Rujak

Photo by Erik Prasetya

Is Jakarta really dense? Or just not efficient? By density we should really mean to include the people, not just the square meters of built floor; and meanings, not just empty spaces; and also multiplicity of uses and relationships, not just mono-functionality dictated by short-term real-estate “efficiency”.  By density we should mean not only the volumetric density, but programatic density, which is the real, historical essense of urbanity.

In that context, we find it reasonable to doubt if highrise buildings solve the density problem. See Feature by Andrea Fitrianto and Guest Column by Meutia Chaerani http://rujak.org/2009/08/apartmentcentral-vs-housesuburb/

Instead of imagining Jakarta consisting of towers –highrise and high cost in both construction and operation periods, hence environmentally not friendly—can we really not imagine different forms, such as medium (4 to six or even 8 stories) high all over Jakarta?

The fact is that most of the expanse of the metropolis is low-rise medium density.  The propaganda on the metropolis’ density is also false in that most of the “high density” zones are high density only in volumetric sense, without programatic density or complexity.

Often also, as in the case of gentrification, or “super-gentrification” such as the taking over of already up-scale houses in Menteng by the nouveau-riche, square meter densification does not at all accommodate more people, but on the contrary often accommodates even less people, resulting in less people in larger built floor area. Often also, with more cars.

Therefore, higher density of square meters does not necesasarily mean higher density of inhabitants on the same area. The same case is true with Kemang area, where now there are more larger houses and yards with less people or families, with more cars, than 20 years ago. The same is also true with the so-called Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) that about 15 years ago displaced thousands of families living there.

Density of contestation takes place not only in the “major” spaces, but also in “marginal” spaces such as along railroads and under fly-overs. See http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/05/29/take-paradise-put-a-parking-lot.html; http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/14/old-immigration-office-—-private-partnership-distortion.html; http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/21/the-plight-and-plea-menteng.html. See also pictures of Jakarta Biennale 2009 intervention in marginal spaces.

Elisa Sutanudjaja compiles basic information that shows how “density” issues are institutionalised in urban planning practice in Jakarta. And, no less important: how it relates to our daily life. See her Tips: Tata-Ruang untuk Awam.

For other resources, see in Rujak/Resources: http://rujak.org/2009/08/density-in-urban-development/ and http://rujak.org/2009/08/practical-decisions-facing-urban-planners/

Minggu ini Rujak menerima bahan-bahan terkait inisiatif warga dalam membangun kota: Rumah Bersama (Co-housing); Ruang Keluarga Jakarta; Jakarta Tiga Masa, dan On Provisional Publics and Intersections: Remaking District Life in North Jakarta.

Rumah Bersama adalah gerakan mengadakan perumahan oleh inisiatif dan untuk  kelompok warga kota biasa. Lihat juga di Rujak/Guest Column: Para Bocah yang…. Ruang Keluarga Jakarta adalah ulasan tentang pelayanan publik di Jakarta. Jakarta Tiga Masa adalah tugas akhir Yanaika Agustine, arsitek, yang bermaksud menyediakan suatu tempat untuk warga dapat mengenal Jakarta secara intreaktif dan berpartisipasi dalam pembangunannya.

On Provisional Publics and Intersections: Remaking District Life in North Jakarta, adalah tulisan Abdoumaliq Simone, seorang urbanis yang mengajar di Goldsmith College, University of London, yang selama beberapa tahun terakhir beberapa kali tinggal di Jakarta mengadakan penelitian bersama UPC/UPLINK.

Semua tulisan di atas menunjukkan betapa dinamisnya warga dan ruang yang mereka tinggali atau inginkan. Inilah kenyataan-kenyataan yang masih kurang mendapatkan perhatian yang memadai. Warga yang terorganisasikan dengan baik, yang punya prakarsa, dan mampu mengurus dirinya sendiri dan memenuhi kebutuhannya, adalah aset penting sebuah kota. Bukankah, bahkan suatu pemerintah hanya dapat menjadi sebaik warga yang membentuknya?

Tidak berarti lalu pemerintah cukup berdiam diri saja. Ada hal-hal yang harus dilakukan secara kolektif. Untuk inilah pemerintah dibentuk oleh masyarakat. Pemerintah justru perlu menggalakkan prakarsa masyarakat, menyediakan kerangka peraturan dan fasilitas yang memudahkan serta mendorong prakarsa masyarakat.

Makin disadari di seluruh dunia, bahwa keberhasilan suatu pemerintahan kota tergantung pada seberapa baik ia mengenal dan mengelola kemampuan warganya sendiri.

Jakarta sudah barang tentu adalah kota dengan kemampuan sumber daya manusia dan bukan-manusia yang paling baik yang ada ada di Indonesia. Tetapi mengapa kotanya tidak menjadi sebaik yang diharapkan warganya?  Apa yang salah? Bagaimana pendapat Anda?

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