Public Space in Scarce Urban Land: Case of Jakarta

49th International Making Cities Livable Conference on TRUE URBANISM: PLANNING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR ALL

Public Space in Scarce Urban Land: Case of Jakarta Dr. Danang Priatmodjo Department of Architecture Tarumanagara University Jakarta – INDONESIA

Portland, OR May 20 - 24, 2012

Public Space in Scarce Urban Land: Case of Jakarta Dr. Danang Priatmodjo Department of Architecture Tarumanagara University Jakarta – INDONESIA E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract For more than three centuries Jakarta was developed as a Dutch city. Indigenous public spaces in the city, thus, were European squares and parks. After independence in 1945, lacking in planning culture within the new government, public spaces were neglected. While the city – and its population – was grown immensely, no new city-scale public spaces were built. Instead, existing squares and parks were built-up, converted into various buildings. Today, 65 years after independence, Jakarta is still searching for an appropriate urban culture. Urban land is scarce, public spaces are limited. People make use of any available spaces for public activities. Indoor air-conditioned spaces of shopping malls become the popular choice. Outdoor public spaces are created from riverside green-belts, fly-over underneath spaces, and other vacant spaces between buildings. As a temporary solution, the municipality provides a monthly car-free day that allows the main boulevard of the city becomes an instant public space. Attitude of property developers (i.e. “land greedy”) and inadequate policy as well as control of the municipality are among causes of the scarcity of public spaces in Jakarta. The lack of public spaces in Jakarta is an irony of this capital city when compares to other indigenous Indonesian cities, who equipped with alun-alun (grass-covered square), parks and gardens as public spaces for their inhabitants. The paper is going to discuss further the struggle of ten million people of Jakarta to find their daily need of public space. Keywords: urban culture, urban land scarcity, public space

I.

Introduction: Brief History of Jakarta and its Public Spaces The city of Jakarta – with various names – has recorded a long history. In the 5th century, the town was already existed as a part of Tarumanagara Kingdom. Later in the 12th century, the town was known as Sunda Kalapa, a port of Pajajaran Kingdom. Both Tarumanagara and Pajajaran were Hindu kingdoms. In 1527 the city was conquered by Demak – an Islamic kingdom – and renamed Jayakarta. Perhaps the word Jayakarta was difficult to pronounce, the foreigners then called the town Jacatra (as written in old maps of Java). The Dutch first came in 1596, built warehouses and later fortress, and in 1619 conquered the city. The existing city of Jayakarta was totally destroyed, and the Dutch built a new city called Batavia. For more than three centuries the city was controlled by the Dutch. 2

When the Japanese came in 1942 and took over the city, it was renamed Jakarta. Indonesian people declared their independence in 1945 and assigned Jakarta as the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia. The public space in Jayakarta era was an alun-alun – a square located in front of King’s Palace – as typical public space in Javanese kingdoms. Such squares are still existed in today’s old Javanese cities. The alun-alun of Jayakarta was left as description in history, since the Dutch destroyed it. Old public spaces inherited by the city today are squares and small parks built by the Dutch. They are Stadhuisplein (now is called Plaza Fatahillah), Waterlooplein (now Lapangan Banteng), and Koningsplein (now Lapangan Merdeka), Lapangan Menteng, Situ Lembang, and Taman Surapati.

Fig. 1 (left) – Current situation of Plaza Fatahillah, ex Stadhuisplein (Google Earth) Fig. 2 (right) – 18th c. engraving of Stadhuisplein (Ind. Nat. Library & Rijksmuseum)

Fig. 3 – Today’s Plaza Fatahillah (Danang Priatmodjo)

Fig. 4 (left) – Current situation of Lapangan Banteng, ex Waterlooplein (Google Earth) Fig. 5 (right) – 19th c. engraving of Waterlooplein (KITLV)

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Fig. 6 – Lapangan Banteng today (findthishome.blogspot.com)

Fig. 7 (left) – Current situation of Lapangan Merdeka, ex Koningsplein (Google Earth) Fig. 8 (right) – North-west edge of Koningsplein in 1930’s (Tropenmuseum)

Fig. 9 – Today’s Lapangan Merdeka (Danang Priatmodjo)

In 1950, the new government built a “new town” – Kebayoran Baru – at southern part of the existing city, equipped with many neighborhood parks. Later in early 1960’s a sport complex – Senayan – was built at the north edge of Kebayoran Baru. This made the new town immediately attached to the mother city. As the city was growing immensely, today this area is considered as the central part of Jakarta. While the city expands enormously, no new squares or parks – as large as those left by the Dutch – were built. Instead, neighborhood parks were built-up and converted into various business/commercial functions. This resulted in the lack of public spaces for accommodating the need of ten million Jakarta’s inhabitants. 4

II. Scarcity of Urban Land and Privatization of Public Spaces Shortly after independence in 1945, Jakarta – as the capital city of Indonesia – was encountered by the influx of population. The city has grown rapidly. Kebayoran Baru, which was intended as a new town, was agglomerated instantly. Scarcity of urban land resulted in conversion of public spaces. Many neighborhood parks were converted into various functions such as police station, church building, and gas station. The situation became worse when in 1970’s the country experienced “petroleum boom” that followed by property development explosion. Shophouses, shopping malls, office buildings and apartment buildings were built in every part of the city. Again, many prominent parks were sacrificed for the sake of new developments. In Pluit area (North Jakarta), an urban park (20 hectares) was converted into a huge shopping mall called Mega Mall Pluit (later was enlarged and renamed Pluit Village). In South Jakarta, the neighborhood garden along Jalan Wijaya Kebayoran Baru was privatized. A complex of townhouses and golf swing-course were built on it. In East Jakarta, the city acquired a large urban void, when the old airport of Kemayoran was abandoned following the construction of new airport at Cengkareng. According to the master plan, the north end of this ex-airport land was designated for an urban forest. Nevertheless, what we can find here today is a golf course. Senayan sports complex was intended as a green area that can act as the lung of the city. Hence, the edges of this area were covered by huge buildings of hotels, apartments, convention center, exhibition halls, shopping malls and offices. In the neighboring block, an urban park – Taman Ria Senayan – located at the eastern part of Parliament Complex, was lined by restaurant buildings, amusement center, and even a factory outlet. There was a plan to construct a massive “lifestyle center” on it. The project is temporarily ceased, following the public resistance.

Fig. 10 (left above) – Map of Pluit Village, a conversion of an urban park (Google Earth) Fig. 11 (left below) – Giant building of Pluit Village (Agung Abadi) Fig. 12 (right) – Townhouses and swing course occupied neighborhood garden at Jalan Wijaya, Kebayoran Baru (Google Earth)

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Fig. 13 (left) – Master plan of Kemayoran indicates allocation of urban forest at the north edge (architectureintlprogram.files.wordpress.com) Fig. 14 (right) – Map of Kemayoran shows the golf course at the north edge (Google Earth)

Fig. 15 (left) – Senayan sports complex with crowded huge buildings around (Google Earth) Fig. 16 (right) – Taman Ria Senayan covered up by massive buildings (Google Earth)

Scarcity of urban land resulted in conversion of public spaces into dense buildings. Jakarta’s inhabitants are starving for open spaces. In fact, there are many open green spaces scattered around the city. They are golf courses. About ten golf courses found inside the city proper and around ten others are scattered in the suburbs. It is an irony. While people need open spaces for public activities – and they are scarce, the city provides abundant exclusive open spaces which not accessible for ordinary people. Here another type of public space is offered: shopping mall. Almost all social levels of people are accepted entering a shopping mall. People can freely hang around inside the convenient air conditioned indoor spaces of such buildings. Within the situation of no other choices, people enjoy indoor spaces of shopping malls as substitute of rarely found outdoor public spaces. However, the need of open spaces cannot be denied. Open spaces are demanded, particularly for activities related to sports. Unfortunately, the city cannot provide. 6

III. Survival of Public Activities in Limited Public Spaces One may question how people of Jakarta struggle with this limited public spaces. The upper class enjoys golf courses, sports-clubs, cafes, and other expensive facilities. The middle class gets pleasure from strolling in shopping malls or passing time at less expensive cafes. Later in the last few years the city provides monthly “car-free day” that allows people make use of prominent streets as public space. What amazing is the way the lower and lowest classes invent their public spaces. Without shoes and proper clothes, they are refused to enter shopping malls. They have to create enjoyment from any available space they can access. Vacant lands, spaces below flyovers, riverside floodplain areas, streets, crossing bridges, ponds, fountains, and flooded areas are among places in the city that can be utilized as “public spaces”. Vacant lands While the city is very dense and urban land is scarce, any land left vacant is made use for public activities. This type of land can be an individual-owned lot in the middle of housing complex, or a piece of land owned by a property developer – waiting for further construction. People take advantage of the land temporarily before the owner develops it.

Fig. 17 (left) – Children playing football in a small vacant lot (Kompasiana) Fig. 18 (right) – Children horse-riding in a vacant developer’s land (Danang Priatmodjo)

Spaces below flyovers A flyover defines a certain space below it. Many activities can be held here. Children playing, flea market, even performances are found below flyovers in Jakarta. Such activities often become obstruction for the traffic.

Fig. 19 (left) – Performance below Grogol flyover (nutrisiuntuksahabatku.wordpress.com) Fig. 20 (right) – Open barbershop below Cawang flyover (Republika)

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Riverside floodplain areas Riverside areas are popular playground, especially for playing football. While 13 rivers runs through the city, there is no single public promenade where people can enjoy the landscape of the river and its surroundings. However, there are many “soccer fields” found on the riverside.

Fig. 21 (left) and Fig. 22 (right) – Riverside soccer fields at Tanah Abang (Danang Priatmodjo)

Streets and crossing bridges Both streets and crossing bridges are definitely not places for children playing. Limited open spaces made children play on such places, in spite of the danger from the traffic that may harmful for them.

Fig. 23 (left) – Playing football on the street (Media Indonesia) Fig. 24 (right) – Playing on the crossing bridge (Rakyat Merdeka)

Ponds and fountains Playing with water is so exciting. Since free swimming pool is not available, children play with water in ponds of urban parks and fountains of public buildings.

Fig. 25 (left) – Swimming in pond of Lapangan Merdeka (Danang Priatmodjo) Fig. 26 (right) – Playing in the fountain of Park Lane building (Tempo) 8

Flood Most people suffered from flood. This is not the case for children. While their parents doing something to avoid damage from the flood, they enjoy playing with water. Even in flooded streets where motor vehicles pass by.

Fig. 27 (left) and Fig. 28 (right) – Playing in flooded street (Antara)

Car-free day Since September 2002, Jakarta applied monthly car-free day. Every last Sunday of each month, several major streets of the city are closed for motor vehicles for eight hours (from 06.00 to 14.00). Concerning the scarcity of open spaces, this policy is very meaningful. Once a month people can go jogging, riding bikes, and even play futsal (mini football) at major boulevards such as Thamrin Street and Sudirman Street. Before this policy was employed, every Sunday morning thousands of people came to Senayan sports complex and Lapangan Merdeka to do jogging, biking and let the children playing. Those are the only large open spaces found in Jakarta. Every Sunday morning the two places are overcrowded.

Fig. 29 (left) – Daily traffic of Jakarta (Paola Sinclair) Fig. 30 (right) – Major street during car-free day (Luluk)

Fig. 31 (left) – Thamrin Street in workdays (explore-id.blogspot.com) Fig. 32 (right) – Thamrin Street during car-free day (Pewarta Indonesia) 9

IV. Attempts to Provide New Public Spaces Within the situation of limited public spaces, the city government has shown the attempt to recover the problem, as can be seen in redevelopment of Taman Menteng (Central Jakarta) and Taman Ayodya (Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta). These two projects were not large enough, considered to the need of ten million people of Jakarta. However, the policy to redevelop and real action to execute the projects should be appreciated. One can expect that similar projects will be carried out in many other parts of the city. Taman Menteng It was a plain – grass-covered – square, built as neighborhood facility of Menteng when this housing estate was built by the Dutch in 1920. In 1950’s, the square was converted into football stadium, equipped with necessary supported buildings. In early 2000’s the complex was badly deteriorated so that redevelopment was urgently needed. The football field was finally relocated, and the square was rebuilt as a garden. The project of redeveloping this garden was completed in 2006.

Fig. 33 (left) – Lapangan Menteng as footbal stadium (Google Earth) Fig. 34 (right) – Lapangan Menteng as a new garden (Google Earth)

Fig. 35 (left) – New redeveloped Lapangan Menteng (javamilk.com) Fig. 36 (right) – New redeveloped Lapangan Menteng (flickriver.com)

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Taman Ayodya As mentioned above, Kebayoran Baru was built in 1950, and equipped by neigborhood parks. One them is a round-shape Taman Ayodya. Since 1970’s the park was covered entirely by flower-shops. As an attempt to provide more public spaces, the flower-shops were relocated, and the park was redeveloped. The project was completed in 2008.

Fig. 37– Current situation of taman Ayodya (Google Earth)

Fig. 38 (left) – New redeveloped Taman Ayodya (Media Indonesia) Fig. 39 (right) – New redeveloped Taman Ayodya (liburananak.com)

V. Conclusion What can be learnt from the case of public spaces in Jakarta is that the city needs more open public spaces to serve its ten million inhabitants. The municipality should learn from the way low-income people create their own public spaces. It is the responsibility of city government to provide adequate public spaces. Attempts such shown in redevelopments of Taman Menteng and Taman Ayodya have to be taken up again. There are many neglected neighborhood parks that can be handled in similar way. Many of them are still functioned as gas station and other purposes. They have to be reconverted into gardens. In addition, many places of riversides in Jakarta are prospective enough to be developed as beautiful promenade. 11

Bibliography Buchwald, Emilie (ed.) 2003, Toward the Livable City, Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions Burton, Elizabeth, and Lynne Mitchell 2006, Inclusive Urban Design: Streets for Life, Oxford: Architectural Press - Elsevier Carmona, Matthew, Tim Heath, Tanner Oc, and Steven Tiesdell 2003, Public Places – Urban Spaces: The Dimension of Urban Design, Oxford: Architectural Press Heuken, Adolf 2007, Historical Sites of Jakarta, Jakarta: Cipta Loka Caraka Moughtin, Cliff 1992, Urban Design: Street and Square, Oxford: Butterworth Architecture Priatmodjo, Danang 1997, “The Evolution of Public Places in Jakarta: From city square to shopping mall”, in Proceedings of Second International Symposium on Asia Pacific Architecture: The Making of Public Places, Honolulu: University of Hawaii at Manoa van der Heiden, C.N. 1990, “Dutch Influence on Indonesian Towns from the 17th Century until Independence in 1945 and after” in Planning Perspectives vol.5 no.1, pp. 63-84

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