How do you construct the subsequent era of Filipino communities? Famend architects flip to native heritage and climate-conscious design to form tomorrow’s residential developments
Step into one of many boutique designer townhouse communities of Likha Residences and the very first thing that can strike you is the standard of sunshine. Sunbeams filter by way of fashionable interpretations of jalousie blinds, casting acquainted patterns throughout polished flooring that any Filipino would acknowledge from childhood reminiscences.
The light whirr of stylish ceiling followers circulates air by way of areas designed with recessed cove ceilings for optimum air circulation. Customized-sized home windows that permit pure mild are available and body the luxurious landscapes close by.
PHINMA Properties has lengthy been identified for creating dignified housing for the Filipino, however with their Likha line, the corporate aspires to transcend—providing communities that elevate on a regular basis residing whereas staying rooted in tradition.
Likha Residences, a boutique group of townhomes designed by Mañosa & Co., and Likha Estates, an unique assortment of premier residential tons delivered to life by Royal Pineda+, characteristic areas that talk to each reminiscence, aspiration, and values that take care of local weather, group, and native heritage.
All of the Likha Initiatives in Alabang, Davao, and Bacolod supply all of the facilities wanted to stay that comfy life-style, every with its personal clubhouse, health fitness center, multi-purpose corridor, and 24-hour safety. Residents may take pleasure in swimming swimming pools, superbly manicured landscaping, and underground cabling—a uncommon characteristic within the Philippines at present.
“We didn’t need one thing inflexible or cookie-cutter. We wished one thing that can resonate with consumers by way of values and identification, we wished houses that imply extra,” says Alice Villanueva of PHINMA Properties.
“Trendy Filipino structure deserves to be seen, to be celebrated, and to be lived in. On the finish of the day, for those who design with intention, you entice individuals with the identical values, constructing a real group. With walkways, parks, and shared areas, we create locations for significant experiences.”
Arch. Mañosa and Arch. Pineda’s native design renaissance
On the middle of those important creations are two of essentially the most famend architects in aware Filipino design: Arch. Gelo Mañosa, along with his heritage-inspired townhouses in Alabang and Davao, and Arch. Royal Pineda, who masterplanned the dynamic Saludad township in Bacolod, residence to the premier residential growth Likha Estates.
Over a panel dialogue on “Constructing on Heritage” on March 27 on the Likha Residences Alabang Clubhouse, the architects asserted how in a market stuffed with premier developments, Likha stands aside as a uncommon offering- a thoughtfully crafted assortment of areas poised to spark a cultural renaissance each in Philippine structure and within the Filipino lifestyle.
“The French have their French homes, the Japanese have their conventional houses—why ought to Filipinos accept Mediterranean villas or designs that don’t mirror our lifestyle?” asks Arch. Pineda on his trigger for selling houses with native aptitude. “I really feel a little bit bit uncomfortable, it’s like carrying a swimsuit that’s not for you or a barong that’s not for you whenever you’re being compelled to stay in a home that’s not for you.”
Mañosa echoes this sentiment. “Within the ’80s and ’90s, my father was carrying the Filipino flag in an period when everybody was into Mediterranean homes, post-modernism, Mexican, and Asian. In the present day is what I name Pinterest structure. The issue with copying is whenever you import overseas tradition into our local weather within the Philippines, and also you attempt to drive overseas tradition with Filipino tradition—it doesn’t work.”
Likha Residences Alabang: The place all of it started
Simply off the service street and proper beside Hillsborough Alabang and PAREF Southridge Faculty, Arch. Gelo Mañosa has continued the philosophy of Trendy Filipino design of which his father, Arch. Bobby Mañosa, a Nationwide Artist for Structure, was a outstanding advocate for.
“After we had been trying on the preliminary design consideration, one of many issues was we wished the design to truly be extra generational, versus simply one other townhouse,” he explains.
The areas appear to resonate with cultural reminiscence and Filipino household life, all of the whereas addressing up to date wants. Within the Likha Residences Alabang townhomes, the areas circulation naturally from non-public to communal areas, with intelligent transitional zones that may broaden for these quintessentially Filipino gatherings like birthday events, Christmas celebrations, and impromptu reunions that outline our social material.
Davao’s custom woven into design
Touring south to the Likha Residences Davao, Arch. Mañosa’s method is restricted to the area, incorporating motifs from Mandaya traditions into the designs.
The buildings themselves appear to breathe, with passive cooling methods that make air con elective fairly than important. “We examine solar paths and see how the construction is hit by the solar. We take a look at landscaping and the way that mitigates oblique photo voltaic radiation,” he explains.
“There’s a phrase in Filipino—maaliwalas—which doesn’t have an ideal English translation. It’s greater than area. It’s a sense of openness, lightness, and ease. That’s what we purpose to attain in our communities, an expertise that feels undeniably Filipino.”
Likha Residences’ consideration to inexperienced structure isn’t only for advertising and marketing functions both however can be meant to make the inhabitants extra comfy, with climate-responsive design drawn from generations of vernacular knowledge about residing comfortably in a tropical local weather. Massive overhangs protect interiors from harsh daylight whereas channeling cooling breezes—strategies Filipino builders understood lengthy earlier than LEED certification existed.
READ: Sure, strolling is nice on your well being. However right here’s learn how to make it higher
How Bacolod treats panorama as heritage
In the meantime, in Bacolod, Arch. Pineda attracts inspiration not from textiles however from the area’s agricultural legacy—notably its iconic sugar plantations. “What actually impressed me there was the sugar cane,” he remembers, voice warming with the reminiscence.
“I stayed in Bacolod for nearly a yr… and the sensation of expanse is de facto lovely. The sugarcane is one thing that turns into the reminiscence of the entire individuals of Bacolod.”
This connection to panorama interprets into coloration palettes that match the leaves of the sugar cane, and a “cane purple” that displays the wealthy redness of the sugar cane pores and skin, wrapped along with the immaculately shiny “hacienda white.”
“All this stuff we feature and convey to the subsequent era, however in a brisker, extra progressive method,” says Arch. Pineda. “On the finish of the way in which we now have to create a series of historical past.”
Standing on a terrace within the Bacolod growth and seeing the huge fields, surrounding mountains, and glimpses of the ocean, you perceive viscerally what Pineda means when he says, “We’d like to have the ability to amplify the character of the place, and nature doesn’t imply simply the place, but in addition the individuals.”
Likha’s purposeful luxurious
The architects observe how preferences for lifestyle have modified, evolving into one thing extra sensible and comfy. They hint an evolution in Filipino housing aspirations: from one-hectare estates within the Nineteen Fifties to 2,000-3,000 sq.m. tons within the Nineteen Eighties, to at present’s extra manageable 200-300 sq.m. areas.
“Townhouses are typically a construction that right-sizes your life, sitting between a apartment and a 300 sq.m. home,” observes Arch. Mañosa.
It’s a perspective shared by many younger professionals who grew up in expansive household houses however have totally different priorities for their very own residing areas. “Many people millennials aren’t searching for huge homes anymore,” says Villanueva. “We’re drawn to houses which are extra versatile and handy. Plenty of us grew up in massive homes however now I can’t think about residing in one which’s too huge as a result of it’s simply an excessive amount of to keep up. Nonetheless, we wish houses that mirror our values and supply the sort of consolation we had been used to. For us, purposeful luxurious means residing in an area that’s well-designed, significant, and aligned with how we really stay at present.”
Likha Residences isn’t about imported marble or crystal chandeliers. As a substitute, it goals to reinforce each day life thoughtfully, aware of the Filipino expertise, taking good care of heritage, and taking the time to assist it evolve and flourish.
The premium finishes characteristic sturdy fixtures and top-of-the-line built-in conveniences, whereas the spacious bogs with walk-in closets mirror the necessity to unwind in up to date existence. Cove ceilings add architectural curiosity with out ostentation. All the pieces serves a goal whereas nonetheless delighting the senses.
“We wish to have the ability to construct houses that folks wish to stay in and go on to their youngsters,” explains Villanueva. “We’re capable of create sustainable legacies, whereby we’re capable of go this right down to generations to return.”
READ: To like is to stay
PHINMA Properties paves the way in which to cultural change
Because the Likha Residences developments rise in Alabang and Davao, and Likha Estates in Bacolod, these tasks symbolize one thing bigger than premium housing. The areas present a cultural change, which reclaims native architectural identification that has been lengthy forgotten.
“Structure nonetheless defines the expansion and document of time and its tradition. Why not take it to the subsequent stage? Why can’t our structure design a life-style?” challenges Arch. Pineda. “This progress in doing one thing that’s extra fashionable and extra Filipino will at all times be a guideline. I believe that can develop into a continuum that each Filipino of each era will search for. We’re not simply designing houses; we’re creating an expertise,” Pineda continues. “How does it really feel to drive by way of the streets, stroll into your own home, and even arrive at the doorstep? It ought to really feel like residence, not simply any residence, however a Filipino residence.”
“The extra architects and designers begin taking a look at going native and seeing native as world-class, then the higher the Philippines turns into,” provides Arch. Mañosa, “And I believe that firms like PHINMA drive the social norm of how society seems at structure, particularly Filipino structure. So kudos to them.”
Because the sundown casts a golden mild by way of the trendy jalousie home windows and households start to collect within the Likha Residences, the owners aren’t simply discovering new locations to stay in however rediscovering what it means to stay as a contemporary Filipino, in one of the simplest ways potential.
Residence means extra right here—Likha by PHINMA Properties is a premium residential idea that bridges Filipino heritage with up to date residing.
From boutique townhomes at Likha Residences in Alabang and Davao to premier residential tons at Likha Estates Saludad in Bacolod, every group is thoughtfully designed to mirror the values of the trendy Filipino.
Discover refined residing at likharesidences.com and Likha Estates within the Saludad Township. Personal viewings out there by appointment.