On Business World: Calamities influencing design

From Business World: 29 August 2013

 In a world that is constantly being plagued by natural calamities, ITPI proposes natural design solutions to come up with shelters that resist Mother Nature’s fury.

ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI) cited the need for “construction of houses and buildings that can… withstand typhoons, floods and other calamities due to climate change.”

Italian architect Romolo V. Nati, ITPI’s executive chairman and chief executive officer, said in the statement that his company’s “Philippine coral-inspired” designs are intended partly “to encourage Filipinos to build typhoon- and flood-resistant shelters in the aftermath of destructive tropical storm Maring.”

As of least 25 people died and P668.95 million worth of infrastructure and crops in Luzon were damaged or destroyed by floods and rains spawned by storm Maring (international name: Trami) last week.

ITPI’s design bagged the “Special Energy Award,” besting 200 entries from 50 countries, in the Design Against the Elements (DAtE) global competition in 2011, according to the statement.

Titled “Coral City,” ITPI’s design features “integration of renewable energy production and architecture.”

 

Read story here.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Property&title=Calamities-influencing-design&id=75646

 

Grazie e a presto!

On Business Week Mindanao: Primavera Residences Tower B gets BOI approval

The Board of Investments (BOI) recently gave ITPI the approval for registration under the 2012 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) for Tower B of Primavera Residences, the first eco-friendly and multi-awarded condominium in Cagayan de Oro city.

THE Board of Investments (BOI) recently gave ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI) the approval for registration under the 2012 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) for Tower B of Primavera Residences, the first eco-friendly and self-sustaining condominium in Cagayan de Oro city. The first tower of Primavera Residences has already been registered with the BOI, which was approved on April 12, 2012.

The Italian-designed Primavera Residences is composed of two 10-storey towers located in the masterfully planned Pueblo de Oro Business Park in uptown Cagayan de Oro City. Tower A, whose occupancy permit for unit acceptance was given on September 12, 2012, has a capacity of 162 residential and commercial units, ninety percent of which are already sold, while the rest are already being rented out.

“Being the first green building in CdO is really a great advantage,” says Arch. Romolo V. Nati, Chairman and CEO of ITPI. “We are setting the trend here in the most competitive city in the Philippines. We also purposely selected to put our project in uptown Cagayan de Oro because of its good urban planning, better air quality and higher land area – 110 meters above sea level – making it practically a flood-free zone,” adds the Italian architect.

Read more here.

BusinessWeek Mindanao: 22 August 2013

Ciao, and till next time!

Italpinas to put up green buildings in Mindanao

Tower A of Primavera Residences stands tall in uptown CdO

Through the power of good design, see how we are able to increase natural airflow and light, and therefore decrease energy consumption.

Property developer Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI) is putting up green buildings in Mindanao to help residents save on power costs.

ITPI chairman and CEO Romolo Nati said ITPI is putting up green buildings in Cagayan de Oro City to help residents save as much as 32 percent on air-con energy consumption cost.

“People in Mindanao either suffer from the full force and effect of the tropical heat due to blackouts, or the high energy cost of running air-conditioning units,” said Nati, an Italian who designed and built his green Primavera Residences condominium in Mindanao.

The initial plan would comprise of two towers of mixed-used 10-story green buildings each. It would have an inner courtyard and a cross-ventilation layout to increase the natural airflow and light.

Nati said the structure would also have shaded facades to reduce direct sun illumination on the windows and to reduce the internal temperature of each unit.

Read story here.

From the Philippine Star: 20 Aug 2013, 12:00 am

 

Ciao, and till next time!

 

On Manila Standard Today: In Mindanao Energy-saving condos to ease power woes

The people of Mindanao need not suffer from blackouts any longer due to high energy costs of running air conditioning units.

Green energy land developer ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI) is putting up green buildings in Mindanao to help people in the area cope with the blackouts as well as save on electricity consumption cost.

In a statement, Architect Romolo V. Nati, Chairman and CEO of ITPI – a by-product of a Filipino and Italian partnership – is putting green architecture design buildings in Cagayan de Oro City that help residents save as much as 32 percent in air-con energy consumption cost.

“People in Mindanao either suffer from the full force and effect of the tropical heat due to blackouts or the high energy cost of running of air-conditioning units,” said Nati, an Italian who designed and built his green condominiums in Mindanao, the Primavera Residences.

The mixed-use green building, which is comprised of two towers with 10 storeys each, has eco-friendly passive design features, such as an inner courtyard and a cross-ventilation layout among the units, which increases the natural airflow and light. It also has shaded facades to reduce direct sun illumination on the windows to reduce the internal temperature of each unit, the statement said.

Read more here.

From the Manila Standard Today: 19 Aug 2013, 7:01 pm

 

Ciao, and till next time!

 

 

Arch. Nati, designer and developer of Primavera Residences, inspires crowd at Energy Forum in Davao

Arch. Nati, designer and developer of Primavera Residences, inspires crowd at Energy Forum in Davao

Arch. Romolo V. Nati is an advocate of sustainable development and high performance design.

 

During the recently conducted Mindanao Energy Efficiency Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao, Arch. Romolo V. Nati, Chairman and CEO of ITPI, shared his advocacy to the audience members of the forum, impressing upon them the importance of energy efficiency and green technology in construction.

Arch. Nati’s presentation was a huge success and highly appreciated by the audience as he was able to show that green technology need not be expensive; the design is key in structuring the building to maximize natural ventilation and lighting, and ensuring that the materials to be used are locally available.

These principles can be seen at ITPI’s ongoing project, the Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro City.

Ciao, and till next time.

On Kagay-an: Italpinas reiterates offer to new city admin

TALPINAS REITERATES OFFER TO NEW CITY ADMIN

Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar S. Moreno cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the grand launch of Primavera Tower A, with the assistance of (lL-R) Non-Exective Chairman Jose P. Leviste, Jr., Italpinas; Engr. Syntax B. Manuta, VP-Ops, AVP Trading & Construction; Arch. Romolo V. Nati, Chairman and CEO, Italpinas and Pueblo de Oro Dev. Corp. President Rommel M. Leuterio. Mr. Moreno was recently elected Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City.

 

The builders of Cagayan de Oro’s first true green building recently assured the incoming administration of Mayor Oscar S. Moreno its offer to extend its services for free to the city’s plan to provide incentives for the construction of green buildings in Cagayan de Oro City still stands.

“We agree perfectly with the City Council on Environment and Natural Resources’ view that incentives would better serve to encourage the construction of eco-friendly buildings in the city rather than penalties,” said Architect Romolo V. Nati, chairman and CEO of Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation.

“We also wholeheartedly support the initiative of Architect Galua and Engineer Albina to set local green building standards which would encourage natural ventilation and reduce energy consumption,” he added.

Italpinas is the designer and builder of Cagayan de Oro City’s first real green building, the Primavera Residences at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park.

Earlier, the firm wrote to Councilor President D. Elipe, chairman of the said committee, through City Building Official Isidro Obligado (as chairman of the technical working group) offering its services for free as consultants in the study to set parameters for the granting of incentives for the proposed ordinance.

 

“We believe our track record in the design and construction of Primavera Residences would serve the TWG and your committee in good stead as it endeavors to lead the way for a more eco-friendly city,” the letter said.

Italpinas has already been cited three times internationally:

·         As one of the most promising clean energy investment opportunities in the Philippines  by the Climate Technology Initiative- Private Financing Advisory Networks (CTI-PFAN) Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing during the 2nd annual Philippines Clean Energy Investor Forum held in Manila in 2011 (for Primavera Residences);

·         as one of the Best Condo Developments in the Philippines by the South East Asia Property Awards in 2011 (for Primavera Residences) in Singapore;

·         and, most recently, as one of the top 10 and only entry from the Philippines which made it to the finals of the CTI PFAN Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing (AFCEF-3) Business Plan Competition held February 22, 2013 in Singapore (for a new project).

Mr. Nati has a graduate degree in Architecture in Design from The University of Rome La Sapienza where he was graduated summa cum laude. He taught Green Architecture at the La Sapienza Faculty of Architecture and Master in Urban Landscape and Layers at the University of Tallin, Estonia Faculty of Architecture.

– by Mike Banos

 

Read the rest of the story here.

Featured in Kagay-an, 2 Jun 2013

 

On Business Week Mindanao: Italpinas Growing Fruit Trees for Sendong Victims

Green Earth

THE award winning developer of Primavera Residences is extending its advocacy for an eco-friendly lifestyle from design and construction to actively growing fruit trees to help curb global warming.

Last March 16, 2013, Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation, joined hands with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Philippines Community Development/Partnership Department to undertake the planting and growing of fruit trees in two of Habitat’s resettlement sites for Sending victims: Calaanan 2B and Calaanan 3 Extension.

“We are undertaking this tree growing activity with HFH Philippines as part of our commitment to promote a sustainable lifestyle,” said Romolo V. Nati, Italpinas chairman and president. “Beyond constructing the first real green building in Northern Mindanao with Primavera Residences, we wish to share our advocacy for a sustainable lifestyle with other like-minded organizations like HFH Philippines and their home partners who were victims of Sendong.”

“This is part of our mission to create a safe, clean and green environment,” said Melva B. Gontinas, ComDev / Partnership Building, HFH Philippines. HFH Philippines has constructed permanent concrete houses for its home partners affected by the Tropical Storm Sendong flash flood in the two sites. “This is just a beginning, we will continue with the advocacy of growing trees for all HFH Philippines construction sites for a safe, clean and green environment that is resilient from man-made and natural calamities.”

One hundred (100) fruit bearing seedlings of five varieties (Rambutan, Nangka, Guyabano, Marang and Mango) requested by the home partners were provided by Italpinas under its Social Responsibility Project dubbed “Go Green, Plant a Tree”, said Gladys Ivy M. Echano, Italpinas Sales and Marketing Director.

Some 30 of Italpinas’ office staff, accredited brokers and their sales personnel joined the HFH Philippines CDO team for the whole day activity.

“We wish to invite other organizations who advocate a sustainable lifestyle to join forces with us so we can share our vision for clean and green living not only within Uptown Cagayan de Oro but in other areas as well,” said Mr. Nati.

Featured in Business Week Mindanao, 11 April 2013

 

On Business World: Cagayan de Oro Development gets ‘green’ loan

Italpinas EuroAsian Design and Eco-Development Corp. has received a P180 million “green” development loan to partially finance the construction of its Primavera Residences Tower 2.

The loan agreement was signed in January by Romolo V. Nati, chairman and Jose D. Leviste III, president, on behalf of Italpinas and by Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., executive vice-president, and Mario B. Palau, senior vice-president for the Banks of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

Sustainability

“BPI advances its sustainable energy finance by continuing to support the energy[-efficiency] investments of its clients,” the bank said in a recent statement.

“In collaboration with International Finance Corp., the four year old innovative financing approach fund various efficient and renewable technologies all over the country,” it added, referring to the World Bank Group’s private sector investment arm.

BPI is the country’s third biggest universal bank in terms of assets, with over 809 branches and 2,542 automated teller machines nationwide, according to the statement.

‘Promising’

Italpinas’ business plan for Primavera Residences, on the other hand, was cited as one of the promising “clean” energy investment opportunities in the Philippines during the Philippine Clean Energy Investor Forum held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Metro Manila in 2010.

This year, the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) – a public-private partnership initiated by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI), has cited Primavera Residence’s eco friendly design.

CTI-PFAN cited Italpinas’ new project as the only finalist from the Philippines for this year’s selection of 38 eco-friendly projects across Asia.

Primavera Residences is the first “green” building in Cagayan de Oro City that integrates into its design eco-friendly features such as rooftop solar panels to generate part of the two buildings’ electricity supply and reducing power use by maximizing natural light and wind ventilation.

Located at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park in uptown Cagayan de Oro City within the master-planned 360-hectare Pueblo de Oro Township, Primavera Residences is a P450-million 10-storey twin-tower condominium that was designed by Mr. Nati, an Italian architect, and developed by Italpinas, a corporate member of the Philippine Green Building Council.

The Primavera Residences Tower 2 will provide 167 residential units.

Construction, currently underway, is scheduled for completion by June.

 

-RMDB

Featured by BusinessWorld, 7 March 2013

On Manila Daily News: BPI grants Italpinas loan for green condo tower 2

Atty. Jose D. Leviste III, President and Architect Romolo V. Nati, Chairman and CEO of Italpinas EuroAsian Design and Eco-Development Corp. sign a PhP 180-million Green Development Loan with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) represented by Mr. Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., Executive Vice President and Group Head, Corporate Banking Division and Mr. Mario B. Palou, Senior Vice President. The loan will partially finance construction of Italpinas’ Primavera Residences Tower 2 in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) recently granted a PhP 180-million green development loan to Italpinas EuroAsian Design and Eco-Development Corporation to partially finance the construction of its Primavera Residences Tower 2.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) recently granted a PhP 180-million green development loan to Italpinas EuroAsian Design and Eco-Development Corporation to partially finance the construction of its Primavera Residences Tower 2.

“BPI advances its Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) by continuing to support the energy investments of its clients,” BPI said in a statement. “In collaboration with International Finance Corporation (IFC), the four-year old innovative financing approach funds various efficient and renewable technologies all over the country.”

The loan agreement was signed last month at the BPI Head Office by Architect Romolo Nati, Chairman and CEO, and Atty. Jose D. Leviste III, President, in behalf of Italpinas and by Mr. Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., Executive Vice President and Group Head, Corporate Banking Division and Mr. Mario B. Palou, Senior Vice President for BPI.

BPI is the third ranked universal bank in the country with over 809 branches (inclusive of 105 kiosks and five branches abroad) and 2,542 automated teller machines (ATMs) which together form Expressnet, the largest combined network of branches/kiosk units and ATMs, servicing the largest number of bank customers, including over one million overseas Filipinos.

Read story here.

February 25, 2013, Mindanao Daily News