Making spaces do more

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People nowadays find it ideal and practical to live in condos, apartments, flats or pads with easy access to their daily living essential e.g. education, work and leisure that affords them amenities providing comfort and recreation all within walking distance. And because of higher demands to live in condominium developments, most developers sacrifice quality over quantity creating smaller living spaces.

Believe it or not according to the Design Standard and Guideline for Condominiums in accordance to the revised rules and regulations implementing the Condominium Buyer’s Protective Decree or PD 957, the minimum floor area for a single occupancy unit is 18sqm and a net of 12sqm provided that it is integrated in a highly urbanized location and for a family dwelling unit the minimum floor area is 36sqm and 22sqm for open market & medium cost projects. Seems such a small space to hold all our dreams but this is the supply and now businessmen and investors are attracted to purchase and venture into business like leasing their units.

So with this small space, what does a unit owner do? How can condo dwellers maximize their unit making space do more?

I have found this unique Scandinavian modern style furniture maker named IKEA that creates affordable solutions for better living with vast array to choose from living room and bedroom essentials, storage options, lighting, décor products, kitchen appliance and even pet care. And the amazing part is, it is now in the Philippines!

I have here a video clip from YouTube titled:IKEA Small Spaces- Small ideas. The clip showcases how to be creative in finding hidden spaces and using furniture that are multipurpose. It is amazing how they incorporated all this living ideas into a minimal space and transformed common spaces into a multipurpose area that as much as a group of six adults can enjoy. It is a matter of finding and using the hidden spaces, after all a dream home doesn’t need to be big, just smart.

For me an ideal home needs to be in a secure mid-rise suburban enclave located at a fair distance from the hustle and bustle with easy access to daily living essentials, units size meant for humans with natural lighting and ventilation features and well maintained amenities–just like the newest internationally multi-awarded development of ITPI, The Primavera Residences inside Pueblo De Oro township at the thriving “the city of golden friendship” Cagayan De Oro, a highly-urbanized and capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, southern part of the Philippines.

Love to find your own smart spaces? Click here to find your dream home.

On ABS-CBN.com: Italian architect says PH buildings should be earthquake-proof

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An Italian architect based in the Philippines is advising local architects and builders to apply earthquake-proof principles when building structures in the country.

Romolo Nati, executive chairman and CEO of ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI), believes that now is the time to consider fully incorporating earthquake-proof principles in building designs following the deadly magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Central Visayas.

Nati said building hollow tube or tube-shaped structures is one way to prevent structural damage during tremors.

“The shape of the building must be done in such a way that it optimizes the building’s capability to adapt to seismic activity. The tube structure is the best shape to withstand forces and ground motion brought about by earthquakes,” he said.

He said bamboo can be used because of its tubular structure that combines strength and lightness.

He also noted that buildings need to be flexible to withstand earthquakes.

Read story here.

Featured on ABS-CBNnews.com, 28 October 2013 

 

On The Philippine Star: Italian architect urged shift to earthquake-proof designs

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Italian architect urged shift to earthquake-proof designs

ITPI uses state-of-the-art software products to design the structures of its buildings so that they are able to withstand major natural calamities, such as earthquakes and typhoons. The computer-generated simulations show the reactions of the structure from various strains coming from different directions.

An Italian architect advocating environment-friendly designs has urged local designs and builders to fully incorporate earthquake-proof principles when building structures in the country.

Romolo Nati, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Italian-Filipino firm ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI), said Italy and the Philippines have many similarities when it comes to natural calamities, particularly volcanic activity and earthquakes, which is why the two countries can learn from each other in terms of construction. “For Italians, building quake-proof structures is not just an option.

Every time we design in Italy, we have to consider that we are building something in an earthquake-prone country,” said Nati, who took up architecture at the La Sapienza University in Rome.

Nati said one way to prevent structural damage brought about by earthquakes is by building tubo cavo (hollow tube) or tube-shaped structures, which is the best shape to react to stress and opposing forces within the earth.

Continue reading story here.

Featured in Philstar.com, 29 October 2013, by Iris C. Gonzales

ITPI’s Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati with the brokers of Primavera Residences

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ITPI’s Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati shares his knowledge of how to design and build eco-friendly and earth-quake resistant structures with the real estate business partners of Primavera Residences. With calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes taking a bigger toll on the nation, the need for environmental solutions becomes more serious over time. ITPI has been at the forefront of the movement for sustainable real estate development. Primavera Residences, ITPI’s first condominium in CdO, is an example of a highly sustainable and efficient building design.

This two-tower mixed-use property has environment-friendly features including an inner courtyard, as well as a cross-ventilation layout among the units in order to enhance natural airflow and light. Shaded facades also minimize solar illumination on the windows and moderate the temperature inside each unit. Residents may reduce their use of air conditioning to as much as 32 percent. Moreover, the building is designed to have a photovoltaic solar panels to produce renewable energy for the common areas, and thus reduce the condominium costs for unit owners.

In this meeting, held at the multi-purpose hall of Primavera Residences last October 19, Architect Nati called on CdO’s home owners to consider safety, security and sustainability when it comes to choosing their home.

To get in touch with ITPI and to know more about Primavera Residences’s earthquake-proof design, call +63 917 7921080 or click here.

On the Philippine Star: Italian firm set to complete eco-friendly housing project in Mindanao

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Italian design and eco-friendly architecture

Green energy real estate firm Italpinas Euroasian Design and Ecodevelopment Corp

, said it is on track to completing its eco-friendly residential building project in Mindanao, which is seen to help address urban congestion problems in the country

The Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro is a joint venture project with renewable energy firm Constellation Energy Corp

The project consists of two towers, with the 161-unit Primavera Residences Tower A is a 10-storey building completed last year

The building’s Tower B is set to finish construction in 2014 and will have a capacity of 166 residential and commercial units and 54 parking slots, said Jojo Leviste, president of both ITPI and CEC

“Creating sustainable power plants and real estate developments in the regions will provide economic activity and improve the quality of life of the people in other centers across the country so they will not need to migrate to major cities in search of opportunities and better living conditions,” Leviste said

Italian architect Romolo Nati, executive chairman and CEO of ITPI said that their partnership with CEC aims to give people more reasons to stay and contribute to exciting growth in the provinces rather than go to metropolises like Metro Manila

“One way to decongest Metro Manila is to develop the provinces

People live in the crowded city because developers usually build properties in the metro, but if you put your developments in the provinces, people will also invest and live there,” Nati said

Citing data from Forbes magazine, Italpinas said urban migration in Metro Manila is at its worst in 2011, with 41,014 persons packed like sardines per square kilometer

ITPI’s passive designs include an inner courtyard that, together with the cross ventilation layout of the units, increases the natural ventilation and illumination of the building, the company said

Furthermore, it is also equipped with shaded facades that minimize direct solar illumination on the windows and moderate the temperature inside each unit

Featured in Philippine Star, 7 October 2013, by Iris C

Gonzales

 

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

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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

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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

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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!

 

 

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

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

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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