Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010) 11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan RETURNING THE SPIRITED AWAY KRUENG ACEH RIVER Urban Design Approach to Promote for River Sustainability Sylvia Agustina1* and Asri Gani2 1Urban Design and Planning Laboratory, Architecture Department, Syiah Kuala University 2Center for Environment and Natural Resources Studies, Syiah Kuala University *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Krueng Aceh riverfront in downtown Banda Aceh, Indonesia received significant attention during post 2004 tsunami reconstrution and rehabilitation. This urban waterfront area used to be perceived negatively as minor urban space or slum area with minor land uses and poor accessibility. However there seems to be a shift from that condition. Several urban design projects were conducted along the waterfront to increase the waterfront use and image as urban public space.The municipal government has even launched a campaign of Banda Aceh as a waterfront city. This research maps out changes that occur along the urban waterfront of Banda Aceh from pre tsunami condition to the present day. Interrelationship between three key aspects in waterfront planning which are land use, access and perception is used as main analytical framework. The research collects data on land use, pedestrian and vehicular access, and user opinion as well as using secondary data of the river environmental condition. The results reveal that urban design improvement projects conducted in the area have succeeded in introducing the new image of a waterfront city but provide very limited spaces to raise awareness towards the river long term environmental management and sustainability. Recommendations are made for further improvement and development that would improve not only the urban waterfront space but aiming for a long term sustainability of the river and surrounding urban area. Keywords : Krueng Aceh, urban riverfront, land use, access, perception, sustainability INTRODUCTION The most important segment of the 113 km Krueng Aceh River in urban area is about 1 km between Pante Pirak and Peunayong Bridges in downtown Banda Aceh. This area is a historical mixed-use area with two historic urban centers on each side of the River namely Aceh Market dan Peunayong Market. Krueng Aceh is the main clean water resource for Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar region (Haider, 2006). This role however is not much appreciated by the population as indicated by strong negative perception and treatment towards the river (Agustina, 2009). Report on the survey of river watershed area along its five tributaries namely Krueng Aceh Hilir, Krueng Jreue, Krueng Keumireu, Krueng Inong, and Krueng Seulimum stated that there are significant threats to the water cycle and quality. The main reasons are deforestation, mining and waste. The river debit fluctuation at 95% is also very high compared to 20-20% of normal rate (Development Alternative, Inc., 2006). In contrast to its role as source of drinking water it is also treated and perceived as the main sewer particularly in the urban segment. Field observation in 2004, just a few months before giant tsunami destroyed the area showed that this urban riverfront was deserted, lacking vibrant activities or amenities particularly access amenities despite the important role the river play in the city history and at present time (Agustina, 2004). Post tsunami redevelopments along this waterfront up to 2010 has brought back some lives to few scattered locations and access points following a policy and campaign of the municipal government to position Banda Aceh as a waterfront city. However, the improvements are incomprehensive, physically disconnected and are not taking into account future sustainability of the river. The urban waterfront area should connect the urban resident to the situation upstream and downstream of the river. The beuatification of this primary urban spaces should not be disconnected from fact such as forest fires and logging upstream or a huge waste dumping site downstream. - 183 - Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010) 11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan Urban design improvement project along the urban waterfront should not merely be artificial or cosmetics for the city. Through careful management of land use, access and perception building the area could serve as window for the urban resident to experience, understand and appreciate the river presence and various roles it play. Understanding of the urban waterfront dynamic through influential relationship between key determining planning factors could better informed future policies addressing the urban river management and river sustainability. Interrelationship of Key Factors in Urban Waterfront Planning Several factors are attributed to the creation of a successful urban waterfront namely land use, access and perception. Basic distinctions among waterfronts can be made in terms of the water dependency of particular uses, which include: water-dependent uses, water-related uses, and uses that are neither dependent on nor have any relationship to the water resource. Water-dependent uses are those that cannot exist in any other location but on the water. Water-related uses are those that may be located on the water, but could function away from the waterfront. In other words, if real cost savings or revenues can be attributed to a waterfront location, unrelated to land rent or cost, the use is considered water-related. Waterfront uses that are neither dependent nor related to the water are those that can be located equally well away from the shoreline (Wren, 1983). A successful urban waterfront depends on a combination of several factors besides use, but often, appropriate uses, or combination of uses, that are able to attract different types of people and activities around the clock is seen as essential to creating a livable waterfront. Other key factor that contributes to successful waterfront revitalization is attractive, safe, and inviting public access. Without access, urban waterfronts remain cut off, private, and lacking in the single ingredient absolutely necessary for revitalization which is people, lots of people (Goodwin and Good, 1990). There are at least three kinds of access to the waterfront, including physical access, visual access, and mental or interpretive access (Goodwin and Good, 1990). Physical access includes fishing piers, boat ramps, marinas, promenades, esplanades, boardwalks, and public parks. Visual access or the provision of places that allow public to view the water, includes view points, observation towers, or waterfront restaurants. Interpretive access includes interpretive signs and literature, interpretive exhibits in a museum or elsewhere, as well as events such as tours and festivals (Rotenberg and McDonough, 1993). Public awareness and positive perceptions toward a water body emerge from the connections the public is able to make with the waterfront. Planners consider access most important in the early stages of a waterfront renewal because the positive public perceptions and support generated by the ability to access a waterfront are essential for a successful renewal process. (Krausse, 1985). A perception is the act of perceiving, a mental image, or an awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience. Perceptions of aquatic environments depend on, not just salient features of water, but also on the relationship the water and the space immediately above the water’s surface have with their enclosing landform, vegetation, or structure (Pitt and David). An influential relationship exists among land use, public access, and public perceptions of urban waterfront, that together increase the livability of the waterfront (Agustina, 2004). The relationship can be captured in Figure 1. Figure 1. Influential Relationship between Key Aspect in Urban Waterfront Planning - 184 - Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN’2010) 11-12 December 2010, Kyoto, Japan METHODOLOGY The research uses site and behavioral observations to collect information about land use, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and physical features in the area, followed by pedestrian interviews using questioner to gather information on reason of presence in the area, perception towards the river’s features and recommendation for future area development. The area was observed and information was recorded during series of typical walk along the riverfront access road or path that takes about 30 minutes each from Pante Perak Bridge to Peunayong Bridge. The six observation times representing different situation during typical day and typical week are weekday morning or early noon, late afternoon, Friday early noon, Friday late afternoon, weekend early noon, and weekend late afternoon. Data set collected in 2004 is compared with data of 2010. Analysis is made based on the comparison as well as the relationship with key environmental aspects of the river. Study Area Figure 2. From Left :Study Area in downtown of Banda Aceh; Study Area with Pedestrian Generating Uses within walking distance R=0.75 km; approx 0.5 mile The area selected for this study is the river segment in downtown area. It is about 1 km long and bounded physically by two downtown bridges namely Pante Pirak Bridge towards upstream and Peunayong Bridge towards downstream. Two historic urban centers are located on each side of this segment, giving a strong notion of downtown for local people. This area is physically