A certain shade of green

MANILA, Philippines - Sustainability starts at home.

As the green movement further intensifies around the world, real estate developer Ayala Land advances this impetus by encouraging and supporting various sustainability efforts around the country.

Through Nuvali — an innovative 1,750-hectare mixed-use community in Laguna, Ayala Land aims to establish an environmentally, economically and socially healthy, thriving community of the future.  Just three years after Nuvali was launched, one of the newest additions to Nuvali is Ayala Land Premier’s Santierra — a private, and exclusive, high-end residential subdivision. Unique to Santierra is how it has been developed to fuse the elements of sustainability into the community through a functional and aesthetic integration of well-thought and responsible design elements.

“Santierra was planned towards enhancing the natural environment, encouraging residents to go out and enjoy its distinct views, tree-canopied streets, and various outdoor amenities,” says Mayi Platero Rodriguez, project development manager of Santierra.

Its sustainable features include establishing natural and recreational park areas which use endemic tree and plant species.  This simple move means less water consumption and fertilizer use –a benefit which is both healthier and costs less for its residents to maintain. The natural flora  grows better and creates a cooler, fresher climate due to the added shade. Interestingly, it also provides a better ecosystem for the local birds and other wildlife.  This also supports a healthier environment because a thriving bird population keeps unwanted insects in check in addition to creating a pleasant, cheerful ambiance.

The community is also designed to use a dual piping water system.  The investment in the system is much higher than using traditional piping, but the benefit is that Santierra’s residents will have a much more sustainable water supply because a lot of water can be efficiently recycled for watering lawns and other uses which do not require potable water. Santierra also uses porous pavers, which directs rainwater back into the natural aquifers, recharging them more effectively.

In this development, about 30% of the land area is set aside for parks and open spaces – which are used to create the perfect backdrop for small groups of clustered neighborhoods. To give you a sense of its scale, Santierra’s impressive park circuit is the largest contiguous park system among existing Ayala Land Premier developments, stretching more than five kilometers. Suburban living is made relaxing with roads and paths bordered by trees, providing the perfect transition between future urban boundaries of Nuvali and exclusive private residences. Landscape elements are a distinct feature of Santierra, as the different blooming seasons of the trees offer scenic vistas throughout the year.