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