Exploring Street Furniture Problems for Public Space in Ragunan

Zoo

Yunida Sofiana

Interior Design Department, School of Design, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia 11480

Keywords: Exploring, Furniture, Ragunan Zoo

Abstract: This study identifies and analyzes existing street furniture issues in public spaces in the Ragunan Zoo area.

The condition of street furniture in Ragunan Zoo, especially in the picnic area is the main concern in this

study because the existing street furniture facilities in the area is inadequate and need to meet the basic need

of its users. In order to achieve the goal, sustainable development of street furniture need to be designed

according to user need this present and in the future. This study uses qualitative method with descriptive

analysis approach with literature study review on public space and street furniture including observation and

interview to the users about the feasibility of street furniture in the location. The results of this study in the

form of data and recommendations of sustainable design solution that can be used as a reference for the

design of street furniture in the future. This study also seeks to improve the quality of street furniture in the

public space at Ragunan Zoo.

1 INTRODUCTION

Several cities in the world today are starting to see

the need for public spaces to contribute significantly

to the quality of life in urban communities, both

individually and socially. Known city managed to

cultivate public space for its community expressed

as a city that managed to understand the social,

cultural, economic and sustainable development

needs of the community. The role of success of a

public space is inseparable from the completeness of

supporting facilities in the public space, which is

called street furniture. Street furniture facility is a

series of public facilities placed in public spaces

with various goals of good, functional, aesthetic,

identity, and others. Included in the street furniture

facility include the object of a bench or seat, street

lights, waste bin, plants, directions, parking, places

to sell and more. Street furniture other than as part of

the public space facility also has the added impact of

being able to raise the image of a place when the

place has become comfortable, safe and attractive.

Seeing the role of street furniture is big enough in

improving the function of public space in urban

areas, it is necessary to study the public spaces in

urban areas, especially in the capital city of Jakarta

which is part of the world's big cities.

Ragunan Zoo located in the South Jakarta area was

chosen as a place of study by looking at the

condition of Street furniture is inadequate while the

needs of visitors continue to increase. Since its

establishment in 1966, the Ragunan Zoo has

undergone many changes and currently has a

mission as one of nature conservation, education,

research and recreation places as well as water

catchment areas, urban lung and green open spaces.

With an area of + / - 140 Ha which is filled with

various trees and inhabited by more than 2025

scarce animals, Ragunan zoo has become an

attractive destination for citizens of Jakarta and

surrounding areas as a place of recreation

(PoskotaNews, 2018). This study will identify the

problems of street furnishing in the public area,

especially in the picnic area at Ragunan Zoo. In

general, street furniture has standard criteria in its

application in the public space, but the condition is

not the same in all places because each location has

problems and needs of different street furniture.

Field conditions that do not support the activities of

its users are part of the problems that arise in the

application of street furniture and as a barometer

used common street furniture criteria to assess how

big the problem.

540

Soﬁana, Y.

Exploring Street Furniture Problems for Public Space in Ragunan Zoo.

DOI: 10.5220/0010023500002917

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences, Laws, Arts and Humanities (BINUS-JIC 2018), pages 540-544

ISBN: 978-989-758-515-9

2 METHOD

This research uses descriptive method of analysis

that identifies and analyzes existing street furniture

problems in the picnic area in Ragunan Zoo area.

The study begins with observation of the condition

of street furniture and the behavior of visitors in

using street furniture in the picnic area. This is done

to determine the form of activity patterns that are

done by visitors in the picnic area and what are the

needs of visitors in doing these activities. The

relationship between activities and facilities is a

reciprocal relationship that complement each other

so that activities can be done comfortably and safely.

To help analyze the problem, used the criteria of

street funriture, namely; (i) visitor type: anyone

using the picnic area (age, gender and number), (ii)

Activities: any activities undertaken during the

picnic area, (iii) Weather and environment: weather

and environmental conditions around the area picnic.

To complete the results of observations conducted

interviews to visitors as perpetrators who use direct

sreet furniture in the field. Form of interviews in the

form of questions related to the criteria of street

furniture is the profile of visitors, activities carried

out in the picnic area, What needs are needed related

to weather changes and opinions of visitors about

the existing street furniture facilities and the last

opinion of visitors about the environment in the

picnic area. To analyze the results of observation

and interview objectively, analysis of literature study

that discusses the function of public space and street

furniture as a reference theory in analyzing the

problems found.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Definition of Public Space

Summarize the opinions of some experts, public

space can be defined as an area or space used by the

community in carrying out their activities either

individually or in groups. Public spaces relates to all

those parts of the built and natural environment

where the public has free access. According to

Regulation of the State Minister of Indonesia (2007),

the definition of public space is the spaces within the

city or the wider region either in the form of area /

area or in the form of elongated area / pathway

where in its use is more open which basically

without building. It encompasses: all the streets,

squares and other rights of way, weather

predominantly in residential, commercial or

community/civic uses; the open spaces and parks;

and the public/private spaces where public access is

unrestricted. It includes the interfaces with key

internal and private spaces to which the public

normally has free access (Carmona, 2010).

Various activities that can be done by the public

in the public space, Zhang and Lawson divide the

activities in the public space into three activities,

namely; (i) a process activity that is a transition from

two or more main activities. Forms of activity

usually move from one place to another such as from

house to kiosk, from house to school, (ii) physical

activity carried out in the form of interaction

between two or more people who directly

communicate or other social activities, (iii) a

transition done without a specific purpose alone,

such as sitting watching the scene or other (Zhang,

2009). In relation to social activities in the public

sphere, there are several criteria of social activity in

the public space that can be measured success. One

of them is used by Mehta by using several variables

to measure and arrange good public space index,

which is (Mehta, 2007):

1. Intensity of use measured by the number of

people involved in static and dynamic

activities in the outer space.

2. The intensity of social activity measured by

the number of people in each group

involved in static and dynamic activities in

the outer space.

3. The duration of activity measured by

how long the time people used to

indulge in the outer space.

4. Variations of use measured by the diversity

or quantity of activity typologies carried

out in space.

5. Diversity of use measured by variations of

use by age, sex and more.

By using the index can be measured

effectiveness of public space activities conducted by

the community and can be used as a guide in the

successful implementation of public space.

3.2 Definition of Street Furniture

Street Furniture is a term used for a collection of

objects and equipment installed on the streets or

public areas for various purposes, including benches,

street lamps, public toilets, kiosks, dumps, bus stops,

walkways and more. Included in it are advertising

objects and the like. Street furniture is part of the

public space and becomes different when applied in

Exploring Street Furniture Problems for Public Space in Ragunan Zoo

541

different public spaces. Selection of street furniture

should be determined based on the needs of the

community or community users. And street furniture

is prepared based on the results of the analysis of

existing patterns of use in order to serve its purpose

effectively. Designing street furniture costs not

much because the street furiture produced must be

quality because of its universal and durable usage.

Placement of street furniture should pay attention to

various factors and based on the results of on-site

analysis. So the placement should be in place that

really need.

There are various approaches used to select or

design street furniture, for example as the identity of

a place, integrated with existing facilities or serves

as a work of art. An important consideration in

designing street furniture is how it affects the safety

of users on the road and in public areas. In general

there are five basic criteria for selecting and fixing

street furnishings in the public space: (i) Function:

seeing how important an object is and how it can

meet its objectives; (ii) Determining the location and

where each object should be located / layout, (iii)

Design, form and appearance, (iv) Endurance and

strength of the object, (v) Cost of manufacture

(Evyapan, 2000). To plan the street furniture needs

to set the type of public space that will be used,

whether the street, plaza, mall, park or recreation

area. Questions that must be answered after knowing

the location and place was who the potential users of

the public space, for what use and when the time of

its use and how street furniture can serve the needs

of its users.

Usually the application of street furniture has

been planned as part of a wider design concept in

order to succeed. It takes consideration and

consideration in depth before determining the

making of street furniture, such as (i) Sustainable

material, environmental character and weather

conditions, (ii) Whether street furniture should be

made to follow the existing object or need new

identity. And the last is the ease of care and facilities

that are easily accessed by the user. Placement of

street furniture on site should also be based on its

function. In accordance with the conditions on

location and overall design. Appearance of street

furniture should not look mess should look neat and

functional. In addition street furniture also does not

deter other users, the pedestrians or other facilities

users.

3.3 Criteria of Street Furniture Design

Street furniture facilities should be designed for

universal use so they can be used by disabled

people, children and the elderly. The position of

street furniture is also expected to affect and

stimulate the behavior of its users, such as the

seating arrangement in the public space is made

close so that users can interact or socialize, or the

placement of the trash should be easily reached by

users and according to function so that cleanliness

can be maintained. Street furniture has several

criteria for placement in the public space can be

maximized, namely; (i) prioritizing safety and

security with non -sharp design or injury, (ii) The

use of weatherproof materials such as sunlight, rain

and wind. Street furniture is widely placed in open

public spaces that are exposed to the weather so it

must be made of strong and safe material. The types

of materials used in street furniture include iron,

wood, stone, cement, recycle materials and other

materials. Material selection depends on the needs

and design constraints made such as weather

resistance, easy to maintain and who the user. In

addition, materials should be made of non-

combustible materials such as metals, bricks or

stones. Where materials such as wood should be

avoided in areas that have a fire risk, (iii) Location

also determines how the design of street furniture

will be made. Whether the street furniture is in the

center of the building, on the sidewalk or inside the

park, (iv) Visual design is an important

consideration as it is part of the attraction and

identity of the public sphere, (v) Disability users are

part of the community which should be considered

in the design of street furniture. Because of the

nature of street furniture is a facility in public spaces

that serve all levels of society.

The scope of public spaces that became the area

of this research is a picnic area located in the

strategic location of the Ragunan Zoo. The picnic

area is surrounded by a fairly large road that can be

passed by 2 cars and can be used by pedestrians and

some vehicles such as motorcycles and operational

cars. The location of the picnic area is a strategic

area because it can be accessed from various

directions either from the north entrance, south

entrance, west entrance and east entrance. Seeing the

location of the stretegis, no wonder this location to

be a resting place for visitors who have been tired of

traveling around the area Ragunan Zoo. Problems

found in the picnic area by using the criteria analysis

of street furniture are:

BINUS-JIC 2018 - BINUS Joint International Conference

542

3.3.1 Type of Visitor /Users

Category of visitors who come to the picnic area is

divided into 2 groups: small group consisting of 4 -

8 people and large group more than 15 people. For

small groups it usually consists of adults, children

and the elderly and usually uses a picnic area for

only a few hours. This is because they spend more

time around the new Zoo area they are resting in the

picnic area, but some are aiming for a picnic without

going around. As for large groups usually use picnic

area almost all day. This large group is generally a

community such as school children, employees or

large family associations. Activities they do more

diverse. Both groups have different activities and

time duration in using the picnic area. Grouping of

this group based on the results of observations on

location, so this data can be used to identify

problems street furniture on the location.

3.3.2 Activities

From the two categories above groups in each know

have different activities and duration of time in

using the picnic area. Where for small groups

consisting of adults, children and the elderly most of

the duration is shorter than the large group. And the

activity is less than sitting, eating and drinking. As

for large groups of activities carried out are sitting,

eating, drinking, entertainment such as singing and

dancing together. Sometimes done from morning

until late afternoon.

Figure 1. Picnic Activities (YS doc).

3.3.3 Design

Type of street furniture in the picnic area consists of;

park benches made of iron, metal, cement and wood

with different designs; Garden lamp; bins with

various sizes made of plastic and iron. The third type

of street furniture is street furniture contained in the

picnic area and looks less used by visitors. Although

it seems there are benches that can be used as a place

to sit but visitors feel more comfortable to sit on the

grass or soil. This is because the existing bench is

not sufficient and the shape is less comfortable.

While the existing garbage is placed quite far from

the picnic area so less used by the visitors. This is

seen from the trash that is still scattered in the picnic

area. While the garden lights are more functioning at

night as a garden lighting facility.

Figure 2. Street furnitures in picnic area (YS doc).

3.3.4 Climate and Environment

Around the picnic area there are also many food and

beverage sellers offering their selling. They use

pedestrian walkways as a place to sell. The sellers

mostly sell bottled drinks as well as local foods such

as pecel, kerak telor and fried noddle. There are also

some sellers who sell toys and picnic accessories.

They sell food on a small table brought by the sellers

while the toy sellers are selling on the ground. This

condition makes the environment around the picnic

area to be unattractive and not well ordered. It also

created unhealthy competition among sellers. The

environment around the picnic area is quite

comfortable because it is surrounded by many trees

that are quite lush and shady so many visitors who

sit under the trees to avoid the heat of the sun. But

when it rains they must find a place to shelter

because it is not safe for them to take shelter under

the trees. In the picnic area there is no permanent

shelter except at stops along the road. This condition

is quite apprehensive because the existing street

furniture facilities do not support the frequent

weather changes.

4 CONCLUSIONS

From the discussion that has been done above then

there are some results that can be concluded that is;

1. many public spaces in Jakarta that do not have

adequate street furniture facilities, (ii) public spaces

such as picnic area at Ragunan Zoo are a place

where Jakarta people do recreation with family and

community on weekends, so they need street

furniture facilities that can support their picnic

activities,

street furniture issues that need to be addressed in

the picnic area ie sitting facilities that do not fit the

Exploring Street Furniture Problems for Public Space in Ragunan Zoo

543

type of user groups, ie small and large groups, both

in terms of number and design, (iv) placement and

design incompatible and inappropriate trash bins.

The size of the trash can follow the type of garbage

and the designation of the trash used. And also

interesting designs can shape the behavior of people

to get used to throw garbage in place, (v) Design and

placement of stalls sellers in picnic area location

needs to be done to arrange the picnic area becomes

more comfortable for visitors and sellers. Kiosks

need to be designed by raising the local identity and

culture of Jakarta to see most of the food being sold

is local food. Location kiosk placement also needs to

be in the order so that does not cover the access of

other street furniture. The conclusions of this study

indicate that community participation is an

important element in creating street furniture in

accordance with public space and the need of

designing with sustainable design will cover all the

need of user at present and in the future. The insights

gained from this study will be useful in improving

the quality of street furnishings in public spaces for

the community.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledge that present

research is supported by Bina Nusantara University.

REFERENCES

Bentuk Ruang Terbuka Publik berdasarkan Permendagri

No.1 Bab 1 pasal 1 tahun 2007

Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., Oc T. (2010). Public

Spaces Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban

Design. London: Routledge.

Evyapan, G. A., Tokol, A. S. (2000). Landscape design

lectures: peyzaj tasarımı ders notları. Ankara: METU

Faculty Of Architecture Press.

Mehta, V., (2007). A toolkit for performance measures of

public spaces. 43rd ISOCARP Congress 2007

PoskotaNews (2018). Puluhan ribu wisatawan kunjungi

kebun binatang ragunan.

Http://poskotanews.com/2018/03/17/puluhan-ribu-

wisatawan-kunjungi-kebun-binatang-ragunan/

Zhang, L., (2009). Meeting and Greeting, activities in

public outdoor spaces. Urban Design International, 14

(4), pp. 207-214.

BINUS-JIC 2018 - BINUS Joint International Conference

544