Indonesia's art deco hot spot, a century on

Villa Isola, designed by Java-born Dutch architect C.P. Schoemaker and completed in 1933, is one of Bandung's architectural landmarks. The Indonesian city boasts a rich collection of art deco and modernist buildings, though development pressures threaten parts of that heritage. (Photo by Oliver Raw) Destinations Indonesia's art deco hot spot, a century on Exploring Bandung, the would-be capital of the Dutch East Indies OLIVER RAW November 8, 2026 07:10 JST BANDUNG, Indonesia -- Bandung, the so-called Paris of Java, lies about 150 kilometers east of Jakarta, a distance that translates to a dizzying 30-minute ride on Indonesia's first high-speed rail link, plus a 10-minute journey to the city center on a local train. At over 750 meters above sea level, the city feels almost balmy compared with the stodgy heat of the capital. Read Next Destinations Footloose in Davao: Cracking open the Philippines' 'durian city' Eat & Drink Saigon joe: A highly caffeinated tour of Ho Chi Minh City Destinations On Lombok island, a volcano climb worth every step Life Australia's historic cinemas defy the streaming craze Destinations Two days in Kolkata through the eyes of a watercolor artist Arts How an Australian restaurateur helped revive Shanghai's riverfront Latest on Destinations Destinations Footloose in Davao: Cracking open the Philippines' 'durian city' Destinations On the Ganges, the river sets the itinerary Destinations On Lombok island, a volcano climb worth every step Sponsored Content About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.