ARTIST’S IMPRESSION

Bringing the elements together

By carrying out the design strategies, the design envisions to improve streets but still staying true to the basic essence of these streets - which comprises of the existing human activities. The artist’s impression here shows how some of these placemaking tools and elements come together - with a design derived from the people and designed for the people.

Observation shows that activities conducted along the streetscape of Kedaung Kali Angke were disorganized. These disordered activities mismatch the way how public space should be designed and how people are using it. Fishing being one of those common activities along the streetscape was, in fact, a supplementary food source for the locals. Despite knowing that the rivers are polluted, some local continues to fish for food while some treated it as a form of leisure. According to research, water quality would gradually improve by 2026 due to the implementation of processing household wastewater before pumping into the rivers started in 2019. Therefore, it is highly encouraged to put this implementation into good use by concurrently reinvigorate the aquatic habitat of the river. This would benefit the supplementary food source and as well provides ecological values/hotspots to the region. As such, the project focuses on fishing as the design driver and aquatic habitat creation to inform the spatial design. The project also envisioned to enable human access to above the river’s space through integration with the process of aquatic habitat creation.

Cengkareng river is chosen as the foundational river as most of the activities can be found clustering there. Elevated decks will be implemented as integration to the aquatic habitat to create elevated space for activities such as kiosk market, fishing, and other community events. The spatial designs will be driven by the creation of aquatic habitat in 3 intervention segments. In the first segment, to mimic a calm aquatic environment that will improve the fish population, half of the existing park will be merged with the river into a wetland park. This wetland park not only filters but also reduces the flow of water. The wetland park will also serve as an attraction to attract users with its openness and access to clean water to conduct a wider range of outdoor activities. In the second segment, the second half of the existing park will be integrated with the elevated kiosk market to provide seating space for users. The vertical supporting structure of the elevated decks will be attached with artificial aquatic habitat modules made from recycled materials to create a favorable environment for fishes to mingles and refuge. While this artificial habitat module primarily functions are to mimic the aquatic environment, they also trap solid wastes and can be easily removed and maintained. In the last segment, elevated fishing space will be extended to the mid-river to enhance fishing productivity. Fishing rod holders, benches, and wider spaces will be installed to enhances the fishing experience. Series of sponge vegetations will also be introduced to provide foods and hiding spots for fishes while distanced exposed water surfaces away from the riverbank to prevent unintended fishing activity.

From this project, the idea of using the river’s space to create new spaces for activities and therefore reorganize an otherwise disordered streetscape can be applied to other similar contexts in Jakarta.

Site Analysis

Street Activities Map

Project Location

Legend

Football court

Non-sheltered restpoint

Sheltered restpoint

Biker restpoint

Poultry cages

Rubbish point

Plastic collection

Mass garbage collection

Groundcable installation

Fruit stalls

Food stalls/Kiosks

Fishing

Playground

Lawn maintenance

Flower stall/Gardening

Ownership Map

Legend

Land owned by residents

Land owned by government

Unlisted land

Project Focus

Fishing, despite knowing that the fish they eat was contaminated by polluted water. “The fish doesn’t taste good anymore, we eat it because we have to fill our stomachs with food.”

Channel NewsAsia (CNA), 2018

The government developed the Jakarta Sewerage System (JSS) to process household waste water before pumped into rivers. The system is expected to reduce pollution in Jakarta’s 13 rivers. The construction can begin in 2020. The project is set to finish in 2026.

The Jakarta Post, 2018

Project Vision

Reinvigorate Aquatic Habitat

Enabling

Chosen Site Context

Preschool

Playground

Plant stalls

More activity spaces created

Design Processes

Expansion of green area

Opens to water bodies

Expansion of waterspace

More accessibility