American firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) recently unveiled its plans for a sustainable tower in Jakarta’s Rasuna Epicentrum neighbourhood, which will serve as the corporate headquarters for state-owned energy company, Pertamina and accommodate some 20,000 employees.

Rising to a height of more than 500 metres, the tower will be twice as high as Wisma 46, which holds the current title as Indonesia’s tallest building.

Gently tapering towards a rounded top, the tower opens up at the crown to reveal a ‘wind funnel’ that takes advantage of the prevailing winds and increase wind speeds at the upper floors to generate energy. The design is precisely calibrated for Jakarta’s proximity to the equator, and the tower’s curved facade will feature solar sunshades to allow natural light to enter while mitigating heat gain.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, the large-scale project is designed as a city within a city with vibrant public spaces and communal meeting areas, and will also feature a performing arts and exhibition pavilion, a mosque, as well as a centrally located energy plant – all linked via a covered walkway, aptly dubbed the ‘Energy Ribbon’.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
som.com