I wish the Philippines would see the potential OUV of brutalist structures built by the Marcos regime. These structures may not be as impressive as in Skopje and former Soviet cities but its historic value as a dictator's weaponization of art is undeniable. The Cultural Center of the Philippines complex contains most of these glaring concrete examples of the so-called 'edifice complex' of the Marcoses, who infamously misused public funds and huge foreign loans in building these ill-conceived construction projects for political and election propaganda, creating a false image of a strong post-colonial republic, a 'New Society' in the far east, by building these grandiose structures of arts unnecessary at a time of an economic crisis. Brutalist architecture style is usually associated with authoritarian regimes, and these Marcos buildings epitomize the more corrupt archetype. Unfortunately, the most infamous of them all, the tragic Manila Film Center, is not as well-preserved as its siblings. I suggest, if only the CCP gives it to the National Archives, they could revive it into another functioning theater or a national film registry museum. Other structures of excess were also built for healthcare.

However, Filipino architects responsible to their designs were able to convey distinct architecture philosophy that could be separably appreciated for its artistic and intrinsic values. This has been the focal point of its heritage conservation. Meanwhile, strong historical denialism and revisionism aided by social media threatened its historical importance as relics of dark chapter in the country, as these are rather being celebrated by Duterte fanatics and Marcos apologists as proofs of a golden age of infrastructure existed in that era, a disinformation campaign that helped propel the dictator's son win the presidency.

Inscribing these into WHS list would bring a new perspective on the conservation criteria in terms of protecting sites from threats of historical denialism and disinformation campaigns, and emphasize overlooked sites that are testament to fresh tragic memories in contemporary times.

Zos
They should better look at the sugar industrial heritage of Negros, in which extant and abandoned sugar mills and well-preserved mansions of the sugar barons not only lie its OUV in its colonial heritage but its associative value as important places of a successful revolt led by sugar barons and planters during the Philippine Revolution.

Dave
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, I comos has been pretty explicit about Its views on inscribing sites "testament to fresh tragic memories in contemporary times". Namely they don't want to inscribe them. They arguee that inscription of such recent traumatic history could prevent social healing. They wrote a report about It. Honestly I feel conflicted over their decission.

Hi, I've been looking into different branches of islamic art and It has come to my attention the general lack of sites associated with islam in southeast asia, which is quite odd, given the massive influence the religion has had on the region. I found out the great mosque of Demak was formerly on indonesia's tentative list, but It was taken out. Thailand also has interesting old wooden mosques which at first glnace seem artistically notable, but are nowhere to be found in their tentative list. Which sites are already inscribed that would fill the "expansion of Islam into southeast asia" niche? And, if there's none, which ones would you propose to fill that blank space in the list?

Am not saying that the niche you have identified is fully or even adequately filled but the WHS of Melaka and George Town is at least one example containing representations of Islamic culture in SE Asia. Perhaps that particular representation is rather overwhelmed by the site's determination to justify itself as a "multi-cultural" trading town with a range of influences. I have quicky perused the Nomination File and the Evaluation. The former does give some space to describing specific Islamic buildings but the latter tends to lump them together as "Malay Mosques"!
From the Nomination file -"The oldest mosque in the historic city of Melaka is the oldest mosque in Malaysia. The Kampong Hulu Mosque, built in 1728, was one of the first mosques built primarily of masonry construction and possesses the distinctive Chinese-Pagoda like pyramid-tiered roof form."..... there are other buildings described in both Melaka and Georgetown - but I wont list them all. I m not an expert in Malaysian Islamic architecture (!!!) but i know of no other buildings in the country which should be givne greater precedence. One might have thought that there should a Sultan's Palace or 2...! The Palace bulding in Malaka is a reconstruction..... There are some fine modern mosques... are any of them "ready" yet?? Being a capital city, Kuala Lumpur "needs" a WHS - and has some interesting colonial era buildings in "Indo-saracenic" style - perhaps not "Islamic" enough for your purpose??

The biggest "gap" and source of potential must surely be Indonesia. I have just checked and, having previously thought it was the world's second largest predominantly Islamic country, I see that it is actually the largest - surpassing Pakistan both in population and in Muslim adherants!! My "bible" on Islamic Architecture (Islam - Art and Architecture) only has one building from the whole of SE Asia - the modern National mosque in Jakarta (which actually doesn't look so wonderful - I think there are "better" modern mosques). Whether that reflects a genuine lack of quality buildings or a lack of knowledge on the part of the editors I know not!! Surely there must be some buildings showcasing Islamic art with a "SE Asian slant" within Indonesia - I would have thought it was the first place to look for such examples - before Thailand and Philippines etc?? As you mention - The Mosque of Demak was removed from Indonesia's T List... having previously failed an earlier nomination in 1984. The "WHS World" has moved quite a long way since then - perhaps it should be revisited?. Another apparently significant building is the Great Mosque of Banten. I note that the Indonesian "Former T List" also includes the "Pulau Penyengat Palace Complex" - also removed in 2015 but never put forward. The Island of Penyengat seems to contain quite a lot which is "worthwhile" (I have never visited). My knowledge of Indonesia is relatively limited having only done the "classic" trip fron Jakarta to Bali and a side trip up to Sulawesi - others on this Forum should know more?

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei could also be considered.

Malaysia:

Crystal Mosque
Putra Mosque
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque
Ubudiah Mosque

The Historic city center of Yogyakarta tentative site on Indonesia's list also includes the Great Mosque of the kraton complex (ie. the Sultan's palace).

The first 3 of these fit the "Modern and large" Mosque category (2006, 1999 and 1988 respectively), I have actually visited the second which is situated in the planned Administrative Capital city of Putrajaya. The city is undoubtedly "impressive" and I guess in some ways it and its mosque is the equivalent of the inscribed modern churches in Brasilia - except that its planners and architects don't have the visibility and fame granted to western architects!!! Non Western countries might cite that fact as an example of the "Bias" in the system against them. Leaving that aside, I don't know really how such mosques can be valued for architectural and/or cultural merit. Certainly "Modern" AND "Western" architecture has found its way on to the list - but, all older than these and valued as part of a canon of work by a particular architect who was influential, or of a "style" which was "of its time" . Is there a mosque which is architecturally Iconic and/or trend/style setting which "lifts" it above the many others built during this period? The Brunei mosque cited by Els is late 1950s - but again, whilst vast amounts of money have been spent and the building is undoubtedly "magnificent", is there any particular architectural merit in any of them. I just don't know. The architects of such mosques are, at least to me, unkown compared with the Western architects represented on the list...... but there may of course be a "Sinan" among them!!!!

The 4th one ( Ubudiah Mosque) is from around 1910 and is an example of the "Indo saracenic" style to which I referred above in relation to Kuala Lumpur. It was designed by the same English architect as KL Railway station. There may be an argument for the representation of this style I guess??

hi again, as i started this discussion i might give a couple more details. in my opinion the way to go would be to divide the artistic development in stages: traditional style, colonial style, modern style.

I agree with Els that the most striking gap in the list is probably "early muslim sites in indonesia" showcasing the entrance of Islam in the region. Afaik, Demak mosque seems to be one of the best possibilities. It's widely regarded as one of indonesia's oldest mosques, it's built in the traditional javanese style and it ties with the sultanate of demak which was the first sultanate of java and spread islam around the archipelago.

My proposal of malay mosques in the border region between thailand and malaysia is based on a study of vernacular architecture from the region I once found, but cannot find again, and the presence of notable old examples, such as the 300 year mosque, in thailand, and Kampung Laut mosque in malaysia.

There's a point to be made that the indosaracenic style which followed during the colonial period and has wide distribution in the archipelago might be worth enlisting, as it illustrates the move from syncretism to more orthodox practices and includes truly impressive examples. In particular the great mosque of aceh comes to mind. aceh itself was key in introducing islam to the region, though it´s old mosque was destroyed by the dutch, they soon built an indosarracenic mosque which still stands to this day.

about modern architecture...honestly I'm at a loss. I've no idea if any mosque in the region has OUV based on its contribution to modern architecture. furthermore, i'm completely unprepared to even look into such a topic.

Solivagant? Hi!!


This?? - an interesting/useful article even if it isn't the same one.
There could be a nomination of "The Wooden Mosques of Sumatra...and Java....and....etc etc" ..... there are numerous separate inscriptions for "Wooden Churches of ......" various/numerous/excessive parts of Europe!!!!


Found this ("Stylistic Expressions in the 20th Century Mosque Architecture") which I will read later! It looks worthwhile on the subject - albeit not specifically about the SE Asian region though it does address "Regionalism" as an influence on modern mosque design. This Mosque in Jakarta gets a specific mention as does this in Bandung.

For SEA I think the gap should focus on its many local architectural styles. I really don't know why Indonesia or Malaysia has no strong desire to nominate any of these sites. Many old mosques in SEA built in local architecture especially in Indonesia from Javanese (including Jogja and Demak), Minangkabau or Sundanese deserve to be WHS. It is quite sad that no WHS and many of these old wooden mosques have been rebuilt in modern Arab styles to match today Islamic art.

Alikander99
I can't find the report, care to share where to read it?

Dave
It's the one solovagant linked. It's basically a study of how vernacular architecture in the malayo peninsula influences the architecture of early mosques in the region. It's a pretty good read.

Solivagant
Hey sorry, Pal. I though It was els Who brought that Up. And thanks for the links! The one about vernacular architecture IS the one I found a while ago and the other one looks interesting. I Will definetely read them when i have some time.