Kediri Face, Past and Present

Brantas Old Bridge Road is the nickname for the Brantas River Bridge is the oldest in Kediri. This is the longest bridge built in comparison with two other bridges, the bridge on the north side and south side.

Age of this bridge to make city government (municipal government) Kediri driveway close to the car from the east side, starting at 06:00 until 18:00, every working day. The consideration is obvious, if the car is let in on these hours, the burden is getting heavy and the bridge will be broken.

Along with his age who has been around since long before the year 1940, the bridge was one of the Brantas witness history of the struggle towards independence in Kediri and surrounding areas. The bridge is the place where the first Japanese troops invaded before control throughout Kediri.

The raid took place on March 5, 1945. Since then, according to books written in Kediri in the Path of History, Colonialism and Independence Period, Japan master of power in Kediri, Indonesia and also in general.

There are two reasons underlying the legitimacy of Japanese power. First, power delivery of the Netherlands to Japan in the Ka-lijati, and the second is the issuance of Act (Act) No. 1 by the Japanese. In Article 1 of Law was mentioned, the Japanese army to hold military rule for a while in the regions they occupy.

With that foundation, and strengthened its military device that is far more comprehensive and modern, Japan also built the places important to his administration. One way is to make the fortress-style building on the west side of the old bridge as a warehouse submachine Kediri.

Holland House was built in 1850, in every corner there is the defense post to monitor traffic levels on the bridge and the Brantas River, which once used to transport water.

Just Bridge FC legend long is the witness? Apparently not. Quite a few places where the legendary "city know" this. Only, perhaps because of the legends that have rarely socialized, of society, especially among teenagers, not many know about how these places in the past.

When examined from historical narratives discussed in the Symposium on History of Kediri in June 1985 then, several buildings in the area of the city are important places of the past Kediri.

Market Regions in HOS Pahing Cokroaminoto street, for example, formerly it was not the market. Far from the suspicion of people, Pahing Market complex in 1800 had been the official home of Kediri regent at that time, the Prince Slamet Poerbonegoro.

Of course young children do not know the past Kediri Pahing Market because the market is now one of the busy traditional market. Every morning, between the hours of 05:30 until 09:00, Cokroa-minoto Street Market around Pahing always stuck by a vehicle passing by and they are shopping.

"Witness" is another history of the former Home Office in Kediri Resident Attorney Mojoroto Suprapto Street No. 2 District. Home office with this spacious yard have been built in the 1860s. Because, in the little house on the home page there is an iron bell marked the year 1860.

In the era of New Order until the beginning of reform, housing a magnificent it was used for the Office of the Governor Devel-tu Kediri region. Since the regional autonomy in 2001, the office of assistant governor removed so since last year the office was empty alias was used.

Sugar Factory Meritjan Mrican Village, Mojoroto, also seemed monumental when considering his story in June 1945. When the plant was bombed by B-25 bomber's allies. So even with Tri Dharma Shrine building Tjoe Hwie Kiong at Jalan Yos Sudarso, once a representation of the old Chinatown area of Kediri.

Useful legacy of traditional architecture and colonial relics? According to Professor of Architecture Faculty of Engineering, University of Diponegoro (Diponegoro University), Prof. Ir Eko Budihardjo Semarang MSc, in Indonesia Happenings conservation of such architecture is still a "strange object."

In the book Architecture, Development and Conservation "Eko dieditori mentioned, the conservation efforts of ancient buildings are often considered to hinder development, or the accused just meet the demands of mere nostalgia.

"Whereas, in developed countries the built environment conservation has become a separate branch of science. Conservation and development are no longer seen as two conflicting aspects, but rather support each other like two faces of same coin, "he said.

Singapore never wrong, because dismantling old buildings to make room for the all new buildings of modern and technologically sophisticated. In effect then, the visit of foreign tourists decreased because they could no longer enjoy the uniqueness of the town lion.

Recognizing this, the Government of Singapore and then promote the preservation or conservation. Whether it's architectural conservation (such as buildings and equipment maintained Raffles Hotel), and the environment (like China Town, Little India and Kampung Melayu).

Awareness was indeed late, but nonetheless the results tereguk too. Now foreign tourists to visit Singapore back to normal because it treats the figures vary. Starting from the ancient faced up to a modern-looking.

Have the City and County of Kediri have awareness of conservation of architecture and built environment. It was still far away. Ji-ka for these old buildings are still intact and the legendary, it was more caused no investors were interested in building a new building there. Not for reasons of conservation.

In addition, there are bureaucratic obstacles that hinder functionalization of the old building. Like the former use of the plan the governor's office in Jalan assistant Attorney General Suprapto, the authority is still in the hands of the East Java Provincial Government.

"The city can not change or maximize the use of the building was empty because it is still owned by the provincial government," said Head of Sub-Office of Government Public Relations Kusharsono Kediri.