Upping the ante in condo living

MANILA, Philippines - The concept of designer residences is, of course, nothing new, with some of the most celebrated names in design already attached to luxury property developments over the past decade.

The appeal of a designer residence to that particular segment of the market that has an eye for only the finer things in life is as readily apparent as the cachet of Hermes’s legendary Birkin bag. Utter the term “designer” and the qualities of timeless design, exquisite attention to detail and superior craftsmanship readily come to mind—an expectation that remains unchanged when used in reference to property developments.

In the Philippines, premiere property developer Robinsons Land Corp. is taking the concept of designer residences to a whole different level with Signa Designer Residences, for which it featured the renowned talents of interior designer Antonio “Budji” Layug, architect Royal Pineda, and furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue to create a fully realized, holistic experience of what luxurious living is all about. Between them are widespread praise for their artistry that has informed the landscape of architecture and design not just in the Philippines but throughout the region and even in the U.S. 

“What makes Signa different as a designer residence is that Robinsons Land approached it holistically, bringing the three of us in from the get-go,” says Pineda, “so that we — Budji, Kenneth and myself — were able to come up with a design that brought together our respective visions and strengths as creative professionals into a seamless, unified whole. We were contracted not as an afterthought but as the creative team that is bringing to fruition, inside and out, Robinsons Land’s vision of luxury living for the first designer residences in the country.”

Soon to rise at the corner of Valero and Rufino Streets in Salcedo Village, Makati, the two-tower, 29-storey Signa is bound to become an architectural marvel, with the two residential towers seemingly balanced on stilts, an optical illusion created by the 10-meter glass walls that wrap around the lushly landscaped lobby-cum-plaza. This design inflection ingeniously brings an al fresco quality to the development—certainly a welcome departure from the stifling ‘boxes’ that typically define high-rise architecture. The design certainly underscores the team’s continuing love affair with nature as the muse of all their creative endeavors.

The exquisite sense of design of Signa’s creative triumvirate continue with the pool area that connects the two towers, the marvelously designed common areas, the modern fitness center with steam rooms, a reading room, function and game rooms, a private theater, and a children’s playroom.

Those in the market looking to upgrade to luxury living have a choice from not only among one-bedroom (starting at 32.85sqm), two-bedroom (beginning at 56.80 sqm) and three-bedroom (up to 93.88 sqm) unit configurations, but also between the Designer Luxe Series and the Cobonpue Series. The former offers upgraded fixtures and room configurations modified to the homeowner’s specifications, while the latter comes embellished with furniture specially designed by Cobonpue for Signa.

“The beauty of designer residences is that every aspect of the architecture and the interior design is there to add to the overall aesthetic of the property, and further the enjoyment of the residents,” says Layug. “Just as it is with a fabulous designer dress, there are no ‘accidents’ to the overall experience that a designer residence provides. Everything has been carefully thought of and executed to assure that the homeowner’s rightful expectations of excellent design, exceptional materials and quality craftsmanship are met.”

Signa Designer Residences is a joint venture of Security Land Corp. and Robinsons Land Corp. For more information, call 636-0888, 397-0101, or 0922-8380888, or visit http://www.robinsonsluxuria.com.