Last November 29, I was fortunate enough to have attended a house blessing at Avida Settings Nuvali in Laguna. Settings is the latest development of Avida Land Corp. which is a division of Ayala Land, Inc.

The following is a picture show that showcases the fine features of an actual house and lot (not brochure pictures) in one of the residential components of what is to become, according to the Ayalas themselves, the “next Makati Central Business District.”

The owner knew what he wanted. This beautiful Avida house sits on a corner and morning-sun lot, i.e. it faces east. The living room and master’s bedroom are bathe with sunlight in the morning

Take note of the corner windows

For me the most beautiful, functional and refreshing parts of the house are the corner windows. I will tell you the reasons later.

Living Room Take note of the columns on both sides of the piano; and on the right side of the main door.

Kitchen

Part of the dining room / on the way to the second floor

landing going to the second floor / Bedroom one

Bedroom one / Bedroom two

Entertainment Area

Master’s Bathroom

Master’s Bedroom

Here’s the part where I explain why I find the corner windows the most beautiful and the most refreshing part of the Avida Settings house. It’s also the most challenging.

• Each window gives you two exterior views at the same time.

• From an engineering perspective, it’s difficult and, therefore, expensive to make. The corner posts appear to have been “cut.”

So, how can this design be pulled off without compromising the structural integrity of the whole house?

Take a hard look at the image above. Where there are corner windows, there are no corner posts. Instead, two separate columns were constructed to support the house framing the corner windows.

With two columns instead of a single post supporting each corner, installing corner windows makes them a very expensive design proposition.

Corner windows is not a new design concept. Engineers, architects and interior designers have long wanted to work on this design but very few developers were willing to execute them precisely because they are expensive. But from an engineering perspective, they make the house very strong, user-friendly and beautiful.

With an ordinary window, you are given a single vista. If you want to look at another, you would have to put your head out of the window : )

And why is it functional? Take a look again at the image of the living room below and you will notice that the columns at each side of the corner windows created a sort of a shadow box in the wall.

Also look at my personal collection.

I am a toy collector and I specialize in diecast cars. I have hundreds of Hotwheels, Matchbox, Tomica and Johnny Lightning toy cars. On my home-office walls, I have display cases like the ones shown. That shadow box is perfect for my collection.

Let your creativity take flight and explore the unlimited design possibilities for this shadow box.

To you, Mr. Avida Settings home owner, your wonderful wife, children and relatives, may the Lord shower you all with perfect health, more bountiful harvest and long and happy lives. It was our first time to meet but you were so gracious to have welcomed me to your beautiful home as if I were a long-time friend. Thank you for the great food (I felt bloated for the next 2 days : ), interesting conversation and warm reception.

Congratulations on achieving your dream house and more power to you!! Mabuhay ka, Sir.