VIVAnews - The Jakarta Tower design is selected through a contest that was opened in 1996. The design of the tower, which is projected as the tallest in the world, reflects the new order dominance at that time.
The contest regulates that the tower design must reflect the 'Development Trilogy', Pancasila (Indonesian State Ideology) and Indonesia's Independence Day on 17 August. The Development Trilogy is a national development issue implemented by the late president Soeharto during his New Order era.
"Pak Harto once even asked to change the name into Trilogy Tower," said Roesdiman Soegiarso, the director of PT Prasada Japa Pamudja which is the developer for the Jakarta Tower, in an interview with VIVAnews early this week.
From a series of world class architects' designs who participated in the contest, the government chose the East China Architecture Design & Research Institute (ECADI)'s work. This design company has also designed the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, China.
The Jakarta Tower is designed with a base composed of a platform resting on three separate supports (or pylons) that are about 300 meters hight. These cylindrical pylons are 13.5 meters in diameter and reflects the Development Trilogy, i.e. a national dynamic stability, high economic growth, and equal chances in development.
There is a hollow space between the three pylons, at the height of 52 until 125 meters, designed for an office building with 17 floors. The number of floors represents the date of Indonesia's Independence day.
Then, at the heights of 151, 194, 237 and 280 meters, the space between the pylons is designed with a similar structure, each with two floors. "There are actually three floors each but only two floors are visible from outside. So it is as if the total number is eight as the symbol of the Independence Day's month," said Roesdiman.
ECADI's design is still the chosen one even though the New Order era has collapsed. But the developer does not relate to the era's symbols. "Generally, the design still remains the same. The issue on what the symbols represent, we let the government decide," said Roesdiman.
The Jakarta Tower will be developed as a center of telecommunication and multimedia networks with high technology. This tower will also be developed into a lifestyle center by integrating technology, entertainment, education, tourism, and commerce aspects.
The tower will be equipped by a number of facilities such as tourist pavilion, 144-thousand-square-meter parking area, seventeen-floor building, evolving restaurant, shopping malls, cafes, museum of Indonesian history, hotels, exhibition centers and multimedia center.
The foundation of this tower has been constructed. This 558-meter-high tower is expected to be fully operational in 2012.
Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman
