We are still in awe of discovering these talents. Not from outer space, Alien DC is an Indonesian firm whose name is an acronym representing its expertise in Architecture, Landscape, Interior, Estates, and Nusantara Design Consultant. The team is young, with most members, including the leader, under 40—perfectly positioned to compete with second-generation designers. In just eight years, they have grown into a credible bureau, designing top-notch workspaces and high-rise buildings in Jakarta and expanding further into the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The number of their projects has grown in parallel with their team size—from only two in 2016 to over 200 members now—and we had the opportunity to meet their leader, Hardyanthony Wiratama, also known by his nickname Hardy.
STORY BY Barbara Hahijary | PHOTOS BY Hardyanthony Wiratama
Can you tell me about your background?
Let me start with mine. After graduating from Universitas Indonesia in 2007, I worked at DP Architects Singapore for three years before joining a boutique firm under Hans Brouwer, who had previously worked for Sir Norman Foster. I returned to Indonesia to work for PAI for a year before going back to Singapore to join P&T Consultants Pte Ltd, Singapore. Upon returning home, I served as a project director at the Singaporean company AI Associates in Jakarta before I began pursuing my own projects.
Could you share with us on how your company was founded?
In 2016, I secured two significant tenders from the Indonesian logistics giant JNE for office and warehouse projects, completing both as a freelancer with just my ID and taxpayer cards. Following this success, Johari Zein, founder of JNE whom I had the privilege to meet, decided to invest in my venture through his venture capital firm, PT Global Basket Mulia Investama. This marked the establishment of PT Alien Bangun Nusantara later that year, with me as director and Johari as commissioner.
During Alien’s early years, Bayu, a colleague from Singapore, joined me and played a crucial role in ideation, design, and team expansion. We successfully managed and secured closed tenders for the Merak and Bakauheni Harbours, key ports in Indonesia favoured by Rini Mariani Soemarno, then minister of State-Owned Enterprises, leading to recurring projects within the State-owned enterprises such as PT PP (Persero) Tbk and PT Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk - WIKA.
Another milestone was our completion of projects for PT PP, which paved the way for subsequent projects such as the airport train station in Solo and PP Land Transyogi Apartment, along with others initiated by PP Land. This success opened doors to engagements with other state-owned enterprises, including Danareksa, for whom we recently designed a building.
Our reputation grew further with engagements from national banks and financial institutions. Winning the tender for Bank Mandiri’s 32-storey building, encompassing the banking hall and typical office interiors, was particularly notable. Our presentation to the Board of Directors secured us another project, the Plaza Mandiri branch office, which introduced a smart concept aligned with their ‘Livin’ digital transformation. This initiative was well-received by Erick Thohir, the current minister of State-Owned Enterprises, and gained significant attention. Subsequently, we were entrusted with setting design standards for BNI, BJB and Mandiri from 2021 to 2022.
Expanding our portfolio, we ventured into projects for private banks such as CIMB Niaga, Bank Danamon and Amar Bank, as well as standardizing designs for Telkomsel’s façade.
How did Alien DC go survive through the COVID-19 pandemic?
Fortunately, we connected with key clients such as Angkasa Pura I, Wika, and Waskita who had ongoing projects with established budgets. Surprisingly, companies like Siemens and ABB utilised the downtime for workspace renovations. However, the pandemic also impacted us, leading to temporary wage cuts. Thankfully, in 2021, we secured a significant project standardising Bank Mandiri’s designs, allowing us to gradually restore wages and deeply appreciate our team’s efforts to this day.
How do you define the design crafted by your firm?
As a multidisciplinary design firm, we aim to make meaningful contributions to our surroundings. Our name, Alien DC, reflects our mission to deliver unique, otherworldly designs. We continually evolve our design approach to offer something unprecedented, integrating the latest technologies into our projects.
Combining straight lines and curves creates a comforting and futuristic design. When we started in 2016, organic designs were rare, but this is now our goal. Human and natural forms lack corners, so architecture should reflect this organic value to evoke a sense of belonging and comfort.
Our work embodies boldness, responsibility, and sustainability. Bold in pushing boundaries and fostering uniqueness, responsible in feasibility and constructability, and sustainable in meeting needs, contributing to the environment, and maintaining relevance for decades.
What about your design approach?
My design approach is influenced by architects like Zaha Hadid and UNStudio, known for creating designs that foster human-nature interaction. We use contextual metaphors; for instance, a coral reef might inspire a building in Manado, while an urban tree embodies the atmosphere we aim for in Jakarta. This approach involves engaging in dialogue with our clients.
We adopt a research-driven methodology akin to practices by OMA and BIG, thoroughly exploring the site, demographics, and context before shaping the design concept and refining the architectural form.
Is there a specific minimum size or criteria for projects designed by Alien DC?
Whilst my experience initially focused on designing houses, it primarily involves large-scale mixed-use projects such as offices and shopping malls. We do not limit project scales; our current interior projects range from 75 sqm to 8,000 sqm for offices and up to 25,000 sqm for harbours. Our portfolio encompasses diverse categories, including commercial projects, residential homes, office renovations, and beauty clinics.
How many personnel comprise the team at Alien DC?
Our team comprises 210 personnel, including five leading design partners and directors. Our team encompasses architects, drafters, 3D visualizers, interior designers, project managers, estimators, and other roles. In 2016, we started with only eight team members. Unlike other firms that focus on justifying their team size, I prioritise recruiting top talent. Whenever I encounter creative applicants, I hire them, believing in our human capital and preparing for future projects.
How does your team contribute to the development of the new capital city of IKN?
Architects and our team play pivotal roles in IKN by conceptualizing designs for key entities such as BUMN Tower, BUMN Center, BTN, Bank Mandiri, and BNI. Additionally, we transform preliminary designs into construction blueprints while maintaining fidelity to the overarching design concept. IKN adheres to stringent design standards managed by a specialized review team, and we incorporate a natural form decoding approach to ensure alignment with these guidelines.
What upcoming projects are you currently involved in?
We are currently engaged in projects developed by Charoen Pokphand Indonesia and Bank Mandiri at PIK 2, with upcoming banking projects such as Danamon, CIMB Niaga, BTN, BRI Data Center, and Bank Mandiri Financial Center. Additionally, we have completed a commercial project in Congo and a 5-star hotel in Tunisia. Since last year, we have been exporting our designs to the UAE through our collaboration with property developer Emaar and aim to further expand our presence with clients in Saudi Arabia and other regions.