Living in Alleys: A Story of Kampung Kota

Abstract

This chapter discusses about local urban phenomenon in Indonesia called kampung kota (urban village), based on a premise that living space is a manifestation of contextual urban situation into form. From which, its form is actually a dynamic embedded object evolving with the city.

One of its examples is kampung kota in Indonesian cities. It has been common to view urban kampung phenomenon as problem about agglomeration in a city. Alternatively, it is part of the dynamic life and a learning place for surviving in urban space. One of kampung kota spatial elements is alley. Alley is having a function more than only giving a better circulation and connectivity between houses or streets. This chapter discusses about other (social, economic) functions and meaning of alley which factually contribute to maintain stability of connectivity and communication. The discussion assumes dwelling in a settlement as a process of evolvement which contain a transformational capacity and which arbitrarily possible to produce a stable dwelling environment or settling.

In one hand kampung kota can be considered as a “trans-form” within space and like what is underlined by Jan Newberry (Back door Java: Negara, Rumah Tangga dan Kampung di Keluarga Jawa. KITLV-Jakarta & Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia, Jakarta, 2013) that kampung in Indonesia cannot be concluded into fixed forms. On the other hand, kampung has a form, a being which is able to adapt quickly to its surroundings and can be read as a fixed or permanent form through its physical or may be narrative way of living. Eventually, it is better for us to look urban kampung phenomenon not as a problem but an ideal way of urbanizing in the future, which requires more exploration and understanding.