Jakarta Tower project

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Jakarta will be the city with the highest skyscraper building in 2009. Jakarta Tower (558m), is meant to be the icon of Indonesia. Being built in the area of Kemayoran-Central Jakarta, the tower is higher than the CN Tower (553m).

The construction started in 1997, but had been put on hold due to the economic crisis. The project was continued in 2004 under PT. Prasada Japa Pamudja, replacing PT Indocitra Grahabawana (was owned by Sudwikatmono, Suharto's stepbrother) which was the project's developer in 1997.  

In 1995, international architecture design firms were invited to join the skyscaper design competition. The design should represent Trilogy Pembangunan (Government’s national development philosophy), Pancasila (the national philosophy, which consist of five factors), and August 17 (Indonesia's Independence Day). The winner was the design by Murphi/Iohn from the United States, but since the design was too expensive to build, the runner up's design was chosen to be develop, a design by East China Architecture Design & Research Institute (ECADI). The construction is approximately costs 2.7trillion Rupiahs (US$ 314million).  

The tower is 40,550 square meters, with 10,000 capacity convention center, four star-200 bedroom hotel, 4,000 square meter education centre, 8,000 square meters of office space, restaurants, malls, observatory deck. The tower meant to be the centre of business, pleasure, multimedia, broadcasting and education. The highest level is intended to be the Christian Centre. It has been told that The Bethany Church management is the biggest donor for the project. 

Jakarta Tower project is expected to be finish in 2009, and open in 2010. It should be the symbol of Indonesian's pride. As it to myself, I wonder if we need such building with all the poverty, and nature disasters that have been happening in our country.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2007:)

tiqa!