Architect dreams of comfy stroll through Blok M

Architect dreams of comfy stroll through Blok M

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So, Jakarta's beggars,
let's ride, this is the horse!

A 30-minute leisure stroll along the most interesting area in
South Jakarta, passing three green parks, rows of vendors selling
flowers, aquarium fish and birds to cell phones, electronic goods
and flea market paraphernalia, without having to worry about
being hit by a car or motorcycle.

Along the stroll there would be trees, a lake, flea market,
street vendors, upmarket shops, cafes in the park, food stalls
and an open theater for public performances.

The dream makers, or to be more precise, the dream draft
makers, are a team of architects led by Andra Matin who have
designed a pedestrian facility for a 1.5-kilometer route from
Blok M, Kebayoran Baru, to Taman Puring, Kebayoran Lama.

"I've been dreaming of designing a pedestrian facility for the
area for five years," Andra said.

"The area has parks; one is now hidden behind rows of flower
kiosks and another is beautifully maintained but cannot easily be
accessed by the public," he said by way of explanation of his
interest in the area.

Without any tidying up, the area is already interesting, with
bird and fish vendors and flower kiosks, Andra said.

"Watching pets, birds and fish is exciting for children. So
the area is also fun for families," Andra added.

However, walking around the area is no fun, with cars and
motorcycles ignoring pedestrians while street vendors take up
space on the existing sidewalks.

Therefore, months ago, when architect-cum-urban-observer Marco
Kusumawijaya contacted Andra to join CP Biennale Festival titled
"Urban Culture", Andra immediately said "Yes".

Assisted by student architects from Bina Nusantara University,
photographer Davy Linggar and filmmaker Tintin Wulia, Andra
surveyed the route, assessing the possibilities and made a
pedestrian design that kept the trees, street vendors, small
kiosks and makeshift food stalls.

The design even promises a considerable economic benefit for
the people and any interested investors.

"We would maintain the food stalls here, so Ayam Bakar
Ganthari could remain," he said, grinning. Ayam Bakar Ganthari is
a popular food stall that sells grilled chicken in Blok M.

Starting from Martha Tiahahu Park near Blok M bus terminal to
Jl. Mahakam, on which Grand Mahakam Hotel stands, the team
designed a 400-meter underground pedestrian tunnel to the
neglected Ayodhya Park, which is now obscured by flower kiosks.

The pedestrian facility would be 2.5-meters wide and on the
south side it would have a row of shops. It would be like
Singapore's underground mall City Link, except it would semi-
open, so during the day rays of sun could reach the tunnel. The
tunnel would end at Ayodya Park. It also has a stair every 50
meter up to the road level.

The team has also calculated that, thanks to the topography of
the street, rainwater would automatically flow to the direction
of the park, so they could make a rain pipe channeling the water
straight to Ayodya's lake.

"To make the park visible, the existing flower kiosks should
move to be on the same level as the park, which is lower," he
said.

Andra has also alloted a space near the park for a layered
parking space.

With the lake, trees and flower and fish vendors, it would be
really nice to have some cafes with Internet hotspots around the
park, said Andra, whose consultancy that takes his name, Andra
Matin, received an award for designing Gedung 28 in Kemang, South
Jakarta.

Crossing the park, the route reaches 500-meter-long Jl.
Barito. On the west side, the street now has a row of bird and
pet sellers, which cover a large and well-maintained Taman
Barito.

On the west side, Andra has designed a three-story open
pedestrian and shopping area, in which all the existing vendors
and new entrepreneurs could do their business.

Reaching the end of Jl. Barito, the design has arranged
vehicles to pass through about 500-meter underground tunnel
heading to Taman Puring. For vehicles heading to Mayestik Market,
the design has arranged a tunnel branch to the market, which is
known as haven for women as it is full of fabrics, sewing
materials and colorful beads.

While all vehicles move under, the road in front of Mayestik
Market to Taman Puring would become a total pedestrian facility.
On the road, Andra has designed a row of kiosks for flea market.

The seemingly joyful journey would end at green Taman Puring
on Jl. Kyai Maja.

"We designed an open theater for public performances in Taman
Puring," he said.

Although Andra has a convincing concept, he does not yet have
a plan to make all this come true.

"No, I haven't talked yet to city officials. If they supported
the plan I think it could happen," he said. "Also, I haven't yet
talked to any possible investors."

"But the plan would certainly raise city revenues and it would
offer healthy economic benefits to both locals and possible
investors," he added.

Certainly. That is without taking into account the positive
impact on hordes of Jakartans from all walks of life, plus
tourists, who are already bored from spending time in uninspiring
malls.

While waiting for city officials and investors to make a
decision, sorry to say, Jakarta's beggars, you must get off the
horse now.