Landscapes that add value

I got a lot of great feedback from my article last week on the winners of the first GantimPALA Awards for excellence in landscape architectural design. There was also a lot of interest in the book published by the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA). The publication features the winners as well as all the qualified entries for the five categories of the competition.

The book contains 38 landscape projects in five categories: private residential spaces, community residential spaces, institutional spaces, retail landscape spaces, and leisure spaces.

This week I take the opportunity to present another six other great projects, to highlight the quality of landscape design now being produced by Filipino landscape architects. Each project also focuses on key reasons why getting a landscape architect adds value to any development.

First we have the S Residence, a residential landscape designed by landscape architect Erick Yambao of the firm PLONTUR. Erick’s design shows how close collaboration by the landscape architect with the building architect and the interior designer ensures cohesiveness in function and aesthetics. The overall landscape approach “blurs the line between inside and outside (ensuring that) architecture and nature are one.”

The second project we selected from the over three dozen landscape gems in the book is representative of a community residential space. Two Serendra, an Alveo Land Corporation development located at BGC, is an exemplar of a medium density complex that benefits from its generous provision of 71 percent of its site dedicated to open and green spaces.

Landscape architect Mike Espiritu of CREARIS navigated the complex technical requirements of creating landscapes for this multi-structure complex, where close to half of the landscape is built on top of a structure, with parking or architectural spaces beneath.

The third project in this article is another creation of landscape architect Espiritu, Kasa Luntian Also an Alveo development, the complex is located in a verdant corner of Tagaytay. Espiritu designed the central green area and swimming pool to incorporate a wide range of activities. The site’s planting design includes both edible and ornamental species.

The UP Town Center, an Ayala development, is a favorite destination of Diliman folk. The project, completed in 2016, has a green spine designed by landscape architect Eric Estonido of the ASEA Design Group.  His design is an example of what’s called biophilic design, providing a balance of hard and soft materials where “nature is physically within reach, and is intertwined with the retail experience.”

Following this is another shopping complex, a Robinsons Galleria Mall located in Cebu City. This project is unique in its interior landscape, a series of indoor gardens and coves that utilize vertical greenery, clever hardscape and seamless integration with the building’s thematic direction. The landscape design was by landscape architect Efren Auerlio of EA Aurelio Landscape Architects.

The final project is a resort in Negros Oriental. The Bravo Hotel sits near the slopes of picturesque Mt. Talinis and basks in the tropical splendor of this attractive southern province. landscape architect Cecilia Herras-Tence crafted the landscape design for this project. Here she deftly incorporates artwork and local stone with the landscape creating a strong and distinctive sense of place.

These five projects, along with the rest in the book, make it clear that development projects of all scales and functions are enhanced by the involvement of professional landscape architects. Good interiors and great architecture are often incomplete without proper landscape settings. Good landscape architecture is essential in this sense, as context for maximum functionality as well as delight.

When embarking on building a home, a residential complex, resort grounds, retail development, school complex, civic centers, parks or playgrounds, it is best to get the services of professional landscape architects early in the design process. This will ensure that all the potential of these sites are maximized and well integrated with architectural solutions, as well as addresses the needs of clients without compromising aesthetics or budgets.

There are more examples of exemplary landscapes in this book, which also features the history of the professional association. In addition, it helpfully contains contact information on 34 landscape architectural firms and individual practitioners.

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Feedback is welcome. Please email the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com. The GantimPALA 2017 book is available directly from the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects. You can contact them at pala_org@yahoo.com or call Bea Reyes at 4486389.