The Stratford Residences is an unfinished high-rise residential and commercial building that will rise in

Makati Makati ( ), officially the City of Makati ( fil, Lungsod ng Makati), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It is being developed by Picar Development Inc. The development arm and real estate subsidiary of the AMA Group of Companies owned by Ambassador Amable R. Aguiluz V. The building was originally meant to have 74 storeys, which would have made it the tallest residential building in the Philippines. Construction of the half-completed building ground to a halt around 2016. In 2022, plans were announced to downsize the building and complete it by 2026.

History

On 15 June 2011, Picar Development announced its construction of a 74-storey residential condominium that will rise along

Kalayaan Avenue Kalayaan Avenue is a major east–west route in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. For most of its length, it runs parallel to J.P. Rizal Avenue to the north from East Rembo near Fort Bonifacio to Barangay Singkamas by the border with San And ...

Makati Poblacion Poblacion is an administrative division of southern Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is the old ''poblacion'' of Makati and the second most important commercial center in Makati behind the Makati Central Business District. It is also the city's c ...

. According to its website, the condominium will have 1,136 fully furnished residential studio, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and penthouse units. The Stratford Residences takes inspiration from skyscrapers such as the Hearst Tower and

Bank of America Tower (Manhattan) The Bank of America Tower, also known as 1 Bryant Park, is a 55-story skyscraper in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It is located at 1111 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) between 42nd and 43rd Streets, diagonally o ...

, both in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. It was later on announced that Tower 3 will house the Swiss-operated Movenpick Hotel. The Stratford Residences will serve as the "anchor structure to the mixed-use complex," The Picar Place. It will have retail stores and other commercial structures, such as Buddha Bar which opened in 2012. The condominium is located near the Ateneo Professional Schools and Power Plant Mall.

Architecture and design

The Stratford Residences was designed by Filipino architect Jose Pedro C. Recio of Rchitects, Inc. But according to Aguiluz, its "folded facade is not just for aesthetics, it helps in capturing and maximizing the presence of natural and artificial light." The model units have been designed by Ivy and Cynthia Almario, and "feature neutral hints of steel gray, slate and white, the pad’s premium fixtures, structured proportions and minimalistic design elements convey a functional yet contemporary space..." In order to meet the cement requirement of such a tall building, high-strength cement will be used, which is four times the standard cement requirement. The building has also been designed to be able to withstand earthquakes. The residents will have 24-hour concierge service, remote-controlled lighting system, Wi-Fi access on all floors, security control systems, as well as energy, ventilation and communication technology features. The first three floors of the condominium will be allotted for commercial establishments. It will also have nine underground floors for its parking area, which will have the capacity of 700 cars. In 2012, Picar Development broke ground for the Swiss hotel chain, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts. It will have 305 European-contemporary designed hotel rooms and 320 residential apartments. As of September 2017, the building remains unfinished and there were no construction workers in the site.

Amenities

The Stratford Residences' amenities will include a fitness center, meditation garden, lanai, adult- and kiddie-sized swimming pools, a day care center for children and a play area. The Stratford Residences will also have a music library, a private mini-theater, and a function room.

Reception

In 2009, BCI Asia awarded The Stratford Residences the Best Design award for its distinct curvilinear design.

References

External links