Banyuwangi, is nicely located at the easternmost tip of Java island, a blink away from the paradise island of Bali. It has been in national headlines for quite sometimes thanks to its innovative regent who successfully transform Banyuwangi's reputation as a backwater regency, to one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Java province. From a white-sandy beaches, to world's popular surfing spots, to the majestic bluefire of Ijen crater on top of Mt Ijen, this regency has so many to offer.
Now, it' s ready to make another headline. Indonesia's first airport built on the green concept is in Banyuwangi, and it is ready to start operations. Just in time before the Idul Fitri festive which will fall in the last week of July 2017. The Blimbingsari Airport, as it's already called, will serve a direct flights from several Indonesian major cities including Jakarta and Surabaya
Abdullah Azwar Anaz, the regent of Banyuwangi said that the new airport will become a tourism icon to offer sufficient room to accommodate passengers following an increase in the number of air travelers by more than 1,300 percent in the past five years.
He added that the architectural concept of a public space must not be made arbitrarily, adding that so far, it has been difficult to implement architectural principles that break standards in projects funded by the government due to a conventional concept or administrative constraints.
"However, in Banyuwangi, we have given room to work that goes beyond the mainstream. Besides the airport, other public facilities, such as parks, campus, halls, marketplace, and tourist destinations, have been built based on thoroughly considered architectural principles," he emphasized.
Anas pointed out that the concept for the airports development was aimed at meeting three goals, with the first being a tourism icon and secondly, ensuring a transfer of knowledge from national to local architects.
It was hoped that in future, all buildings, including restaurants and shop houses, would have a clear architectural concept, Anas stated.
"Buildings, with characteristic architectural designs, can serve as examples for public and private parties. People can follow concepts that are simple but iconic," he noted.
The third goal is that they will be functionally effective and sustainable as well as efficient, he remarked, adding that the new terminal will be energy efficient in line with the concept of a tropical house that uses natural air for ventilation.
He pointed out that the new terminal will be iconic, as it adopts the concept of the local traditional Osing community's house. The Osing people are the descendants of the people of the ancient Kingdom of Blambangan, whose rulers remained Hindus until they were forced to convert to Islam by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1770. Their population of approximately 400,000 is centered in the province of East Java in the Banyuwangi Regency. The Osings speak the Osing dialect, which shows influences from both the Javanese and Balinese.
Source and reference :
Antara.com
Wikipedia.com
Tribunbanyuwangi.com
