Animal Welfare Advocates Get Support from Green Developer

Posted by Primavera Residences on March 27, 2014

A young property developer hasn’t only rapidly gained a reputation for leading the push for sustainable property development in the Philippines – it’s also advocating for compassion toward animals.

Charles de la Cruz and Nancy Cu Unjieng of CARA Welfare Philippines during the Halloween Purr-ty

Since it was founded in 2009, Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI Corp.) has quickly built a reputation for leading the sustainable property sector, after it built the first eco-friendly mixed-use condominium development in Mindanao and then announced plans to build more eco-friendly properties in secondary Philippine cities.

But few people know that ITPI’s advocacy for the environment and for sustainability doesn’t end with building or even urban planning issues, and even extends to issues of lifestyle, diet and even compassion for animals.

This is why ITPI generously sponsors fundraising events of Cara (Compassion and Responsibility for Animals) Welfare Philippines, a dedicated group of animal lovers determined to help the plight of animals in the Philippines.

“ITPI nurtures partnerships with various groups with whom we share our principles of environmentalism, sustainability, responsibility, leadership, innovation and compassion, and CARA is among these groups,” explained ITPI President Atty. Jojo Leviste.

“We strongly believe that human technique is inseparable from nature and nature is our inspiration. Therefore, we aim to design and build properties and spaces where human development is in a balance with its environment,” said his partner, ITPI CEO and Executive Chairman, the Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati.

“That’s our corporate vision,” he said, adding, “Earlier versions, in fact, were more explicit, stating that we aim to design and build an environment where plants, animals, houses and cities will compose a natural habitat.”

“This is why we’ve tied up with CARA, a non-profit, non-government organization that relies solely on private donations,” the sustainability advocate and architect, who is also an animal advocate, said.

According to both Nati and Leviste, ITPI chose CARA Welfare as a partner because it was very efficient in the execution of its animal welfare work.

“Its activists even staged courageous animal rescues when needed,” Nati said, adding that because of this, all ITPI needed to do was help sponsor their events. ITPI also donates to CARA Welfare monthly.

So far, ITPI has sponsored the grand prizes of two CARA Welfare fundraisers last year, the Halloween Purr-ty held in October 31 and its Dog Tales held on November 30.

Both fundraising events included pet parades as well as contests, and the grand prizes of both events were two-night accommodations with breakfast, both for two, at the Primavera Residences, ITPI’s first eco-friendly property development in Cagayan de Oro City. For both events, the prize included free use of the pool.

Eco-friendly condominium

The first eco-friendly condominium complex in Mindanao, Primavera Residences isn’t only an elegant property with a beautiful Italian design, it also features the best principles of passive cooling technology: shadow and sunlight control, wind cooling and shape performance.

These features, combined with renewable energy that will be produced from solar panels found on the roof and walls of two 10-storey towers, will help reduce the overall energy consumption of its two towers— bringing long-term savings to its residents and making Primavera Residences even more desirable as an investment.

Located in uptown CdO’s masterplanned Pueblo de Oro Business & IT Park, where 24/7 security, power and transportation are guaranteed, the twin towers are accessible to virtually everything in CdO — schools, places of worship, airports, seaports, bus terminals — and even SM City CdO and other commercial establishments.

Primavera Residences can withstand strong typhoons and earthquakes because they were designed using state-of-the-art computer software to simulate how the structures would react to various strains and ground movement.

Halloween Purr-ty

Co-presented by the National Geographic Channel, CARA’s Halloween Purr-ty was one of the NGOs major fundraising events for the year.

The fun-filled event included a costume contest for pets, a pet parade, trick-or-treat, face painting, arts and crafts, and a photo booth.

“We were able to raise almost Php20,000 — and this went to CARA’s medical fund for the rescues, for our Spay/Neuter clinic, as well as our TNR Programs,” said Nancy Cu Unjieng, CARA President.

“While this isn’t a very big amount, it’s understandable in a developing country, beset by so many pressing problems where animal activism isn’t fully understood or appreciated yet,” Cu Unjieng said. “Which is why we’re grateful.

“But we hope our work will help make Philippine society one where there’s more compassion for animals,” she said. “When people are compassionate to animals, they also tend to be kind to their fellow humans and to nature,” she added.

Other sponsors of the Halloween fundraising were Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Dogs and the City, PetCentric, Doodles Paw Couture, Ovaltine, WhenInManila.com, Whole Pet Kitchen, J.Tan Art, Pinoy Dog Lover, Dog Fashionista and The Cookie Rack PH.

Dog Tales: the night of pastries, books, shoes, and dogs

At the Dog Tales, the other CARA Welfare fundraising event held on the night of November 30, the NGO was able to sell hundreds of books and magazines, as well as baked goods.

The event was held at the Mercato Centrale, the to-go place for foodies in BonifacioGlobalCity.

Aside from ITPI, other groups that sponsored Dog Tales were Mercato Centrale, the venue sponsor; Cooper and Morgan, shoe sale; Franz Lasam; and Joanie’s Cupcakes, The Cookie Rack PH, and Family Favorites Bakery for the pastries.

Media partners WheninManila and PinoyDogLover.com also helped market the event to the Filipino online community, which in return gave CARA’s booth a flock of visitors who made it to Taguig entirely for the Dog Tales event.

Guests were entertained by rescued animals. Aspin “Siopao” and his “mother” made guests happy, while guests were allowed to walk Chippy, Narra and Bobby or cuddle Twinkle, a lovable white aspin.

Event partner, the Brotherhood of United Filipino Magicians also entertained the audience with magic tricks.

“The success of this first Dog Tales event brought almost P34,000 to CARA’s funds, which would be of much help considering the volume of rescues and spay/neuter programs its volunteers partake in almost every day,” said Michelle Ciriacruz, long-time CARA Welfare volunteer and animal lover. “However, more help – financially or in kind – is still needed,” she said. Also ITPI’s Vice President for Corporate Communications and Branding, Ciriacruz has rescued and raised dozens of animals. Right now, she has a dozen rescued cats and many dogs.

Many ITPI officers and staff members are also animal lovers.#

(Written by: DM)

National Geographic Cites ITPI Officers as Among The ‘New Philippine Business Leaders’

Posted by Primavera Residences on January 29, 2014

Officers of the young and dynamic green property firm that is behind the development of Primavera Residences — the first eco-friendly, mixed-use condominium development in Mindanao — have been recently cited as the country’s “new business leaders” by National Geographic.

In an article published in the February 2014 issue of the legendary magazine, ITPI Corp. (Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation) was noted for leading the country’s push into sustainable architecture and property development.

The National Geographic cited ITPI for specializing in property development “with environmentally sound and affordable architectural design.” The official publication of the National Geographic Society, the National Geographic magazine has been published since 1888.

In the article, which featured two other upcoming property developers that are seen as movers in their own sectors, Primavera Residences was also noted for its being an award-winning property that has gained international recognition for its best-in-class passive cooling design and other sustainable architecture features.

“We design eco-friendly lifestyle solutions and incorporate them into energy-smart buildings and residential units for the middle-market,” the National Geographic quoted ITPI Executive Chairman and CEO Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati as saying. Together with his Filipino partner, Atty. Jojo Leviste, the Italian architect was noted by the magazine as someone who is “something of a visionary.”

According to National Geographic: “Primavera Residences’ design combines contemporary aesthetics with natural airflow through inner spaces…(Its) architectural elements (are) designed precisely for the location’s latitude, and the building’s surface (is) shaded from the sun throughout the year.”

“This design has been cited as one of Asia’s top 10 clean energy projects because of its capacity to help residents save as much as 32% on air-conditioning consumption,” the magazine also said.

National Geographic also said: “Leviste is particularly pleased that ITPI’s elegant design solutions have been compared to the architecture of the bahay kubo, the indigenous bamboo-and-thatch huts that predate Spanish colonisation.”

It quoted Leviste as maintaining that: “Eco-friendly buildings do not have to cost a lot and they don’t have to be high-tech.”

“We want to change the perception of green building from being expensive to being something regular people can afford,” National Geographic also quoted Arch. Nati as saying.

So far, Primavera Residences has already won two awards:

• The Most Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunities from the Climate Technology Initiative-Private Financing Advisory Networks (CTI-PFAN) in 2010, given at the Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing held in Makati.

CTI-PFAN is the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) initiated by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Expert Group on Technology Transfer. PFAN operates to bridge the gap between investments and clean energy businesses.

• One of the Best Condo Developments in the Philippines from the 2011 South East Asia Property Awards at a ceremony held at Singapore.#

Italpinas Eyes More Climate-Resilient Projects in Cagayan De Oro

Posted by Primavera Residences on January 28, 2014

By Michael Ray

‘We are ready to help Cagayan de Oro become a climate-resilient city’— Italpinas

Following the destruction brought by Tropical Depression Agaton in Cagayan de Oro, an emerging leader in the Philippine sustainable building sector re-emphasized its commitment to help the City of Golden Friendship become a more climate-resilient city.“When we first came to Cagayan de Oro in 2009, we were told that the city was outside the typhoon belt. But Tropical Storm Sendong came along, then Pablo and now Agaton. Clearly, the weather in the city is rapidly changing and it is incumbent upon us to adapt quickly to this new reality,” said Architect Romolo V. Nati, CEO and Executive Chairman of Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI), owners and developers of Primavera Residences, the city’s first climate resilient and eco-friendly building.As the developer of CDO’s first eco-friendly, mixed-use condominium complex, Arch. Nati emphasized ITPI’s commitment to share their expertise in green architecture and entrepreneurship that could help Cagayan de Oro adapt to climate change.“All indicators point to CdO as one of the cities that will lead the country’s growth in future decades, but we also know for sure that it is also a city that’s vulnerable to climate change,” said Atty. Jojo Leviste, Arch. the President of ITPI and Architect Nati’s partner. Leviste is also the President of Constellation Energy Corporation which is a sister firm of ITPI that focuses on renewable energy.“Cagayan de Oro ranks as the country’s most competitive city in 2013 and is also listed among the country’s fastest-growing city economies. Economists even predict that CdO will become the gateway, not only to Mindanao, but to the emerging markets of Southeast Asia. In fact, CdO has become a magnet for regional offices of multinational corporations, as well as many business process outsourcing companies,” Leviste noted.CDO vulnerable to climate changeAccording to Management of Climate Change Impacts, a study conducted last year by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Bank of the Philippines (BPI) Foundation Inc on 12 Philippine cities, Cagayan de Oro is one of the cities identified as vulnerable to the impact of climate change. However, Arch. Nati believes weather data tells only “half the story.”“To fully understand CdO’s vulnerability to climate change, it’s important to look at the city’s hydrology and topography as well,” Nati notes from the WWF-BPI Foundation study.

The study cites how the drainage systems of the Tagoloan and the Cagayan de Oro Rivers are swollen by rainfall coming from the high plateaus of Bukidnon which has an annual volume that is over 60% higher than that of the city itself.

Nati reiterated how Cagayan de Oro itself is a rapidly expanding urban center that is fast becoming a heat sink which enhances evaporation. This aggravates the build up of moisture in the hills above the city that triggers even more rain.

“In fact, a JICA study submitted to the National Water Resource Bureau estimates that from 2005 to 2025, Region X will show the highest levels of water available in the country.” JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is the independent governmental agency that coordinates the Japanese government’s official development assistance (ODA) to developing nations.

Even more than hits from typhoons, it is flash floods from extreme rainfall, flowing down the rivers and running off the slopes of upland Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon that Cagayan de Oro has to watch out for, highlights the WWF-BPI Foundation study.

ITPI committed to developing CDO’s climate-resiliency

“But while the problem is huge, it can be addressed — or at least we’d like to believe so,” said Atty. Leviste. “After all, we’re already invested in the city and we’re investing even more soon,” he added. “We’re in CdO to stay.”

ITPI plans new projects in the city after the success of Primavera Residences, the twin towers 10-storey condominium which incorporates world class passive cooling technologies such as shadow and sunlight control, wind cooling, and aerodynamics.

Last December, ITPI disclosed its intent to invest at least US$200 million worth of projects within the next six years in Cagayan de Oro, as well as other cities in the Philippines. This will be led by a larger mixed-use development in CdO. Architect Nati said ITPI is proud of the new project’s sustainable design which won the title as the “Most Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunity in the Philippines in 2013″ from CTI Private Financing Advisory Network (CTI-PFAN).

Since its inception in 2009, Italpinas has quickly taken the lead in creating unique and eco-friendly property developments in the country’s emerging cities. All of ITPI’s projects, from current to proposed feature sustainable architecture designs that are combined with on-site production of renewable energy.

“To prepare for a future defined by climate change, CdO has to manage its rapid urbanization to lessen the damage from climate change. One good way to do this is to strategically diffuse population concentrations by building in the less crowded areas of the city, then to put up efficient mass transit and freight transport systems to link these diffuse settlements. New climate-smart infrastructure is also a very important part of creating climate resilient settlements,” Nati said.

“For one, sea levels are expected to rise because of increasing temperatures. With the occasional storm surge, Cagayan de Oro has to retro-fit its seaports,” he said. Cagayan de Oro is blessed to have world-class international sea ports that is fast emerging hub in the South China Sea and one of the world’s busiest international sea-lanes.

“We’d like to think we’ve done our small part by developing Primavera Residences in an elevated area that’s virtually flood-free at 110 meters above sea level It’s also a much less population-dense area, so we don’t contribute to urban congestion and worsening the city as a heat sink. It’s also a much less population-dense area, so we don’t contribute to urban congestion and worsening the city as a heat sink.”

Natti also he cited how Primavera Residences was designed to lessen its overall energy consumption by around 20 percent through a passive green energy strategy that lessens its carbon footprint. It will use an active on-site energy generation from photovoltaic or solar cells which will soon be installed on the roofs of both towers. This will increase energy savings further.

Passive cooling techniques used at Primavera include an inner courtyard that combined with each units’ cross-ventilation layout, enhances natural airflow and optimizes natural light. This further lessens air-conditioning use and reduces the need for artificial lights.

The towers are also designed to have cantilevered edges that produce shadows that minimize direct sunlight moderating the temperature inside the units.

Here’s a link to the story.

Primavera Residences designer featured as ‘Innovator’ in 2013 Italian Language Week

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 16, 2013

The architect who designed the first eco-friendly, mixed-use condominium development in Mindanao spoke as an ‘Italian innovator’ last Thursday, Dec

12, at the 13^th edition of the Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo (Italian Language Week), the 13th global celebration of the annual cultural event first held in 2001

ITPI Corp (ItalPinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation) Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Romolo Valentino Nati shared his ‘eco-logic’ design principles with other Italian innovators and an audience of mostly young Filipino university students and aficionados of Italian language and culture

Launched with the aim of promoting Italian language and culture, each year’s edition of Italian Language Week is held simultaneously in many countries on December 10-13, revolving around a specific theme or particular aspect in the use of the Italian language

As this year’s theme was ‘Ricerca, Scoperta, Innovazione: L’Italia dei saperi or Research, Discovery, Innovation: Italy and Knowledge’, Architect Nati was chosen to present his company’s innovative approach to architecture, building and property development

Every year, Italian Language Week is organized by the Accademia della Crusca in collaboration with the Office for the Promotion and Cooperation in Cultural Affairs of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In the Philippines, the Embassy of Italy and the Department of European Languages of the University of the Philippines, Diliman organized the event

Nati pushes sustainable architecture

Nati spoke on “Eco-Friendly Buildings and Renewable Energy” at the one of the Italian Language Week’s events, a whole-day forum held Dec

12 at the Claro M

Recto Hall of the College of Arts and Letters in the UP Diliman campus

The Italian architect is the designer of Primavera Residences and his company, ITPI, developed this

ITPI a property development company formed in 2009 by Nati and his Filipino partner Atty

Jojo Leviste

A young developer, it invests most of its resources into its in-house research and design (R&D) department that looks into sustainable architecture

ITPI is also an affiliate of the renewable energy firm Constellation Energy Corp

(CEC)

Leviste is the President of CEC

A truly green and ‘disaster-proof’ architecture

Primavera Residences is a 10-storey, twin-tower, mixed-use development located in Cagayan de Oro’s plush Pueblo de Oro Business & IT Park

Its first tower, Tower A, just completed in the third quarter of last year, is almost fully sold-out

Tower B is also around 30 percent sold-out, even if its construction is also around 30 percent complete

Tower A of Primavera Residences has an inner courtyard and a cross-ventilation layout designed to enhance natural air flow and light

Shaded facades sift sunlight’s entry through windows, moderating the temperature inside units, slashing air-conditioning costs by up to a third

These features — coupled with its location (110 meters above sea level) — also functioned to make the condominium ‘typhoon resistant,’ helping it survive typhoon Sendong, which hit Cagayan de Oro in 2011

The location saved it from massive flooding at the height of Sendong, while the energy-saving features helped mitigate the impact of strong storm winds on the building

The structures have also been designed to withstand earthquakes of high intensities

Multi-awarded green property developments

Because of the eco-friendly features included in the design of its two towers, Primavera Residences has quickly gained the attention of both renowned real estate institutions as well as institutions involved in sustainable property development

Primavera Residences has won two awards:

(1) The Most Promising Clean Energy Investment Opportunities from the Climate Technology Initiative-Private Financing Advisory Networks (CTI-PFAN) in 2010, given at the Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing held in Makati

PFAN operates to bridge the gap between investments and clean energy businesses

(2) One of the Best Condo Developments in the Philippines from the 2011 South East Asia Property Awards at a ceremony held at Singapore

See the world through Italian language

At the forum, Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Roscigno declared that the Italian language is a good instrument to explore the world

“Italian is a language of music,” Roscigno said, also noting that it was important to devote resources to protect our heritage

“Without heritage, we are nothing,” he said

The ambassador also expressed sympathy over the destruction of churches in Bohol and urged all Filipinos to do what they can to help restore our heritage sites, despite the economic challenges faced by the nation

In past years, some of the other themes of the Italian Week were:

L’italiano e le arti della parola (Italian and the art of words)
L’italiano come lingua di poesia (Italian as a poetic language)
Il cibo e le feste nella lingua e cultura italiana (Food and feasts in the Italian language and culture)
La lingua italiana e il mare (The Italian language and the sea)
L’italiano in piazza (Italian in the square)
L’italiano tra scienza e tecnologia (Italian in science and technology)

Business accords signed at Batangas business forum

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 11, 2013

Three important business accords were signed at today’s Batangas City business and investment forum, which was organized by the local government and business sector of Batangas City with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

At the forum, dubbed “Let’s Talk Business: Invest in Batangas City,” memorandums of agreement (MOAs) were signed between Batangas City Mayor Eduardo B

Dimacuha and Philippine Azkals Dan Stephen Palami, Batangas State University Dr

Nora L

Magnaye and Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company Ms

Cecile R

Batalla, and Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora K

Terrado and Cities of Batangas, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro, represented by Batangas Mayor Eduardo B

Dimacuha, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E

Mabilog and Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar S

Moreno

The one-day event was held today, Dec

11, at the InterContinental Hotel Manila in Makati City

The signing of the MOAs indicated the success of the forum, which aimed to attract foreign and local investors to explore infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and industry and manufacturing investment opportunities in Batangas city

Shown in the photos are Batangas City Mayor Dimacuha, Batangas State University Dr

Magnaye, Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company’s Batalla, DTI Undersecretary Terrado, USAID’s Beck, Iloilo City Mayor Mabilog and CdO Mayor Moreno

Jose P

Leviste, PhD, ITPI’s non-executive chairman who was invited to attend the one-day business forum, brought with him to the forum the other ITPI officers Executive Chairman and CEO Architect Romolo V

Nati, President Atty

Jojo Leviste and Lorenz Ziller, Chairman of Multiplata Investment Group, an ITPI sales partner

Among Philippine cities, Batangas City is experiencing rapid growth due to improved employment and quality of life prospects, facilitated by excellent transportation networks, including an international port and accessible roads well-connected to nearby markets

Known as the industrial port city of the Calabarzon region, its average annual growth rate is 2

13 percent

ITPI officers to attend Batangas business forum

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 10, 2013

An officer of the Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI Corp

) and a Filipino entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the country’s likely but unsung equivalent of Andrew Carnegie was recently invited to the ‘limited-seats-only’ Batangas City investment forum

Jose P

Leviste, Jr

PhD, ITPI’s non-executive chairman was invited to attend the one-day business forum dubbed “Let’s Talk Business: Invest in Batangas City,” which will be held tomorrow, Dec

11 at the InterContinental Hotel Manila in Makati City

Aside from Dr

Leviste, other ITPI officers and partners will be attending the forum, including Executive Chairman and CEO Architect Romolo V

Nati, President Atty

Jojo Leviste and Lorenz Ziller, Chairman of Multiplata Investment Group, an ITPI sales partner

Organized by the local government and business sector of Batangas City with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the forum aims to attract foreign and local investors to explore infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, industry and manufacturing investment opportunities in the city

During the forum, Center for Research and Communication Director Dr

Bernardo M

Villegas will present “The Big Picture: Philippine Economic Performance and Growth Potentials of Batangas City

”

Batangas City — a growing trade hub

Known as the industrial port city of the Calabarzon region, Batangas City is one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the country with an average annual growth rate of 2

13 percent

Situated one-and-a-half hours south of Metro Manila, Batangas City’s competitive advantage also lies in its

Strategic location and an international port that provides fast and efficient cargo handling and passenger travel, making Batangas a major gateway to the country’s nautical highway

Easy access to Metro Manila and the Calabarzon region

Extensive industrial infrastructure that includes the country’s first power plants using natural gas

Pool of rich human resources, being the educational center in the province of Batangas

Solid commitment of local government and business groups to broad-based and inclusive economic growth

Historical and cultural attractions that include ancestral houses, religious landmarks, museums and festivals

Batangas is also classified as a regional agro-industrial center under the country’s Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016 and special economic zone under the Ecozone Act of 1995

It is a USAID partner city under the Cities Development Initiative (CDI) which aims to empower secondary cities as engines of growth

ITPI, Leviste

ITPI recently announced to the media plans to build a US$124

5 million, 120,000 sqm, mixed-use development eco-friendly development in Sto

Tomas, Batangas

Listed as one of the country’s most influential persons by BizNews Asia, Dr

Leviste hails from a prominent family in Batangas, was the former chairman and president and CEO of energy company Mirant Corporation and has served 18 years in government

ITPI hikes capitalization (published in the Business Mirror)

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 8, 2013

ITPI Corp (Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp.) plans to increase its authorized capital stock to as much as P500 million from P50 million as the “green” developer looks for investors.

“We are about to increase capitalization of the company from P50 million now to anywhere from P250 million to P500 million because we are planning to take in new investors. So, we will invite equity investors. Some could be in real-estate business while other investors could be in the energy sector, as well,” said Romolo V. Nati, ITPI executive chairman and chief executive officer.

If possible, the new investor could come in by the first quarter of 2014. At the moment, ITPI is in search for a financial advisor, Nati added. The company is also reportedly contemplating to offer shares to the public either late 2015 or early 2016.

Nati is confident that the company will succeed with all its plans, adding that “business has been quite good.”

“We started small and now we’d like to expand because we are appreciated by the market. We need new investors to help us develop new projects,” said the official.

ITPI plans to expand its business in Cagayan de Oro and has allotted between P60 million and P70 million for this purpose. “We will launch a new project there and we plan to start construction of more than 1,200 units—from six mid-rise buildings and a tower—in the second quarter of 2014. We will do it in phases. All our plans are ready,” Nati said.

ITPI is in partnership with Constellation Energy Corp. (CEC), which holds renewable-energy service contracts with the Department of Energy for several geothermal, wind and hydroelectric projects all over the country. The ITPI-CEC tie-up has since expanded from green energy to green architecture.

All of ITPI’s property development projects feature sustainable designs and architecture. Its first project, the Primavera Residences, is a mixed-use eco-friendly condominium development in Cagayan de Oro City that incorporates many sustainability features. Its design features passive cooling techniques and it will be equipped with a photovoltaic or solar panel rooftop that produces enough electricity to power its common areas.

Tower A of Primavera Residences has an inner courtyard and a cross-ventilation layout designed to enhance natural air flow and light. Shaded facades sift sunlight’s entry through windows, moderating the temperature inside units, slashing air-conditioning costs by up to a third.

These features, coupled with its location—about 110 meters above sea level—also functioned to make the condominium typhoon-resistant, even helping it survive Typhoon Sendong, which hit Cagayan de Oro in 2011. The location saved it from massive flooding, while the energy-saving features helped mitigate the impact of the strong winds on the building. The structures have also been designed to withstand earthquakes even at high intensities.

Published Dec. 8, 2013 in the Business Mirror

Written by Lenie Lectura

Green building should be the new reality, says green building expert ITPI at Clark Green City launch

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 8, 2013

Climate change is real. This is why architects and real estate developers have no choice but to begin planning and creating developments that consider this new reality.

This is according to an Italian architect and expert on green building and sustainable architecture who spoke at the launch of the upcoming Clark Green City. Carved from 36,000 hectares of the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Central Luzon, Clark Green City will be the country’s first smart and green city.

“Architects and property developers have a grave responsibility whether or not they fully appreciate it,” said Architect Romolo V. Nati, Executive Chairman and CEO of ITALPINAS Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation (ITPI), a real estate company that specializes in the design and development of sustainable buildings.

“Whether or not we are conscious of it, our work determines how people and communities will be placed in relationship to one another, how whole societies will eat, sleep, work, play, worship or travel,” he noted.

“In short, the homes, buildings and cities we create determine how people live in consonance — or in dissonance — with nature,” he added.

But today, real estate has a significant carbon footprint and property developments contribute substantially to global warming, Nati noted, maintaining that: “With the grave threat to the planet posed by climate change, we have no choice but to begin building habitats that are in harmony with nature.”

Summit to launch Clark Green City

The green architect shared some green building tips from his long practice of sustainable architecture and green building at The Inaugural Philippine Smart and Green City Summit held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on December 5 to bring together property developers and urban planners, engineers, economic and management consultants, bankers, financiers and investors.

The summit launched Clark Green City, the new metropolis and investment hub, the brainchild of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

The city’s master development plan was recently approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and endorsed for final approval of President Simeon B. Aquino. Approval is expected next week, said Rolando P. Gosiengfiao, chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Once the president approves the master plan, the BCDA will begin phase 1 of the project’s development, which is expected to cost PhP59 billion through the Public-Private Partnership scheme.

The summit, held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza with the theme “Thinking Ahead, Building Together,” aimed to:

Provide a venue for the cross-fertilization of ideas on smart cities and green technologies from the diverse experts
Build support for the Clark Green City as a key development project
Showcase the green building methods and state-of-the-art IT infrastructure used in the Clark Green City that make it an ideal platform for mixed-use developments
Generate investment opportunities

The ITPI executive says he is happy to contribute to the rise of the country’s first smart and green city.

“We take our responsibility as a property developer seriously and even hope we can contribute our ideas – not just to the summit — but to the actual rise of the Clark Green City itself – as well as other green cities in the Philippines,” he says.

Apart from Nati, the other experts who presented during the summit were Architect Felino A. Palafox, founding and managing partner of the Palafox Associates, Chan Eng Kiat of DNV KEMA Clean Technology Center, Michael Russel of KGL Investment Company Asia, Cyndy Tan Jarabata of Tajara Leisure and Hospitality Group, Jan Custodio of CBRE, Mark Williams of KGL Investment Company Asia, Hung Song of CENTIOS (A KT and Cisco Collaboration), Jae-Hung Yu of Cisco Systems Management B.V., Antony Sprigg, Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, Hans Shrader of the International Finance Corporation, Antonio Ver of the H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd) Corporation, Architect Engell Franz Fagaragan of the BERDE Green Building Rating System and Michael Russel of the KGL Investment Company Asia.

Eco-logic design and development

In 2009, Nati formed ITPI in partnership with Filipino lawyer Jojo Leviste. All of ITPI’s architectural design and property developments are created “eco-logically” or with an eco-logic behind their planning, design and implementation.

Its Primavera Residences, for instance, is a mixed-use eco-friendly condominium development in Cagayan de Oro City that incorporates many eco-friendly features such as passive cooling techniques and a photovoltaic or solar panel rooftop that produces enough electricity to power its common areas.

Tower 1 of Primavera Residences has an inner courtyard and a cross-ventilation layout designed to enhance natural air flow and light. Shaded facades sift sunlight’s entry through windows, moderating temperature inside units, slashing air-conditioning costs by about a third.

These features also functioned to mitigate the effects of typhoon Sendong in 2011.

Despite being a young developer, ITPI invests most of its resources in its in-house research and design (R&D) department that looks into sustainable architecture. ITPI is also an affiliate of the renewable energy firm Constellation Energy Corp.

A version of this story was published in the Business Mirror:

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/regions/23868-italian-architect-pushes-green-architecture-in-phl

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Multi-awarded Italian architect offers to draft rehab master plan for typhoon-hit areas

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 2, 2013

MANILA – An Italian architect with an interest in green energy and sustainable architecture is offering to help draft the master plan to rebuild Leyte and other parts of Eastern Visayas hardest hit by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

Architect Romolo V. Nati, executive chairman and chief executive officer of ITPI (Italpina Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp.) said he is willing to work with local engineers in affected areas to build storm-resistant urban centers.

“I feel very sad for the Filipinos in Tacloban and Leyte who have to deal with the death and destruction brought by Yolanda, and I would like to help them get back on their feet,” said Nati, who has made the Philippines his adoptive home for four years now.

The Italian head of ITPI has partnered with Constellation Energy Corp (CEC),which has expanded its business from green energy to the design and development of sustainable buildings.

CEC has contracts with the Department of Energy (DOE) for several geothermal, wind and hydroelectric projects.

“Even as we grieve, we can move forward,” said Nati. “Now we have a chance to develop the master plans of the new cities and towns—sustainable plans that take into account the need to survive typhoons and build sustainable habitats.”

“It is possible to create master plans of cities and towns that have a much better chance of withstanding super storms and other extreme weather conditions that the world expects as a consequence of climate change,” he said.

Some features of sustainable habitats include proper zoning or concentrating living spaces in higher areas, in places 50 to 100 meters above sea level, and building dikes and storm walls, as well as drainage channels to facilitate the flow of storm waters into the sea.

“For buildings, we can also adopt what I call the ‘Aikido strategy,’ that includes adopting features that minimize the opposition of strong winds and storm waters,” Nati said. Aikido is a Japanese martial art in which practitioners don’t oppose their attackers head on but instead flow with the motion of the attacker to redirect the force of the attack.

Among these features are perforated facades and inner courtyards, both of which minimize the opposition of buildings to storm surges and strong winds brought by typhoons.

“Buildings can also be designed to withstand extreme conditions by adopting hydrodynamic and aerodynamic shapes,” Nati said.

“Of course building structures that are elevated from the ground will also help protect the building from flash floods during storms,” he said.

“For settlements along coastal areas, erecting buildings with all their load-bearing walls positioned perpendicular—and not in opposition—to the sea can help withstand tsunamis. Open room-to-room designs that minimize obstruction in the event of overpowering flow of water can also help,” he said.

Nati said these storm-resistant features have been incorporated in Tower 1 of the Primavera Residences, ITPI’s mixed-use condominium complex in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City, and helped it survive the deadly typhoon Sendong that flattened many buildings in CDO and in nearby Iligan City in December 2011.

Nati’s work has been recognized by many organizations around the world and has won him many international competitions, including the 2011 Design Against the Elements (DAtE) International Design Competition sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the Climate Change Commission, and the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) with other institutions.

His “Coral City Concept” bested 200 entries from 50 countries and bagged the Special Energy Award.

He graduated summa cum laude in architecture from the La Sapienza University in Rome and has a Masters in Urban Landscape and Layers from the University of Tallin in Estonia.

Published by Interaksyon.com

Italian wants to rebuild East Visayas with green technology

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 2, 2013

AN Italian architect with an interest in green energy and sustainable architecture wants to craft master plans to rebuild Leyte and other parts of Eastern Visayas that were hardest hit by Supertyphoon Yolanda

Arch

Romolo V

Nati, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp

(ITPI), is willing to work with local engineers in affected areas to build storm-resistant urban centers

The Italian head of ITPI has partnered with Constellation Energy Corp

, (CEC)which has expanded its business from green energy to the design and development of sustainable buildings

CEC has contracts with the Department of Energy for several geothermal, wind and hydroelectric projects

The plan includes proper zoning or concentrating living spaces in higher areas, in places 50 meters to 100 meters above sea level

On civil works component, he stressed the importance to build dikes and storm walls, as well as drainage channels to facilitate the flow of storm waters into the sea

“For buildings, we can also adopt what I call the ‘Aikido strategy,’ that includes adopting features that minimize the opposition of strong winds and storm waters,” Nati said

Aikido is a Japanese martial art in which practitioners don’t oppose their attackers head on but instead flow with the motion of the attacker to redirect the force of the attack

Among these features are perforated facades and inner courtyards, both of which minimize the opposition of buildings to storm surges and strong winds brought by typhoons

“Buildings can also be designed to withstand extreme conditions by adopting hydrodynamic and aerodynamic shapes,” he said

“Of course, building structures that are elevated from the ground will also help protect the building from flash floods during storms

”

For settlements along coastal areas, Nati said erecting buildings with all their load-bearing walls positioned perpendicular to the sea can help withstand tsunamis

“Open room-to-room designs that minimize obstruction in the event of overpowering flow of water can also help,” Nati said

These design features will ensure that while strong surges may damage the building its superstructure, at least, will survive to be restored and reused

Nati said these storm-resistant features have been incorporated in Tower 1 of the Primavera Residences, ITPI’s mixed-use condominium complex in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City, and helped it survive the deadly Typhoon Sendong that flattened many buildings in CDO and in nearby Iligan City in December 2011

Published in the Business Mirror Dec

1, 2013

http://www

businessmirror

com

ph/index

php/en/news/regions/23659-italian-wants-to-rebuild-east-visayas-with-green-technology

Tag: ITPI

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