Skyscrapers and Other Dreamworlds
The globalization boom of the 1990’s entered a wave of increased wealth and major privatization that began reconstructing megacities across the globe. These global cities
display extreme contrast of low-income residents to the high exclusivity of the mega rich. These extravagant new cities are becoming utopias for the richest residents and even safe havens for criminals. Mike Davis and Daniel Bertrand Monk give insight in their book Evil Paradises, to this rising inequality, “On a planet where more than 2 billion people subsist on two dollars or less a day, these dreamworlds enflame desires-for infinite consumption, total social exclusion and physical security, and architectural monumentality” (Davis and Monk xv). These dreamworlds include a sea of skyscrapers, supermalls, artificial island, exclusive suburbs and “lifestyle
centers” for the privileged. While these extravagant characteristics of the global cities display a utopia, the price of these “paradises”, Davis and Monk conclude, is human catastrophe.
As Jakarta has become the city of dreams for rural residents that flock to the city for opportunities and a haven for the super-rich, the city has been attempting to transform itself. This gentrification has taken an aggressive force as neighborhoods and slums are destroyed to make way for new dreamworld sites. The most recent example of the city rebranding is the project of the northern coast of Jakarta. In “Runaway City: Jakarta Bay, the pioneer and the last frontier”
Abidin Kusno describes the waterfront mega project that has transformed the forefront of the capital city. The bay is filled with hotels, business centers, shopping malls, an entertainment complex, and upscale accommodations that house over 1 million residents. This large-scale revolution was the last hope to rebrand Jakarta as a global coastal city to attract international business. Abidin points out that the development
was aimed for the upper-middle class using words such as “exclusivity”, “lucrative”, “lucky”, and “luxury” to sell the land. However, this project began a conversation about the inequality of income gap between the poor and the mega-rich. In The Jakarta Post, Winarno Zain “Behind the rise of Income Inequality in Jakarta” notes how the income inequality has risen, despite the growth of the economy. With only 20% benefitting from this increase of wealth, about 205 million Indonesians are left behind in the wake, to survive in the desolation.
As Indonesia has slowly recovered from its economic crisis of the late 1990’s and the city attempts to rebrand its image, Jakarta has become the most evident new face of
the super wealthy. Andrew Burrell describes how consumption has risen in his article “Consuming Passions; Cities”, consumption now accounts for over 80% of GDP, and is evident all around the city as luxurious apartments are popping up, foreign sports cars crowd the streets and with the rise of flashy new malls. One of the main examples of this wave of wealth is the business district of Jakarta, Jalan Sudirman. This thoroughfare is lined with transnational glass
towers and banks that embody the significance of privatization in these dreamworlds. This prominent main road of central Jakarta is often subject to heavy congestion as many residents drive past the faceless glass buildings in their luxurious cars.
The Da Vinci Tower is the most flamboyant symbol of this consumeristic city. This high-rise made of European materials displaying renaissance -style architecture consists of over 44 luxurious apartments pricing at a range from $2 million USD - $4million USD. As Burrell notes. There are even 13 floors dedicated to housing shops that are filled with European furniture including Italian, French, and Spanish classics.
Not only is Central Jakarta the epitome of dreamworlds but further away in the suburbs are prime examples of wealth reserving exclusivity for the privileged. To continue drawing from Burrell’s “Consuming Passions” in West Jakarta and South Jakarta, master planned communities are rising, separating the rich from the poor with gated suburbs and exclusivity. In the west, there is Lippo Karawaci, a 500-acre township located 20 Kilometers away from the center of the city. This transnational suburb mimics Orange County, California. The suburb consists of its own grammar school, water and power supply, and Jakarta’s largest private hospital. In South Jakarta, Pondok Indah is sought out for its International School as this gated community uses the phrase “commitment to excellence” to
attract new dwellers. These two private suburbs are the essence of privatization and wealth separating itself from vast majority of the low-income residents of the global city. These suburbs are often filled with European-esque village centers and often attempt to mirror Californian style neighborhoods
in striving to brand themselves with that lifestyle.
Another example of the “evil paradise” aspects of these dreamworlds are the mega-shopping mall that are the size of small cities. These malls house exclusive shops of luxury brands and items and many times these companies are international symbols of wealth such a Versace and Lacoste. These malls are often located near the exclusive suburbs of the mega-rich. Across the city are AutoMalls that are designated for luxury cars. Automalls have with multiple levels that displayshiny models with red carpet and ropes. The Plaza Indonesia EntertainmentCenter is the core of privileged as the plaza advertising lifestyle campaigns and even promotes shopping privileges with those who can afford to be a part oftheir program. The Mall Taman Anggrek located in West Jakarta demonstrates the actual destruction of the vernacular architecture to make room for consumption. The name Taman Anggrek translates to “Orchid Garden Mall” and is currently in the spot of an orchid garden prior to construction. These city-sized shopping centers not only validate the rise of global wealth destroying the land to make room for consumerism but put on vivid display the problem of income inequality.
As these “evil paradises” are rising in megacities across the globe, topics of conflict are rising as human destruction is becoming more apparent. These dreamworlds are pushing out most of the residents who are faceless and invisible to the hungry and powerful privileged. While these utopias are selling beauty and happiness, the upper and middle class has no idea they simultaneously are buying into devastation and death.