Review Artikel - Place and Place-making in Cities: A Global Perspectives

Ditulis oleh Satia Putra - London, 9 Maret 2017

Critical Summary of ‘Place and Place-making in Cities: A Global Perspectives’
John Friedmann (2010)

In the ‘Place and Place-making in Cities: A Global Perspectives’, Friedmann (2010) has highlighted how the urbanising region have failed to manage and recognise the need of ordinary people under tight global competition. Friedmann argues that this has led to the creation of an unfair space or “placelessness” which intensify social issues in cities and its surroundings. The writer’s purpose of writing this article is to construct a definition and criteria of place from a planner perspective; and also to identify mistakes that have been made in handling urban growth and giving a solution on how it should be managed. This critical summary will look at these definition, criteria and suggestion; And use case studies from the city of Nairobi and Jakarta to show how place could be considered in different scales and how good intention of relocation has been misinterpreted because of its bad execution.

Friedmann (2010) defines place as a “small, three-dimensional urban space that is cherished by people who inhibit it”. To elaborate its definition, the writer uses criteria such as:
(1)  Small space
(2)  Inhibited
(3)  Cherished or valued by people
(4)  And space to encounter & gather
These criteria have highlighted how the intensity of social connection and interaction are important factors for space such as the urban slums, to be considered as place. However, a study in Nairobi has shown that slums also had increases rate of crime such as rape in the city (Kabiru, et. al., 2012) which has been identified by Friedmann as a result of placelessness. This has shown that urban slum under the criteria that is given by author is not placeless. Nevertheless, slum in the wider scale or in the urban context should be considered as placeless because of the interrelation between the slum and the city has led to a dysfunctional urban society.

Friedmann then reiterates how eviction or relocation of a neighbourhood have destroyed social pattern that has been built, thus negatively impacted well-being of its members. The writer argues that evictions is done because of the consequences of growth which require a more
profitable development in order to be able to compete in the global world. However, in a case study of Jakarta, the underlying purpose of its recent relocation in Kalijodo is for the safety of the neighbourhood. Kalijodo is well-known for its seasonal flooding and being one of the biggest red light district in the city (Harvey and Wu, 2016), thus making the space not suitable to live in. Furthermore, the land is then redesigned to be a public park which consolidate social interaction in the city.


Governor of DKI Jakarta inaugurate Kalijodo Park


Nonetheless, it can be argued that the purpose of the relocation plan has not been communicated clearly to the community, which has led to many misunderstanding and conflicts throughout its process (Harvey and Wu, 2016). In relation to the issue, Friedmann concluded his article by suggesting that place-making should be initiated by the government to be done by neighbourhood and for neighbourhood with the guidance of professionals such as planner.





References

Adimaja, M. (2017) Ahok Set to Inaugurate Kalijodo Park as Governor on Sunday. Available from: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/09/ahok-set-to-inaugurate-kalijodo-park-as-governor-on-sunday.html [Accessed 9 March 2017]

Friedmann, J. (2010). ‘Place and place-making in cities: a global perspective’. Planning Theory & Practice, 11(2), 149-165.

Harvey, A. & Wu, A. (2016) Kalijodo: Demolition of Jakarta's Red Light District Leaves Hundreds Facing Eviction. Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-24/jakarta-demolition-of-kalijodo-leaves-hundreds-facing-eviction/7194330 [Accessed 9 March 2017]

Kabiru, Caroline, W., et. al. (2012). ‘Making it: understanding adolescent resilience in two informal settlements (slums) in nairobi, kenya’. Child & Youth Services, 33(1), 12-32.



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