INDUSTRY.co.id - Big citiesare not built only through infrastructure, skyscrapers, or economic growth. The most memorable and admired cities in the world are those that are able to maintain and renew their identity, while stepping confidently towards the future.
Historic areas play a very important role in the process. This area is not just a collection of old buildings or monuments, but a place where collective memory, cultural identity, urban character, and citizen pride are stored. When revitalized intelligently, historic areas can become engines of economics, tourism, creativity, innovation, and international appeal.
That is why I believe that the revitalization of Jakarta's Old Town is one of the most strategic and inspiring city development opportunities in Southeast Asia today.
The Old Town has the potential to be more than just a restored historic area. Kota Tua can be the gateway to Indonesian culture and tourism: a symbolic urban space, where history, creativity, commerce, hospitality, education, technology, and public life converge to create a new magnet for Jakarta and Indonesia.
Indonesia is one of the countries with the greatest tourism potential in the world. From Bali to Borobudur, from Raja Ampat to Komodo, from Java to Sulawesi, Indonesia has tremendous diversity in its natural landscapes, cultures, traditions, biodiversity, and human talents. However, international tourism today is increasingly in need of strong urban gateways, capable of welcoming visitors with identity, cultural maturity, elegance, and memorable city experiences.
As Indonesia's capital city and main international gateway, Jakarta has the opportunity to strengthen its global image through the transformation of the Old City into a cultural heritage area that is alive and connected to modern city life.
Many of the world's successful cities have demonstrated the transformative power of revitalized historic regions. Barcelona, Singapore, Bilbao, Hamburg, London and many other cities have leveraged historical legacies not as nostalgia for the past, but rather as strategic assets to attract investment, talent, tourists, entrepreneurs and international recognition.
The future belongs to cities that are able to integrate historical heritage with innovation.
This philosophy is very much in line with the work we have been doing for decades at Fundación Metrópoli, an international centre of excellence focused on the design of cities and regions of the future. Through projects in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, we learned that successful urban transformation is born when a city is able to recognize and reinforce its own elements of excellence: culture, landscape, history, creativity, knowledge, connectivity, and quality of life.
Urban intelligence is not imitating models from other places. Urban intelligence is finding the authentic DNA of a place and turning it into a sustainable source of prosperity.
Kota Tua has all the elements needed to become one of Asia's best urban heritage destinations: strong architectural character, high historical value, maritime identity, strategic location, cultural diversity, and immense symbolic meaning in Indonesia's national narrative.
However, to realize this vision requires more than just physical restoration.
An integrated long-term vision is needed, which integrates urban design, public space, culture, mobility, tourism, entrepreneurship, hospitality, education, digital innovation, sustainability, and international positioning.
It also requires strong collaboration between the public and private sectors.
In that context, I would like to specifically pay tribute to Mr. Darmono, whom I admire as one of the most visionary entrepreneurs and city builders in Indonesia. For decades, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to integrate industrial development, education, innovation, health, urban life, and human development into an integrated and sustainable ecosystem.
His work in Jababeka provides an important lesson for cities around the world: successful urban development is not just building buildings or infrastructure, but creating a complete environment where people can live, work, learn, innovate, and thrive together.
The same philosophy can be an inspiration for the future of Jakarta's Old Town.
Revitalization of historic areas can be a catalyst for broader metropolitan transformation. A successful Old Town will strengthen Jakarta's identity, increase its international appeal, encourage urban tourism, support creative industries, strengthen entrepreneurship, and create new opportunities for local communities and young people.
Furthermore, such projects have the ability to attract international attention and investment when supported by a strong vision and strong institutional leadership.
At Fundación Metrópoli and through the international network of partners and companies we work with, we believe that large urban transformation projects require more than technical expertise. Projects like this also require the ability to connect global ideas, institutions, investors, universities, cultural actors, and innovation networks.
Jakarta is currently at an extraordinary moment in its development journey.
As Indonesia emerges as one of the major economic powers of the 21st century, the revitalization of the Old City could become a symbol of a greater national ambition: a nation capable of embracing modernity without losing its cultural identity.
Historic citiesare not relics of the past.
Guided by vision and intelligence, they serve as bridges to the future.
Jakarta's Old Town has a chance to be one of those bridges: a place where historical heritage, creativity, innovation, and opportunities meet to project a new global image for Jakarta and Indonesia.
This article is very powerful because it not only talks about the preservation of historic buildings, but also places the Old City as a symbol of Indonesia's rise as a global economic and cultural force of the 21st century. In addition, Alfonso Vegara's award to you as a "visionary entrepreneur and city builder" provides valuable international credibility for the idea of revitalizing Jakarta's Old City.
The author is Dr. Alfonso Vegara, a world-class urban and regional planning expert, founder of Spain's Fundación Metrópoli, former President of ISOCARP, and advisor to global cities in the fields of urban innovation, smart cities, and strategic territorial development.
