Lost in Transition : Empathy, Architecture, and Traditionality in the Early 20th Century of Dutch Indies

Abstract

The beginning of the 20th century can be regarded as a point of cultural and development shift towards modernity in Indonesia. These change comes along with the shifting paradigm of Colonialization that occurred in Dutch Indies, presenting figures of Dutch who were complained of having empathy towards Indies people. Multatuli with Max Havelar, Wilhelmina with Ethical Politics, Tillema with Kromoblanda, and a series Dutch Architects who are considered to have contributed to the development in Indonesia. Even thought so, there was a variety of declination from the Indies people thanks to the inability from both parties to understand each other, or as people says it lack of empathy. As the times goes on, Dutch-Indies people slowly accept the appropriated modernity offered by Dutch architect, however, it came with cost. The build environment culture that always been there with Indies people are seemingly lost in transition. This research paper seeks to elaborate on the discourse of empathy theory & examine it effects toward architectural dynamics in Dutch Indies in the 20th Century. The study was conducted through precedent studies. The understood elaboration then later will become a framework for understanding the development dynamics that occurred in Dutch East Indies at the early 20th century.