This project is a speculative urban strategy that provides the displaced kampung community a home atop the river and the opportunity to be reintegrated into society through the introduction of a new economy: cleaning polluted river water.
Inspired by the mangroves ability to thrive in semi-submerged conditions, the project sees the frequent flooding of the Ciliwung as a tidal event. The project breathes with the flood, expanding both horizontally and vertically when the river bursts its banks. In a situation where their right to the land has been taken away, these people have a territory that is dictated by the flow and ebb of the Ciliwung River.
Mangroves with elevated social spaces line the banks while patches of floating wetland cover the water surface. Vertical structures rise from the water, slowing down the current and collecting waste that has found its way into the river. Movable platforms transport trash upwards to be recycled while the continuous rotation of filament structures separate toxic metals from the water. Interspersed amongst the bustle are plants that grow along the structure.
Women lower themselves to the floating wetlands to harvest vegetables for cooking. Canopies rise and fall, providing shade from the tropical sun. Houses overlook the levels beneath them; a conglomeration of activities occur at different levels all at once.
When flooding occurs, the homes are moved up and away from the waters. The floating wetlands rise with the flood. Structures that are used to trap the pollutants are submerged. The canopies are lowered and extended to form a network for people from the rest of the city, connecting East and West Jakarta when roads are impassable. The tripartite of city, kampung and river are engaged in an interdependent relationship.
Puppets of the Ciliwung reimagines the kampung as a vertical dwelling whose occupants’ lives are orchestrated by the river itself. This symphony of movement is crucial for survival and celebrates the resilience of the evicted kampung community.
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AA Inter 3 
I am glad that the text is making the project more explicit at least in the parts you know. The parts you do not know can wait (like its form or final extension and implication in the rest of the city) to be discovered.
The name puppet has a negative connotation, any other possibilities? make a list of names and adjectives, good start, but do not settle yet (acrobatics, etc, etc).
How does the new speed of the river and the speed of the project (how people live and work, step on the water) can help to articulate a position of the project scope about living with the water. I think there is an argument about not only being a puppet of the river (sounds weird), but how humans and environment learn to coexist.
The symphony of movements sounds inspiring, what else can you brainstorm about this? Its different movements (heavy, light, noise, calm, sharp/low, etc…). Write a few more words about this theme just speculating in text, do not think much about the design of ‘how’ or ‘is it possible’, imagine the possibilities of symphony more.
Look forward to see the development!
Comment by tutor February 19, 2017 @ 12:25 pm