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KOTAGEDE

A RESTLESS CONTINENT

As demonstrated by the catastrophic 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the Special District of Yogyakarta on the 12th of June, the area of Jagalan in the historic neighbourhood of Kotagede will continue to be at high risk of the detrimental effects of earthquakes due to its proximity to the Opak fault and Indonesia’s location on the western edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire (Figure 1)(Elneshai et al 2006). The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of extremely high seismicity that bounds the edges of the Pacific Ocean and is home to the majority of the world’s earthquake and volcanic activity. This phenomenon is a result of the movement of the earth’s lithospheric tectonic plates, which are being constantly driven by mantle convection (Smith 2004). The Special District of Yogyakarta is precariously located along the ridge that has formed where the Indo-Australian plate has, and continues to, subduct underneath the Eurasian plate (Figure 2)(Figure 3)(Elnashai et al 2006).  This has proven to be problematic for the settlements that have developed in the area, as convergent plate boundaries have been shown to cause some of the most destructive earthquakes (Smith 2004).

 

Our disaster management and recovery team addressed the issues surrounding the nature and effects of earthquake disasters on the district of Kotagede in the following recovery report. The detailed responses to be implemented include community and livelihoods restoration; reconstruction efforts (including cost factors and quantitative analysis); architectural responses (heritage conservation and future building options) and an urban masterplan for the area.

Community Cohesion Vital in the Face of Disaster

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake scenario it became clear to the disaster recovery team that one of our main priorities was to try and ensure the physiological and psychological wellbeing of the people in the affected areas of Kotagede. The psychological after-effects of the disaster proved an important consideration, as it was noted by a community member, Shinta Noor Kumala, that trauma stemming from the 6.3 magnitude earthquake of 2006 was still apparent at least five years after the event. Subsequently we implemented strategies that will both reinforce and improve the resilience of the neighbourhood and its residents. After consultation with members of the community, we found that the social capital in the area was already quite strong. One of the community members that we spoke to noted that there are very few newcomers to the neighbourhood and successive generations of families tended to remain in the area, even in the same house. This long-term style of residence meant that there were already strong relationships embedded in the community that we were able to utilise in the wake of the disaster. The first strategy that we implemented was the creation of a Community Consultative Committee (CCC), which continues to be able to provide information and advice to the community. This committee is made up of a variety of people from different areas of expertise, including members of the community, both internally and externally sourced people with relevant academic and technical skills, as well as stakeholders from both Government and Non Government Organisations (NGO). In particular we requested and have subsequently received ongoing assistance from both the students and faculty at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia (Indonesian Heritage Trust) whose specialist expertise was gained from their involvement in the Kotagede heritage conservation effort following the 2006 Java earthquake. In association with the CCC we have initiated a scheme of community meetings in small sections of the Jagalan neighbourhood. These involve members of neighbouring households visiting each other on a regular basis, strengthening already existing community bonds and ensuring individual wellbeing. To maximise the effectiveness of these relationships, members of the CCC visit these small groups, providing updates on the reconstruction and gathering relevant information. Not only does this mean that residents are kept up to date with the most current information, it also means that no one was or will be left isolated or suffering without adequate access to help.

 

Struggle to Return to Normality Continues

In the wake of the vast devastation that was caused in the Special District of Yogyakarta by the 7.4 Richter quake on the 12th of June 2015, the people of Jagalan have had their livelihood capacities severely degraded if not completely destroyed. The former seat of the Mataram Kingdom continues to be known for its silver crafts (Figure 4), but these have suffered many set backs in the decades since the onset of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, and as such struggle to remain viable. The negative financial effects, especially on the silver trade, that were experienced as a result of the Asian Financial Crisis were compounded by the Bali bombing in 2005 and the Java earthquake that hit the region in May of 2006. Events such as these not only undermine consumer confidence in the Indonesian economy, they severely degrade the number of foreign tourists that visit the area, on which the local economy is highly dependent (Elneshai et al 2006). Despite the livelihood continuation that occurred in the wake of these events, the profits related to silver craft production have continued to wane. This latest disaster has put an almost insurmountable level of pressure on an already delicate livelihood situation. As Jagalan starts to move towards recovery following the immediate emergency stage, it is imperative that livelihoods are reinstated and reinforced as soon as possible to allow the people of the community to return to normality. In order to make the community more resilient to shocks, the recovery team have deemed that it is necessary to diversify some resident’s livelihoods and to modify others. Due to the high rate of building damage and the predominance of home based livelihoods in Jagalan, our community based research has shown that there may be other income options that can be undertaken in either a complementary or alternative capacity (Java Reconstruction Fund 2011). These range from tourism related employment such as Pedicab driving, Andong driving and the creation of street side food stalls, to jobs that may be based outside the Kotagede area such as construction work, labouring, rice field work and office jobs (Figure 5)(Dahles & Prabawa 2013). In regards to the silver trade, major changes have to be made if it is to recover from this latest shock and inevitable future shocks. Changes that were initiated prior to the June 12th earthquake such as the diversification of silver craft to include the use of alloys, plating, silver reclamation and the provision of cleaning services should be encouraged and extended to make the industry more resilient and cost effective. Although the global silver price has fallen since 2012, the price still remains prohibitively high in comparison to the stable years pre 2006 (Figure 6). As such, members of the rehabilitation team are currently researching less traditional yet more affordable sources of silver. Due to their experience with Yogyakarta and its natural disasters, the Indonesian government requested the reformation of the Java Reconstruction Fund (JRF) in the early stages of the recovery process. As in the aftermath of the 2006 Earthquake, the JRF will provide micro and small local businesses with grants to purchase replacement assets that will aid in the speedy resumption of livelihoods (Java Reconstruction Fund 2011). In order for the Jagalan community to be in a stronger position in the event of another destructive earthquake, the disaster relief team, in conjunction with the CCC, have established a community savings scheme. This will see members of the community contribute a percentage of their earnings to a fund that will be provide a timely source of capital in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This circumvents the problem of government and NGO funding delays that have proven inconvenient in this and previous disasters. 

Future proofing through education

While the earthquake and its after effects are a clear example of a catastrophic natural disaster, the relief team have decided to use the opportunity to try and improve the resilience and capital of the Jagalan community (Department for International Development 1999). In regards to the reconstruction of the Jagalan neighbourhood, the team is determined to involve the community as much as possible so that the residents are able to feel a strong sense of ownership and involvement, as opposed to a sense of passivity that may emerge if they are excluded from the process. In the reconstruction of Jagalan, education has emerged as an important priority in both the medium and long term as a way of improving the human capital of the community. It has been decided by the CCC and the disaster relief team that all members of the community will be educated in the basics of first aid, while community leaders will be taught more advanced first aid skills. These skills will be taught in a step-by-step, continuous style so that all members of the community are able to absorb the content regardless of their educational backgrounds. While limited heritage construction expertise is present within Jagalan, this and the knowledge of external experts will be disseminated to willing individuals, ensuring that self-sufficiency can be improved and heritage conservation skills can be maintained. Small and micro businesses will be provided with access to business education that will help them diversify, strengthen and protect their income in the face of inevitable future hazards. This initiative will also aim to help smaller business reach the earning potential of the larger businesses, thus providing a greater level of security for those employed within them. The final area of education that will be addressed is the science behind the phenomena of natural disasters. By reducing the spectre of the unknown, we hope that residents will be able to come to terms with the inherent risk of a life in an area of high seismicity, eventually reducing the trauma that is felt within the community in the wake of substantial earthquakes. These educational programs will be run in a partnership between the community, the local government and various schools within UGM. 

 

Brightening the Future of Jagalan

As part of the rehabilitation of Jagalan, the disaster recovery team, in consultation with the community, relevant NGOs and the Indonesian government, has created a vision of what the neighbourhood can do to increase its dynamism and resilience. These plans see the area of Jagalan become the premier destination for cultural tourism and silver crafts in Indonesia, both protecting and capitalising on the rich heritage of the area. The most numerous international visitors to Yogyakarta are drawn from Holland, Malaysia, France, Germany and Japan. This statistics are going to be used to ascertain the external preferences in regard to consumables and experiences that the newly rebuilt Jagalan should try and provide. A special focus is going to be placed on the silver craft styles that are likely to prove the most commercially viable, ensuring that the crafts people in Jagalan are creating products that appeal to the widest and most populous commercial audience. More traditional pieces will however continue to be made to ensure the continuation of historical integrity. Kotagede and Jagalan itself will become a more focussed tourist destination with traditional buildings which are empty or whose owners are not able to afford the costly repairs after the most recent disaster, rebuilt and reused as home stays, restaurants, display areas, shops and galleries. This will not only help with heritage preservation, it allows for another avenue of livelihood diversification. Relationships have already been initiated with other tourist attractions in the area such as the Prambanan and Borobudur temples to provide reciprocal promotion. On an external scale, research is being conducted into the viability of flagship Jagalan silver stores in large Indonesian cities such as Jakarta as well as countries with whom Indonesia shares close relations such as Australia and Holland. The ultimate aim of these plans is to share and promote the heritage and culture of Jagalan in a way that does not compromise or damage the very components that mark the area out as a future tourist hotspot. 

 

Reconstruction Plan

The natural disaster reconstruction plan details the restoration of areas affected by the earthquake, which can be classified into short term, medium term, and long term plans. The post-disaster reconstruction plan is defined as a process to establish a more resilient built environment and to anticipate future impacts on the natural disaster affected areas (Chang, Wilkinson, Potangaroa, and Seville 2012). It is identified that the earthquake was 7.4 Scale Richter. In comparison with the previous earthquake on the 27th of May 2006 scaled 6.2 Scale Richter; there is an approximate increase of 20% (History of Deadly Earthquakes 2013). As a result, there are more restoration activities to accomplish in the current plan in comparison with the earthquake 9 years ago, as will be the case for future disasters.

As the reconstruction takes place, it is critical to wisely prioritise the infrastructures demanding more attention. To illustrate, the highway networks allow road users to travel from one location to the destination as well as safety vehicular access and supply distribution for restoration. Considering this, highway networks often become the priority for natural disaster affected areas to restore as early as possible (Mehlhorn 2009).

 

Rebuild road connecting Yogyakarta and Solo

Model-based approach (Great Kanto highway in Japan)

To calculate the approximate duration of majorly damaged highway reconstruction between Yogyakarta and Solo, a model-based approach is implemented. The implementation refers to a previous similar case. Great Kanto Highway in Japan is assessed to obtain a ratio between distance and duration. Once the ratio is obtained, some adjustments are in place to suit the environment, technologies, and labour skills in Indonesia. This method is also mathematically known as line equation.

The calculation shows how the estimated duration of reconstruction for the damaged highway between Yogyakarta and Solo is obtained. Japanese civil contractors could successfully reconstruct a 150m long crack on Great Kanto Highway within 6 days (The Japanese Road 2011). Both figures are put into the calculation resulting in a 1: 25 ratio (duration: distance). Then, the ratio is multiplied with the known variable, which is 300m. By implementing the mode-based approach, the estimated duration to reconstruct the damaged highway in Yogyakarta is 12 days. However, 12 days duration has not been adjusted to be more realistic regarding various factors in Indonesia. 

 

Calculation

150m /300m=6 days/ X

x=12 days

 

The earthquakes damaged 500m of the highway from Yogyakarta to Solo, preventing emergency assistance and resources from entering Yogyakarta through the main road. Emergency resources include:

  • Temporary shelters

  • Food supplies

  • Clean water

  • Medicine and health treatment

 

Adjustments to suit Indonesian Environment

 

•      Yogyakarta experienced a lower scale earthquake in comparison with Japan’s earthquake 2011.

•      7.4 SR < 9.0 SR

•      Indonesia is left behind in terms of implementing technology

•      Indonesia relies more on human labour

•      Therefore, it would take 15 days to complete the 300m long crack 

 

 

 

BUILDING SURVEY

Prior to estimating the total cost needed to rebuild Jagalan Village after the 7.4 Scale Richter earthquake, a building survey will be conducted to categorise the damage levels of all the houses. Our group focused more on one specific subdistrict, which is called Jagalan Village. Firstly, we will divide Jagalan Village into seven zones. The idea of dividing Jagalan Village into seven zones is to avoid overloaded scope of works and perform the works in more manageable ways. In accordance with the local data, there are 1,050 houses identified in Jagalan Village. If the minimum quota for carrying out a building survey per day is 150 houses, it is expected that the survey should be completed within seven to eight working days. Furthermore, the survey will incorporate visual, structural, and functional damages. Visual damages are considered safe enough for the occupants to live in. However, when the damage comes to the structure of the buildings, it would be safer to transfer the occupants to temporary shelter or their relatives’ house. Functional damages could be acceptably safe at some point along with some conditions. Subsequently, the house occupants would be given notice regarding the damages and ensured against their own health and safety.

 

The survey will be completed in a provided template, containing hazards, assets at risk, and impacts. From the list of hazards, the probability and magnitudes can be drawn out. Once they are identified, the assessors may start inspecting building elements that are at risk. Also, through assessing the risks, foreseen impacts are to be established and prioritised from highly risky impacts to lowly risky impacts (Risk Assessment 2014). To conclude, the whole assessment must carefully look at hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and impact analysis.

The next step is to categorise the damage level of properties into high, moderate, and low level of damages. In properties with a high level of damage, the occupants have no choices other than migrating to safer shelters. Most houses were partially or fully collapsed. Moderate damage would allow the occupants to stay if the occupants receive an approval from the building assessors with certain conditions. For example, if temporary support is required to be put in place, or some rooms are not to be occupied until they have been fixed due to structural damages. 

 

 

FUNDING SOURCES

In the early stages of reconstruction plan, Kotagede as a part of Yogyakarta receives some funding from the three above international organisations. The Dutch Government, Japan International Corporation Agency, and Exxon Mobile Oil previously funded a major reconstruction project after the 2006 earthquake. Through the relationships that have been built between Indonesia and these three international organisations, it is expected that some funding would be made available for the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.

 

The term of “mutual cultural heritage” between the Dutch Government and the Indonesia government has built strong commitments to preserve the inherited Dutch heritage in Indonesia (Introduction Indonesia 2015). Considering the majority of buildings in Kotagede were culturally and historically constructed, the Dutch government will involve in the natural disaster reconstruction plan. Other forms of assistance to preserve the local culture and heritage values will also be made available.

Japan International Cooperation Agency is ready to deploy 15-members of needs-assessment team to Kotagede. The mission of Japan International Cooperation is to provide and review how the rehabilitation and reconstruction aid is being implemented. Indonesian organisations will collaborate with the team needs- assessment team from Japan to ensure there is no lack of medical experts and health care during the transition from emergency to rehabilitation and reconstruction programme (Press Releases 2006).

 

Immediately after the 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta, ExxonMobil donated US$1.5 million (approximately 14 billion rupiah) to assist the Indonesia government from the emergency stage towards rehabilitation and reconstruction (ExxonMobil Commits 2006). Through Corporate Social Responsibility, ExxonMobil is going to donate $1.8 million to restore the original conditions of Kotagede and its surroundings. The motivation for the funding could arise from the business relationship between these two parties. ExxonMobil has been receiving 30% of total profits from oil and natural gas production based in Indonesia (Renner 2006). ExxonMobil will not be only providing funding but also assistance such as medical teams, temporary shelters, and food supplies.

Some of the funding also comes from the local government. In this case, the government allowance is mostly going to be allocated for the reconstruction and refurbishment of damaged properties. According to our group interview at Kotagede subdistrict office, highly damaged property was funded 15 million Indonesian Rupiah, Moderately damaged property was allowed for 4 million Indonesian Rupiah, and a property with minor damages received 1 million Indonesian Rupiah. The above figures were obtained from the 2006 earthquake reconstruction funding. We expect the funding allocation will have no significant changes for this reconstruction plan. In addition, the inflation rate is to be taken into account to adjust the attained figures value. 

 

 

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS

In terms of supplying construction materials for reconstructing both traditional and modern houses in Kotagede, there are nationally qualified suppliers around the city. As Kotagede is located in the middle of an urban area, it will save a significant amount of time in acquiring the needed materials. However, some of the traditional houses are not accessible by trucks or even cars. As a result, we will highly rely on labour forces to transfer the construction materials from the entrance of Kotagede to the construction sites.

Rahmat Putra Warehouse will be responsible for supplying bricks, concrete, and steel fixing. For supplying roof tiles and ceramic tiles, Diamond Baru has been competitively selected. One of the considerations in selecting Diamond Baru is their qualification for ISO 9001. Therefore, they are expected to assure the quality of tiles that will be presented. Anugerah Steel, which is qualified in Indonesian National Standards, will be providing concrete and steel reinforcement bars and mesh. The contractors must carefully select the timber suppliers, as Yogyakarta traditional houses require a high grade of structural timber components. The majority of timber will be ordered from East Java, where the timbers are legally certified and high in quality.

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

Total land area of Jagalan in Kotagede = 273,000 m2

 

Level of damages due to the 2015 earthquake:

 

 

 

 

 

Average built-up area of one house in Kotagede:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of traditional houses in Jagalan Village, Kotagede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Cost Implication for Reconstructing and Refurbishing Traditional Houses (Joglo) in Jagalan, Kotagede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to work out the reconstruction rate per m2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The available data of the funding is from 2006. Over a period of time, the price level of goods and services generally increases due to inflation. The rate of IDR 60,000/m2 is based on 2006. It is given that between 2006 and 2014, the inflation rate is 64%. Inflation rate calculator can be found through the below link. In regard to the 2015 earthquake, inflation rate is not available. Therefore, IDR 98,000/m2 in 2014 is approximately rounded up to IDR 100,000/m2 in 2015.

 

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Calculators/Inflation_Rate_Calculator.asp#Calculator.

Scheduling Primary Activities for Reconstruction and Refurbishment of Modern and Traditional Houses in Jagalan, Kotagede

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS

Design professionals can prove to be vital assets in disaster management, recovery and reconstruction. However, the importance of these design roles is often underestimated and underutilised : this is often the case as what are considered to be traditional structures are mostly time consuming in reconstruction, heavy on cost, and not flexible to changing demands or immediate response situations. Nevertheless, architects are increasingly more aware of these factors as well as the importance of design roles and as a result, look to designing for disaster recovery with an edge of modernisation, providing solutions to tie together architectural culture and the prevention of structural damage due to natural disasters. (AFH 2013)

 

In Kotagede, heritage conservation is of great importance to the community and the culture of the area although not equally represented in conservation efforts (Unakul et al 2007). This is mostly due to the cost and time factor associated with rebuilding after the 2006 earthquake and low economical levels of the community. It is not uncommon, although shocking, to hear of owners of traditional houses ('Joglo' / 'Kalang' / 'Gandhok') selling their property to support their families financially. These houses are pulled down and either rebuilt in another area out of the heritage district, or replaced by what are now 'aesthetically accepted' modern structures. Many debates could seed from these facts - whether or not to encourage the relocation of traditional houses, the expansion of the heritage area to accommodate the relocated houses under one code, or the restriction of modern building within the heritage area of Kotagede. However, it seems the main concern underlying all issues is economical and time constraints. How can we as the wider community retain heritage, not just in Kotagede but worldwide, while encouraging the rebuilding of such culturally significant structures as a preferred option to the public? It is a global issue very much concentrated in the small areas our team explored.

 

As we investigated through interviews with local community members, during times of crisis, reconstruction efforts look to reinstate the site to acceptable living standards: Standards that equip the local community with the capacity to carry on rebuilding, rebuilding their homes; their neighbors homes; their lives, with the idea of 'improvement'. Seldom, does this improvement occur as its real potential - it is usually brought to effect as modernised homes, more densely packed communities, taller less stable structures. All in the eye of what seems to be an opportunity to expand and fuelled by situations where aid / support is not provided or is lacking for efficiency. This is where one can say, heritage loses its foundation and in that respect disaster responses need to be immediate, effective and culturally aware, or in this case, 'culturally existent' with a focus on self sustainability (Gadjah Mada University 2011). These responses include short, medium and long term responses focussing on recovery and reconstruction. The next step from these efforts in terms of architecture would be implementation of possible structural disaster prevention tactics.

 

The short term (immediate) responses for architectural professionals includes carrying out surveys of the affected areas including documenting structures / areas deemed hazardous, investigating structures that survived the disaster ; setting up supply and distribution points for health and safety materials in make-shift 'PODs' (AFH 2013) such as abandoned buildings that are structurally sound, community centres, public spaces and community leaders' homes.

 

 Also, there will be a need to set up temporary shelters for those who have been evacuated for any reason and need shelter support as a quick response. These temporary shelters can be further broken down into two categories - standard aid-provided shelters that the receivers set up themselves or as our team introduced for the project in Indonesia, pre-fabricated ‘flat-pack’ shelters that would be ordered after initial damage assessment (for knowledge on numbers and sizes to order). These pre-fabricated shelters will be more structurally sound, quicker to set up, safer and more hygienic than traditional temporary shelters. Although slightly more costly, these shelters provide families with an opportunity to live in a safer environment than otherwise for a longer period of time, while rebuilding their homes. The issues surrounding this as with any temporary shelters include the possibility of informal squatter settlements and cultural concerns - the community in Kotagede have made it clear that temporary shelters are not a popular choice or well accepted. The reasons for this could be due to the lack of open space in the area for set up as well as the concern for privacy and safety of personal belongings, not to mention the pride of living in heritage homes and on family property. As a result, the solutions proposed by the team take this into consideration as a compromise to allow for semi-permanent structures rather than entirely temporary shelters.

 

At this stage of quick response to the situation, the team will look at designing homes for future development and reconstruction. The overall outlook of these homes will be culturally sensitive - aesthetically and symbolically, healthy, flexible design factors, economical and efficient. The basis of these home designs include passive cooling techniques for improved living quality and implementing new drainage systems as well as the potential for resistance to destruction and less costly to put up. The designs focussed mainly on traditional style homes from the area, looking at options for the following:

  • Cross braces in the open covered spaces such as the 'Pendopo', that do not compromise the need for the open spaces (ventilation, aesthetics and cultural interaction)

  • Cross-bracing the walls of the main private structures as well as suggestion of other materials for construction of these main spaces such as bamboo/ brick and concrete columns rather than timber posts which lengthen building time considerably. Materials that are easier to build with or quicker to build with allow for residents to move in to their homes while rebuilding on top of the materials for added stability;

  • Anchoring the structure posts into the cement foundations ('Umpak') on to slab, where currently structural posts are placed in niche holes on the top of the 'Umpak' features and subject to great instability during earthquakes (Unakul et al 2007, 16).

  • Other design options included suggesting easier and faster methods of temporary reconstruction that allowed the families to move back in to their homes while renovating to 'permanent' standards as and when they could economically. For example, local builders in the area noted that the reconstruction of the roofs was one of the main costs of rebuilding as well as time consuming - also, many young builders were not fully trained in the traditional styles of construction. Therefore, the team suggested constructing roofs with fewer battens for corrugated steel sheets reducing the cost and time of construction and the need for expert traditional skills.

  • Further design options include the use of stainless steel 'Z' screws to maintain structural integrity (although compromising on the traditional style of building)

  • Securing roof tiles to battens with wires through the lugs rather than continuing with lose tile roofs

  • The addition of dampeners and earthquake-proof materials which although costly would be valuable towards structural stability and reducing long term rebuilding costs.

The biggest problems uncovered by the team that would affect these designs and any rebuilding on site are the lack of skills in traditional builds and the communication of building methodologies / techniques. For example, traditional houses were originally constructed with handspan measurements rather than conventional modern units such as inches / centimetres, etc.

 

Alongside these designs, the quick response phase of the reconstruction program includes setting up participatory mapping projects - including the community in mapping out the area qualitatively and quantitatively in an effort to create a visual representation of the area as known by the locals on a daily, activity-based schedule. This system of mapping allows the team to uncover areas of no or minimal activity that can be redesigned or reintroduced for different functions such as POD sites or community program areas, as well as develop detailed evacuation routes and access ways for safety vehicles, and analyse the extent of damage and destruction in the area. This process will continue on through to long-term responses (Priadmojo 2014).

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The next phase of reconstruction planning is the medium term responses that focussed on education systems and improving the capability of the local community for self-sustainability at project close-out. The team suggested setting up education systems on 'healthy building' construction techniques and skills as well as safe building practices and 'quake-safing' homes using successful working examples from other disaster zones / areas such as New Zealand / other parts of Indonesia, United States of America, etc (McSaveney 2012). The second essential part of this phase will include making amendments to the existing UNESCO Homeowner's Conservation Manual of Kotagede Heritage District (Unakul et al 2007) and making this available for all residents as a resource during education workshops and reconstruction phases. The education workshops will aid the local community in the conservation and rebuilding of traditional heritage structures in an effort to gain progress in such projects when additional support from the area / neighboring areas/ aid organisations is lacking or minimal. This will benefit future projects as costs of support will be reduced.

 

The long-term  responses look to accentuate the self-sustainability of the local community as well as plan for the future and focus on heritage conservation and structurally stable designs. At this stage, the participatory mapping projects will be finalised and registered officially. The mapping allows the development of design layouts in a master plan of the area for optimal efficiency of emergency distribution / transportation and response systems during disasters (e.g. medical, fire, security, supplies). In addition to this, the design of multi-functional public spaces with necessary amenities will be finalised. In regards to heritage conservation, standards will be set for the treatment and preservation of heritage structures in collaboration with the education workshop groups. By doing so, the community will feel empowered and able to care for their area and their families in a step to becoming increasingly self-sufficient.

 

All together, these stages of architectural responses and actions  have been planned with keeping in mind the future outlook and prospects of the community of Kotagede with a focus on structural stability, sustainability, improved living environment, economical reconstruction; and potential for a greater growth in international collaborations to achieve these points.

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Kotagede Masterplan

The Kotagede Masterplan outlines the overall vision and changes which will occur within and around the Kotagede District into the future. Masterplans are defined as a document primarily produced by urban planners in conjunction with key other relevant parties in order to facilitate a dedicated planning framework for a particular area. Detailed below are the three objectives highlighted in the Masterplan for the Kotagede District of the Yogyakarta Region, which is a crucial part of the post-disaster response strategy in our Kotagede Disaster Response Plan. The actions detailed in this document are long-term are based on long term objectives following the occurrence of the large scale natural disaster event which has the potential to damage infrastructure and pose a serious threat to lives. The plan is intended to improve community involvement and create viable strategies which are designed to secure the future of the Kotagede District post disaster.

 

The three main objectives highlighted in the Kotagede Masterplan are:

 

  • Facilitating more community involvement into the current planning system through the use of a number of recognised community participation techniques and formats

  • Improve transportation movement into Kotagede through strategies which focus on existing transport nodes.

  • Secure a long-term future for Kotagede by utilising the district’s strengths to encourage more growth from local, domestic and even international tourism.

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Objective 1 – Stronger focus on participatory planning

Kotagede is a tightknit community which is dependent on its people to ensure the district can be sustained from an economic, social and governance perspective.  However, there are no recognised forms of community participation processes implemented within planning processes specific to Kotagede. Many Western countries have adopted different forms of community participation methods to be included as part of any major consultation processes including those concerned with planning and development. For the Kotagede Diaster Recovery Plan, we have recommended at least two community participation methods as explained below:

 

Knowledge Café (may also be referred to know as café world)

 

The ‘Knowledge Café’ format is designed to maximise the opportunity for a range of people to engage in expressing their ideas and opinions in a relaxed environment. There is no set defined method of approaching the ‘knowledge café’ however it generally consists of a group people who are encouraged to write down suggestions, ideas or comments onto a communal platform (eg large pieces of paper pinned onto a wall) about a specific issue to be provided by the local authority (ie local council, government agency). These ideas can be seen by other participants and in most instances, other participants expand on the ideas of others. This leads to more detailed discussions between members of the public and therefore greater interest and community collaboration (Paige 2011). All the information which is written by the public on the communal platform is then recorded and grouped into similar ideas by the relevant authorities. The responses will then be reviewed by the relevant stakeholders or authorities when making decisions which are of interest to the community such as planning issues or environmental concerns. The Knowledege Café is a great participatory format because it provides a low cost and efficient way of identifying the views of the people, especially for a smaller sized community like Kotagede. Additionally there is also evidence that such formats have the ability to build upon leadership capabilities within individuals which can be an additional social benefit of introducing this participatory format into the current planning system in Yogyakarta (Chang and Chen 2014).

 

Public Meeting (may also be known as an Advisory Committee Meeting)

Given the tightknit nature of the Kotagede Community, the public meeting format is ideal for situations which have a designated audience and specific topic of interest. This format is common in Western Countries however from discussions with locals from Kotagede, public meetings or forums are rare occurrences. The public meeting format essentially brings a diverse range of stakeholders together for a specific purpose. Information sharing and discussion are used to engage the audience and typically the audience will have an increased understanding of the issue being discussed once the meeting is over. Additionally, public meetings also allow for the audience to raise questions to the speaker(s) which allows for a two-way flow of dialogue between the public and the authorities. For example, the release of new emergency procedures in a disaster response plan is one such purpose where a public meeting can be utilised to communicate effectively and directly through to the Kotagede people. Ensuring public meetings are scheduled on a constant basis (suggested monthly basis) will ensure that during an emergency event, that the public will know how to respond and the Kotagede community can get in more regular contact with more senior authorities or advisory committee.

 

The formation of a designated advisory committee for managing disaster management and coordination within Kotagede may also be recommended as they can help facilitate communication between the public and the government. Indonesian’s political system which includes planning processes, is complicated and there is often a universal approach to planning standards over the entire country rather than individual regions or states (Hudalah and Woltjer 2007). In conjunction with the challenges faced due to the approach towards planning in Indonesia, there are also difficulties in implementing land use changes within Kotagede due to strict heritage acts and planning regulations which prevent development in site with a high degree of historical value. As a result of this complex situation in Kotagede, community participation is a vital tool which needs to be implemented immediately for ensuring the district can continue to meet the interests of the people. The introduction of a community participation program has already had a positive impact on the neighbouring city of Solo. Widianingsih and Morrell (2007) found in their review of the Solo program that increasing community participation was particularly effective in cases of conflict management and had a strong effect in overcoming social-economic disparities.

 

Community engagement is an aspect of the planning process which is vital for local governments and other agencies to be able to deliver a desirable outcome to the public in an orderly manner. Evidence shows that the introduction of participatory planning can be used to create a stronger form of working relationship between the wider community and institutions. Given that participatory or community participation approaches have a greater degree of influence in the final planning outcome, it’s critical to foster a strong degree of trust between the public and institutions (Menzel, Buchecker and Schulz 2013).

The Kotadegede Silversmiths Project is an example of community collaboration at play (Source: British Council of Indonesia 2014)

Objective 2 – Improvements to the existing transport network

The district of Kotagede is located in close proximity to two landmark transport nodes - Adjisucipto Airport and Maguwon Station. Improving transportation movement into Kotagede will have positive impacts on many industries including tourism which is a major component of the Kotagede Masterplan. Local visitors are more likely to utilise the rail system as it has sufficient coverage in areas such as Solo. If these visitors wanted to access the Kotagede District they would have to depart the train at Maguwon Station but the journey becomes difficult due to the lack of a convenient and viable transport options to Kotagede. Taxis are the most prevalent transport option but due to their volume are also a large contributor towards traffic congestion, especially within the vicinity of transport hubs. Reducing congestion within this area is also important due to the road networks importance in the day to day operations of the station as well as improving the experience for new visitors. Henderson (2009) concludes that an efficient and safe transportation system is fundamental in ensuring that a tourism strategy can be successful as well as promoting economic growth in general. He also highlights that air travel is a market which Indonesia needs to take advantage of the current market demand for low-cost flights and Indonesia’s proximity to other countries.

Another area of importance regarding transport may the provision of emergency routes. Kotagede is characterised by very narrow roadways and paths which may prove to be a hindrance during and immediately after a natural disaster has occurred. By strategically locating several emergency evacuation points around Kotagede, people can be redirected towards the closest evacuation point rather than having everyone trying to access the one centralised evacuation point as is the case currently. The aim of this strategy is to reduce the congestion on these narrow paths in an emergency situation and increase accessibility for people seeking an area of safety. Having one emergency evacuation/assesmbly point in Kotagede may hinder accessibility and therefore safety as large crowds of people crowd the streets to access the assembly point at the same given time. Large crowds of people, narrow streets and the onset of panic may lead to a major incident that is likely to cause multiple injuries and deaths (from being crushed or stomped on by other people).

Objective 3 – Ensure Kotagede is sustainable in the long-term through the development of a recognised tourism strategy

Once residents are slowly able to regain a sense of normality to their lives the next step is to be able to secure a long-term future for Kotagede. Planning heavily focuses on being able to ensure communities are able to be sustained into the future and one way of doing this is fostering economic development and commercial opportunities. Tourism is one such opportunity which has the potential to be greatly expanded over a long period of time. However attempting to facilitate increased visitor numbers is a difficult task which requires a huge degree of planning and consultation because there are many avenues in approaching the tourism sector. One method of promoting tourism which should be explored are ‘travel chains’ as it is an approach which would ideally suit Kotagede and the wider Yogyakarta Region. This concept refers to the final product of a holiday package which incorporates all the transportation involved in the trip as part of the overall tourist experience rather than a separate feature. ‘Travel chains’ can be an effective tourism strategy because when utilised efficiently they have various social, economic and environmental benefits. ‘Travel chains’ combine travel and tourism activities, with particular attention to a ‘transit region’. This is done through improving the travel experience by linking tourist attractions to help deal with the tediousness of long distance travel. One ‘transit region’ that can part of the Yogyakarta Travel Chain is Kotagede where there is already a visitor centre for tourists and a dedicated area for buses to access sufficient parking. Local communities along the transit region, such as Kotagede, are then benefited economically by having larger public exposure which can boost employment and development within the area (Schiefelbusch, Jain, Schäfer, and Müller. 2007). Furthermore travel chains also create sustainable tourism products while addressing the transportation issues that can be found in many large cities.

 

Another major element of ‘travel chains’ are presenting visitors with the opportunity to utilise alternative transport modes. A large amount of leisure time is spent by tourists on board transportation to and from destinations. By offering an alternative option which offers a more comfortable holiday experience (ie private coaches, ferries) then a better whole day experience can be attained. Another component of a travel chain may include side trips with the use of alternate transport methods break up long travel times while also providing revenue opportunities for a wider range of businesses (ie bicycle hire around Kotagede, 4WD tour on Mount Merapi). The journeys to and from events were seen as key elements of a strategy for reducing their negative side-effects whilst, at the same time, improving their integration into the regional economic and social context. The idea of integrating the trip with the event also opens up possibilities for new leisure experiences and economic avenues. Tourists are then presented with new ways of exploring the Yogyakarta Region which is important in any tourism destination. If unique experiences and places are on offer then an effective tourism strategy will be able to capitalise on them and be able to market their destination towards these new experiences.

 

In summary, Kotagede’s biggest strength is also arguably its biggest downfall. The district’s resistance to change and adapt with the times ensures it retains a strong sense of pride and culture but at the same time many may consider that its major industries such as silver and batik production are financially unsustainable in today’s economy. However tourism has the ability to showcase these major industries, ensuring that the Kotagede District is recognised for its historical and cultural significance. The Yogyakarta is well recognised as Indonesia’s premier region for arts and culture, thus marketing Kotagede towards these attributes may ensure that the opportunity for tourism can be realised and can eventually become a successful product for local, domestic and even international visitors. Tourism is a joint development process and for it to be a commercially viable sector, then all involved must collaborate and coordinate effectively (Luthe and Wyss 2014).

Synthesis and Reflection

While natural disasters will remain an uncontrollable problem for the conceivable future, the development of new, more efficient responses, adaptations and mitigations can continue to improve the prospects for those living at constant risk of destruction. While Western countries are seen to be at the forefront of international disaster recovery efforts, it is important for those coming from more developed countries, with very different cultural attributes, to ensure that the strategies that they are implementing are not at odds with the core values of the people they are trying to help. As such, it has proven vital throughout this project to encourage the collection of primary local research, especially in depth consultations with communities, as what we feel may be the best solution may not be appropriate.  It is yet to be seen whether effective adaptation and mitigation can be introduced in ways that prove compatible with the strong heritage that is present within the areas of Kotagede that would have been damaged by the 2015 earthquake. What has arisen as one of the most important aspects in regards to natural disaster recovery is the strengthening of core resilience in those communities that find themselves the most at risk due to their geographical location.

 

As a result of having natural disasters as a regular problem in Kotagede, the local communities and local government bodies are forced to be more creative and resilient in anticipating future natural disasters and finding solutions to their often catastrophic effects. Although natural disasters are unpredictable most of the time, lessons have been learnt from previous natural disasters that can be implemented to minimise future disaster impacts. To illustrate, in Kotagede, evacuation route signage has been put in place after the 2006 earthquake. It clearly shows the local people, as well as the local government, are now more prepared than before the destructive 2006 earthquake occurred. When it comes to traditional houses, it seems that extra benefits are drawn to Kotagede as a result of having more cultural capital than other local districts. The existence of many traditional houses has proven to attract more funding from international non-government organisations with a focus on international culture conservation. However, the reconstruction project shall prioritise the need to reconstruct fully damaged houses and areas within Kotagede as and when needed with an understanding of heritage conservation. As such, reconstruction planning has to be well communicated to the local communities to ensure there is no major discrepancy between each party.

 

 Kotagede is a place which is proud of its rich heritage and historical value however the threat of natural disasters has constantly proven to be a threat to the survival of its people and its legacy. The community has adapted to this way of life and have thus formed a resilience to changes from economic and social pressures. Exploring new ways to secure a major revenue source is fundamental to Kotagede’s existence for the long-term future and there are opportunities to do so, none more prevalent than in tourism. However there are many challenges that will need to be addressed, most of which result from political processes. The Indonesian system of governance focuses on a standard universal approach rather than a region to region approach, which presents a number of issues since different areas of Indonesia have major cultural, value and social differences. In this respect effective planning for the future of Kotagede, although achievable, requires a high degree of collaboration between the wider community, local authorities and the government. Disaster management, urban planning and reconstruction processes should be be set up in a systematic framework designed solely for Kotagede, elaborating on the specific roles of each stakeholder to enable effective and fluid implementation of the required processes and actions during times of crisis.

 

Disaster recovery is always going to be a difficult process and the trip to various areas in the Special District of Yogyakarta illustrated that this is especially true in less developed countries. While it was noted by Smith (2004) that, “In disasters, the poor lose their lives while the rich lose their money,” it seems that in Kotagede and the other areas visited in Yogyakarta, the poor who don’t lose their lives still lose their money or the capacity to provide what little they can for themselves and their family.

Our group’s visit to Yogyakarta was invaluable for the experiences it provided, not only in terms of educational purposes, but the small family that was built from our time together. It did not take long for us to know each other quite well, which meant that we were able to work together efficiently and harmoniously. The inclusion of the Indonesian students from the University of Gadjah Mada was extremely helpful as they facilitated us magnificently. They were always happy to answer any question we asked and provided invaluable support in research for the presentation that took place at the conclusion of the trip. Their knowledge of local heritage and culture was vital in allowing us to better understand the constraints under which our ideas would have to fall, making the resulting disaster relief plan more applicable and realistic. Although the schedule was relatively tight, each day was productively spent and vast amounts of ideas were accrued. Apart from being introduced to the Indonesian students, we had the opportunity to engage with an array of different stakeholders, which allowed us to gain a broader insight into our respective issues. Some of these stakeholders included local community members, local government officials and university staff, all of whom provided us with great feedback and a greater depth of knowledge into aspects such as the Indonesian way of life and their systematic processes including political and social practices.

 

While Australia is subject to dangerous hazards such as bush fires, droughts and floods, it is relatively safe from seismically based catastrophic natural disasters. Conversely, Indonesia, especially Yogyakarta, has suffered destruction from earthquake and volcanic activity in both 2006 and 2010 which have had dire effects on both the people and the economy of the region. Therefore, it was an invaluable opportunity to directly witness the lifestyle that exists in an area that is subject to the possibility of frequent natural disasters.

This field trip also gave us the chance to familiarise ourselves with the processes of establishing natural disaster recovery plans from local primary sources. In our research we found that the local communities were very welcoming and they provided us with more information than we actually expected. We were also exceptionally lucky to be assigned an Indonesian student, Inas Nur Atika, who had grown up in the neighbourhood of Jagalan and whose parents still lived in the area. This allowed us to get an inside perspective on both life in Kotagede and the intricacies of the silver trade.

 

We could not imagine how it felt for the Kotagede community to have to rebuild their livelihoods after the deadly earthquake that struck in in 2006. However in a demonstration of the resilience of the community, the people of Kotagede were able to quickly recover financially as well as physiologically. By witnessing the results of this phenomenon, we were able to create scenarios that could further augment this strength. As a group we were surprised to see how everyone carries out their day to day lives in such normality given that a catastrophic disaster could strike at any minute of any day. We are used to viewing the consequences of such disasters through mediums such as television news and other forms of media, however to be able to see the faces of the people who have experienced such tragedy, rather than a set of statistics, was eye-opening. As young people growing up in a privileged society, we don’t truly understand what the definition of ‘tough’ is until we got to see it in the people of Yogyakarta.

 

The heritage properties that are present within Kotagede are priceless treasures for the community where the cultural significance of the area is evident in the architectural works that are presented in variety and splendour of craftsmanship. The impact of natural disasters on the architectural culture therefore, is of great concern and as such the community did not focus solely on the fiscal resources needed to reconstruct and refurbish most of the traditional houses known as 'Joglo'. This opened our eyes to how cultural heritage is valued more than materialistic assets for certain people, including many of the people in the Kotagede neighbourhood. The people who call Kotagede home accept that their livelihoods are in danger not only from the constant threat of natural disasters but also economic fluctuations. Kotagede is an area built on the foundations of traditional customs and industries and as such it is vital that the people here continue to retain these skills for future generations. The economic viability present for industries such as silver and batik production have declined as time has progressed but the people here are committed to ensuring that such unique goods can be produced regardless of how niche the market is for such commodity. This demonstrates the pride they take in their culture and hopefully it can be one that can be financially capitalised on through other avenues such as tourism or export markets into the future.

Schedule

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