Vista Residences: Condo Living is the Way to Go

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No wonder that more and more people are embracing condo living. 

A cursory trip to Metro Manila will reveal a curious phenomenon: the frenetic, unstoppable construction of high-rise residences. From mid-rise to towering structures, helmed by novice developers or established real estate players, they are transforming not only the urban fabric and the skyline but also the way people live, how they interact with each other, and their relationship with the city and its myriad opportunities.

“Metro Manila is a prime mega-city that is ripe and ready for high-rise developments,” says Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head “With over 15 million people calling the metropolis home, it’s inevitable that there will be scarcity of land on which to build. The fact that that it has the country’s most expensive real estate in square meters makes building and buying a home more challenging.”

The 21st century will be marked with condominium projects, just like how subdivisions and villages defined the late 20th century. Though there will still be a segment of the home-buying market that will prefer horizontal developments, signs are pointing toward more and more people preferring to live vertically. Here are some of their compelling reasons:

Condos are relatively affordable. In comparison with building a house from scratch (and buying the lot prior), investing on a condo comes out cheaper and more sensible. You also don’t have to deal with a contractor, an architect and interior designer (not to mention an electrician and a plumber) as the developer takes care of all of them for you. This is why a large segment of condo dwellers are young professionals and startup families since they can readily accommodate the cost within their budget. With bank loans and in-house financing, buying a condo is a lot easier than before.

Their value appreciates fast. A condo’s value could double in six years, especially if the unit owner has bought the property during the pre-selling stage. “The condo’s value is also commensurate to the track record of the developer,” adds Amores. “The projects by reputable developers, such as Vista Residences, are more attractive to investors and end users because they know that the condominium will be built on time, adhere to the most stringent construction standards and feature the promised amenities.”

They are chockfull of amenities. It’s a given that a decent high-rise project should have a grand lobby, high-speed elevators and a swimming pool. In the developments of Vista Residences, amenities are tailor-fitted to suit the residents. Aside from the amenities mentioned above, Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers in Makati City have a coffee shop to take on the full view of the nearby parks, Wil Tower Mall has a day care center, while Vista Residences Taft and Katipunan have study rooms. “We are aware of the specific needs of our residents and address them in every way we can,” says Amores.

They provide round-the-clock security. Security in every Vista Residence development is a priority. As such, state-of-the-art CCTV cameras are installed in crucial areas to monitor movement and traffic. A security force also deals with the entry and exit of guests. These features, among other things, translate to the peace of mind of the residents.

They are easy to maintain. Compact and well laid-out, a condo is easier to maintain than a house with its rooms, nooks and corners. It also limits the kind of furniture and things you let into your unit. Hence, potential clutter is minimized. Time saved from cleaning and running a household can be devoted on more worthwhile pursuits such as family bonding.

They are close to leisure opportunities and places of employment. Location is a top priority for Vista Residences that’s why most its projects are sited in some of the most active, vibrant parts of the city.

It has developments at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig (Avant at the Fort), Makati City (Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers, Salcedo Square, Trevi Towers) and Ortigas Center (The Currency). Government and private offices, multinational headquarters, leisure and dining centers congregate on these places, offering myriad opportunities for employment and the good life.

They offer the view of the city. Nothing can beat the exhilaration one feels in looking at the city set against a blue sky from a high-rise residence. If you’re lucky, you might even have a view of mountain ranges, a lake or a piece of the sea. The city takes on a more mesmerizing view at night when the glittering lights reveal their beautiful patterns. Indeed, condo living has its perks that a modern man or woman can identify with.

Why location still matters

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It’s an oft-quoted remark that when buying a property, there are only three things that one should consider: location, location, location. This emphasis on where the property is sited rests its argument that location will determine the quality of your life and how fast—or how slow—your property will appreciate in value. Of course, a variety of market forces dictates the price of real estate but it’s safe to assume that the more urbanized the area is, the more expensive the property becomes.

“Aside from the track record of the developer, another crucial factor to consider is location,” says Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head.  “Way before planning for our high-rise developments, we have already determined key areas that are desirable for the end user and have the most potential for growth. We also play to the strengths of the location. For instance, in Katipunan, we know that our target market there is composed mainly of parents who want to give their children the best possible accommodation in their college life.”

Indeed, every location has its own particular identity, charm and treasure trove of opportunities. In Quezon City, Vista Residences conceptualized glitzy developments as a nod to the city being the “Entertainment Capital of the Philippines.” The company located its two projects, Symphony Tower and Wil Tower Mall, near the two biggest broadcasting stations in the country: ABS-CBN and GMA 7. Some of the unit owners work for either of the two, finding the convenience of just walking to work or home as refreshing.

Another sector that has found these developments appealing is government executives; Quezon City has the most number of government offices in Metro Manila. After work, they can easily find some relaxation along the many restaurants of Tomas Morato or in the city’s gigantic malls, SM North Edsa and Trinoma. For their medical needs, the residents have plenty of choices: from Capitol Medical Center in Quezon Avenue to St. Luke’s Medical Center in E. Rodriguez Avenue to Heart Center in East Avenue.

Quezon City is home to some of the best universities of the country such as University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College. As mentioned, the company is currently building Vista Residence Katipunan which is stone’s throw away from these institutions of learning. Katipunan, with its many restaurants, is also evolving as a veritable dining destination of its own.

In terms of the sheer number of universities, nothing can beat the capital Manila. 878 España, a single-tower development, seeks to provide comfortable home to those studying in University of Santo Tomas, and also those in Far Eastern University, University of the East and Centro Escolar University, among others. At the other end of Manila, the company is building Vista Residence Taft which will service the lodging needs of students in De La Salle College, College of St. Benilde and St. Scholastica’s College.

Manila’s charm is largely historical, chiefly due to Intramuros with its centuries-old churches such as Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church. It remains also as the country’s publishing capital as it is the home of newspaper organizations. In terms of leisure opportunities, it has many things to offer. Malate remains to be a vibrant hub of bars, restaurants and cafés while malls (Robinson’s Place, SM Manila and Harrison Plaza) provide the high of retail therapy.

When it comes to commercial complexes, however, nothing comes close to Mandaluyong, which is dubbed as the “Mall Capital of the Philippines.” Vista Residences’ development in this city is 515 Shaw which, as its name suggests, is located along the main artery of Shaw Boulevard. Mere minutes is all it takes to be at SM Megamall, Shangri-La Mall, Star Mall and Robinson’s Galleria.

 

Mandaluyong is also home, or is close to, some of the best high schools in Metro Manila such as OB Montessori, La Salle Greenhills, Poveda College, Xavier School and Lourdes School. Because of its privileged location, the city is close to central business districts (CBD) of Bonifacio Global City, Makati and Ortigas.

Right at the heart of the Ortigas CBD is The Currency, which is located in the corners of the district’s most famous streets: Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, F. Ortigas Jr. Avenue (formerly Emerald Ave) and Garnet Road. The development, which features both residential and commercial places, is in close proximity to five star hotels (Shangri-La Mall and Discovery Suites), national and multi-national headquarters (San Miguel), malls (SM Megamall, The Podium, Shangri-La Mall) and happening places (El Pueblo, The Strip and Metrowalk).

Still regarded as the country’s “Financial Capital,” Makati City is home to a plenitude of offices, both local and international. It has a clutch of five-star hotels (Shangri-La Mall, Peninsula Manila, Intercontinental Hotel, Mandarin Oriental), topnotch museums and galleries (Ayala Museum, Finale Art File) and world-class hospital (Makati Medical Center). Greenbelt and Glorietta comprise the main commercial hub of the city whose expansion shows no sign of abating.

Vista Residences has located some of its premier developments in the CBD’s most notable villages: Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers and The Gallery (Legapsi Village) and Salcedo Square (Salcedo Village).  The towers in Legaspi Village have the good fortune to be walking distance to the high-end dining and shopping and experience of Greenbelt while Salcedo Square boasts proximity to Ayala Triangle with its equally arresting dining choices.

Trevi Towers, another Vista Residence project which is located along Pasong Tamo, Makati,  is neighbors with Little Tokyo (a clutch of restaurants that serve authentic Japanese food), the mall Makati Cinema Square and the schools of Don Bosco, Assumption and San Agustin.

Evolving to be the country’s showroom to the world, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig is proving to be another seductive choice of address. In this location, Vista Residences has Avant at the Fort, the first building constructed at BGC with the tenets of green architecture in mind.

BGC’s primary retail experience is offered by Bonifacio High Street while the newly opened SM Aura adds to the number of high-end shops that now operate in the city. It is home to a world-class museum (Mind Museum), hospital (St. Luke’s Hospital) and offices (Net One, Bonifacio Technology Center, JP Morgan). Shangri-La Hotel will soon add to the growing skyline of BGC.

“Our presence in the most urbanized centers of the city gives prospective unit buyers a variety of choice on where they wish to live,” says Amores. The key in selecting a development is for him to determine his needs, his lifestyle and his objective. From the North to the South of Metro Manila, a right Vista Residences project is waiting for him.”

Vista Residences: Filipino, Right from the Blueprint

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When some real estate developers are in a mad rush to name their projects after Western landmarks and locations, never mind if their designs don’t reflect these places, Vista Residences has stayed committed in building condominiums that embody and reflect the Filipino spirit.

“Beginning with the blueprint, we already think of ways and solutions to incorporate a distinct Filipino element into the design and architecture,” says Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head. “We examine the historical implication of the site and determine whether it can be woven into the over-all structure. We don’t build arbitrarily. It’s important for us that our projects are conversant with their respective environments while at the same time providing the best possible residences for our clients.”

Probably the best development that reflects this philosophy is Vista Residences’ 515 Shaw, a two-tower heritage-oriented project located in the corner of Laurel Street and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. The developer, contractor, engineers, designers and architects took pains in integrating the home of the late President Jose P. Laurel in its entirety to Shaw 515’s overall structure. Named Villa Pacencia after the late president’s wife, the house once served as the headquarters of the Nacionalista Party and the hotbed of political discussions. Hence, its importance to the historical, social and cultural life of the nation can’t be ignored.

“There was no doubt in our mind that the historical site should be preserved at all costs,” says Beth Kalaw, Division Head. “By taking this route, we have actually increased the value of the property because of its historical importance. Residents will soon encounter a more palpable kind of history as they examine the rooms and walk through the hallways of the Laurel Mansion.”

The balance of contemporary living is provided by a carefully masterplanned hub of commercial spaces which immediately offers leisure and recreational opportunities to residents. Other amenities include a kiddie/adult pool, function rooms and game lounges. Units that range from studio to one-bedroom to two-bedroom affairs are afforded with the view of the Wackwack Golf Course. It’s one of the few high-rise residential towers that boast of close proximity to three central business districts: Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City.

Another project that embodies the unique Filipino identity is Wil Tower, a two-tower, mixed-use development headlined by game-show host and Filipino icon Willie Revillame. While it may not have the historical strain of Shaw 515, Wil Tower taps into the Filipino penchant for entertainment, showbiz and spectacle as its location, Eugenio Lopez Dr. in Quezon City, is walking distance to the studios of ABS-CBN and GMA 7. Residents can now spot their favorite star from their perch anywhere from the tower’s 42 stories.

For an immediate retail therapy, residents can also check out the shops and restaurants, both foreign and local, located in the first four floors—the podium—of Wil Tower. Those who want to have a more enlarged shopping experience can choose between SM City North Edsa and Trinoma Mall which are just mere minutes from their residence. Aside from commercial hubs, Wil Tower is in close proximity to prestigious institutions of learning that include University of the Philippines Diliman, Miriam Collegeand Ateneo de Manila University.

A resident, at a given day, can be fully occupied with Wil Tower’s chockfull of amenities. These include a swimming pool, a fully-fitted gym, a spa, an entertainment room, an audio-video room, a game room and a day-care center. After watching a live variety show, he will now have a chance to relax.

The Filipino soul is also alive and well in KL Mosaic, a single-tower, 32-story project located atGamboa St. in Legaspi Village, Makati. The “KL” in the project’s name stands for Kalaw-Ledesma, a clan known for its passion for Philippine visual arts. Its matriarch Purita Kalaw-Ledesma served as the first president of the Art Association of the Philippines.

“For this project, we have subscribed to the idea of “art-chitecture,” that is, integrating arts into the fabric of the structure,” says Beth Kalaw, Division. “Its architectural shape, in the form of hexagon, veers away from usual building aesthetics, signifying its surprising, landmark-making identity.”

Each day, the residents will encounter Philippine visual arts at its finest with The Biggest Little Room, the gallery that will house the permanent collection of Philippine paintings and sculptures that the Kalaw-Ledesma family has accumulated through decades. Located on the ground floor, the gallery will also serve as a venue for local and foreign exhibitions, both by emerging and established artists.

With only 195 units, KL Mosaic, fronting Legaspi Park and Washington Sy-Cip Park, will be a definition in exclusivity, whether in a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom unit. A grand lobby will welcome guests and residents in its opulent interior while a coffee shop will provide the best venue for an espresso and a conversation. Amenities include a swimming pool, an exercise room and a recreation center.

“Through these developments, we hope to connect with Filipinos, whether here or abroad, on an emotional level since these towers embody a sense of the country,” Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head. “Art and architecture need not always be Western as they can also be animated by the unique and memorable Filipino style.”