Jakarta is located in the center of thirteen different rivers that are heavily populated – the people who live here rely on the waters not only for their water, but their livelihood and waste disposal. Hence, the rivers have become highly polluted and completely surrounded with slums as a result of flooding that damaged the city. The Ciliwung Recovery Project, designed for Jakarta’s largest river, was designed by Rezza Rahdian, Erwin Setiawan, Ayu Diah Shanti, and Leonardus Chrisnantyo to help address the problems of pollution as well as housing.
The structure itself is built from a spine of tubes that carry water to and from the river. It utilizes three methods of water purification — first the tubes collect water from the river via capillary action and separate out the garbage, which is then used to create fertilizer. Second, water is filtered to eliminate dangerous contaminants and add beneficial minerals before being sent back to the river. Third, waste water from households is collected, processed and filtered and then added back into the river. Household waste is converted into fertilizer for use on the banks of the river and in the new ecosystem of the building.
As the river and its banks are converted into a new ecosystem, the slums along the river will be removed and the people living there will be relocated into the skyscraper’s low-income housing units. Elevators inside the structure will be powered via the Archimedes principle of vessels – the vessel will move up or down based upon their specific gravity. Additionally, the structure will be powered with wind turbines and a solar system placed on the roof, making the building completely self-sustaining in terms of energy and water.
