While critics point to Nusantara’s environmental impact, remote location, and accelerated timeline, the project offers a glimpse into how we might build cities from scratch in the 21st century.

The decision to move from Jakarta dates back to colonial times. What’s different now is the scale of ambition and the emphasis on sustainability.

Nusantara was conceived as part of a strategy to reduce developmental inequality between Java and other islands in the Indonesian archipelago.
Courtesy of URBAN+ and Ministry of Public Work and Housing of Indonesia

One of Ridwan’s key contributions has been prioritising public spaces and connectivity. He proposed a “public ground floor” approach, where ground-level areas are used for social interactions, retail, and community activities.

In Nusantara, the ground level of buildings will be reserved for public use. Building facades and rooftops will host vegetation.
Courtesy of URBAN+ and Ministry of Public Work and Housing of Indonesia

As a net-zero-carbon city, Nusantara promises several groundbreaking features. It will run entirely on renewable energy, permit only electric vehicles within its boundaries, and pioneer a unique approach to urban forestry where architecture deliberately takes a backseat to nature.

Nusantara will derive all its energy from renewable sources and ensure 80% of mobility is supported by public transport, cycling, or walking.
Courtesy of URBAN+ and Ministry of Public Work and Housing of Indonesia

Ridwan knows infrastructure alone won’t build Nusantara; people need a reason to move. With his suggestions to foster job opportunities, create local attractions, and offer tax breaks, he hopes Nusantara will become a place where Indonesians feel a sense of purpose and opportunity.

Beyond curating the city’s design, Ridwan addresses public concerns about deforestation. He clarifies that Nusantara’s site was an old eucalyptus plantation, now being rewilded with native trees to revive biodiversity, creating a genuine tropical forest.

Once an industrial eucalyptus plantation, Nusantara’s plan includes the planting of 21 million new tropical trees.
Courtesy of URBAN+ and Ministry of Public Work and Housing of Indonesia

However, the project faces significant challenges. The pressure to complete phase one quickly has led to an accelerated construction timeline, while the longer-term challenge lies in attracting people and businesses to this new urban centre.

The project team acknowledges that building a truly vibrant city requires patience — possibly decades — and a delicate balance between government planning and private sector investment.