Making room for firsts in vertical living

CEBU, Philippines - As homegrown developer Innoland Development Corporation marks the start of construction with the groundbreaking of its second project  the Calyx Residences, its track record for consistently delivering on schedule and raising the bar for green living in the city is again pushed to the fore.

Calyx Residences, seen to rise at the Cebu Business Park, carried out a groundbreaking ceremony last September 6.

“True to Innoland’s promise to build eco-friendly structures in prime locations, the Calyx Residences will rise at the residential enclave of the Cebu Business Park, within the heart of the commercial and business district of uptown Cebu,” an official statement read.

“This new project offers a number of firsts for vertical living: Architect Rex Ocampo of Aidea Philippines, the only Filipino firm ranked in World Architecture Magazine’s Top 100 List, heralds the very first full-sized swimming pool on the roof deck of Calyx Residences, right on top of the 28th floor.

“Adhering to Innoland’s corporate DNA, the pool utilizes an eco-friendly ionizing process to purify the water, keeping it completely chemical-free, thus healthier for the skin,” this was also learned.

In addition to this and the breathtaking view of the city, it also features an adjacent Sky Lounge, another first of its kind equipped with a gourmet kitchen and dining area that may be booked for private parties with its own service staff. Calyx Residences will also be the first residential structure of its kind to offer a 36- to 48-sq.-meter garden for their luxurious Lanai Garden Suites, in keeping with the tenets of green that have become a built-in convenience for every development Innoland undertakes.

Further, Innoland accentuated that “many of the standard eco-responsible features from its first project, Calyx Centre (at the Asiatown IT Park, topping off at the end of the year), have been carried over to Calyx Residences: low-flow dual flush water closets, operable windows, naturally ventilated corridors and parking areas, and ledges that act as sun buffers.”

A maverick company, Innoland pushes the design envelope further. “We’ve moved the kitchen to the far end of the room, next to the windows,” explains space designer Tina Periquet of Periquet and Galicia. This allows for natural ventilation, minimizing the need for exhaust features. This unprecedented move has revolutionized the design even for the smallest of their spaces, and has allowed a free movement into the premium living space without passing through the utilities.

The value propositions that Innoland champions do resonate with the infamously discriminating Cebuano market: at the launch of Calyx Residences in June 24 in well-attended ceremonies at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Grand Ballroom, 103 units were sold on the spot. Since that time, a total of 149 units were sold in just two months. Turnover for Calyx Residences will be 36 months after the start of construction, with all 238 units of the 28-storey green building adhering to Innoland’s core philosophy of offering the best value without compromising the essentials, at a price buyers can afford.

Calyx which is all about “air, light, space, function and beauty – in sync with nature” is inspired by the outer whorl of green leaves that cradle the flower. Calyx answers the need for residential options that support the environment. Like the perfect spiral chambers of the nautilus, many of the design elements of the condominium are driven by a strong purpose to define a secure and balanced lifestyle for its residents. (FREEMAN)