Implementation of Participatory Design Approach in Jakarta Community Center (RPTRA)

Jakarta is the city full of symbolism where most of government projects are manifestation of authority’s agenda. Using the top down approach, political insinuation in architecture and built forms are common practices in many countries to convey national identity. In 2015, the Governor of Jakarta launched the Jakarta community center called RPTRA (Ruang Publik Terpadu Ramah Anak) as a new direction for making public spaces. The 6 pilot projects located in 6 municipalities of Jakarta work as representatives of the new Jakarta. These projects not only symbolize the new face of Jakarta, but also portray it as a happy city. While most of policy in making public places uses top down approach, these new community centres proposed a different perspective. Yet, to what extent these community centers have enabled people to actively engage in the process of participative design? Through observation, interview and a series of group focused interviews, this article looks at the ways in which public space became an arena where government’s agenda and people’s participation meet. The participative design process has a long way to go to be ideal, but these pilot projects have put Jakarta as a new symbol of a democratic city. For its many layers of history, Jakarta collects, channels and diminishes people’s dream, imagination and hopes.