Menteng : a subdistrict of Central Jakarta

Menteng

Menteng is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, one of the administrative city which forms the special capital territory of Jakarta, Indonesia.
The subdistrict is best known as the location of the Menteng residential area, a new urban design developed in the 1910s to become a residential area for Dutch people and high officials. Supported by easy access to service centers and nearby to the central business district, this area has become one of the most expensive areas for residential real estate in Jakarta. Several important people such as former president Suharto take up residence in Menteng. The President of the United States Barack Obama spent his childhood in Menteng, attending local schools including Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School.
Menteng Subdistrict is located to the south of Merdeka Square. It is roughly bounded by Kebon Sirih Road to the north, a canal to the west, the canal Kali Malang to the south, and the river Ciliwung to the east.
Menteng Subdistrict is served by several railway stations (e.g. Gondangdia Station, Sudirman Station, Cikini Station, and Mampang Station. Mohammad Husni Thamrin Road is the main artery of Jakarta, which lies on the west part of Menteng Subdistrict.
Menteng residential area is located in Menteng Subdistrict. The residential area spread over the administrative villages of Menteng and Gondangdia. Menteng residential area is the 1st modern housing estate in Jakarta. It was developed by the private real estate company N.V. de Bouwploeg, established by Pieter Adriaan Jacobus Moojen. At that time, the Menteng residential area was known then as Nieuw Gondangdia, and was designed by P.J.S. Moojen and F.J. Kubatz in 1913. The Nieuw Gondangdia, also known as Menteng Project, was started during the 1910s-1920s. The project was meant to be the southern expansion of the city Batavia.
Menteng Project is designed following a hierarchical system that divides streets and houses into several classes. Parks cover about 30 percent of the area in 23 places. A 1975 gubernatorial decree declared Menteng a cultural heritage area, citing its distinctive architecture, which often includes high, slanting roofs and ample gardens. During the 1980s, the west part of Menteng was transformed into a commercial area, such as Sabang Street (now Agus Salim street), Jaksa Street, Teuku Cik Di Tiro Street, and Menteng Raya Street. Most of them changed into shops, hotels, offices, and restaurants. The Jalan Jaksa Festival is held every year in Jaksa Street.
Presently, conservation of the Menteng residential area has shown many problems. Despite being a cultural heritage area, many houses were renovated into a Neoclassical style by newcomers, a style which has no relation with Menteng residential area. Authorities may stop the construction of a building which violate the Menteng style, but some projects resume until the houses are finished. Other problem related to the conservation of Menteng residential area are banning of businesses in the area despite the rising land taxes, fraud by architects of the newly renovated buildings, and the general lack of knowledge in conservation.
The houses of Menteng were aimed for the Dutch or locals with higher status. The new residential area was segregated from the traditional dwelling scattered around the area. Menteng Project was the 1st housing project in Jakarta that follows the 1st law of urban planning in Batavia, known as Bataviasche Bouwverordening.
The architecture style of Menteng residential area was known as "Indies" or "Indo-European". It is characterized with tall pyramid-shaped roofs, front terraces, wide courtyard, characteristic textures in the wall, and other architectural forms such as windows, doors, and prominent air ventilation. The architectural style of the building in Menteng can be classified into Classicism/Old Indies, Nieuwe Zakelijkheid, New Indies, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Amsterdam School, De Stijl, Le Corbusier and traditional Indonesian architecture.
The residence was classified as class 1 to 3. The houses of these type were built in the core area of Menteng and were targeted for high officials and high class Dutch or European civilians. The architecture style was known as "Transitional Period", which is the style of architecture between the older "Old Indies House" style (Oud Indische Huis), with its typical wide courtyard and wide terraces, to the more modern style called the "European Villa". The area is connected with wide boulevards.
Houses in this class are generally one or two floored free-standing house with one or two wings/pavilions attached to the main building.
The residence was classified as class 4 to 7. These are the most dominant type of houses in Menteng. The architecture style is a fusion between the Dutch Transitional Period houses and local traditional houses. The area is connected with narrower streets, classified in Dutch as Laan, Straat or Weg.
Residence class 6 and 7 were targeted for the colonial government officials and was known as Land Woningen Voor Ambtenaren. Generally, these houses are one-floored and can sometimes be a semi-detached house (Dutch koppel).

Related Sites for Menteng

• Welcome to Menteng Residence Apartment | Menteng Residence … read Menteng
• Menteng Central read Menteng
• mmi-menteng.com | A Leader in Montessori Preschool Education read Menteng
• Kafe Pisa - Location Menteng read Menteng