Bali Tourism News

Denpasar wins third place in city planning competition

November 13th, 2007

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Denpasar city has been selected by the Ministry of Public Works as the third best in city planning, behind Semarang and Surabaya, said Denpasar city secretary Nyoman Aryana over the weekend.

Aryana said the honor was made possible due to good cooperation between the city administration and the community in enhancing the convenience and looks of the city.

Erwin expressed satisfaction with the honor, which he said was awarded after an uncomplicated selection process using questionnaires.

He said the ministry gave several types of awards and the city had previously won recognition for cleanliness.

The city won the award because it stuck to its spatial plan and tightly controlled licensing, the spokesman said, also acknowledging that the criteria for granting some permits had yet to be worked out

He said in Denpasar, a fast growing city and provincial capital, there was considerable demand for new buildings — residential sites and business centers, including shop-houses.

The administration tried to find a balance between growth and the environment, such as by banning construction along green belts. Development is allowed only on land that can’t be farmed, he said.

Building height also demands attention from city planners and builders, since regional regulations stipulate that buildings not exceed the height of a coconut tree. Law and order officers recently had to demolish a building on Jalan Raya Sesetan because it was taller than 15 meters, he said.

Other aesthetic rules require Balinese ornamentation for buildings.

According to spatial planning observer Nyoman Gelebet, Denpasar deserved the award, especially in view of the city’s efforts to preserve traditional forms despite rapid growth.

He said city planning was generally on the right track. In Kesiman and Sanur on the eastern side, for example, homes are customarily designed so as to leave a few meters of open space — usually for ornamental plants — between the house and the outer enclosure.

However, the lecturer of the Architectural School at Udayana University, Denpasar said the city was also burdened with various urban complications. Open space has been sacrificed to build sidewalks and there seemed to be more builders seeking permits than building space available.

He said the location of offices of state-owned companies Garuda Indonesia and Pertamina, on Jalan Sugianyar to the south of Puputan Badung square, was not good. “That’s (also) where Jagatnatha Temple and the Bali Museum are … the scenery should not have been destroyed by modern buildings.

“These are rich companies — why don’t they build somewhere else? The companies should think beyond image and consider preservation of traditional arts, which have become one of our selling points, also.” Denpasar is aggressively promoting city tour programs which take in temples, traditional markets and museums.

According to Gelebet, the city administration needed to be more selective in issuing permits. In many cases, he said, “what is being sold is nothing less than tradition.

“Please don’t trade it all for a bunch of shop houses.”

Gelebet further said it was unwise to convert cemeteries to other uses — the planning decision made when Sesetan and Gunung Agung exhibition centers were built.

“Cemeteries were given a spacious layout on purpose, because cremation requires it. However, this land has been sold. It’s disappointing.”

Ten years ago — Gelebet recalled — in Denpasar all houses had angkul-angkul (entrance gates) ornaments; during the Galungan celebration, handsome penjor (ornamental poles) further enhanced the beauty of the city.

“I don’t know where we’ll be in the next 10 years if city leaders fail to appreciate tradition.”

Gelebet explained that Denpasar was comprised of various villages and was planned to be an extension of Bandung rather than a new city

“See how we have so many villages instead of sub-districts here. It’s different from other big cities. This city is an assemblage of several villages. That’s why paddy fields can still be seen in the city, like in East and North Denpasar districts.”

Source: The Jakarta Post

Entry Filed under: Bali Tourism News