Houses with Permeable Walls: A Case Study from Kampong Kwitang, Central Jakarta

The limited house size in urban squatter areas is the main reason for the incursive encroachment of public space. However, many scholars contend it has instigated spatial problems that lead to spatial contestation. This research aims to inquire into the reasons of permeable house wall, the crossover communal space in the house, and the operated rules that constantly contest and negotiate spatial boundaries between interior and exterior space, private and public areas, and domestic and business use. This case study research was conducted in Kampong Kwitang, the most populated kampong in Central Jakarta. Here, a house wall is more than just a static and rigid boundary of house ownership; it is a multiple-functioning partition of ever-changing domestic and communal activities. Therefore, architects should evaluate not only the technical considerations but also the creation of permeable boundaries to foster defensible space and social cohesiveness.