The Making of Jakarta’s Image and Identity through Infrastructure Transitions and City Axes Formation from Colonial to Post-colonial City Planning and Politics

Abstract

Infrastructure is a system in cities that is designed to aid the life of the people. In Jakarta, the trace can be found throughout history with a major one started in the colonial period with city wall and canals construction. Eventually, the post-colonial government took over and continued the infrastructure development in forms of street and public transportation. In each of the development stage of city planning and infrastructure, there could be found various political intentions that resulted in social implications that translated into city image and people’s identity. The paper delves into some instances of Jakarta’s planning and infrastructure throughout the history to witness the city’s transformation in forming today’s street-center culture of Jakarta. Map reading exercises are mainly used to form connections with photo archives and commentaries on electronic medias to understand the dynamics of government domination and responses from civic daily movements.