Spatium

Editorial No. 51

Jasna Petrić — 2024-06-28

Pedestrian connectivity: A focus on residential neighbourhood sidewalks to promote accessibility to public parks

James Edward Honiball — 2024-06-28

Public parks play a pivotal role in improving community life in residential neighbourhoods, with many individuals integrating a daily walk to a park near their home as part of their routine. A crucial element of the pedestrian infrastructure that promotes walkability is the use of sidewalks. However, a decline in the usage of both public parks and sidewalks has been reported in residential areas of South Africa due to the challenges discussed in this paper. Studies suggest that ample pedestrian pathways leading to public parks may enhance park usage. This study aims to analyse the functionality of sidewalks in a suburb in Bloemfontein city in South Africa as non-motorised transportation routes and to propose design guidelines for improvement to promote access to public parks in the suburb. The study employs the Conjoint analysis technique to identify factors deterring pedestrians from using sidewalks, thus hindering access to public parks. The results emphasise that the physical layout, and the perceived and actual safety of pedestrians are the primary factors impacting sidewalk usage. For instance, pedestrians frequently opt for roadways over sidewalks despite potential risks, mainly due to insufficient pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The findings suggest that infrastructure upgrades, connected sidewalks and parks, safety measures, inclusive design, community awareness programs, and periodic reviews of pedestrian needs can lead to cities that promote active lifestyles and become more inclusive, sustainable, and conducive to holistic well-being. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the Conjoint analysis technique is a powerful tool in urban planning, providing valuable insights into pedestrian preferences and their implications for infrastructure improvement decisions.

Urban identity and planning: Conceptual study on identity of urban, identity in urban, and identity for urban

Fitrawan Umar — 2024-06-28

Urban identity is gaining increasing attention across different research disciplines. However, there is no consensus as to how this concept can be integrated into planning theory, because every discipline has diverse concepts of urban identity, which are often included in planning theory without clarity. For example, environmental psychology literature and the social sciences have defined urban identity as human or social identity, while architecture and urban design characterize it as the urban/city or architectural identity. Therefore, this paper provides a conceptual framework for applying urban identity in planning theory and practice. This paper used the literature review method by synthesizing several relevant and reliable sources, particularly in planning, architecture, environmental psychology, social science, and geography. The result is an explanation of three concepts of urban identity, which are the ‘identity of urban,’ ‘identity in urban,’ and ‘identity for urban’. The identity of urban helps planners to design functional and characteristic cities. Meanwhile, identity in urban helps planners to achieve the humanist aspect of a city and social justice; and identity for urban helps planners to advance a city’s economy and attract investors and tourists. These concepts are interrelated and can be integrated to support the sustainability of cities and their citizens, by achieving harmony between the population’s need for orientation and identification, the function and aesthetics of the city, and the city’s attractiveness to visitors.

Conceptual model on creative economy development of waterfront cities in Indonesia: Lesson learned from Palembang and Surabaya

Syahrizal Maulana — 2024-06-28

This article introduces a conceptual model aimed at nurturing the creative economy within waterfront cities, spotlighting Palembang and Surabaya in Indonesia as case studies. The model seeks to uncover underlying trends that fortify creative economic endeavors in these localities, presenting them within a conceptual framework diagram. The research underscores the significance of establishing a conceptual model for optimal practices in creative economy development, specifically tailored to fortify the waterfront areas of Palembang and Surabaya. This study utilized qualitative methods in a sequential approach to assess current field conditions, develop a conceptual model, and integrate diverse data sources, including literature, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. The article explores the crucial contributions of various stakeholders – academia, businesses, communities, government, and media – in driving the growth of the creative economy within waterfront cities. It also emphasizes essential dimensions such as human resources, technology, geography, policy, and sustainability as pivotal factors in strengthening programs that foster the creative economy in waterfront city areas in Indonesia.

Assessment of sustainable urban tourism practice in Kampoeng Jawi, Semarang City

Rina Kurniati — 2024-06-28

Currently, urban tourism is significantly growing due to better accessibility, information, and facilities. Several urban kampoengs (urban villages in Indonesia which generally have inadequate infrastructure and low-to-middle-income communities) have developed into tourist destinations, with their own challenges and problems that must be overcome. Improper development and organization of tourism may harm the environment and cause other negative effects, and therefore, urban tourism must prioritize sustainable development that enhances the community's quality of life without harming the environment or culture. This study aims to assess and evaluate the implementation of the Sustainable Urban Tourism (SUT) concept in Kampoeng Jawi, Sukorejo Village, Semarang City. The research used a quantitative approach with descriptive and scoring analyses, and data was collected through observation, interviews, surveys and studies on various secondary data. The paper assesses the four dimensions of sustainability, namely the destination management, economic, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions. The results show that Kampoeng Jawi only meets about 54% of the SUT criteria, and its sustainability level is classified as Intermediate. Development must focus on enhancing eco-friendly infrastructure, providing long-term capacity-building programs, integrating tourism, and establishing tourism crisis management.

Exploring morphological dynamics of Pontianak through quantitative study and cultural insights

Ivan Gunawan — 2024-06-28

This study employs urban mapping techniques to explore the intricate relationship between the built environment and urban processes amidst rapid urbanization. The study area is located in Pontianak city, a city with integrating historical, geographical, and cultural perspectives in Borneo Island, Indonesia. This study unravels Pontianak’s urban morphology, aiming to decipher the correlations between accessibility, built form, and cultural identity. Utilizing quantitative methodologies and the Spacematrix method, this research unveils the evolving relationship between accessibility and building density. Analyzing centrality through Space Syntax, it investigates the city’s morphological development and cultural identity. The findings highlight Pontianak’s adaptability to transportation shifts, emphasizing the impact on its urban evolution. Economic activities strongly shape building density, influencing architectural landscapes across zones. Nuanced correlations between integration, building attributes, and gross floor area underscore historical, cultural, and economic influences. Infrastructure development, notably roads and bridges, significantly enhances connectivity and catalyzes urban growth. This research illuminates the intricate tapestry of Pontianak’s urban life, emphasizing its resilience and dynamic evolution amidst changing influences.

Belgrade Fair complex: The collapse of Yugoslav purism

Bratislav Ilić — 2024-06-28

In the wake of accelerated development in the vicinity of the Belgrade Fair and further plans for construction in this part of the city, the events that have unfolded during the past decade of Belgrade’s urban development have situated Belgrade Fair as a key topic in the spotlight of the Serbian urban planning community. The objective of this paper is, first and foremost, the formulation of a methodologically broader critical matrix regarding the formation of an approach to the future adoption of strategies for the urban renewal of the Belgrade Fair (Sajam) complex. This complex, in addition to basic research on its architectural and urban qualities, also includes numerous current and temporal aspects from which it is possible to draw conclusions about the issue at hand. These analyses of the architectural and urban value of the fair complex observe the key themes and concepts that define the Sajam’s spatial and developmental paradigm. They also accentuate current questions regarding the defragmentation of the heritage of modern architecture in architectural practice. Also highlighted, in addition to the architectural and urban planning composition of the first construction phase between 1953 and 1957, are the today less-known architectural and engineering aspects of the exhibition halls that lack heritage status, along with an exploration of the renewal or transformation of this space through an analysis of recent conceptual design proposals. This study, through synthesis, seeks to establish a comprehensive picture and the broader critical framework needed to pass judgement before the ideological and constructive breakdown of Belgrade’s exhibition complex as a paradigm of Yugoslav purism. The conclusions leave space for the appreciation of different approaches, opening up new questions that clearly require social consensus and which have not yet been answered in the public or professional space.

A review of resilience in urban form for natural disaster-prone areas

Suci Senjana — 2024-06-28

Considering resilience within the components of urban form can aid in the planning of disaster-prone cities and enable them to become more resilient. Although prior research has explored resilience and urban form, the aspects of urban form that can enhance natural disaster resilience remain relatively underexplored. Thus, this study aims to identify these aspects and explore research opportunities in the development of resilience concepts in urban form that have been previously studied by researchers. This study employs the systematic review method, which includes bibliometric analysis and a full-text review of the identified literature. The results show that plots, open spaces, buildings, and streets are the main variables in developing a resilient urban form. Additionally, the street network within the urban form is emphasized in emergency disaster planning. Most current research describes resilience in terms of the ability to withstand and adapt by restoring and operating systems as they were before the disaster occurred. Recommendations for future research include focusing on long-term resilience in urban form by implementing new operational methods in cities to achieve transformative adaptation. Another opportunity is to conduct research in locations with unique characteristics in developing countries, especially areas that have previously experienced significant natural disasters. This study contributes to the understanding of how urban form can be enhanced for resilience through the planning of its components.