Somewhere between the places we go and the lives we build: mapping the everyday life of Radian Kusumajaya.

The Lay of the Land.

Radian Kusumajaya, better known as Rad, is a twenty-nine-year-old urban planning consultant based in Bandung, Indonesia. A graduate of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Institut Teknologi Bandung, he is particularly interested in urban design, walkability, and public spaces.

He is practical, sociable and observant, and enjoys making people laugh at their own expense. Although he values his independence, he stays closely connected to his family and friends.

According to his younger brother, he is probably more annoying than this introduction suggests.

The Particulars

Things You Might Learn Along the Way

• Rad will notice a poorly designed sidewalk before realizing he has been walking in the wrong direction.
• He’s sociable and enjoys good company, but he doesn’t need to be surrounded by people all the time. He’s perfectly content with a quiet afternoon and nothing particular on the agenda.
• He enjoys finding cafés through recommendations from friends rather than relying entirely on popular lists.
• He’s practical when it comes to making plans, although he occasionally assumes his preferred solution is the most obvious one. Whether everyone agrees is another matter.
• His way of showing affection is rarely dramatic. He remembers the little things, checks in without making it a big deal, and follows through when he says he’ll be there.
• He has a particular fondness for his own jokes, especially when they land exactly as intended. Unfortunately for the people around him, this only encourages him.
• He appreciates familiar places and unhurried conversations. Sometimes, he’d rather revisit his usual spot than spend an afternoon looking for somewhere new.
• His definition of a good day is fairly uncomplicated: good food, good company, no unnecessary problems, and, if possible, somewhere decent to park.

A Man of His Own Making.

Radian Kusumajaya, known as Rad to most people, was raised in Bandung by a family who valued consistency over grand gestures. He was raised in an Indonesian household where care was shown through practical actions: ensuring everyone had eaten, remembering the little things and being there when it mattered. It was an ordinary upbringing in the best sense of the word; one that taught him to appreciate the quieter ways in which people look after each other.

As the older of two brothers, Rad naturally grew into a more responsible role, though that never stopped him from having fun. His relationship with his younger brother, Mikhail, is familiar and easy-going, built on years of shared routines, the occasional disagreement, and plenty of teasing. Rad is the sort of person who checks in, offers advice whether it is requested or not, and lightens the mood when a conversation gets too serious. Beneath the banter, however, there has never been much doubt that they have each other’s backs.

Finding His Place in the City.

Having grown up in Bandung, Rad became familiar with the city long before he understood what urban planning actually involved. Over time, he started to pay closer attention to the details that shaped everyday life, such as how neighbourhoods were connected, whether a street was pleasant to walk along and why certain public spaces invited people to linger while others were simply passed through. This casual observation gradually evolved into a genuine interest in how cities were designed and experienced.

This led him to study Urban and Regional Planning at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). University provided him with the technical knowledge to understand how cities grow and function, and taught him to consider more than just maps, zoning plans and development proposals.

Work in Progress.

These days, Rad works as an urban planning consultant at a consulting firm in Bandung. His work involves contributing to planning and development projects, reviewing proposals, conducting research, and working alongside colleagues and other stakeholders to find practical solutions to urban challenges. Depending on the project, his days might be spent going through reports and plans at the office or visiting sites to see how a place functions beyond what can be captured on paper.

For Rad, good urban planning is not simply about making a place look organized or impressive. It is about making sure it works for the people who use it. He understands that real projects come with limitations and compromises, so he values solutions that are practical rather than perfect only in theory.

Working in the city he grew up in also gives him a familiar point of reference. Bandung is not an abstract subject on a planning map; it is home, with its recognizable streets, favorite corners, changing neighborhoods, and the occasional road that tests his patience. He can appreciate the city while still being critical of the way certain things are planned.

Outside of work, Rad keeps life relatively uncomplicated. He has his usual cafés, familiar routes, a handful of people he can call without arranging things weeks in advance, and a tendency to turn an ordinary walk into an unsolicited commentary on the city’s infrastructure. He enjoys good food, easy company, and conversations that wander well beyond their original subject. He is sociable without needing to be constantly surrounded by people, and ambitious without letting his career become his entire personality.