Community Centre for Kampung Kota: An Environment Behavior Approach

Abstract

Kampung kota are institutional and spatial units embedded in Indonesia’s urban systems, characterised by intensive communal activities sustained by mutual aid (gotong royong) and strong social cohesion. Although these settlements contribute to the spatial structure and image of cities, the design of community centres responsive to residents’ needs and traditions remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to develop a culturally responsive design framework for organising communal spaces in kampung kota. Its objectives are to examine communal activity patterns from an environment–behaviour perspective and formulate corresponding design guidelines. Medan serves as the setting for design exploration because its urban kampungs retain mutual aid traditions supported by locally established community organisations. The study adopts a research-by-design approach, generating knowledge through the development of design propositions. The research begins with a synthesis of theoretical literature on kampung kota and communal life. Subsequent field surveys combine visual mapping and interviews to examine residents’ communal activities and the characteristics of the spaces accommodating them. The resulting analysis informs design exploration encompassing activity and spatial programming, communal space typologies, site planning, spatial organisation, and building design. The study proposes spatial principles and typologies that support established communal practices, including everyday activities, customary and religious rituals, and national celebrations. Integrating social and economic spaces and linking open spaces with buildings provides opportunities to accommodate diverse activities and users across age groups. Architectural expression draws on local cultural identity while responding to the tropical climate, construction technologies familiar to the community, and users’ varying needs. These strategies position community centres as spatial resources for sustaining communal practices and accommodating their evolving requirements. The proposed framework offers guidance for sustaining and transmitting the knowledge, values, and traditions underpinning cohesive community life amid global sociocultural change. It highlights the role of culturally responsive design in supporting the continuity of communal activities. As the analysis is limited to urban kampungs in Medan, further research should encompass a broader range of communities and traditions to assess the framework’s applicability and refine its design principles.