29 minute read
BANGKOK’S ONE TO WATCH
ONE FOR THE AGES
Connectivity, sustainability and technology coalesce at One Bangkok: an ambitious mixed-use undertaking that is the most far-reaching of Bangkok’s various megaprojects
BY AL GERARD DE LA CRUZ
THE PRELUDE ONE BANGKOK
ONE BANGKOK COMMANDS GREAT VIEWS OF LUMPHINI PARK
It starts with a circle of white light. Slowly it traces the outline of a circular, canvas-like surface. Laser beams furtively fan out overhead as “hello” in a multitude of languages reverberates throughout the room. Suddenly the floor lights up, a maelstrom of painterly images whirling on the surface, until two words emerge: “One Bangkok.”
With a flourish of 3D mapping and hydraulics, the experiential show suite known as The Prelude One Bangkok teases the imminent arrival of One Bangkok, the largest private-sector development in the Thai capital’s central business district. Next to the show suite is the subject itself, a THB120-billion (USD3.5 billion) integrated district that literally and economically sits at a crossroads in Bangkok.
The 16.7-hectare development lies at the intersection of hiso Wireless (Witthayu) Road, commercial corridor Sathorn Road, and historic Rama IV Road, the widest thoroughfare in the CBD. Hopefully, One Bangkok will destress the choked arteries of Sukhumvit and Sathorn roads north and south.
In 2015, the developers held a three-month design competition between four master-planners in which Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) prevailed. “This land is located in the heart of Bangkok City. We had to consider the masterplan carefully, taking into consideration the city masterplan transformation and the commercial requirement,” says Lim Hua Tiong, chief executive officer of One Bangkok, a joint venture of TCC Assets and Frasers Property.
Rather than become approximations of Canary Wharf, Tokyo Midtown, and other SOM commissions, One Bangkok unfolds like a vertical Thai village. “This is a masterplan tailored to Bangkok’s culture and climate and, more specifically, to this neighbourhood,” says Scott Duncan, design partner with SOM.
WITH WALKABLE STREETSCAPES AND PLAZAS, ONE BANGKOK IS GROOMED TO BECOME A NEW SOCIAL HUB IN BANGKOK
Through building information modeling (BIM) platforms, the firm quilted its vision of a climate-resilient precinct into the designs of local consultants, led by Architects 49 (A49). The team imagined edifices with Thai rooflines characterised by large eaves, deep overhangs, breezeways, and open-air porches, combining regional and vernacular passive cooling techniques with active design.
“The architectural design of One Bangkok focused on modern contemporary design with Thai heritage influencing some buildings more so than the others,” says Pichai Wongwaisayawan, deputy managing director of A49. “The result would be a unique precinct that stands out yet fits in well with the Bangkok urban and cultural context.” With a gross floor area of 1.83 million square metres, the One Bangkok masterplan consists of five luxury and lifestyle hotels including Bangkok’s first Ritz-Carlton and Andaz hotels; four retail precincts with different positionings; three residential towers in progressive states of luxury; five premium grade-A office towers; and The Forum, a 30,000sqm multi-purpose hall. One Bangkok is built to withstand 500-year flood levels, the gradient of the plot rising to seven metres at the 10,000sqm, car-free civic plaza in the middle of the district. Linear parks set back the edges of One Bangkok by up to 40 metres from the pavements of Rama IV and Wireless roads.
Unlike concrete canyons elsewhere in the city, One Bangkok’s block structures are aerodynamic, tightly spaced to eliminate harsh wind tunnels or pockets of stagnated air. Project architects and engineers iteratively tested the edifices for the best placements and orientations through a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel tests, the latter done in Canada.
“This enabled us to maximise access to daylight for the above-grade structures, staggering the towers to create the most amount of views for all buildings while maintaining a dense pedestrian experience that is well shaded,” says Duncan.
In 2020, the project set the record for the largest continuous concrete pour of a mat foundation in Southeast Asia, with
almost 27,000 cubic metres of concrete poured in 36.5 hours. As building costs, including rebar prices, stabilise, and construction workers return through reopened borders since June 2022, the 896,000-sqm first phase of superstructure work is on track for completion by the fourth quarter of 2023. Six main contractors, namely Thai Obayashi, Italian-Thai Takenaka, Pre-Built Public Co., Ltd., Visavapat Co., Ltd., Koranit Construction Co., Ltd., and T.T.S. Engineering (2004) Co., Ltd., have since last year commenced work on the superstructures.
The land that thrust Thailand into the radio era—the site was once home to the country’s first radio station—is now submerged deep in the Information Age. Over 250,000 sensors, designed for efficient facility management and seamless end-user experience, future-proof the district against uncertainty.
“As technology changes and our devices become smarter and better integrated with urban infrastructure, One Bangkok will be ready,” says Duncan.
ALMOST HALF THE ONE BANGKOK SITE IS SET ASIDE FOR GREEN AREAS AND OPEN SPACES, INCLUDING PARKS AND A MASSIVE CIVIC PLAZA
MAKING WAVES
Wireless Road got its name from Thailand’s first broadcast and telegraph station. In the late 1920s, HRH Prince Purachatra, the Prince of Kamphaengphet, established the country’s first radio station on the plot where the integrated district One Bangkok is currently being developed.
Paying homage to the site’s storied past, one of the five office towers onsite sports alternating glass atriums inspired by radio waves. A recreation of the radio station with the original foundation is also being built at the corner of the district.
“The site-specific heritage in the rebuilding of Thailand’s first radio station on the site emphasises the importance given to local heritage,” says Pichai Wongwaisayawan, deputy managing director of A49, one of the development’s consultants. ”The result is a new urban environment that is distinctly Thai in character yet highly international in quality standard, fitting in well with the modern urban community lifestyle.” Apropos of its technological heritage, One Bangkok has been designated by various organisations, including Chulalongkorn University and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, as an important part of the Rama IV Smart City Corridor.
ONE BANGKOK TRANSFORMS A HISTORIC SITE INTO A SMART, SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY, CHANGING THE SKYLINE OF RAMA IV ROAD AND DECONGESTING THOROUGHFARES ELSEWHERE IN THE METROPOLIS
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Live, Work, and Succeed
A residential-office development within the Mall of Asia Complex is the embodiment of coolness in the age of flexible and remote work
The blurring of the home and workplace has been one of the lasting legacies of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as the Philippines opens its borders to the world at large, the desire to work where one lives remains as strong as ever.
From a workplace experiment, working from home has become the new norm since the pandemic struck. Many companies have employed a combination of work-fromhome, in-office work, and on-the-go work, a phenomenon of flexibility that has come to be called hybrid work. While the labour force dramatically shifted to remote work and telecommuting, consumers discovered the joys and conveniences of e-commerce, telemedicine, online banking, and entertainment streaming.
Leading Filipino real estate developer SM Development Corporation (SMDC) wants property seekers to succeed as the world enters this new era. In 2021, SMDC unveiled ICE Tower Residential-Office (RESO), a development fully integrated into the bayfront complex that contains SM Mall of Asia (MOA), one of the world’s largest shopping malls.
Set to complete at the end of 2024, ICE Tower RESO is unique in that it combines the best features of a luxury condominium and a Grade-A office building. The project, which stands on a 3,859-square-metre site near Manila Bay, is named after its glistening glass façade, which resembles the smoothness and glossiness of ice.
ICE Tower RESO lets property seekers reimagine any of its 844 units as either a residential property, workspace, or a combination of both. Property seekers can choose from one- to two-bedroom configurations, as well as studios.
ICE Tower RESO houses what SMDC calls “spaces for success.” As video conferencing and digital collaboration become ever more popular, SMDC brings the wonders of quality fiber optics to entrepreneurs and workers. With fiber optic tech, residents get fast Internet speeds, which in turn facilitate important calls, meetings, and even rollouts of digital campaigns. And with a 100% backup power system, ICE Tower RESO ensures business continuity and uninterrupted operations throughout the site.
ICE Tower RESO has facilities comparable to premiumgrade office building. It boasts, for instance, the Business
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Hub, where residents can access various office services. Fully equipped meeting rooms and a board room are also available, ideal for training modules, virtual conferences, or just simple brainstorming sessions. The building also contains a spacious function hall, which can easily host an entire seminar, conference, or company event. Comfortable, professionally designed working spaces are designated for residents, too.
With the Business Hub, entrepreneurs and their employees can increase efficiency and lower monthly expenses. In addition to the Business Hub, ICE Tower RESO also houses the Social Hub, an upscale setting where entrepreneurs and workers can network, collaborate, or simply catch up with each other.
Not everything has to be about work. Residents and guests of ICE Tower RESO can set aside time to recharge at the development’s relaxing Central Pool or at the roof deck with the Sky Lounge. The latter offers panoramic views of the bay as well as the 60-hectare Mall of Asia complex.
The health of residents has always been a priority for SMDC. Stressed, harried workers can indulge in physical activity at ICE Tower RESO’s Fitness Hub. Residents in general are blessed with an abundance of natural light and ventilation throughout the building.
These features contribute toward a healthy work environment, thus encouraging productivity and setting the stage for the next generation of entrepreneurs. The living and working spaces are truly suited to ideating unique startups and enterprises.
The units at ICE Tower RESO are now in the pre-selling phase. Due to its location inside the Mall of Asia complex and proximity to the international airport, ICE Tower RESO will only see its potential increase over the years. The completion of nearby infrastructure projects such as the integrated monorail system will only add to the development’s appreciating capital value.
Greenmist Property Management Corporation, with its comprehensive real estate services, will professionally manage and maintain ICE Tower RESO.
The development’s proximity to SM Mall of Asia will always be a boon to residents. The shopping mall is not only a retail destination but a travel and leisure hub with convention centres, concert venues, entertainment parks, and hotels. Many IT-BPO companies are headquartered in the area, and other residential projects are on the rise.
With ICE Tower RESO, living where you work is truly the coolest thing you can do.
For more information on SMDC Ice Tower RESO, visit smdc.com/smdcs-ice-residential-offices
Back to the future
Coco Liu of advisory and accounting network HLB has resumed her busy travel schedule and is reconnecting with peers around the world in anticipation of seismic shifts in the real estate industry
BY BILL CHARLES
LIU IS BASED IN LONDON AND BELIEVES THAT THE UK CAPITAL’S GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND ITS STATUS AS A HUB FOR BUSINESSES OFFERS KEY ADVANTAGES
Before the pandemic, Coco Liu was constantly on the go. The London-based strategic business development executive for HLB, the global advisory and accounting network, says she boarded a different long-haul flight every month.
Her busy schedule took her not only to Asia, where she serves as HLB’s chief regional officer, but also to far-flung locales in Australia and emerging markets in Africa and Eurasia.
The person-to-person connections Liu developed on those trips were invaluable, she says, especially in places like China, where business is often an outgrowth of personal relationships nurtured over long dinners and social events.
With travel restrictions finally easing, Liu is taking to the skies again. She embarked on a whirlwind 10-day, four-nation trip to Asia in July to meet HLB network members and business partners, and her travel schedule through the end of the year is packed with flights to Germany, Portugal, the Middle East, and back again to Asia.
“2022 is really the year of opening up and reconnecting,” Liu says. “For HLB we had our first face-to-face global conference in July. People couldn’t wait to meet again. There are so many opportunities driven by these connections.”
In her 16 years with HLB, Liu has watched the network expand from a traditional accounting, taxation, and audit services provider to more of a holistic business advisory role, working to help clients achieve broader sustainable growth. In addition to her role as chief regional officer, Liu is also head of HLB’s global business channels. In these twin leadership roles, she’s helped launch two major initiatives. HLB’s Global China Service promotes and facilitates twoway trade and investment opportunities between greater China and the rest of the world. And the Business Channel Development Initiative, a value-added service, connects HLB clients with outside experts in law firms, government
HLB’S GLOBAL CHINA SERVICE PROMOTES AND FACILITATES TWOWAY TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN GREATER CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
agencies, multinational banks, and other professional services providers.
“I’m really focused on growth and collaborations, and I help grow our business ecosystem by recruiting dynamic member firms to the network,” Liu says. “Every day I face something new. It’s challenging but also exciting and rewarding.”
What’s been the secret to the Global China Service’s success?
We launched the Global China Service in 2010. At that time, we were the first company in the mid-market to have a global initiative to facilitate two-way trade and investment between China and the rest of the world.
Foreign direct investment in China was handled seamlessly by our member firms in China through their 40 locations. But HLB was also determined to help Chinese outbound initiatives—to help Chinese companies grow globally. And so we set up Chinese-speaking desks in nearly 30 markets around the world.
We try to provide a one-stop-shop experience to these Chinese companies. We offer many services in-house, but for others—like legal services that are normally done by law firms, not CPA firms—we have reliable business channel partners we recommend to Chinese clients. Our service has been quite successful and we won an award for the best Global China Service in 2015, which was a nice recognition of what we have achieved.
Tell us a bit more about HLB’s global network.
HLB is a global network covering 157 markets, and each member firm is different. We respect their independence and their differences and also their local positioning. However, when we come together as a network, we also try our best to identify synergies in areas where we can work together. Typical clientele is very different from region to region. In Europe, typical clients are SMEs or hidden champions. But in Asia-Pacific, typical clientele are large state-owned companies, large corporates and listed companies.
LIU IS A FIRM BELIEVER OF THE POTENTIAL FOR TECHNOLOGY TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGES ON THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY
Our clients don’t want to shop around, especially those going to a whole new market. They trust us because we’re their auditor or tax advisor, but they don’t know anyone who can do their legal service or evaluation or buy them a property. So we try to bring everything together, which is a win-win arrangement for everyone.
What are some advantages for you being based in the UK?
A lot of people I meet assume that I’m based in Hong Kong or Singapore, but I’m in London. I think the advantage is that this is an Alpha++ city. It’s the location of a lot of global headquarters, especially for professional services providers—not only accounting networks, but also legal networks. So the connections are dynamic. London also has an advantage because it’s in the center geographically whether you go to the US or go to Asia. HLB works with many companies in the real estate sector. What do you think the next decade looks like for global property markets?
With the pandemic, we’ve seen how new technology is playing a very important role in all sectors. There’s a very hot topic right now and that’s the metaverse. I think there will be a big trend for real estate to embrace it. This is a place where people will be able to work, play and socialise in the future. We already see people buying “land” in the metaverse with real money, and many retailers like Gucci and Gap are buying boutiques there to boost their real-world sales.
In our view, the metaverse will be a game-changer for the world of real estate. For instance, virtual tours will reduce hassle and enhance user experience for property buyers. The metaverse will also enhance efficiency and boost sales for real estate agencies. This will lead to new opportunities and business lines for designers and developers because people are buying “land” in the metaverse and they are going to create virtual homes for avatars as well.
A STRONG BELIEVER IN FORGING SYNERGIES VIA COLLABORATIONS, LIU IS RELISHING OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS AGAIN
You and HLB both help oversee judging in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. What do you think participants gain from being part of the awards?
Of course, the winners are recognised for their achievements, but in my view the biggest gain for all participants is the connection to the ecosystem that has been created— the connection to your industry peers, judges, and other stakeholders. People can also gain inspiration by observing best practices in the sector and exploring synergies with one another.
You were personally the recipient of the 2018 CEO Today Asia Award. What was this in recognition of?
I was very honoured to win that award, which recognised leadership in Asia-Pacific. It was a very strong personal encouragement for me about what I have achieved. But I also think the award is recognition of HLB’s culture of innovation and collaboration. We are not a loose, club-style association but a true network. Everyone is engaged. We share the same values and we really do things to move. What is your leadership philosophy?
I think my leadership style is slightly different from a lot of leaders in western markets. Of course, I’m driven to achieve, but I am a strong believer in Asian and Chinese philosophy. There is an old Chinese saying: “The time should be right, the terrain should be favourable, and the people must be unified.” Those are the key elements for success. I really value synergies for collaborations. I do a lot of research on new trends and my leadership style is very adaptive. I respect cultural dynamics and always consider the value I can bring to collaborations when I’m crafting strategies or creating business cases. I’m very happy whenever I develop good relationships with people in our member firms and clients and business partners.
Different beat
As design director of PDW Architects, Mohammad Archica Danisworo is applying a defiant maverick spirit to alter Indonesia’s built environment for the better
BY DIANA HUBBELL
Indonesia may be the largest economy in ASEAN and the fourth most populous nation in the world, but Jakarta—its capital—still lacks the infrastructure associated with powerhouses like Singapore or Bangkok.
The city’s 10-million-plus residents still cope with maddening traffic, pollution, and general chaos daily. Yet where some people might see setbacks to development, PDW Architects—one of the country’s most questing design practices—sees something more.
“In Jakarta, there was never any real city planning. It’s a bit of a mess, which means it’s hard to navigate existing buildings,” says Mohammad Archica Danisworo, design director at PDW Architects. “That’s the challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to have a substantial impact. We see the existing buildings and lack of infrastructure to create something unique.”
As Jakarta races to improve its mass transit system and overall quality of life, Danisworo believes he and his team can make a difference in the city for generations to come. From Hong Kong to Beijing, many of Asia’s most significant metropolises have undergone startling transformations in relatively little time. These building booms are thrilling for ambitious architects and urban planners.
“The urban fabrics are so intertwined in a developing city like Jakarta. It aspires to be the next Tokyo or Shanghai or New York,” Danisworo says. “It still has a lot of energy because it’s still not built up yet.”
He believes in channeling that momentum to create something great. “From that urban energy, we try to create a very enriching environment, not just for our clients, but for the city residents as well.”
When helping to lay the groundwork for Indonesia’s future, Danisworo is careful to steer clear of tired tropes and clichés. Ever since he was a small child sketching out rocket ships and futuristic cities in his notepads, he’s
MOHAMMAD ARCHICA DANISWORO, DESIGN DIRECTOR AT PDW ARCHITECTS, TAKES PRIDE IN HIS FIRM’S PENCHANT FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
been drawn to designs that stand out from the milieu.
“In terms of design philosophy, deep down, since I was little, I always tried to be anti-mainstream, a little against the grain,” he says. “I always tried to find something unique in every aspect of life and ways to differentiate myself from others.”
That maverick approach to design has served Danisworo well throughout his career. While many architectural firms in developing markets strive to emulate pre-existing successful designs in other cities, PDW Architects strives to bring a touch of its distinctive flair to every single client brief. “If a client selects you, they don’t expect a cookiecutter approach,” Danisworo says. “They expect something unique.” Since the firm’s launch nearly two decades ago, PDW Architects has built up a reputation for providing exactly that. Part of that stems from the fact that Danisworo encourages his team to think outside the box.
“Whenever there’s a new brief coming in, we just throw wild ideas around and see what sticks,” he says. “They don’t always work, but it gets the creative juices flowing and we can show this process to the client later. To me, design is about the process, not just the product.” He acknowledges somewhat ruefully that it would be much easier to stick to tired clichés.
“It’s like self-torture in a way,” he says with a laugh. “We could take the easy way out and take that cookie-cutter approach, but there’s no fun in that, there’s no challenge in that!” At PDW Architects, Danisworo is particularly conscious of both his and the firm’s Indonesian heritage. With more than 700 distinct languages and thousands of years of history, the islands have incomparable cultural depth. Danisworo draws on architectural techniques and knowledge from around the world, but he is especially proud to represent his homeland.
“Indonesia has over 17,000 islands. We always try to extract something out of that rich culture and diversity,” he says. This decision to draw on Indonesia’s heritage has profound practical implications, particularly when it comes to sustainability. “I think as an Indonesian architect, we have that in our genes to always be mindful of nature and create designs that are sustainable and conserve energy.”
Danisworo’s ancestors may not have had the phrase “passive design,” but thanks to centuries’ worth of generational wisdom, they developed building techniques that helped keep their homes cool without the use of electricity. From building windows away from the powerful, mid-afternoon sunlight to encouraging natural airflows and ventilation, there are all sorts of tried-and-tested techniques that PDW Architects relies on today to create greener buildings for the future.
“Our ancestors were always taking to nature in dictating how they lived and adapted to their surroundings,” he says. “Deep inside, our culture has always had this knack of living well in nature. I think from that simple design there are a lot of deep practical solutions about how to live in a tropical setting.”
Ultimately, it is that combination of experimental, unconventional thinking combined with meticulous research and a reverence for time-tested traditions that makes PDW Architects’ designs stand out. As Indonesia reimagines what the future of its cities looks like, it’s big ideas and bold approaches like these that will reshape its skylines.
Gran Rubina
“Jakarta has a lot of glass-box buildings. They’re efficient, but you see them on every corner. We wanted to add our distinctive touch,” says Danisworo. To make Gran Rubina pop against a sea of black, white, and grey concrete, they enrobed the building in an architectural skin. “This building has a different personality depending on which direction you look at it from, since no two sides are the same.” Not only is the architectural skin visually striking, but it also helps reduce sunlight during the hottest parts of the day, reducing the need for airconditioning. “We’re quite proud of this building,” he adds. “We were able to create a unique look, pattern, and shape while conserving energy.”
Federal Oil
This project for Federal Oil represents a change of pace from the commercial high-rises that PDW Architects often designs. “We don’t want to limit ourselves. This was a change of scale, which we appreciated very much,” says Danisworo. Several subtle decorative touches enliven the overall design here. “The texture that you see on the wall is the petrol oil symbol that we extracted and turned into a random pattern.” Because all the windows face north and south, the building naturally reduces heat intake during the day. “There are also slits of light from the top of the atrium, so we’re deflecting the heat, but we’re allowing light to enter directly.”
JHL Solitaire Hotel
While most clients err on the budget-conscious side, this one was more interested in creating something truly unique than in keeping costs low. “This client said to me, ‘Build me something new, something fresh, no limits,’” Danisworo remembers. The resulting circular hotel is enveloped in an architectural skin. “It’s now one of the top-performing hotels in the area,” says Danisworo. “The iconic shape helps promote this property. It’s easily identifiable and it creates good word of mouth. Good design can create good business for the client. A unique design can help the iconic status and visibility of a building and drive the performance.”
Benhil Central
“Since this client wanted something unique and the land was very long and narrow, the building regulation dictated the building,” Danisworo says of this eye-catching skyscraper. “If you were to drive up to this building from several kilometres away, it’s instantly recognisable.” PDW Architects opted to capitalise on the building’s proximity to an MRT station by creating spaces for pedestrians and commuters. “Interconnectivity in Jakarta is generally very poor. We want to break down that stigma and increase walkability. So we raised the building on the ground floor to make it open.” Public artwork and restaurants encourage gatherings in the space. “We created parks where there were no parks before, so the benefit to the city will be considerable once it’s completed.”
Masterplan for MRTJ Duka Atas
“Jakarta was very late to this mass transportation party,” Danisworo says. “The Duka Atas is quite important because it’s the largest transportation hub in Jakarta and it also happens to be the place where different modes of transportation meet.” By creating pedestrian walkways, this masterplan offered the opportunity to completely revolutionise one of the most crucial connecting points in the developing city. Danisworo hopes that his work will help realise the vision of a more liveable Jakarta in the future. “It’s something to provide a more integrated design approach to that area, which didn’t exist before,” he says. “It’s baby steps, but I’m looking forward to Jakarta having a mass transportation system.”
Tanjung Uma Masterplan
Developers have high hopes for Batam Island, a Special economic zone hoping to entice Singaporean investors with its beautiful coastline and comparatively affordable property prices. “It’s great for Singaporeans who want a quick getaway or even another home because our real estate prices are cheaper,” Danisworo explains. To make sure the space lives up to its potential, however, it needed a more focused vision. “It was sprawling without a proper city design,” he says. “The developer here wanted to create a landmark that would be visible from Singapore.” PDW Architects proposed using a small natural island as the focal point of essentially a new township, complete with a state-of-the-art harbour to welcome arrivals from the Lion City.
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LIVING CLOSE TO HOME
Independent and financially savvy, today’s generation of income earners in Metro Manila want more than a place to rent—they deserve a place to call their own
Filipinos waste 16 days a year and lose PHP3.5 billion in productivity every day to commuting. When workers have a choice, they would love to live as close as possible to their place of employment and avoid traffic jams.
Many would prefer to live in Ortigas, the commercial heart of the city of Pasig in Metro Manila. The city of 800,000 people is historic but young at heart, filled with entertainment venues, shopping malls, hotels, and even a renowned cathedral. Ortigas itself is home to the headquarters of many major companies, multinationals, and multilateral institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB). One of the largest suppliers of office space in Metro Manila, Ortigas CBD accounted for a bulk of office transactions in the metropolis last year.
To many workers, however, living in the heart of Pasig City seems like a pipe dream that is out of their means. This is why 8990 Holdings Inc., one of the Philippines’ fastestgrowing development companies, is building Urban Deca Homes Ortigas, “The Closest Home You Can Own.“ Named Best Affordable Condo Development (Metro Manila) last year at the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, Urban Deca Homes Ortigas is the company’s new residential offering along Ortigas Avenue Extension. Offering more than 19,000 units across 22 medium-rise buildings, Urban Deca Homes Ortigas is designed to help Metro Manila workers get their feet on the property ladder.
Given its strategic location at Ortigas Avenue Extension, Urban Deca Homes Ortigas is suitable for those who need daily access to not only the business districts of Pasig City but also Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC), two of the country’s major financial hubs. The development’s strategic address also puts it within easy reach of Eastwood, Libis, Cubao, Cainta, and major commercial centres in and around Metro Manila.
Urban Deca Homes Ortigas offers the opportunity to not only save on the commute but also the rent. Convinced they are priced out of the market, many workers tend to settle for just renting properties in these areas. But Urban Deca Homes Ortigas gives renters the opportunity to upgrade to their own home.
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Instead of squandering their hard-earned income on rentals, workers now have the power to spend those sums on downpayments for their very own units at Urban Deca Homes Ortigas. The developer offers in-house and bank financing, as well as financing through Pag-Ibig Fund, the Philippines’ national savings and affordable shelter program.
The units of Urban Deca Homes Ortigas are available at reasonable price points. For relatively little capital, upgraders will be able to live close to their offices and schools, as well as shopping centres and other essentials of urban life. The units are very comfortable and liveable, with the independent panel of judges at the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards impressed with their quality interiors and good proportions.
Those working in IT-BPO (information technology and business process outsourcing), one of the Philippines’ biggest industries, will appreciate the homes on offer at Urban Deca Homes Ortigas because of its proximity to many contact centres in Metro Manila. The homes are also ideal for those working in the fields of finance, manufacturing and medicine.
Location is everything when living and working in Metro Manila, so a property like Urban Deca Homes Ortigas is a truly enviable address for commuters and motorists alike. For residents who drive to work, Urban Deca Homes Ortigas offers more than 3,330 car parking slots. Home buyers can depend on 8990 Holdings Inc., which has built a reputation for building a wide range of properties that focus on the low-cost residential sector. In fact, PagIbig Fund has named 8990 Holdings Inc. as the Top 1 property developer in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
As the capital attracts workers from all over the Philippines, property seekers discover that affordable but well-designed residential developments in Metro Manila truly make for solid investments. For that, Urban Deca Homes Ortigas will surely be desired by many for years to come.
