Nusantara Announces Cultural Center Design Winners

RRI.CO.ID, Nusantara - The Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) announced the winners of the Cultural Center Building and District Design Competition. The announcement was made alongside the launch of the Phase I IKN Development book at the Coordinating Ministry 3 Office, Core Government Center (KIPP) Nusantara on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The Nusantara Cultural Center is envisioned as a space to embrace, celebrate, and develop the nation’s identity through culture. It is aligned along the national axis with the State Palace, Plaza Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the IKN Authority Office, and the National Mosque.

The center will feature Democracy Plaza and Adi Budaya Plaza. These plazas will be equipped with key facilities such as museums, a library serving as a knowledge dissemination center, art galleries, and sports facilities to strengthen Nusantara’s cultural ecosystem

The competition winners are: First Place – Cerlang Nusantara, Second Place – Simfoni Puspa Segara, and Third Place – Kisah yang Ditenun oleh Rimba.

The winning design embraces the concept of a civilization journey, from the megalithic era toward the future. As one of the oldest civilizations in Nusantara, the design reflects the belief that history and tradition do not end in the past.

Instead, history and tradition continue to guide society toward the future. The main building is designed as aprimastic stone structure, incorporating Kalimantan's local wisdom through the philosophy of the tree of life, symbolizing growth and governance within the architecture.

IKN Authority Head, Basuki Hadimuljono, stated that the Cultural Center development will emphasize collaboration and openness for future design enhancements.

“Copyrights are owned by the IKN Authority. The winners may collaborate going forward if there are improved suggestions. Each design already includes preliminary budget estimates. We will review the RAB (preliminary cost estimates) and consider budget availability. Construction could begin as early as 2027,” Basuki said.

One of the main competition team members, Yori Antar, shared the inspiration behind the design.

“IKN will inspire the world, as it demonstrates the richness of our culture and traditions,” Yori said.

At the same event, the IKN Authority also launched two books: Shaping the City of the Future by Wicaksono Sarosa and Sarwo Handayani, and Building the City of the Future, compiled by the IKN Authority Team. Both books document the planning and early implementation of IKN development.

The Nusantara Cultural Center is expected to serve as a milestone for strengthening national identity. It will also position the new capital as a city built not only for government functions but as a space of civilization rooted in culture and oriented toward the future.