Jakarta's City Form

Jakarta's City Form

Having read with interest the article Indonesia still dreams
of a new architectural paradigm by Bambang Eryudhawan in April 2,
1995 edition of The Jakarta Post, I offer a few thoughts for your
readers.

The article put forward the conceptual argument for urban
consolidation -- reinforcing the dominance of the city center by
higher density urban land uses. Unfortunately this "new paradigm"
is seen as a magic antidote contrasted against the ill of growing
urban sprawl, e.g. environmental destruction, growing transport
distances and the monotony of "the suburbs," all of which we are
unfortunately increasingly seeing in Jakarta.

However far from a do or die situation, both public and
private sectors are pursuing another paradigm in parallel with
urban consolidation to address Jakarta's swelling urbanization
levels. The paradigm of "Growth Centers" or "Satellite Cities," a
concept as early as the term town planning itself with Ebenezer
Howards' plans over one hundred years ago for The Garden City,
new communities removed from the congested centers of London.
Employment centers with open space, integrated communities with
school, shops etc., clean air and the other utopian ideals of
which Bambang "dreams."

Regional growth centers of the Jabotabek region -- Jakarta,
Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang -- namely are attracting large scale
"garden cities" such as the highly successful "Lippo City" which
integrates industrial activity with residential communities.
There is much scope for these new developments given the
predicted huge population growth of the region, the growth of
manufacturing industries, the escalating costs of living in
Jakarta, the growth of middle class Indonesia and cultural
preferences for ground level housing. I would suggest Mr Bambang
you have a look at any one of the regular real estate housing
exhibitions at the Hilton Convention Center -- the market is
already responding to the challenge.

DAMIEN MATE

Jakarta