Site Analysis: Jakarta, Indonesia

I am in charge of designing an office space layout for the internationally recognized graphic design firm known as Landor. They have many international locations and my site is Jarkarta, Indonesia. Here is a good map of exactly what makes up Indonesia.

INDONESIA

Image from: http://www.taiwandna.com/JavaIndonesia_provincesMap.png

All of the areas in pink are the different regions\provinces that make up Indonesia. It is now the world's third-largest democracy, the "world's largest archipelagic state (meaning a state comprised of islands), and home to the world's largest Muslim population. There are 17,508 islands to be exact but only 6,000 are inhabited.  It is on the equator, and it is sandwhiched between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Because of its location they are more prone to occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and forest fires. The climate there is tropical which means it is very hot and humid. Bahasa is the official language but there is also English, Dutch and local dialects; the most widely spoken of which is Javanese."(Wikipedia, Indonesia).



Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia



Art Center, Bali, Indonesia



JAKARTA

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and it is the location where I will be analyzing. It is located on the northwest coast of Java. A 2010 census showes a count population of 9,580,000. It is the twelfth-largest city in the world. The metropolitan area is known as Jabodetabek. The city's name is derived from the old Javanese word "Jayakarta" which translates as "victorious deed", "complete act", or "complete victory". (Wikipedia, Jakarta).

Jakarta is at the mouth of the Ciliwung River on Jakarta Bay, which is an inlet of the Java Sea. It is divided into five kota or "cities" each headed by a mayor. On the map below, number 1 is Central Jakarta, 2 is West, 3 is South, 4 is East and 5 is North Jakarta. (Wikipedia, Jakarta).



 ART

Jakarta has several performing art centers and traditional Indonesian art performances at the pavilions of some provinces. It hosts several prestigious art and culture festivals as well as exhibitions such as film and jazz. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah a.k.a TMII translated as "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park" is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. This 250 acre park is a synopsis of Indonesian culture, with virtually all aspects of daily life in Indonesia's 33 provinces encapsulated in separate pavilions with the collections of architecture, clothing, dances and traditions.  It has 7 religious buildings, 14 museums, 18 monuments, halls and exhibits, 10 recreational facilites and much more. (Wikipedia, Taman Mini Indonisia Indu).

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

 

 

'Pacu Jalur' , a traditional riau dance



Istana Anak-anak Indonesia



Castle of Indonesian Children 



CUISINE

There are 20,000 Padang restaurant establishments in Jakarta alone. Padang restaurants specialize in Minangkabau cuisine which is derived from the West Sumatra region in Indonesia. Because most of Minangkabau people are muslims, Minangkabau cuisine follows halal dietary law rigorously. Protein intakeare mostly taken from beef, water buffalo, goat, and lamb meat, and also includes poultry and fishes. During a dine-in hidang (serve) style Padang restaurant, after the customer being seated, the customer does not have to order first. The waiter immediately serves the dishes directly to the table, and the table will quickly be set with dozens of small dishes filled with highly-flavored foods. Customers take and pay for only what they want from this array of dishes. There are more foodstalls than restaurants in Jakarta, however.(Wikipedia, Padang food).



TRANSPORTATION

Jakarta is strained by transportation problems. "The city still suffers a lack of urban public transport services due to the long development of road networks that accommodate mostly private vehicles. In Indonesia most communal transport is provided by mikrolets, which are privately run minibuses, although these normally avoid main thoroughfares. A 'three in one' rule during peak hour was introduced in 1992, prohibiting fewer than three passengers per car on certain roads." (Wikipedia, Jakarta).

Traffic cirlce, downtown Jakarta



Gambir station

 

The neighboring cities of Jakarta such as Depok and Bogor to the south, Tangerang and Serpong to the west, and Bekasi, Karawang, and Cikampek to the east, is served by KRL Jabotabek, a mass rapid transit system serves commuters in and around Jakarta. The major rail stations are Gambir, Jakarta Kota, Jatinegara, Pasar Senen, Manggarai, and Tanah Abang. During peak hours, the number of passengers greatly exceeds the system's capacity, and crowding is common.(Wikipedia, Jakarta).

PARKS

 Merdeka Square is a large square located in the center of Jakarta, Indonesia.The square is surrounded by important government buildings such as the Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court and various governmental ministries. At its center stands the National Monument. Below is a picture. (Wikipedia, Jakarta.)

THE SITE

Here is a satellite picture from this link: Landor official site.  It appears to be located near the national monument.  Because of it's central location there is sufficient transportation in that general area.  Overall is mostly flat.