Thamrin sidewalk project: Insanity?<\/p>\n
Marco Kusumawijaya, Architect, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Isn't it pathetic that something as mundane and taken for
\ngranted as sidewalks has become the center of attention after the
\ncity announced its plan to beautify Jl. Thamrin?<\/p>\n
Perhaps not, as for decades sidewalks have never really been
\nconceived as an integrated part of streets. When the city's
\npublic works department said it wanted to widen the street, it
\nmeant only the asphalted part of the street, often at the expense
\nof already-narrow sidewalks. When new streets are first built,
\nthey are often constructed without sidewalks, which are added
\nonly later as token, or even decorative, features.<\/p>\n
Think about the contrast: Paris, since Napoleon's time, has
\nhad a law that stipulates that all streets should include
\nsidewalks of a certain minimum width and quality. London has had
\nthem since the 18th century, in a law that also regulates
\nplacement of billboards and shop signage. It also says that
\nsidewalks should have a better surface than that for carts.<\/p>\n
However, in Jakarta, a good sidewalk is a special "project",
\nnot something "normal" to be provided for all streets of the
\ncity, but only for Jl. M.H. Thamrin, the most prestigious avenue
\nof the capital.<\/p>\n
It is the responsibility of the city's Department of
\nLandscaping and City Beauty, instead of Public Works, which also
\nspeaks volumes about the sidewalk being seen as something "less
\nor more than the street". Over the years, we have seen that the
\ndepartment has grown in importance, as the governor has relied on
\nit for its "image-building" projects to provide a distraction
\nfrom the administration's inability to tackle serious fundamental
\nproblems, such as flooding and poor transportation.<\/p>\n
Professionals know how silly this department has been in its
\nhandling of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, the fencing-in of
\nthe National Monument park, and other projects.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, cars are parked on sidewalks. Look at the shameful
\noccurrences near many embassies and ambassadorial residences in
\nMenteng. This privatization of the public realm also takes on
\nanother form: Some sidewalks are planted so heavily that no one
\ncould possibly walk on them. I have argued with security guards
\nbecause they forbade me from parking on streets in front of
\nsidewalks outside their bosses' residences.<\/p>\n
I told one such guard, "In case you didn't know, you have no
\nright to claim the streets and the sidewalks, so you cannot tell
\nme not to park outside your fence, unless I park right in front
\nof your gate."<\/p>\n
"But my boss had the sidewalk paved", he said.<\/p>\n
"Aha! That is even worse. He should not have done anything on
\npublic land! Moreover, in this area it should be left open with
\ngrass," I replied with joy. Yesterday I saw the paving removed,
\nthe surface planted with grass, and some beautiful pots were
\nplaced there to prevent people from walking on the area.<\/p>\n
Another reason why the pedestrianization of Jl. Thamrin has
\nbeen paid so much attention is that Singapore's Orchard Road has
\nbecome its model. What a shame for Jakarta, one of the most
\nliveliest cities in the world, to have to look up to Singapore.
\nIt is, in architect Rem Koolhaas's words, a city without
\nqualities.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it (Singapore) is "metastasizing across Asia,
\nwith the sparkle of its organization, the glamour of its
\nsuccessful uprooting, the success of its human transformation,
\nthe laundering of its past, its manipulation of vernacular
\ncultures."<\/p>\n
Well, it is OK to imitate Singapore, not only for its
\ncleanliness (although it has still suffered SARS) and discipline,
\nbut for its social imagination, too? Please, we do not want to
\nlimit ourselves to Premier Goh's Next Lap: Our vision is "an
\nisland with an increased sense of 'island-ness' -- more beaches,
\nmarinas, resorts, and, possibly, entertainment parks."<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most that we should worry about is not a further
\n"modernization" of Jakarta according to a Singaporean model that,
\nof course, will be over-simplistic and ignore the capital's
\nsocial, cultural and economic reality, and will result in more
\nconflict, split personalities, and public expense.<\/p>\n
What we should worry about is that there is no clear,
\nacceptably plural social imagination, richly and openly
\ndeliberated in public, before the city starts on these stupid,
\nphysical works. We should worry about this because that is how
\nthe city has been operating in many other respects, including the
\npoorly (socially and culturally) imagined northern coastal
\nreclamation project.<\/p>\n
Faith seems to be vested in the technician. This may lead to
\nanother disaster, as the pedestrianization -- as they oddly call
\nit, despite its further humiliation of pedestrians -- is designed
\nby the same professor from Bandung who also designed the
\nuninspiring "renovation" of Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, and
\nwhose hometown does not show any indication of his contribution
\nto prevent its further rot.<\/p>\n
It appears so sad that, after Budi Lim -- the only Indonesian
\nOxford graduate, licensed urban designer -- moved out, in this
\ncity, professor Danisworo seems to be the only architect that the
\nadministration trusts. What is happening to more or less 3,000
\narchitects available in the city, who have produced much better
\ndesigns all over the metropolis?<\/p>\n
How come public money can be spent on beautifying the most
\nimportant avenue of the city simply by directly appointing an
\narchitect, instead of organizing a competition to get the best
\nresult? I smell something fishy.<\/p>",
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