Ciputra develops artistic city

Ciputra develops artistic city

By Fairus Husaini

JAKARTA (JP): A new residential area was officially opened
yesterday in Cikupa, Tangerang, in the presence of four cabinet
ministers and noted developer Ciputra, who is also owner of the
Citra Raya housing complex.

The main gate of Citra Raya is built in a classical Western
style with 16 horse statues on top. PT Citraland Estate, the
developer of the complex, has said that it is trying to create
something new and artistic in the property business.

Citra Raya is located some 30 kilometers west of here and is
calling itself "the city with artistic nuance". The area covers
1,000 hectares, where 2,100 houses of various sizes and types
will be constructed around an imposing fountain.

The four ministers attending yesterday's ceremony were
Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tanjung, Minister of Land
Affairs/Chairman of Land Agency Soni Harsono, Minister of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave and Minister of
Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro.

Ciputra, the owner of the company and the country's leading
property businessman, was also on hand.

Also officiated was the company's marketing office filled with
a variety of sculpture.

PT Citraland Estate has invested Rp 1 trillion (US$495
million) to develop the complex. The first stage of development,
which covers an area of 500 hectares, has been completed. Another
500 hectares will be developed over the next 10 years, including
the construction of art galleries and artist housing.

"We have put aside five percent of the total development cost
for creating an artistic nuance in this complex," Budiarsa
Sastrawinata, president of PT Citraland Estate, told journalists
moments after the ceremony yesterday.

Budiarsa said the company, in cooperation with the Jakarta Art
Institute, held a contest in June to come up with the statues
best suited to the Citra Raya ambience.

The winning statues are displayed around the complex.

Dolorosa Sinaga, dean of the Jakarta School of Fine Arts, told
The Jakarta Post that the institute helped appoint members of the
jury for the competition, which was only open to local sculptors.

"At first we selected 20 people from 120 contestants. Then we
chose six out of the 20," Sinaga said, adding that a similar
competition will be held yearly to continue decorating the
complex.

Budiarsa said that compared to other Ciputra housing complexes
in Jakarta, the Citra Raya housing complex is unique in that it
emphasizes the esthetic aspects of development while maintaining
all the necessary residential facilities.

PT Pembangunan Jaya, which is Ciputra's business company, the
Metropolitan Group along with the city administration have
established a number of prestigious shopping centers in the
capital, such as the Pondok Indah Mall, CitraLand Mall, and the
Atrium. In addition to the several housing complexes that he has
developed in Bintaro and Pondok Indah, he is perhaps best known
for creating the entertainment and recreation center Ancol
Dreamland and Dunia Fantasi.