Geographia Technica, Vol. 14, Special Issue, 2019, pp 56 to 65 READING POLITICAL INSINUATION IN URBAN FORMS: SAVING THE SINKING JAKARTA THROUGH GIANT SEA WALL PROJECT Eka PERMANASARI 1 DOI: 10.21163/GT_2019. 141.19 ABSTRACT: This research examines the Giant Sea Wall project in Jakarta and how it symbolizes new postcolonial identity for Indonesia. As political insinuation in architecture and urban design is a common practice in postcolonial cities, power and legitimacy are shown through urban built forms. Considering that Jakarta has been constantly flooded, several attempts were installed, for instance building dikes along the coastline and making the east-west canals. However, this cannot stop the sea flood, as the severe land subsidence in the northern part of Jakarta grows rapidly. Giant Sea Wall aimed to protect the city from the flood later was transformed as a new symbol for Indonesia. However, as the project continues, the Indonesian politicians have asked the Dutch counterparts to redesign the Giant Sea Wall. The new design is no longer perceived as only the wall with small reclamation land, but rather as a new city shaped as Giant Garuda spreading from the east to the west part of Jakarta. The new postcolonial icon ironically was designed by the former colonial ruler. The research will explore the design and symbolism of the Giant Sea Wall project in order to understand the practices of urban design in the postcolonial city. Key-words: Urban Design, Politics in Architecture, Southeast Asian Study, Post Colonialism. 1. INTRODUCTION Jakarta’s main problem is severe flood and increasing land subsidence. The city has long been suffering from both the upstream and sea flood. The land subsidence is mainly due to the massive extraction of ground water. Approximately, Jakarta is sinking between 0.5 cm to 15 cm per year. In fact, on particular areas, the land subsidence may reach up to 17 cm per year. (Public Works, Jakarta Coastal Strategy: ATLAS, 2011). In addition, Jakarta is a delta of 13 rivers discharging to the Jakarta bay. However, since nearly 40 % of the northern part of Jakarta is below the sea level, during the rainy season, Jakarta is a melting pot for seawater and uphill water (Public Works, Jakarta Coastal Defense Strategy: Agenda, 2011). The floods, both from upstream and downstream, have often paralyzed the city. During the flood, there will be no electricity for days. Roads will be blocked and economy will disrupted for days. In addition, the flood itself often takes casualties (Korban jiwa akibat banjir Jakarta 19 orang, 2013). Apart from the flood, Jakarta also faces massive population growth yet lack supported by the infrastructure. It is a mega city without proper backbone on roads, public transport and proper city planning. 1 Universitas Pembangunan Jaya. Indonesia. Eka.permanasari@upj.ac.id.