“What is the city but the people?” – William Shakespeare
In 2016, Arcadis global director of water and cities John Batten echoed this sentiment, saying that no city could acquire its unique identity without its people.
“A city revolves around its people, and sustainability ultimately improves their quality of life. The range of people’s needs in a city is broad, encompassing livelihood requirements of nourishment, housing and safety, education and vocational opportunities, recreational outlets and access to culture and arts,” Batten said in Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Index 2016.
The Philippines is doing its part in aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). There is a growing understanding of – and a call for – the urgency of meeting people’s needs today without compromising the demands of tomorrow.
In response, some real estate companies have started implementing sustainability initiatives in their developments, taking SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) to heart.
“Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways,” the United Nations Development Program has said.
SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is one company that has taken the lead in developing sustainable cities through its integrated communities, which provide easy access to all of a community’s needs — essential goods and services, employment, livelihood and business opportunities, recreational and social venues and transport hubs — all in a secure and safe environment with vast, green spaces that encourage healthy and active living and opportunities for social connectedness. SMDC has redefined urban dwelling by making all these luxuries and conveniences affordable.
This model has been evident in the properties the property developer launched in 2020: Smile Residences in Bacolod, South 2 Residences in Las Piñas, Gem Residences in Pasig, Mint Residences in Makati, and and the phase two of Gold Residences in Parañaque.
SMILE RESIDENCES
SMDC brought to Bacolod its promise of comfort, convenience, and sustainability with the launching of Smile Residences, which boasts of unobstructed views of the renowned Bacolod sunset as well as SMDC’s trademark hotel-like lobbies and amenities. It rises alongside SM City Bacolod, SMX Convention Center, National University and office building SM Bacolod Tower. Commercial centers, government offices, hospitals, public markets and educational institutions are within walking distance.
SOUTH 2 RESIDENCES
South 2 Residences sits at the dynamic SM Southmall Lifestyle Complex, home to work and leisure, personal and social spaces — schools, hospitals, places of worship, business centers, and a shopping mall — to ensure that hours are spent on more meaningful and fulfilling tasks.
Everything one needs and wants is easily reachable from one’s home at South 2 Residences, including career and livelihood opportunities. There’s a two-tower, eight-story SM South Tower Offices right around the corner. A few steps away, SM Southmall offers IMAX theaters, a skating rink, a department store, an appliance center, a supermarket, a hardware store, a drugstore and more carefully selected roaster of tenants for every want and need. A university is in the pipeline.
GOLD RESIDENCES
Gold Residences sets the gold standard in modern and sustainable condo living. Aside from a subterranean parking, which shields cars from sun exposure and allows people to easily walk from tower to tower, it features a planned streetscape that promotes breathability with less traffic and abundant green spaces. This allows dwellers to explore the development by foot, helping reduce carbon footprint.
Located right across from NAIA Terminal 1, this community is the gateway to and from the Philippines, for an array of leisure options and business opportunities.
GEM RESIDENCES
Gem Residences stands along the vibrant C5-Ortigas corridor in Pasig City. It is the only residential development in the market that has direct access to the C5-Pasig stretch.
Built for professionals and executives yearning to experience brilliant city life, the property’s design creates a balanced work-from-home set-up.
The amenities, such as the lounge, function room, gym, and pools, are all designed with health and wellness in mind as it built with lush greenery, natural lighting and ventilation. The unit’s size also ensures efficient use of utilities, thanks to natural sunlight and fresh breeze breathing through the space. For utmost convenience, SMDC strategically placed a commercial strip, complete with stores that cater to residents’ basic needs and wants.
MINT RESIDENCES
SMDC adds a breath of fresh air to Makati with Mint Residences. Aside from utilizing LED light in key areas of the property, all units have wide windows, which promote ventilation and bring in natural light. Around 64 percent of the amenity area on the fifth floor has been allotted to open space. With its low carbon footprint, Mint Residences helps minimize the Urban Heat Island phenomenon, where the temperature in urbanized zones rises.
Residents may also walk from their homes to workplaces and lifestyle centers as the building is practically neighbors with start-up, local and multinational companies in the city.
SMDC, the pioneer of integrated communities, has built communities that make lives better today and tomorrow. It is taking sustainability to greater heights, with the three pillars — economic, environmental and social — foremost in mind, building communities where people can live comfortably in safe, secure and affordable homes that allow them to live their best lives for this and the generations to come.
