Cultural Space as Sustainability Indicator for Development Planning (Case Study in Jakarta Coastal Area)

Abstract

Few assessments through cultural sustainability indicators have been applied to national and local development policies in Indonesia. Said policies have had the notion of space solely defined through its physical aspect. This study aims to establish the cultural aspect of space as a workable indicator for sustainability in development planning. The study grounds itself in the coastal area of Kalibaru Subdistrict, North Jakarta, a region characterized by dense and culturally diverse residential areas located in between heavy industrial development. Primary data were gathered from 10 informants of varying occupations with residence in the area for more than 20 years. In-depth interviews and spatial mental mapping were conducted to articulate the cultural spaces of their everyday activities. Prevalent themes of spatial practice were identified and described in 3 categories of 1. core cultural spaces, 2. tactical cultural spaces, and 3. spaces of cultural conflict. The participatory procedures to identify cultural spaces as described in the study were concluded to be operable within existing indicator or index frameworks for sustainability policy. The availability of cultural spaces and their enumeration may be incorporated into national surveys for effective data collection and use.