It's a lovely Christmas at Greenbelt

There’s more reason to celebrate this Christmas with the completion of the Greenbelt. Back in 2002, when Greenbelt 2 first opened, we knew that this would be a special place. We had never seen such design for a local mall before. Then Greenbelt 3 opened with its al fresco restaurants and stores — its shape and orientation facing the park and lagoon, giving families a chance to enjoy the outdoors while indulging in retail therapy. Greenbelt 4 followed, satisfying all our cravings for luxury brands.

Last year, Greenbelt 5 opened its phase one, offering more options. With the launching of phase two, the 12-hectare Greenbelt lifestyle center is now complete. Basement parking from Greenbelt 2 to 5 is connected, and so are the structures.

“We’ve been receiving very good feedback about the connectivity,” says Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Malls Group vice president. “Greenbelt is no longer seen as several separate buildings because you can walk from place to the next. Now it really is an entire lifestyle center with the park and chapel in the middle.”

AC Legarda-Ocampo, Greenbelt Center manager, says, “We entertain members of the International Council for Shopping Centers, especially the ones from Asia. We take them around Greenbelt and they’re so in love with the landscaping and impressed with the way we come up with new ideas. As you know, most of the restaurants are developed with the merchants and we ask them to offer something new and unique for Greenbelt.”

Rowena adds that there are now almost 500 retail stores and restaurants in Greenbelt. “Now the retail offering is complete,” she says.

Phase two of Greenbelt 5 is made up of mid-range and favorite brands. “When we opened Greenbelt 2, the target market was 30 and above, people with disposable income,” says AC. “With Greenbelt 5 we’re now serving the total market at all stages of their lives, from teens to empty nesters.”

Christmas at Greenbelt is always a nice time. The signature poinsettias are back by the escalators, cutout snowflakes and stars adorn the corridors, and then there are the shows. Christmas Broadway Opera concerts are happening at the Greenbelt 3 Park at 7 p.m. on all Saturdays and Sundays of December. Sounds of Christmas will be held at the Greenbelt 3 Lobby at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19 and at The Gallery of Greenbelt 5 at 6 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21. Greenbelt is also giving away Christmas boxes for a minimum purchase of P2,000 from any Greenbelt establishment for the whole month of December.

Rowena says, “We’re always trying to come up with events and activities that are impactful with our customers.”

One thing Greenbelt has done is to elevate the design of the malls. Its stunning architecture makes it different — that much was obvious from day one. Ayala Malls has Callison Architects as design consultants, and GF & Partners and Andy Locsin of LVLP as architects.

Locsin also did the interiors of the building. “The primary direction for the treatment of exterior elements and surfaces was a process of distillation and abstraction. Rather than the usual literal adoption of very familiar local forms and materials, LVLP sought to examine the material, break it down to the essence of its design, and abstract it in some mannered way as a means to arriving at some emergent language that could inform major features on the building exterior. The source of inspiration on the Greenbelt 5 project was derived from the rich tradition of Philippine weaving.”

Take note of the metal screen/grillwork on the upper elevation of the facade facing the park. Locsin says this is a takeoff from the T’nalak fabric woven from abaca by the T’boli in South Cotabato. “The pattern was interpreted and simplified in metal flatwork, essentially preserving the proportional relationships of the figure. In this case, however, the pattern is rendered in black, reversing the usual figure-ground relationship of light and dark found on the original fabric.”

For the external walls, “the designers digitized images of weaving from the Northern Mountain Province and took microscopic views of the thread patterns. The views were then proportionally stretched, manipulated, super-sized and distilled into the geometric abstract that constitutes the built-up pattern evident on the walls — treated and rendered in color and texture intended to be reminiscent of light sand from a Philippine coral beach.”

With the landscaping by Ponce Verediano, it’s a joy to walk the open corridors of Greenbelt 5, made more dramatic by the reflecting pools and koi ponds.

For the interiors, Locsin took inspiration from the fact that the Filipino Zone was designated to showcase local talents.

“Within this zone, LVLP continued the process of the distillation and abstraction of local elements, carefully chosen and applied with restraint, avoiding the literal in favor of the essential. A weave pattern commonly found in local bamboo crafts was applied to divider panels between shop fronts and on the well railings, albeit super-sized, stained, and executed in economical wood veneer. Wide wooden accents on the ceiling mirror the lines of the well handrails in recognition of the Filipino preference for the warmth and familiarity of wood. 

“Along the galleries, the designers play up the strength of the curve by laying down a contrasting field of imperial brown granite in a polished and honed pattern based on the geometry of a woven banig, most often seen in buri palm handicrafts and mats.

For The Gallery on the second floor of Greenbelt 5, Locsin designed the steps so that the audience occupies the floor level and the performance is held on the steps. “When not actively in use, the space becomes a perfect setting for art or retail exhibitions, a place to rest one’s tired legs and view the park beyond, a meeting point, or a platform for a solitary grand piano.”

For the holidays, 12 fresh Christmas trees designed by the Filipino Zone designers fill up the space with its dramatic ceiling becoming part of the tableaux.

Along the galleries are furniture pieces by LVLP, Kenneth Cobonpue and Anne Pamintuan.

“Finally, a great deal of thought was put into the lighting of Greenbelt 5, in full recognition of the principle that light creates the atmosphere through which form, space, and language is experienced and articulated. LVLP worked closely with PL Lights as the local lighting consultant to establish illumination levels and operating efficiencies,” Locsin says. “Fixtures that are reminiscent of fireflies and abstractions of the complex silver filigree work of our local silversmiths mark the entry lobbies of the mall. The hanging vertical stalactite-like fixtures serve to tie the central wells together and act as visual counterpoints to the generally horizontal character of the galleries. And the directional fixtures over The Gallery aptly allow flexibility and light to be directed where needed through the clever use of special non-glare mirrors.”

Walking around, you’ll see Greenbelt 5 and the buildings glittering against the night sky — like jewels. And then you realize, all this was created by Filipinos — and you suddenly feel good about being there.