MRT Kota Station: Catalysing a Historic Node

One of the much-anticipated transportation projects in Jakarta is the mass rapid transit (MRT) expansion. First opened to the public in March 2019 after six years of construction, the railway’s first phase spans 13 stations across South and Central Jakarta, passing through the metropolis’s largest business districts. Serving over 60,000 commuters daily on average, the MRT is estimated to reduce emissions by around 85,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) a year¹ or the same as removing 19,000 cars off the road. As of 2022, 10 per cent of Jakarta MRT’s electricity needs reportedly come from new and renewable energy sources.²

Two more phases of expansion will connect the railway to West and North Jakarta near the coast, supporting trade, commerce and heritage tourism activities in the area. Considering how the MRT’s connectivity has helped reinvigorate older neighbourhoods such as Blok M, it is also aimed to revitalise historic and cultural spaces in its next phase, notably the Batavia old town, also known as Kota Tua.

A design competition was held in 2022 for the MRT Kota station, and the winning design by LABO. is currently under development with completion expected by 2027.

A lively vision

Following urban design guidelines, the upcoming MRT Kota station will be in the south part of Kota Tua, designated as a transit-oriented development (TOD) zone. The station sits along the main street of Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan in Pinangsia, West Jakarta, with a tunnel extending towards Beos Plaza that faces a 90-year-old heritage building: the terminus commuter train station.

Currently, streets in the Kota Tua area are not considered appealing or enjoyable for public access due to their cars-first approach and dilapidated condition. The area is dominated by old and empty shophouses, where people merely pass through to reach a handful of key destinations like the Glodok Chinatown Market, Bank Mandiri Museum and Pantjoran Tea House.

Hence, the new MRT station design by LABO. also takes into consideration the liveability of its surrounding area, aiming to enliven both Kota’s present-day needs and historic character. The design does not aim to be extraneous, but rather, it will be defined based on its functional components.

Efficient design

As a public facility, the station is designed to present a modern interface that will be easily maintained. The proposed design primarily incorporates transparent materials, such as glass canopies for the underpass entrance and reflective surfaces for the underground spaces.

[This is an excerpt. Subscribe to the digital edition or hardcopy to read the complete article.]

PROJECT DATA

Related stories:

Cakra Selaras Wahana (CSW): Articulating a Lost Roundabout

Cakra Selaras Wahana (CSW): Articulating a Lost Roundabout | FuturArc

Jakarta may be known for its modern cityscape, but it is in fact one of Southeast Asia’s oldest capital cities at 495 years old—perhaps ‘buried’ under rapid development. Its historic past is only legible to those who know how to ‘read’ the urban fabric. However, those who visit the area of Kebayoran…

The Longest Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge in Flanders, Belgium: Cycle Bridge over the A201

The Longest Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge in Flanders, Belgium: Cycle Bridge over the A201 | FuturArc

With a total length of 710 metres—a deck 510 metres long and sloping approaches of 200 metres—the new bridge will be a striking feature in the urban landscape when it is completed and open for use in 2024. Architectural studio ZJA, part of the consultancy consortium MoVeR0, produced the architectoni…

Read more stories from FuturArc 1Q 2023: Mobility & Transport!