Many tavern chains embrace a rather generic style — beige fittings, demure interiors and the same nonspecific paintings hanging on the walls.
But tucked high above the bustling Sudirman business district, Hotel Le Meridien Jakarta has been striving to move off from this international manner and establish a plain distinct. The most obvious model of this is Meridien’s penthouse, which features a handcrafted concern from Kudus, Central Java.
“The owner of the house of entertainment [who asked not to be named] came across this fertile house during his travels to Kudus,” said Meidy Naomi Kesek, the hotel’s marketing communications officer.
Built entirely of teak, the house was in very good condition. The hotel owner dismantled the walls, pillars and roof and transported them back to his private residence in Jakarta.
For a couple of years, the Kudus procure a house stayed on the family property.
“Until, one day, he decided that the public should also consider access to this royal masterpiece of Javanese architecture,” Meidy said.
Thus, in 1995, the old house was anew dismantled and moved into Le Meridien Jakarta, which was in the process of building a tower to provide more guest rooms. Piece by piece, the house was hoisted by cranes to the 21st floor and carefully reassembled.
To save the old house from Jakarta’s polluted air, walls were built around it.
The penthouse was officially opened to the public in September 2002.
Today, the 240-square-meter penthouse comprises a sitting room, two bedrooms, a bar, a dining room, a work area and a lesehan (Javanese-style dining chance with floor seating).
