IN a congested city like Jakarta, the solution may be to live, work and play in one place. Such is the philosophy of the Metropolitan Kuningan Superblock. The 'city within a city' is being developed by PT Kuningan Persada in the capital's central business district. 'It is an unprecedented development in Jakarta,' said director Rudy Capelle. 'The vision is that people can live, work, shop and enjoy themselves without ever having to drive.' The first phase of the 'Superblock', a 32-storey office block called Empire Tower, is scheduled to open next month. It includes an exclusive club for executives as well as a revolving restaurant on the top floor which will afford panoramic views of the city. Due for completion by mid-1997 is a neighbouring, 32-storey apartment block with 386 homes which are currently on sale. Single-bedroom studio flats start at $1.2 million. Two-bedroom units are priced from $1.5 million-$1.9 million. Three-bedroom apartments cost from $1.9 million-$2.5 million. Penthouses are on sale for $5 million-$6 million. A shopping centre and food court is being integrated in the apartment block. Construction starts this year on a 70-storey office block, a five-storey shopping centre and a five-star hotel, due to open in 1998. Also included in the master plan for the project, which is scheduled for final completion by 2005, is another 50-storey office block. 'Public interest in the project is very high,' said Mr Capelle. 'At first the idea seemed like a distant dream, but the first component of our city within a city has begun. 'The first office block opening next month is fully leased and many of the condominiums have also been sold - mostly to employees of the companies moving into Empire Tower. This delights us and re-affirms our vision in the project.'
