Dinda Mulia
From Wilhelmina Park to Istiqlal Mosque: The History of Jakarta’s Most Symbolic Site
The site on which Istiqlal Mosque was built near Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta, was once the colonial-era Wilhelmina Park, which also extended towards the Jakarta Cathedral. The historic Lapangan Banteng square and Medan Merdeka are also nearby—both clear examples of how post-independence Jakarta rewrote the meaning of its inherited spaces. Long before Southeast Asia’s
How Restaurant Design Shapes Jakarta’s Dining Experience
Isn’t it remarkable that before even entering a restaurant, we’re able to gauge, roughly, what type of experience awaits inside? At first, we might think that design is simply an attempt for venues to differentiate themselves, after all, in a city as competitive as Jakarta, they need to stand out. Whilst true, that’s not the
What Makes A Design ‘Indonesian’ Today?
Indonesia’s diversity is something to celebrate, but even blessings can come with complications. Just as defining Indonesian cuisine remains a constant debate among culinary experts, defining contemporary Indonesian design leads to a similarly elusive answer. The question appears simple, yet few experts seem able or willing to offer one definitive description. Does contemporary Indonesia have
BINUS SCHOOL Simprug’s New Principal on Leading a People-First and Future-Ready School
As the new Principal of BINUS SCHool Simprug, Aaron Wise steps into the role with a focus on people: students, teachers, and a community moving with shared purpose. In a conversation with NOW! Jakarta, he tells us how BINUS’s Visible Learning philosophy, wellbeing, technology, and the wider BINA NUSANTARA ecosystem come together to shape a
MONDIAL Dreams Collection Weaves Jewellery, Art and Ambition with Mangmoel
MONDIAL Dreams returns with a new creative chapter, bringing its latest diamond jewellery collection into conversation with contemporary art. This year, the signature MONDIAL collection takes the ribbon as its central motif, translating its shape into pieces that speak of hope, commitment and the pursuit of personal ambition. Within MONDIAL’s wider line-up of signature collections,
BIKO Group’s Next Round Begins
From Beer Garden to new digital touchpoints, dining-led concepts and bar venues with serious food credentials, BIKO Group is shifting how Jakarta eats, drinks and gathers From the Very First Pint The year was 2010, and a simple after-work drink in Jakarta was starting to feel expensive. People wanted somewhere easy-going to let off steam,
Time Capsule: Hotel des Indes and Its Many Afterlives
Once a colonial hotel, later Duta Merlin, and now part of an MRT-linked future, this Harmoni site has moved through several urban afterlives It is not an exaggeration to say that at Harmoni, one stretch of ground has carried more than one city upon it. For much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, that ground
Turning Animals into Mirrors: HOARSE HORSE by Ida Lawrence at ISA Art Gallery
The paintings displayed at the HOARSE HORSE exhibition by Berlin-based artist Ida Lawrence do not behave like paintings. They hang, slack-backed and unstretched, as if they have shrugged off the polite posture of the gallery wall. Some are tethered with straps and rope; others carry hardware in the form of collars, leashes, and fastenings. The
A Closer Look at Jakarta Intercultural School’s Two Early Years and Elementary School Campuses Through Its Principals
Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) welcomes NOW! Jakarta for a conversation with Jonathan “Zeb” Johnson (JJ), Principal at the Pondok Indah Elementary School campus, and Jill Bellamy (JB), Principal at the Pattimura Elementary School campus to discuss how learning, community, and student support shape the elementary experience across JIS’ two campuses. NOW! Jakarta (NJ): Could you
Made to Fit in Rattan: Bringing Tradition to Children
Milou’s rattan line is built for children and designed to complement the modern home. From strollers and high chairs to bistro sets, dollhouses, and baskets, here’s what to buy and what to look for in a Milou creation. The stroller strikes a perfect balance between charm and functionality. A curved rattan handle and a low,
The Long Life of Metropole XXI Cinema
It is hard to miss Metropole XXI when walking around Cikini, Central Jakarta. Located near the junction ofJl. Diponegoro, Jl. Pegangsaan Timur, and Jl. Proklamasi, the multipurpose building stands out with its stark-white exterior and looming tower. Its name, arranged vertically in gold lettering, immediately draws the eye. Designed by architect Liauw Goan Seng, Metropole
Anda Reserva Pondok Indah: A New Wellness Space in the Neighbourhood
Jakarta has no shortage of studios, and spas focused on balance and recovery. In the southern residential areas, however, spaces that allow people to move, rest, and recover with ease remain limited. As one of the first social wellness clubs in Jakarta, Anda Reserva Pondok Indah was conceived to answer that gap. At this wellness
Canton 108 Senayan City: Cantonese Dining Made for Sharing
From relaxed lunch with friends to Chinese New Year dinner with extended family, Canton 108 Senayan City was designed for full tables, where comforting Cantonese dishes are passed around generously, and meals always conclude with same note: ‘We should do this again soon!’ Whilst situated inside of Senayan City, the restaurant sets itself apart from
