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.