Re-treat; creating a regional framework for the future of Semarang

Strengthening sustainability with strategies balancing urban development, population increase, climate change and ecology

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Abstract

Historic city of Semarang is called the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ of South-East Asia. It is located on the North coast of Central Java, it is the largest city in the Central Java province and the fifth largest city in Indonesia. There is great economic and cultural potential in Semarang, especially taking into consideration Kota Lama- Semarang old town. Heritage buildings and the surrounding nature preserve areas are in danger of deterioration and dam- age by haphazard development and lack of urban planning by the central government. The objective of this project is to create a regional framework for the future of Semarang while providing a sustainable method of water resource usage, as well as keeping biodiversity intact and also offering a good living environment. The Ecopolis strategy framework by Tjallingii (1995) will be utilized as the overarching framework used in the design methodology. For the structural framework, the Layers Model by Ian McHarg (1995) and the Cas- co-Concept (Hull Concept) by Kerkstra and Vrijlandt (1988) will be used together. After studying the underlying structures of the landscape and strategically forming a framework for the future, the Ecocity Principle by Richard Register (1987) is utilized to create the strategical approach for the design. The method works in double because the design involves community design, which requires administrative and strategical approaches on top of the structural design. The design masterplan and details aim to build a framework for the future of Semarang, in the scenario which the coastal and mountainous areas are not suitable for residence due to flooding, subsidence and land- slides. The chosen site area is a suburban Semarang region, in which residents from the dangerous coastal ar- eas; the migration of residents can already be seen. Thus, measures have to be taken to not only encompass the new influx of residents, but also keeping the natural qualities of the area intact, and the aquifers and watersheds clean.