Pergeseran Paksa Arsitektur Kolonial Hindia Belanda di Bawah Kebijakan Daendels pada Abad XIX

Abstract

This article examines the forced shift in Dutch East Indies colonial architecture from the hybrid Indisch style towards the more monumental and rigid Indische Empire style under the policies of Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels (1808–1811). This study aims to analyse the political and ideological factors underlying this architectural transformation, as well as its long-term impact on the urban landscape and the trajectory of architectural history in the Dutch East Indies during the 19th century. This research employs a literature review method integrated with the stages of historical research including heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography drawing upon accredited academic journals, scholarly books, and relevant historical sources. The research findings indicate that prior to the Daendels era, the colonial elite in Batavia had developed a hybrid architectural style that accommodated tropical climatic conditions through the adaptation of European elements with local vernacular features. However, Daendels systematically disregarded this adaptive tradition by imposing the French Empire style, characterised by symmetrical floor plans, monumental neoclassical columns, and an aesthetic of colonial grandeur. The application of this style was manifested in iconic projects such as the Gouvernements Hôtel in Batavia and the relocation of the settlement centre to Weltevreden. The research concludes that Daendels’ policies served as an ideological instrument of colonial power, deliberately severing the continuity of local architectural acculturation in order to construct an image of European supremacy.