Imagine living in a garden. That is what Kebayoran Baru was meant to be. Kebayoran Baru is a district in South Jakarta. Its name means New Kebayoran. The name comes from stockpiles of bayur wood.
Once, Kampung Kabayuran was near where the Kebayoran Railway Station stands today. This kampung was known for its timber. Bayur wood was strong and resisted termites.
After World War II, Jakarta needed housing. Kebayoran Baru became the first satellite city. The idea started in 1948. It was quickly approved. The location was near a railway line. This helped transport construction materials.
The colonial government bought the land fast. Moh. Soesilo made the town’s master plan. He finished it in February 1949. Construction started just a month later. Soesilo was a student of Thomas Karsten. Karsten was a famous Dutch engineer. Soesilo also designed Pejompongan. He was the first Indonesian to design an urban center.
The first stone was laid on March 18, 1949. The area around Kebayoran Station was designed first. The Central Foundation for Reconstruction built it. Their office was near the Attorney General building. Kebayoran Baru was done in 1955.
Thamrin and Sudirman roads connected it to Jakarta. These roads opened in 1953. Before that, people used Jalan Palmerah Utara and Selatan. Kebayoran Baru followed the garden city idea. It was well-planned. Sudirman Avenue linked it to Central Jakarta.
The area covered 730 ha. About 45% was for homes. Green space took 16%. Shops and buildings used 14%. Roads filled the remaining 25%. Kebayoran Baru was divided into blocks A to S. Many block names are now forgotten. But some remain in public facilities’ names.
Block A had the Blok A market. Block B had schools. Block C had the Attorney General’s office. Block D had green spaces like Taman Barito. Block E had the Majestic Theatre. Today it is a BNI office.
The post-war houses in Block E are well-preserved. Block K was for government buildings. It had the Al-Azhar Great Mosque. It also had the ASEAN Secretariat Office. Block M is known for its markets and malls. Blok M remains the commercial center of Kebayoran Baru. It is known for its food festival and Japanese culture.
Kebayoran Baru aimed to be a satellite city. But it was only eight kilometers from Jakarta’s center. Buildings soon filled the connecting highway. This made it less of a satellite city.
Some say Kebayoran Baru did not meet its goals. Not enough homes and facilities were built. But Kebayoran Baru also helped urban planning in Indonesia. It had a high population density. Its garden city plan inspired Jakarta’s development in 1952.
Kebayoran Baru was built quickly. Land acquisition, master plan, and construction all happened within five months. Today, Kebayoran Baru is part of Greater Jakarta. It is a center in South Jakarta.
Many buildings used functionalism. They used reinforced concrete. They maximized natural light and minimized heat. The Yankee-type or Jengki style was popular. Middle-class houses had tilted first floors. This protected the lower level from the sun.
Kebayoran Baru is a cultural heritage site. Modern buildings now threaten its tropical character. Radio Kebayoran was southwest of the homes. Now, streets like Jalan Radio Dalam remind us of it.
Kebayoran Baru is an affluent area. Many wealthy Indonesians live here. It is known for its lifestyle businesses. Southern areas have large mansions. Northern areas have luxury apartments and offices.
Kebayoran Baru has many parks. These include Barito Park and Langsat Park. Mataram Park has a statue of Yuri Gagarin. Martha Christina Tiahahu Literacy Park combines a park and a library.
Kebayoran Baru may not be the city it planned to be. Yet, it remains a pleasant district. It mixes green spaces and busy businesses. Many consider it a center of Jakarta.