The Kampung Susun Akuarium (KSA) Resettlement Model: A Definitive Analysis of Community Development as the Critical Driver for Sustainable Urban Housing in Jakarta

Executive Summary: The KSA Paradigm and Core Findings

The development of Kampung Susun Akuarium (KSA) represents a critical paradigm shift in Indonesian urban governance, fundamentally transforming a site previously characterized by forced eviction into a robust prototype for community-led, sustainable vertical housing.¹ Located in North Jakarta, KSA is the direct and definitive outcome of a protracted and sustained community resistance fighting for the fundamental "right to the city," a concept central to the New Urban Agenda (NUA).¹ The project was initiated as a solution to provide adequate housing for the former residents, focusing on implementing sustainable housing principles.¹

The core quantitative finding of the study, derived from Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using data collected from 102 residents in Blocks B and D, confirms that Community Development (CD) is the single most significant latent variable influencing overall Sustainable Housing (SH) outcomes. The analysis revealed that CD exerts a profound influence, registering a path coefficient of $O=0.521$. This indicates that community development contributes 52.1% of the proportional increase in sustainable housing performance.¹ This substantial statistical correlation significantly surpasses the influence of the conventional economic variable, which registered the lowest influence among the four measured factors ($O=0.155$).¹

This validation of the grassroots approach—utilizing a Community Action Plan (CAP) driven by resident empowerment—has garnered significant international validation. The collaborative efforts involving KSA and related organizations received a Gold Medal at the 2024 World Habitat Awards, and KSA separately secured the Innovation Awards 2023 from the Asia Pacific Housing Forum in the Civil Society Housing Impact category.² These accolades confirm the global relevance of KSA as an effective, civil society-led solution.² While the project demonstrates strong overall performance, particularly in social cohesion and basic infrastructure, the report identifies critical implementation gaps. These deficiencies pertain specifically to complex behavioral sustainability initiatives, such as the failure to optimally implement the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) principle (ENV5), and the sub-optimal provision of crucial infrastructure, notably public transportation access (SOC8), attributed to ongoing construction activities.¹

Urban Dynamics, Displacement, and the Right to the City

A. The Global Mandate and Local Failure: Housing in the Context of NUA

The global community, through the UN-Habitat's New Urban Agenda (NUA) launched in 2016, established a clear mandate promoting the "right to the city." This concept refers to every community’s right and opportunity to attain equality and a better living standard, ensuring access to essential urban facilities such as housing, public space, health facilities, and services, particularly for marginalized populations.¹ The overarching goal is the establishment of sustainable and inclusive cities for current and future generations.¹

However, practices in large Indonesian cities, exemplified by Jakarta, frequently contravene these global principles. Forced evictions are common occurrences, causing numerous marginalized residents to lose both their homes and livelihoods ¹ (Page 2). Reports indicate that 46% of evictions recorded were forcibly executed without deliberation, frequently involving combined military and police forces ¹ (Page 2). This systemic practice stands in direct conflict with national legislation, specifically Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2011, which mandates the protection of residents in their original location to guarantee their right to reside without displacement ¹ (Page 2).

B. The Genesis of Conflict: The 2016 Kampung Akuarium Eviction

The development of KSA originates from the forceful eviction of Kampung Akuarium residents on 11 April 2016 by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government ¹ (Page 2). The official justifications for the eviction were varied: land ownership issues under Peraturan Daerah No. 1 Tahun 2014, the initiation of the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) phase A, the discovery of valuable cultural heritage, and the scheduled integration of the area into the Kota Tua master plan as outlined in Peraturan Gubernur No. 36 Tahun 2014 ¹ (Page 2).

Following the destruction of their homes, the residents were offered alternative public housing units, namely Rumah Susun Rawa Bebek and Marunda Baru ¹ (Page 2). Nevertheless, most residents rejected the relocation, choosing instead to survive on the rubble of their demolished settlement, using tents to sustain daily activities as a visible act of demonstration against the government ¹ (Page 2). This refusal demonstrated a profound, generations-long sense of belonging and community identity tied to the specific location ¹ (Page 2).

This sustained community resistance, which included filing a class action lawsuit (later withdrawn), ultimately resulted in a political contract leading to the government’s decision to rebuild Kampung Susun Akuarium on the original site ¹ (Page 2). To legalize this reversal, the government implemented Governor’s Decree 31/2022, which formally modified the spatial planning, designating the Akuarium site as a legitimate settlement zone.³ The requirement for this regulatory accommodation highlights that the original eviction was not dictated by an immutable legal necessity but rather by a policy choice that prioritized infrastructural planning over existing community rights. The community’s persistence in leveraging political pressure was the essential factor that facilitated the necessary policy and legal shift.¹

Conceptualizing Sustainable Housing: A Four-Dimensional Framework

A. Integrating Community Development as a Foundational Pillar

The global discourse on sustainable housing utilizes the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, which aims to integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability ¹ (Page 3). Sustainable housing criteria stipulate that housing must be affordable, healthy, safe, and comfortable, with reliable access to jobs, health, education, and basic resources like water and energy ¹ (Page 3).

The KSA study moves beyond the conventional TBL structure by integrating Community Development (CD) as a fourth, distinct latent variable ¹ (Page 7). This inclusion is based on the recognition that the KSA project was defined by the residents’ collective action and involvement in the Community Action Plan (CAP), which guaranteed the viability of the entire undertaking ¹ (Page 7). Community development, defined by aspects such as capacity building, equality, security, and cooperation ¹ (Page 4), is seen as fundamental to empowering the marginalized population, characterized by their innate quality of togetherness, or guyub ¹ (Page 7). By incorporating CD, the study provides a means to empirically test the efficacy of resident empowerment relative to the traditional TBL factors.

B. Research Methodology and Variable Definition

The study focused on Blocks B and D of the KSA development, encompassing 102 occupied units ¹ (Page 4). The respondents were residents who had inhabited the area for generations prior to the eviction and had resided in the new KSA units for approximately one year ¹ (Page 5).

The methodology employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) utilizing SmartPLS 3.0 software, selected for its ability to model complex multivariate relationships between latent variables ¹ (Page 5). Data was collected via questionnaires administered to the 102 respondents, using Guttman scaling where responses were limited to "Yes" (1) or "No" (0) to measure the binary behavior of KSA residents concerning the defined sustainability indicators ¹ (Page 5).

Research Methodology and Model Validation

A. Measurement Model Testing: Validity and Reliability

The validity of the measurement model was confirmed through tests of convergent and discriminant validity ¹ (Page 9). Convergent validity required that all indicators achieve satisfactory Outer Loading values (ideally $\ge 0.60$) and that the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for each variable exceed the threshold of 0.50 ¹ (Page 9, 12).

The initial calculation iteration necessitated the removal of certain indicators that fell below the $0.40$ outer loading threshold ¹ (Page 9, 10). Specifically, the indicator ENV5 (Implementation of 3R) registered an extremely low outer loading of $-0.079$, and ENV9 (Utilization of local natural resources) registered $0.239$ ¹ (Page 10, 11). These eliminations, performed to boost the overall model validity, immediately highlighted that resident engagement in complex environmental behaviors (like waste sorting) and the realization of resource consumption from the site were the most challenging aspects of KSA’s sustainability efforts ¹ (Page 10, 11).

Following indicator refinement, all four latent variables demonstrated satisfactory AVE values, confirming convergent validity, as shown below: Community Development (0.513), Economy (0.556), Environment (0.504), and Social (0.547) ¹ (Page 12).

Furthermore, reliability was established through Composite Reliability and Cronbach's Alpha, with all variables scoring between the satisfactory range of 0.70 and 0.90 (e.g., Community Development Composite Reliability: 0.839; Social Cronbach's Alpha: 0.790) ¹ (Page 13). Discriminant validity was also confirmed, as all Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratios were below the $0.90$ threshold (e.g., Environment-Social HTMT=0.283), establishing that the four variables measure distinct constructs ¹ (Page 12).

B. Structural Model Fit and Predictive Power

The structural model's predictive capability was assessed using the Coefficient of Determination ($R^{2}$) for the Sustainable Housing variable. The model achieved a highly robust $R^{2}$ value of $0.963$ ¹ (Page 14). This value, which is classified as high (exceeding the $0.75$ threshold), indicates that the combined variables—Community Development, Economic, Social, and Environmental—account for 96.3% of the variance observed in Sustainable Housing ¹ (Page 14). This extremely strong model fit provides compelling quantitative evidence supporting the use of this four-dimensional framework in assessing the comprehensive sustainability of the KSA model.

Analysis of Causal Relationships: Drivers of Sustainable Housing in KSA

A. Hypothesis Testing Results and Magnitude of Influence

Hypothesis testing confirmed that all four variables maintain a positive linear relationship with Sustainable Housing (SH), demonstrating statistical significance ranging from $p<0.10$ to $p<0.01$ ¹ (Page 14). The path coefficients (O) reveal the proportional increase in SH associated with an increase in each variable.

B. The Preeminence of Community Development

Community Development (CD) emerges as the most influential factor, commanding a path coefficient of $O=0.521$ ¹ (Page 14). This finding provides clear statistical evidence that increasing effective CD practices drives the largest proportional increase in overall sustainable housing outcomes, specifically 52.1% ¹ (Page 14). This highly significant result emphasizes that the qualitative aspects of community organization, collective empowerment (CD1), convenience (CD7), and stakeholder collaboration (CD9) are not merely complementary elements but are the definitive factors ensuring KSA’s success ¹ (Page 11).

In contrast, the Economic variable is the weakest driver of sustainability ($O=0.155$) ¹ (Page 14). This hierarchy suggests that while economic factors like income and productivity are important, they are less critical for achieving holistic sustainability than the secured social foundation. The analysis implies that high levels of Community Development function as essential social capital, achieved through the unified resistance and organization of the community. This social foundation must be secured first, creating the stability upon which later economic prosperity and resilience can be efficiently built.

C. Variable Hierarchy and Policy Prioritization

The observed hierarchy of influence places policy priorities in the following order: Community Development $\rightarrow$ Social $\rightarrow$ Environment $\rightarrow$ Economy ¹ (Page 15).

The Social variable ($O=0.335$) demonstrates a strong correlation, driven by indicators such as equality between individuals (SOC4, Outer Loading $O=0.800$) and the successful formation of community among residents (SOC2) ¹ (Page 12). This success confirms the effective rebuilding of a cohesive and equitable social fabric post-eviction.

The Environmental variable ($O=0.290$) exerts moderate influence, largely determined by the successful provision of high-quality basic infrastructure, such as access to drinking water and clean water sanitation (ENV7, Outer Loading $O=0.778$) ¹ (Page 12). This indicates a successful governmental provision of essential services, but as detailed below, points to challenges in fostering sophisticated behavioral change.

Indicator Performance: Strengths, Deficiencies, and Strategic Interventions

A. High-Performing Indicators: Validation of Design and Social Cohesion

Specific indicators achieving the highest outer loadings in the final model demonstrate which policy objectives and community actions have been successfully realized:

• Community Development: The convenience of the residents (CD7) showed the strongest internal correlation ($O=0.835$) ¹ (Page 11). This confirms that the participatory design process resulted in a physical environment that prioritizes the comfort and usability of the living area for the inhabitants.
• Economy: The highest economic indicators are work productivity (ECON1, $O=0.867$) and workplace access (ECON2, $O=0.858$) ¹ (Page 11). These results validate the decision to rebuild on the original site, which allowed residents to maintain their livelihoods and economic bases that were close to the new housing ¹ (Page 7).
• Social: Equality between individuals (SOC4, $O=0.800$) is the most robust social indicator ¹ (Page 12). This outcome suggests that the development successfully fostered an equitable structure post-eviction, mitigating internal social disparities.
• Environment: Access to drinking water and clean water sanitation (ENV7, $O=0.778$) represents the highest environmental score, confirming the successful provision of high-quality essential resources ¹ (Page 12).

B. Critical Implementation Gaps: The Behavioral Sustainability Challenge

Despite strong physical and social indicators, the process of measurement model testing highlighted critical weaknesses related to routine resident behavior, suggesting an area requiring targeted policy intervention:

1. Failure of Waste Management (ENV5): The indicator for the Implementation of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) (ENV5) was eliminated due to an extremely low outer loading ($-0.079$) ¹ (Page 10). The study attributes this failure to the fact that 3R activities have not been widely carried out by KSA residents ¹ (Page 10, 15). This demonstrates a disconnect: while the community excels at collective action (e.g., political organization), which relies on unified goals, sustained individual environmental responsibility (3R) requires different mechanisms, such as robust infrastructure, ongoing education, and established systems of accountability.
2. Failure of Local Resource Utilization (ENV9): The indicator for Utilization of local natural resources (ENV9) was also eliminated ($O=0.239$) ¹ (Page 11). This failure is due to the limited scope for harvesting consumption resources within the KSA area ¹ (Page 11, 15). This signals an insufficient integration of productive green open spaces (ENV10/11) that could otherwise directly contribute to local food security and economic goals (ECON5).
3. Future Infrastructure Gap: Transportation Access (SOC8): At the time of data collection, the full social and economic integration of KSA was hampered by ongoing construction. Access to public transportation (SOC8) was noted as not being optimally provided by the government ¹ (Page 15). Furthermore, access to crucial infrastructure like pedestrian walkways and internet networks were identified as unavailable, pending completion of the remaining building blocks ¹ (Page 15). These deficiencies, while temporary, must be resolved rapidly to ensure the highest potential social and economic inclusion of the area.

The KSA Model: Policy Implications and Global Recognition

A. KSA as a Successful Prototype of Participatory Planning

The KSA development serves as a powerful model for urban policy, demonstrating the efficacy of the Community Action Plan (CAP) approach.⁴ The policy choice by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to rebuild the displaced community under the name Kampung Susun Bahari Akuarium involved participatory and collaborative development with local residents.⁴ This included resident participation in design workshops, where they simulated unit usage before construction, ensuring the final structure aligned with community needs for convenience (CD7) and interaction (through open corridor units).²

The model’s long-term sustainability is further reinforced by the involvement of the resident cooperative and NGOs, which focus on independence and capability building.⁶ These grassroots institutions provide crucial continuity for economic programs, acting as platforms for collective business engagement and upliftment, insulating the residents’ progress from potential government policy fluctuations.³

B. International Validation

The success of the KSA model in combining social justice and innovative housing has garnered significant international recognition:

• World Habitat Gold Medal (2024): This award recognized the collaboration model of KSA and Kampung Anak Kali Ciliwung for its success in defending rights to land and housing based on mutual cooperation.²
• Asia Pacific Housing Forum Innovation Award (2023): KSA was separately honored for Civil Society Housing Impact, confirming its status as a unique, successful civil society-led solution on the global stage.²

C. Challenges of Replicability

While the methodologies—the four-dimensional framework and the CAP approach—are transferable, replicating KSA’s success requires careful consideration of its unique context. The project's unprecedented success is intrinsically linked to its specific historical narrative: a sustained, organized political struggle that compelled a regulatory reversal (Decree 31/2022) to legalize the settlement zone.³

The paramount influence of Community Development ($O=0.521$) is largely derived from the high social capital forged during this intense, unified resistance.¹ Policymakers seeking to implement this model in other Indonesian cities must acknowledge that this level of social organization will not spontaneously occur. Successful replication necessitates intentional policy mechanisms designed to actively build social trust, organizational capacity, and empowerment equivalent to the resilience earned by KSA residents, rather than merely assuming these preconditions exist.

Conclusion and Long-Term Sustainability Recommendations

The research confirms that Kampung Susun Akuarium successfully embodies the principles of sustainable housing. The study empirically establishes that Community Development is the preeminent variable influencing overall sustainability outcomes, emphasizing the critical role of social organization and collective action in post-conflict resettlement. This finding strongly suggests that future policy for participatory housing projects must prioritize the formation of social capital over traditional economic or physical development factors.

A. Strategic Recommendations for KSA Improvement

Based on the performance of individual indicators, specific actions are required to bridge current implementation gaps:

1. Institutionalize Environmental Accountability: To remedy the failure of ENV5 (3R implementation), the KSA cooperative must, in partnership with government bodies, institutionalize a mandatory, structured waste management system. This should include continuous educational programs, operational infrastructure (such. as waste banks, ENV4), and clear accountability measures to ensure the community transitions successfully from collective political action to sustained individual environmental responsibility.¹
2. Integrate Productive Green Space: To enhance ENV9 (Utilization of resources), the development plan must be augmented with structured urban farming initiatives, such as vertical gardens, that integrate productive green open spaces (ENV10/11) into the communal environment, thereby supporting economic goals (ECON5) and food security.¹
3. Complete Essential Connectivity: The government must prioritize the completion of the remaining building blocks and the immediate integration of critical urban infrastructure, including optimal public transportation access (SOC8), dedicated pedestrian walkways, and full internet network access.¹ These amenities are essential for maximizing the social and economic variables in the fully operational settlement.¹

B. Recommendations for Future Research

The KSA model presents a unique opportunity for longitudinal urban policy analysis:

1. Longitudinal SEM Replication: Researchers are strongly encouraged to conduct subsequent longitudinal studies, replicating the SEM model with the complete, larger population spanning all five planned blocks.¹
2. Comparative Evaluation: Future investigation should specifically re-evaluate the performance of the initially deficient indicators, such as 3R (ENV5) and public transportation access (SOC8), to quantitatively measure the improvement over time.¹
3. Expansion of Scope: The research scope should be expanded to include new indicators related to digital access and pedestrian infrastructure, which were not available during the initial study period due to construction, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the model's long-term digital and mobility inclusion.¹

Sumber Artikel:

Aquarium Stacking Village, Collaborative Fruit Polishes the Face of Jakarta City - Kompas.id, diakses November 17, 2025, https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-buah-kolaborasi-memoles-wajah-kampung-kota-jakarta/ampmode