The Max Havelaar of Architecture

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

PEOPLE hardly remember him nowadays, in spite of the fact that he played a major role in designing Indonesian cities. A seminar to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Pasar Gede in Solo at the beginning of this year discussed the story of his life. This is the story of a Dutch architect who left a comfortable life in Holland, and then worked in the Dutch East Indies and created architectural designs that were populist in orientation and tropical in spirit.

He was considered an “angry young man” by the Dutch East Indies government because he was always on the side of the indigenous people. He wanted independence for Indonesia, but regrettably he did not live to see that hope. During the Japanese Occupation, he was detained and died tragically during confinement in Cimahi.

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THE Dutchman stood still like a statue in front of the main gate of Pasar Gede Harjonagara in Solo. He was looking for something between the ivory-colored walls. He had a neat appearance and attracted the attention of the traders. Once in a while he would smile at the women market sellers.

His brown eyes indicated something as he faced the building. Perhaps it was a feeling of pride. The man was Charles Karsten, 40, who, that particular Saturday

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