Sustainable Living

Enjoying the Nuvali lakeside

One of the major come-ons of Nuvali for me has always been the man-made lake.

When I first heard about it in 2007, I immediately had a vision of our very own lakeside/ mini-waterfront promenade in the Philippines, similar to Singapore\’s Harbour Front/Vivo City.

Forward to 2012, less than 5 years hence, and the lake is still the first thing that catches my eye every time I enter Nuvali.

It now occupies 4 hectares, which is admittedly smaller than what I had hoped for (original plan set it at 8 hectares), but the view, especially when taken in with Mt. Makiling in the background, is stilling.

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Even without thinking about it, I always slow down whenever I drive along this area.

It\’s not surprising that others have discovered this quieting spot as well, making weekend picnickers a regular sight around the lake.

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I got to really walk around the Nuvali lake for the first time during the Venare Section J launch last Sunday, and was happy to take in the fresh air (fresh talaga! It was cold and thin, almost wispy–as opposed to being thick and heavy).

$\"Venare$

The tented area shows where the Shalani-Roman wedding reception was held earlier this year.

$\"Venare$

Think five, ten, twenty years from now, what do you see surrounding this lake?

Video tour of Nuvali as of Jan 2012

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services

Here\’s a new video showing exciting Nuvali developments!

Good updated overview in 5 minutes.

Wonder why Miriam College wasn\’t included, also didn\’t notice Avida Village in the round up of residential communities. Was nice to see perspectives of the upcoming Kukun Hotel and Monochrome events place, though.

Modern-Mexican house: kaya ba talaga?

My Nuvali HomeConstruction & Floor Plans

When I was just starting out with house plans and design, I was hopping between two extremes: modern-minimalist (\”less is more\”) and warm-lived in (\”more is more\” aka Mexican). I like clean, simple lines, but also the coziness and freeing energy of color.

For the exterior, I knew I had no choice but to follow the modern theme of Nuvali, but inside the house was a different story.

I said out loud last year that I would make modern and Mexican go together, and here I am, one month away from house completion and the question I\’m asking is: kaya ba talaga?

My brother echoed a concern last night that, admittedly, I\’m also beginning to feel: what if the house ends up looking chop suey?

Here\’s a moodboard of the facade, actual photo on the upper left.

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The house will have the roof on the upper right (as per Avida DOR requirement). Decided to go with white and gray for the walls and stoneworks, with wooden accents. Will have the steps, grass and striped carport. Have yet to finalize fencing for the sides, but I\’m liking the wood (or wooden finish).

Looking at it now, I\’m getting a rigid (matigas) vibe, but don\’t know if the roof will soften it enough. Plan for the front door is to have a curved etching, shaped like an 8 (for the lemniscate). Wild idea: what if I cut a wave across the front lawn instead of using linear steps? Also playing around with the idea of using boulders on the lawn to soften up the facade.

INDOORS

First step inside the house will be greeted by these:

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We did color testing for the walls, decided on yellow (I\’ve always wanted a yellow house!):

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Will do tone on tone colors (going for multiple shades of the same color in a room, to create a crisp but rich texture) for the rest of the space, an idea I picked up from doing pinboards on pinterest. Did a quick review of boards I\’ve already collected for inspiration, and was happy to see the power of visioning at work: I didn\’t realize I already singled out yellow and green for my wall moodboards a month ago!

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Source: myhomeideas.com via Johanna on Pinterest

For now, we\’re thinking of using the green upstairs.

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Source: bhg.com via Johanna on Pinterest

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Modern-Mexican house: kaya ba talaga?Read More »

The search for that elusive ceiling fan…

My Nuvali HomeSolenad, Furniture

…may have just come to an end!

Surprise, surprise, look at what greeted me right in my (our) own backyard:
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$\"True$

Found in True Value Nuvali, my new favorite hang out place in Solenad 2. 🙂

What I have my eye on:
$\"True$

Good buy already at P4,199.75 ! I asked around and friends who have the same unit say it\’s mighty breezy.

The question now is whether to get it in beige or wood:

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🙂

What\’s new in Solenad 2?

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesRestaurants, Solenad, Nuvali Services

Will let the pictures do the talking (taken on various days in December 2011):

$\"Solenad$

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What\’s new in Solenad 2?Read More »

Nuvali at night (one year after)

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services

A year ago, we took a drive around Nuvali at night, to see how lit (or not) the surroundings and roads would be.

One year hence, I\’d be lying if I said things were much brighter, but definitely you\’d feel a general buzz in the air already:

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Logo lamps were littered along Nuvali Boulevard, but past Nuvali North towards the rotonda, it was still pitch black when we passed by last December.

Further along, we saw Christmas lights at the Avida Settings main entrance.

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Inside Avida Settings Nuvali was an altogether different story, with lampposts already shining brightly:
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$\"My$

Hope Nuvali management lights up the main roads soon!

New access from Silangan exit?

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesRoads, Nuvali Services

We drove down to the tip of Nuvali South earlier this week and noticed this newly constructed guardhouse at the end of the road, right by Avida Village Nuvali:

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No announcements on this yet, but we\’re assuming it will lead to the Silangan exit.

Another fast tracked development inside Nuvali, wtg Ayala!

Real Property Tax in Nuvali

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesGovernment in Nuvali

We\’re now at that wonderful time of the year when we\’re meant to flock to city hall to update our taxes on real property.

$\"Calamba$

The good news for Nuvali lot and homeowners is that the Calamba city officials are generally friendly and efficient, and the city hall a pleasant place to visit.

These past months, I was at the Calamba City Hall a number of times myself, and chanced upon a tip from a lady at the city assessor\’s office: Get 20% discount on your RPT or amelyar if you pay by December (for the taxes for the following year), and 10% discount if you pay by January. Apologize I wasn\’t able to share this sooner, but it\’s still not too late for the January cut off!

High on a hill was a…

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Real Estate, Avida Parkway Settings Nuvali, Tagaytay, venare, Nuvali Services

$\"Parkway$

…Nuvali goat herd — Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo!

Taken in Avida Parkway Settings Nuvali on January 2, 2012.

A slight turn to the left, and here\’s the view (towards the West). That\’s the perimeter wall of Venare, with trees from the Green Zone already showing.

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Any guesses what those two towers are at the rightmost peak? How about that line of buildings in the middle of the mountain? 🙂

Upcycled art: Wine bottle lamps

Green Design and Architecture Sustainable LivingGreen Art

Really enjoyed these green lamps at the recent 10a Alabama Art Fair:
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They\’re literally green, they\’re upcycled from old bottles, and they make use of use candles!

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Made by hand by Christine Bantilan, who sells them for P350 each.

Other variations are desk lamps made of ashtrays, and bottle bottoms as candleholders:

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If you wish to contact Christine, you may email her at catscloset2005 [at] gmail.com.

Resurrected furniture at 10A Alabama

Green Design and ArchitectureFurniture, Green Art

Apart from being a beloved venue for Handmade Art Fairs in Quezon City, 10A Alabama is home to Resurrection Furniture and Found Object Gallery, where Leah Sanchez and Binggoy Panlilio play, play, play with old furniture and odd pieces that they bring back from the dead:

$\"10A$

Well worth a visit for any green enthusiast.

I\’ve wanted their pink table since I first saw it last May:

$\"10A$

Would make for a good console table don\’t you think? 🙂

View more resurrected furniture on their facebook page.

Art fun at the 10A Alabama Handmade fair

Sustainable LivingGreen Art

Green art and lots of handmade love at the 5th art fair last weekend, December 10-11, 2011:

$\"10A$

10A Alabama is a home in more ways than one, and the Art fair is always, always a great time to slow down and reconnect with kindred spirits:

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The Alabama community has grown in heaps and bounds since our first fair in May 2011, but it remains to be one of the most positive and enriching creative groups I\’ve come across.

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Philosophers at work: Momok and Binggoy enjoying a game of chess (notice the upcycled keyboard pieces!)…

$\"10A$

Mirrors for a cause, each one handcrafted by a participating seller:

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Rock balancing fun:

$\"10A$

10A Alabama was where I broke the ice and first put my works up for sale, and for all the handholding and support, I will always be grateful. This 5th Handmade Fair was extra special because I got to join as Montalut…

$\"10A$

…and also as Estela, selling handmade pillows and clothes:

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I wish I spent more time taking pictures, just to make sure the diversity of this group got represented properly! At the next fair, promise to do just that, but for now, here are more pictures, including some from the 4th Fair last October:

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The 10A Alabama Handmade Art Fair is held every 2-3 months, with the next one most likely in February 2012.