Habibie Ainun House: A Home, Love, and Living History

In a quiet corner of Patra Kuningan Street, Jakarta, stands a house filled with traces of love, hard work, and national history. This house once served as both the private residence and state house of Indonesia's 3rd President BJ Habibie and his wife, Hasri Ainun Habibie. Today, it has transformed into Wisma Habibie Ainun.

This place is now partially open to the public, offering a rare opportunity for anyone wishing to trace the footsteps of a visionary president.

Pendopo: From Jazz Music to Democracy

The tour begins in the Pendopo Room, originally the family's tennis court before its transformation in 1992.

Adorned with wood, glass, and Javanese gebyok partitions selected by Ainun, this space was frequently used for dinner receptions accompanied by jazz-kroncong music.

However, this pendopo also became a historic space. Here, Habibie and Ginanjar Kartasasmita formulated preparations for the transfer of power and press freedom ideas. The final cabinet of the New Order era once gathered here.

In one corner, a glass cabinet displays Habibie and Ainun's medals of honor, including the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna.

Room of Eternal Love

Next, visitors proceed to the room where Habibie and Ainun lay in state before their burial at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.

Preserved in its original state, this room emanates a sacred atmosphere filled with love. Photos of their affectionate moments line the walls, inspiring countless visitors.

Habibie once said there are three loves in the world: love for the Divine, fellow humans, and human creations. For him, love for Ainun was a reflection of love for God.

Visitors can also sense Habibie's "presence" through his signature perfume sprayed onto cloth – a ritual fondly remembered by his granddaughter, Puteri Habibie.

Foyer 3: A Home Open to All

Nearby lies Foyer 3, where Habibie received guests, held informal cabinet meetings, and hosted Lebaran open houses.

This space reflects the hospitality of Habibie and Ainun, who welcomed everyone equally – from officials to ordinary citizens.

An expressionist painting by Maria Tjui, Ainun's favorite artist, adorns the wall.

Bhineka Tunggal Ika: Indonesia in One Room

The journey continues to the Bhineka Tunggal Ika Room, displaying cultural panels from Indonesia's five major islands, complete with map ornaments, marine flora-fauna, and a ceiling depicting terrestrial and aerial riches.

Religious panels – from mosques to churches – are also exhibited, showcasing the harmony of diverse faiths and cultures.

Library: An Enlightenment Legacy

Approaching the library, visitors cross the Bridge of Enlightenment spanning a fishpond – symbolizing the vital connection between faith, culture, and knowledge.

Inside, approximately 5,000 cultural books are preserved. Though renowned as a technocrat, Habibie deliberately filled his library with cultural literature.

Miniatures of his aircraft designs (N250 and CN235) stand alongside Basuki Abdullah's portrait of Habibie and Ainun – a fusion of technology, art, and love.

Intellectual Garden: Footsteps of a Thinker

The tour concludes at the Intellectual Garden, where Habibie walked and reflected in his later years.

Rodin's The Thinker, Ganesha, and Bodhisattva statues stand here, embodying wisdom and contemplation.

Amid flowers and trees beloved by Ainun, visitors can envision Habibie immersed in thought.

A Home, A Legacy

Today, Wisma Habibie Ainun operates with limited public access while hosting weddings, engagement ceremonies, and cultural exhibitions.

Beyond physical space, this place is a legacy of love and intellect. History lives not just in objects, but in lingering perfume scents, chairs, and books left behind.

Wisma Habibie Ainun stands testament that love and intellectual brilliance can coexist eternally. (Antara)