MANILA, Philippines - Many opportunities to reconnect with nature are being offered to families in new and exclusive enclaves at Filinvest City. Botanika Nature Residences, a premium, low-density three-tower residential condominium project, will unveil its first tower in 2017. As its name implies, the project will offer a series of lush green spaces on 1.55 hectares of landscaped terrain right next to the Palms Country Club.
A collaborative effort of US master-planning consultant Architecture International, Singapore-based landscaping consultant AECOM and local architects Leandro V. Locsin Partners, the gardens of Botanika were conceived to allow children to enjoy the many benefits of outdoor play.
Its main amenities include an expansive lawn with tree houses and landscaped pathways where youngsters will be encouraged to observe the myriad colors found in nature, listen to its unique sounds, as well as feel its various textures. This setting has been envisioned to be a good antidote for what renowned author Richard Louv calls a “nature-deficit disorder” or a deprivation from the many healing effects offered by natural settings.
In Botanika’s unique treehouses and the other nooks and crannies of the expansive garden, youngsters will be encouraged to create, dream and fantasize through play. This is so the kids will become more aware of their surroundings, develop heightened senses and build on their observations skills. All these encourage autonomy and individuality, according to researchers who have studied links between nature, children and communities.
Moreover, nature has a calming effect on youngsters. Studies show that green settings help kids restore their attention span. In contrast, television viewing and video gaming do the exact opposite — drain their attention.
Catherine Ilagan, executive vice president of Filinvest Alabang Inc., believes that being in nature will benefit adults as well. She relates that each of the three towers will be built around a central atrium that begins at the ground floor and goes all the way to the top. Each of the atriums will have a unique landscape theme: one will offer a Zen setting, another will focus on a reflecting pool, and a third will emphasize mounds of earth covered in greenery. The atriums will interconnect with one another through meandering green walkways.
“The planners deliberately compartmentalized spaces to create greater interest in the landscaping,” says Ilagan. Thus, secret gardens, nooks and crannies that take on a different vibe depending on the time of day will likely renew one’s senses and clear one’s thoughts to allow for contemplation and inspiration to take place.