Linking Heritage and Mobility: A Conceptual Skywalk to Connect People, Places, and Public Life in Medan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijist.v3i10.177Keywords:
Skywalk Design, Urban Connectivity, Heritage Integration, Walkability, Public SpaceAbstract
This study proposes a conceptual design of a cultural skywalk to connect historical, civic, and recreational landmarks in Medan’s government district. Using qualitative design research, the study applies concepts of contextual juxtaposition, walkability, public sphere theory, and connectivity. Data were gathered through spatial analysis, functional mapping, and precedent studies between January and March 2024. The proposed skywalk links key nodes such as the Old Mayor’s Building, DPRD, Merdeka Field, and Benteng Field through an elevated pedestrian corridor. The design emphasizes safety, heritage visibility, and civic integration. Results suggest that elevated infrastructure can serve as a cultural and spatial strategy for revitalizing disconnected urban cores. The study offers recommendations for implementation through participatory planning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
References
Frank, L. D., Engelke, P. O., & Schmid, T. L. (2010). Health and community design: The impact of the built environment on physical activity. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Batty, M. (2013). The new science of cities. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Dovey, K., & Pafka, E. (2020). What is walkability for? The Urban Design International, 25, 382–392. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-020-00133-w
Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A walkable city in the making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lupi, M., & Zardini, M. (2018). Governing by design: Architecture, economy, and politics in the twentieth century. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.
Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Santoso, B., Utami, D. S., & Prihatmaji, T. (2021). Designing elevated walkways to improve urban pedestrian accessibility: The case of Pasar Senen, Jakarta. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012001
Dovey, K. (2010). Becoming places: Urbanism / Architecture / Identity / Power. London: Routledge.
Hayden, D. (1995). The power of place: Urban landscapes as public history. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Lupi, M., & Zardini, M. (2018). Governing by design: Architecture, economy, and politics in the twentieth century. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.
Pendlebury, J. (2013). Conservation values, the authorised heritage discourse and the conservation-planning assemblage. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19(7), 709–727. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.700282
Tan, B. K., & Heng, C. K. (2020). Reclaiming urban space: Clarke Quay, Singapore. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, 13(4), 396–408.
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing historic urban quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Uzzell, D., & Ballantyne, R. (2008). Contemporary issues in heritage and environmental interpretation: Problems and prospects. London: The Stationery Office.
Arefi, M., & Meyers, W. R. (2003). What is public about public space: The case of Visakhapatnam, India. Cities, 20(5), 331–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-2751(03)00036-7
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., & Oc, T. (2010). Public places, urban spaces: The dimensions of urban design (2nd ed.). Oxford: Routledge.
Douglass, M. (2008). Civic spaces in a global age: Democracy and citizenship in Asia’s world cities. In A. Sorensen & J. Okata (Eds.), Megacities: Urban form, governance, and sustainability (pp. 269–285). Tokyo: Springer.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for people. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Habermas, J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere (T. Burger, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A walkable city in the making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lindner, C., & Rosa, M. D. (2017). Deconstructing the High Line: Postindustrial urbanism and the rise of the elevated park. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Madanipour, A. (2003). Public and private spaces of the city. London: Routledge.
Montgomery, J. (1998). Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and urban design. Journal of Urban Design, 3(1), 93–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809808724418
Whyte, W. H. (1980). The social life of small urban spaces. Washington, DC: Conservation Foundation.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for people. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A walkable city in the making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lindner, C., & Rosa, M. D. (2017). Deconstructing the High Line: Postindustrial urbanism and the rise of the elevated park. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable city rules: 101 steps to making better places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Whyte, W. H. (1980). The social life of small urban spaces. Washington, DC: Conservation Foundation.
Yatmo, Y. A. (2008). Street vendors as 'out of place' urban elements. Journal of Urban Design, 13(3), 387–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574800802271304
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for people. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A walkable city in the making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lefebvre, H. (1991). The production of space (D. Nicholson-Smith, Trans.). Oxford: Blackwell.
Preiser, W. F. E., & Ostroff, E. (2001). Universal design handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Santoso, B., Utami, D. S., & Prihatmaji, T. (2021). Designing elevated walkways to improve urban pedestrian accessibility: The case of Pasar Senen, Jakarta. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012001
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable city rules: 101 steps to making better places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
UN-Habitat. (2020). World cities report 2020: The value of sustainable urbanization. Nairobi: United Nations Human Settlements Programme. https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/10/wcr_2020_report.pdf
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A Walkable City in the Making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lindner, C., & Rosa, M. D. (2017). Deconstructing the High Line: Postindustrial Urbanism and the Rise of the Elevated Park. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Muzayanah, M., Widyawati, L., & Suparman, L. (2022). Assessing Pedestrian Comfort and Safety in Indonesian Urban Centers. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 9(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v9.n1.556
Rogers, R. (2000). Cities for a Small Planet. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Siregar, N., Yusuf, S., & Simatupang, R. (2021). Accessibility and Safety of Pedestrian Paths in Medan City. Jurnal Penataan Ruang, 16(2), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.31289/jpr.v16i2.1234
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing Historic Urban Quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Benevolo, L. (2016). The Architecture of the City. London: Routledge.
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., & Oc, T. (2010). Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design (2nd ed.). Oxford: Routledge.
Douglas, J. (2006). Building Adaptation (2nd ed.). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Habermas, J. (1989). The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Lee, J. Y., & Lee, H. Y. (2019). Seoullo 7017: A Walkable City in the Making. Journal of Urban Design, 24(5), 671–690. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809.2019.1579506
Lindner, C., & Rosa, M. D. (2017). Deconstructing the High Line: Postindustrial Urbanism and the Rise of the Elevated Park. Rutgers University Press.
Madanipour, A. (2003). Public and Private Spaces of the City. London: Routledge.
Pendlebury, J. (2013). Conservation Values, the Authorised Heritage Discourse and the Conservation-planning Assemblage. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19(7), 709–727. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.700282
Santoso, B., Utami, D. S., & Prihatmaji, T. (2021). Designing Elevated Walkways to Improve Urban Pedestrian Accessibility: The Case of Pasar Senen, Jakarta. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), 012001.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012001
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Tan, B. K., & Heng, C. K. (2020). Reclaiming Urban Space: Clarke Quay, Singapore. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, 13(4), 396–408.
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing Historic Urban Quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Batty, M. (2013). The New Science of Cities. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., & Oc, T. (2010). Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design (2nd ed.). Oxford: Routledge.
Dovey, K. (2010). Becoming Places: Urbanism/Architecture/Identity/Power. London: Routledge.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Groat, L., & Wang, D. (2013). Architectural Research Methods (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Hillier, B., & Hanson, J. (1984). The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Preiser, W. F. E., & Ostroff, E. (2001). Universal Design Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing Historic Urban Quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Till, J. (2009). Architecture Depends. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Batty, M. (2013). The New Science of Cities. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., & Oc, T. (2010). Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design (2nd ed.). Oxford: Routledge.
Dovey, K. (2010). Becoming Places: Urbanism/Architecture/Identity/Power. London: Routledge.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Pendlebury, J. (2013). Conservation Values, the Authorised Heritage Discourse and the Conservation-planning Assemblage. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19(7), 709–727. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.700282
Preiser, W. F. E., & Ostroff, E. (2001). Universal Design Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Santoso, B., Utami, D. S., & Prihatmaji, T. (2021). Designing Elevated Walkways to Improve Urban Pedestrian Accessibility: The Case of Pasar Senen, Jakarta. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012001
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Siregar, N., Yusuf, S., & Simatupang, R. (2021). Accessibility and Safety of Pedestrian Paths in Medan City. Jurnal Penataan Ruang, 16(2), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.31289/jpr.v16i2.1234
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing Historic Urban Quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Carmona, M., Tiesdell, S., Heath, T., & Oc, T. (2010). Public places, urban spaces: The dimensions of urban design (2nd ed.). Oxford: Routledge.
Gehl, J. (2011). Cities for people. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.
Madanipour, A. (2003). Public and private spaces of the city. London: Routledge.
Montgomery, J. (1998). Making a city: Urbanity, vitality and urban design. Journal of Urban Design, 3(1), 93–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/13574809808724418
Pendlebury, J. (2013). Conservation values, the authorised heritage discourse and the conservation-planning assemblage. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19(7), 709–727. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.700282
Santoso, B., Utami, D. S., & Prihatmaji, T. (2021). Designing elevated walkways to improve urban pedestrian accessibility: The case of Pasar Senen, Jakarta. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012001
Speck, J. (2018). Walkable city rules: 101 steps to making better places. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Tiesdell, S., Oc, T., & Heath, T. (1996). Revitalizing historic urban quarters. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Syifa Aulia Ulinnuha, Firman Eddy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
