Towards ‘New Urban Success' with SDG 11 and the NUA - Challenges in Kampung and Slum Upgrading in Bandung, Indonesia

The NUA provides an implementation framework to find better ways to plan, build, manage and govern our towns and cities. At the same time, SDG 11 implores us to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. The reality is cities are becoming more and more diverse and complex requiring us to question current practice as we search for “new urban success” as implied by the NUA and SDG 11.

Within this setting, this Side Event reviews current development pressures and solutions in kampungs (informal settlements) as seen from the perspectives of key stakeholders involved in kampung ‘place-making’ and ‘regeneration’. In Bandung, Indonesia’s third largest city, kampungs play a key role in providing affordable housing and retaining traditional village life. Since 2010, many kampungs have been under increasing redevelopment pressure involving a shift from in-situ upgrading to high rise tower developments. This latter form of urbanism is causing much concern amongst local kampung residents given their land tenure is uncertain, and as such, the predicament of many residents living in kampungs is increasingly tenuous.

The Side Event builds on the experiences of partners involved in a joint annual student studio held in the northern kampungs of Bandung. It includes the views of academics, including tools used to understand the layers of ‘order’ in kampungs, and the perspectives of local kampung residents, Bandung Municipal Government and UNESCAP. The Side Event will be organised around 5 thematic parts; (i) the NUA, SDGs and challenges of local contextualization, (ii) role of kampungs in terms of governance, infrastructure and upgrading challenges, (iii) the studio experience and tools used for ‘stakeholder’ learning and understanding, (iv) the perspective of stakeholders (local residents/City Government/academics/UNESCAP) on housing upgrading, and (v) the need to aspire to ‘new’ forms of urban success, including inclusive local leadership, and better data in ‘knowing your city’.