Trials for the early opening of the revitalization of Jam Gadang area in Bukittinggi has been done, its inauguration will held on this Thursday

News24xx.com - Jam Gadang (Big Clock) located in the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, is still become the target for tourist destination both domestically and abroad.

 

The basic size of the Jam Gadang building is 6.5 x 6.5 meters, plus the basic size of the 4 meter wide staircase, so that the overall size of the building is 6.5 x 10.5 meters.

 

Inside the 36-meter-high clock tower consists of several levels, with the top level being a pendulum storage area. The pendulum was broken and had to be replaced at the  earthquake in 2007.

 

There are 4 clocks with a diameter of 80 cm each at the Jam Gadang. The clock was imported directly from Rotterdam, the Netherlands through Teluk Bayur port and mechanically driven by engines which only made 2 units in the world, namely Jam Gadang itself and Big Ben in London, England.

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Engine of the clock and clock surfaces are located at one level below the top level. At the bells are listed the watchmaker, Vortmann Relinghausen.

 

Vortman is the last name of the watchmaker, Benhard Vortmann, while Recklinghausen is the name of a city in Germany which was the place where the clock engine was produced in 1892.

Looking at the shape of the tower, Jam Gadang is built without the use of buffer iron and mortar. The mixture is only from lime and sand, completed its construction in 1926 as the gift from the Queen of the Netherlands to Rook Maker, secretary or controleur Fort de Kock during the reign of the Dutch East Indies. The clock tower architecture was designed by Jazid Radjo Mangkuto, while the laying of the first stone was carried out by the first son of Rook Maker who at that time was still 6 years old.

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The cost that has been disbursed for construction at that time was 3,000 guilders.

 

Various renovations have been carried out since it was founded, starting from the appearance of the upper part. The upper tower has three times the change in the roof.

 

At the beginning of its establishment during the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the roof of Jam Gadang is round with a statue of a rooster facing east on it. Then during the Japanese occupation it was converted into a pagoda. And the last change after Indonesia's independence, the roof of the Gadang Clock was changed to a gonjong or roof shape on the Minangkabau traditional house, Rumah Gadang.

 

The last renovation carried out at Jam Gadang was in 2010 by the Indonesian Heritage Conservation Agency (BPPI) with the support of the city government of Bukittinggi and the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta. The renovation was officially opened on the 262nd anniversary of the city of Bukittinggi on December 22, 2010.

 

And now, since the closing of Jam Gadang area a few months ago, the renovation works are carried out according to current trends and conditions, starting from the renovation of the park, lights, to other facilities.

 

The Bukittinggi city government at the time had reopened the previously closed area. Tests were also carried out, both from the lights to the fountain with colorful lights.

 

The trial was conducted at night, on Friday, December 14th 2018. Presented at the trial were local officials, one of whom was the Mayor of Bukittinggi, Ramlan Nurmatias.

 

Ramlan said, that the dancing fountain and other facilities have not been completely finished. "The revitalization process of Jam Gadang area has not yet been completely completed, because there are some parts that are still under construction" said Ramlan, who was quoted from the Kabarminang instagram, quoted on Monday, December 17th 2018.

 

The plan for Jam Gadang Revitalization park area will be opened and inaugurated on Thursday, December 20, 2018. And other information obtained from faceofminangkabau accounts states that the budget spent by the City Government of Bukittinggi for development is IDR 25 billion.

 

Furthermore, the revitalization of the Jam Gadang area shows three spots for cultural arts performances. Starting from the existence of luxury parks, parking vehicles for motorbikes and cars. As well as colorful fountains and pedestrian areas for pedestrians.

 

 

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