Ibu Kota Negara

Weaving a Nation Through a Sustainable Capital Vision

CLIENT

Government of Republic of Indonesia

REGION

Kalimantan, Indonesia

YEAR

Proposed in 2019

GFA

—

DISCIPLINES

Architecture • Planning

Commissioned through a global competition, VERITAS’ master plan for Indonesia’s new capital — Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) — proposes a resilient, people-centric city rooted in sustainability and national identity. Inspired by the metaphor of weaving, the plan reflects Indonesia’s unity in diversity, integrating ecological sensitivity with civic form and forward-thinking urban strategies.

Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) envisions more than a city—it is a national symbol of unity, resilience, and progress. Designed to elevate quality of life and economic vitality, IKN integrates government functions with citizen well-being in a sustainable, living environment.

ARCHITECTURE

In 2019, VERITAS was selected by President Joko Widodo as one of three international firms to develop the conceptual master plan for Ibu Kota Negara (IKN), Indonesia’s new administrative capital in East Kalimantan, Borneo. Chosen from over 700 global entries, the VERITAS’s winning proposal is a visionary synthesis of cultural identity, ecological stewardship, and future-ready planning.

The masterplan is shaped by the metaphor of weaving—a tapestry of Indonesia’s diverse races, religions, generations, and classes—stitched into a coherent urban framework. Rooted in environmental respect, the city responds to natural topography, forest reserves, and coastal mangroves, reserving over 40% of land for interconnected open spaces and linear parks. Focusing on macro planning with transportation frameworks, development guidelines, and both regional and local context analysis, these sets of data are translated into a cohesive, functional, and adaptable urban system.

We worked in collaboration with Ma-Ru Architects based in Jakarta, redefining the plan into a bold, inclusive vision laid on a 1km x 1km grid of self-sustaining community blocks, each for 10,000 residents.

Designed to be a low-carbon smart city, IKN prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and mass transit over private vehicles. Sustainable infrastructure includes district cooling systems, smart energy grids, rainwater retention beneath public squares, and elevated urban platforms anticipating future sea-level rise. The administrative core balances monumental formality—housing the Presidential Palace, ministries, courts, and national mosque—with expansive civic squares and ceremonial avenues.

PLANNING

The concept for the new capital city is not just to be an administrative city, but a living city that will be a catalyst to transform the economy and will ensure a high quality of life, not just for Kalimantan but for Indonesia, paving the way for the nation to take leadership in the region.

The underlying design principle for the new capital city is to bring together City and Nature. VERITAS’ winning design, entitled Kota Seribu Galur, weaves together the multiple threads of Indonesia’s multiple cultures to represent its unique diversity and create a strong symbol of National Unity. It respects the topography, nature and cultural heritage of the local people. Our vision for the National Capital City master plan lies beyond the physical planning of the new city. We believe the master plan must become the catalyst for development of a strong economy that will ensure a high quality of life for Kalimantan and the people of Indonesia.