Award-Winning British Firm Foster + Partners Reimagines Makati’s Skyline in the Form of Functional Art

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster and his firm Foster + Partners are known for their distinct, sustainable, and above all, functional designs. Among these is an architectural achievement in the Philippines, in the form of The Estate Makati.

 Foster and his firm are known for designing The Gherkin in London, the Apple Park in Cupertino, and the Hong Kong International Airport, as well as the poetic renovation of Germany’s 19th-century Reichstag. Foster himself has always understood architecture as something to be used and to be of use, not only to its inhabitants but to everything and everyone that surrounds it. Then, of course, comes art.

After all, it’s only by viewing architecture through the lens of art, that we can reflect on the earth’s tierra pura, the undisturbed landscapes on which we have expressed our worldly needs of shelter and workspace, and our ideals of governance, trade, and religion.

Sustainability meets art

It’s also in the firm’s ethos to disrupt global skylines through sustainable architecture, without sacrificing beautiful form. “One of the things we are trying to do all over the world is to actually be much more responsive to climate,” says David Nelson, Head of Design at Foster + Partners. “[We] try and explain to people quite often what their climate is like and what the benefits and things are if you can work in harmony with that.”

By putting sustainability at the forefront of what it does, Foster + Partners has continued to redefine global skylines, and The Estate Makati is the newest addition to its resume of accomplishments. A luxury high-rise built on Apartment Ridge’s last parcel of unoccupied land, the estate is set to raise the standard of residential developments in posh Makati.

As with any of the award-winning British firm’s developments, The Estate Makati is detailed with many passive design techniques built into the structure. It features a self-cleaning facade, lessening the need for washing and maintenance, as well as a cruciform shape to give optimized views of the Ayala Avenue and Urdaneta skylines, among others.

Homes are also built column-less with double-slab technology, which gives residents an undisturbed space and the option to change their units as often as they see fit, without disrupting the neighbors and the structural integrity of the building.

The idea of the inhabitable façade is also embedded into every unit, with a ledge built right on the window that can be used as a viewpoint or extra storage space. The glass, on the other hand, is double-glazed and angled, designed to maximize natural light while diffusing the heat that comes with it.

With 30 percent of the property devoted to green spaces, homeowners are assured that even in the middle of a city, they are still able to escape to relaxing spots surrounded by various plants and trees such as in the sky garden.

Even better: The building and the layout of the units were configured in such a way that two or more adjacent units can be easily combined to create larger homes for growing families.

Other luxury comforts residents can experience at The Estate Makati include a wine cellar where they can store and enjoy their special bottles with friends, a fully-equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, a business center, and a 24-hour concierge service. Charging provisions for 200 electric vehicles have also been built into the parking structure.

Forward-looking and distinct, The Estate Makati combines just the right mix of style and sophistication all while offering low-maintenance yet high-functioning spaces.

To inquire about the units at The Estate Makati, visit www.theestatemakati.com or email [email protected]