New 4ha, minerals-clad, high-security Australian embassy in Jakarta underway

Australia's biggest embassy is rising from its four hectare site in the Patra Kuningan area of Jakarta's CBD on land purchased from the Jakarta provincial government and private interests. Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty says the size "underscores our enduring interest in our partnership with Indonesia".

Designed by Australian architect company, Denton Corker Marshall, the exterior of the new facility's internal buildings will be clad with varying material, each with a different metallic surface "representing Australia’s mineral wealth – zinc, copper, brass, steel, aluminium."

The new complex is one block down from the current embassy on Jl HR Rasuna Said which was targeted by terrorist bombers in 2004.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty (centre), reviews the 4-Ha site.

Expected to be completed in 2015, the new embassy's gross floor area of 50,106 sq metres will include a five-storey chancery comprising offices and meeting areas for Australian government departments - Foreign Affairs, Federal Police, Austrade, Customs, Attorney General and others - a five bedroom Head of Mission residence, 32 four-bedroom apartments, and extensive recreational facilities including club-room, a swimming pool, two tennis courts and a multi-purpose sports court.

High-security fortress, with building materials representing Australia's mineral wealth

Key considerations in the design are security, energy conservation and environmental sustainability. The complex will feature four guard stations, medical centre, emergency accommodation units and community liaison facilities, a contiguous basement, engineering services infrastructure as well as comprehensive landscaping. Active and passive measures are being employed to meet energy conservation targets including water harvesting and green roof technology.

PT Leighton Contractors Indonesia and local construction company PT Total Bangun Persada won the A$230 million contract to build the new complex. The Leighton Group constructed the current Jakarta embassy in the early 1990s.


In the heart of Jakarta - energy conservation and environmental sustainability.

The new Australian embassy will house not only the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, but also the newly appointed, first-resident Australian Ambassador to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr Simon Merrifield. He will take up his position in late 2013 or early 2014, which will mark the 40th year of ASEAN-Australian relations.


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