Let’s Color revives Padang in West Sumatra, Indonesia
Let’s Colour, an Akzo initiative to renovate the streets of Padang, Indonesia, succeeded in giving the city’s old quarter a new look with the vibrant colors they painted on the iconic Siti Nurbaya Bridge. This transformation is much more than an ornament; for the local people and community, it symbolizes the hope of better times for their place of residence.
Padang is undoubtedly one of the best known and most visited cities by tourists who travel to these lands to learn about Indonesian culture. Despite having been the historic commercial point, it has now become a favorite open-air museum for surfers who wish to visit the Batu and Mentawai islands and discover the heritage buildings. Siti Nurbaya Bridge is a must for those who want to enter the highlands of West Sumatra.
In addition, Let’s Colour partnered with the Padang City Council to launch its urban renewal initiative that aims to revive the town. As part of this ambitious project, more than 25 historic buildings were restored, preserving their original appearance and painting them white to respect the city’s identity.
The Siti Nurbaya Bridge, located in Marawa, West Sumatra, was also coated with the typical colors of the area. This decision was made to honor Minangkabau’s traditional identity. Each hue signified something different: red recalled courage and respect among human beings; yellow symbolized majesty and good government; while black evoked strength, mercy and wisdom.
In order to help painters improve their technique, Dulux organized the Dulux Painter Academy. The program was greeted with great enthusiasm by some forty local painters who committed themselves to acquiring new skills to achieve mastery. As a result, 5,100 liters of Dulux Weathershield Flash were used to carry out an ambitious project that would offer all-weather protection.
The Padang community gathered to celebrate the new look of their old town as well as the Siti Nurbaya Bridge. The celebration, which was held on National Heroes Day, reflected the cultural values of tolerance and togetherness that have long been passed down through the generations. For this reason, during the ceremony there was a wide variety of artistic performances ranging from traditional dance to a lion dance.
The beauty of the city of Padang has been enhanced by the old town and the Siti Nurbaya Bridge, which helps to promote the city as a tourist destination, thus attracting more people and stimulating the growth of its economy. This will generate opportunities for local entrepreneurs in the long term. In short, the transformation underway will help build a better future for Padang’s 1.9 million inhabitants.
