According to the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, “One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” As an architect, I am deeply interested in how design can espouse the dynamic between man and nature through biophilia, which means, love of nature. Biophilia is also an approach to design that integrates nature into building spaces, contributing to the health and well-being of residents.  In my company Italpinas Development Corp (IDC), we have always emphasized architectural design as an important vehicle for sustainability and green living.  In addition to these tenets, we are also inspired by biophilia in our projects. Natural light, natural vegetation This includes emphasis on natural light and natural ventilation in and around the units. Natural vegetation has a profound effect on wellbeing, as it taps into the close relationship between human beings and natural elements such as trees, flowers, rivers and fauna. Furthermore, the presence of green spaces, even compact ones, helps us in mitigating the impact of climate change, in addition to providing a tranquil environment.  Artistic Rendering of PRIMAVERA CITY in Cagayan de Oro Green spaces Horizontal developments, like residential villages, should include green spaces and trees in their masterplanning. Trees produce oxygen that is vital to our health. In all contexts, whether urban, suburban, or rural, trees provide shade without compromising ventilation, which guards against the heat of the sun. Artistic Rendering of MIRAMONTI GREEN RESIDENCES (Phase 1) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas Healthy environment IDC emphasizes the importance of creating a pleasant, relaxing, and healthy environment for owners and end-users. As an advocate of not only green architecture, but also health and wellbeing, we look forward to continuing integration of biophilia in our work.  There is no substitute to the thoughtful and diligent work of professional designers, in order to deliver innovative and high-performing architecture without increasing costs, so that buyers gain not only a world-class product, but also value for money. Investing in design At the end of the day, buyers of real estate should see themselves as investing in design, not just location and physical structures.  Design is a permanent statement about ideals for the future, including the choice for better lifestyles, more comfort, and lighter environmental impact. As an architect, it is a great satisfaction to me when our work protects not only the environment, but the wellbeing of individual buyers and end-users as well. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati) and on X (@romolonati).

The month of March is exciting for me because I have been given the opportunity to talk about sustainable architecture practices and their adaptability to Philippine conditions. Yesterday March 9, I had the privilege of speaking at the 2023 “Italian Design Day” at the Home Studio in San Juan City, an event organized by the Italian Embassy in the Philippines. Today, March 10, I will be present at the event organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines at SMX with the title “Italy by Design.” I am quite enthusiastic to discuss and share sustainability and design in the Philippines. My topic is quite timely as I will be focusing on the importance of protecting the environment while developing real estate, through design.   Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC), the company I established with my partner Jojo Leviste, is championing passive GREEN design. IDC’s Verona Green Apartments in Cagayan de Oro utilizes passive design for a sustainable future  By introducing passive GREEN design in architecture,  we are giving users the opportunity to be closer to natural elements through open spaces, gardens and parks, making living more pleasant both for the body and the mind.  Primavera, Primavera City, Verona, and Miramonti are successful examples of sustainable developments in the country that are using passive green design strategies. To elucidate, IDC has won several awards for its unique environment-friendly and high-quality projects. All IDC projects have been awarded, in different years as “Best Mix Used Condos in the Philippines” at the “Southeast Asia Property Award” and they are all rated GREEN by “EDGE” (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency), the green rating system developed by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), which is part of the World Bank group of companies.  In September 2022, IDC was cited by the Bank of the Philippine Islands as BPI’s Top Developer in Local Category placing in the Top 8 nationwide under its provincial category on its recent BPI Mid Year Appreciation Night 2022.  Also this year, as in just yesterday, IDC got another award from BPI at The Metropolitan Theater as one of their top 10 local partners. Two years ago, yours truly was named the Outstanding Business Leader of the Year during the 10th Anniversary event of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.  I feel both honored and humbled by this recognition and more importantly, I feel even more inspired to promote sustainability in the Philippine property sector.  Through IDC, I want to share to our readers that a green design is applicable in a developing country like the Philippines. Our latest project Verona Green Apartments is proof that it is possible to pursue green design in economic development projects in the Philippines.   In fact, the Verona project is a milestone for me and the company as it marks our entry into the economic housing segment.  I believe there are lots of opportunities for players like IDC to address the housing backlog. Again, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my humble contribution to the promotion of passive design for a sustainable future.  I would like to invite you to Like, Follow and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati) and on X (@romolonati).

M ass housing remains one of the challenges of every administration in the country.  It requires a multi-disciplinary approach to solve this complex problem.  There is no silver bullet to this lingering problem but as an architect, the design perspective is most interesting to me. The value of land is at the core of every mass housing issue.  In highly developed countries such as Italy and Singapore, mass housing projects in high-value cities would involve the construction of high-rise towers to maximize the value of the land.  Planners and developers would approve higher and higher designs to accommodate more beneficiaries in a given land area, drastically increasing the “FAR” or floor to area ratio. FAR is the measurement of a building’s floor area in relation to the size of the lot that the building is located on. There’s a whale of a difference when you’re developing affordable housing in emerging markets, like the Philippines especially when they’re done in urban areas where the price of real estate is high, and at the same time the product should be kept within reach of the beneficiaries’ purchasing power.  Building high-rise developments is more costly, and that cost should be passed on to the end-users of mass housing in the form of higher costs. In this case, the options of government planners and developers are limited.  As much as they would like to do high-rise, their hands are tied because it would entail higher cost in the construction of the housing project.  In fact, a high-rise building is more costly because of several additional features that it must have such as elevators, preventive fire systems, additional stairs, high amount of steel and cement for the structures etc. One of the solutions to tackle this challenge lies in architectural typology.  What format for housing would address the challenge best? A good option is the mid-rise buildings or “walk up buildings” which are buildings not higher than four-stories.  This is the threshold beyond which structures would incur the higher costs of high-rise style building. Going mid-rise is a good compromise between horizontal and vertical housing projects.  Going all out horizontally will require a large land footprint which is not always appropriate for the area, especially if it’s urbanized and it is not really sustainable in terms of land use.  On the other hand, pursuing a high-rise vertical will entail bigger development costs. On the technology side, the introduction of prefabrication technology is a welcome development for the affordable housing program.  Using prefab materials for housing projects could reduce the cost as the majority of the labor will be finished in the factory.  To make this technology advantageous, a certain economy of scale must be met otherwise it will be advisable to use “casted in place” technology to build. Philippines, local materials and local labor can be utilized to add extra efficiency in construction costs. If you go high tech, you will obviously have an expensive project.  Meanwhile, using simple but tested technologies would benefit a lot of people.  This would enable new housing projects to meet society’s goals of making home ownership more accessible to all. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati) and on X.

T he Philippines is currently facing huge challenges in housing. Several administrations have tried to solve the housing backlog but it seems the unmet demand is getting bigger and bigger. As of today, the backlog of socialized and economic housing in the Philippines is around 6.5 million units. This is expected to increase at a rate of around five percent every year. I believe there is an urgent need for the Philippines to fill this gap and provide affordable housing for a huge number of people that are in the market for proper housing. The introduction of the economic housing segment is one of the solutions to the housing problem. Fortunately, the Marcos administration has already highlighted the importance of providing houses to this market segment. In fact, I am supportive of the target of the Marcos administration of building six million housing units in six years. Collaboration with the private sector In order for the Philippines to succeed and satisfy this market, there must be collaboration between the government and the private sector as the housing challenge is a colossal undertaking. Furthermore, addressing the housing challenge requires a multidisciplinary approach that covers the political, social, economic, cultural, education and engineering disciplines. Providing affordable homes is just one part of the complex puzzle. The planners must make the housing units accessible in terms of location and must be affordable in terms of payments schemes. To make the program succeed, the banks, Pag-IBIG, developers and the local government units must work together to provide proper housing in a short time. Driver of economic growth The development of socialized and economic houses can work as a driver for the economy above all in emerging locations. As we know, real estate has a huge multiplier effect. Several jobs will be created and the economy will be revitalized. In ItalPinas Development Corp, we have already proven that it is possible to provide sustainable green houses at an accessible price in emerging cities. In the future, we intend to provide green developments to the socialized and economic sectors in emerging cities. We are currently developing an Economic Housing Project in CDO and the positive reaction of the market exceeded expectations. It is our goal to provide beautiful and sustainable products to these markets at an accessible price without compromising quality or style. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

The Philippine economy is ready for a rebound after experiencing rough sailing in the past two and a half years and absorbing severe blows brought by the pandemic. To give the economic recovery a stronger push, the administration of President Marcos is pulling all the stops to attract more foreign investments in the country. I also want to commend the government’s efforts in making the country more investor-friendly by easing up the processes for business organizations that want to invest in the country. The local real estate industry is also gearing for a recovery based on the analyses of the major property management companies in the country. Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro If you are serious in investing in real estate, I suggest you take a closer look at emerging cities such as Bacolod, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro because they are the most profitable as their prices are much lower compared to their more developed counterparts. This will give you higher margins that would make your investment worthwhile. Iloilo Before going into full swing in investing in real estate, I want to remind our readers the importance of checking the basic fundamentals such as demographics, economy of the market in the place and the infrastructure development surrounding the project you are interested in investing into. Cagayan De Oro Other industries I would also like to emphasize that it’s not only the real estate industry that would experience substantial growth. I also see great opportunities in tourism, agriculture, business processing management and other industries. On top of that, I believe tourism  will be a star performer in the Philippine economy. For me, the Philippines’ real estate industry is one of the best places to invest in because of the high  demand for housing in different markets, affordability for investors and competitive pricing compared to its counterparts in Southeast Asia. In particular, I believe there is great potential in investing in emerging cities because it offers huge potential, less competition, and gives higher potential of increasing real estate values in the year to come. I believe that only a few countries in the world have the same characteristics as that of the Philippines such as a young population, expanding gross domestic product (GDP), competent English speaking population and a strategic location in the center of Southeast Asia.  I believe the Philippines has all the prerequisites for a period of remarkable growth in its economy. Let us all do our part in bringing forth a golden age of growth for this country. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

A s an Italian living in the Philippines, I have come to love many traditions here in my second home.   Some are very different from my own culture, while others are remarkably similar.  Christmas is one tradition that always bridges my two “home cultures,” as it is held in highest esteem both in Italy and in the Philippines. One of the notable symbols of Christmas celebration in the Philippines is the Christmas lantern also known as parol.  While wreaths and boughs of pine may remind me of Christmas in the West, the parol gives me a true sense of place in the Philippines during the holidays, because it is unmistakable in its design identity.  It is also often made of materials that are reusable such as bamboo, wood and Japanese paper. While lanterns of all shapes are found in countries around the world, the unique Filipino parol, which is often the work of dedicated craftsmen and artisans, speaks to the power of design in expressing identity and uniqueness. Filipinos, like Italians, are also family-oriented and Christmas provides them the opportunity to bond and renew their ties.  Food is an important part of this. In both Filipino and Italian cultures, food is a way of expressing love and affection, both through its abundance at times like Christmas, and in the care and attention devoted to preparation of holiday meals.  The influence of food has gone both ways between Italy and the Philippines. Italian cuisine has become quite familiar to Filipinos, influencing the most ubiquitous of party foods like spaghetti and macaroni.  Interestingly, we have seen the re-importation of this cultural idea from the Philippines to Italy when Filipino-owned Jollibee, a food chain famous for its hamburgers, chicken and spaghetti, first appeared recently in Milan and Rome, taking a uniquely Filipino take on pasta, and bringing it back to its own root. Christmas this year will be memorable, as it marks the country’s emergence from massive challenges for the past 2.5 years brought by COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines is gradually recovering from the pummeling of the economy. The partnership between government and the private sector proved to be an important element to enable the country to bounce back from the economic doldrums. I believe Christmas in 2022 signifies hope to many all around the world. After all, Christmas means hope, love and solidarity.  Although this is the season of joy, we still need to be cautious in these “interesting” times as the challenges of the pandemic are still hovering over us. We still need to practice health and safety protocols, and comply with authorities. But, as the situation keeps on improving, hopefully, Filipinos are now looking forward to celebrating Christmas with their family, friends and loved ones. I hope this means there will also be livelier and lovelier celebration of Christmas traditions than in the past two years.   *  I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

A s a design-driven real-estate developer, Italpinas Development Corp (IDC) has made the universal appeal of Italian design and architecture as inspiration for its unique projects here in the Philippines. Italian design is also represented globally, by other design-forward brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo, Versace, Valentino, Fiat, Masserati, and Lamborghini, among others. In my work, I have brought mainly Italian design inspiration to our IDC projects, which combined perfectly with the skill of Filipino architects and engineers.  In addition to beautiful aesthetics, we have also integrated sustainability in all our projects in response to the challenges brought about by climate change. Italian architecture and design influences are recognizable around the world. Being a native of Rome, the Eternal City, I am proud that it is one of the great centers of classic architecture. What is less known, however, is that Italian cities also have great examples of modern and contemporary architecture, which I believe is a sign that design has been deeply ingrained in Italian tradition since ancient times, all the way until today. This is something that I have always been eager to bring to the Philippines, as my new home, and to contribute to the Philippine real estate market, which is the most dynamic that I have ever experienced. When I first came to the Philippines in 2009, my challenge at IDC was to promote a formula that had not yet existed in the market at that time.  My passion for Italian architecture and design combined with my passion for environmentalism and sustainability inspired the IDC brand. This brand of architecture is called postmodern green architecture. This brand of architecture has been warmly accepted and recognized by our market, and we are proud to say that our projects have received many accolades. Any place in the world is receptive to beautiful architecture.  Years ago, when we at IDC launched our first project in Cagayan de Oro, it was considered by some to be a risk. Many wondered whether our brand would be well-received. However, my business partner Jojo Leviste and I relied on our instincts and proceeded with our first project, Primavera Residences, which in fact was received extremely well. We are bullish on Cagayan de Oro city because of the same dynamism and progressiveness that met our first project, and we are looking forward to our further expansion there. Meanwhile, our Miramonti project in Santo Tomas, Batangas, presents a new perspective on the area as it offers accessible luxury and world-class design at a key location amid economic zones, important landmarks, and key transport routes.  It marks the natural advantage of the city of Santo Tomas as a hub for the Southern Tagalog region, and it does so with style and flair as to be expected from Italian-Filipino design. When people talk about Italy, they associate it not only with famous brands in fashion and sports cars, but also with food. Italian cuisine is known globally, exported as well as imitated around the world. There are many similarities between architecture and food. Just like in cooking, architecture requires a good balance among all the elements needed in a project. Architecture is similar as it requires finding the right proportion and balance in the elements. An architect must always remember that beauty and proportion, use of materials and clever layout, and above all, inspiration, will ensure the user will have  a very rich  and memorable experience. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on Twitter

T he race is on toward winning the right to host the World Expo 2030. My native country, Italy, is one of the bidders along with Ukraine (Odessa), South Korea (Busan) and Saudi Arabia. (Riyadh).  Rome, also known as the “Eternal City,” is Italy’s entry. The theme of the exhibition will have a combination of technology, science, digital technology and art. It will have three sub themes: “How digital convergence reshapes the creative industries and everyday life,” “Socio-economic impacts of the creative industries in digital convergence,” and “Cultural impacts of the creative industries in digital convergence.” I am sure the competition will be tight as each participant will give their best foot forward to  win the hosting rights. I had the privilege to meet Prof. Romeo Orlandi, special ambassador for Bid Committee Expo 2030 Roma, during a meeting with thought leaders and major shakers at the residence of Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente in Makati City. Rome is famous for many landmarks including the Colosseum Orlandi said he is optimistic Italy can bring home the bacon. Although the competition will be very stiff, he is confident because the Italian government is giving its all out support. The private meeting was part of the Italian government’s campaign to promote Rome’s bid here in the Philippines. Through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian embassies around the world are tasked to promote the candidacy of Rome. I had the honor to be joined by major thought leaders, influential personalities and intellectuals to get their views and asked their support to promote the candidacy of Rome in the Philippines. Orlandi has been traveling the world to promote the Italian campaign. The Philippines was his first stop. As far as Italy is concerned, Rome was chosen by the Italian government to host the event if it wins in the bidding. Being a native of Rome, I feel proud and happy because the city is well known all over the world and has a very rich legacy. World Expo composite photo from Bureau International des Expositions ( www.bie-paris.org ) Personally,  I believe Rome is a perfect location for the event as it has a very rich historical background, being one of the centers of civilization. Assuming Rome wins the bid, millions of visitors will not enjoy the happenings at the Expo, but will also get the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Rome. Holding the World Expo 2030 in Rome will witness the merging of the past and the future. They will not only experience the  future when they go to the different  exhibits of the Expo, but will also see the grandeur of Rome and its different historical sites. Following the strong impression left by the Philippine pavilion at the recent World Expo in Dubai earlier this year, I hope that Filipino thought leaders, creatives, and decision-makers will continue this impressive performance in the coming World Expos, such as the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, and the 2030 World Expo, which I personally hope will be in my home city. Considering the strong diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines, and strong presence of Filipinos in various cities throughout Italy, I hope that the World Expo 2030 in Rome will be a chance for both Italian and Filipino culture to shine. Erratum The organizer of the recently concluded World Architecture Day 2022 Celebration was United Architects of the Philippines Graduate Auxiliary (UAP), not the United Architects of the Philippines as mentioned in my previous column. Like, follow, and share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

I  had a lovely experience when I was invited recently by the United Architects Association of the Philippines as one of the guest speakers during its World Architecture Day 2022 Celebration.  It was an honour to be invited and talk about architecture in this event for influential architects in the Philippines. I am quite fortunate that the Philippines gives me the opportunity to implement my designs in a dynamic and energetic environment through my company, Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC). It was such an honor to be given recognition as one of the country’s influential architects.  I owe this to the Philippines, my adopted home, and the inspiration for my work. Spaces affect human behavior In my talk, I pointed out that spaces affect human behavior, both physically and emotionally. Architects and planners have a big role to play in ensuring that people benefit positively from the design of their project. In terms of design, I shared with the audience that I prefer the minimalist style because it is simple and classic. I have also developed a fondness for minimalist architecture because it allows a user to make his or her place recognizable. I also believe an architect must establish a strong connection between architecture and the users. I am happy to say this is close to my heart because I am a strong advocate of  green architecture and sustainable development. We all must do our share in reducing the environmental impact of climate change. The World Architecture Day celebration took place at Teatro Arkitekto, UAP Headquarter in Quezon City last October 2. On the photo was Arch. Jonathan Cruz (left) moderator, Arch. Romolo V. Nati, Italpinas Development Corporation’s CEO and Executive Chairman and Arch. William Ti, Jr. Principal Architect of WTA Architecture+Design Studio (right). In IDC’s buildings, residents and end-users are enabled to do this with efficiency and enjoyment, aided by my passive performance design which allows shading and natural ventilation to assist the usual use of air conditioning. We are all responsible for what we do with our environment. I think everyone would have a positive impact if he or she focuses on reducing consumption of production and energy. Aside from developing the aesthetic side, architects have an important role in the health and wellness of an individual. This gives people a strong sense of security in health matters. We feel better because we are surrounded by a healthy environment. I believe the connection between architecture and the natural environment is key in promoting people’s wellbeing. This is the reason why I design structures that are in harmony with the surroundings. In fact, structures should not antagonise the environment. Working with the environment will help produce a healthy community. Other ways to interact As social animals, human beings need to interact as part of the sociological process. For more than two years, we were psychologically affected by the pandemic. As a result, we looked for other ways to interact with each other. At Italpinas Development Corp. all our projects have plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces and common areas to encourage and enable people to interact. All our projects are designed with lots of open spaces to enable people to interact. I hope other developers engage in developing open spaces. I hope that developers and decision-makers will enhance and promote more public spaces that can be green parks, squares and other areas. People gathering together is a good way to support camaraderie as well as health. Architecture touches all parts of our life, in moments when design and aesthetics are at the top of our minds, and also in moments when the influences of our built environment are subtle, or even just quietly supporting our health and well-being through deliberate and well-informed design.  This year’s World Architecture Day celebration by the United Architects Association of the Philippines was a great chance to recognize this, and I was honored to attend and share IDC’s work.  I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

O ne of the best democratizing features of Italian architecture is its emphasis on quality and affordability across all markets, ranging from the high-end to the economic segment. In 2009, the Italian government launched its Piano Casa program to address the different challenges posed by climate change. Named after the Italian architect Renzo Piano, the program was composed of legislative measures and economic incentives to encourage the construction of affordable homes for the less fortunate members of the society. Another democratizing element of Italian architecture is the promotion of social interaction among the citizens of the community. Architects and engineers had to build parks, plazas and squares to enhance the meetings of people. These spaces can also be utilized as venues for various activities that will promote the different traditions in the community. Through the program, the government was able to provide high quality urban spaces for the working class. By implementing proper zoning, the Piano Casa program helped the lower-income market access basic services such as health and education. As the Philippines continues with its growth trajectory, important opportunities arise to implement comprehensive housing programs, whether through public or private initiatives, to harness design so that it can offer optimum conditions to all socioeconomic groups. Verona Green Apartment, an economic development by Italpinas Development Corp., consists of affordable houses with green features for the Filipino market.The concept of this project is similar to what the Piano Casa program promoted in Italy. It would also be pleasant to see the Philippines develop a housing program with democratizing components. I think a hybrid approach would be the best for the country, such as a combination of vertical and horizontal homes. In an urban setting where land is more expensive, developing vertical housing is the best option. Furthermore, it would be better if the vertical housing units would be walk-up structures that fit the economic market. In the rural areas where land is more affordable, building horizontal units is more appropriate. I wish the Philippines could one day implement its own version of Piano Casa to enable the marginalized sectors access affordable and decent housing units. Indeed, it would be nice for the Philippines to have its own version of Piano Casa especially in the urban areas so that more Filipinos can enjoy greater mobility and better quality of life. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

B eing a beach lover, I have always dreamed of owning a beach house. My dream became a reality when I came to the Philippines in 2009.  While searching for a location for my beach house, I found Anvaya Cove in the beautiful province of Bataan quite lovely.  My house, fondly called Casa Al Mare (House by the Sea), is a lovely place for me to relax, with my family during weekends and holidays. I’ve designed Casa Al Mare  to have a space that will have harmony with the surroundings where the indoor and outdoor divisions disappear. I want to emphasize that the use of natural materials  is an important element  of the design. As an advocate of green architecture and sustainable development, I incorporated  increased natural ventilation, shading and abundant natural lights that composed the green features of Casa Al Mare. It has a lot of open space. Casa Al Mare has a property size of 574.8 square meters with a gross area of 400 sqm. The house has three floors  with an attic and a terrace. Minimalist I designed the interiors in a tropical minimalist, elegant and functional style. Overall, the house is a combination of Asian and Italian architecture, featuring passive green strategies which has been present in all my projects. I also love the location because Bataan is closely  located to Manila and can be accessible through the first-class expressways. Moreover, I like Bataan as there are lots of beautiful mountains, pristine beaches and verdant rice fields and Subic Bay. All those things together  make the location unique. Award-winning Last but not the  least, I am quite elated when Casa Al Mare was awarded the Architecture Single Residence for Philippines” in the 2022 Asia Pacific Property Awards. It is extremely important for me because it recognizes my efforts in the design and construction of Casa Al Mare  from a prestigious organization such as the Asia Property Awards. For me, it is a great achievement and it makes me proud of my work. It is also a reaffirmation of my vision that when you pursue it with passion the result exceeds the expectations. The awarding ceremony was held last June 23 at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).

W hen I came to the Philippines and co-founded Italpinas Design Corp. (IDC) with my partner, Jojo Leviste, we wanted to bring my design experience to emerging Philippine cities. These fast-growing cities have such robust potential, and are also a chance for elegant, environmentally friendly design to gain multiple footholds and influence the course of urbanization in the Philippines.  IDC has been fortunate that our first projects were well received, including the Primavera Residences and Primavera City in Cagayan de Oro, and Miramonti Green Residences in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.  These are all vertical developments, featuring multiple floors of shopping areas, offices, and residences.  Recently, we announced the Verona project, also in Cagayan de Oro.  Verona will also feature multi-use spaces and IDC’s distinctive design features, but in different dimensions to complement the site’s intimate, communal character. Street-front commercial spaces will be topped with walk-up residential units all along a protected walking and cycle path, which connects the whole stretch to the nearby mall and business district.  In designing Verona, we changed our format from high-rise to mid-rise style, and incorporated this into a setting more reminiscent of Brooklyn brownstones, or the terraced shophouses of Singapore. In order to be ready to meet new opportunities, we at IDC have also considered the possibility of a further format debut, in the prospect of offering residential houses.  In fact, we are already preparing for this prospect in terms of research and development.  With our high-rise and vertical developments, IDC has succeeded by staying true to its design philosophies of elegant, environmentally friendly design, including efficiencies for energy savings, as elaborated by careful calibration of shading, airflow, and other passive-performance design features. If IDC were to offer a horizontal product, how would we translate this previous experience from high-rise to house? Inspiration for the future To address this next step, IDC will continue to embrace innovation, by taking new perspective on architectural design, community life, and the emerging city market, but I also draw inspiration from my past work. One of my favorite design concepts has been a structure called “Silang House,”  which represents IDC’s characteristic design approaches, but presented in a house-and-lot format.  Coming from my experience in Estonia, and bringing my career to the Philippines, I knew the importance of responding dynamically to the local environment, and this design concept would demand the same.  The result, Silang House, is a tropical-modern structure designed with IDC’s characteristic green-design and elegant aesthetic. Silang House features an open layout, which ensures free airflow.  Cross-ventilation is a major design element in this concept, which lowers the temperature of the living spaces without consuming electricity.  As with IDC’s vertical projects, shading was carefully calibrated with the help of software, which modeled the angles struck by the rays of the sun at each hour of the day, according to the site’s precise latitude.  By designing according to this data, even small details such as the shape and dimensions of overhangs ensure that the living space is shielded from the day’s harshest sunlight, allowing shaded comfort in spite of large windows, which allow indirect natural light.  The open floor plan also allowed a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor space, which directly addresses the increased demand for fresh air, which was brought about by our shared experience of lockdowns, a demand that may persist, even as we exit the pandemic. Needless to say, we were all extremely happy with the result, and the close dialogue achieved between the house’s function and its environment. This is both a strong foundation, and an encouragement for our potential expansion in other housing formats.  It bodes well for IDC’s position to continue research and development, for future projects, and the possibilities of horizontal development. I would like to invite you to Like, Follow, and Share my online spaces and content on Facebook and LinkedIn (Architect Romolo V. Nati), and on X (@romolonati).