By Jennifer P. Rendon
Exactly ten years after officially announcing its expansion in this part of the country, property giant Megaworld continues to reshape Iloilo City’s residential landscape and atmosphere.
On Thursday, May 4, Megaworld formally launched its ninth residential tower inside the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo.
And this time around, Megaworld has taken the Tuscan vibe as inspiration.
Inspired by the Italian City of Florence, the 22-story Firenze will offer 415 “smart home” units equipped with wireless smart home systems that residents can access and control remotely via a smartphone app.
This is the first residential tower in Iloilo Business Park that has a Junior One Bedroom (up to 32 square meters) as the smallest unit layout. Other unit layouts include Junior One Bedroom with Balcony (up to 34 square meters), One Bedroom with Balcony (up to 48 square meters), Executive One Bedroom with Balcony (51 square meters), One Bedroom Loft (up to 57 square meters), One Bedroom Loft with Balcony (up to 60 square meters), Two Bedroom (62 square meters), Two Bedroom with Balcony (up to 81 square meters), Two Bedroom with Deck (up to 90 square meters), Three Bedroom Loft (108 square meters), and Three Bedroom Loft with Balcony (132 square meters).
Firenze will rise beside The Palladium at the northern portion of Megaworld Boulevard, just a short walk to and from Festive Walk Mall and Festive Walk Parade as well as the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA).
“We have chosen Florence as the inspiration of this new development because of its charm and interesting character that truly reflect what Iloilo Business Park has become through the years. This is the first time that we have a particular city as an inspiration for our condo in the township – not just Italian, but truly Florentine,” according to Jennifer Palmares-Fong, Megaworld Visayas’ first vice president for sales and marketing.
Ms. Fong said the Ilonggos’ rising demand for modern-style living is also another inspiration being Firenze.
Classic Italian beauty and modern contemporary appeal
Firenze is the Italian name for “Florence,” the capital city of the Tuscan region in Italy, which is famous for its Renaissance art and architecture.
The facade of Firenze features classic-inspired Italian architecture, evidenced by the integration of columns, arches, decorative ironworks, and baluster railings to highlight symmetry and proportion in the design. The entire tower, on the other hand, reflects a modern contemporary look that blends perfectly with its classic and elegant design elements.
Inside, future residents will be welcomed to an airy gold and marble-accented lobby complemented by bold black-and-white floor tiles, which reflects a modern take on the well-loved traditional Roman design motif.
At the fifth level, residents will enjoy a host of top-notch amenities, highlighted by Italian-inspired outdoor adult and children’s pool and pool deck surrounded by shrubs, vines, and medium-sized trees. There is also an outdoor jacuzzi, symmetrical garden, pavilion, children’s playground, and an outdoor fitness area as well as a function hall with its own dry pantry and preparation area, fitness center with yoga room, game room, private dining room, and daycare center.
Future residents will also enjoy their time relaxing with their families or friends at the outdoor lounge located on the 21st floor of the tower.
A variety of green and sustainability features will also be integrated into Firenze. These include low flow rate fixtures to promote water conservation, occupancy sensors in hallways that help conserve energy, high energy efficiency rating for major equipment, rainwater harvesting and reuse system, and its own material recovery facility.
Megaworld expects to generate P4-billion in sales from Firenze, which is scheduled for completion in 2028.
A vibrant and continuously growing address
Prior to Firenze, Megaworld has already launched six residential developments inside Iloilo Business Park, namely One Madison (three towers), Lafayette Parksquare, The Palladium, Saint Honore, Saint Dominique, The Pinnacle.
Aside from these residential offerings, the township has 11 office buildings offering around 182,000 square meters of leasable office spaces, of which three are still under construction.
The township also has two existing first-class business hotels: the 149-room Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, and the 326-room Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo.
These hotels are just beside the iconic Iloilo Convention Center, Festive Walk Mall, and the IBP Transport Hub.
Also rising soon inside Iloilo Business Park is the township’s third hotel development, the 405-room Belmont Hotel Iloilo.
In 2018, Iloilo Business Park bested some of the best integrated urban developments in Asia to win the coveted “Best Township Development” award at the Asia Property Awards by PropertyGuru held in Bangkok, Thailand.
