Unlocking Your Child`s Creativity - i-ZEN

ISSUE
13
Jan - Mar 2010
PP 14791/11/2010
Living Life Large
Unlocking
Your Child’s
Creativity
SENI Mont’ Kiara
For the Love of the Arts
Retail. Offices. Residential.
Community. All in 1.
1 Mont Kiara
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheers,
CONTENTS
01
Unlocking Your Child’s
Creativity
04
08
SUPERCAMP
Grooming Tomorrow’s
Achievers
Book Review:
Outliers: The Story
of Success
ii • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
Lai Voon Hon
President/CEO
Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd
06
For the Love of the Arts
11
12
09
Retail. Offices. Residential.
Community. All in 1.
1 Mont’ Kiara
PUBLISHER
Ireka Development
Management Sdn Bhd
G-1, Kiara II
No. 1, Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
T +603 6203 6688
F +603 6203 6868
W www.i-zen.com.my
E [email protected]
PRINTER
Events Gallery
NPP Marketing
& Services Sdn Bhd
FOR ENQUIRIES,
PLEASE CONTACT
Construction
Progress
T +603 6203 6688
F +603 6203 6868
E [email protected]
Cover Feature
UNLOCKING
YOUR CHILD’S
CREATIVITY
“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.
Above
An environment filled with
things to touch, talk, wonder
about and play with provides
endless opportunities to
enhance a child’s creative
expression and problemsolving abilities.
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 him
or 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
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 1
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.
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.
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 problemsolving tasks, so that it becomes habitual and
fun to do so.
Above
Besides enhancing physical
fitness, participation in
gymnastics builds a child’s
confidence and self-esteem.
Right
Children should be
challenged to take risks,
challenge assumptions, and
see things in fresh new ways.
• 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!
2 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
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.
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.
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 that
includes 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.”
Above
In addition to providing
childcare and education,
nurseries seek to provide a
stimulating environment for
social and creative activities.
For enquiries, please contact:
Children’s Discovery House Sdn Bhd
Ground Floor, i-ZEN@Kiara II
No. 1 Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur
T +603 6203 7001
E [email protected]
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 3
Educational Focus
SUPERCAMP
Grooming Tomorrow’s Achievers
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.”
“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 staff
to 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.
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.
4 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
Main
Outdoor activities teach
SuperCamp participants
self-reliance, risk-taking
and team work.
Inset
No matter what the activity,
facilitators and team leaders
are always in control of the
situation.
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.
Children are encouraged to mix
and appreciate each other’s differences.
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.
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.”
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.
Left
Sharing and bonding builds
trust among SuperCamp
participants and many
friendships grow after the
experience.
Below
Raina and Jamil Adams
with Bucky O’Neill, one of
the SuperCamp facilitators
from the US.
For more information,
please contact:
Quantum Education Sdn Bhd
Unit 3A-08, Level 3A, Block B3
Leisure Commerce Square
No. 9 Jalan PJS 8/9
46150 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia
T +603 7861 1232
F +603 7873 8340
E [email protected]
www.supercamp.com.my
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.”
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 5
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)
6 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
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.
Main
With 60% of the SENI units
facing the city skyline, the
master bedroom is typically
designed in such a way as
to exploit the prime view.
Inset
The spacious dining room of
a 2,411 sq ft unit.
The true luxury of space will be apparent
when five acres of the grounds are landscaped.
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.
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.
“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.
“SENI will undoubtedly be a very nice place to live,”
emphasised Lai.
Above
Master bathroom with an
unobstructed view of the city.
Right
The formal lounge can easily
accommodate big parties
with room to spare.
Next page
All bedrooms come with an
ensuite bathroom.
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 7
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.
For enquiries on SENI Mont’ Kiara,
call SENI Gallery at +603 6203 1919 or log on to
www.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.
“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.”
Book Review
Outliers:
The Story
of Success
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.
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.
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.
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.
Indeed, no one can doubt that Gladwell has done
his research and fact-crunching. In tearing down
Outliers: The Story of Success, written by Malcolm Gladwell and
published by Back Bay Books, is available in all major bookstores.
8 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
Property Update
Retail. Offices. Residential.
Community. All in 1.
1 Mont’ Kiara
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 Singaporelisted CapitaLand.
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.
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 mid2010, 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
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 9
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”.
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 openness
of 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!”
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]
* Images shown are artist’s impressions only.
10 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
What’s your
1 Wish for
1 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.
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.
Events Gallery
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.
1
From left:
1Mr Tan Chien Li and President / CEO of Ireka Development
Management, Mr Lai Voon Hon
2 Mrs Tan Hock Soon, Mr Charles Cheow and Mr Tan Hock Soon.
3 Ms Carol Armour, Mr Neil Sutherland and Ms Tina Yeung.
3
2
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 earthquake in Padang, Indonesia, Typhoon Ketsana in Vietnam and the Philippines,
1
as well as the tsunami in Samoa.
1Group 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
2 T ogether with other corporates,
Ireka is committed to align its
business goals with corporate
social responsibility via ongoing
philanthropic initiatives.
1
2
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.
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.
1
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.
2
3 This year’s summit was themed “A Resurgent Property Market Beyond
the Economic Horizon”
3
1
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 11
Construction Update
As of November 2009
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.
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 Office
Towers & Hotel
Earthworks, substructure works (pile caps and
raft foundation), basement and podium works are
progressing well.
12 • Citi-ZEN Issue 13
i-ZEN Privileges
ACCESSORIES
& GIFTS
ACCOMMODATIONS
& VACATIONS
FURNISHING
& INTERIORS
WELLNESS,
BEAUTY & FITNESS
        

EDUCATIONAL
‘Live Life Beyond the Ordinary’ this New
Year with the i-ZEN Privilege Card
FOOD
& BEVERAGES
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.my
or contact Ms Dorcas Aung at +603 6203 6688
([email protected]).
Citi-ZEN Issue 13 • 13
“i” is for Ireka
Ireka 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.
i-ZEN
The 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.
∫
Style
Service
Security
Sophistication
Soul
Every 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.
i-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.
Security being our topmost
priority, all systems and
procedures are routinely
upgraded, checked and
rehearsed to ensure an
unwavering readiness to
deal with every emergency.
In synergy with style,
i-ZEN incorporates
cutting-edge innovation
and technology to
introduce ease and
effortlessness into every
aspect of the i-ZEN
lifestyle.
Soul 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.