Jengki style
Encyclopedia
Jengki was an eccentric architectural style developed in the 1950s in Indonesia
, after it became an independent state.
The style reflected the novel influence of the United States
on Indonesian architecture after hundreds years of the Dutch colonial rule
. This influence was possibly brought through American teachers working at the Department of Architecture at Bandung Institute of Technology
in the mid-1950s, and the name 'Jengki' itself is thought to derive from the Indonesian
phonetic pronunciation and spelling of the word 'Yankee'.
In the new style, the modernist cubic, strict geometric forms that the Dutch had used before World War II
were transformed into more unusual shapes, such as pentagons. Jengki style asymmetrical roofs and facade
s, playful cut-out doors and windows and oddly tilted roofs and eaves were imbued with a spirit of cheerfulness and freedom. The surface and composition were festive – characteristics that were not commonly found elsewhere in Europe and America at the time. They were associated with an expression of the political spirit of freedom among the Indonesians. Frances Affandi, the executive director of the Bandung Heritage Society, says that the structures are "... charming and noteworthy, but underresearched, underdocumented and underappreciated.”
These distinctive forms were for the most part designed by construction companies or architecture students of Bandung Institute of Technology, where a Department of Architecture was established in 1951. Many Jengki style buildings have been demolished but examples remain across Indonesia, particularly in the capital Jakarta
, in Bandung
, in the Java
n cities of Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang
, as well as outside Java – in Biak
, Makassar
and Balikpapan
. Examples of the buildings in Bandung include the Gedung PDAM (Regional Water Utility Company Building), Gedung BPI (Scientific Research Institute Building) and the Gedung Politeknik Kesehatan (Health and Polytechnic Building).
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, after it became an independent state.
The style reflected the novel influence of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Indonesian architecture after hundreds years of the Dutch colonial rule
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. This influence was possibly brought through American teachers working at the Department of Architecture at Bandung Institute of Technology
Bandung Institute of Technology
The Bandung Institute of Technology or Institute of Technology, Bandung is a state, coeducational research university located in Bandung, Indonesia. Established in 1920, ITB is the oldest technology-oriented university in Indonesia....
in the mid-1950s, and the name 'Jengki' itself is thought to derive from the Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
phonetic pronunciation and spelling of the word 'Yankee'.
In the new style, the modernist cubic, strict geometric forms that the Dutch had used before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were transformed into more unusual shapes, such as pentagons. Jengki style asymmetrical roofs and facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
s, playful cut-out doors and windows and oddly tilted roofs and eaves were imbued with a spirit of cheerfulness and freedom. The surface and composition were festive – characteristics that were not commonly found elsewhere in Europe and America at the time. They were associated with an expression of the political spirit of freedom among the Indonesians. Frances Affandi, the executive director of the Bandung Heritage Society, says that the structures are "... charming and noteworthy, but underresearched, underdocumented and underappreciated.”
These distinctive forms were for the most part designed by construction companies or architecture students of Bandung Institute of Technology, where a Department of Architecture was established in 1951. Many Jengki style buildings have been demolished but examples remain across Indonesia, particularly in the capital Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, in Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
, in the Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
n cities of Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
, as well as outside Java – in Biak
Biak
Biak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
, Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
and Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
. Examples of the buildings in Bandung include the Gedung PDAM (Regional Water Utility Company Building), Gedung BPI (Scientific Research Institute Building) and the Gedung Politeknik Kesehatan (Health and Polytechnic Building).
External links
- The Jengki Style (Book preview on blurb.com)