ISTANA MERDEKA: PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

ISTANA MERDEKA: PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Istana Merdeka is located on Jalan Merdeka Utara and overlooks National Monument Park. The Merdeka Palace Complex and the State Palace cover an area of ​​6.8 hectares and are in the heart of the nation's capital.

Brief History With the increasing activity of the Dutch East Indies government at that time, the building now known as the State Palace was considered to be inadequate. So it is considered necessary to build more buildings. Through the architect Drossares, in 1873, during the reign of Governor-General Louden, another building was built which was completed later in 1879, during the reign of Governor-General Johan Willem van Landsbarge. The building was then known as Gambir Palace.

Up to now, about 20 people have settled in this Merdeka Palace: 15 governors of the Dutch East Indies, 3 Saiko Syikikan (Commander-in-Chief of the XVI Japanese Army in Java), and 2 Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia. However, of the 15 Dutch governors-general, only 4 were actually living; others chose Bogor Palace. The President of Indonesia who really lived was the first President Sukarno, the fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid, and the seventh President Joko Widodo before then residing in the Bogor Palace.

In the early days of the Republic of Indonesia, this palace witnessed the signing of the text of the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of the United States by the Dutch Government on 27 December 1949. The Republic of the United States of Indonesia was represented by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, while the Kingdom of the Netherlands was represented by A.H.J. Lovink, Deputy High Crown in Indonesia. Signing of the sovereignty of the Republic of the United States of Indonesia is conducted at the same time, both in the Netherlands (in Amsterdam: at 10.00 local time) and in Indonesia (in Jakarta and Yogyakarta: at 16.00).

Meanwhile, on that day and date, in various places and corners of the country, hundreds of thousands of Indonesian citizens gathered around their respective radio planes, waiting for the broadcast from Jakarta carrying the extraordinary news. Immediately came the news of the signing ceremony and the submission of the manuscript on the recognition of the sovereignty of the United States, and also the red-and-white flag fluttering over the Dutch flag, the Indonesia Raya song reverberated, and the cry of "free, free, homeland. That is why, the palace was called Istana Merdeka. One of the decisions issued at that time by President Soekarno was to change the name of the Gambir Palace to become Merdeka Palace and Rijswijk Palace became the State Palace.

The next day (December 28, 1949), President Soekarno and his family arrived in Jakarta from Yogyakarta, inhabiting the Merdeka Palace for the first time. Previously, Gambir Palace was inhabited by Dr. Hubertus J. Van Mook, Governor General until 1948, and then by Dr.L.M.J. Beel, the High Vice-Crown. Since then, the Commemoration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia on August 17 at the Merdeka Palace was first held in 1950.

Palace Function In the era of Sukarno, the President used the space on the east side of the Merdeka Palace as his bedroom. The bedroom is opposite to his office and separated by a spacious ward known as the reception hall. Bung Karno's bedroom does not have its own bathroom. Bung Karno and Ibu Fatmawati used the bathroom located behind the bedroom, adjacent to Guntur's bedroom, their eldest son. Everything is on the east side of the Merdeka Palace.

The west side of Merdeka Palace is used for more formal activities. Among the front porch and the former President's office is an open terrace with rattan furniture. Some of the rooms became a waiting room for ambassadors before submitting their credentials to the President. Some of them became President's living room which later became known as Jepara room because this room at the time of President Soeharto was filled with wooden chairs and various interior of Jepara carving.

President Soekarno's office was filled with massive wooden tables, leather guest chairs, and two walls filled with bookcases that were one-third the wall. This work space was almost unchanged after the abandonment of Bung Karno and for 32 years was used by President Soeharto. It was only during President B.J. Habibie's room was slightly changed.

When the sons and daughters of Bung Karno were young, they were not sent to public schools. A gazebo in the courtyard was converted into a kindergarten class for them. The gazebo in the Indies era was used as muziek-coupling-where musicians played at garden party events. The teacher for the kindergarten was brought there. The children of the same court staff were also invited to "attend school" there to accompany the sons and daughters of Bung Karno. Mostly they live in a side building for Palace employees.

In the courtyard there is also a building called "studio". The building is made of wood, two-story, and often used by Bung Karno as a studio to paint or write a speech script. Later on this location President Soeharto built Puri Bhakti Renatama which serves as a museum to store paintings and art objects.

In the days of Bung Karno, the outer parts of the Palace were still open so they were spacious porches and verandas. Around the Palace, though gated, still gives the impression of being open. Some of the open verandas are furnished with rattan chairs. There sometimes President Soekarno met his guests, including also serving interviews of journalists.

In 1958, architect R.M. Soedarsono built the Baiturrahim Mosque beside the west of the Merdeka Palace. The construction was completed in 1961. During the reign of President Habibie the mosque was expanded on the south side with symmetrical buildings with the north side, while the interior of the mosque's dome was decorated with calligraphy from the holy verses of the Qur'an.

After building the Baiturrahim Mosque President Soekarno also ordered the architect Soedarsono to design the residential buildings of the state guests within the palace of Jakarta. The six-story building is called Wisma Negara, located on the west side of the court within the Jakarta Palace and built throughout 1962-1964.

The top floor of the Wisma Negara is the dining and living room for the state's great guests. The fifth floor is a suite for the great guest of the Head of State, while the fourth floor is a suite for the great guest of the Prime Minister or Vice President. Wisma Negara is also equipped with post office, beauty and beauty salon, money changer, and souvenir shop.

The spacious courtyard that serves as the courtyard for Istana Merdeka, Istana Negara and Wisma Negara is often visited by various birds in accordance with the season. Hundreds of parrots, knees, starlings, stopping the courtyard. Bung Karno used to ask the staff to provide food for the pets. As a lover of independence he is also known as bird cage haters. During the reign of President Megawati, Taufiq Kiemas, the President's husband, planted a salam tree on this page to invite free birds.

Some ancient statues also adorn the various corners of the Palace Merdeka. One of them, the statue of Dhyani Boddisatta, which originated from Central Java in the 9th century is a rare statue that has been there since the Dutch East Indies.

When President Soekarno was at the Merdeka Palace, a presidential flag yellow with gold star in the center was raised above the Merdeka Palace. Since President Soeharto, such markings have not been done.

The pulse of the life of the Merdeka Palace changed since General Suharto replaced Ir. Soekarno. As the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto decided to stay at his private residence at Jalan Cendana 8, Central Jakarta. Since then practically Istana Merdeka and Istana Negara are only used as workplace, ceremony, and state reception.

President Soeharto is based in Bina Graha, which was built in 1969 and completed in 1970. Bina Graha, located east of the State Palace, faces the Ciliwung River, then becomes the official office of Pak Harto. This building stands on the former land of Dharma Hotel Nirmala, the building which in the past was named Hotel der Nederlanden and Rafles House.

President Soeharto has two workshops in Bina Graha, on the ground floor and upstairs. Both workspaces are connected with stairs. Upstairs workspaces are usually worn before attending limited cabinet sessions. Working space downstairs is used to receive guests who are related to government activities. To receive state guests and high-ranking state officials, President Soeharto used the workroom at the Merdeka Palace.

In the last decade of his reign, Pak Harto even more often use his residence in Jalan Cendana to receive guests. In that period Pak Harto also began to use the working space at the Merdeka Palace on Friday to be close to the Baiturrahim Mosque. He also used the working space at the Merdeka Palace for special meetings.

The absence of necessity for domestic life at Istana Merdeka also changed the various functions of the room. With the approval of President Soeharto, Bung Karno's former bedroom in the 1997 renovation was transformed into a reservoir of the Heritage Flag, and the original manuscript of the Proclamation of Independence. Bung Karno and Bung Hatta's chest statues were also placed in the room. On the northern wall of the heritage room is mounted a relief depicting Sajuti Melik typing text proclamation, while relief on the southern wall depicting Mrs. Fatmawati sewing the Heritage Flag. Among all the President of the Republic of Indonesia, President Habibie most often brings his guests to visit this Heritage Flag room.

Fatmawati's former bed room on the west side, behind the President's office, was converted into two bedrooms for the Head of State rest, equipped with a renovated bathroom. Pak Harto only uses this space for overnight every August 16 after attending a holy ceremony at Kalibata National Hero Cemetery, ahead of the commemoration ceremony of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.

Space Credentials, the first ward to be reached after entering the main door of the Merdeka Palace from the front porch, has not changed its function. That's where the Ambassadors of friendly countries deliver credentials to the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia. In this space also, the Head of State every year receives the Ambassadors who convey the birthday wishes of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

Behind the Credential Room there is a corridor that separates Jepara Room on the west side while on the east side is the salon used as the Working Room, the living room and the dining room of the First Lady. At the time of President Megawati, this space was changed to Raden Saleh Room, specifically to save five paintings of Raden Saleh.

Through the corridor that separates the Jepara Room and Raden Saleh Room, guests can step into the next ward, the Reception Room which is the largest space in the Merdeka Palace. Some state receptions are held in this space.

This reception hall continued into the back porch that has been expanded since the renovation of 1997. This porch was originally an open terrace, then closed during the time of President Soeharto with walls of glass doors and windows adapted to the architectural style of the building. This enclosed back porch also connects to an open terrace overlooking the courtyard of the Jakarta Palace. At the top of the inner wall of the porch is decorated with Arabic script reliefs that mean "damailah those who visit this place" during the reign of President B.J. Habibie.

The government of President Soeharto ended in a sudden ceremony at the Merdeka Palace's Credential Room on May 21, 1998. In a short program broadcast live on television, shortly after President Suharto resigned, the Vice President Dr. Ing. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie swore an oath before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to begin his duties as the third President of the Republic of Indonesia.

President Habibie lives in a private residence in Kuningan, South Jakarta, and has an office at the Merdeka Palace. He uses the office in Bina Graha only at certain times, for example when he leads a Limited Cabinet Meeting. For that, made various adjustments to make the work space at the Merdeka Palace is eligible to support the work of a President who is familiar with new technology. A Chesterfield leather sofa suit was placed in the study. On the desk is placed two computers.

President Habibie's working rhythms differ from the rhythms of his two predecessors. As a man who worked non-stop until late at night, Mr. Habibie just started his show at the Merdeka Palace at ten o'clock in the morning. Sometimes he did not get out of the Palace until near midnight. On Saturday, he dedicated his time at the Merdeka Palace to receive journalists who wanted to interview him.

To receive guests between two activities at the State Palace and the Merdeka Palace, President Habibie sometimes used one of the rooms at Puri Bhakti Renatama. This is also for practical reasons because the building lies in the journey between the two palaces. For a press conference, he often invited journalists to Wisma Negara. President Habibie also often uses a different dining room for his lunch. He often brought his own lunch from home.

President Habibie only reigned for 13 months, and was replaced by President Abdurrahman Wahid, who was usually called Gus Dur. During his leadership, Gus Dur moved his family to the Merdeka Palace. He used the bedrooms that Bung Karno used to use at the Merdeka Palace.

Gus Dur's very open lifestyle gave a new color to the life of the Merdeka Palace. Often the Palace is "alive" for 24 hours due to the various banquets and family gatherings that bring large numbers of guests.

Gus Dur also worked in Bung Karno's office. In contrast, President Megawati did not use the working space at the Merdeka Palace as her office, but one of the rooms in the State Palace.

At the time of President Megawati prepared plans to move the office of President to Puri Bhakti Renatama located in the inner court between the Merdeka Palace and the State Palace. The additional building was built during the Soeharto era as a museum to store paintings and art objects as well as gift items.

But as the collection of paintings, art objects, and gift items continued to grow, the museum could no longer accommodate them all. The Bina Graha Building, which was originally the President's Office, was changed into a museum to store all art collections that were not on display at the Palace. While the former building of the museum was renovated into a new Presidential Office, complete with space for press conferences and Cabinet Meeting room.

During the time of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Bina Graha Building was used as an office for the Special Staff of the President. While at this time, in the time of President Joko Widodo, Bina Graha is used for the Office of Presidential Staff. While the collection of art objects originally stored in Bina Graha, in store at the museum of the Presidential Palace.

Palace Sections On the front yard of the Merdeka Palace, adjacent to the fountain pool, stands a flagpole of 17-meter-high concrete. Earlier, during the Dutch East Indies flag was raised at the top of the Merdeka Palace. Every year, in the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on the flagpole is flown duplicate Flag Heritage.

Gradually Merdeka Palace changed. Mrs. Tien Soeharto's loyalty to Jepara's woodcuts quickly changed the appearance of the Palace. Outside styled Palladio, in the style of Jepara. According to Joop Ave, who served as Head of the Presidential Palace at the beginning of interior renovation, the effort was also to mengindonesiakan at the same time popularize the Palace. When Sampoerno became the head of the Presidential Household, the pengindonesiaan decoration continued.

Presidential living room on the west side of the Merdeka Palace for example, then given the name of Jepara Room for using ornament carving Jepara carving in massive. All the chairs and sofa suits are made with Jepara carving teak frame. On the walls hung several large wooden reliefs. One of them describes the epic Ramayana. Some of the saka in the room were also wrapped with carved wood. Two pairs of massive Iaka saxas, each in the Credential Room and the Jepara Room, are also wrapped in Jepara carvings.

During the reign of President Soeharto, marble floors in the main rooms of the Merdeka Palace were covered with a maroon rug, while in the State Palace with green rugs. The tapestry wears a decorative decoration along the edge and the middle. In the Credential Room, the middle decoration of the rugs uses a Cakra Manggilingan motif.

The choice of red for the Merdeka Palace and green for the State Palace is also applied to the curtains or curtains of windows and doors in both buildings. At the time of President Abdurrahman Wahid, the curtains at the Merdeka Palace were changed to blue.

During the time of President Abdurrahman Wahid, the position of the head of the Household House was changed to the Secretary of the President who at the time of President Megawati was held by Kemal Munawar. President Megawati appointed the Special Staff of Kris Danubrata who was assigned to rearrange the interior of the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia.

Gradually, replacement of curtains and carpets at the Jakarta Palace was also done. The thick, massive curtains were replaced with a semi-transparent vitrase that gave the impression of lightness and openness. The original wall-to-wall rugs were replaced with sheets of Persian, Pakistani and Afghan carpets, which gave a friendly and intimate impression.

Carved wooden chairs and sofas of Jepara with golden yellow pads that originally filled the Merdeka Palace were also replaced with the old colonial Indies-era colonial chairs and sofas. Most of the furniture was removed from the warehouse to be renovated and replaced with new pads with colors and patterns that give the impression of elegance and warmth.

In the time of President Megawati done arrangement and re-placement of paintings and other art objects in accordance with the new interior arrangement. Some of the paintings were returned to their original place as when originally placed specifically by Bung Karno for special aesthetic and technical considerations. President Megawati also chose not to stay at the Merdeka Palace. Nevertheless, Ibu Mega uses the State Palace as her office.

Almost all Heads of State and Heads of Government from all over the world have visited the Merdeka Palace. Their names are listed in the long list of state guests at the Merdeka Palace. Some of the great names in the history of the world who have visited the Merdeka Palace include: Sri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Juliana, King Norodom Sihanouk, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, President Nelson Mandela, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, President Bill Clinton, Princess Diana, and President Obama.

During the reign of President Soeharto, the Jakarta Palace was opened to the public (can be visited by the general public). But the Merdeka Palace was closed to the public since it was used as official residence during the reign of President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In its development, during the time of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, there is a program Istura (Palace for the People) where people can visit the Presidential Palace at the weekend. This program was not followed by President Joko Widodo.

The Office of President of the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is the President who is very concerned about the condition and comfort of the Presidential Palace. This President, made many changes, especially renovating, both physically the building and its contents, as well as home furnishings or furniture, or the transfer of its function. This Presidential Office began construction in 2001; originally this building is a museum of Puri Bhakti Renatama; this renovation product is dominated by white color, with furniture that is well suited for work office. Similarly, the color of furniture that fills it tends to be dominated by this color. It is in accordance with the building he replaced, which is east of the Merdeka Palace complex.