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.