In this age where living green has become more than just a fashion statement, more and more people are switching to this eco-friendly way of living as the moral thing to do. Even architecture has imbibed the essence of the green movement, coming out in recent years with what is called green architecture.
Green architecture, also called eco-design, creates buildings that are beneficial to human health and nature, designed to be as sustainable as possible with minimal impact on the environment. While one will be hard pressed to find a completely sustainable green building, having some of its many characteristics is a big step towards green design.
As a subsidiary of Vista Land & Lifescapes, the largest homebuilder in the country, Camella Communities has applied green architecture in its landmark condo development in Davao City, Camella Northpoint. It is the first developer in Davao to do so, marking another first for this trailblazing real estate company.
Smart ventilation
Camella Northpoint’s condo buildings are designed to let natural air flow through the concrete structures and circulate freely around the building, its corridors, common areas, and even to the residential units. This innovative architectural design following the principles of airflow provides fresh air to each unit, the indoor gardens and the hallways of each level of the towers.
When Northpoint residents open their tall, wide windows, they can easily breathe in Davao’s clean air and the fresh air provided by the thousands of Caribbean pine trees growing all around the condo property. Open windows will let air through the units, and when residents go out their doors, the natural air flowing through the building provides a continuous airflow that they can enjoy.
Buildings that do not employ smart, natural ventilation can fall victim to the sick building syndrome, which can cause many health problems to its occupants. Non-green buildings have poor indoor air quality that is at least five times to a hundred times worse than poor outdoor air, triggering respiratory conditions like asthma. Green buildings like the Northpoint towers with their healthy ventilation systems give its occupants a healthier living within the comforts of their condo homes.
Eco-friendly lighting
When Northpoint residents go out their unit doors, they will be greeted by sunlight at any time of the day, with the refreshing sight of green indoor plants thriving in the natural light. This is because the roof of each condo building is outfitted with skylights to admit natural light into the building, illuminating the hallways, indoor garden, and the landscaped atriums that are found in each of the condo floors. These atriums have plants, water feature, mood lighting, and pathways that add to the overall refreshing feel.
When homeowners open the wide windows of their condo unit, they can enjoy not only the fresh air and the breathtaking views of the condo’s plush amenities and Davao’s cityscape, but also lets natural light come into their homes. For artificial lighting inside the condo homes, Camella uses compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs.
The company has switched many years back to the use of these energy-efficient light bulbs instead of incandescent lamps in their developments, including Northpoint. CFLs are called “green” light bulbs because a 25-watt CFL bulb gives the same lumen output as a 100-watt incandescent bulb. CFLs therefore use less energy to produce light compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.
All these eco-friendly design reduce the use of artificial light in Northpoint homes, giving homeowners savings from power consumption and contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon footprint emanating from power generation. The less energy is used, the less impact on the environment.
Improved Quality of Life
The benefits of living in a building designed with green architecture such as Northpoint allow its occupants to live an enhanced lifestyle. Homeowners also get a sense of satisfaction knowing that Northpoint allows them to live a green lifestyle, taking comfort from the fact that they are able to reduce their own carbon footprint.
Their comfort is taken to a higher level with Northpoint’s single-loaded corridors that eliminate the claustrophobic sensation brought about by “doors opening to doors” that is experienced when walking along a corridor with doors at both sides facing each other. Northpoint’s design gives its occupants more privacy, convenience, and freedom of movement with its single-loaded corridors.
With their green living within Northpoint’s green design and environment, homeowners are healthier and more productive, redounding to having an economically and environmentally better quality of life.
Higher Market Value
With all the benefits green architecture give to its occupants and its environment, it is no wonder that green buildings like Northpoint retain a higher market value than others. Its sustainable design components, as well as its contribution to environmental protection, undeniably set Northpoint apart from any other condo development in Davao.
Camella is set to introduce Northpoint’s third tower in a grand launch on March 26, 2011, at the clubhouse, Wakefield Manor. For more information, get in touch with Camella Communities at any of these contact details: 2nd floor, Delgar Building, J. P. Laurel Ave., Davao City (right across Camella Northpoint), Camella Information Center at Northpoint, telephone numbers 222-0963, 222-5221, 222-5223, 0917-857-6572, vismins@camella.com.ph, and www.camella.com.ph. #
