The Wisma Habibie Ainun was first opened to the public on 16 January 2025, transformed into a historical landmark, a space to commemorate the inspiring life journey of Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Hasri Ainun Besari, the beloved First Lady who immortalized the values of love, family, intellectualism, and democracy.
When we visited the place, it was the commemorative weekend of the birthday of the late President Habibie, which fell on 25 June 2025. From the outside, you could feel the excitement you might experience when visiting your grandparents’ house during Lebaran and gathering with family and relatives. It felt as if you were reminiscing about old traditions.
We were greeted and ushered in by the grandchildren of the former President. The stories they told felt very personal coming as they did from the family members with their own experiences and an understandable pride as the descendants of the only President to date with a political, engineering, and scientific background. His strong, Indonesian values and traditions are still embraced by the family to this day.
Inside, each room has a unique story and philosophy. From Habibie’s childhood in Pare-Pare, after the passing of his father, then moving to Bandung to pursue education in science & technology, then the political and presidential era. The heart of the house is the Library room, where a vast collection of approximately 5,000 books ranges from science and technology to history and culture, a symbol of nationalism and civilization. From the library we moved to the garden with two fish ponds inspired by the story of Prophet Moses that signifies faith and perseverance, a bridge connecting faith and science.
In the lush garden, where Habibie spent his morning walks, are four statues that represent philosophy and contemplation. There are the conventional and modern versions of The Thinker; representing wisdom and prosperity is the Ganesha statue; and for enlightenment and compassion is the Bodhisattva statue.
Next, we moved into a hall, whose artwork panels represent the birth of five religions in Indonesia. Then, the Bhinneka Lobby with five wall panels representing the archipelago’s main islands of Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua, and Java positioned in the middle panel, along with the beautiful Indonesian map on the floor. To the next room, the Horse room, where the President kept a collection of horse ornaments, remembering a childhood in which he was given the responsibility of caring for four horses when he was only seven years old. There is also the “Meccano” models and plans and books that inspired an initial interest in engineering. Another key room in the house is the Memorial room, where the President and First Lady were laid to rest for the last time. In this same room, the First Lady regularly hosted Qur’an study. Here, you can also see the complete inaugural clothing worn in 1998 by the President and First Lady.
The biggest area in the house, the Pendopo area, is the place where Habibie usually hosted various occasions. The Javanese architectural style, with its amazing carving and wood elements is a perfect open space for gatherings and can now be booked for corporate or private functions. Here, we had the opportunity to try the family’s favourite light snacks, based on original recipes passed on over generations.
This was a truly meaningful experience, engaging with the past, traditions, and values on a personal level, and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation.
