11.0 Rasuna Epicentrum, Jakarta - a Genuine Move Towards Urbanization!

Over the last 20 years as I have watched Jakarta transform, I have always yearned for it to grow into a truly Urban City with streets clearly defined by building and designed for pedestrians so walking from one building to the other can be an enjoyable experience. The pedestrian friendly environment, the development of mixed use together with a good public transport system I felt would turn Jakarta into a truly wonderful city. In my last blog, I wrote about my experience of the Busway and how it can be a Catalyst for urbanization of Jakarta. It still needs lots of improvements, but there is great potential.  

Rasuna Epicentrum Master Plan

In that article I noted that the connections to stations are still lacking the urban spaces that are pedestrian friendly and that integrated these stations to the existing urban fabric. One development I recently visited as I experienced the Busway is the Rasuna Epicentrum which I consider to be in the right direction for Jakarta. So what is it that makes me say this is the right direction?


1. The entry to the Epicentrum is along Jalan Rasuna Said and other than the monument sign and the colored paving, the scale of the road does not dominate nor is there the existence of over scaled arches or gateway.



Entrance to Rasuna Epicentrum off Jl Rasauna Said

2. The road is connected directly to the Busway station and the sidewalk is generous and pedestrian friendly. Even the curbs are lower than the standard in Jakarta making it easy to cross the road which is a modest 2 lanes in each direction.

Road to Jl Rasuna Said and Busway Station

3. The center piece of the development is the Bakrie Office tower of black glass in a simple unique twisting sculptural shape. The tower meets the ground in a way were generous walkways are in place and changes in level are well managed.

Bakrie Tower

4. The Bakrie Tower the Epicentrum Walk (Retail, F&B area and some condominium and hotel under construction) are all tied together nicely with a pedestrian urban space that is narrow tight and partially open and partially roofed. This pedestrian core concept is certainly a good model for such a mixed use development.

Pedestrian connector between buildings - Grey paving is future tram track

5. Across the main office tower is a cluster of residential tower originally built over 15 years ago and with this new development, gaining new life. These towers are more suburban towers in garden, but some of them are close enough to the center for walking.

River Walk with Taman Rasuna Apt. in the Background

6. The walk between the pedestrian core and the residential towers is now an enjoyable experience with the development of the river that runs through the development. The river edge has been developed appropriately to an urban river front with pedestrian paths and a very nice scenic area for both pedestrians and residents.


7. Also located at the entrance along Rasuna Said is the Gelora Kuningan and Pasar Festival, a sports complex with an abundance of retail and F&B.



8. The development has set up a feeder bus system that connects some of the residential towers further away to the commercial core, Pasar Festival and Busway.

Shuttle Bus Map

9. Living or working in this development you have good pedestrian access for dining, entertainment, recreation (Gelora Kuningan) and easy access to the Busway and central business district.


This is the kind of development Jakarta is in need of and hope it can be an example for others to follow and move towards a truely Urbanized Jakarta City.

Jiwa Studio

Singapore, October 2011

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