DOCUMENTATION ISSUES buildings, such as hospitals.5 Several engineers based in Surabaya reported their implemen- tation of mechanical air conditioning in the colony in a prestigious engineering journal, The Nature of Tropical Architecture De Ingenieur in Nederlandsch-Indie. It was reported that air conditioning was a necessity in Indonesian Modernism in hospitals as it enabled desired conditions for operating, nursing, as well as other health care activities. Due to the increasing popu- BY SETIADI SOPANDI larity of air-conditioning, electrical engineer P. Timmerman warned the electricity supply companies to promote and to anticipate the The idea of environmental design – or loosely referred to as “tropical architecture” – is an ever- surge of electricity in the near future.6 The present but underlying discourse in modern Indonesian architectural history. Despite being tentative architect-engineer B. de Vistarini welcomed 7 and, at times, overshadowed by other dominant issues, the quest for climate-related environmental the use of air-conditioning in the country. tropical design is apparent in almost every generation of Indonesian architects. He predicted that it would decrease the height of office spaces and consequently its volume; therefore more floors could be fitted into the same building height, making office spaces in the tropics not so different from the Too often we come across the two-word but it highlights the global extent of modern ones in . The climate-controlled build- phrase: “tropical architecture” to conjure up architecture, its various historical precedents ings would benefit from air-conditioning, preconceived ideas illustrating a building in the former colonial states, and, more im- since the windows would be closed all the or a complex of buildings dominated by the portantly, in post-colonial development.2 time, which would reduce street noise. In a presence of the roof, frequently lacking walls, Along with the development of colonial larger context, the air-conditioning of indoor and surrounded by lush tropical gardens and cities and infrastructure in the Dutch East spaces would reduce the distance between water bodies. The term “tropical” is a synec- Indies, the earliest discussion concerning the buildings. Vistarini, however, warned that the doche in Indonesian architectural history. It tropics was related to the alarming health perimeters of buildings should be designed to 63 — 2020/2 potentially addresses the complexity of the problems in towns and villages caused by protect users from the temperature difference tropics – ecologically, environmentally, and hygiene-related “tropical” diseases. Interest- between indoors and outdoors. He also as- culturally – and how it has been interrelated ingly, the earliest accounts on the issue did serted that the external skin of a modern air to architectural discourse. The term, despite not come from architects, but from a retired – conditioned building – walls, windows, and docomomo being omnipotent in every historical period, Dutch army general and engineer, G. W. F. doors - should be strongly built, becoming tends to be only tentatively present in almost Vos. In 1890, he submitted the only entry in more solid than usual. every architectural discourse throughout the a competition held by the Royal Institute of Before air conditioning became the norm, 20th century. Engineers and The Association for the Pro- engineers and architects had to rely on local Architects and engineers (as well as motion of Medical Sciences on developing vernacular practices and models, whilst, at scientists) throughout the 20th century a hygienic living environment in the Dutch the same time, creatively employing modern have been occupied with the prospect that East Indies. His proposal, titled “Indonesian architectural elements to provide desirable architectural design and building mechani- building hygiene, a test of an application of conditions for habitation. C. J. de Bruijn,

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