"The creativity of participants is key to producing a design that reflects Indonesia's determination to advance in the future," Head of the IKN Authority Basuki Hadimuljono remarked in Nusantara on Saturday.
He explained that the competition began with a registration stage on November 5–15, followed by document verification on November 16. A technical briefing was then held on Friday (November 21) at the Coordinating Ministry Office 3 in the IKN Core Government Area.
Hadimuljono described the briefing as an essential step to ensure that contestants’ ideas align with the government’s grand vision of the Cultural Center Complex as a special zone dedicated to accommodating, celebrating, and promoting national identity.
He noted that the 53 contestants will now craft their design proposals, with the deadline set for January 5 next year. Their submissions will be evaluated through a series of selection processes scheduled until January 22.
The former public works and public housing minister then said the winner will be announced on the following day, while the awarding ceremony will take place on January 30.
Elaborating on the planned complex, Hadimuljono stated that it will be situated in a straight line with the IKN State Palace, the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) Plaza, the IKN Authority Office, and the State Mosque.
The cultural area is envisioned to comprise two plazas featuring key facilities, such as a museum, a library, an art gallery, and a sports hall.
The IKN Authority chief expressed hope that the competition will produce a design that values aesthetics and delivers inclusive public spaces supporting the development of arts and cultures.
Meanwhile, the Culture Ministry's Director General of the Protection for Culture and Tradition, Restu Gunawan, called on participants to create designs that embody the identity of Indonesia as a nation.
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Translator: M. Ghofar, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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