Design of MicroPublicFarms As Urban Acupuncture in Batam City

Abstract

Geographically located on international shipping and trade routes, Batam City is a strategic place in the development of industry in Indonesia. Seeing this, Presidential Decree Number 41 of 1973 was issued which stated that the entire Batam Island was designated as an industrial area. Since then, the central and regional governments have continued to intensively promote Batam City as a place to invest in the industrial sector. The type of industry that is used as the main support for the economy is the manufacturing industry. The development of the manufacturing industry dominates up to 61.80% of the economic sector. As of 2022, there are 26 industrial areas, both local and foreign, spread across Batam City. Industry that continues to develop creates job opportunities that grow in line with the growth in housing or residential needs for new residents. However, the development of these two sectors, industrial and residential, does not go hand in hand with careful use of land already owned by land owners. The final impact that arises as a result of this phenomenon is the birth of open empty lands or "idle lands" whose status in terms of land use is unclear. To regenerate the ‘idle lands’ is to use an urban design concept known as ‘Urban Acupuncture’. Metaphorically, the term “acupuncture” suggests that these small actions can impact the overall health and vitality of a city in the same way that acupuncture needles target specific points to improve the body's health. With the help of the Geographical Information System (GIS) method, it is easy to see the source points of disease spread across urban areas. This method also helps in diagnosing the character of the distribution pattern of buildings, greenfields, brownfields, and roads which play a major role in the city. The MicroPublicFarms design is offered with the aim of utilising idle land by providing space as a plantation and livestock facility that can meet basic human needs, namely food. With the hope of not only regenerating idle land, but also bringing greenery to the city and opening up new avenues for the local agriculture/plantation sector that can serve as a reminder that the community can provide, fulfil and sustain these food needs independently as well as supporting the economy and welfare of the people in Batam City.