User:Paultan.architect/sandbox

A recent history of De Paviljoen Hotel, Bandung.

In 2013 architect Paul Tan was approached by a young group of developers from Bandung, planning to develop their first project, a hotel in inner city of Bandung, known for its residential Dutch villas. According to a list published by Globetrotter magazine in 2001, Bandung is one of the most important cities in Indonesia for colonial architecture, particularly for Art Deco style. In fact, Bandung is one and only Asian city placed among the top 10 World Art Deco cities.

The hotel location is on the tree lined street of Jalan Riau, now known as Jalan R. E. Martadinata No. 66-68. The site was large for a house, approximately 2,000 m2. It has a few mature trees on it and the house belonged to a couple, who inherited it from her father, a well-respected officer, Colonel Brata Manggala, who in turn, previously bought it from a Chinese family, namely the Tjong brothers, in 1966.

In July of 2013, the architects interviewed the couple that lived in this house, to relate to the history of the house and its location before it is to be demolished and turned into a hotel. The story goes, that in 1984-2000, there was an art gallery in the pavilion off to the side of the main house, it was called Galeri 66. Famous artists like I Nyoman Nuarta, Setiawan Sabana, Heridim and Rosyid were among the patrons of this gallery.

Colonel Manggala, being a notable person of that era, always received many guests at this home. In addition to the artists that use to gather at Galeri 66, the family and friends that come and visit, turned the house to become “everyone’s house” because of the hospitality of the owners and the many meetings and discussions that went on during that time of Indonesia’s history.

The bringing of family together, to eat and chat, very much a Sundanese culture, made this house and the gallery, a place to meet people and “everyone’s house” or “imah sarerea”. This tradition became part of the concept on how the hotel was later designed. The architects gave much thought to the connection between the street, its entrance and its connection to the lobby, how visitors perceive the hotel, the arrival of cars and guests, and the warm welcome that is very much part of the local culture.

Thus the design had to have direct access from the pedestrian walkway along the main street, and vice versa, people who are sitting inside has a close and comfortable view of the street. People should feel welcome in entering the hotel through its inviting coffee shop and cozyness of its entrance. The lobby lounge is both café and library, accessible from the lobby as well as from the street.

The “front yard” is a large plaza that flows into the street without boundaries, intended to make access in exploring surrounding area of hotel, easy. The area of jalan Riau is famous for cultural tourism destinations such as culinary places and fashion factory outlets which Bandung is famous for. Paving material and pattern used, are the same as the pedestrian foot path to eliminate the boundary. Car entrance, as is the drop off into the entrance lobby, is to the side and cars are then pushed into the basement parking, where there is space to turn around to go up.

Despite the fact that jalan Riau is rapidly changing into a commercial street, such as next door 8 story Hotel Tebu, architects for De Paviljoen endeavoured to preserve its residential-scaled road. The architects designed the building mass to remain in harmony with the street, by breaking down the mass of the building into three and interspersing it with landscape, pool and an open air atrium.

Another design goal for this hotel development, is to make this hotel to be user-friendly. This is translated by the choice of colour, material and textures, such that it is perceived as home. Architects avoided using reflective materials such as glass and stainless steel. Instead of darker colours, warmer materials and earth textures such as travertine marble and vulcanic stone were used. The building is multifaceted, with the hotel rooms facing to either side and into the pool atrium; this is to take in the view of the surrounding mountains around Bandung. The pool is sandwiched between the two wings, to optimize both site utilization and view. The wing is attached to the main building by a multi-storey bridge. This brings the pool into the focus of the 3rd floor podium, where the semi indoor children pool is located as well as the loft family suite guest rooms. There is also a small gymnasium and a children play room on this level. Underneath, are several well-appointed meeting rooms of various capacities to rent.

De Paviljoen has since its opening in December 2016, received many returning guests and enjoys overbookings during every festive season, when a great many tourists visit Bandung.

Through the overall success of this hotel, the developers have participated in improving Bandung as a friendly tourist and pedestrian city, which in turn will have a positive influence to the city’s future urban fabric. The warm and understated elegance of its architecture, with contemporary interpretations of the Art Deco style, reflects the century’s long history of the Sundanese hospitable culture and Bandung as a capital city through the Indonesian colonial and independence era.