Gravity-Driven Productive Terrace

Gravity-Driven Productive Terraces reimagines steep agricultural slopes in Ciloto, Indonesia, as a multifunctional landscape that integrates water management, agricultural production, and community development. Located between protected forest and expanding residential areas, the site experiences frequent rainfall, fragmented smallholder farming, and rapid surface runoff, resulting in soil erosion, limited water infiltration, and increasing pressure on local livelihoods. Rather than relying on engineered drainage infrastructure, the project harnesses the site’s topography to transform rainfall into a productive resource.

The proposal restructures the hillside into a network of gravity-driven productive terraces that slow, store, and redistribute stormwater while maintaining agricultural productivity. Cut-and-fill terraces follow contour lines to create a zigzag flow path that extends runoff travel time and reduces flow velocity. A complementary system of diversion drains, vegetated bunds, and strategically located retention ponds further enhances temporary water storage, sediment control, and natural filtration, improving both hydrological performance and soil health.

Beyond water management, the project strengthens connections between agriculture and the surrounding community through boardwalks, viewing platforms, and public access routes that support recreation, local tourism, and small-scale economic opportunities. The design’s performance is evaluated through parametric runoff modelling and flood simulations, demonstrating significant reductions in surface runoff and increased landscape water retention during storm events.

By integrating ecological infrastructure with productive farming, Gravity-Driven Productive Terraces presents a scalable model for climate-resilient mountain landscapes. The project demonstrates how working with natural topography can create multifunctional agricultural systems that enhance environmental resilience while supporting local economies and long-term landscape stewardship.