NEW CAPITAL (2021-2023)
What does the ideal capital city look like? Nick Hannes travelled to six countries - Egypt, Korea, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Brazil - that have recently built or are in the very process of building a new capital. Each is a typical example of what Rem Koolhaas calls the Generic City - a planned city without historical stratification, local identity or a character of its own. Like a visual anthropologist with a keen eye for detail, Hannes sets out to discover the human dimension in a setting full of spectacle architecture and pompous prestige projects.
NEW CAPITAL is a critical reflection on unbridled neoliberal urban development and its social and ecological impact, laced with subtle humour and surprising coincidences. Meandering between pride and sadness, NEW CAPITAL shows how utopia and dystopia are sometimes surprisingly closely related.
NEW CAPITAL was launched at Be-Part / Platform for Contemporary Art in Waregem (BE). The book (Lannoo, 2024) is available in my webshop. The chapter on the New Administrative Capital of Egypt won the World Press Photo Award in 2023 (category Africa, Stories). The series was nominated for the Prix Pictet in 2025.
NEW CAPITAL has been exhibited at Fotoforum Innsbruck (AT, 2024), International Meetings of Photography Plovdiv (BG, 2024), CC Ter Dilft Bornem (BE, 2025).
This project was supported by the Flemish Government.
Central Business District, featuring the 394-metre-high Iconic Tower under construction. NAC, Egypt, 17 January 2022.
A new regional ring road bisects the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
Egyptian real estate company Brouq Developments billboard depicting President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the NAC, Egypt, 12 January 2022.
The newly built Triumphal Arch in the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
New residential compound in the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
Light Rail Transit construction site in the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
Fifth Residential Neighbourhood (R5) in the NAC, Egypt, 16 January 2022.
Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the NAC, Egypt, 12 January 2022.
Palm tree-shaped mobile phone antenna in the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
Workers’ storage near the Fifth Residential Neighbourhood (R5) in the NAC, Egypt, 16 January 2022.
Construction site of the west gate to the NAC, Egypt, 16 January 2022.
Workers pass the newly built Masjid Misr in the NAC, Egypt, 16 January 2022. The mosque accommodates 100,000 worshippers.
First Residential Neighbourhood (R1) in the NAC, Egypt, 17 January 2022.
Stairway to the newly built Masjid Misr mosque in the NAC, Egypt, 13 January 2022.
Third Residential Neigbourhood (R3) in the NAC, Egypt, 12 January 2022.
Construction worker in the Government district of the NAC, Egypt, 16 January 2022.
First Residential Neighbourhood (R1) in the NAC, Egypt, 17 January 2022.
Central Business District in the NAC, Egypt, 12 January 2022.
New Cairo, an upscale satellite city east of Cairo, bordering the NAC, 11 January 2022.
Bayterek Tower, symbol of Astana, represents a tree of life carrying a golden egg. Kazakhstan, 8 July 2021.
Headquarters of state-owned oil and gas company KazMunayGaz in Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
Astana Botanical Garden, Kazakhstan, 15 August 2021.
Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, 12 August 2021.
Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment complex, designed by Norman Foster, in Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a conference center designed by Norman Foster. Astana, Kazakhstan, 12 August 2021.
Ishim river, Astana, Kazakhstan, 14 August 2021.
Sky Beach Club, an indoor lagoona in Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment complex in Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
Zoloto nightclub, Astana, Kazakhstan, 21 August 2021.
Attendant at the top of Bayterek Tower in Astana, Kazakhstan, 16 August 2021.
Golden cast of former president Nazarbayev’s right hand at the top of Bayterek Tower in Astana, Kazakhstan, 16 August 2021.
Portraits of former president Nazarbayev in the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana, 17 August 2021.
Eternal Nation Triumphal Arch in Astana, Kazakhstan, 18 August 2021.
Bayterek Square, Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 August 2021.
Independence Square and Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Astana, Kazakhstan, 18 August 2021.
Northern Lights and Emerald Towers skyscrapers on Nurzhol Boulevard, Astana, Kazakhstan, 27 August 2021.
Construction site of the uncompleted Light Rail Transit (LRT), a metro line on pillars from the International Airport to Nurly Zhol railway station. Locals call the pillars the ‘monument to corruption’, since a large amount of the LRT budget has been stolen by corrupted officials. August 28, 2021.
National Congress of Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, 18 May 2022.
Brasilia Shopping, 12 May 2022.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, 11 May 2022.
Rooftop pool at St Paul Plaza Hotel in Brasilia, 10 May 2022.
Honestino Guimaraes National Museum, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, 11 May 2022.
Pontao do Lago Sul leisure centre, Lake Paranoa, Brasilia, 15 May 2022.
Sarah Kubitschek City Park in Brasilia, 16 May 2022.
Lake Paranoa, Brasilia, 13 May 2022.
Burrowing owls nest on the Esplanade of the Ministries in Brasilia, 16 May 2022.
Ministry of the Economy on the Esplanade of the Ministries in Brasilia, May 10, 2022.
Banners depicting the then president Jair Messias Bolsonaro, Brasilia, 13 May 2022.
Shopping Conjunto Nacional, Brasilia’s first shopping mall, 9 May, 2022.
Children sing the national anthem at the National Congress of Brazil, 18 May 2022.
Feather headdresses at the Memorial of Indigenous Peoples in Brasilia, 12 May 2022.
National Social Security Institute in Brasilia, May 18, 2022.
Claudio Santoro National Theater, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, 17 May 2022.
Aguas Claras, an upscale satellite district of Brasilia, 20 May 2022.
Damaged city map of Brasilia, 22 May 2022.
Taxi tricycle stand along Airport Road in Abuja, Nigeria, 13 April 2023.
Entrance gate to Brains & Hammers City Estate, Life Camp district, Abuja, Nigeria, 14 April 2023.
Sales office at Centenary City, a planned gated city-within-a-city near Abuja International Airport, Nigeria, 13 April 2023.
Sales office at Centenary City, a planned gated city-within-a-city near Abuja International Airport, Nigeria, 13 April 2023.
Slum outside MAB Global Estate, Gwarinpa district, Abuja, Nigeria, 10 April 2023.
Mpape slum, Abuja, Nigeria, 11 April 2023.
Mpape slum, Abuja, Nigeria, 11 April 2023.
The abandoned quarry of Crushed Rock in Mpape supplied much of the stone used to build Abuja in the 80’s. Nigeria, 11 April 2023.
Unity Fountain, a symbol of the country’s unity, near five-star Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria, 9 April 2023.
Banex Plaza, Abuja, Nigeria, 18 April 2023.
Millennium Park, Maitama district, Abuja, Nigeria, 9 April 2023.
Magicland amusement park, Abuja, Nigeria, 15 April 2023.
Magicland amusement park, Abuja, Nigeria, 15 April 2023.
Whisky Mistress nightclub, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria, 9 April 2023.
Whisky Mistress nightclub, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria, 9 April 2023.
Gwarinpa Housing Estate, Abuja, Nigeria, 10 April 2023.
Abuja National Mosque on Independence Avenue, Nigeria, 12 April 2023.
World Trade Center Abuja, Nigeria, 12 April 2023.
Luxury estate in Wuje district, Abuja, Nigeria, 15 April 2023.
Zuma Rock, a 300-metre-high monolith west of Abuja, has become a national symbol of Nigeria, 11 April 2023.
Entrance gate to Brains & Hammers City Estate, Life Camp district, Abuja, Nigeria, 14 April 2023.
The Abuja skyline, featuring the National Ecumenical Center, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the unfinished Millennium Tower, 16 April 2023.
Fruit vendors near the National Ecumenical Center in Abuja, Nigeria, 16 April 2023.
Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria, 12 April 2023.
Luxury villa of Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, chairman of AA Oil Limited, Maitama district, Abuja, Nigeria, 19 April 2023.
Hanok Village, a new residential quarter with luxury houses in traditional Korean style, Sejong, South-Korea, 25 May 2023.
Morning rush hour near the Government Complex in Sejong, South-Korea, 25 May 2023.
Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge in Sejong, South-Korea, 23 May 2023.
Bangchukcheon Riverside Park in Sejong, South-Korea, 31 May 2023.
Saerom-Dong, Sejong, South-Korea, 24 May 2023.
AK& shopping centre in Sejong, South-Korea, 21 May 2023.
CCTV control room at the Urban Integrated Information Center in Sejong South-Korea, 24 May 2023.
Set-up of the presidential office at the Presidential Archives in Sejong, South-Korea, 28 May 2023.
Portrait gallery of all Korean presidents in the Presidential Archives in Sejong, 28 May 2023.
Sejong Lake Park, South-Korea, 2 June 2023.
Sejong Supbaram Rose Garden, South-Korea, 24 May 2023.
Rooftop Garden in Sejong Government Complex, South-Korea, 27 May 2023.
Dajeong-dong, Sejong, South-Korea, 22 May 2023.
Sejong Government Complex, South-Korea, 30 May 2023.
Dodam-dong residential neighbourhood in Sejong, South-Korea, 24 May 2023.
European Village, a gated compound featuring European-style homes in Sejong, South-Korea, 22 May 2023.
Birthday party in Sejong Lake Park, South-Korea, 21 May 2023.
Lee Min-ae runs a real estate office selling flats in Sejong, South-Korea, 29 May 2023.
Naseong-ro, Sejong’s nightlife district, South-Korea, 28 May 2023.
Naseong-ro, Sejong’s nightlife district, South-Korea, 28 May 2023.
Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge in Sejong, South-Korea, 29 May 2023.
A blue survey column at Titik Nol (Ground Zero) marks the geographic centre of the future capital. Pemaluan, Sepaku, East-Kalimantan, Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
Checkpoint on the road to Titik Nol (Ground Zero) in Sepaku, Indonesia, 30 August 2022.
Road construction near Titik Nol (Ground Zero) in Sepaku, Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
The villagers of Sepaku fear they will have to make way for the new capital. Indonesia, 1 September 2022.
Market in Sukaraja, Sepaku, at the site where the new capital will be built. Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
Penginapan Nabila guesthouse, Sukaraja, Sepaku, Indonesia, 30 August 2022.
The construction site of the Sepaku Semoi Dam, which will provide water to the new capital. Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
Eucalyptus plantation as seen from the Sudarmono observation tower near Sepaku, the core of the future capital. Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
Construction site at Mentawir Nursery where trees will be grown for the new capital, September 1, 2022.
Young Peronema canescens trees at Mentawir Nursery. Indonesia, 1 September 2022.
Young trees, symbolically planted by Indonesian governors, at Titik Nol, the future center of Nusantara. Indonesia, 31 August 2022.
Construction worker at Mentawir Nursery. Indonesia, 1 September 2022.
Architect Sibarani Sofian, head of urban design studio URBAN+, in his office in Jakarta, 9 September 2022. URBAN+ won the design competition for the new Indonesian capital.
Scale model of the future presidential palace, designed by Indonesian artist Nyoman Nuarta, at NuArt Sculpture Park in Bandung, Java. The palace represents a giant Garuda bird with spread wings, a national emblem of Indonesia. 12 September 2022.
Every morning, dozens of barges loaded with coal sail down the Mahakam River past Samarinda, one of the gateways to the new capital. Indonesia, 3 September 2022.
Fishermen sail past the coal loading wharf at Balikpapan Bay. They complain of dwindling fish stocks due to industrial pollution. Indonesia, 6 September 2022.
Fishing village Pantai Lango in Balikpapan Bay, the gateway over water to the new capital. Indonesia, 6 September 2022.
The fishermen community of Kampung Baru in Balikpapan lives near the polluting refinery of state-owned oil company Pertamina. Indonesia, 6 September 2022.
Pertamina refinery in Kampung Baru, Balikpapan, Indonesia, 6 September 2022.