Concentricity And synchronicity At The Hudson at The Fort

MANILA, Philippines - Art is the right hand of Nature. The latter has only given us being, the former has made us men,” said the 18th century German poet and philosopher Friedrich Von Schiller. Following the same logic, empty houses are shells, solely shelters for the physical self. To differentiate a house from a home, one ideal is that the latter becomes a complete haven for reflection and relaxation. As sanctuaries for recharging and revitalization, homes are places where individuals can regain the inspiration and energy to resolve whatever challenges are thrown to them each day.

One start s with distinctive architecture, excellent engineering, luxurious amenities and ecologically attentive design. But these catch phrases are now so frequently used that that they have become almost too banal, and potential home buyers are unmoved.

With so many developments being built and similar adjectives being used to describe these, the come-ons can admittedly become a bit confusing if not downright boring. However, one means of separating the grain from the chaff, so to speak, when scouting for a new home, is to find out more about the people behind each project. The STAR sat down with Camille Villar, chief operating officer of Brittany, a subsidiary of Vista Land, and Philip Lim, president of Grand Sequoia Estate Development, to know more about their collaboration for a project called The Hudson at The Fort. Happily, we realized that the motivation for creating distinctive homes transcends the usual physical considerations.

World-Class Standards

“We’ve traveled a lot and seen the best of what the world has to offer. We’re hoping to bring the same standards and experience to the Philippines,” says Camille. The Hudson is a 30-storey development that will feature modern architecture. Incorporating the latest in environmental and energy-efficient designs, spacious units will take full advantage of possibilities for natural lighting and ventilation.

“One basic idea of sustainability when it comes to building design is that homeowners need not be burdened by excessive maintenance costs,” explains Lim. “We also want to be able to contribute something different from the usual in terms of aesthetics because there is that recognition that our (target market) segment is highly knowledgeable and well-exposed to the finer things in life. Understandably, this makes them even more discerning and discriminating.” Thus, extra efforts have been taken to up the ante, and at the same time, consciously preserve the development’s green space. In view of this, landscape podium desks have been incorporated in the design. The expertise of well-regarded firm Recio & Casas Architect and Atelier Almario stand in good stead towards making The Hudson’s excellent design ideas come to play.

A Place to Work, Play and Live

The Hudson at The Fort is a mixed-use development that will include residential, office and retail units. The property will have a secured access gate that will lead to a roundabout point. Separate entrances for the residential lobby, office lobby and retail arcade have been designated so that there will be an organized flow for incoming residents, guestsand tenants.

Designated office units will occupy the 7^th and 8th floors, while the 6th level will house the amenities. These include 25-meter lap pool, function rooms, a fitness and wellness gym, interactive game room, outdoor children’s play area and an al fresco function area with bar. Residential units will occupy the 9th floor and upward.

“I’d like to believe that The Hudson’s has everything I’d like in a home,” says Camille.

“We want to create spaces where there will be a balance between work, life and play. We are not content with ‘just enough.’ We want to exceed expectations.” The ethic of conscientiously doing one’s best and taking on more difficult challenges is also one that Camille applies to her personal life as the youngest daughter in a family of achievers. “One of our core beliefs in Vista Land is that the welfare of our homeowners is paramount. We want our homes to be good investments in all the market segments that we serve.” With The Hudson, the challenge, certainly, is to exceed expectations of the usual standards of luxury.

Making a Difference

But in a milieu where developers try to outdo each other to build high-end spaces, what would differentiate The Hudson at The Fort from, the rest? How does it contribute to the area’s sense of place? For indeed, the architect and academician Kim Dovey in his widely read books, such as Becoming Places, has made us aware that new structures need to contribute to the improvement of existing ecological systems to be truly relevant. Where, then, does The Hudson fit in?

Philip Lim suggests an interesting concept of “concentricity” with an equation: Family = sustainability = efficiency. He explains, “My family gives me drive and my ideas on sustainability are closely linked with family.” He is convinced that intelligent and sustainable design means more than just addressing issues pertaining to the environment. More importantly, it can free up time that can be spent for more meaningful, creative, even soulful pursuits.

“Proximity from home to the workplace translates to efficiency,” Philip expounds. “In turn, efficiency means that more time can be spent with one’s loved ones.” He believes that a stable and happy family life can, in essence, contribute to productivity and sustainability because without worries at home, one can concentrate better on his business, recognize new opportunities and look out for the welfare of employees better. It is all about synchronization. The paradigm reminds us of the German philosopher Hegel’s idea of the “concrete universal,” this time applied to architecture, project development and life in general to achieve the goal of “organismic wholeness.” While we found out earlier that Philip was a fitness buff and “fix-it guy” who is in the process of fashioning a hand made guitar, it is quite impressive that he seems to have read the work of the philosophers, too.

What else is there about The Hudson that will make living there special? “You have an assured view,” states Lim. True, the development’s top-notch location has views of the greenery of the Manila Golf and Country Club and Manila Polo Club, among others. But perhaps, for the business leaders, trendsetters, opinion and policy makers and other important people who will be occupying The Hudson at The Fort, that “assured view” covers the intangibles that will bring our country closer to progress, too.

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For more information about The Hudson, call 584-1182 and 0917-9527767, or visit www. brittany.com.ph/thehudson.php