Ready to move into a Conrad Onglao house?

MANILA, Philippines – At approximately 255 meters above sea level, The Crestwood sits on one of the highest points of Ayala Westgrove Heights, Ayala Land Premier’s 400-hectare residential community development set amid mature fruit-bearing mango groves in Silang, Cavite. Here you get a vantage view of the surrounding lush green rolling terrain, and in the distance Laguna de Bay and Mt. Makiling.

“I was inspired by the view,” says noted architect and interior designer Conrad Onglao, who designed the signature houses at The Crestwood, the 12th phase of Ayala Westgrove Heights and the first to offer the house-and-lot package.

Buyers can choose from two basic lot types and three home designs. The Parkside lots offer residents direct access to The Crestwood Park so that their backyards seem to extend to the 8,000 square-meter open space at the heart of the phase, naturally landscaped and designed for socialization and recreation. The Prime lots, which are farther away from the main amenity area, allow more privacy and seclusion. “All the lots are spacious enough to fit any of the three home designs specially commissioned exclusively for The Crestwood,” says Jose Juan Jugo, senior division manager and head of land and houses.

The designs follow Ayala Westgrove Heights ’ Mediterranean theme, but with a fresh, modern twist. Known for his “east meets west” design aesthetic, Onglao “redefines how home life flows” in his latest collaboration with Ayala Land Premier. His designs “maximize natural light and ventilation through efficient space planning and large windows.”

“The windows are designed so that even when you’re lying in bed, you can appreciate the view,” he explains.  

The double-volume living room, with its towering ceiling, heightens the sense of airiness and spaciousness. The tempered clear glass panels on one wall of the living room swivels and opens to the garden outside. The movement flows seamlessly, from the vestibule to the living room to the dining room, which shares the same tall ceiling.  

At the “back of the house,” as Onglao calls it, the main kitchen as well as the service kitchen (an additional feature in two of the models) or “dirty kitchen,” as it’s commonly called, feature granite countertops and laminated veneer cabinets. There’s a maid’s room as well as a utility area at the back. There’s also provision for a two- to four-car garage.

Homogenous tile flooring was used for the ground floor areas, while engineered oak-wood strips were used for the dark walnut-colored flooring for the second-floor areas.  The master bedroom features a spacious walk-in closet.

Attention to detail is seen in the moldings and cove lighting in the bedrooms. Each of the bedrooms has its own toilet and bath featuring travertine granite countertops and a rain shower.

Rather than a hallway, there’s a common area that overlooks the living and dining rooms below. What looks like a closet door opens to reveal cabinet boxes of ascending height that also serve as steps leading to the attic for additional storage space. An added feature in the Laurel model is the balcony, which opens to a great view, while the Olive model features a covered lanai for parties or simply additional space for entertaining and recreation.

“We also offer upgrade options,” says Tom Mirasol, assistant vice president and head of sales and marketing. “Additional natural elements can be installed on the house façade to provide a more unique aesthetic, such as S-cut wood planks with Sadolin finish for the porch areas and roof eaves; wood-cladded steel trellis with tempered glass for the carport; two-tone stucco-textured paint for the exterior wall; and natural stone cladding for the accent wall.”

The two-tone paint as well as the earth-brown concrete roof tiles best suggest the development’s Mediterranean theme. Natural stone flooring was also used for the carport, while homogeneous tiles were used for the entry porch and drying yard. The property appears even bigger with just the natural landscaping rather than tall fences separating the lots. With the meticulously planned houses at The Crestwood, “space is redefined to provide you with more room, both uncluttered and bright,” Jugo remarked.

“I always start with a focal point, a point of interest, when I work on my design,” Onglao relates. “I go for balance and uniformity. Vertical and horizontal lines, for example, like door heights, are aligned. I imagine how the space will be used. I put myself in the place of the owners, their lifestyle. It’s a relationship, where compatibility and rapport with the client is important. It’s like a marriage. You’ll be working closely with them for an extended period of time, so you’d better be comfortable with each other.”   

“The big advantage of our signature house-and-lot package is that you can enjoy the thrill of choosing to occupy yourself with the engaging details without the hassle of dealing with a contractor, getting permits and all the other headaches that normally accompany building a house,” Mirasol remarked. “We will take care of that for you. Easy payment schemes are also available with BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands). Houses will be delivered 18 months after the account is considered booked. All you need to do is move in.”

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For inquiries, call 848-5000, e-mail ask@ayalalandpremier.com or visit www.ayalalandpremier.com. Model houses are available for viewing on site.