Lesson video

Hello, and welcome.

My name's Ms. Harrison, and I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Grab everything you might need for today's lesson and let's begin our learning.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain factors influencing Jakarta's urban structure, but before we can begin this learning, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords are land use, central business district, and rural urban-fringe.

Land use.

This is the purpose or function of land.

For example, residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural or recreational use.

Central business district.

The CBD is the commercial and business center of a city, usually with high land values, tall buildings, and a concentration of shops, offices and services.

Rural-urban fringe.

This is the area at the edge of the city where urban land uses, like housing or industry, meet rural land uses, like farmland or open space.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we are going to explore in today's lesson is, how does age and function shape central Jakarta?

Cities are made up of different areas, and each of these areas has a specific purpose, and this is what we call land use.

Land use simply means how land in a city is used.

I would like you to think what type of land uses can be found in a city?

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

There is residential, where people live, commercial, where people shop, eat, and do business, transport, which is roads, railways, bus stations, and airports, and industrial, where goods are made or stored.

By looking at land use patterns, geographers can learn a lot about how cities work, how they grow and expand over time, how people move through them each day, where inequality appears, for example, who lives in well-planned areas versus informal housing, and where urban change is happening, like regeneration or new development, and understanding land use is the first step to understanding how cities function and how we can plan them better for the future.

To understand how cities like Jakarta grow and change, geographers use land use models.

These are simplified diagrams that show how land is typically used in different zones or areas within a city.

Let's look at two key models, the Burgess model.

This model shows a city developing in concentric circles, moving outward from the central business district.

At the center is the CBD, the busiest part of the city, with offices, shops and transport hubs.

Surrounding it are zones of transition, often with older housing or mixed land use.

Further out are residential zones, newer, often more spacious housing.

On the edge is the rural-urban fringe where the city meets the countryside.

Although this model is based on older cities, part of it still applied to Jakarta, especially the contrast between crowded city center and sprawling suburbs.

Then we have the Hoyt model.

Instead of circles, the Hoyt model shows cities growing in sectors or wedges, spreading outward from the center.

It includes sectors for transport routes like major roads and railways.

Industry and lower income housing are often found along these corridors, and wealthier housing tends to grow away from industry in more desirable areas.

This model helps to explain why in Jakarta many factories in poorer communities are found along transport routes, while gated communities and malls are often built further out in cleaner, quieter areas.

These models help geographers analyze how cities are organized, why certain land users are found where they are, and how inequality and planning decisions shape the city over time.

Do any of these models apply to a city you live in or are near to?

Pause the video whilst you have a think and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Well done.

Which of the following best describes the Hoyt model of urban land use?

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is c, land uses grow in wedges or sectors from the CBD, often along transport routes.

Well done if you identified that correctly.

Going back to the question I asked you if you know of any cities that remind you of any of these models, Izzy has said that, "The Burgess model works well with London zones.

The CBD would be places like Westminster.

Then the inner city would be Whitechapel where there were old factories.

Suburbs could be places like Rumford, and the rural-urban fringe might be somewhere like Chelmsford.

" Well done if you came up with a similar answer.

Let's look at how Jakarta fits urban land use models like Burgess and Hoyt, but also has its own unique features.

Both models show the CBD in the center and that's true for Jakarta too.

The central CBD is the city's business and commercial hub.

Burgess suggested that cities grow in rings, while Hoyt focused on sectors.

In Jakarta, there is some outward or ring-like growth, but development mainly follows transport routes, which matches Hoyt's model more closely.

Wealth is found in outer areas like the suburbs, but also in some inner city zones, which doesn't fit neatly with either model.

On the flip side, poorer communities are often found near the CBD and industrial zones, especially in informal settlements close to the center.

This matches both models.

Growth in Jakarta has also been shaped by transport corridors like major roads and railway lines, which supports Hoyt's idea of sector-based growth.

Finally, a big difference is Jakarta's colonial history.

The layout and inequality we see today are influenced by its past under Dutch rule.

Neither Burgess nor Hoyt accounted for that.

So, overall, Jakarta partly fits both models, but local factors like transport and colonial history make it quite different too.

True or false, Jakarta's growth follows transport routes, which fits the Hoyt model of urban land use.

Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is true.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Brilliant.

The reason why that statement was true was because Jakarta's growth has often followed transport routes such as main roads, which is a feature of the Hoyt model.

This model also suggests that industrial sectors in particular develop along transport corridors, which is a characteristic of Jakarta's urban structure.

Well done if you identified that correctly.

You've done brilliantly.

Like many cities, Jakarta's grown in zones, and each zone has developed with different function, building type, and age.

And we can divide the city into four main urban zones.

The central business district.

This is the commercial heart of Jakarta.

It's full of offices, high-rise buildings, banks and government offices.

Land here is very expensive and space is limited.

It's also where you'll find modern shopping centers and hotels.

The inner city.

This area surrounds the CBD and includes some of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

You'll find a mix of colonial-era buildings, older housing, and many kampungs, informal settlements with poor infrastructure.

The inner city reflects Jakarta's colonial past, but it is also home to some of its poorest communities.

The suburbs.

Further out, the suburbs contain newer housing, including middle-class neighborhoods in gated communities.

This is where many people move as their income's increased, looking for more space, cleaner air and security.

Shopping malls, schools, and private clinics are common here.

And then we have the rural to urban fringe.

On the edge of Jakarta, the rural to urban fringe includes farmland, factories, and fast growing new developments.

This area is rapidly changing due to urban sprawl, especially in places like Bekasi where land is cheaper.

Jakarta's urban zones have been shaped by both modern day economic and social changes, like rising incomes and population growth, and by its colonial history, which left behind an unequal pattern of development.

Understanding these zones helps us explain where people live, how they travel, and why some areas are more developed or better serviced than others.

I would like you to add the missing labels to the map.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The missing labels are the suburbs, central business district, and rural to urban fringe.

Well done on this task.

In most major cities, the central business district is the most important commercial and financial area, and Jakarta is no different.

Jakarta's CBD is known as the golden triangle, and it's one of the most modern and high-value zones in the city.

It reflects Jakarta's growing role as a global financial and political center in Southeast Asia.

So, what are the key features of Jakarta's CBD?

You'll find high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, including luxury hotels, office towers and apartment blocks.

The area's full of foreign businesses, banks and international companies that choose to base themselves in Jakarta.

It also includes government buildings and embassies, showing how important this area is for both national and international affairs.

There are larger modern shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment spaces that attract workers, tourists, and wealthy residents.

One of the most important zones is the Sudirman Central Business District, SCBD.

This is the major hub within the golden triangle.

It's home to Indonesian Stock Exchange which connects Jakarta to the global economy.

And it's the planned location of the Jakarta Signature Tower, a future skyscraper that will symbolize the city's ambition and global status.

The CBD is also a place of contrast.

It shows wealth and power, but it's also sharp comparison to the poorer kampungs and overcrowded suburbs elsewhere in Jakarta.

Aisha and Alex are having a discussion about why most buildings in Jakarta's CBD are tall.

I would like you to decide who is correct.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Aisha is correct.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Brilliant.

The reason why Aisha is correct is because tall buildings are common in Jakarta's CBD because land is limited and expensive.

To make the most of the space, developers build upwards instead of outwards, allowing more offices, shops, and services to fit into a small area, making it more profitable.

Well done if you explained that correctly.

You've done brilliantly.

Jakarta's inner city is full of contrasts.

It's where you'll find some of the city's oldest buildings and historic areas, but also some of its poorest communities.

It's an area shaped by both colonial history and modern urban challenges.

History.

One of the most famous parts of the inner city is Kota Tua, also known as the Old Town.

It was built in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company when Indonesia was under colonial rule.

Here you'll still find colonial style architecture, old canals, narrow roads lined with shops and homes, and a large historic Chinese Indonesian community.

Kota Tua shows the city's layout and buildings were influenced by the colonial past and how it's now a tourist area.

Though some parts remain run down.

The living conditions not far from this historic district in areas like Kamal Muara, many residents live in informal housing built along polluted canals.

These neighborhoods are often overcrowded with limited access to clean water, waste services or flood protection.

The contrast between preserved colonial buildings and struggling kampungs highlights the inequality that still exists in Jakarta's inner city today.

So Jakarta's inner city tells us two stories, one of colonial heritage and historical identity and one of urban poverty and poor living conditions, especially in areas where development and investment has been slow to reach.

Jakarta's inner city is a clear example of how urban decline and inequality can exist right next to areas of historical and economic value.

In places like Kota Tua, you can see this contrast up close.

There's poor infrastructure and sanitation are common.

Just a few streets away from restored colonial buildings, people living near polluted canals often face frequent flooding and poor waste disposal.

At the same time, tourists will visit famous landmarks, admire the colonial architecture, and enjoy cafes just minutes away from areas that lack basic services like clean water or proper toilets.

This creates a striking image of wealth and poverty existing side by side.

Why do wealth and poverty exist so close together in the inner city?

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

There are several reasons.

Historical land use.

Wealthy areas were often built near the colonial center and poor residents later settled nearby because it was close to jobs in public spaces.

Lack of planning.

As the city grew rapidly, informal settlements expanded wherever there was available space, even right next to the high-value areas.

Tourism and investment often focused on key landmarks like Kota Tua, while nearby residential areas are ignored or underfunded.

Limited land availability forces both rich and poor to live in the same crowded space but in very different conditions.

So, in the inner city, history, inequality, and rapid urban growth all combine to create a city of extreme contrast, sometimes just one street apart.

Which two of the following statements are true about Jakarta's inner city?

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answers are a, it includes canals and colonial architecture from Dutch rule, and c, some areas have informal housing.

Well done on this task, you've done brilliantly.

What does Jakarta's inner city show about urban life?

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is c.

Wealth and poverty can exist very close together.

Well done if you identified that correctly.

Alex has written an answer to explain how urban land use models help us understand the structure of Jakarta.

I would like you to correct his mistakes.

Pause the video here whilst you read his answer and attempt the task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

Alex said, "Jakarta fits the Burgess model.

" You might have said Jakarta partly fits the Burgess model with a central CBD and some ring-like growth, but its growth is more uneven.

Alex said, "Poor people live far away.

" You might have said poorer communities often live in informal housing close to the CBD, such as Kamal Muara.

Alex said, "Everything grows in straight lines.

" You might have said Jakarta partly reflects the Hoyt model as some land use follows main roads and transport routes.

Alex said, "Jakarta's colonial past does not matter.

" You might have said the colonial past still influences Jakarta today, especially in the old town where Dutch architecture and canals remain.

Well done on this task.

I hope you managed to include some of those points in your answer.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson.

How is Jakarta expanding into rural land?

Jakarta's suburbs have expanded quickly as the city has grown outward.

They include a mix of wealthy neighborhoods and mid-income developments shaped by income levels and land availability and planning decisions.

Let's look at two examples.

Wealthy suburbs.

An example is Menteng.

Menteng is one of the most exclusive suburbs in Jakarta.

It has lots of green space, wide streets, and historic mansions from the colonial period.

It's home to diplomats, senior government officials and business leaders.

The area is quiet, well maintained, and has strong security and services.

Mid-income suburbs like Kelapa Gading.

Kelapa Gading is a fast growing suburb that's popular with Jakarta's growing middle class.

It offers more affordable housing, especially in apartment blocks and housing estates.

The area has a range of schools, supermarkets, malls, and small businesses.

It's modern but more crowded and busy than the elite areas like Menteng.

How are wealthy and mid-income suburbs in Jakarta different?

Pause the video here whilst do you have a think and press play when you're ready to continue.

Brilliant.

Wealthy suburbs like Menteng are quieter, greener, and more historic with large homes and elite residents.

Mid-income suburbs like Kelapa Gading are more densely populated with smaller homes and more commercial activity and faster growth.

Services and infrastructure tend to be better maintained in wealthy areas, while mid-income suburbs are more affordable and practical for everyday families.

Both are parts of Jakarta's expansion, but they offer very different lifestyles and living conditions.

Which statements are true about Jakarta's suburbs?

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answers are a, Menteng is a wealthy suburb with historic houses and green spaces, and c, Jakarta's suburbs include both luxury and mid-income housing.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

As Jakarta's population continues to grow, more and more people are choosing to move to the suburbs.

A process known as suburbanization.

This shift brings both opportunities and challenges to the city.

The pull factors.

Why do people move to the suburbs?

People are attracted by better living conditions such as larger homes and quieter streets.

Suburbs often have more green spaces, less air and noise pollution, and a generally more relaxed lifestyle.

The push factors.

Why do people want to leave the city center?

Jakarta's inner city is known for severe traffic congestion and air pollution.

There's also overcrowding, especially in informal housing areas with poor sanitation and limited space.

These conditions push many families to look for alternatives in suburban areas.

And this is what happens as a result.

Kelapa Gading is one of Jakarta's growing mid-income suburbs.

It now has shopping malls, private schools, hospitals and clinics, but rapid suburbanization has also led to new problems.

Traffic is increasing as more people drive in and out every day.

Social tensions can rise, especially between long-time residents and new arrivals or between different income groups.

So while suburbanization offers a better quality of life for some, it also brings new urban planning challenges that Jakarta will need to manage carefully in the years ahead.

True or false, suburban areas, like Kelapa Gading, attract people with better living conditions but can also face social and environmental problems.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is true.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The reason why the statement is true is because suburban areas such as Kelapa Gading attract people with better living conditions, including housing, schools and green spaces.

However, rapid growth can lead to challenges like traffic congestion and pressure on services causing social tensions.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

As Jakarta's population grows, the city is rapidly expanding outward into the surrounding rural areas.

This expansion is dramatically changing how land use is used on the outskirt of the city.

Let's compare what the land looked like before and after.

The before images of 1993, much of the land around Jakarta was agricultural, mainly rice fields, small farms, and open green space.

These rural areas supported local food production and had very low population density.

After, in 2025, today, much of that land has been converted into industry, transport networks, and housing developments.

A good example of this is the Cikarang Industrial Park.

It now has over 2,500 businesses employing more than 700,000 people.

The area includes over 1,400 homes as well as its own shopping center, hospital, and schools.

It has become self-contained urban zone, no longer rural at all.

This shows how urban sprawl is changing not just the size of Jakarta, but also the function of surrounding land from food production to manufacturing and residential use.

While this brings jobs and economic growth, it also raises concerns about the loss of farmland, pressure on infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

As Jakarta continues to expand outwards, the areas of the city edge are changing fast, from quiet farmland to busy zones full of factories, housing and new developments.

And this kind of growth brings both benefits and serious problems.

Some benefits is that it creates jobs in industries, especially in places like Cikarang Industrial Park, which employs hundreds of thousands of people.

Housing is often cheaper than in central Jakarta, so more people can afford to live there and it helps relieve pressure on central areas, reducing overcrowding in the city center.

But the challenges are that it leads to the loss of valuable farmland, especially rice fields which affect local food production.

Pollution from industries, such as air, water, and noise pollution, can harm the environment and public health, and many new developments suffer from poor public services like limited access to clean water, sanitation, or healthcare, especially for lower income residents.

So while growth at the edge of Jakarta supports economic development, it also brings serious environmental and social challenges that must be managed through better planning and infrastructure.

Do you think the benefits of growth are worth the problems?

Pause the video here whilst you have a think and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

Let's hear some answers.

One student said, "Yes, because it creates jobs and homes, but services need improving.

" Well done if you came up with something similar.

Laura and Sophia are having a discussion about why land use in places like Cikarang changed.

I would like you to identify who is correct.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is Sophia.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The reason why Sophia is correct is because rapid population growth and urban expansion in Jakarta have increased the demand for housing, jobs, and services.

This has led to the conversion of rural land into industrial estates, transport infrastructure, and housing developments just like in Cikarang.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly, you've done brilliantly.

True or false?

Urban growth at Jakarta's edge only creates jobs and housing and does not cause any problems.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

This statement is false.

I would like you to explain why.

Pause the video here and press play to continue.

Excellent.

The reason why it's false is because while growth at the edge of Jakarta does create jobs and housing, it also creates problems such as pollution from industry, loss of farmland, and pressure on public services like healthcare and sanitation.

Well done if you explained that correctly, you've done brilliantly.

I would like you to decide whether each of the statements below is true or false.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Before we check our answers, I would like you to complete one more task.

I would like you to explain how suburbanization and expansion into the rural-urban fringe changed Jakarta.

I'd like you to use examples from different parts of the city in your answer.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

For the first task, I asked you to decide whether each statement either was true or false.

For Menteng is a wealthy suburb with green spaces and historic homes, it's true.

For suburban areas like Kelapa Gading have no schools or services is false.

For Jakarta's rural-urban fringe includes industrial estates like Cikarang is true.

And urban growth at the city's edge can reduce food production.

True.

Expanding suburbs can reduce pressure on central Jakarta.

False.

Well done on this task, you've done brilliantly.

We're now going to check our other question.

Your answer might have included some of the following points.

Urban growth in Jakarta's suburbs brings both benefits and problems.

One major opportunity is improved living conditions.

In mid-income suburbs at Kelapa Gading, people are attracted by affordable housing, good schools and malls, and access to better healthcare.

These areas are planned and well connected, making them appealing for families.

Wealthier suburbs, such as Menteng and Pondok Indah, offer large homes, green streets, and better security, attracting higher income residents.

Another benefit is that suburban growth can help reduce pressure on the overcrowded inner city by spreading the population more evenly across the city.

It also supports economic growth as new businesses, shops, and services open in suburban areas.

However, there are challenges.

As more people move to the suburbs, traffic congestion increases and public services can become overstretched.

Rapid expansion can also cause environmental problems such as the loss of green space and increased pollution.

This growth can also lead to social tensions between different income groups.

In conclusion, suburban growth in Jakarta improves quality of life for many people, but it also creates pressure on infrastructure and the environment.

Without planning, these challenges could outweigh the benefits.

Well done on this task.

You've done brilliantly, and I hope you managed to include some of those points in your answer.

We've now come to the end of our learning on the structure of Jakarta and you've done brilliantly.

But before we end this lesson, let's summarize everything we've learnt today.

Jakarta's urban structure clearly shows how the city has developed over time with major differences in building age and land use from the center to the edges.

At the center, the CBD, including the SCBD, is the most modern part of the city.

It's full of skyscrapers, offices, shopping centers, and embassies reflecting Jakarta's global economic role.

In the inner city, areas like Kota Tua still shows signs of Jakarta's colonial history with the Dutch architecture and canals, but nearby places highlight inequality with informal housing, poor infrastructure, and flood risk.

Further out at the rural-urban and fringe, the land is changing rapidly.

Areas like Cikarang have seen farmland replaced by industry and housing, including large industrial estates and thousands of new homes.

Together, these zones show a city shaped by economic growth, inequality and rapid urban expansion where modern development, colonial history, and informal settlements all exist side by side.

Well done on today's lesson.

You've done brilliantly, and I look forward to learning with you again very soon.