THE CURVE APPEAL OF FILIGREE’S BOTANIKA NATURE RESIDENCES
Standing in the atrium of Botanika Nature Residences in Alabang, Muntinlupa, you’d feel as if you weren’t in Metro Manila at all. It’s airy and spacious, it’s also surrounded by nature and takes its cue from there.
This was, in fact, what new luxury real estate brand Filigree envisioned for the project — to give what many condominium dwellers long for in their homes: nature. Botanika Nature Residences is a three-midrise-tower developed in collaboration with four design firms: Architects International of California, Leandro V. Locsin Partners, AECOM Singapore, and Isabelle Miaja Design Group of Singapore.
It recently celebrated the turnover of its first tower to homebuyers ahead of schedule. “We are extremely pleased to welcome residents as they make Botanika their home,” says Kate Ilagan, head of Filigree. “Botanika by Filigree is a bespoke residential condominium masterpiece that we are most proud of. That we were able to finish it on time and to exacting standards is a testament to our unyielding commitment to investors and unit owners.”
The event was also a celebration of its design and green ap- proach, which have earned for the project a BERDE ((Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) rating and a three-star rating from the Philippine Green Building Council as a result of this collaboration.
Botanika’s iconic and leaf-shaped structure and terraced layout, intentionally set wide apart, features a landscaped atrium at the core where we are standing. This unique design concept allows for natural light and ventilation to stream in, nurturing the lush central space.
Architect Andy Locsin explains to me the importance of the leaf-shaped design. “It’s a very simple scheme actually. The root of the design is people who value living an environmentally ethical life, and this is the place to do it. In all our minds, we wanted it to be close to nature in every way, not in a lip service kind of way. We wanted to do something that fully integrates nature into your everyday life. The design creates a structure that forces two things: a stacking effect so air goes down to the center of the building to cool it down, and then squishing down the lobby to create the Venturi affect, which is essentially when you put solid pieces close to each other; the volume of the building causes air to squeeze in and create a wind tunnel. And this is what you feel now.”
Indeed, the atrium is breezy and cool in the late afternoon sun.
Andy explains that this cooling effect extends to the individual units and at the same time the curve shape provides the units privacy.
“If you look at the plan, it’s actually a curve and the three buildings are the shape of an abstracted leaf. There are two reasons for that, again having to do with the elements. The curved surfaces encourage airflow. We understand certain principles of wind, how these things work and so you apply them in the design to make a better building. And almost all the units have a generous balcony — you are worth a balcony in a place like this!”
“On a site where the buildings are somewhat close together — not very, very close — if you had straight faces, you’d almost be looking into the next apartment like in Makati; here, it’s different. The reason for the curve is that the buildings address themselves at tangents, so the surface of the buildings, the balconies and windows peel away from each other — you’re never looking directly even if you have similar heights, so there’s privacy.”
The condominium units — finely crafted and featuring premium finishes — are generously sized and thoughtfully planned. Botanika’s units include two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom flats, three-bedroom garden bi-level units, fivebedroom garden bi-level units and grand penthouse units ranging from 123 to 343 square meters.
Andy emphasizes that it’s not just design that makes the project environmentally mindful — it’s also the sourcing of materials. The term “ethically sourced” doesn’t only apply to material or labor in fashion or food and furniture, it also applies to building materials. “We wanted to look at the local building materials. The more you use locally sourced and locally made, the lower your carbon footprint is. People don’t realize we have wonderful building materials here, so as much as possible we sourced locally.”
Imagine how much less one adds to the world’s pollution or energy consumption if materials didn’t have to travel halfway across the globe, and then imagine how many jobs it provides to Filipinos if you source locally.
“The documentation for green buildings is extremely rigorous. All those factors are taken into consideration — that whole chain that creates carbon footprint.”
Among Botanika’s amenities are an outdoor area that consists of lush gardenscapes that span the entire property, contributing to a relaxed atmosphere; a tiered swimming pool and lap pools with a canopied veranda, a sunbathing deck, and changing rooms; and for kids, a kiddie pool, and indoor and outdoor play areas.
Andy reflects that working on a project like Botanika, the enjoyment comes from the openness of Filigree, the consultants that worked on it and the client representatives who were running the project. “Open mindedness and willingness to try new things is a giant plus for any design firm. If you have the project’s interest at heart, you will always find that a client who’s very involved and willing to discuss results in a better project.”
He also thinks that Botanika is a great example of where architecture is — or should be — heading. “People have become so much more aware of the value of living ethically. They have embraced it in Europe a hundred percent, and here it’s almost become de riguer. It matters. People who think globally, who have a wider exposure, demand to live in places that are ethically built. There is value in it, whether it’s a high-end or socialized project. The littlest guy deserves the same consideration as the occupant in the penthouse unit, and every designer should be thinking along those lines.”
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‘The root of the design is people who value living an environmentally ethical life, and this is the place to do it,’ says architect Andy Locsin.