The Actualization of local-specific Urban Culture: The Case of Traditional Street Markets in Jakarta.

Abstract

In our previous studies on traditional market conducted by the Urban Laboratory of Tarumanagara university, we have identified the different typologies of the traditional market and its positioning in the city today. One important finding is that the traditional street market has the function not only to provide the surrounding neighborhoods with everything they need for everyday life, but it also plays relevant role for the existence of local-specific urban culture. The paper provides a better understanding of the traditional market as a local-specific urban institution in general and the contribution of the specific role of street market to the diversity of urbanity in particular. The research argues that the original concept of “City for All”, which should be understood that the city for all must include “local-specific interpretation of urban way of life” that would contribute to redefining the model of resilient urban system. To evaluate the current urban policy with regards to the “City for All” concept and how it has been implemented by the public and private actors, the research employs qualitative data collection methods through series of field surveys at the selected locations, interviews with the relevant stakeholders, and document analyses. The paper finds that the circulated misinterpretation of the concept “City for All” has led to the marginalization of the local-specific urban tradition. Moreover, the city of Jakarta has systematically erased the traditional market away from the city map by subordinating them under the “modern retail” or simply by prohibiting the street market to operate as the expense of better traffic. Consequently, the city becomes incapacitated and loses its ability to synergize the old-existing part of the city with the new model of urban form.