Raffles Hotels & Resorts will open the Raffles Jakarta early in 2015 at the heart of the thriving commercial hub of Kuningan. Exclusively linked to the Ciputra Artpreneur Centre, a landmark development in Jakarta’s golden triangle, Raffles Jakarta will be an oasis in the city, a meeting point for art and ideas, business and leisure, glamour and fashion.

With guest rooms and public spaces dressed in warm golden marble with rich veins of onyx and explosions of colour throughout, the hotel is a celebration of artistry and an homage to the iconic Indonesian artist Hendra Gunawan. An activist and campaigner against injustice and colonialism, much of Gunawan’s work was rarely seen until after his death in 1983. Now his legacy comes to life at Raffles Jakarta, where some of his most important works punctuate the elegant interiors with their trademark vibrant colours and strong, flowing lines. The hotel’s Art Concierge conducts walking tours of Gunawan’s art pieces, providing insights into his fascinating and turbulent life.

“Jakarta is the economic and cultural seat of one of Asia’s fastest growing economies with an increasingly sophisticated dining and entertainment landscape, and Raffles is delighted to be part of this growth,” says Peter French, president of Raffles Hotels & Resorts. “With Raffles Jakarta, we are bringing to Indonesia an authentic expression of Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ philosophy – the hotel has its own individual personality, its own story to tell and a combination of both Indonesian and global influences that gives it a unique sense of place. The interpretation and display of Hendra Gunawan’s artwork in this hotel is a truly special tribute to Indonesian art.”

The hotel will boast 173 luxurious rooms and suites, as well as several restaurants and bars, including a rendition of the Writers Bar, a revered institution at Raffles Singapore, that will serve fine wine and sophisticated cocktails, and the Arts Café, home to Pan-Asian and European menus. Alternatively Navina – deriving from the Indonesian word for ‘fresh’ – provides a more informal poolside setting for light meals, tea or aperitifs amid the lush tropical gardens. www.raffles.com