This New Residential Development is for Filipino Futurists

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Metro Manila has always brimmed with competitive spirit. Mornings feel as if they're kicked off by a starting gun, and the days feel like an endless race, to a finish line that inches further and further away. Today, though, as the pandemic runs its course, homes are more quiet. Quarantine and lockdown restrictions have meant that there's less of that tangible sense of hustle-and-bustle in the cities.

Tomorrow, however, is still on the horizon. The city skyline awaits the ascent of The Estate Makati.

The first truly collaborative real estate project between SMDC and Federal Land holds the promise of a different time: The Estate is rooted in traditions of family and village life, standing in the middle of vibrant city streets, and expanding as it recreates the experience of exclusive “homes in the sky.” Architect Gary Coscolluela of the W.V. Coscolluela architecture firm—the local consultant of The Estate Makati’s design relationship with the prestigious Foster + Partners—points this out as a guiding feature to the 54-story highrise’s sleek and innovative units.

When posed with the question of whether this was more than just another residential condominium, but a sound investment for generations to come, Hans “Chico” Sy, Jr., President of SM Engineering, Design and Development, said, “At the end of the day, time is what happens. We all change with time.” The design partners faced the architectural challenges of flexible spaces that could suit its homeowners’ growth over the decades—natural and social calamities prepared for, but also flourishing moments of peace and success in their highest intentions. “How could we really make this whole ability to adapt to change a reality?"

“That’s where the double-slab system of the entire structure came about,” mused Sy, Jr. “We basically asked ourselves, how could we make this unit stand the test of time? You would have to be able to change it up.” Unexpected circumstances impose the need to reshape, reorder, and realign visions to the current environment.

The result, then, is an expansive corner unit design. At The Estate Makati, corner units are radially arranged, and made so each could be renovated without disrupting the integrity of the original structure. At the same time, this is made to be feasible without unsettling the neighbors. Within each unit, there are no columns to permanently limit the design of the space. Cantilevered beams enforce the security of construction, and all such items as plumbing, electricals, and utilities are concealed between double slabs of concrete. “It’s actually not new in terms of technology, but it’s new in its application to the residential market,” adds Sy, Jr. “This is one of the first applications [of this technology] on a residential project.”

Besides this foundational innovation on the development, the designers of The Estate Makati have anticipated the technological needs of its residents. With vehicular access from the quiet Apartment Ridge Road, homeowners find a sense of privacy which mimics neighboring exclusive village access, right at the center of Ayala Avenue’s hustle and bustle. Sustainability plays a crucial role in The Estate Makati’s vision of longevity. Not only is the façade of the building lined and decorated with native foliage, the LEED-certified project also features electric charging stations in 50 percent of the parking bays.

The foresight of The Estate Makati’s design partners has also provided safety in anti-microbial floors and structure-wide air filtration systems and services. As a post-pandemic world emerges, the development makes the concept of home remain a sanctuary for health and well-being, in such a way that it stands the test of time.

For more information on The Estate Makati, visit its official website, or email [email protected]