Bandung, the capital of West Java, is home to delicious food, cafes, recreational places and tea plantations.

But that’s not all.

Located on Jl. Diponegoro is Gedung Sate, a Dutch East Indies heritage building built in 1920.

Despite being commonly known as a picture-worthy classic building, Gedung Sate is also a “smart museum”, with four interactive art installations, two interesting visual displays and an audio-visual room.

Here are the things you can explore at Gedung Sate, as compiled by kompas.com:

Interactive media

Several steps from the ticketing office is the first interactive media installation, in the form of a large touch screen. This installation showcases the different pillars and roofs that make up the building, a 3D scan of the architecture and an official blue print dating back to the Dutch East Indies era.

Miniature Gedung Sate

Located near the shingle roof made of Borneo’s special ironwood, you will see a miniature of Gedung Sate standing on a black table, decorated with lights.

The miniature can be split in two, showcasing the indoor architecture of the building.

Visual illustration of Bandung’s development

Across from the replica of a siren is a green pop up table on which a video is projected of Bandung city and Gedung Sate’s development, including what the city looked like a hundred years ago and the city’s first plaza. The visuals shown on the table are projected from lights above the table.

Audio-visual room

The first room in the hall closest to the information desk is a mini theater with several chairs. The video playing is a short-film called 7 Pemuda (7 Youths), which tells the story of seven youths who fought to defend the building from Gurkha soldiers.

Read also: In Bandung, female community spreads message of empowerment, self-reliance

Augmented reality room

Located next to the audio-visual room is an augmented reality room.

Upon entering the room, visitors will be greeted by a video projected onto the walls of workers constructing an old building as Dutch people inspect their work. Items such as chairs and tables make the visuals appear even more realistic.

Bird’s eye view of Gedung Sate

Although not exactly interactive, this installation located in front of the augmented reality room shows Gedung Sate from the air, complete with moving clouds.

View from a hot air balloon

Also located in front of the augmented reality room, visitors can hop into a replica hot air balloon and wear a virtual reality (VR) headset. It feels as if you are flying above Gedung Sate.

This virtual perspective can also be viewed by visitors who aren’t wearing VR headsets through a small screen on the wall.

Gedung Sate is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The ticket price for all ages is Rp 5,000 (US$0.37). (vel/kes)