The demolition of abandoned buildings is often justified by their perceived lack of functionality and poor condition. However, the adaptive reuse approach offers a sustainable alternative by repurposing old structures with minimal alterations, thereby preserving their social, cultural, and historical significance. The Menteng area in Jakarta, originally designed as the first Garden City in Batavia during the Dutch colonial era, hosts numerous historical buildings that embody this potential. One such example is the Bunga Rampai Restaurant, a structure initially built as a residential home and known as the first local dentist's residence in Batavia. Over a century later, this building has been transformed into an Indonesian restaurant while maintaining its historical essence. The façade of the building remains largely unaltered, preserving its original shape and materials, with only minimal changes in color. A notable feature of the structure is its Mansard roof, a characteristic element of residential architecture in the area. This study aims to analyze the architecture and interior design of Bunga Rampai through a qualitative research method, involving data collection via direct observation and interviews with interior designers and experts in building conservation. The findings indicate that adaptive reuse not only extends the lifespan of historical buildings but also enhances their cultural value by integrating them into contemporary urban contexts. Nonetheless, the application of adaptive reuse presents certain limitations due to the constraints imposed by conservation regulations and the need to balance modernization with historical preservation. This study contributes to the discourse on sustainable heritage conservation by demonstrating how adaptive reuse can serve as a viable strategy for maintaining the architectural and historical integrity of heritage buildings.
Suteja et al. (Wed,) studied this question.