Futures of Listening #Jakarta

Design concept:

Creating spaces for community dialogue

 

Jakarta’s kampung settlements, such as Kalibata Pulo, are dynamic urban enclaves shaped by self-built, self-regulated structures. These neighborhoods, typically composed of one- to three-story buildings, are characterized by their flexibility, resilience, and adaptation to the challenges of urban life.(1) Kampungs are often described as informal or slum areas due to their irregular layouts and narrow alleyways, yet they serve as essential social and economic hubs for their residents.

 

One of the most pressing challenges facing Kalibata Pulo is flooding, as it is the main focus of the project, Futures of Listening. Climate change, excessive groundwater extraction, and rapid urban development exacerbated the city's long history of flood disasters. The top-down policies of the government have increased urban inequality and ignored the resilience strategies developed by kampung residents.

 

The urban fabric of Jakarta, like many other Asian cities, is structured around gang —meaning narrow alleyways that function as semi-private, semi-public spaces. Unlike the modern boulevards designed for cars, these pedestrian-dominated pathways serve as extensions of homes, with staircases and corridors becoming informal gathering spots. People use these spaces to socialize, sell goods, and maintain community surveillance, embodying what Jane Jacobs describes as the principle of “eyes on the street.”(2)

 

Despite its infrastructural challenges, Kalibata Pulo is home to strong community resilience practices. Residents continually transform their spaces to meet their needs, using bottom-up, collective strategies to address urban challenges. One such practice is gotong royong, a deeply embedded tradition of mutual assistance and collective effort. Interestingly, this concept finds a parallel in the Turkish term imece, which also refers to community-led collaboration. Recognizing this shared cultural value, we integrated gotong royong as a foundational principle in our placemaking project, fostering a bond between the local community and the visiting team from Istanbul.

 

The project aimed to create an inclusive gathering space where residents, community leaders, and government authority representatives could come together as equals. The design takes the form of two concentric circles, symbolizing the two key groups involved in neighborhood discussions—the local community and decision-makers. The circular layout ensures visibility and engagement, encouraging open dialogue among all participants. At the endpoints of each circle, elevated platforms provide a designated space for speaking, reinforcing the idea that everyone has an equal voice in discussions and representing the idea of an open-speech platform. The form of the gathering space also acknowledges the cultural practice of gender separation in public seating. In Kalibata Pulo, men and women often sit apart in public areas due to religious and social customs. The design accommodates this preference while maintaining a sense of unity, allowing both groups to sit separately yet still be part of the same circular dialogue.

 

The structure is built using locally available materials that reflect the neighborhood’s resilience against drastic seasonal shifts. Sandbags, commonly used in Jakarta to prevent floodwaters from permeating homes, form the base of the seating areas, symbolizing the community’s ongoing struggle with water-related challenges. Additional materials such as wood and recycled textiles from local garment producers contribute to the project’s sustainability and contextual relevance.

 

This placemaking project is not just about physical design—it is about creating a space that fosters meaningful conversations. By bringing together the residents and authorities on an equal footing, the project seeks to strengthen community voices and promote collective problem-solving. Through its form, materiality, and embedded narratives, the gathering space serves as a testament to the resilience and agency of kampung communities.

 

Ultimately, this initiative highlights the importance of bottom-up approaches to urban design, where communities are not just recipients of change but active participants in shaping their built environments. By learning from and working alongside Kalibata Pulo’s residents, this project embodies the spirit of gotong royong and imece, demonstrating how shared cultural values can transcend borders and foster solidarity between cities.