Credit: Serge Salat, Urban Morphology Institute, based on material produced by USE - Urban Sustainability Exchange.
Eco-districts in Yogyakarta, Semarang, Wonosobo, Indonesia
The Eco-district Programme, initiated under the GCDP (Green City Development Programme), aims to develop resilience and sustainability of Indonesian cities. Three cities (Yogyakarta, Semarang, Wonosobo) have been selected as a pilot with the aim of developing three sustainable Eco-districts. Based on understanding the specific context of each site, a spatial framework is defined which connects all interventions into one easily communicable vision. This approach targets a comprehensive and resilient project and invites all stakeholders to participate in reaching the goal. The effect of each project is multiplied, fostering the Eco-district development. This reading displays strategies to plan and build eco-districts tailored to the challenges of subtropical climates. Besides, it shows how these strategies are integrated with existing strategic plans, which aim at tackling other urban issues.
Introduction
Several on site working sessions have been done, next to desk top research. Workshop 1, held in April 2019, engaged participating city planning officials in a process of defining the concept of Ecodistrict and building collectively a set of targets to successfully realize an Ecodistrict in the urban context of Indonesia. Neighborhoods in three cities have been selected to pilot the ecodistrict program. Each city was chosen based on their willingness to participate and their specific geographical context, consisting of both organically urbanized rural area (Yogyakarta and Semarang), as well as formal central business district locations (Wonosobo). The project is designed to create a method for developing sustainable urban neighborhoods of all types. The method can be applied to any typology of cities across the country regardless of the starting point: scale, density, wealth, level of pollution or vulnerability.
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Workshop 1 resulted in an Ecodistrict Charter. The Ecodistrict Charter was developed from the eight attributes under the Green City Development Program launched by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and complemented with a set of objectives and indicators to enable SUDI Ecodistricts screening the projects on their relevance and efficiency. The table of indicators will serve as a tool for an effective action plan, project design and post-project M&E.
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Workshop 2, held in June 2019 gave participants During the two-day workshop, participants were introduced to a system of project screening criteria, a tool to evaluate and improve Ecodistrict investment program. Quick training on how to use the tool was provided in the form of a trial screening session with a sample project provided by consultant team.
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An in-depth field mission, visiting each city for a week long workshop, was conducted to co-create a spatial framework. Based on an understanding of the social economical, geographic, and cultural historical context of the site, a spatial framework is defined which connects all interventions into one easily communicable narrative. This innovative perspective brings multiple outcomes and co benefits.
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The next step, which is currently being done, is preparing a list of selected projects in these ecodistricts for the ‘Green Book’ a crucial document made by the central government. Any project realized through foreign loans and funding should be entered in this document before being allowed to be executed.
YOGYAKARTA: Eco-district for the preservation of the landscape heritage
The Ecodistrict site is a rural-urban area, and as such one of the materializations of a typical Indonesian urban typology: the peri-urban desakota (desakota means villagecity). This urban settlement typology has the potential to become highly sustainable, both socially and ecologically. However, the green character is under threat by ongoing urban development. Therefore, the city wishes to restore and preserve green urban spaces.
A Green Network and Rain Gardens projects are developed to protect and reactivate green and slow mobility as well as the existing open spaces. Science park and Warungboto Heirtage Village projects are developed to increase and support local economies with tourism and research; and a Water Supply management project will enable of all households to be connected to good quality water supply.
SEMARANG: Eco-district as an exemple of water management based urban planning
Semarang is a coastal city with a strong relationship to water, both from rivers upstream and from the sea. The everlasting flood danger, scarcity of water resources and land subsidence bring water management experts from all over the world to share knowledge on this field. The Ecodistrict is a showcase of this intelligent water management system and this project is a perfect starting point for an urban transformation that can serve as example for the rest of Indonesia. Existing wetlands and ponds are connected by drainage to each other and collector canals and so form a Blue Network. The streets subsequently truly become a Green Mobility project, to promote walkability. Efficient Public Facilities are used to improve the economy benefits for the residents, by improving a market, creating a food court, and engaging the creative sector as well as kampong residents.
WONOSOBO: Eco-district as a leverage for green economic development
Wonosobo, as the smallest of the three pilot cities within the ecodistrict programme, will function as an ecocity, rather than ecodistrict: The area covers the entire municipal central area, project extents depend on demand and impact. Three project clusters address the challenges the city is facing and foster green development. Existing green links and water networks are strengthened and consolidated to form a Blue - Green Network; The area around JL Ahmad Yani, between the city market and Alun-Alun Square, is developed into a Green Economy District, an economic hub with fit-for-purpose policies to incentivise local economic development improving the protection of the green spaces; The Sanitation and Solid Waste Management cluster includes additional wastewater and solid waste treatment and facilities.
An integrated approach
The approach consists in sustainably integrating all urban components of the GCDP in the planning and design of urban projects: water, solid waste, energy, transportation, economy, open space and community. This innovative perspective brings multiple outcomes and co benefits. It envisions a dot on the horizon for a comprehensive and resilient project and invites all stakeholders to participate in reaching this. The method can be applied to any typology of cities across the country regardless of the starting point: scale, density, wealth, level of pollution or vulnerability. This is underlined by the choice of the current three Ecodistricts, located in different geographical settings.