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Savoy Homann hotel, second to none in Far East
Silent witness: Military personnel safeguard delegates walking along Jl
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span class="caption">Silent witness: Military personnel safeguard delegates walking along Jl. Asia-Afrika in Bandung during the conference in 1955. Today's view of the Savoy Homann Bidakara, which will host the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the AAC (photo). Courtesy of Savoy Homann
'Let Savoy Homann be second to none in the Far East,' said hotelier Fr. JA Van Es when he inaugurated the Savoy Homann hotel (now Savoy Homann Bidakara) in 1939.
Like a fulfillment of the statement, in 1955, the hotel, which was initially only a wooden house, became known internationally as it was selected to accommodate delegations attending the historic Asian-African Conference.
The original structure of the hotel had been standing since 1884, when Bandung had fewer than 10 permanent buildings.
It was a house owned by the family of Adolf Homann from Germany. As time went on, it became a bigger bungalow that was rented by European families.
As it earned its reputation, the owner gradually renovated it into a bigger hotel. The building took on the features of the art deco style popular in 1920s Europe, according to Teuscher, as quoted by Haryoto Kunto in the latter's book, Savoy Homann: Persinggahan Orang-Orang Penting (The Stopover Place for Important People).
In February 1937 it was renovated again under the helm of Dutch architect AF Aalbers and 'Savoy' was added to its name.
'Many original features have been retained. We have also kept the old furniture in the Homann suite,' said Savoy Homann Bidakara public relations officer Ira Siska Utami.
Courtesy of Savoy Homann
Some of the rooms used by state leaders in 1955 are located in the eastern part of the hotel, which is now called the AA (Asia-Africa) Wing.
The wing has balconies facing the historical Jl. Asia-Afrika. Room 144, where Indian prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stayed, is now called the Nehru Room.
Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, once stayed in room 244 while Chinese prime minister Zhou Enlai in room 344.
When president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted the 50th commemoration of the conference in 2005, he stayed in Sukarno's room, said Ira.
In 1955, Asian and African leaders walked from the hotel to the Merdeka Building where the conference was held. The historical walk was repeated by leaders from the two continents in 2005 and will be repeated again during the 60th commemoration on Friday.
Among other notable world figures that have stayed in the hotel are American actor and actress Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford in 1927.
