Water as Leverage- Setting the scene for a call for action

Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia Setting the Scene for a Call for Action Content
area of 415.83 hectares. This issue is linked
with continuous urban expansion that is not
supported by effective waste management,
energy provision or a mobility plan. In fact,
most of the city relies on personal vehicles for
daily commuting, making mobility the main
source of the city’s excessive CO2 emissions.
Since most households use LPG-powered
generators for energy, individual energy
production also contributes significantly
to CO2 emissions. Additionally, the urban
sprawl is also affecting the hilly areas in the
southwest, causing deforestation and, as a
consequence, landslides (100 Resilient Cities,
2016).
Water demand is expected to increase by up
to 200% in the next 15 years. For this reason,
Semarang has been developing various
infrastructural projects for sewage, water
distribution and water treatment. Similarly,
the city has been developing plans for energy
provision, residential development and harbor
expansion. Unfortunately, these efforts have
to keep up with large and often unregulated
growth; and, most importantly, they have to
inspire drastic behavioral changes in local
communities in order to have lasting impact
(100 Resilient Cities, 2016).
Historical
Centre
Regular Urban
Fabric
3.1.2
Downtown versus Uptown
The urban structure of Semarang stretches between
the sea and the mountains. There are traditional
fishing ponds and informal settlements near the
coastline as well as high-rise downtown urban
fabric behind the old mangrove stretch and new
low-rise suburban development uphill.
Urban
Developments
in the
Hills
With an average of eleven households per
hectare, Semarang has a low density. Although
the urban fabrics are diverse, the city is
generally characterized by low-rise buildings.
The highlighted urban fabrics in Semarang are:
Historical Centre The historical
center contains the city’s most important
infrastructure, such as the central train
station and motorways. The city center
is characterized not by dense historical
neighbourhoods, but by brand-new highrise
buildings intended for institutions and
companies and wide streets suited for
motorcycles and cars.
Regular Urban Fabric This fabric
is characterized by low-rise buildings and a
homogenous tissue. Although low-density, this
fabric lacks open and green spaces. This type
of fabric can be found on the waterfronts of the
canals and rivers, which creates several issues
related to recreational and common spaces.
Markets and other economic activities also
tend to be situated here, reducing the open
space even further.
Urban Developments in the Hills
Recent rapid urbanization processes
have taken place in the mountainous area,
following planned patterns. The difference
between this tissue and the regular urban
fabric lies mainly in the fact that the hills make
it more difficult to create a compact urban
tissue. Hence, these areas contain more open
and green spaces.
Marine Village
Tambaklorok
Fishing Ponds
224 SEMARANG
Urban Dynamics
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