Maranatha Christian University and Samarinda City Government collaborate in the Chinatown Area Revitalization Project as a form of support for the Indonesian Capital City

Roswati, 11 October 2024

Photo Source: maranatha.news.edu

On September 1, 2023, U.K. Maranatha and the Samarinda City Government signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) as a form of cooperation in the Samarinda Chinatown revitalization project as a tourist destination.

This collaboration was initiated by the Samarinda City Government which wanted the Chinatown area to be a tourist destination. As a campus that has conducted research on Chinatown,

U.K. Maranatha had the opportunity to discuss and participate in realizing the project. During the implementation of the collaboration, several agendas have been implemented such as the formation of a research team, an audience with the Mayor of Samarinda, the implementation of a design workshop and the most recent is the International Workshop Expo at Samarinda Central Plaza in August 2024.

U.K. Maranatha together with the East Kalimantan Indonesian Architects Association and 9 campuses involved made a “Joint Declaration Commitment” which states that:

1. Supporting efforts to make Samarinda Chinatown a research and community service laboratory for the development of a spirit of inclusivity and diversity.
2. Building a network of cooperation in pursuing joint efforts to develop the potential of the Chinatown area as a tourism destination in Samarinda City and involving the Samarinda City Government.
3. Assisting the Samarinda City Government to realize the development of Samarinda Chinatown as an important cultural landmark that integrates historical memory and future hopes.

The declaration contains the values ​​and hopes of Samarinda Chinatown for the future so that it will continue to develop as envisioned by those involved in the revitalization project.

Photo Source: maranatha.news.edu

The purpose of the Samarinda Chinatown revitalization project is to rebuild the Chinese community which is packaged into a cultural tourism area. This is because the existence of the Samarinda Chinese ethnic group is real with various historical evidence where Chinese people have conducted trade expeditions to East Kalimantan since the time of the Kutai and Kertanegara kingdoms. However, physical evidence is not much found due to disaster factors that occurred thousands of years ago, even so, many Chinese people have settled in Samarinda and have mingled with the local community until now.

In addition, the purpose of the Samarinda Chinatown revitalization is a form of support for the IKN where those who work or visit the National Capital can make Samarinda Chinatown a place of recreation, considering that the IKN is only one hour away. So that Samarinda Chinatown is not only known by the local community as a place of Chinese cultural tourism but can also be a vacation spot.

The Samarinda Chinatown Revitalization Project took approximately 5 years to realize the ideals of the Samarinda City Government. Now students of Architecture, Visual Communication Design and Interior Design U.K. Maranatha is preparing a design plan for Samarinda Chinatown in the Architecture Design Studio and Collaboration Class courses. The design results will be displayed at the 2025 Design Studio exhibition.

Hopefully, with the collaborative project between U.K. Maranatha and the Samarinda City Government, in the future it can become a good portfolio for U.K. Maranatha. In addition, students involved can feel proud and have experience designing a project and helping to answer the needs of the community through the work that has been created.

The Samarinda Chinatown Revitalization Project will continue, let’s pray for the best for Maranatha and every party involved so that all the hopes that are aspired to come true and the Samarinda Chinatown area, apart from being a tourist spot, becomes a new place that provides a source of knowledge for those who visit.

Greetings Maranatha!