The 2024 Bandung Cultural Heritage Appreciation event marked the culmination of efforts to establish city-level Cultural Heritage sites, which took place from late 2023 to November 2024. This initiative aligns with Article 33, paragraph (2), point b of Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage, which grants Cultural Heritage owners legal guarantees in the form of a Certificate of Cultural Heritage Status.

Certificates were awarded to the owners of designated Cultural Heritage sites, which include:

1. Gedung Indonesia Menggugat;
2. Rumah Inggit Garnasih;
3. Buildings A2, B1, B2, B3, C1, D3 within the PT. Kereta Api Indonesia Headquarters Complex;
4. Former OSVIA Building (Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren);
5. Bandung District Court Building (Former Algemeen Delisch Emigratie Kantoor);
6. De Vries Building;
7. Aula Barat and Aula Timur, Institut Teknologi Bandung.

Drs. Arief Syaifudin, S.H., M.Par., Head of the Bandung City Department of Culture and Tourism, emphasized the importance of the event in fostering a shared commitment to preserving the city’s historical legacy.

"Every Cultural Heritage building tells a story that forms an inseparable part of the city's identity. By preserving them, we honor the legacy of our predecessors and inspire future generations. Let us collectively embrace Cultural Heritage preservation as a shared source of pride," he stated.

Prof. Widjaja expressed gratitude for the recognition and the legal guarantee provided by the certificate. "We are thankful that the government is paying more attention to Cultural Heritage. Going forward, we hope the government will consider the next steps. We are committed to preserving Aula Barat and Aula Timur, which are significant buildings and landmarks of ITB," he said.

Prof. Widjaja also suggested that the government could support building owners' efforts to preserve Cultural Heritage by providing tax incentives. "If the government can offer such incentives, it would be excellent and could motivate more parties to preserve their Cultural Heritage buildings," he said.

Aula Timur and Aula Barat have also been prioritized for national-level designation. These buildings are historically significant and continue to serve various functions. In 2023, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology formally requested the Bandung City Government to initiate their designation and ranking process.

Aula Barat and Aula Timur, masterpieces by renowned architect Henry Maclaine Pont, are celebrated landmarks in Bandung. The buildings uniquely blend modern Western construction techniques with local materials and cultural values.

Maclaine Pont deeply studied traditional architecture, focusing on climate, materials, construction methods, and the socio-cultural context. His research enabled him to design functional, aesthetically unique buildings that strongly embody local character, evident in Aula Barat and Aula Timur.

Initially built as the main lecture facilities of the Technische Hoogeschool (THS), ITB’s predecessor, these structures were designed in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1918, with construction completed in one year. Pont's concept of "East meets West" synthesized modern Western (Dutch) architecture with traditional Indigenous (Nusantara) styles.

The campus layout followed a north-south axis aligned with Mount Tangkuban Parahu, with Aula Barat and Aula Timur positioned symmetrically near the entrance gates. These flexible lecture halls were designed in the Indo-European or Tropical Indies architectural style.

The buildings' integration of Eastern and Western traditions is evident in both exterior and interior features. The roofs, resembling traditional Batak and Minangkabau houses or Sundanese “Capit Gunting” designs, were constructed using shingles. However, the design achieves a distinctive and unified identity rather than eclectic mimicry.

The stone-and-brick walls feature cross-ventilation systems, with air holes along the base and top of the walls ensuring cool air circulation. Open corridors supported by large stone columns encircle the buildings, providing shade and connecting the spaces while mitigating direct sunlight.

Aula Barat and Aula Timur stand as enduring symbols of cultural synthesis and architectural innovation, reflecting Bandung’s rich heritage.