EVALUATION OF LIVABLE CITY INDICATORS: A CASE STUDY OF SURAKARTA CITY

Abstract

The City of Surakarta was named the most livable city in Indonesia by the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners (IAP) in 2022, achieving a livability index score of 77 percent. However, behind this achievement lie several fundamental issues, such as the presence of slum settlements, unequal access to basic services, and a transportation system that remains non-inclusive—raising concerns about the accuracy of the assessment. This study aims to evaluate the alignment between the actual conditions of Surakarta and the indicators of the Livable City Index by IAP, using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through document analysis, field observations, and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, and analyzed using triangulation methods to ensure the validity of the findings. The research reveals a disparity between the city’s formal livability status and its real conditions, particularly in terms of Green Open Space (RTH), which only reaches 9%, and limited access to adequate housing for low-income groups. These findings suggest that the current indicators do not fully reflect the needs of the community in a fair and inclusive manner, highlighting the need for improvements that make the indicators more contextual and responsive to the complexities of urban realities.