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Gedung Merdeka building, one of the main meeting places of the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference 1955. [Photo/Xinhua]

Backgrounder: Merdeka Building

Merdeka Building, also known as Gedung Merdeka, is an art-deco building serving as a museum displaying collections and photographs of the first Asian-African Conference held there in 1955.

The present building was designed in 1926 in art-deco style by Van Galen and C.P. Wolff Schoemaker, both professors and famous architects of the time.

The 7,500-square meter building features Italian marble floors, saloons and crystal lamps on ceilings.

The first building, on the site at the intersection of Braga Street and Jalan Asia-Africa, was constructed in 1895.

In 1926, it was rebuilt by Wolff Schoemacher, Albert Aalbers and Van Gallen.

Initially named Sociteit Concordia, the venue was a dance hall for entertainment and social gatherings.