Agats: The Waterfront City of the Asmat

Abstract

The development along and within the Asewets River presents the most characteristic and memorable city form of the city of Agats, Papua, Indonesia. The river and the city’s raised roads form an integrated circulation pattern and together played an important part in the development of the city. The city of Agats is unique in that all structures are built above wood or concrete pilings. The unique presence of the elevated bazaar street connects buildings likewise raised on piles. The structural elevation of the city above the ground keeps the settlement dry even during rainy season, when there is a 4 kilometer tidal change, transforming a waterfront city into an elevated city above the water. The bazaar street is the main element of structural formation of the more cosmopolitan city of Agats where the Asmat share their city with new migrants from other areas in Indonesia and all the major activities take place along the raised boardwalk road.