ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur
Vol 11 No 1 (2026): ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur | January 2026 ~ March 2026

Architectural implications of colonial infrastructure

Johannes Adiyanto (Sriwijaya University)
Hery Setiawan Purnawali (Indonesian Association of Planners)
Adhika Atyanta (Indonesian Institute of Architects)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Mar 2026

Abstract

The Dutch East Indies' colonial infrastructure, particularly Java's railway network and its linkages to sugar fields and mills, changed urban and economic environments. Railways, originally designed for military defense in the 1840s, became economic arteries supporting agro-industrial growth under the Cultuurstelsel (1830) and Agrarian Law (1870), according to historical data. Strategic railway planning promotes resource extraction, urban expansion, and path dependence, sustaining urban centers after colonialism. Synchronic-diachronic and network analysis compare the phased development of railway stations and sugar mills (1830–1942), examining shared architectural influences, materials (from local wood to imported steel), and styles (pragmatic neoclassical to Indies and Art Deco). Railways efficiently transported sugarcane and cargo, while mills incorporated rail lines, creating divided towns and industrial landscapes. Technical adaptations to tropical temperatures and commercial incentives show how colonial exploitation shaped Java's spatial character. This study illuminates how colonial infrastructure, architectural rationalism, and economic imperatives shaped Java's modern landscape, enriching historical studies.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ARTEKS

Publisher

Subject

Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture

Description

ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur is a medium of scholarly publication published by Architecture Study Program of Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira in collaboration with Indonesian Architect Association. It serves several goals i.e. being a medium of communication, dissemination and exchange of ...