Pakuan Building

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Pakuan Building at night, from the book "One Year of the Establishment of the State of Pasundan" published in 1949 Pakuan as the Residence of the Wali Negara of Pasundan, Satu Tahun Berdirinja Negara Pasundan, p143.jpg
Pakuan Building at night, from the book "One Year of the Establishment of the State of Pasundan" published in 1949

The Pakuan Building (Indonesian : Gedung Pakuan; Sundanese : Gedong Pakuan; Sundanese script: ᮌᮨᮓᮧᮀ ᮕᮊᮥᮃᮔ᮪) is currently an official residence that serves as the official residence of the Govenror of West Java. This building is located at Jalan Otto Iskandardinata No.1, Bandung. During the Dutch colonial era, this building was the official residence of the Priangan Resident. [1]

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History

The Pakuan Building was built in connection with the order of the Governor General Ch.F. Pahud because of the relocation of the capital of the Priangan Residency from Cianjur to Bandung. However, the relocation of the capital of the residency could only be carried out by Resident Van der Moore in 1864, after Mount Gede erupted and destroyed the city of Cianjur. Construction began in 1864 and was completed in 1867.

During the construction of the Pakuan Building (1864-1867), a number of members of the Dutch Military Genie were deployed, assisted by R.A. Wiranatakusumah known as Dalem Bintang. R.A. Wiranatakusumah was the 8th Bandung Regent who ruled between 1846-1874. He mobilized residents from the villages of Babakan Bogor (now Kebon Kawung) and Balubur Hilir which are now located in front of the official residence of Commander of the III Siliwangi Military Command in Bandung. For their services, residents involved in the construction were exempted from taxes. [2]

Architectural

The Pakuan Building has an elegant, monumental Indische Empire Stijl architectural style and was very popular with General Herman Willem Daendels. The building was designed by the Chief Engineer of the Department van Burgerlijke Openbare Werken (B.O.W) or DPU now, who was a staff of Resident Van der Moore, the Engineer also designed the Sakola Raja building which is currently the Bandung City Police Office in 1866.

Visits by important international figures

Since the Dutch East Indies era, this building has been a place of rest for important people, official guests and world figures. Important international guests who have visited here are:

Role in the Asian-African Conference

When the Asian-African Conference took place in the city of Bandung in 1955, a number of figures, leaders of Asian African countries stopped to rest at the Pakuan Building, including:

During his visit in 1955, Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru had stated in his speech that Bandung was the capital of Asia Africa.

In 2005, this building was also used as a luncheon for heads of state, government and delegations of Asian African countries in the context of the 50th Anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference.

RI-PRC Dual Citizenship Agreement

On April 22 1955, in the central room of the Pakuan Building, a Joint Communique on Dual Citizenship was signed between the governments of the Republic of Indonesia and the People's Republic of China. Each party was represented by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Sunario and Prime Minister of China Zhou Enlai.

The building today

In 1990, the restoration of the Pakuan Building structure was completed at a cost of more than one billion rupiah. This restoration was in accordance with the hopes of Prince Bernhard. Gedung Pakuan now still functions as a landmark of Bandung City. Its main function is now as an official residence which is used as the official residence of the Governor of the Province of West Java.

References

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