Defining Inclusivity on a Community Scale: Townsite Batu Hijau, West Nusa Tenggara

Essay Winda Ratnasari

Defining Inclusivity on a Community Scale: Townsite Batu Hijau, West Nusa Tenggara

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he increasingly complex needs of diverse culture have influenced the urban renewal projects which required for its development to be socially and physically inclusive in order to be successful. Townsite Batu Hijau, Located in West Nusa Tenggara share examples of a wellplanned district in Indonesia that have transformed physical spaces and strengthened communities in the process through inclusive planning and design approaches for its urban design.

The development of a settlement is regularly confronted with the challenge to provide an inclusive community for people from diverse backgrounds. It is imperative that urban regeneration projects must encourage social and spatial inclusion.

However, not many cities have remarked success with this concept. Defining an inclusive city itself requires in-depth research studies including a comprehensive component, such as poverty, unemployment, social networks, physical environment and services.

In addition to the social element, urban elements such as community participation, accessibility, availability of rights services, and community values might be a significant consideration in order to design an inclusive city.

Townsite Batu Hijau was managed to show the different side of the story of its development by bringing the concept of Inclusivity towards its development

Planned for Inclusivity Townsite Batu Hijau Settlement in We s t N u s a Te n g g a r a w a s developed using a flexible model that could adapt to community input, designed to meet the needs of diverse users for people who work at P.T. Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara. The settlement provides strict permits for local and national authorities to make regulations regarding control areas and property markets to ensure land use, stimulating a well-organised urban development with a mix of residential and commercial developments as well as pubic spaces.

The settlement was conceptualised as "A small town in European Neighbours" Its original plans in the 1995s called for a development that would include a large type and modernist housing in equal numbers, low-, middle- and upper-income units and some adjacent office buildings, all located in block shape.

To meet current and future residents' needs in the community, the town was planned in a well-demarcated grid pattern which entities self-sufficient of a wide range of uses. The planning includes public and private housing developments, parks, schools, recreational facilities, community centres, various communal spaces, entertaining and commercial spaces, other basic amenities supported by efficient transportation networks.

Residen al Area

Rebuilding a District with the Community

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city is categorised as an inclusive city if public facilities' safety is being the primary concern. Since pedestrian users are the top priority in the area, it is not surprising that vehicles are rarely found because the use of certain vehicles such us motorbike is restricted in the regulations to create safety and comfort for pedestrian users.

Furthermore, accessibility to a clean environment and recreational facilities will become the most important criteria for measuring a city's inclusiveness.

Unplanned urbanisation has turned cities into concrete jungles, and metro cities have become almost entirely devoid of parks, water bodies etc. However, in Townsite, we can see that the zoning area has successfully impacted a stake in their district through continuous connectivity that allows road users convenience.

In addition, although the disabled people account for less population in our area, the urban planning so far has considered their issues while planning the district. It is shown by the presence of ramps and continuous footpaths which make them entirely independent for basic amenities.

Health Facility

If we design spaces for cars, they will fill it with cars.

If we design spaces for people, they will fill with people

That is why it is vital to design a city based on “Making Place for People" that makes good ci es

Transit-Oriented Development Affordable and efficient public transport is a must test for inclusive cities: cities without it can never be inclusive. Public transportation, such as bus service ensures that all sections of society can travel within the district, which lead to a marked reduction in air pollution.

The concept of T.O.D. (Transport Oriented Development) has become a solution for the community.

Every household can access transport route within minutes. For recreational & activities around residential, there are parks and bus stop in almost every sector. Residents around such centres will have easy access to the transport routes that will save their time, cheap and environmentally beneficial to create low carbon lifestyle by empowering people to live, walk, cycle work, and play without depending on transportation.

The public has embraced the concept, and have quickly followed to meet the high demand for quality urban places served by the systems. This is not only because T.O.D. can offer a higher quality of life but also a triple bottom line solution to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

The lesson for the next development The concept of smart cities revolves around easy accessibility to all sections of society, including social and spatial inclusion, identity and opportunity. To conclude, it is clear that inclusive city covers decision making, considering the needs of vulnerable sections, adequate facilities for population, public transportation, transparent and accountable governance, and availability of basic amenities.

In an effort to transform the space in such a way which can deliver a real impact on the urgency of fulfilling the need for a place to live, work, study, and play in one area, the development needs to focus on integrating mixedused concept to achieve a successful urban regeneration process, creating a balance between nature and human.

But the biggest question is, can city leaders be flexible enough to adapt to this idea and keep the pace with society's changing needs?

Behind the success of the development of an inclusive city in the district, there is scepticism about applying this concept to urban development for any further. The idea would raise a big challenge, especially for our society that feasibility is not ready for the new change, potentially replacing their local value.