#JKTarchitecture: Wisma Metropolitan I & II

3/29/2016

#JKTarchitecture
By Barbara Hahijary

Besides the infamous Jakarta traffic, one of the things that define Jalan Sudirman is the stretch of high-rise buildings, like the WTC complex. The site was the work of PT Jakarta Land, a property company jointly owned by local multidisciplinary group CCM and Hongkong Land. The collaboration of these two groups started in the early 70s, during the development of Jakarta Land’s first project and the first building in the WTC cluster, Wisma Metropolitan I.

Upon its completion in 1976, Wisma Metropolitan I was one of the first occupants of the central business district. The office tower, designed by Hong Kong-based P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd (formerly known as Palmer&Turner), portrays a simple architectural style with a white, rectangular façade and an equally simple, repeating pattern of window flanks. A green roundabout lies at the centre of the cluster.

The technology at the time has already allowed the making of expanded columns for maximum support, resulting in a 1,000 sqm (semi-gross) column-free space on each floor. This practical design was mirrored onto the neighbouring Wisma Metropolitan II that was completed in 1984. Since then, the complex has become one of the most prestigious business complexes in Jakarta.

“We had our complex rebranded in January 2014, from Metropolitan Complex to WTC Complex. Therefore, changing the name of the initial building (Wisma Metropolitan to WTC) is part of the project,” says Arlina Miryanthie, Marketing & Communication manager of PT Jakarta Land. Nowadays the two buildings are more commonly known as WTC 5 and WTC 6. The pair of buildings are undergoing a technological upgrade, particularly their air-conditioning systems, generators, elevator lifts and power supply backbone. The nondescript yet classic buildings remain the gem of the Karet intersection.

Photo Courtesy of PT Jakarta Land and Hongkong Land

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Barbara Hahijary
Author
Barbara earned her bachelor's degree in architecture from the Interior Architecture Program of the University of Indonesia in 2013. Historical or heritage buildings, as well as utilitarian design, fascinates her as it is the interaction between people and architecture that remains her favourite topic to explore. Besides architecture, her interests include design, handcrafts, literature and social issues.