ESTATE THE MAKATI
THE CROWNING JEWEL OF AYALA AVENUE
The great cities of the world are equated with their iconic landmarks, wonderous architecture, or breathtaking skylines. Can you picture New York City without the Empire State Building? What about Paris without the Eiffel Tower or London without the Big Ben? As progressive as the city of Makati is—with its glitzy shopping malls, bustling business district, and exclusive villages— it has yet to produce a landmark which unarguably defines the city. That is about to change.
When The Estate Makati tops off in a few years’ time, it will stake its claim as the crowning jewel of Ayala Avenue—forever altering the cityscape as we know it. Soaring 270 meters above sea level, the ultra-modern edifice will be the tallest on one of the priciest strips of real estate in the country. While building records are destined to eventually be broken, what cannot be argued is this: The Estate Makati will set the bar for architectural excellence for decades to come. In terms of aesthetics, innovative design features, and catering to its residents’ needs and desires, The Estate Makati will break new ground, so to speak.
To get this highly ambitious project off the ground, a partnership between two of the country’s most respected business families was forged. Befitting a project of this magnitude, SMDC and Federal Land Inc. turned to the award-winning architectural firm Foster + Partners for a design that would cement their legacies. The result is a marvel of engineering, making use of technologies that will mark many firsts in the Philippine real estate industry.
SHAPED BY THE SUN
For Foster + Partners, the design process started by studying the topography of the land, including the patterns of the sun and wind. As Perry Ip, one of the project principals, says, it’s a building “literally shaped by the sun.” That meant orienting the structure in such a manner to minimize solar insolation—in layman’s terms, limiting exposure to the sun’s rays. “The sun in the Philippines is quite strong which is why we designed the windows to be angled a certain way so that it doesn’t spill into the unit but still provides enough light – without compromising the amazing sunset and breathtaking views of the Makati skyline,” said Head of Studio and senior executive partner Luke Fox, who is leading the project. The firm also used double-glazed windows throughout the structure. Made from two layers of glass with inert gas sealed in between them, double-glazed windows reduce the flow of heat and external noise entering the building’s façade.
Further addressing the effect of the sun’s patterns, the firm created a cross-shaped building. From its core extend each of the four wings, making each unit (a maximum of four on each floor) a covetable corner unit. This, combined with a façade overhang of about one meter extending from the structure between every floor, meant that the building provides its own shade; add to this the benefits of using double-glazed windows and cooling the building becomes highly efficient—good news for the residents as well as the planet. Why is this important? Because sustainability is a major factor in every Foster + Partners design, core principles that enable The Estate Makati to meet the latest LEED Gold building standards.
A green touch comes by way of the building’s long, rising driveway. Recreating the experience of driving into one of Makati’s exclusive gated communities, the driveway will be surrounded on both sides by tall, arching trees, their canopy of leaves providing shelter from the sun and, for those who prize their privacy, prying eyes. The foliage along what is called the Garden Wall covers the length of the driveway, which begins on the Apartment Ridge side. Surrounded by beautiful landscaping, the long driveway from the Apartment Ridge entrance gently rises to the upper ground level, ending at the secluded drop-off point on the Ayala Avenue side. As you arrive, residents will sense that few places can match the exclusivity, privacy, and security that The Estate Makati offers.
That’s emphasized further as you make your way inside the elegantly appointed main lobby and go past the cozy private lounges. As there are only 188 residential units in the building, waiting for an elevator to take you to your floor will only take a few seconds.
LOTS IN THE SKY
The Estate Makati has 60 floors above ground, plus six basement levels for parking. Units range from spacious 151 sq.m. two-bedroom flats to the massive multi-level 763 sq.m super penthouse suites. Hidden inside each of the units is the architectural feature that makes The Estate Makati rise above all others: the double-slab technology. Sandwiched in the voids between each cantilevered building floor is a space where all the utilities, plumbing, electricals, and air-conditioning ducts are hidden. By concealing these in between double slabs of concrete, the unit layout can be customized according to the wishes of the homeowner. It’s a game-changer for the industry. Just imagine the possibilities of these “lots in the sky”—having a unit without columns or partitions. In this blank canvas, the only limit is your imagination. Nonetheless, the units will be delivered fully fitted out with fixtures of the highest quality. As design trends, your personal lifestyle, and even the size of your family change over the years, the future-proof flexibility that this innovative construction technology promises will be priceless.
Further highlighting the possibilities of design flexibility is the building’s concept of an “inhabited façade” – a bay window like you’ve never seen. In this specially designed three-dimensional space constructed out of double-glazed glass and a stain-resistant shell of GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete), residents “literally move into the outer skin of the building.” You can fill this space with a work desk, a bench, a day bed, breakfast nook, and even a bathtub—the choice is yours. Privacy, after all, is not an issue. These inhabited facades have been skewed by more than 10 degrees, making them face away from your neighbors.To further protect your privacy, it is made of fluted glass. Due to the building’s orientation, views from either the Ayala Avenue or Apartment Ridge Road side (facing Urdaneta Village) are phenomenal, even from the lower floors. On the uppermost levels, the nearly 270-degree views of the city are simply breathtaking.
THE HOUSE RECEIVES, THE HOUSE PROVIDES
In thinking about what it can provide its residents, The Estate Makati went over and beyond. For residents’ peace of mind, the elevators are very spacious, one of which is large enough to accommodate a horizontally-oriented stretcher in the event of a medical emergency. Then should any of the residents require immediate treatment, the building’s helipad can be used to transport them to the nearest hospital. Gearing up for the future, the building’s parking facility is equipped to handle electric vehicle charging needs, with a charging point provision for each unit owner.
In this modern living space, the importance of the human touch has not been overlooked. The guiding philosophy will be “The House receives, the House provides,” where all the benefits of living in a serviced residence or apartment are taken to the next level. The Estate Makati’s staff takes care of daily tasks such as receiving residents’ food and mail parcel deliveries, while also providing a host of specialized services and amenities for residents to enjoy. Residents are invited to unwind on the 25th floor sky garden and wine tasting lounge, or relax by the tranquil pool deck on the upper ground floor. On the fitness floor, you can even sign up for one-on-one yoga classes to begin or end your day.
With services such as these combined with the Estate Makati’s distinctive, one-of-a-kind architecture, there’s no reason why you’d want to live anywhere else.
SMDC and Federal Land Inc. turned to the award-winning architectural firm Foster + Partners for a design that would cement their legacies. The result is a marvel of engineering, making use of technologies that will mark many firsts in the Philippine residential real estate industry.