NUS Studios - A New Atlantis

by Melinda Kumala

Jakarta is the fastest sinking city in the world. According to data projections, by 2050 95% of North Jakarta will be submerged. North Jakarta has sunk 2.5 m in 10 years and is continuing to sink by as much as 25 cm a year in some parts, which is more than double the global average for coastal megacities. Almost half the city now sits below sea level. The problem of land subsidence is caused by various factors, most notably urban development and groundwater extraction. This has aggravated the long-existing problem of flooding in the city, where land subsidence in flooding prone areas lead to expanded coverage and increased water depth of inundated areas.

The work investigates the relationship and correlation between urban development, land subsidence and flood inundation. It seeks to represent the essence of the issue, which in this case is water and land submersion. The form of water is thus used as a narrative device to act as both a quantitative and metaphorical representation, in which the turbulent surface of water further figuratively symbolises the tumultuous state of the city.