Budiman Hendropurnomo is a renowned and respected Indonesian architect with extensive experience in Indonesia and Australia. He is known for his work as the principal at Denton Corker Marshall (DCM) Jakarta, a firm recognized for its innovative architectural designs. He completed his architectural education at Melbourne University in 1981 and is celebrated for blending various elements in his architectural projects. He is the lead designer for a full renovation that transformed the Mövenpick Hotel Jakarta City Centre.
LAMPUNG MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA
What was the brief from the client for the hotel design?
Basically, they wanted a hotel with 150 rooms, although we ultimately built more. We couldn’t create small rooms like in Europe, as the climate is much hotter here. And Indonesians are accustomed to spacious rooms with high ceilings.
They didn’t provide many specifics but wanted the property to serve as a sanctuary for wild animals such as deer, langurs, hornbills, peacocks, et cetera.
How did you interpret this into the design?
I envisioned Mother Nature living underwater, with a pearl tiara on the surface. That tiara inspired the shape of the hotel, with its “pearls” representing the guest rooms stacked neatly. Meanwhile, the flowing hair inspired the forests and villas on either side of the building.
Did you incorporate any traditional elements or philosophies from Lampung into the design?
I collect vintage items. One of my collection dealers is a Lampungnese. So, I’m familiar with the local traditional textile, including motifs like the tapis and the boat. These elements inspired the ventilation design on the front façade. We also took advantage of the location. As you see all the rooms overlook the beach.
Which part of the hotel is the most satisfying to you? And what was the most challenging?
It’s the owner’s first hotel, and it turned out wonderfully. They are visionaries who went all out. They built the long, winding asphalt road to access the hotel, cleared up the beach, and constructed all the necessary infrastructure to support it. The part that satisfies me the most is the integrated back-of-house area on the ground floor. The pandemic was the most challenging aspect.
MÖVENPICK HOTEL JAKARTA CITY CENTRE
What was the message from the owner regarding this renovation project?
To begin with, let’s start with the hotel’s brand that was previously called The Satoe. As a soft brand, it would have been difficult to launch as a new hotel product. We had started redesigning, but they didn’t know what guidance to follow. Then, they met with Accor Group, which offered to acquire either Swissotel or Mövenpick. In terms of the redesign, the interior was pushed as much as possible to meet Mövenpick’s standards.
Compared to others, how is Mövenpick’s brand different?
The Mövenpick brand character is more of a luxury second home for guests. The rooms are designed to be relaxed whilst still conveying a luxurious feeling.
What changes did you make for this renovation?
To renovate a successful hotel, people had to forget about what hotel had previously been there. If there was a new name for the hotel, guests must forget the name of the previous hotel. Therefore, we changed almost 95 per cent of the hotel, starting with the exterior. The biggest breakthrough of this project was removing the ramp where cars would drop off guests before entering the lobby. Also, there’s a significant addition to the hotel, with the 826-sqm and 400-sqm ballrooms, respectively, along with around 200-sqm foyer area between those ballrooms.
What makes Mövenpick Hotel Jakarta City Centre unique?
In my opinion, the hotel feels young and vibrant. You can sense this the moment you enter the lobby. One important aspect is that it also embodies the luxurious ambiance of a homelike hotel.