Kampung
Definition
An informal urban settlement — a dense, organically grown neighbourhood characterised by narrow pedestrian lanes, mixed uses, high social cohesion, and incremental self-built construction. Kampung are a fundamental fabric of Indonesian cities, housing a majority of urban residents. Far from being merely slums, kampung have rich spatial variety and community infrastructure, and have become the focus of progressive urban design interventions that improve conditions without displacing residents.
Example
The Kampung Improvement Programme (KIP) initiated in Jakarta and Surabaya in the 1970s — later cited by the World Bank as a model — upgraded drainage, paths, and sanitation in dense kampung without demolition, demonstrating that improvement and community preservation are compatible.