Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” So goes the popular song from the immensely successful American folk opera Porgy and Bess. And plantation owners in the American South during the antebellum or American pre-Civil war era really did live a charmed and leisurely life. With coffers overflowing with wealth, particularly from endless fields of cotton, they had more than enough resources to build and elaborately embellish their vast plantation houses. Not surprisingly, the remaining examples of antebellum architecture continue to be an attraction of the region to this day.
A recent visit to Brittany Corporation’s development in scenic Sta. Rosa served to transport us to the American South. With elegant homes built in the classical revival style, the luxury residential development set on 15 hectares of prime land entices homeowners to a graceful, relaxed and carefree way of life away from the pressures of the city. Fittingly, the development is called the Georgia Club.
“It is not just about building Southern- style houses,” explains Camille Villar, head of corporate communication of Brittany and Crown Asia and daughter of maverick real estate developer, Senator Manny Villar. “Our training is such that on trips abroad, my Dad would encourage us to pay close attention to the prevailing architecture. He would say, ‘Look at it and think about how it affects you.’ And so, it is always essential that we are able to capture both the look and the feel of the place.”
An extended trip that included visits to Savannah and Atlanta for key members of the development team, and immersion in each locale’s culture, helped achieve this for Georgia Club.
“There is a blend of opulence and grace that characterizes the charming lifestyle that the American South is known for,” adds Mary Lee Sadiasa, chief operations officer for Brittany. “Certainly the lavishness of the homes is immediately recognizable. But at the heart of all of these expressions of wealth is the importance of family and how people are willing to give everything — material or otherwise — to their kin. The value is something that we Filipinos share.”
For nature lovers, what is most striking about the area is the number of mature acacia, mahogany and gmelina trees. “It would have been a pity to destroy the existing trees in the area, so we retained most of them,” says Hendrick Samson, head of planning for Brittany. He points out that the development has been identified to provide habitat for at least 25 species of birds. A bonus from the mature trees is that the young and young-at-heart enjoy a renewed sense of fun as they swing from rope swings hanging from low-lying branches.
“We try to abide by the tenets of green architecture,” continues Samson. “The windows are sized just right, and both natural lighting and proper ventilation are considered in the home designs. The use of earth-friendly building materials such as ceramic tiles is encouraged, while flawless design and efficient space management in the homes promote the sense of space even more.”
Georgia Club is truly a beautiful community where elegance and comfort come together seamlessly,” says Sadiasa. She cites a line from the song Georgia by Ray Charles: “Some sweet day when blossoms fall and all the world’s a song, I’ll go back to Georgia ’cause that’s where I belong.” She concludes, “The sense of belongingness is at the heart of every Georgia Club home.”
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To learn more about Georgia club, call 382-6573or log on to www.brittany.com.ph. For site visits, Georgia Club is an easy one-hour ride from Makati. From SLEX, take the Santa Rosa exit. Turn right at the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road. Head straight — Georgia club is on the left side.