Tzu Chi and the Jakarta Provincial Government Unveil Indonesia's First Vertical Land Consolidation Apartment Complex

Journalist : Metta Wulandari, Photographer : Arimami Suryo A

The Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation, together with the Jakarta Provincial Government, inaugurated the Barokah Apartment Complex on Wednesday, June 3, 2024. This is part of the Tzu Chi Home Improvement Project in the Palmerah area of West Jakarta. Attendees at the inauguration included the Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, the Vice Chairman of the Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, the Head of the National Land Agency Regional Office, Alen Saputra, officials from the Jakarta Provincial Government, business representatives, as well as Tzu Chi volunteers and beneficiaries.

Eight families in RT 013/RW 008, Palmerah Village, Palmerah District, West Jakarta, are filled with joy as they can now move into their new homes following the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

The new homes for Palmerah residents, known as Rumah Susun Barokah, result from a partnership between the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation Indonesia and the Jakarta Provincial Government. This initiative seeks to maximize development potential on limited land through Indonesia's first vertical land consolidation program. By building vertical housing, the program aims to optimize land use, enabling better and more humane organization and development of residential areas in densely populated regions.

Rumah Susun Barokah is designed with an eco-friendly concept and consists of four floors with a total of nine units, each measuring 18 square meters. The ground floor serves as a communal interaction space for the residents.

Addressing the Issues of Unsuitable Housing in Densely Populated Areas

In DKI Jakarta, the high population density leads to challenges in providing adequate and healthy housing with good sanitation and ventilation. The health of the community, including problems like stunting, respiratory issues, and other social challenges, is affected by poor housing conditions. The vertical land consolidation model is therefore proposed as an effective solution to meet the demand for suitable housing in densely populated areas.

Alen Saputra, the Head of the National Land Agency’s Regional Office, formally awarded the property ownership certificate to Ogin Akbar, a designated recipient of one of the new apartment units.

During the inauguration event, Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, gave a symbolic replica key to signify the official handover of the new apartment units to the residents.

“This land consolidation project has been very effective, transforming residents’ living spaces from a mere 5 to 6 square meters into a more spacious 18 square meters,” noted Heru Budi Hartono, the Acting Governor of Jakarta, during the Rumah Susun Barokah opening.

“As the first Vertical Land Consolidation project in Indonesia, it offers the unique advantage of allowing residents to remain in their familiar environment. They can stay in touch with their neighbors, keep their children in the same schools, and continue working locally without needing to relocate. This is different from traditional apartment moves, which require a new address, new community affiliations, and updating personal documents,” stated Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono.

Improved Living Conditions

The beneficiaries, such as Kartiwo and his wife Agustini, are thrilled by this change. They were born and grew up in Palmerah and have always lived and worked in the city center, with no intention of leaving their hometown or selling their inherited family land.

Following the formal inauguration, Tzu Chi volunteers and local residents gathered for a tumpeng cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Rumah Susun Barokah. During the event, the General Secretary of Tzu Chi Indonesia presented a piece of the ceremonial tumpeng to Kartiwo, one of the apartment’s new residents.

The volunteers extend their congratulations to Murpiah on her new home, as Ogin Akbar proudly displays his new house certificate.

“Alhamdulillah, a solution was found to build such a beautiful new house in this tight space. Our previous home was so small, dark, and had a lot of rats, and it leaked during the rainy season. Now, look at it—it’s like a big house! It’s visible from the street,” Agustini said with delight. “We are incredibly happy and can’t express our gratitude fully. We received so much help and didn’t have to relocate. Everything was made easy for us. Praise God, thank you so much,” she said.

Like Agustini, Kartiwo was at a loss for words over his new home. He was genuinely astonished by how it had turned out. “My family was moved to tears seeing that just the concrete here costs as much as my old house. The walls are extremely sturdy, and the documents are all sorted out,” he said excitedly.

Agustini reflected on her late mother’s words and found them to be true. Before passing away, her mother had said, 'Don’t sell the house; Insha Allah, it will be a paradise for you.' Agustini said, 'It’s clear that Mom’s words have come true. We feel like Buddha Tzu Chi has given us a little piece of heaven.'"

Joint Efforts to Support the Community.

Sugianto Kusuma, Vice Chairman of Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia, is very pleased with the development of a new apartment model on a very small plot of land. He explained that this vertical housing approach is particularly effective for helping people in areas with land constraints.

“There is still so much more that needs to be done. This is just the beginning and it’s been a success. (Rumah Susun Barokah) can be a model for others,” he said happily. “We will reach out to more entrepreneurs later, and hope they will come together with Tzu Chi to make an even bigger impact.”

Hong Tjhin, General Secretary of Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia, was thankful for the successful implementation of the Bebenah Kampung program in Palmerah. ‘We have named this apartment complex ‘Barokah,’ and we sincerely hope that Rusun Barokah will be a blessing and a source of good for both the families and the community in Palmerah,’ he said.

At the celebration, Agustini expressed her heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, shaking hands with each one present. She was endlessly grateful for their support in making her family’s dream of a comfortable home come true.

Barokah Apartment Complex is designed to be eco-friendly, featuring four floors with a total of nine 18-square-meter units. The ground floor is used as a communal space for the community. This project is notable for being the first vertical land consolidation program ever implemented in Indonesia.

Since its inception in 2006, the Tzu Chi Bebenah Kampung program has built a total of 650 homes across several areas in DKI Jakarta, such as Dadap, Pademangan, Cilincing, Kamal Muara, Menteng, and Palmerah. This program represents the ongoing commitment of Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to address substandard housing conditions in key areas of the city.

As of now, Tzu Chi Indonesia has successfully constructed 1,433 livable housing units across several regions in the country, including cities such as Bandung, Surakarta, Medan, Batam, and other areas.

Translator: Vissia (Tzu Chi School)