Sander offers to set up a foundation at Raixa

German designer Jill Sander, who ten days ago signed a 1'400 million pesetas option to buy the emblematic Raixa estate in Bunyola, has offered the Council of Majorca the possibility to set up a cultural foundation there. The offer was made yesterday to Council president Maria Antonia Munar by Sander's lawyer, Rafael Barber-Llorente. The lawyer promised Munar that he would present a draft agreement to determine the characteristics of the foundation before Christmas. Although the objectives of the Foundation have not been defined, the lawyer said that it could take the form of an international forum for debate on a variety of subjects, such as the environment, culture or finance. He said that Sander planned to start refurbishment as soon as possible and that she planned to use it as a seasonal home. Barber-Llorente said that Munar had not given an answer to the proposal of a foundation. The Council has two months to exercise its right to buy, but will have to match Sander's offer of 1'400 million pesetas. The central ministry of the environment has valued the estate at 1'060 million pesetas, and so the Council of Majorca would have to find the remaining 340 million pesetas. Munar has said that she is willing to do this, but the other parties represented on the Council of Majorca do not seem as willing. Sander will have to spend an estimated 1'800 million pesetas on renovating the house and grounds, which were declared of cultural interest in 1994. This means that the original buildings and gardens will have to be respected.