Stories from Surabaya
Tri Rismaharini
Mayor of Surabaya
“A city must be first and foremost be a home for its citizens.”
“Sixty percent of the Surabaya area is made up of traditional kampung settlements. Kampung are really our heritage.”
“Public space development is really needed by people in Surabaya. Public spaces provide rooms to strengthen kinship among local people.”
Gusti Ngurah Antaryama
Architect
“Well-planned traditional settlements—kampung—are so important for Surabaya. They are the foundation, the heart of the city. Without them, Surabaya cannot be a humane city with a clear identity and character.“
“It is a pity if a city loses the factors that make it unique. It becomes a city where no one recognizes its story.”
“Public spaces can be used by the community for various purposes and activities, and they also have economic implications. The relationships formed in public spaces can develop into economic relationships that benefit the whole community.”
Cecilia Andersson
UN-Habitat
”The great thing about Minecraft is that it engages different groups and shortens the planning process. The visual design comes together faster and requires fewer meetings and consultants.”
“It is wonderful to see adolescent girls, poor people, and women get so engaged in re-designing public space in their communities—and how empowered they are as they present their ideas.”
”I love seeing people participating in building parties to see
their designs become reality!”
Fafan Tri Afandy
Architect
“Public space doesn’t have to cover a large area, but it needs to encourage positive interaction. Public space should be designed for social interaction.”
Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi
Secretary General, UCLG ASPAC
“The concept of public space is space that can be
freely accessed by the community.”
“In Ketandan, I see people living peacefully like they do in the kampung, but right in the middle of Surabaya city. If we can apply these methods in Jakarta and other cities, we can preserve the peaceful kampung life as well as its cleanliness. It will improve people’s quality of life as they enjoy the convenience of city living.”
“Surabaya has been recognized internationally as a model for transformation. It used to be a dull, arid place, but now it is
clean and full of green parks.”
“Investing in public space means putting emphasis on people-centered development—understanding people’s needs and hopes, and how public space can address them and
enrich quality of life.”
James Delaney
Block by Block
“We start off by brainstorming what’s wrong with the space, then we think about what they would like it to look like. The community lists their priorities and we sketch it out in Minecraft, and then pass the design concepts on to the architect.”
“We had people who had never used computers in the workshop. Within about three hours the whole room was fairly competent. Minecraft is very intuitive. You’re literally moving through space
as you’re building it.”
“The architects and designers of today grew up playing with LEGO and wooden blocks, and I have no doubt that many of tomorrow’s creators will have experienced Minecraft in their childhood.”
“Block By Block is not only engaging youth and improving public spaces, but also inspiring the next generation of creators in communities around the world.”
Hari Soenarko
IAI
“It would be great to do more projects like this outside of Surabaya, in places that would really benefit from this kind of public space development.”
“There are many public spaces in Surabaya, but this one is special.”