A world-class resort style apartment in Jakarta’s Central Business District is set to realize the dream of cosmopolites seeking a city life in a green, sustainable living.
As sustainability is becoming increasingly important, investors are now turning their thoughts to favor developers with green initiatives. Through the use of green technology as well as economic and environmental sustainability, these developers have brought in ideas and solutions that facilitate opportunities in the world of real estate.
Being part of the global rising trend of eco-living, green and sustainable real estate has become the changing lifestyle that enhances the quality of modern green living. With increased eco-consciousness among public, this lifestyle has turned into a lucrative investment that attracts sough-after investors owing to sustainable features that address the pressing issues, such as those of environment and diminishing natural resources, without putting aside comfort and convenience. For the investors, this could therefore be a breakthrough that has the potential to increase long-term return on investment.
Advanced countries have successfully developed green and sustainable development projects. Following their success, Indonesia is now on track with more constructions of green buildings that contribute to energy saving, environmentally friendly surrounding and other environmental issues such as recycling waste and ecological footprints reduction.
The Value of Location
Regardless of all the benefits that green real estate has to offer, one cannot deny that location plays a crucial role in the real estate industry arena.
Jakarta’s Central Business District (CBD) is a clear example. Despite the district’s busy daily routine scene and terrible traffic congestion, the CBD maintains its reputation as the highest in both demand and real estate price.
Before elaborating on what makes the CBD stay atop in the Jakarta’s real estate market, let’s take a brief look at the latest researches by two renowned real estate consultant firms.
The latest release from Cushman & Wakefield predicts that the demand of all real estate market sectors within the CBD will continue to grow. According to the release, the annual absorption in the CBD market during 2011 is expected to double from the last year figure.
The third quarter report from Colliers International Indonesia showed increasing rates in certain areas. According to the report, the average monthly rental rates for apartments in the CBD areas rose by 1.3 percent to Rp 170,000 (US$ 17.40) per square meter.
As for retail space, the CBD contributes the largest portion of the supply at 739,300 per square meter, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The firm’s latest report also recorded that the total absorption of office space within the CBD in the first nine months of 2010 reached 153,700 sqm. It’s a 40 percent higher than the full year take-up in 2009 of 109,600 sqm.
Both reports from Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers indicate a significant increase in sales activities of Jakarta condominium market, mainly in the CBD areas. Overall, there is a 62 percent of net take-up of both the existing and the proposed condominium and apartment in Greater Jakarta.
In general, real estate market sectors are experiencing better performance. With the Central Bank predicting Indonesian economic growth will reach 6.5 percent throughout 2011, a more lucrative outlook for the real estate investment is indeed promising.
As for the CBD, the increase in both demand and real estate space is due to the district’s strategic location with a full range of amenities to indulge in your lifestyle. The CBD is the home for premium accommodations, office spaces, shopping arcades and hotels. No less interestingly, a broad array of casual and fine dining places as well as entertainment and lifestyle centers in this part of the city have made business and leisure well-intermingled in daily activities. This location is in high demand among urban inhabitants with strong buying power including expatriates.
The Perfect Solution
To invest in a real estate project is not difficult when focusing on the growing prospect of targeted development. One of the most important keys is to observe the changing life style of a more discerning society.
Take the Jakarta’s traffic that becomes a distinct factor to consider. Because of the city’s worsening traffic jam, condominium and apartment living will increasingly be the solution to the problem. More and more people are becoming reluctant to spend time commuting from the suburb. That is why they would rather live in an apartment during the weekdays than in a house that takes hours to get to their office and vice versa.
The presence of residential apartments in the CBD areas has undoubtedly accommodated people seeking the enjoyment of easily reaching their nearby offices or businesses. These areas are also where all the urban lifestyle amenities are set to pamper those who appreciate cosmopolitan lifestyle as an art of living.
With all the glamour and attractions of the city’s life in the CBD areas, the needs of having a green and sustainable living are now emerging into another lifestyle. Correspondingly, an eco-living inspired apartment has inevitably become a perfect choice for individuals who are already lingered in the CBD.
It’s Verde Residence, one and only world-class tropical resort style in Jakarta’s CBD areas. Literally means ‘green’, the name ‘Verde’ inspires a green and modern home to those seeking a sanctuary from the city’s hectic life, and yet remain within the proximity of the city’s amenities and convenience.
Verde’s brilliant concept of eco-living is truly more than just a green real estate. The apartment is sustainably designed to pamper its residents with facilities comparable to a tropical resort living.
Oasis in the City
Entering Verde’s lobby will take you to experience a different feel with the many lush trees and a pond in the middle of the courtyard. Far from the roaming traffic sound, the surrounding ambience in Verde offers a unique vibrancy and visual appeal as you are in a resort away from the city. Yet, stepping outside the building, you will know that you are still in the middle of the city’s busy life.
Verde is designed by an outstanding synergism of four world’s renowned experts in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and lighting, respectively. They are RTKL USA (architecture), NY Belt Collins USA (landscape architecture), Yabu-Pushelberg (interior design) and LDP Australia (lighting).
American renowned interior design firm Yabu-Pushelberg is the mastermind behind the Verde’s fabulous interior designs. The firm has contributed their brilliant concept to high profile clientele such as St. Regis Museum Hotel, San Francisco; W Hotel, Time Square; and Hazelton Hotel, Toronto.
Belt Collins and LDP have completed internationally prestigious projects such as Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai, India; and Conrad, Bali. While, RTKL ‘s portfolio includes Hilton Hotel, Baltimore; Four Seasons, Jakarta; and 717 Olympic, U.S.
Their combined expertise has contributed to the apartment’s uniqueness. Each of the apartment units is sophisticatedly designed with the modern green living concept, creating a one-of-a-kind ambience that combines international style with Indonesia’s local touch.
Meanwhile, the construction of Verde will be carried out by a very reputable contractor to ensure quality and reliability.
Getting the feel of Verde can be translated as indulging in a fine combination of casual and modern way of living. The apartment introduces a tropical living concept that creates a sense of 365-day stay in a world-class resort.
What is also interesting about Verde are the apartment’s open corridor and the use of woods and stones to connect the outdoor and indoor area. Not only does the corridor provide better air circulation, but coupled with the apartment’s patio and wooden flooring, the presence of Verde gives a sense of luxury while maintaining the resort-like ambience.
Lush greenery occupies 55 percent of the apartment complex. The 1.3- hectare area, which is dedicated to only 3 towers, is the home of 258 units. The units in the apartment are more spacious compared to other apartments in the CBD areas. The apartment’s functional layout allows you to maximize the use of available area in the unit. With more parking space ratio, residents will not be hassled with the parking problem.
The values behind the beauty of Verde are modern tropical theme, prime location and winning product attributes. More interestingly, Verde is reasonably priced and is valued for money.
Verde facilitates a variety of top-notch services that blend the charm of luxury and world-class hospitality. With an impressive list of convenient facilities, living at Verde is truly an exceptional pleasure.
Tenants are pampered with an array of upscale features such as café, function room, kids playroom, fitness center, laundry, swimming pool, lush garden, mini market, jogging track, barbeque area and outdoor children’s playground. This is not to mention the apartment’s technology facilities such as free public area Wi-Fi, high speed Internet connection and cable TV ready.
For safety and privacy, Verde is equipped with advanced features such as CCTV, 24-hour security, smoke & fire alarm and personal entry card for lift access.
A Reliable Name
One consideration of choosing Verde Residence is that the apartment is developed by Farpoint Realty, a member of Gunung Sewu Group.
Established in 1953, Gunung Sewu has stayed at forefront with the company’s core businesses in agriculture, life insurance and real estate.
Initially, Gunung Sewu was engaged in the trading and distribution of staple commodities. In the 1960s, the company grew and became one of Indonesia’s largest agricultural commodity traders. In the 1970s, the giant Gunung Sewu started diversifying its portfolio into the three core businesses.
In the agriculture sector, Gunung Sewu, through its subsidiary Great Giant Pineapple, has evolved into becoming the world’s third largest producer of canned pineapple products and pineapple juice concentrate. While another subsidiary, Umas Jaya Agritama, is currently one the largest tapioca starch producers in the archipelago.
In the life insurance sector, Asuransi Jiwa Sequislife (Sequis) has become one of the leading life insurance companies with assets of over Rp 4.6 trillion. Sequis currently has more than 4,000 agents and 108 branches spread in 29 cities nationwide. In 1992, a joint venture with New York Life International was established. In 2003, Gunung Sewu purchased New York Life’s shares, and changed the name to Asuransi Jiwa Sequislife. Among the products offered by Sequis are life protection, retirement fund, wealth accumulation, education fund, critical illness protection and health insurance.
As a real estate player, Gunung Sewu has allocated all real estate businesses under Farpoint. Backed by more than 30 years of Gunung Sewu’s solid experience in real estate development and management, Farpoint provides a combination of expertise to deliver services in real estate development, operating management and investment.
Farpoint’s approach to real estate is to partner with the best designers and contractors in the industry to provide the best quality living environment with great return on investment for its investors. With the support of Gunung Sewu, Farpoint is set to provide a holistic solution to real estate investment. Verde is a good example here.
The presence of Verde Residence marks a landmark in the country’s real estate industry. Not only does the apartment provide cosmopolites with a one-of-a-kind concept of eco-living, but living in a world-class tropical resort is now feasible in the busy Jakarta’s CBD.
Text: The Writerpreneur. Published in Verde Newsletter, Vol. 1, 2011
