Regressive incremental housing development in Kampung Muka, North Jakarta

This study examines incremental housing development carried out by underprivileged residents depending on their life-course events and financial situations. The rapid urbanization of Jakarta has outpaced affordable housing provisions established by the government, resulting in the proliferation of high-density kampung settlements. These settlements are often constructed out of self-help housing solutions that are meant to meet the immediate needs of inhabitants. This study is a case study of Kampung Muka (North Jakarta), particularly a high-density kampung settlement where incremental housing is commonly practiced by inhabitants, employing housing biography to analyze and understand the interrelationships between residents' socio-economic conditions and housing decisions over time. Our study confirms the interrelationship between incremental house construction with life-course events and socioeconomic conditions of inhabitants. Incremental housing development is also carried out to provide sufficient space for household members and the operation of economic activities to increase income. However, this study discovers that incremental house development can result in both increases and decreases in land and house size. The findings explain the regressive nature of incremental housing, which expands our knowledge of incremental housing and its possible applications in urban policy planning.