Luxury condo finds minimal use for air-conditioning

MANILA, Philippines - With no end in sight to Metro Manila congestion, the rare benefit of daily breathing fresh air filtered by an adjoining golf course has become a key reason why end-users, and not just investors, have shown great interest in The Address at Wack Wack.

The upscale residential condominium development is on the fringe of the 36-hole expanse in Mandaluyong, a strategic location an average 30-minute drive or shorter to Makati, Pasig, Bonifacio Global City and other key business districts.

“In addition to fresh air, location has also been cited by our buyers among the benefits they intend to enjoy, if not immediately, then at some future date,” says Paco T. Bayot, vice-president of Madrigal-Bayot Development Corp., the developer of the 32-story residential condominium.

Among high-end condominium residential projects, The Address is distinguished by the fact that a great majority of its residents own the units they live in. While many, especially those who have lived in the neighboring exclusive enclave of Wack-Wack subdivision, initially intended to buy a unit at the project so they could lease it out, they ended up living in The Address or purchasing a unit for the use of a son or daughter, notes Bayot.

Primarily, The Address allows Wack-Wack denizens to continue enjoying their accustomed lifestyle beginning with the health benefit of residing next to the largest expanse of grass and trees in the center of the metropolis. They do not need to sleep with air-conditioning most nights of the year because of the breezes wafting in from the golf course – a feature maximized even for those without golf course views by the numerous sectional air wells that naturally ventilate the building. The air wells found in older developments --and none of the current generation of condos-- force air up the tower and facilitate air circulation inside the units.

“When residents want to sit outside, they go up the roofdeck amenities floor with a book or a bottle of wine to enjoy with friends,” observes Bayot who also lives in the tower. This floor includes a deck with an unimpeded view of the Wack-Wack golf course right next to an infinity edge pool. The pool is the best place to catch the dramatic changes of light at the start and end of the day. In addition, the top floor has a function room for entertaining 40 guests – more if tables also spill out into the outdoor garden.  A jogging path, playground and fitness center complete the area.

The quality of the development as exemplified by the double height atrium of the lobby with high grade marble and the airy and wide hallways also attract the exclusive, high-end Wack Wack market. Units that range from 59 to 120 sqm likewise come with granite counters in the kitchen and high ceilings.

Architect Wilbert Tan notes that most developers tend to downgrade specified designs, materials and finishes. That was not the case with Madrigal-Bayot which upgraded the elevators to include a keycard system limiting visitor and resident access only to specified floors. The Address’ naturally-ventilated hallways likewise go beyond standard norms and feature high-grade homogenous tiles for flooring, and architraves to heighten the visitors’ sense of arrival at the units. The parking ratio was also increased so that there is one slot for every bedroom in the building.

Even the building’s security and safety features outdo other developments in its class. CCTV cameras have been installed not just in the elevators but to over 115 positions throughout the building. Instead of the usual three earthquake sensors, The Address has nine. The latter measures the structural integrity of a building following an earthquake and immediately sends out an alarm if residents are at great risk.

“We built The Address to be a benchmark for our future developments,” according to Bayot whose family has investments in the Alabang Town Center and has participated in projects like Ayala Alabang Village and Madrigal Business Park. “We intend to build a name in the upper-end segment that offers luxury at a good price.”