URBAN EQUITY IN PUBLIC SPACE A Comparison Research between Traditional and Modern Public Space in Indonesia

Public space is a gathering place to exchange ideas, to share opportunities, and to participate in activities. This space is for all social segments; it is a symbol of equality, power, crowd, and movement. Public space also acts as a landmark. It is part of a city’s history and a place of cultural expression, where different social classes share their behaviours. Everyone, including vulnerable people, women, children, older adults, and differently able people, enjoy the same right in this space and do not get marginalised. To optimise the role of public space, people should consider the concept of public equity. Equity is a universal concern and part of human rights, Millennium Development Goals, Sustainable Development Goals, and Urban Agenda aspects based on the UN-HABITAT concern. Based on Medellin Declaration (2014), equity is the foundation for creating sustainable urban development. To achieve this goal, public space must consider citizenship opportunity such as the right to use, to appropriate, to claim, to access and to control. Besides, it should consider inclusive public policies, universal public facilities, and socio-spatial arrangement. Indonesian public space has evolved from its traditional form and assumed a modern look over the years. This development is related to the different expressions of equity. This research compares the traditional and modern public space in Indonesia to gain an understanding of the urban equity phenomenon in both areas. This study wants to determine the characteristics of Indonesian public space. It also aims to find the degree of urban equity there. It explores the extent of understanding this phenomenon and tries to find out how such understanding could be adopted in public space theories and policies. This research examines Alun-alun Yogyakarta as typical of Indonesian traditional public space and Simpang Lima Semarang as representative of modern public space in that country. The research considers women, children, elderly people, and differently able people as its principal subjects. These people have been are selected because they are the primary users of public space. Although regulations and laws protect their rights in the public sphere, the design, accessibility management, and physical conditions do not sometimes support them to interact optimally, thereby denying them the rights to be enjoyed in the public space.This research uses qualitative and multiple case study research (CSR) as a methodological approach for exploring the site and socio-spatial arrangement conditions. The site analysis reveals that there is a particular condition relating to the meaning of urban equity in each public space. Users of traditional and modern public space in Indonesia have the same rights to use, to appropriate, to claim, to access, and to control. Traditional space has a long history and strong local wisdom in placing vulnerable groups here, while the modern space follows an equitable rule and design in placing them. The government acts as a determinant board in both traditional and modern public space. In traditional space, the palace plays an important role in managing public space. Even though there are no sufficient universal facilities and no differentiated access for vulnerable groups in both traditional and modern public space, users feel satisfied to carry on their activities there. This socio-spatial analysis mentions that Yogyakarta Palace nowadays is in an entirely different situation, as it has shifted from the traditional stationary atmosphere to intensive tourism activities. But the high Javanese cultural root because of the location, the Sultan Ground (King’s land) land rent type, and the contextual tourism activities with the Palace influence the community perception of the urban equity meaning in public space. It contains Alun-alun Yogyakarta in a static and traditional form since its establishment. Local communities feel satisfied with the place, while the palace and the city government are more concerned about a traditional event, rather than the physical development, due to the ritual activities of Javanese people. The Simpang Lima Semarang is a mixed-use area where a new government centre has deliberately been built. There is no hierarchical stratification, and the cultural root goes back to the Coastal Javanese. The people are accustomed to being flexible and open-minded with other cultures. Besides, there is no cosmological arrangement and sacred activity there. The socio-spatial structure here is clear and more equalised. But even if this place is newly built, people have a strong sense of belonging to Simpang Lima. This high intensity of formal activities and informal activities in Simpang Lima Semarang creates a co-existing relationship in this public space. Simpang Lima area has a dynamic and modern atmosphere. The rights of users can be seen in this place and noticed in its arrangement. Consequently, the meaning of urban equity depends on the fulfilment of the rights and appropriate designs for everyone. The findings from this analysis show that urban equity is a collective engagement, which is supported by culture and power. Besides, urban equity requires an appropriate spatial design. Then, different groups have different requirements in public space. Finally, the meaning of urban equity and the perception of the public could face challenges in future. From the results of this research, the recommendation is to upgrade the quality of Indonesian public space by making proper management to ensure better equity and by establishing an equitable urban system