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n a bustling metropolitan city such as Jakarta, it is vital to have a comfortable home with as many facilities as possible for a convenient life.

Now there is a new residential complex that offers such living. It is Green Central City on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta.

This 14,000 square meter superblock consists of two towers of 844 units of apartments plus penthouse, commercial area, skypark and a very spacious parking area.

“We have combined both comfortable living and highly profitable investment return for tenants, because this superblock is located right in the heart of Jakarta’s economic center, as a matter of fact also the center of Indonesia’s economy. Here every requirement in life can be easily fulfilled, including of course residential, business, socializing and relaxation as all are blended in one complex with easy access,” explained Martono Hadipranoto, chief operating officer of Green Central City.

What is interesting about the complex is the presence of Candra Naya, a heritage building. The 200-year-old building is the main icon making it the landmark of Jakarta Kota as this section of Jakarta is called.

“Although physically it will be Green Central City, the soul within is Candra Naya,” said Martono, who was born in Cirebon, West Java, on March 2, 1964.

In the early 1800s, Candra Naya was in fact the house belonging to a Chinese major who was assigned to take care of the Chinese residents’ needs in Batavia, the former name of Jakarta.

“The building is estimated to be built at the beginning of 1800s during the Ming dynasty period and very much influenced by Mancu architecture,” said Naniek Widayati, a senior architect from Center of Architecture Conservation.

Candra Naya, which is a protected building under Law No. 11 issued in 2010 on Cultural Heritage Preservation, is very attractive due to its unique Chinese architecture and layout complete with numerous ornaments that had a special meaning for its owner.

For Martono, who has been actively involved in the property business, the project this time poses a unique challenge of its own.

“Indeed it is not easy to maintain the existence of Candra Naya in the midst of modern property development,” he commented.

The main objective of PT Bumi Perkasa Permai as the developer of Green Central City is to present a property of the very best quality.

“We will do this by preserving the historical asset and maintain the harmony with the environment to provide the best and most healthy, comfortable living for the tenants,” explained the civil engineer who graduated from Tarumanegara University in 1990.

Martono first started his career in the property world in 1996 when he joined Dharmala Group, or more accurately at ERA Indonesia, Franchise Real Estate Brokerage.

His position was franchise sales & marketing manager. He enjoyed his job immensely and has never left the property industry since. He even studied further about property three years later at Indonesia Property Institute of Technology, Jakarta and received a Certified Property Analyst (CPA) in 1999.

During his extensive career he worked for three brokerage companies. After leaving ERA, he worked for Century, which is under the umbrella of Ciputra Group, from 1999 until 2001 and then for Coldwell Banker Indonesia where he held the position of vice president of franchise development from 2001 until 2002.

Martono felt that at Coldwell he gained a lot of knowledge on property as the world class company gave him the opportunity to enhance his knowledge through a number of trainings.

At New Jersey, United States, he undertook three courses, namely Coldwell Banker System Orientation, Master Franchise Orientation and Franchise Sales.

Equipped with such extensive experience and knowledge Martono was no longer in doubt when a developer offered the position of marketing director.

The name of the company is PT Marga Giri Kencana and its phenomenal project was Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Bali.

He worked on this prestigious project for three years (2002–2005), but the experience here strengthened his experience in the property industry.

Then he also made his mark by working for a major developer in the country, Agung Podomoro Group (2005–2007) to build Braga City Walk project, which is a shopping center and apartement complex in Bandung, West Java, as well as Lindeteves Trade Center in Glodok, Jakarta.

Next, with another developer, IKI Group, he was involved in the construction of The Fame Citywalk project in Palembang, South Sumatra for one year (2007–2008).

“Any project I do I always do it with complete passion,” he said.

Then came a bigger challenge. It was from PT AKR Land Development in July 2008 and he was given the position of a general manager.

The company’s core business was various chemicals, but he had to open up “new territories”.

He was assigned to handle three extremely large projects: Grand Kawanua International City in Manado, North Sulawesi, Gateway West/AKR Plaza, Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta as well as Ubud Royale Chateau, Bali.

Grand Kawanua International City is a satellite city in Manado consisting of condotel, housing, shop and house buildings, citywalk, land for residential areas, office building, water park, wedding chapel and so forth, including conference hall.

AKR Plaza is a mix use development with office tower, hotel, apartments, retail area and so on while Ubud Royale Chateau comprises of a hotel, villas and condotel in Ubud, Bali.

All three projects are still running, but in February 2011 Martono shifted to PT Bumi Perkasa Permai to work on Green Central City project.

“Each project has its own unique points and challenges,” said Martono, who has been a member of the Indonesian Society of Appraisers (MAPPI) since 1999.

According to Martono, Green Central City will not be only a complex of massive buildings but will have green surroundings even in this busiest part of Jakarta, which is often called Kota, Jakarta’s authentic Chinatown.

This superblock will have apartments, a hotel, office buildings and a Skypark which is a 0.6 hectare environmentally friendly park.

Plus, as mentioned earlier, Green Central City will also keep the cultural heritage building, Candra Naya, as a famous tourist destination in Kota representing a richly historical three century old building reflecting the values of Chinese community in old Batavia.

“In short, Green Central City offers the most sensational residential area in Jakarta that is not available anywhere else, because it is the only place that preserves and maintains so many values in harmony with complete facilities, including entertainment and things that are important for good health physically as well as for the soul,” concluded Martono.

Bringing together the oriental with the modern is indeed not easy and this is Martono’s next challenge in the property world.