Neglected Spaces Become Places of Creation
The creative space not only serves as a discussion forum but also a place of argumentation and the sharing of opinions.
Laswee Creative Space open space in Bandung City, West Java, Wednesday (25/5/2022).
Bandung city, West Java, has seen the rise creative spaces to form and spread ideas. Once neglected or damaged by fire, now they have become spaces of existence responding to the changing of the times.
Event and Public Relations manager of ESMOD Jakarta, Chike Herningtias, looked cheerful as she observed the open area of Laswee Creative Space in Bandung on Wednesday evening (25/5/2022).
In the middle of the U-shaped block there was a green area with a number of benches and several big trees that kept the location shady. It served as an open space frequently used for discussions and gatherings.
Laswee Creative Space is situated in a previously neglected estate and cluster of buildings owned by the West Java provincial administration. The 2,833 square meter area on Jalan Laswi No.1 was first converted into a creative space on Nov. 23, 2021.
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Accompanied by Laswee Creative Space manager Pita Tjokronegoro, Chike surveyed the area illuminated by rows of park lamps. ESMOD, a fashion school from France already operating in Indonesia since 1996, asked Chike to launch a program at Laswee.
“We will organize a creative program themed ‘Meet Local Heros’ here on Friday and Saturday (27-28/5). I think this place is very suitable for a workshop and fashion show,” said Chike beaming.
Chike was amazed by the blend of old buildings and youthful spirit reflected in Laswee. She felt the unique atmosphere created by the modern use of the space without changing the shape of the existing buildings.
A number of visitors shop on one of the verandas in front of Laswee Creative Space Bandung, West Java, Wednesday (25/5/2022).
The visions of fashion models strutting along the vacant span between park benches filled her mind, Hundreds of people will be watching the models showcasing casual wear from 15 local brands in the open area. “This place has unique vibes. It applies the concept of unchanged buildings, but there’s a modern touch. This is like our philosophy, sometimes we don’t need to change something already existing to suit our standards,” she said.
Bandung city is the birthplace of various local quality brand names. The culture of creativity is deeply inherent in the citizens of Bandung.
We use the government assets for various creative activities.
Pita said Laswee was managed by Bima Sejahtera Sentosa Cooperative and PT Olah Kelola Ruang. This area is currently occupied by nine food and beverage outlets and three clothing stores. Two other rooms are prepared for indoor activities and are open to interested parties.
“We use the government assets for various creative activities. Here the creative space is open to all communities. At least once a month there are major events like exhibitions and discussions. One of them was Bandung Design Biennale 2021 in early November,” she added.
Responding to change
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has expressed his hope that such creative spaces could be used to promote the economy. This is pursuant to the instruction of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati to make use of dormant government assets in order to turn out economic value.
“Thousands of assets of the West Java provincial administration are not yet utilized. They are very strategically located and mostly in the city hub. The important thing is that they are for the welfare and benefit of everybody,” said Ridwan Kamil, commonly called Emil.
Therefore, he allows all parties the opportunity to use the government assets in the interest of the public, including their use for creative spaces. As the economy has been stagnant amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to make the most of everything to boost this sector.
“The post-pandemic situation encourages us to keep growing in many ways. Through discussions and a collective response to build a better future, we can secure an ideal level of production for all,” Emil told Kompas while on a working visit to Italy on 20-25 May 2022.
A number of visitors discussed while eating lunch at The Hallway Space, Kosambi Market, Bandung City, West Java, Wednesday (25/5/2022).
In Bandung it is not only abandoned government assets are being converted into creative spaces. In Kosambi Market, The Hallway Space has developed where hundreds of creative activists gather and display their products.
Pasar Kosambi on Jalan Ahmad Yani, Bandung, has six floors. However, only the ground floor is occupied by traditional traders. Most of the kiosks on the upper floors have not been used.
Manager of The Hallway Space, Pam Setiawan, said the vacant space would be futile if left unused, so he and his management team introduced their creative space concept to use the place for product marketing as well as discussions.
A fire that spread around Kosambi Market in 2019 failed to deter Pam and his peers from turning part of the market into The Hallway Space. After ensuring its safe condition, they carried on with the market’s development and it has been busy since early 2020.
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“We started initiating this Hallway concept around 2018. Part of the second floor was affected by the fire. But we remained determined to open the Hallway because the concept was already mature,” he said.
Today there are more than 120 outlets in Hallway, from clothing to food and drinks. Not only serving as a space for trading, in Hallway they is also spaces for the exchanging views and inventing new ideas.
For Pam, Hallway was set up as a mutual learning place for creative activists in Bandung city. More than just considering the aspect of quality, marketing and promotion are also topics of discussion that raise their entrepreneurship.
“Once in several months, we share views and discuss the developments of [the tenants’] products. We also ask for input from tenants so as to improve The Hallway Space for the convenience of all,” said Pam.
For the creative activists, the presence of this sharing space is the final location for formulating new ideas and generating mature concepts. The creative space not only serves as a discussion forum but also a place of argumentation and the sharing of opinions.
This article was translated by Aris Prawira
