A Quite Long History of Bali Hotel Architecture Part I: Wija Waworuntu and Donald Friend
The tourism industry in Bali had not developed before 1950s. During World War II, it was occupied by the Japanese army. When the war ended, the Indonesian government demanded independence, which was finally realized in 1945. The independence of Bali, as part of Indonesia, also attracted some foreigners with adventurous and open spirit.
Sanur is located in a quiet area in southeastern part of Bali. A small wave of European artists live in this area and even established an art shops and practices. However, the tranquility of the island was broken in 1965 when the Indonesian government built the first international resort hotel, the Bali Beach InterContinental Hotel, funded through the spoils of war in the Japanese colonial era.
The hotel is a 10-storey hotel with air conditioning, which is based on the modern hotel architectural model along the coast of Miami at that time. As soon as the hotel was completed, it caused strong protests from local residents. This building completely offended the local homestays, aesthetics, and traditions.
Local residents protested at the gate of the government office to protest the completion of the hotel, and the Indonesian government had to issue a law, explain and guide-the future hotel buildings cannot exceed…
