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Creating a lovable Nusantara: Lessons from other cities
When its 2045 Master Plan fully materializes, Nusantara national capital will be a very nice place to live. It will be a “10-minute city” where all parts of the city are accessible within 10 minutes.
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This picture taken on Aug. 14, 2022, shows directions at Titik Nol Nusantara (ground zero Nusantara), the future capital city for Indonesia, in Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan. Located in eastern Borneo, the world's third-largest island, Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political center by late 2024. (AFP/Adek Berry)
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inland is the happiest country for the sixth year in a row as touted by the United Nations on the International Day of Happiness on March 20. Finland, and other countries and cities, are places to learn from to create not only a livable city, but a lovable one as the new capital city of Indonesia, Nusantara, strives to be.
Finland is a prosperous country, but the rich have a relatively simple lifestyle. Rarely do we find them flaunting their money. It also has a significant middle class. Health care and education are universal, with a low poverty rate and zero homelessness. Beneficial to their mental well-being, the Finnish also spend a lot of time outdoors in the well-conserved wilderness, and these places are greatly accessible.
Its social life is also fulfilling with a culture that is relaxed, easy-going and with a strong sense of cooperation rather than competition. The crime level is very low. Its corruption perception index is the second best in the world after Denmark and the Finnish trust their government.
Before a city is lovable, it needs to be livable. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Austria’s Vienna as the most livable city in the world based on its stability, health, culture, environment, education and infrastructure, followed by Copenhagen and Zurich, Switzerland.
Vienna is prosperous. But the main reason Vienna is the most livable city is that it is easy to get around it, whether on bicycle or efficient, affordable and comfortable public transportation, instead of because of using private cars. About three in five residents live in houses that are not only comfortable but also affordable due to a government-regulated social housing program.
In Vienna, health care is superb, while the crime rate is very low. Social life is pleasant with ample artistic, cultural and social amenities. Furthermore, there are expansive green spaces for residents to carry out their outdoors activities. With about a third of its energy supply provided from renewable sources, the city is committed to reaching carbon neutrality in 2040. It is among the cleanest and greenest cities in the world.
So how can we upgrade livability to lovability? A city needs to be smart to be more livable, with universal broadband internet connection to support digital life.
