Gedung Sate, Government building in Bandung, Indonesia
Gedung Sate is a three-story government building in Bandung with a central tower topped by six golden spheres. Its facades show columns and rows of symmetrical windows, combined with decorative touches from the Sunda region.
Dutch architect J. Gerber designed the structure between 1920 and 1924 for the colonial administration. After independence, the province of West Java took over the site as the governor's office.
The building takes its name from the six golden spheres atop the tower, which locals say look like skewered meat on a satay stick. Inside, European room layouts mix with Sundanese decorative touches, such as carved window frames and wall details.
The site on Jalan Diponegoro 22 operates as a working government office during the week, but a small museum inside opens for visitors. Those wanting to enter the courtyard should check access rules beforehand.
The six spheres on the tower are said to symbolize the six million guilders spent on construction, a sum considered very high at the time. This led to the comparison with satay skewers, giving the building its popular name.
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