16_204_203_20Seminar_20UI_20UF_20CU_2026_2001_202016_20_2__20DW

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UI UF CU 
 Working Notes  
21 01 2016  
issued 26 January 2016 
Seminar 
MC  - Kanar Welcome to the International Jo int Studio and Seminar focusing o n urban green 
infrastructure.  We are looking at  water and waste treatment and management.  In the seminar, we 
are considering water, space and life interventions to enhance architecture.  
1. Setu Rawa Besar:  Living Side by Side:  Turning Water into Sustainability 
Moderator:  Dr. Jocelyn Widmer, University of Florida 
During the seminar today the pur pose is to look at  the site holistically and integrate your thinking.  
Setu Rawa Besar is a huge lake, surrounded by settlements.  The first part is to take a micro outlook 
about this lake.  We should be looking at the enhanc ement of the capacity of the la ke, rather than 
problem solving.  There are no absolutes in indiv idual problem solving.  If the problem of the whole 
system is not solved, then this will affect the water system, the transport system and the rubbish 
system.  
Presentation 
The policy system regulates that a 50-meter green belt occurs around the perimeter of the lake, but 
looking at the plan, the existing residential and school area make it is hard to push them into 
compliance.  Our work will not solve the whole problem, unless the problems o f the larger city a re 
solved. 
Setu Rawa Besar is in the center of Depok, which is nearly in the center of  Jakarta.  The place can be 
reached through public transport and by small buses.  On the plan , details about accesssibility are 
shown by the red line, which indicates the walking path.  The zoning functions are shown as housing 
(Yellow), schools (Green), etc.  Observations on the site were undertaken to find out the real 
questions.  By looking at the past activ ities, we find that there are many inter esting economic 
activities, such a selling food and fishing. But, the water quality is in a really very bad condition, so 
our idea is that Water is the opportunity t o improve the environment and create job opportunities.  
We wish to consider how people are related to the lake (setu) as fishermen and tour guides.  If they 
see the setu as their home, then they will keep the water clean. 
The method for the survey is to div ide the lake area up into fixe d zones and to survey the residents’ 
awareness and considerations.  There were 34 random respondents who indicate d on average that 
they would keep the fishing boats and that they wanted to keep the environment as their own and 
not turn it into a tourist area.

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In a diagram where the three circles of waste, water and living .  T he quality of life and the human 
environment is the indicator that intersects all three of the issues. Also considered are Land Use and 
Land Fill  as well as dealing with waste problems, wate r flow  and wetlands in the 50 -meter deep 
setback.  Current inhabitants of housing located in the slum areas expect to undergo relocation into 
vertical housing near the original location. 
Living close to the water involves three strategies.  The first strategy is to increase the living space 
and the public space.  The second is to set up a solid waste management strategy.  The third involves 
water treatment so that the wetland can deal with sewage from the houses and water quality in the 
lake.  Water management is likely to involve a connected drainage and piping system, collection o f 
rainwater and grey water and provision of septic tanks for the proposed vertical housing.  There is 
likely to be a combination of an eco -wetland and an artificial wetland to filter the waste. The case 
study on Dongguan is an example of a wetland and a water treatment project. 
The section drawing shows the inlet area with a solid waste filter to manage the trash that is 
dumped in the lake.  The ground level is higher than the lake (setu) and there is a retaining wall to 
block flood waters.  Different kinds  of plants will be used to filter the water.  Bamboo is particularly 
good for removing metallic impurities. 
Regarding the drainage around the setu, a collective drain pipe from each house would be 
connected to a communal grey water tank where the water would be treated and then released into 
the landscape to eventually filter itself down as ground water into the water table.  The black water 
would be collected in a septic tank, whereas the grey water will be dispersed into the soil. 
In terms of solid waste management, several connection points for solid waste will be located in the 
neighborhood, near the resident s’ houses.  The trash would be separated and then taken to larger 
collection points to be collected  as organic, non-organic and hazardous waste to be processed by a 
cleaning company. 
There will be areas for composting in a communal urban farming area around and near the setu, 
which will also serve to educate people about the importance of the environment.  The border lands 
of the setu will be used as public space with additional docks for fishing, a 5 -meter wide pedestrian 
walkway and a 10-meter public space and space for urban farming behind the houses. 
The policy measures to be considered for wastewater treatment include septic tanks and an artificial 
wetland.  For solid waste management, the policy includes waste separation into communal trash 
bins.  Other policy measures might include improving the quality of public living space in the 50 -
meter setback as a transitional zone.  Vertical housing is pr oposed to replace the displaced slum 
dwellings.  Future policy considerations would encourage provision of employment opportunities.   
Additionally, enhancing the power of the community groups to act as a medium between the 
government and the people would b e advisable for policy realization.  Policy measures are a way to 
face the problems and the obstacles and to provide for many opportunities within the community.

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Questions and Answers 
1. Question - Dr. Andrea Frank 
Thank you for the wonderful summary.  I li ke how you approached being humble in your 
inquiries in order to enhance your understanding of the complexity of the site.  From a systems 
level approach, the scale of the challenges range from the intimate scale to the larger scale.  
What happ ens in the f uture in the context of a larger scale?  What are the opportunities for 
water to act as a democratic space?  How do you define the fluidity between the communities 
and the center of the lake when you cannot access the water unless you are in the middle of the 
place?  Also I didn’t see the connection betw een the social data and the eco -wetlands.  How do 
you ground the data in the solutions?  Lastly , engagement with the community is moving 
forward with a cross-section of stakeholders, resulting in heterogeneity. 
2. Question - This is a wonderful presentation.  What do you want to achieve with an eco -
community?  Alright, there is enhancement, but how do  you achieve the plan with the 
community?  If you move people out of the area to build a new building, how do you  engage the 
community? I just want to ask how to address the program with human beings to build an eco -
community? 
Answer - The public space problem is answered with the vertical housing to give a better quality 
of space. 
3. Question – Dr. Jocelyn 
I would like  to weigh in here to say that to enhance the green space does not mean that you 
have to displace the green spaces, but it can be done in a familiar social context. 
Answer - Also we can focus on the urban farming and the community i nvolvement to participate 
in the maintenance.  It is important to engage the community in all parts of the plan.   People are 
generally very happy within their communities. 
4. Question – Prof. Li Yu 
This is a very interesting presentation, especially in terms of treatment for a systematic view that 
is not just about the lake.  My question is, “Why do you suggest landfill on the site for the solid 
waste?” 
Answer - For the waste management system, the orange squares shown on the plan are 
locations for the smaller bins set with a 50-meter gap in-between, so each part of the community 
can easily access the bins.  Then , the trash will be taken to the waste collection area.  The idea is 
just to collect the small scale trash and then take it away to the city landfill for further 
processing.  
5. Question 
What is your main challenge?  Is it the social aspect of transferring from illegal to legal status?  
Did you cover this in your questionnaire?

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Answer – Basically, we also asked whether people were satisfied with the living spaces or not. 
6. Question 
Do you think it is because of the physical conditions or is it because of the intangibility of the 
area? 
Answer - People said they would like to move as long as they could stay with their neighborhood. 
7. Question 
What impresses me most of all is: “What in th is area makes the community so particular?  What 
needs to be preserved and how do you use it to regenerate this place?” 
Answer - In the past there was a strong connection between the people and the setu.  Today this 
is not the case.  There is a lot of acti vity in the setu with lots of people fishing, but we have no 
idea if the fish are edible.  People in the setu area are not well -educated about the environment, 
so that the idea is about having a community base to keep the connection alive.  It is a change of 
tact to focus on the environmental issues. 
8. Question 
I am impressed with the wetlands proposal to build up the slope and to add a pumping station.  
Technically, this works.  Will this place remain as a wetland or is there a risk that it will be 
invaded by future urbanization?  How do you see that can be managed? 
Answer - The wetland is proposed due to the situation with water pollution.  The question is, 
“How to remand this area in the future?  There is a projection that Jakarta will continue to 
expand and we also know about the floods so Setu Rawa Besar can be used as part of a ‘sponge 
city’. 
Answer - Another point of prevention is government policy with the 50-meter setback, so people 
can make a connection in the public space to protect the lake with 5 -meter, 20-meter pedestrian 
and 15 -meter public space , etc .  Also in cooperation with community groups, there could be 
measures taken to limit the number of people migrating to the area.  The proposed vertical 
housing is for the current residents. 
Answer - Education is very important so the people will understand how important the wetland is 
for the quality of life, so people need to take ownership. 
9. Question – Adam 
I have a question regarding the urban farming.  Your proposal is awesome.  Are people 
interested in utilizing the space for that reasons or would they use it for something else? 
Answer - For the urban farming itself, we did not specifically ask that question in the survey .  If 
people are given compost and if we make guidelines for urban farming within their own houses  
then this is a possibility.

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10. Comment – Jocelyn - One aspect has to do with daring people to change their aspects. 
11. Question – Bill Whiteford 
Top notch information – if approximately 1,000 families will be displaced in the slum area, where 
will they go and what will happen to them? 
Answer - From the data, it is not 1,000, it is more like 100.  We propose that they are relocated to 
vertical housing and  have jobs, such as home gardening skills or cleaning skills for tourist 
destinations, which are provided in the same vicinity. 
12. Kyle Dost – Wrap-Up 
This is a great job in capturing a holistic perspective.  The design captures the benefit of eco -
system services.  How does this relate to the planning cy cle in terms of collecting data?  How do 
you formulate an implementation plan and when can you rely on making the solutions come to 
life? 
Answers - Your question is related to our processing and collecting the data and what we should 
do to implement it.  People don’t see this as a problem. The govern ment does not necessarily 
know why there is a 50-meter setback. 
We think that the regulation is not strong enough, so we decided to go beyond that and look at 
the people’s capacity. 
In order to improve the environment, first we need wa ste treatment.  The g overnment needs to 
pay attention as they will put a lot of money into the plan. In t erms of education, people need to 
deal with the environment and how to manage their lives. 
Farah – Our ideas and plans are based on the government plans. 
Answer – For a top -down approach there needs to be a middle man between the government 
and the people.  The people need education so they can understand the overarching 
requirements. 
Answer – We talked a lot about this in the working groups, but currently, these (community 
groups) are not active, so they need to be re-activated. 
13. Question - Frank Sedular 
This is a very interesting approach.  Could you explain the design process of working with the 
poor communities in Central Jakarta?  There has been a lot of push -back from th e informal 
residents. What is the decision to move the poor people into vertical housing – is it a quick fix? 
Answers - Most of the time the rumah susun is too far away from their current working and living 
space, which costs time and money to travel back and forth.  That is why we propose vertical 
housing around their current working space. 
The biggest reason is that the population is too big.

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14. Question – Dr. Andrea Frank 
This is a quick interjection. How long does it take to build the 3 -level housing?  How much space 
do you need?  How will you solve the problem of temporary space? During the process while it is 
being built, where do you move the people and how do you manage them? 
Answer - The vertical housing is planned to be 720m2 with 25 rooms on each level.  I am not sure 
how long it will take to build three floors.  
We didn’t consider where the people will live temporarily.  In China, this might take about a year 
and the people have move to another part of the city. 
15. Question – Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan 
The government plans to return the lake from 15 ha currently to 25 ha previously.  What do y ou 
think about this planning fro m the government?  In relation to the outlets of the lake, 
sometimes there is flooding involved.  What are your thoughts regarding t his scheme that you 
propose here? 
Answers - One response regarding the governm ent plans to expland the setu is  that this will be 
very hard to do because the settlements are very dense.  This kind of expansion won’t keep up 
with the urbanization trend. 
Near the bridge and the government housing, the gutter system in that area of Setu Rawa Besar 
is  kind of clogged.  There are retaining walls along the setu, so that area floods.  The setu itself 
never floods regularly, only during peak flooding.  What causes the floods is that the gutter is 
clogged in the front of people’s houses, so the water doesn’t flow properly. 
Answer – Only the slum areas are flooded by the setu .  The water is approximately knee -height 
during the flooding.  In the government provided housing, the retaining walls block the flooding. 
Comment – Actually vertical housing is too radical at the present time.

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2. Connecting Blue and Green Spaces to Create a More Resilient Future:   
UI Lakes & Surroundings 
 
Moderator:  Dr. Andrea Frank, Cardiff University 
 
Presentation 
 
This group is looking at the ideas and problems related to the UI Lakes and their tributaries.  The 
methodology follows a logic of identifying problems and then  considering issues and th en 
proceeding to the solutions for the UI Lakes and their surroundings, which have significant aspects 
that reflect water quality. 
How can conditions of the environment affect water quality and the quality of life?  Besides the facts 
of water and population, we are looking at the m aster plan.  The goal is how to improve the water 
and the surrounding environment through social and physical intervention.  The methodology 
involves participation with various actors (the university and the community) and how the whole 
water system will be more dynamic if both the upstream and the downstream are affected.   
The Agathis Lake is in the western area. We also consi der the upstream area of Kenanga  Lake.  In 
determining how we are going to solve the issues, we are considering community collaboration and 
water resilient management to activate the future plans, as one idea. 
Kalibaru and Agathis Creek have two upstream rivers.  The problems have the same source throu gh 
the traditional market of Ker mer.  Traders in the market are known to throw black water and gr ey 
water into the river, which occurs concidently while children are playing.  
The key problem s in the UI Lakes have to do with floating vegetation, rainwater treatment, trash 
thrown directly into the river from the commercial area, residential areas and t he impermeability of 
movement and market chaos. 
In re-arranging the built environment , we are presenting imaging of how the f uture might be. The 
Toll Highway cuts the site in two, which will affect the water quality.  Our task is how to improve the 
water quality. Rearranging the built environment means add ressing the wetla nds, the relationship 
between waste and water, urban farming and the presence of solid waste supporting the house hold 
activities.  Localized solutions are focused on the market.   
Our methodology starts with approaching the major areas, then considering the minor areas. The 
traditional market stalls are located along the river and they throw their trash directly into the river , 
so the river is polluted.  One possibility is to change the lay out of the market.  We also propose to 
add a communal green open space and a garbage net along the river to collect trash.  Additionally, 
we propose to add socialization about how to take care of the place.  
In terms of a localized solution in the residential area, the trash is found along the river, but it is from 
upstream, not directly from the residences.  One solution is to add a simple filtering system to catch 
the trash in each area.  Hydroponic systems (to grow vegetables) could be located in -between the 
houses.  Another proposal is to make water gardens to collect the rainwater and to use porous 
pavement blocks.  Another solution is to add vertical green walls and blue space for the river.

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Localized solutions for the commercial area next to Kali Baru  include adding an angle board to the 
side of the restaurant so people cannot throw their trash directly into the river. The section show a 
new plumbing system where plants are used as a biofilter to trap the grease from the restaurant and 
leftover food is used for compost. 
In thinking about reconnecting the lake and the river, Kenanga Lake is used only as a container or 
reservoir for rainwater.  Rainwater collection could be decontaminated for daily use. 
In terms of social a pproaches, it is not just a top -down question.  The residents know their living 
space, so the solutions can be derived from real needs.  We are also considering how the design can 
be developed for resilient futures. Education and financial support along with controlling laws  are 
important.  A social approa ch tow ards waste ma nagement is a  holistic idea.  The communities 
currently may not know about the solutions.  The waste m anagement system in the infor mal 
housing area, depends in part, on who holds the land certificate.  We cannot deny this issue because 
it plays such an important role for housing.  There are different conditions and different treatments, 
both formal and informal.  The task is how to get reconnected. 
Negative aspects, such as usually burning the trash near the river resul ts in a bad impact on water 
quality.  The formal housing has access to the government container service; however, this is not a 
sustainable way as homeowners do not take responsibility for their trash. 
Conclusions 
Physical and social approaches to solutions can be applied in a similar way to both areas.  The lack of 
awareness means that implementation requires public support and government policy. The problem 
is in integrating the many different factors.  We think there are solutions for a holistic system. 
Comment Dr. Andrea Frank 
There was very little time to survey the vast area and to travel around to view the two kinds of 
rivers.  It is not just one river which influences the water quality a nd what happens downstream.  
There are a lot of actions for inte rvention or policy.  For the focus on waste management , there 
needs to be some intervention, but it is not so easy.  Highlighting the informal sector, it is a way to 
make a living and if you rationalize this situation, then people will lose their livelihoo d.  It is a tricky 
problem to make this intervention , either for gray infrastructure or for transport issues, but not for 
the water or the green spaces.  As you pointed out, there is more detailed work to be done. 
Questions and Answers 
1. Question - Febe  - I would like to know who are the actors that will make the proposal happen? 
Answer - Who are the actors that can support the process?  The main actors are the community 
themselves so the solutions are from the bottom to the top.  Actually , the community has  a 
system, but it is not working, so maybe it is not the best one. 
2. Question - Who is the Community?  Comment Andrea – There seem to be multiple communities.  
I think the main actors in each area are different.

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Answer – The main actor is from the government .  There needs to be some kind of guardian for 
the market.  We could approach the RT neighborhood leader to lobby for our solution. 
3. Question - What I am trying to ask about is who are the specific actors for the community and 
for the traditional areas?  By knowing this, it will make it useful and easier to proceed. 
Answer - Who will manage and maintain the proposal? In the commercial area it should be the 
person who ‘owns the plumbing’ to manage it.  The actors should be responsible also for the 
legal management of the market. 
4. Question - My understanding of the area in the beginning is that there are two different 
administrative areas.  Does this cause any difficulties, especially in terms of administration? 
Andrea:  There are different administrations.  Can we hinder or help? – That is the question. 
Answer - This is a long term development so some of the design may have to be negotiated. 
Together we have to negotiate with the administrations about the designs. 
Answer -  All of the proposals are catalysts to trigger all the stakeholders. 
Answer - In our opinion, it is better to do minor innovations in Indonesia.  We are going to do the 
interventions.  The people are close together, so one neighborhood will copy the other. 
5. Question - Prof Li Yu 
The main actors,  these people are already in the community sector, but they pollute.  How do 
you expect them to change?  How can you deliver education?  Are there any laws or policies 
existing.  How do they function and why don’t they function?  What is the main problem? 
Answer - How to deliver ideas is through education to show how the design will benefit their life.  
If they have an awareness, it is easier for the community to deliver that proposal. 
Answer - Actually, there are many laws that happen, but the community do es not know the laws 
or know what is important. 
Answer - For the area of Kali Baru River, there is the law, but there is not enough infrastructure to 
support it.  There is a garbage collection system, but it is chaos and there is no room to pass by.  
So the physical environment has to change.  The policy is hard to deliver.  The government has a 
policy to collect trash, but the local people do not want to pay, so the policy is hard to deliver. 
In summary, the laws exist, but can’t be impl emented.  Poverty e xists so the poor  cannot pay in 
an orderly way. 
6. Question - Jocelyn – It is more interesting from a stakeholder’s perspective.  What are your 
thoughts?  You ae part of the chattering and the solution.  How do you see the Unviersity in 
terms of education?  Maybe there should be an outside mediator contributing to that education 
piece.

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Answer – The campus has a community engagement group for interaction. There are education 
movies and family gatherings.  We conclude that there are many creative student groups 
developing.  It is not only the lecturers and the stakeholders.  The students have more time. 
7. Question – Bill Whiteford   
Kudos on pulling yourself together in such a good team for re -arranging the built environme nt 
into a past and future scenario.  In t erms of the waterway under the t oll road, how can these 
ecological processes continue to exist after the toll road is built? 
Answer - There are many ideas.  Actually, the water channel will flow below the highway project.  
It is challenging to consider how t he water can flow.  We will not be able to reach the water 
because it will be concretized.  In the old plan, the water flow is connected.  In the new pla n, the 
water channel is bigger than before, but the first one will be closed.  The other channel is how we 
can filter or reach the underground channels. 
Comment - Andrea - We assume that how to improve the quality specifically is that we can 
facilitate the filtering and the management of the system. 
Comment - Bill - Now that the highway is being built, the objective is to turn it into an 
opportunity, instead of an obstacle. 
8. Question - How can you improve the water quality? You concentrate on the physical garbage, 
but you don’t solve the problem of water quality, which is due in part to algal bloom. 
Comment  - Andrea – Okay, this is a challenge.  
Answer - We have analyzed the UI Lakes in relation to the algae and the water hyacinth.  Our 
solution is to consider the use of a wetland before the water enters the lake.  Actually, historically 
speaking, the area was formerly a rice paddy.  We discussed and considered this problem.    
9. Question – Andrew Flynn  
I am very intrigued as to the title: “Resilient”. It is very topical, but you have to explain what you 
mean by social, economic and environmental resilience.  T hink about what is the best scale for 
analysis.  Group 1 looks at water supply; Group 2 looks at a neighborhood.  What is the best 
scale for understanding resilience?  
What is your recommendation for the other researchers about methodology for the local 
community and the environment?  What is res ilience and what kind of  resilience is there?  
Resilience from our perspective is related to social, ecological and infrastructure issues.  There is 
low impact development.  There is green infrastructure for ecologi cal development.  They (the 
community) will have their own ability to recover from policy regulations and the laws.  The 
public can recover from disaster and they will be stronger after the recovery.  The social side can 
support us to change.  
Describe resilience based on your field study and what it means.

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Answer – The hierarchy is about laws and policy.  For ecology and insfrastructure restoration it is 
better to put it in the context of a smaller scale related to real things that we can touch or feel in 
our daily lives.  The community includes allowances for all three issues. 
10. Question – How would you advise other researchers to understand resilience through data 
collection? 
Answer – As for the methodology for other researchers, it is to analyze the proble m and to find 
out how other people respond.  Then to determine how people, or our target reacts to the 
problem.  
11. Comment - Isti  
My comment is geared towards making your project deeper and more integrated.  What 
happens in-between?  I ask this question so you can use some imagination about how you move 
the people and why you are doing this re search.  As far as I understand , you are d ividing the 
social and the physical.  Consider how to integrate these two issues to provide more options.  
For example, the re sidential area may put up a gate, while the community throws away the 
leftovers.  But, if you want to improve the social, you have to design options. 
12. Comment – Andrea 
On this wonderful concept, it is very valuable to go back to the community.  On this positive note 
that is some way to take comfort from these projects.

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3. Setu Babakan: 
Building an Innovative Model of Cultural and Economic Sustainability 
 
Moderator, Diane Wildsmith, University of Indonesia 
 
Presentation 
Setu Babakan is attractive because of th e Betawi culture.  We believe that Setu Babakan can look 
forward to a sustainable future.  Our findings reveal an innovative model of a sustainable  kampung 
as well as making recommendations about the gaps in the masterplan applicable to the future.  If we 
compare the green space and the size of the lake in 2005 to 2015, the lake size has increased.  The 
2005-2020 Master Plan is comprehensive with zoning around the lake.  The sustainable kampung 
model is based on the Betawi culture.  If we think of a structu re like a house where the roof is 
sustainability, the environment and the economy are the pillars and culture is the platform, we have 
the relationship for a virtual cricuit between management, the economy and sustainability.  The 
management of water and g reen open space will transform Setu Babakan  for educational and 
research opportunities.   Even though the red zone in the master plan is fragmented, there is 
continuity in the overall master plan and it is just a matter of how to fill in the gaps. 
The methodology is based on observations to the physical effects on culture and lifestyle.  We don’t 
getting the feeling of the Betawi culture here.  The main idea of the Betawi culture is not exposed.  
Water is contaminated by organic waste and domestic waste. The re are issues about the separation 
of domestic waste.  Green space is greatly valued.  The lack of public transportation causes more and 
more vehicles to come to the site. We are explaining about the gaps , which we are trying to 
complement in the master plan development and with the buildings.  We don’t see continuity, again 
it seems to be fragmented. 
Our planning recommendations are first to add a promenade to create continuity by adding a food 
court with Betawi food.  The promenade will pass over to the i sland.  The current master plan 
proposes a guest house on the island.  Instead, we are proposing to use the island as a museum and 
also as a farm to engage the community in urban agriculture.  By using wetlands, we can add better 
water quality to the lake.   This may well be a good way to revitalize the lake and as a way to 
reinforce the Betawi culture, which  appreciates open space.  We al so plan to add meeting points 
along the lake.  The green space will raise an awareness for the people to take care of the ir 
environment. With the addition of Betawi food, a research center and meeting points we are seeking 
to connect people and the ir culture.  The research center would also have a performance area.  
There is  a 14 -meter band proposed around the lake to add gr een space as a continuation to the 
spacious feeling.  There  will be parking areas added an d from an environmental point of view the 
wetland will increase the capacity of the lake. 
We propose to manage the trash with a barrier wall as a kind of dike to prevent waste from entering 
the lake and to add bigger trash bins with international symbols for organic, non -organic and 
hazardous waste.   We propose offering a Betawi handicraft souvenir as a prize for good trash 
management.

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To sum up and reinforce our model  fo sustainabilit y there are three categories:  socio-cultural, 
economic and environmental.  On the socio -cultural side, we plan to link cultural performances with 
nature.  In terms of political engageme nt with the community, a bottom -up approach is prefer able.  
In conclusion, we propose a system and a model as an approach towards sustainability. 
Questions and Answers 
1. Question - Diane Wildsmith 
Nezar AlSayyad (UC Berkeley) writes about the risk of commodification and ‘Disneyfication’ in 
relation to culture and tourism. Do you think the Betawi culture in Setu Babakan will be able to 
survive commodification? 
Answer - People want to know more about the Betawi culture.  Th ere are dances and 
performances, but people are also hired as dancers and performer s, which raises doubts about 
the integrity of the culture.  There are many ways to improve the culture.  Visitors do not sense 
Betawi culture when the younger generation disobeys the community laws.  Commodification is 
known, but it is not a visible mark.  The Bet awi people know what they want in terms of an arts 
and crafts center, which is a desire that comes from the people. 
2. Question – Kyle Dost 
Your holistic approa ch questions the culture, the environment and the economic means to 
sustain the area.  If we think in terms of the regional watershed, Setu Babakan is the northe rn 
most lake.  Since the water flow s from south to north, there is an accumulation of problems.  
How does that effect come into your reconnection with pollution upstream and downstream? 
Answer – From possible observations beside the lake, there is an accumulation of sediments 
besides the water. Water pollution will go to the other side.  Th ere is a need for conservation of 
the environment as a filter, both upstream and to downstream. 
Answer – Setu Babakan, especially downstream is close to heaven on earth.  Th ere is a good 
quality of lake water, but at the intersection between the sewage outlets and the water outlet 
downstream, there is some pollution.  There is a proposal to add capacity to rectify that problem. 
3. Question – Prof. Li Yu 
It is a very inter esting presentation tha t reviews and identifies the im portance of the existing 
culture and how culture can promote the economy and the environment.   
Why didn’t you talk about the society, the whole  of society and the relationship between the 
culture or the whole community?  First , there is the relationship betwen the economy and 
culture.  Then , there is the relationship between the environment and the lack of culture to 
promote the environment.  Can you further examine these issues? 
The second question is: “Can your model be used for other areas?  Can you list the advantages in 
delivering your plan to other areas?

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Answer – Related to culture and the environment, it  is not just about tradition and  the arts, but 
also about lifestyles.  We see for the first time that we have an island.  There is a view of culture 
from the other side and how the Betawi people are open and welcome other people.  Tourists are 
not just sitting around, but also can interact and feel welcome. 
The island offers a possibility to make a research center for bio -diversity and this is a way for 
local people to become experts in the environmental field on the island.  In terms of architecture, 
there is also a link with the culture i n that the veranda offers ventilation, open air and protects 
people from the sun. 
To sum up, the traditions and the lifestyle that the Betawi people appreciate and like, have to do 
with open space.  This foments green space and walking around in the natura l environment with 
a sense of identification with the Betawi culture. 
Answer - For the Betawi, it is a reminder to v alue and preserve their culture with an emphasis on 
daily activities.  Every Friday, members of the community volunteer and work cleaning up  the 
public areas.  
Answer – In answering your question, “How to export the master plan?’  This  answer is based on 
the culture of Indonesia that has its own diversity.  One way to do this is to create jobs that 
would build up the environment and the economy.  The environment and the culture of Indonesia 
has to do with the outdoors, being outdoors, talking with people, and socializing. 
4. Question – Isti 
I really appreciate your presentation and your approach through an ethnographic method.  I 
would like to po int out that the ethnographic method is “tricky”.  Do you take their quotes  oe 
what individuals say and then romanticize their quotes?  I would like to point out that it could be 
viewed as a “threat”.  If so, how did you take the quote from the micro scale context? 
Answer – As soon as we entered the conservation area, we asked ours elves, “What makes a 
Betawi, a B etawi?”  The answer was that, “ We are very open people.”  By mixing origins with 
Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese and Arab, etc., it is a very diverse, o pen space.  In our proposal , we 
wanted to have the area being representative of that openness, so that when you enter the place 
you feel different.  You can then experience culture in an open way. 
Our teachers told us tht we are conducting research with a fresh eye as foreigners.  We have 
mixed feeling about the Betawi culture. We are trying to envision what makes Betawi culture 
really distinctive?  We surveyed 60 respondents and we tried to complete the full survey. We 
found answers, but there may be other reasons.  It is ordinary to have differences. 
5. Question – Miktha 
In terms of food and what you mentioned previously about Betawi culture, there is the physical 
nature of the Betawi house itself.  It will need codes to preserve the materials as well as another 
need for maintenance codes.

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Answer- To make the whole area Betawi would be very costly.  (The architecture with its 
veranda) is just to communicate how there is no boundary between the guests and the 
community.  The traditional houses often use ornaments of the Betawi culture and style. 
Actually in c onclusion, but not to go to deeply into the topic, the regulations about Betawi 
architecture extend to new houses bu ilt on the site, but there are gaps.  Some of the existing 
houses apply some aspects and are fully designed as  Betawi houses. 
6. Comment – Diane  
Benedict Anderson , ( historian and political scientist ) from Cornell University wrote about the 
idea of an ‘imagined community’ as the basis for constructing a nation.  In our own way we have 
become involved in ‘imagining communities’  with the Betaw i people in Setu Babakan. The way 
the students huddle together to discuss and then answer questions is a kind of community 
action. This collaboration and way of working together about green infrastructure can c ontinue 
once we return home to our respective universities.  
7. Question – Andrew Flynn 
I am thinking through to the future when the community thrives and becomes successsful.  
However, tomorrow the community may become the victim of its own success. How do y ou 
manage demand and what might that mean in terms of equity?  In terms of generation of 
capital, the more success there is, the more likely it would be to have investors with external 
capital.  These are two forces that may begin to undermine the success of the community. 
How does the community deal with the increase of success and with the increase in tourism.  Of 
the 200,000 people, there are only a small percentage of foreigners.   How do people get to this 
place?  If it is by motorcycle and private cars , where are the parking lots and how will the 
community handle the increase in tourism?  Will there be a limited number of tickets for daily 
entry so it is not too crowded? 
Answer – If it attracts more investors, there is always a pull of power to make thi s investment. If 
the community conservation area is handled by the locals, they will take over the preservation of 
the place.  They need new infrastructure so they have to wait for the government.  If they have 
the money, they can go ahead faster.  The key is that they want to be able to have a voice. 
8. Question – Andrea   
There are two issues concerning how the culture can link with the environment.  One is the 
building and the building materials and the other is the local environment, for example , there is 
not much air conditioning.  I am not yet clear about the Betawi lifestyle.  Do young Betawis 
adopt a lifestyle that will fit into that cultural pattern?  For example, in the Alps  in the summer, 
the local farmers take their herds up to higher ground.  With the cows stepping on the  grass, it 
means that the land won’t slip off in the rainy season.  But young people today in Europe do not 
want to have such a hard lifestyle.  How could you adapt this idea to an environmental style?

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Answer – It is a good questio n that we ask ourselves. Before the conservation area, people 
remember making more of a connection with the place.  As far as the younger generation goes,  
one person commented, “I tell them to go that way and they go the other way.  The younger 
generation is changing in response to the surrounding urban area. We don’t expect them to do 
farming or to work in ‘green’ jobs.” 
Answer – The lifestyle is different now.  If we look back at the time before computers and the 
advances that society has made  now, it is a totally different situation than in the past. When 
there were no TVs, people used to talk a lot.  When the young people marry outside of the Betawi 
community, they are homesick. 
9. Question – Prof. Abimanyu   
If you look at the macro, Setu Babakan i s outside the campus and the tol l road.  But in this case 
you have to talk about the same area related to culture.  If I am a foreigner and I want to learn 
about the Betawi culture, how should I learn about it there?  What scenario can you make so the 
space/time of learning about culture is there?  What kind of culture can I learn about there and 
how can I learn there?  Space is limited there. 
One of the obvious things are the arts and crafts.  You can also show this. On the Master Plan 
you show a Guest House, a Museum and a Cultural Centre.  What makes the Betawi interesting?  
You have to consider:  what, where, why and long because it is too small a scale. 
Answer – What makes the Betawi culture inter esting is their openness to foreigners and not just 
to the Betawi themselves.  Guests can experience the cultlure directly first hand. 
10. Comment – Kyle Dost   
There is one more point to consider.  Case st udies are used as an overarching  idea to take a 
model and a framework to be applied elsewhere to rejuvenate an area.  I believe that where the 
places of interaction intersect with the space of the environment is a way to make it sustainable, 
believable and resilient.  In a more gen eral way, the model is the based on the culture, nothing 
to do with the economy or the environment, so you have a cultural sense at the end.  
End of Working notes 26 01 2016 DW