These crown jewels adorn these already renowned destinations
The imminent rise of The Estate Makati carries with it the guarantee of the birth of a new Filipino landmark. In collaboration with the multi-award-winning British design firm, Foster + Partners, SMDC and Federal Land, Inc. embarked on a joint venture to build the 270-meter cruciform “home in the sky.” It rests on the last available lot between Ayala Avenue and the highly sought-after Apartment Ridge Road.
Otherwise known as the “Wall Street of the Philippines,” Ayala Avenue is the primary passageway that runs through the Makati Central Business District. It houses not only The Philippine (Makati) Stock Exchange, but the headquarters of some of the country’s largest corporations – the LKG Tower, the LV Locsin Building, and the Ayala Tower One & Exchange Plaza – making it one of the most, if not, the most expensive street in the country. Not to mention, Ayala Avenue also connects to Forbes Park and Dasmarinas Village, where the country’s elite reside in their multi-million dollar homes.
Apartment Ridge Road, the “Millionaire’s Row of the Philippines,” on the other hand houses several luxury hotels such as Discovery Primea and The Peninsula Manila. And as if ordained by a higher power, The Estate Makati sets to be the crowning jewel, the long-awaited final piece to complete and further elevate this already premier address.
A study by the real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield revealed the world’s most expensive streets – listing the likes of 5th Avenue, New York, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, New Bond Street, London, Myeong-dong, Seoul, and Ginza, Tokyo, to name a few.
Properties within the Makati Business District range between P400,000 to P650,000 / m2 or $7,000 to around $12,000 / m2. The mathematics determining such rankings may differ from institution to institution, but this should place it on equal footing with some of the most prestigious addresses in the world.
Outside of The Estate Makati, here are five places worth staying at – five residential crown jewels that adorn these already renowned destinations.
The Plaza Hotel/Residences – 768 5th Ave, New York
On Millionaire’s Row, the Big Apple’s iconic shopping district, lies The Plaza Hotel – one of the city’s most historical buildings. Designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, the hotel was built on October 1, 1907, and has witnessed not only renovation upon renovation but the presence of renowned individuals gracing its halls. “Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza,” said F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the long-standing landmark has embodied these very words. It has also made its mark on popular culture, set as the location for numerous blockbusters such as Home Alone 2 (1992) and The Great Gatsby (2013).
After renovations in 2005, The Plaza opened its doors to also house permanent residents. Effectively turning some of the hotel’s most exquisite suites into full-fledged homes, came the birth of The Plaza Residences.
The Masterpiece – 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The Masterpiece is a 67-floor, 261-meter skyscraper located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It houses the world’s first Art Mall, the K11, as well as the Hyatt Regency Hotel which resides on the third up to the 24th level of the tower. Meanwhile, apartments both for sale and for lease take up the rest of the space – from single-bedroom homes to massive luxury duplexes. The skyscraper was developed by the New World Development and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA).
The Masterpiece is only a few blocks away from the Victoria Dockside, placing it nearby the city’s premier attractions such as The Avenue of Stars, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Space Museum.
One Hyde Park – 100 Knightsbridge, London
One Hyde Park, designed by Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners, contains 86 apartments and duplexes. It is managed by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, providing its residents with amenities and services on par with the best five-star hotels in the world. Nearby One Hyde Park are; cultural attractions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Natural History and Science Museums; and Michelin-starred restaurants such as Gordan Ramsey’s Petrus, Marcus at The Berkeley, and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
The haven for the distinguished and the tasteful, One Hyde Park is also only an eight-minute drive from New Bond Street, the home for luxury shopping in London.
Hannam the Hill – Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Hannam the Hill is regarded as one of the most expensive apartment complexes in South Korea – having once been awarded the title for seven years straight. It is located in the Seongsu-dong district and consists of over 700 residential units across 32 building units atop 26 hectares of land. Numerous high-profile Korean celebrities are known to have taken residence here, most notably BTS. It also won the Seoul Architecture Award in 2013.
Aside from being in one of the country’s most exclusive addresses, Hannam the Hill is also relatively nearby Itaewon, as well as Myeong-dong, one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul, which contains some of the city’s hottest landmarks such as the Myeongdong Theater, the Seoul Global Cultural Center, and the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre.
Motoazabu Hills Forest Tower – Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku
The Motoazabu Hills Forest Tower is a 29-story residence designed by Uchii Architects and Conran & Partners, located at the Azabu neighborhood. According to the developer Mori Building, the structure “embodies [a] ‘Forest City’ concept where the central tower rises like a giant tree.” The condominium complex is also located near Tokyo Midtown, placing it close to Ginza, the land of the rising sun’s premier shopping district.
Ginza is home to several must-visits. Take your wallet for a spin in Seiko House Ginza, Ginza Six, and Mitsukoshi. Explore Japanese culture in the Kabukiza Theater, where you can witness kabuki theater, as well as the Police Museum. Satisfy your cravings at the Yurakucho Gado-shita Dining which stretches over 700 meters and contains several restaurants spanning multiple cuisines.
