In the heart of Jakarta’s fast-moving rhythm, moments of stillness are often hard to find. Yet sometimes, all it takes is a quiet corner, a nice chair, and a good book to remind us how it feels to slow down, to wander, and to simply breathe.
With that spirit, ASHTA District 8 presents a collective Free Reading Space. It is more than shelves filled with books, it is our way of bringing back the joy of reading to the everyday, and of creating a sanctuary where literacy, art, and community can live side by side.
Collaboration with Bookhive Jakarta
This initiative is supported by collaboration with Bookhive Jakarta, a community dedicated in building free-to-borrow libraries in public parks across the city from Menteng’s Taman Situ Lembang to other green spaces. Their mission is simple but powerful which is to reignite curiosity through reading and to give secondhand books new life through sharing.
That same mission now lives at ASHTA, where more than 200 books are displayed through the Free Reading Spaces across the our area. Sourced from Bookhive and ASHTA’s own book donation program, the collection spans novels, fantasy, romance, poetry, comics, art, design, business, psychology, and self-development. Each title is a doorway, and every reader who takes part keeps the spirit of storytelling alive.
You can find the Free Reading Space at these area:
- Marketplace, Level 1
- Upper Marketplace, Level 2
- Rooftop Garden, Level 8
The Free Reading Space invites everyone to participate in three simple yet meaningful ways:
- Read Freely — Pick a book, settle in, and let its story carry you away. When you’re done, return it for the next curious reader.
- Swap a Book — Trade up books with the collection and bring your own to enrich the shelves for others.
- Donate a Book — Share books in good condition, from novels to comics to art titles. Each donation plants a seed of knowledge waiting to be discovered.
The First Mall to Bring a Free Reading Space in Jakarta
“ASHTA District 8 is proud to be the first mall in Indonesia to bring a Free Reading Space into a commercial setting,” said Leonardo, Center Experience ASHTA District 8. “This is not only about placing books on display, but about building a space where stories, creativity, and community can flourish together.”
Here, every book you open is an invitation to see the world differently. Every book you leave behind is a gift for someone you may never meet. And every moment spent here is proof that in the middle of Jakarta’s restless pace, there is always time to pause, to read, and to dream.
So next time you’re in SCBD, take a moment to walk through ASHTA District 8. Find the Free Reading Space at Upper Marketplace L2, sit down with a story, and let the words find their way to you. Because sometimes, the greatest journeys begin with just one page.
