The development of IKN (Indonesia's New Capital City) is designed by applying the concepts of Forest City, Sponge City, and Smart City, aligning with the area's characteristics of a forest with varied contours. In exploring the design of the IKN area, the Learning City concept is proposed to complement the existing approaches. A "Learning City" is an urban concept committed to providing continuous lifelong learning opportunities for its citizens. This concept supports cities in exchanging best practices for building cities that focus on learning and sustainable development. Implementing this concept has the potential to make the IKN area not just a center of government but also a hub for education and human resource development. The objective of this project is to resolve urban complexities through a critical and exploratory perspective in developing area design using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, specifically in the design of the IKN study area. Our project proposes a three-stage design process, namely understanding (understanding the context of the area), exploring (formulating design concepts), and deciding (developing designs). Each stage will be assisted by an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant.

The "Edutara Project" envisions IKN as more than just a capital; it aims to create a modern, smart, and inclusive city that seamlessly integrates technology with nature. This harmonious blend will significantly enhance the quality of life for its citizens while ensuring ecological sustainability. By facilitating lifelong learning through accessible and inclusive educational spaces and creating an accessible and welcoming environment for all community members, IKN will become a global model for urban development. The profound impact of AI in accelerating and transforming urban design processes, from initial data gathering to final conceptual visualization, will lead to data-driven decision-making and unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation in city planning. This project represents a bold step towards a future where urban environments are not just sustainable but are also continually evolving learning ecosystems, responsive to the needs of their inhabitants and the planet.

The "Edutara Project" is a higher education district design project located in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). This district is strategically divided into four main zones: the Education Zone as the primary area, the Green Open Space Zone, the Mixed-Use Zone, and the Public Facilities Zone serving as essential supporting amenities. A key design principle is the interconnectedness of all zones through an integrated pedestrian network, significantly enhancing overall connectivity within the area.

The design takes advantage of the varying microclimate and topography to allow for a more adaptive architectural approach. This includes the application of organic building forms, the thoughtful use of voids for open spaces, and adaptive massing that responds sensitively to the terrain, all aimed at enhancing environmental quality and enriching the spatial experience. The area's circulation and accessibility system are meticulously designed to facilitate integrated multimodal movement, with each block featuring sufficient parking areas to support ease of access. Open spaces are conceived to be inclusive, multifunctional, and interconnected, thoughtfully distributed throughout every area. To ensure both environmental harmony and cultural relevance, the vegetation utilized consists exclusively of local plants native to the archipelago.

The design of the education zone in IKN adopts a holistic approach, primarily focusing on tropical climate responsiveness and user-friendly accessibility. Regarding climate-based design, building orientations are strategically planned to minimize direct exposure to sunlight from the east and west, thereby reducing the cooling load and the need for air conditioning. The longer sides of the buildings are oriented north-south to maximize natural ventilation and lighting, leveraging Kalimantan's dominant winds to create optimal airflow that keeps indoor temperatures naturally cool. This approach is not only energy-efficient but also fosters a comfortable and healthy learning environment.

Furthermore, pedestrian pathways are meticulously designed for both comfort and functionality. The surface materials chosen are weather-resistant, non-slippery, and environmentally friendly, such as natural stone or permeable paving blocks. Supporting facilities like energy-efficient lighting, clear directional signage, and shaded areas provided by trees or canopies further enhance the user experience. Inter-building connectivity is also a top priority. Pedestrian paths not only directly link each building via skywalks within a single block but also connect to green open spaces. These green areas serve a dual purpose: as social interaction zones and recreational spots, and as transitional areas to other buildings. Moreover, these pathways seamlessly integrate with the main sidewalks along the roads, ensuring easy access and mobility for the entire educational community. Overall, this concept creates an integrated, sustainable, and user-centric educational ecosystem.

Finally, this project integrates a circular utility system to support the overarching "Smart Campus" vision. This comprehensive system includes advanced solutions for renewable energy, efficient smart waste management, and sophisticated water management systems, all designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and environmental integrity of the educational district.

As a conclusion from this project, AI can be used to stimulate creativity in the early stages of design and accelerate data analysis and simulations, allowing designers to focus on more strategic tasks. Urban designers must ensure that AI results are relevant to local cultural and historical contexts and also community needs, making AI a tool, not a replacement for human intuition. High-quality, unbiased data is essential, and urban designers need to critically evaluate AI outputs to address uncertainties and ensure design relevance based on their intuition and experience. When using AI, it must be accompanied by ethical guidelines covering transparency, data protection, and fairness to minimize negative impacts on society and the environment. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our lecturers, Prof. Haryo Winarso and Heru W. Poerbo, and also Marisa Sugangga for their invaluable guidance, support, and insights throughout the development of this project. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in shaping our ideas of this project.