Integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) through the Sponge City Concept for a Flood-Resilient Riverside Settlement in East Jakarta

Abstract

Flooding is a chronic issue affecting residential areas in Jakarta, particularly vulnerable riverside settlements. In these flood-prone zones, residents face routine evacuations during the rainy season due to severe inundation. Consequently, continuously flooded areas experience rapid environmental degradation, increasing the risk of slum formation. Therefore, innovative yet highly applicable solutions are required to manage and mitigate these risks.

One effective approach is the Sponge City concept, which integrates Nature-based Solutions (NbS). This conceptual design framework is built upon four core NbS principles: ecological integration, spatial multifunctionality, social equity, and adaptive infrastructure. The implementation of this concept involves designing multifunctional sponge areas, serving as public spaces during dry seasons and infiltration basins during heavy rainfall, and adapting architectural typologies through elevated vertical housing (stilt structures) that utilize the undercroft as retention tanks. This concept not only mitigates flood impacts but also optimizes limited urban land use.

This conceptual design study employs a rationalistic method within the A-S-E (Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation) paradigm, focusing on a case study of a riverside housing area in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta. The study proposes a climate-resilient urban design framework that can serve as a prototype for implementation in similar vulnerable riverside settlements.