DESIGN CREATED BY PEOPLE ACTING AS A GROUP OR ENTITIES THAT SHARE OR ARE MOTIVATED BY ONE COMMON INTEREST
DESIGN CREATED BY PEOPLE ACTING AS A GROUP OR ENTITIES THAT SHARE OR ARE MOTIVATED BY ONE COMMON INTEREST
KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA
PUPR - Ministry of Public Works and Public
Housing of Indonesia
Masterplan
Completed
Emerging as a beacon of Indonesia’s future, our work “Nagara Rimba Nusa” was honored as the winning design in the national competition for the new capital city (IKN) in 2019. In close collaboration with Urban+, this vision marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey—one that continued through years of dedicated work until 2024, shaping the initial concept of a capital that belongs to both the people and the land.
Nagara Rimba Nusa envisions IKN not just as a city, but as a living, breathing entity—rooted in the wisdom of Indonesia’s ancient forests and diverse cultures. It is a city that listens to the land before building upon it, that respects its indigenous knowledge before defining its modern systems. In doing so, it invites a new paradigm: one where development is led by transformation, not destruction.
Environmental sensitivity stands at the core of the design, recognizing Kalimantan not as an empty canvas, but as a thriving ecosystem. Every intervention respects the landscape—preserving forest corridors, protecting biodiversity, and integrating green infrastructure that supports water cycles, carbon balance, and native species.
Nagara Rimba Nusa is our contribution to Indonesia’s future—a vision that emerges from the land, embraces its people, and inspires the world. As the capital rises, we believe it will stand not just as a seat of governance, but as a global symbol of how a nation can honor its roots while reaching toward a better, more sustainable tomorrow.
A new capital is rising—not merely a city of government, but a symbol of Indonesia’s future. This is more than a relocation; it is a reinvention. envisioned as the greatest gift to Kalimantan, to Indonesia, and to the world, this city aspires to become a living model of harmony between nature, humanity, and innovation. It is a place where biodiversity thrives, knowledge advances, and a new standard of human living is born— rooted in the very soil of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest.
Officially announced by President Joko Widodo on 26 August 2019, the relocation of the capital city to East Kalimantan marks a historic milestone. Located across the North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara regencies, this site is not chosen at random—it is chosen with deep intention. A region rich in ecological value, cultural depth, and strategic positioning, it embodies the vision for a capital that protects, not exploits.
This city is not built from concrete alone. It is built from principles: environmental conservation, social equity, and sustainable innovation. In an age where cities often dominate nature, this capital will emerge from nature. Forests will not be cleared—they will be celebrated. Biodiversity will not be compromised—it will be the foundation of every design and decision.
More than an administrative center, this city will become a frontier for global research, education, and innovation in environmental science, clean energy, and social wellbeing. It will be a destination for thinkers, creators, and guardians of the Earth. A city where children grow up breathing clean air, where rivers run clear, and where the rainforest is a classroom and sanctuary.
The decision to move the capital is driven by urgent realities. Jakarta, our current capital, bears the weight of overpopulation, environmental degradation, and rising vulnerability to climate disasters. Groundwater is depleting, floods are increasing, and air quality is declining—impacting the daily life and health of millions. The new capital is a bold answer to these challenges.
At its heart, this move reflects Indonesia’s commitment to equal development. For decades, progress has been concentrated on the island of Java. This city rebalances that growth—creating new centers of opportunity, investment, and prosperity across the archipelago. It is a catalyst for national unity and regional empowerment.
A national design competition has ignited imagination across the country, inviting architects, planners, and thinkers to shape a capital like no other. Guided by a transformative framework, the Masterplan redefines how we work, move, and live. It encourages a collective shift in mindset—from extractive habits to regenerative futures, from isolated urban systems to integrated human-ecological networks.
The new capital is not just a place—it is a promise. A promise that Indonesia can lead the world in creating a capital that heals the land while advancing society. A place where nature is not sacrificed for development but becomes the soul of progress. As the rainforest breathes life into this emerging city, the city, in return, becomes the proud guardian of the rainforest—and a lasting gift for generations to come.
Urban +
2020
2024 (Phase 1 - Initial Concept)
Design, Landscape Masterplan
318,777 ha
UTC/GMT +8 hours | 08:51 AM
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