#JKTarchitecture: Wisma 46 (BNI)

3/15/2016

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#JKTarchitecture
By Barbara Hahijary

Wisma 46 has been captivating people’s attention with its fountain pen-shaped (alternatively, phinisi boat’s sail) antenna since 1996. From the ground until the tip of this antenna, the skyscraper is 262 metres tall. You might have seen the office building when cruising along Jakarta’s main road, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, or in the video game named Need For Speed: Underground 2.

The 46-storey building (hence the name) was designed by Zeidler Roberts Partnership (Zeidler Partnership Architects) and DP Architects Private Ltd. It was named after the inauguration year of its holder, Bank Negara Indonesia.

Designed to adhere to modern architecture principles, the industrial elements such as concrete, steel and glass walls dominate the façade of the building. The lower 200 metres of the building is enveloped in concrete walls flanked with square windows. The tower continues upwards with a glass façade covered with rectangular modules. To accommodate its height, Wisma 46 has a total of 23 high-speed elevators.

Wisma 46 has enjoyed the title of Indonesia’s tallest building for 20 years now, but it will soon be stripped off this title upon the imminent completion of a higher construction located in Kuningan area, Jakarta.

Photos by Taro Jonathan and Seputar Jakarta

#JKTarchitecture is a series of articles documenting the design of iconic buildings in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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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.