located at desa Cipaniis, you can reach this place by elf Kuningan Cirebon from Kuningan to Cilimus then by angdes to Cipaniis. Main purpose of Talaga Remis is to water the rice fields around Cilimus and Pasawahan. Waduk Darma is located at kecamatan Darma. You can reach this place by angkot 01 or by elf Cirebon Cikijing. Main purposes of this basin is to irrigate rice fields in Kuningan and some places at cirebon, and also for city consumption. You wanna fish as long as you want, or you just wanna eat grilled fish while enjoying scenery. You can do both at both place. Darmaloka is located near waduk darma. In Darmaloka you can see sacred fish "Nila Putih". The history said that these fish are incarnation of Siliwangi soldier who did penance at Darmaloka, and the fish must not be eaten or you’ll be unlucky for your whole life.