The alleyway along the river was roofed and made for people to relax

When I was walking down an alley along the river in Jakarta, the roof appeared above my head before I knew it. Even though it's zinc roof, the alleyway was somewhat of an arcade, with a roof to keep out the wind and rain. There were chairs and tables out in the alleyway, where the locals could relax and enjoy themselves. In fact, when I arrived in this arcaded alleyway, an old man with a cap was sitting on a bench in front of me, and beyond him, I could see a man hunched over in a chair. I don't know what the intentions of the people who installed the roof were, but this place seemed to function as part of the surrounding community.

A place like this could be wandered in by a casual traveler like me, or a hawker could come with his wares to sell. No qualifications or titles are required to get in here. It's not closed off to the outside world. The fact that there is no specific role for what it will be used for is also a point where each person can find their own role in this place. I feel that a place like this, where people can use it as they please, will make the community come alive.

On the other hand, the redevelopment of Tokyo's Shimokitazawa and other places like it, where people want to clear out the cluttered alleys around the station, seems to be taking away the vitality of the area.

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