unlocking your child’s creativity - i-zen · unlocking your child’s creativity contents...

Jan - Mar 2010PP 14791/11/2010

ISSUE 13

Living Life Large

Unlocking Your Child’s Creativity

SENI Mont’ KiaraFor the Love of the Arts

Retail. Offices. Residential. Community. All in 1.1 Mont Kiara

ii • Citi-ZEN Issue 13

Recognising this, Ireka is committed to providing only the very best nurseries in i-ZEN properties – among them, Children’s Discovery House in i-ZEN@Kiara II and the nursery at Kiaraville. This is to assure i-ZEN residents of the best childcare and education for their children in a secure environment right where they live – fulfilling at least three of our five operating principles of Service, Security and Soul.

As a father of three, I am also personally concerned over the tremendous pressures heaped on our children in the increasingly competitive world we live in. That is why I enrolled my two older children at SuperCamp, a special motivational camp that taught them more than they ever could learn in a conventional classroom – and why I am pleased to see it has joined our list of i-ZEN Privilege Card merchants.

SuperCamp does not promise miracles, but it offers proven strategies and skills to stimulate children’s learning and social development. If we want to give our children a head start in life – why not provide them with an inspiring learning experience in a safe environment with well-trained experts to guide them, every step of the way?

To round up, I envision new and better things for Ireka, our stakeholders, and friends. The completion of 1 Mont’ Kiara – Mont’ Kiara’s first real integrated mixed development – will be a major milestone for us. Comprising an office tower, an office suite block, a 350,000 sq ft lifestyle mall, and just steps away from the luxury serviced residences of i-ZEN@Kiara I and i-ZEN@Kiara II,it will not only manifest the ‘one’ concept of contemporary living, it will also contribute to building a greater sense of community in Mont’ Kiara.

In closing, I would say Citi-ZEN’s motto of “Living Life Large” has never been more apt. As the global economy recovers, our horizons are expanding once again: let us live well and live life large – it is the only way to do it.

Cheers,

Lai Voon HonPresident/CEOIreka Development Management Sdn Bhd

01

Unlocking Your Child’sCreativity

SUPERCAMPGrooming Tomorrow’s Achievers

04

PUBLISHER

Ireka Development Management Sdn BhdG-1, Kiara II No. 1, Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara50480 Kuala LumpurMalaysiaT +603 6203 6688 F +603 6203 6868W www.i-zen.com.myE [email protected]

PRINTER

NPP Marketing & Services Sdn Bhd

FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT

T +603 6203 6688F +603 6203 6868E [email protected]

Greetings, and a happy 2010 to all! A new year is always something to look forward to, especially coming on the heels of such a roller coaster year. And yet, looking back, who among us can say we have learned nothing?

Backed into a corner, many of us have found the strength and resourcefulness we need. This is creativity at its best: reaching into ourselves to find answers to problems or what we perceive to be problems.

Sometimes, all it takes is a change of perspective and a willingness to explore something new – this is something we tend to forget, and something children seem to know so much better than we do.

That is why I am delighted that the Citi-ZEN editorial team has chosen to focus on children and creativity as the theme in this issue. It is no secret that many expatriates and locals choose to reside in Mont’ Kiara because they know that the neighborhood offers their children some of the finest schools in the country. Among them: Mont’ Kiara International School (American), Garden International School (British), and Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur.

08Book Review:Outliers: The Story of Success

11 Events Gallery

12 Construction Progress

Retail. Offices. Residential.Community. All in 1.

1 Mont’ Kiara

09

For the Love of the Arts

CONTENTS

06

Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 1

Cover Feature

“Wow, only eight, and already Grade Five! Your Julie is so creative!” a young mum is overheard telling another at a school concert,

“My Tasha won’t even go near the piano…”

Most people associate creativity with prodigious musical talent or artistic ability, but children express their creativity in so many different ways: tying a shoelace; building a sandcastle; even telling a joke or a story! However, what and how a child thinks is even more important, and this lies closer to the heart of the creative process.

All children are creative, impelled by a natural and innate curiosity that leads them to constantly explore, investigate and experiment to discover the possibilities in their environment. Right from birth, they begin exploring and trying to understand their world through touching, seeing, hearing and responding to colours, textures, sights and sounds in their environment. And it is from these early explorations that lifelong attitudes about creativity and their capacity to be creative are formed.

Dutch graphic designer Lisette Scheers, who has a 6-year-old daughter Nala, believes that it is absolutely vital that her child is happy, engaged and challenged.

Says Lisette, “To be honest, I’m not worried whether or not she completes her homework, because it is not the most important thing at this stage of her life. I’m only concerned if she complains that she is bored and doesn’t look forward to school.”

Indeed, parents who appreciate their children’s creative nature can help their children become

more productive, confident adults with better problem-solving skills. Some even take it on themselves to ‘speed up’ their children’s development by actively ‘teaching’ them and providing them with toys and learning aids to stimulate their development.

Childcare experts, however, generally agree that children are better off without too much interference or external motivation. For example, the danger is that children who receive approval and reward for doing what adults want them to do may become too dependent on adults to tell them what to do and think. Besides, children already derive satisfaction from the creative process and will continue to do so without receiving any reward.

Ultimately, childcare experts say, a parent does most good for his or her child’s creative expression by simply sharing the child’s enthusiasm and delight in the child’s discoveries. This encourages the child to be self-confident and motivates himor her to be spontaneous and imaginative.

Over a century ago, Italian educator Maria Montessori used her work with disabled children to develop the Montessori Method, an educational system for all children based on an informal approach, incorporating instructive play and allowing children to develop at their own pace. Her theories, which have revolutionised the field of child development today, regarded children as

AboveAn environment filled with things to touch, talk, wonder about and play with provides endless opportunities to enhance a child’s creative expression and problem-solving abilities.

UNLOCKINGYOUR CHILD’SCREATIVITY

2 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13

competent beings who needed only an encouraging environment to reveal their innate abilities and develop their creativity. Indeed, it was Montessori who discovered that children are more able to ‘absorb’ in the years up to age of six than they will ever be again and that they can learn almost anything provided special techniques are used!

Montessori advocated a principle called “spontaneous self-development” which involved teaching children ways to develop their own skills at a pace they set, by using wide variety of special equipment of increasing complexity to help direct the interests of the child and hasten development. When a child is ready to learn new and more difficult tasks, the teacher guides the child’s first endeavors to avoid wasted effort and the learning of wrong habits.

Still, ‘mistakes’ are not a bad thing because children use trial and error to find solutions to the problems they encounter along the way – which is also why children are more creative than adults.

According to Edward de Bono, the renowned creative thinking expert, we are reluctant to be creative out of fear of making mistakes – and so we stick to predictable formulas of doing things to save time and reduce the risk of disappointment. Children, unfettered by preconceived notions and rules, feel freer to experiment and explore as they please – and when allowed to do this, they become more focused and the experience becomes meaningful to them.

By and large, although there are very few ‘true’ Montessori schools in Malaysia, the Montessori Method is acknowledged to have advanced the overall development of children much more quickly than has otherwise been possible. Indeed, Montesorri’s influence has been so profound in the field of child development that even non-Montesorri nurseries today promote play, experimentation and exploration as a basis for learning.

Still, ‘mistakes’ are not a bad thing because children use trial and error to find solutions to the problems they encounter along the way – which is also why children are more creative than adults.

How can you nurture your child’s creativity?

• Provide an environment that allows your child to explore and play without stress and undue restraint.

• Adapt to your child’s ideas rather than trying to structure the child’s ideas to fit yours.

• Accept unusual ideas from your child and resist judging your child’s divergent problem solving, even if it takes longer than you think it should.

• Challenge your child with everyday problem-solving tasks, so that it becomes habitual and fun to do so.

• Encourage your child to explore different routes and possibilities, moving from the predictable to more original ideas.

• Always emphasise the process rather than the outcome.

• Encourage social interactions with other children - it promotes creativity.

• Most of all, let them have fun in the process!

AboveBesides enhancing physical fitness, participation in gymnastics builds a child’s confidence and self-esteem.

RightChildren should be challenged to take risks, challenge assumptions, and see things in fresh new ways.


Montessori meets i-ZEN

To the casual visitor, Children’s Discovery House (CDH) on the ground floor of i-ZEN@Kiara II seems like any other upscale nursery in Malaysia, with little children and their parents or minders milling about, saying goodbye to friends and teachers.

Stepping past the reception area, however, one sees the difference immediately.

One of the few purpose-built preschools in the country, with programmes based on the Montessori Method, CDH provides 10,000 sq ft of space expressly designed to meet the developmental needs of young children and to keep them happy, inspired and stimulated in their most vital years of learning.

There are arts and craft areas, a music room, a library and resource area, a dance hall, a snack and lunch area, a sand pit and water play corner, cubby holes, reading corners and a well-equipped playground. And true to Montessori’s desire to all educational resources made accessible to children, everything-even sinks and urinals are child-sized!

Here, children are also motivated to be self-reliant and independent in a secure, orderly child-centric environment. Not only do they have their own cubby holes, they are encouraged to take their own work from low shelves and cupboards, and put each item back in its right place when they are done.

Learning takes place through a range of rich experiences provided in a curriculum thatincludes arithmetic, the creative arts and interpersonal skills. Children are also taught baking, gymnastics, human values, music and movements, as well as Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin languages. Other activities include excursions, nature studies, outdoor gardening and activities with professionals from various fields (most recently, well-known jazz musician Lewis Prasagam). After-school extracurricular activities include art and craft, taekwondo, ballet, jazz ballet, speech and drama.

“Children learn best by a process of discovery rather than being taught by rote,” says CDH’s principal Cristine Lee. “Here we stress the importance of adapting the child’s learning environment to his or her development level.”

Not surprisingly, CDH maintains its high standards by hiring experienced and Montessori-trained teachers, some of them with more than one degree. Personal attention is key, with a low children to teacher ratio (for a young toddler below two and a half, it is one teacher to every six). Currently, CDH has about 120 students, of whom 80 percent are expat children.

“It is very natural for parents to want the best for their child,” admits CDH founder and director Datin Nona Azlan, herself Montessori-trained, “We at CDH are committed to providing a supportive and challenging environment that is mindful of each child’s needs and abilities.”

Having recently opened a second branch of CDH on Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Datin Nona’s latest plan is to set up a teacher’s training programme to offer both certificate and diploma programmes in Montessori.

For enquiries, please contact:

Children’s Discovery House Sdn BhdGround Floor, i-ZEN@Kiara IINo. 1 Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara50480 Kuala LumpurT +603 6203 7001 E [email protected]

AboveIn addition to providing childcare and education, nurseries seek to provide a stimulating environment for social and creative activities.


A young mother is driving her 12-year-old son home from school, when he pops the question, “Mum, may I go to SuperCamp during the school holidays? May I? May I…. pleeeeease? My friends have asked their parents and they have all said yes!” She is stumped, because her son has never spent any more than two days alone away from home, and even so it was to visit his grandparents in Singapore. Suddenly, mum realises that this is an important moment that she needs to acknowledge as a parent – that her shy eldest son has decided he is old enough to be independent of his parents. Lump in her throat, she hears herself saying, “Why don’t you tell daddy and me all about it at dinner… we need to be sure you’re really ready for SuperCamp.”

SuperCamp Senior Manager Andy Low chuckles when he thinks of the many parents who have balked and wavered at the prospect of their children leaving home for SuperCamp.

“The idea of sending your children away to camp is still relatively new in Malaysia,” he says, “That’s why we’re always prepared to spend the time reassuring anxious parents that they have made the right decision to entrust their children to us.”

Originating from the US and available in Malaysia since 2000, SuperCamp is a 28-year-old program accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA) and offered through Quantum Education Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taylor’s Education Group.

“SuperCamp raises grades, confidence and motivation,” says Low, “In just the span of one week, in a safe and controlled environment, our team of experts will take your child on a journey of self-discovery and learning to equip him or her with academic and life skills that will exponentially increase his or her chances of success for the future.”

Besides acquiring study skills and strategies, SuperCamp participants are also trained in goal-setting, conflict-resolution, problem-solving and creative thinking.

In 1991, a US study found that 84% of participants after a 10-day SuperCamp reported increased self-esteem, while 73% claimed that their school grades improved. Only 3.54% said they were disappointed with their learning outcomes.

“Over and over again, we have seen shy, introverted children transformed at SuperCamp,” says Low, “So many amazed parents have written in and called us up to say how delighted they are with the changes in their children … changes which stem from an increased self-esteem that lasts a lifetime.”

According to Low, SuperCamp benefits students of all abilities and educational

backgrounds, whether they are from international schools, private schools, government schools, or vernacular schools.

Enrollment numbers vary, but do not exceed 100. More importantly, with a ratio of about one staffto four children, each child is provided with all the attention and support to develop his or her trust and confidence.

Helming the team of staff are between four to five facilitators from SuperCamp USA, who will be supported by international/local team leaders, one wellness person (a trained nurse or paramedic), and one camp coordinator.

Educational Focus

SUPERCAMPGrooming Tomorrow’s Achievers

MainOutdoor activities teach SuperCamp participants self-reliance, risk-taking and team work.

InsetNo matter what the activity, facilitators and team leaders are always in control of the situation.


SuperCamp facilitators are chosen from among top professional teachers and educators and are trained to engage every student and bring out their optimal potential. Typically, facilitators would need to have clocked 200 to 300 hours of onsite training before they are allowed to direct the SuperCamp programme. Furthermore, most facilitators have worked with SuperCamp for more than 10 years.

Parents who worry that their introverted children may face bullying or intimidation by older children can rest easy. Right from the very first day, respecting others is emphasised as one of the most important ground rules and participants know that they will be expelled if they break the rules.

“Parents are thrilled to find that their children will be taught ‘useful’ skills such as study strategies, note-taking and mind-mapping,” says Low, “However, many do not realise that the safe, secure and very closely supervised environment that we create at SuperCamp is the X factor that stimulates their children’s learning and social development.

“Children are divided into teams of 10 to 12, carefully assessed and grouped according to their age and profile,” says SuperCamp Camp Coordinator Christine Chai, “Children are encouraged to mix and appreciate each other’s differences. They also discover that how others look at them is not as important as how they see themselves. Then, as their self-esteem improves, they will become less afraid to express themselves and show their talents.”

Chai says that security, another worry that many parents have, is also not an issue. Special buses are chartered to take participants from a central pick-up point in to any one of

SuperCamp’s two camp sites (2008: Trolak Country Resort, Perak; 2009: Eagle Ranch Resort, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan). Likewise, all children are brought home safely by bus after camp is over.

Camp sites are also run to meet the highest standards of security. Just as children are not allowed to leave camp, no outsiders are allowed to enter the camp. Even within the camp, zones are either designated as ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’, and participants who have to pass through an ‘unsafe’ zone will always be accompanied by a staff member. Furthermore, girls and boys are separated by floors and protected by team leaders assigned to look after them.

Mrs Eda Adams, who found out about SuperCamp from a friend and enrolled her two children, Jamil and Riana, then 10 and 9, says they had such a good time at SuperCamp that they cannot wait to go again – this time enrolling in the programme for older children that will deepen their skills and equip them with new ones.

Jamil, now 12, describes his SuperCamp experience as ‘fun learning’ and says that he has become more open and expressive, thanks to the dancing in the curriculum. Riana, who holds the record as the youngest SuperCamp participant in Malaysia, raves about learning mind mapping – a skill that she says continues to help her excel in her schoolwork.

Mrs Adams lights up when she remembers her children’s mini-graduation on the last day that she was invited to attend.

“Everyone had so much fun and I was happy to meet my children’s team leaders and find out what they had learned,” says Mrs Adams, “Even today, my husband tells me, ‘We didn’t waste our money.’ He’s right – and I’ve been recommending SuperCamp to other parents ever since.”

LeftSharing and bonding builds trust among SuperCamp participants and many friendships grow after the experience.

BelowRaina and Jamil Adamswith Bucky O’Neill, one ofthe SuperCamp facilitators from the US.

For more information,please contact:

Quantum Education Sdn BhdUnit 3A-08, Level 3A, Block B3Leisure Commerce SquareNo. 9 Jalan PJS 8/9 46150 Petaling JayaMalaysia T +603 7861 1232F +603 7873 8340E [email protected]

Children are encouraged to mix and appreciate each other’s differences.


MainWith 60% of the SENI units facing the city skyline, themaster bedroom is typically designed in such a way as to exploit the prime view.

InsetThe spacious dining room of a 2,411 sq ft unit.

Property Update

For the Love of the Arts

Among the many upmarket residences coming up in the Mont’ Kiara housing enclave is the SENI Mont’ Kiara (‘SENI’) condominium development which boasts of spacious units that offer grand views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the city skyline.

Developed by Aseana Properties*, in collaboration with CapitaLand, SENI embraces a unique residential resort concept with many intriguing facilities.

* Aseana Properties Ltd develops SENI Mont’ Kiara, with Ireka Development Management as its exclusive development manager

The project involves a total of 605 condo units spanning over 8.8 acres. Marketed as an upscale residence for sophisticated owners who generally enjoy a love for the arts, the development comes with a 4,500 sq ft double-storey art gallery, hence, the name SENI (‘SENI’ stands for ‘Art’ in Malay). Each unit comes with luxurious fittings which are similar to five-star hotel rooms, and three to five car park bays are allotted to each unit (depending on the unit cost). The residential tower blocks are named:

• Van Gogh (Tower A, 40-storeys with 234 units)• Picasso (Tower B, 40-storeys with 234 units)• Dali (Tower C, 12-storeys with 46 units) • Monet (Tower D, 12 storeys with 91 units)

According to Ireka Development Management’s President and Chief Executive Officer Lai Voon Hon, the property market in the Mont’ Kiara neighbourhood is not one of unlimited residential developments. “The supply of condominium homes in Mont’ Kiara is actually quite limited,” said Lai. “There’s a perception that there is a lot of supply in the last two years as there were lots of launches. But land is limited for any future development and the neighbourhood continues to appeal strongly to residents, particularly expatriates. Its strategic location, good infrastructure and support facilities make it an attractive place to stay. As a result, demand will eventually overtake supply in Mont’ Kiara.” And astutely, Lai - formerly an architect trained at the prestigious Barlett School of Architecture, University College London, in England, was confident that modern condominium developments with all the right features would always be in demand.


And luxury condominium buyers seeking a residential lifestyle that can match their ambition, ought to note that the SENI development is sited on 8.8 acres of freehold land on one of the highest points of Mont’ Kiara. This vantage point affords 60% of the total units with unparalleled views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the city skyline, which is indeed a view to behold especially at night. Lai explained that given the experience of the Ireka Group’s track record and that of CapitaLand, nothing was left to chance. Whether it was in terms of planning, design and construction, or the eventual management of the project to maintain its image and property value.

“Ireka and CapitaLand have built thousands of residential units. On our side, we have built 2,000 units of luxury residences and CapitaLand as a group, innumerable units of equally high-end homes,” said Lai, referring to such projects as Kiaraville, Tiffani by i-ZEN, i-ZEN@Kiara I, i-ZEN@Kiara II and i-ZEN@Villa Aseana as well as Zehn Bukit Pantai by CapitaLand.

“SENI will undoubtedly be a very nice place to live,” emphasised Lai.

Utmost Privacy

The condominium units are all part of a master plan for a well-conceived layout and facilities to ensure privacy, such as a private life lobby for each unit. Says Lai: “Buyers of high-end condominium units are naturally also concerned about privacy. They may think that there is less privacy living in a condominium complex. But we have designed the space in such a way as to take care of such concerns. For example, in our Kiaraville development, although it houses 412 units, it still offers residents utmost privacy due to the architectural design.

“In SENI, privacy is further enhanced. Each unit comes with a private lift lobby from which you can go directly to your home. Also all visitors will be screened by the concierge on duty. Furthermore, all our guards are trained to ensure security for the residents.” SENI will be managed by i-ZEN Hospitality Sdn Bhd, an asset management subsidiary of Ireka Group. Having been managing four high-end residences, namely, i-ZEN@Kiara I, i-ZEN@Kiara II, i-ZEN@Villa Aseana and Kiaraville, the staff members are highly experienced and will be in tune with the general needs of SENI residents. i-ZEN Hospitality will also provide housekeeping and cleaning services to ensure hotel-like services in their own home. Says Lai, “The advantage is that despite having a large residence, they can choose not to have maids, as we can provide housekeeping services at a reasonable rate.” The true luxury of space will be apparent when five acres of the grounds are landscaped. In addition, recreational facilities will include two 50-metre length pools with four lanes. Landscaping will be under the expertise of Bali-based American landscape architect Karl Princic. He was formerly with the famed Belt Collins landscaping firm based in Hawaii, before setting up his own practice. Princic is noted for his modern tropical garden concepts, especially in luxurious Balinese resorts.

AboveMaster bathroom with an unobstructed view of the city.

RightThe formal lounge can easily accommodate big parties with room to spare.

Next page All bedrooms come with an ensuite bathroom.

The true luxury of space will be apparent when five acres of the grounds are landscaped.


Complementing Amenities - 1 Mont’ Kiara Part of the amenities to be built by the Ireka Group in Mont’ Kiara include the state-of-the-art mall, 1 Mont’ Kiara. It is located at at the entry / exit point of the expatriate enclave and will be modeled after the Raffles City mall in Beijing. With all leading lifestyle outlets as well as F&B services, 1 Mont’ Kiara will be the focal point of the Mont’ Kiara neighbourhood. The mall will sport a sophisticated design concept created by Sparch (Singapore) Pte Ltd (formerly known as SMC Alsop Asia). One of the design features of the building include the roof which has the ability to change colours. When completed, the entire Mont’ Kiara area will be quite a chic and trendy place to live in. The neighbourhood will attract more young professionals and those who are young at heart as well as expatriates. Lai was optimistic that notwithstanding the current soft market sentiment, demand for upscale Mont’ Kiara properties would go up in the near future.

“Looking from the angle of attractiveness,” said Lai, “such as enjoying a resort lifestyle in the sky, it is a very affordable proposition compared to bungalow homes in Bangsar and Damansara. A similar size home in SENI comes with a lot more attractions. And bungalows don’t have such wonderful views of the city as SENI condo units. When completed, this project will have the look and feel of a five-star resort in the city.”

For enquiries on SENI Mont’ Kiara,call SENI Gallery at +603 6203 1919 or log on towww.senimontkiara.com.my

Source: This article by writer Johnni Wong is reproduced with the kind consent of The Star. It was first published in The Star on 20 September 2009.

His previous books, The Tipping Point and Blink, soared to the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list. GQ Magazine hailed him as ‘the world’s most influential thinker’. Now, with Outliers, journalist and cultural commentator Malcolm Gladwell has taken on the task of demystifying success, and the social beliefs and concepts wrapped around success – and in doing so, taken his talent for discourse to another level.

In his trademark silky-smooth lucid prose, Gladwell tracks the lives and career paths of ‘outliers’ (people such as Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart, whose achievements far exceed the norm), and reveals what they had in common: other than talent and ambition, all enjoyed extraordinary opportunities to cultivate their skills that allowed them to become the best in their fields. Indeed, no one can doubt that Gladwell has done his research and fact-crunching. In tearing down

the myth of individual merit to explore how culture, circumstance, timing, birth and luck account for success, Gladwell cites case studies – from Canadian junior hockey champions to Asian math whizzes to Silicon Valley billionaires to the rise of his own family in Jamaica – to drive home his point: it’s nurture, folks, not nature.

For instance, in challenging the prevailing belief that there is something intrinsically special in the make-up of geniuses and star performers that enables them to reach great heights with far less effort than ordinary mortals, Gladwell invokes what he calls the 10,000-Hour Rule.

According to the rule, if a group of people start off with a similar level of ability, what determines whether a person makes it into the top is not so much talent but that he or she clocks up at least 10,000 hours of practice. Gladwell cites a study on students at a top music school that revealed that the elite performers totalled 10,000 hours of practice by the age of 20. The merely good ones, however, put in only 8,000 hours; and the last group, only 4,000 hours. To put it bluntly: there is no substitute for practice, practice, and more practice.

Nothing short of a tour-de-force, and a persuasively and elegantly written call to rethink our ideas around success, Outliers certainly prods us to ponder the gifts of our own history – and how the world would benefit if our children had a more level playing field to fulfil their individual potential and dreams.

Outliers: The Story of Success

Outliers: The Story of Success, written by Malcolm Gladwell and published by Back Bay Books, is available in all major bookstores.

Book Review


For those who believe in numerology and feng shui, the number ‘1’ for an address is usually associated with leadership, energy, motivation, drive and power. This is why businesses vie to be positioned at streets or locations with the numeral ‘1’ forming as part of their address.

Strategically located at 1 Jalan Kiara, the primary entry point into Mont’ Kiara, the 1 Mont’ Kiara integrated development promises to embody all these characteristics and more. The integrated development, which consists of luxury serviced residences of i-ZEN@Kiara II and steps away from i-ZEN@Kiara I, a 34-storey office suite building, a 20-storey office tower and a 350,000 sq ft gross floor area retail podium, will not only offer ‘work, live and play’ under one roof, but also have a strong focus on community-building.

“We envisage 1 Mont’ Kiara to be more than the typical integrated development – it will also serve as a community hub. It is intended to bring the people of Mont’ Kiara, with their diverse backgrounds and nationalities, together as one community, in one place,” says Lai Voon Hon, President/CEO of Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd, “We see 1 Mont’ Kiara taking the lead in community-building, becoming the focal point for cross-cultural exchange and understanding; a place to be, to see, to be seen and to be heard.” This exciting landmark is developed by London-listed Aseana Properties Ltd, together with Singapore-listed CapitaLand.

As the public face to the integrated development, and the node connecting the office suites and office tower, the retail mall will also bear the name ‘1 Mont’ Kiara’. “1 Mont’ Kiara will be the first truly one-stop retail and gastronomic destination for residents and workers in the Mont’ Kiara community. When 1 Mont’ Kiara opens in mid-2010, the catchment’s everyday needs and wants will only be a stone’s throw away,” notes Lai.

1 Mont’ Kiara, the retail mall, consists of five retail levels - four above ground and one in the lower ground. Key features include a pedestrians-only boulevard with al-fresco cafes to tempt foodies and a rooftop patio with greenery. Architecturally, the piece-de-resistance will be a 6,000 sq ft light-filled

Retail. Offices. Residential.Community. All in 1.

1 Mont’ Kiara

Property Update

Above*1 Mont’ Kiara is jointly developed by London-listed Aseana Properties Ltd and Singapore-listed CapitaLand, Southeast Asia’s largest real estate company. Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd is the development manager for 1 Mont’ Kiara.


For enquiries, contact Retail Mall Leasing +6012 668 6601 Office Space Leasing +6012 668 6602 Sales of bz-hub Office Suites +603 6203 6688 E [email protected]

What’s your1 Wish for1 Mont’ Kiara (retail mall)?Email [email protected] with your 1 Wish and stand to win RM500 in shopping vouchers. Submit your 1 Wish before 28 February 2010.No limit to the number of entries per person; and don’t forget to provide us with your name, I.C. no. / passport no. and mobile telephone number. All contest entries are subject to terms and conditions below.

Top*Residents will be able to perform all their errands at leisure in 1 Mont’ Kiara: groceries, personal grooming, banking, gift-buying - with many sips of cappucino and chats in between!

Below*The developer’s vision for 1 Mont’ Kiara is “a liveable space for retailers and shoppers to commune and interact daily”.

Terms and conditions:1. 1 Wish contest is open to all nationalities, aged 16 years and above.2. By submitting your entries to 1 Wish contest, you have

consented to allow the copyrights and usage of your entries to Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd, its subsidiaries and associated partners for their marketing, promotion and advertising activities and any other purposes.

3. The judges’ decision is final, no correspondence will be entertained.4. No purchase is necessary to enter the 1 Wish contest.5. The single most brilliant 1 Wish winner will be announced in Citi-ZEN newsletter at a later date. The 1 Wish contest winner will

also be notified officially via email correspondence.6. All terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice.

atrium with EFTE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roofing, a unique transparent plastic which absorbs solar radiation and is able to change colour to create different ambiences. The same material was used to construct the acclaimed Beijing National Aquatic Centre “The Water Cube” and “The Angels” climate control canopy in CapitaLand’s famed Clarke Quay F&B precinct in Singapore, which won the 2006 ASEAN Energy Award.

Pedestrians entering the complex will step into natural light cascading into the mall through a geometric-patterned EFTE roof. Here, under cushioned canopies supported on steel frames, themed events, activities and cultural performances will be staged to engage and entertain visitors. Meanwhile, retail spaces will be arranged around this central space to evoke the opennessof a bustling Italian piazza.

As with other residential enclaves in Mont’ Kiara, eateries specialising in various ethnic cuisines will abound. Shoppers will also be able to find a variety of retail offerings covering fashion, home furnishings, electronics, lifestyle, kids/educational, beauty and healthcare, as well as a supermarket.

“Our objective, with regard to our shoppers, is to create a sense of belonging, familiarity and ownership,” comments Evelyn Tan, Centre Manager for 1 Mont’ Kiara retail mall, “As part of our community-building effort, we are looking to get input from Mont’ Kiara residents. In line with this, we are launching the

‘1 Wish’ contest.”

The ‘1 Wish’ contest, which will run until 28 February 2010, allows people to contribute their ideas and wishes for the shopping mall at 1 Mont’ Kiara.

“Email and tell us what your ‘1 Wish’ is for the shopping mall at 1 Mont’ Kiara,” says Tan. “The single most brilliant ‘1 Wish’ selected wins shopping vouchers worth RM500 to spend at 1 Mont’ Kiara, the shopping mall when it opens!”

* Images shown are artist’s impressions only.


From left:1 Mr Tan Chien Li and President / CEO of Ireka Development

Management, Mr Lai Voon Hon2 Mrs Tan Hock Soon, Mr Charles Cheow and Mr Tan Hock Soon.3 Ms Carol Armour, Mr Neil Sutherland and Ms Tina Yeung.

Tribute Exhibition to Lee Joo For at Art Salon @ SENI

12 September 2009: Art Salon @ SENI paid tribute to Lee Joo For with an exhibition featuring 36 of his artworks (1964 – 2008), in conjunction with the veteran artist’s 80th birthday.

Ireka Contributes towards Tabung Bencana (Disaster Fund) NSTP-Media Prima

13 October 2009: Ireka contributed a total of RM15,000 towards the Tabung Bencana (Disaster Fund) NSTP-Media Prima, in aid of victims of the earth-quake in Padang, Indonesia, Typhoon Ketsana in Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the tsunami in Samoa.

National Property & Housing Summit 2009

19 & 20 October 2009: Ireka participated in the National Property & Housing Summit 2009 which was held at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa, Kuala Lumpur. SENI Mont’ Kiara project was showcased at the summit to over 200 participants from the property industry.

Events Gallery

1 Group Managing Director / CEO of Media Prima, Dato’ Amrin Awaluddin (left), receiving a RM15,000 donation mock cheque from Ireka’s Group General Manager, Mr Leonard Yee.

2 Together with other corporates,

Ireka is committed to align its business goals with corporate social responsibility via ongoing philanthropic initiatives.

1 From left: COO of Ireka Development Management, Mr Lim Ech Chan, CEO of Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), Dato’ Dr Michael Yeoh, Minister of Housing & Local Government, Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Har and Director of ASLI, Dato’ Razman Hashim, during the momento presentation ceremony.

2 From left: Mr Bobby S.W Chin, Mr David Selvan, Mr Ho Chin Soon and Mr Danny Lai at the SENI Mont’ Kiara property showcase.

3 This year’s summit was themed “A Resurgent Property Market Beyond the Economic Horizon”

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Construction Update As of November 2009

Phase 3 & 4: Shopping mall substructure and ground structure works completed. Structural works for hotel tower Level 4 and retail podium Level 1 are progressing well.

KL Sentral OfficeTowers & Hotel

Earthworks, substructure works (pile caps and raft foundation), basement and podium works are progressing well.

1 Mont’ Kiara

Diaphragm wall and piling works completed. Structural roof works of Office Suite (bz-hub) roof, Office Tower and Retail Podium roof are in progress. Architectural and M&E works for both blocks are progressing well.

Structural works are in progress at Level 30 & 31 for Block A, Level 17 for Block B, Level 11 & 12 for Block C, Level 10 for Block D, Level LG4 to LG1 for car park podium and Plaza area. Structural works for western bound retaining wall and suspended driveway structure works completed. Architectural and M&E works for Block A and Block B are in progress at various levels.


FURNISHING & INTERIORS

ACCESSORIES & GIFTS

‘Live Life Beyond the Ordinary’ this New Year with the i-ZEN Privilege Card

i-ZEN Privilege Card promises a selection of lifestyle experiences befitting your position as a proud member of the i-ZEN community. With the growing list of meticulously chosen lifestyle brands, spoil yourself with unsurpassed fine dining experiences, pampering health and wellness retreats and exotic vacation getaways, not forgetting the exclusive privileges on home furnishing products, lightings, kitchenwares, gifts, accessories and even educational camps! For more information on the full member privileges available in year 2010, log on to www.i-zen.com.myor contact Ms Dorcas Aung at +603 6203 6688([email protected]).

ACCOMMODATIONS & VACATIONS

EDUCATIONAL

FOOD & BEVERAGES

i-ZEN Privileges

WELLNESS, BEAUTY & FITNESS

StyleEvery one of i-ZEN developments embodies an extraordinarily high standard of contemporary style, not merely in terms of aesthetics but in the way it is congruent with form and function.

Servicei-ZEN has set the highest standards by benchmarking itself against the finest in the hospitality industry, and then recruiting the best talent and training them to exceed the expectations of i-ZEN’s discerning stakeholders.

SecuritySecurity being our topmost priority, all systems and procedures are routinely upgraded, checked and rehearsed to ensure an unwavering readiness to deal with every emergency.

SophisticationIn synergy with style, i-ZEN incorporates cutting-edge innovation and technology to introduce ease and effortlessness into every aspect of the i-ZEN lifestyle.

SoulSoul lies at the very heart of every i-ZEN development. This encompasses a strong sense of belonging, a pride of place, and an identity as a community – all of which is achieved with the fulfillment of the other four principles.

i-ZENThe Epitome of Modern Living

i-ZEN is a brand founded on and driven by five basic principles that ensure its customers’ highest expectations are met.∫

“i” is for IrekaIreka Corporation Berhad (ICB) is a publicly listed company involved in construction, property development, hospitality & leisure and IT. Its distinguished over 40-year track record includes the construction of the KLIA runway, Kuala Lumpur’s Middle-Ring Road II, the North-South Expressway, Putrajaya Government Administrative Offices, Technology Park Malaysia, DiGi Corporate Office (D’House), Wisma AIG and OCBC headquarters. The Group also previously developed and managed The Westin Kuala Lumpur, winner of multiple regional and international hospitality awards.

Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd (IDM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICB and is also the exclusive development manager of Aseana Properties Limited, a company listed on the Main Market of London Stock Exchange. Its development and management portfolio comprises the following:

• The i-ZEN brand of luxury properties, namely i-ZEN@Kiara I, i-ZEN@Kiara II, i-ZEN@Villa Aseana, Kiaraville, Tiffani by i-ZEN, SENI Mont’ Kiara and 1 Mont’ Kiara, all of which are located in the prime neighbourhood of Mont’ Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

• Luyang Perdana (Kota Kinabalu) and Sandakan Harbour Square, an award-winning seafront urban renewal project in Sabah.

• In Vietnam, aside from strategic minority equity stake in Vietnam developer, Nam Long Investment Corporation, it is also involved in the International Hi-Tech Healthcare Park (an integrated medical-themed development) and Queen’s Place (a residential and commercial development) projects.

Supporting IDM are two key ICB subsidiary companies: i-ZEN Hospitality Sdn Bhd, tasked with the management of completed i-ZEN properties; and i-ZEN Property Services Sdn Bhd, which is responsible for the sales, marketing and leasing services for all i-ZEN properties.

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