[caption id="attachment_8898" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Jogja City Mall Seen from the Front[/caption] Every public building must have thorough development planning to ensure visitors feel comfortable during their visit, including those who require special public space accessibility, such as people with disabilities.
Issues concerning accessibility and public space services for people with disabilities have undeniably influenced many new buildings in Yogyakarta City, although optimal implementation has not yet been achieved, and shortcomings still exist. Thanks to the support of the government and various private institutions, Yogyakarta City is planned to be designed as an Inclusive City.
A discussion held by the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Disability Services Center last Thursday (16/04) touched upon indicators of an inclusive city, one of which is accessible public facilities and transportation for people with disabilities. Around last November, the author also attended a workshop for the winning team of the Malioboro Area Redevelopment Competition, which was won by the Teras Budaya team.
The team, led by Architect Ardhyasa Fabrian Gusma ST, presented their work. One interesting concept offered was the design for a disability-friendly Malioboro area, including accessible roads, transportation, sidewalks, and other public spaces. The team also mentioned that in developed countries, building accessible public facilities is already a necessity.
This is also what the Teras Budaya Team will implement in their Malioboro Area redevelopment design. Hearing that explanation, I felt relieved. In my opinion, this issue of disability must be understood by all sectors, including architects and contractors involved in public facility development. Otherwise, some building construction projects might finish far from expectations.
Reportedly, the buildings of UIN Sunan Kalijaga were also a result of a misunderstanding by the contractor regarding the architect's desire for disability-friendly buildings, but the outcome was the opposite and far from ideal. Eventually, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga mosque building seemed to remedy the failures of previous constructions. The mosque was built with intensive design and communication, making it one of the most accessible mosques in Yogyakarta upon completion.
I chose Jogja City Mall because a mall is a part of public facilities. Moreover, its building is still relatively new. This mall only opened around May 2014. When I first set foot here, I hoped this building would be friendly to all visitors, including people with disabilities. According to a mall cleaning staff member, the mall has been visited by hearing-impaired, visually impaired, physically disabled, and even intellectually disabled individuals.
However, physically disabled individuals are the most frequently encountered. Is Jogja City Mall, located at Jalan Magelang KM 5.8, Jombor, Sleman, Yogyakarta, disability-friendly? That was my question. To satisfy my curiosity, I conducted a small observation. Here are the results of my observation on whether Jogja City Mall is disability-friendly or not.
a. Entrance [caption id="attachment_8899" align="alignright" width="225"] The pedestrian entrance is not yet equipped with tactile paving[/caption]Magelang. Visitors must first drive a motorcycle or car to enter the mall area, which is about 250 meters from the main road to the parking lot.
As for pedestrians, they must travel along the sidewalks located on the right and left of the main entrance. Perhaps for hearing-impaired visitors, this is not an issue. But it's different for visually impaired or physically disabled individuals. Most of these individuals want to be independent in all their activities, including accessing public spaces like malls.
To support this independence, supporting facilities are needed. Throughout my observation, neither sidewalk was equipped with tactile paving, so visually impaired visitors might find it a bit difficult to access the mall's main building. Neither sidewalk was equipped with ramps to allow wheelchairs to ascend the 15-centimeter high sidewalk. At best, if they want to go up, users must be assisted by staff or others.
If wheelchair users do not want assistance, their only option is to share the entrance with motorcyclists and cars, as that path is flat and unobstructed. a. Front Building Perhaps access to the front building is also not an issue for hearing-impaired visitors, but it's different for visually impaired and physically disabled individuals. For visually impaired individuals, they must recognize their surroundings, which is commonly referred to as mobility orientation.
In front of the main building, there is a statue of a European knight, flanked on either side by a lion, surrounded by a fountain. The fountain's design resembles a mini boulevard that functions as a slow lane for four-wheeled vehicles. If a visually impaired visitor who is unfamiliar with this location were to approach, they might collide with it.
Alternatively, they could ask the security guards stationed at the front for assistance to access the mall. After that, they would encounter a stepped staircase to reach the mall. As for wheelchair users, after they manage to pass the entrance on the far left of the stepped staircase, there is a ramp to facilitate ascending to the main building. Unfortunately, this ramp cannot be used independently because its lowest end is blocked by the stepped structure.
Thus, they will inevitably need assistance. The easiest route for wheelchair users arriving by vehicle is to use the basement entrance after disembarking, as its access path is level with the main entrance. As additional information, the mall also provides wheelchairs for visitors and baby strollers. Hearing that, I realized that babies are also disabled :D b.
Mall Building Upon entering the main building, visitors are greeted by security guards stationed at the front. Beside the main entrance, there is an information center. Jogja City Mall does not seem to provide sign language interpreter facilities. When I asked the staff, they said hearing-impaired visitors usually point to the items they want to buy.
As an alternative to voice information and running text, visitors can read the information signs provided by the mall or directly view the stores available there. Visually impaired visitors coming to JCM for the first time might find it difficult to navigate the environment, as the floor is flat. The only audible information available is from the information center, which provides a general overview of the mall, but this is scheduled and not frequent.
Additionally, the main lobby often has many stalls lined up, which they might bump into. A friend and a cane might serve as their guide. However, if they are alone, other alternatives are to ask the information center or seek assistance from the readily available security guards. Their pins even say “Ask Me,” indicating their willingness to help confused visitors or those needing assistance.
Visually impaired individuals only need to state their destination, and the staff will be willing to show them or even accompany them, as some areas lack facilities like audible lifts or Braille signage. As for wheelchair users, there seems to be no problem once they enter the mall. Wherever their destination, they just need to press the lift button that will take them to their desired floor.
c. Restroom Facilities Jogja City Mall's toilets are equipped with “accessible restrooms.” Inside, there is a sitting toilet with iron grab bars on the side to help users change positions. The room also includes a sink and a large mirror. The sink's position appears to be lower than sinks typically used by non-disabled individuals. According to staff there, physically disabled individuals sometimes prefer regular toilets over “accessible restrooms.” Another service is that every toilet always has a cleaning service, so if visitors encounter difficulties, they usually help.
For hearing-impaired and visually impaired visitors, the condition of the restrooms does not significantly affect their access. If they are unsure or don't know the location of the accessible restroom, they can ask a cleaner for directions. d. Prayer Room Facilities The main prayer room at Jogja City Mall is located on the GF (Ground Floor). This floor is level with the main terrace of JCM.
Additionally, there is another prayer room on the P2 floor, adjacent to the visitor car park. The P2 prayer room appears quieter compared to the busier GF prayer room. The GF prayer room is equipped with carpets and prayer essentials like mukena (prayer garments for women) and sarongs. The ablution area is located to the left of the prayer room. The male and female ablution areas are separate but adjacent.
The ablution area is narrower than the restrooms, with only about 5 taps lined up like typical ablution areas. For visually impaired and hearing-impaired visitors, the condition of the ablution area might not be a problem. If it's their first time, visually impaired individuals can simply ask the staff. However, the problem arises when physically disabled individuals want to perform ablution.
I asked the staff, for example, where a physically disabled person could perform ablution. The staff themselves were confused. Then I thought, perhaps when they want to pray, physically disabled individuals could pray at a mosque outside the mall. Another way is to perform ablution at the “accessible restroom” sink (but is that feasible?) or in a public toilet equipped with a special toilet shower.
Besides general visitors, visually impaired, hearing-impaired, and physically disabled individuals, it is also possible to have intellectually disabled visitors. For them, safety might be the priority. An alternative building design from an article I read suggests creating buildings without sharp corners, but rather with blunt angles. However, it seems many structures in Jogja City Mall still have sharp corners, such as stairs, pillars, fences, and other buildings.
Well, those were some of my observations regarding the Jogja City Mall building. Whether this building is disability-friendly or not, perhaps the readers or disabled visitors themselves can judge (Iis). Yogyakarta, April 19, 2015