Sycamore Heights: Green-living made greener

MANILA, Philippines - The green-minded in Belle Corporation, who “think, love and live green,” are developing an exclusive community project in the already green Tagaytay Highlands.

Sycamore Heights, which is located at the 670-hectare Midlands of the 1,300-hectare Tagaytay Highlands, is tops in “green design” — from concept to construction to completion, providing the best option for vacation homes that offer green-living inside and out.

 The homes at Sycamore Heights are of contemporary Asian design with the latest green technologies for a climate-sensitive and weather-adaptive structure using the prevailing characteristics of nature, turning the outdoor environment favorable for healthy indoor living.

The result is improved quality of life with a naturally regulated indoor temperature, reduced energy consumption and home maintenance costs, pollution-free and healthy living, enhanced comfort and conveniences, extremely low carbon emission, and long-lasting housing structure. Of course, these all sum up to financial savings and a rewarding short and long-term investment.

The model units at Sycamore Heights are designed by Leandro V. Locsin Partners, a prestigious architectural firm headed by architect Orly Mateo as partner-in-charge and Leandro Locsin Jr. as design consultant. The firm is credited for having designed several architectural masterpieces including the world-renowned Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Dine in style: Contemporary Asian design with the latest green technologies for a climate-sensitive and weather-adaptive structure make for green-living indoors.

“Each model unit was designed with energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort in mind. These are achieved through our integration of passive cooling and heating principles in the houses. Large windows let natural sunlight in to lessen the need for artificial lighting while the operable windows allow for natural ventilation,” said architect Orly Mateo. “We studied the sun’s paths at various times of the day, which is the key to working with nature in order to optimize its benefits and eliminate its harmful effects.”

At the same time, water conservation and the use of renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances in every home can be integrated in the community development program and other green activities at Sycamore Heights.

The design theme, being Asian Contemporary, uses materials that include natural stone, wood, glass, concrete, flat roof tiles, and operable windows for passive cooling and maximum cross ventilation. The model houses have large picture windows to maximize indoor lighting and outdoor view, and bring in the available solar heat when needed during very cold weather.

So modern, so green: The spacious living room allows for quiet time with family.

The large picture windows also prevent the so-called greenhouse effect, or the warming of the house interiors resulting from trapped greenhouse gases generated by the carbon emissions of cooking equipment and other home appliances and gadgets.

The large picture windows and the high ceilings create a feeling of openness, the presence of plants and trees generate natural cooling as these prevent heat from being reflected directly from the bare ground, or any concrete paving that retains heat and generate the “heat island effect.”

 Chief executive officer and executive vice president Joselito R. Consunji of Belle Corporations says Sycamore Heights is the embodiment of Belle Corporation’s commitment to the preservation of nature through environmentally-sound leisure community development, where it is a pioneer and a leading player since 1994.

For information, call 623-3347, or 0917-BELLE.