BREATHING NEW LIFE TO MANILA
The mixed-use planned community is said to be the biggest reclamation development in the Philippines
Manila, the country’s capital, has fallen several times — it has struggled through colonial conquests, the ravages of war, natural disasters and hazards, and now, a pandemic. Yet, just as it has gone through the most adverse of times, the city continues to prove that it is a survivor — resilient and adaptable.
The Covid-19 pandemic may have brought intense health and economic challenges, but through the vision of its leaders, Manila is poised to be great again as a greener, healthier and future-ready city.
Horizon Manila, a joint venture between the city government of Manila and JBros Construction Corporation, will be a testament to its triumph of the will as the project will further fortify and elevate the city beyond Covid times.
The mixed-use planned community is said to be the biggest reclamation development in the Philippines. Located south of the Manila-Pasay border and east of Roxas Boulevard, the 419-hectare raw-land reclamation and development will see the rise of three islands on the foreshore and offshore areas in Manila
Bay.
Island 1 will consist of 140 hectares; Island 2 will have an area of 140 hectares; and Island 3 will be 139 hectares.
As part of its vision to make Manila great again, the project is also expected to attract business opportunities and generate 400,000 jobs and business opportunities. This is the vital hope that the city has been endeavoring as its government continues to find solutions for the city’s recovery and progress.
It’s the perfect partnership for a city of tomorrow as JBros Construction has already accomplished notable projects in Manila, including the GSIS Building and the National Museum of History.
Both parties, the city government and its private partner, will share profits, risks and losses. The resulting unincorporated joint venture will be governed by a sharing arrangement with 51 percent for Manila and 49 percent for JBros Construction.
The development was approved by the Philippine Reclamation Authority in 2019; construction will begin in the second half of 2021. The project consortium allocated P109 billion for the reclamation and construction of roads with 34 hectares designated for the use and disposition of the city.
At the helm of Horizon Manila’s master plan is WTA Architecture + Design Studio, a local Filipino architecture and design firm. A total of 28 distinct “communities” for 100,000 residents will be built on the three islands with a four-kilometer canal park winding around it. There will be 83 hectares allotted for open green space that will also occupy a fifth of the project’s total area.
While the master plan is a real estate marvel in itself, Horizon Manila is also destined to be a driver for growth as a community.
Getting around the property will be a breeze as the property will have a monorail system connecting the islands to Manila. Other modes of transportation will likewise be environment-friendly: Trackless electric trams, ferries and water taxis. Stops and stations have been designed to be evenly mapped out to so that each stop is just 400 meters away from each other. This ensures that most points of the city are accessible withing a 15- to 20-minute ride.
And as “work, play, live” lifestyle is being reimagined by both the government and developer, each Horizon Manila district is planned to have its own development guidelines. It will also consist of various points of interest designed to keep its residents, visitors and employees appreciate how it is to live the best that life can offer.
For instance, the Arts and Culture District will have a contemporary arts museum; the Market Square will have commercial and retail developments; and the Villa District will have a school, church, library, skate park and a sports arena.
Sustainability, shared experiences
According to William Ti, principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, a 30-hectare park to be built in the property will greatly contribute to the much-needed greening of Metro Manila. He said, “There are only five parks in Metro Manila that have met the more than two hectares definition: Rizal Park, Quezon Memorial Circle, Arroceros, La Mesa Watershed Park and Manila Zoo. These have a total of 120-hectare park space in Metro Manila. There are more golf courses than parks, that’s the sad state of the city. We don’t even have enough microparks. So, the linear park to be built in Horizon Manila is significant to the amount of green space we’re adding to the city.”
Honoring Manila as a city with a historic past, Ti also reiterated the project’s commitment to celebrating the city’s heritage and vibrant feel. “The benefit of this plan is that it has a bit of nostalgia. We’re trying to build a city with character. If you think about it, what makes Manila different from all the other cities in Metro Manila, is that you can walk around Manila — because it’s a walkable city — and you’ll recognize a distinct character for each area. You know Quiapo is Quiapo, and Binondo is Binondo. You know you’re in Raon Street or that you’re in Divisoria. And that’s what we want to achieve in Horizon Manila.”
While the master plan is a real estate marvel in itself, Horizon Manila is also destined to be a driver for growth as a community. “By inserting common grounds where people can have shared experiences, that’s how the community will grow. It’s like when you live near a museum, or a fire station, that’s how you define your neighborhood as you live through common experiences. By building soft boundaries, we also want to inspire a sense of community and identity for each neighborhood,” Ti shared.