Green sanctuary in the South

Contemporary green communities increasingly became desirable with their advantages highlighted amid the new normal. More people became believers in green addresses, owing to their adaptability and responsiveness to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During lockdown, those living in green homes used resources like water and electricity more efficiently. When home-based work and study emerged, the internet-readiness and smart technology inherent in green dwellings became practical features. In need of spaces to wind down or work out while still observing social distancing, we all now aspire for homes in well-spaced sustainable neighborhoods.

All those revelations fit into Sevina Park, a nurturing enclave in Biñan, Laguna. There should be no question over the 8.1-hectare project’s credibility given that upscale developer Arthaland got the LEED Platinum certification for it in the Neighborhood Development category. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—or LEED—citation scrutinizes key indicators like energy savings, water efficiency, carbon emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality, among others.

Arthaland is the first and only developer in the country to receive the certification for a mixed-use community. And why not? Sevina Park employs sustainable, nontoxic and low-emission materials and methods in construction. Up to 60 percent of its land area is dedicated to green and open spaces featuring endemic and endangered plants. Despite the sprawl, the project is highly walkable and bike-friendly. Everyday comforts and necessities are under 10 minutes away by walking or driving. The neighborhood also has its own composting facility, waste management system and rainwater collector.

Sevina Park, which is Arthaland’s first mixed-use development in the southern part of the metro, continues to highlight the company’s leadership in green development.

Gunning for LEED certification, too, are Sevina Park’s premium villas, configured as two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. The 108 villas exude sustainable modernity. Daylight and ventilation are optimized; plumbing fixtures save up to 40 percent on water; units are equipped with CCTV cameras, smart video doorbells and smart locks at main entrances, plus automated light switches. The four-bedroom villas, specifically vying for LEED for Homes Gold Certification, are solar-powered. The rest are structurally capable for solar panels.

The villas integrate into lush courtyards, where kids can play, families can practice fitness routines and neighborhood blocks can picnic. Shared amenities include a fitness hub and yoga/dance studio, an activity lawn and pools.

Sevina Park also has a two-storey student residence named Courtyard Hall, retail spaces, weekend markets and offices. The neighborhood is wired with fiber-optic pathways for high-speed connectivity. Security and property management are no issue with a command center and administration office on site.

Green homes are not a new movement. Developers have evolved their projects to be more biophilic and resilient for decades now. But not all projects live up to their promise. Some projects that have employed the greenest technologies have fallen short because of their location. Residents in some urban green developments walk or jog in the morning, running the risk of inhaling smog. They open the blinds to see stressful, rather than scenic, views. They want to live solemnly but can hear the rowdy traffic nearby.

Sevina Park will have none of those complications. In fact, the location adds to the merits of living in the neighborhood. Biñan is a city with a bucolic vibe, and it’s right outside Metro Manila. While you can get there via South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), you may also get home from Cavite through the Cavite-Laguna Expressway which connects the Cavite Expressway in Kawit to SLEx’s Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan. The road project has already made Biñan more vibrant, something future residents at Sevina Park will benefit from. The project is next door to schools, hospitals, retail hotspots and leisure destinations—and a matter of time away from so many more exhilarating possibilities.

So many have looked at the south in their ambition to live in homes resilient to the challenges of the times and committed to green, sustainable living. These days, the south is faraway no longer.