The Rise of Sustainable Real Estate Investments in the Philippines
Recent years have shown a rise in consumer preference shifting towards more ecologically friendly products and solutions. Among its many factors are a heightened awareness of environmental concerns such as climate change and sustainability, as well as practicality.
This shift in habits has affected several industries, including the real estate market. That being said, many developers have acknowledged this trend and have begun following suit—providing living spaces that promote health and wellness for their owners while also meeting the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
Whether the property is a house or a condominium unit, it goes without saying that there are certain non-negotiables that neither can be without. These include features and fixtures such as comfortable sleeping and living quarters, an accessible kitchen, clean bathrooms and laundry areas, access to scenery, and reliable utilities.
While these features can be taken at face value for their aesthetic appeal, it’s important for buyers to understand that sustainable homes are part of an ecosystem geared towards long-term benefits for themselves as well as for the environment. Below are some of the benefits such homes provide.
Organic Materials
Furniture and building materials such as wood or other naturally-sourced materials are among the top of mind when people hear the word organic in the context of real estate and design. However, sustainable home construction goes beyond these traditional ideas. It includes the use of reclaimed wood and other recycled materials for furniture, flooring, and fixtures. These materials can even be used for certain structural components. Taking this extra step reduces costs associated with construction and manufacturing. It also lowers environmental impact by making use of already-existing materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Eco-Friendly Amenities
On a larger scale, these translate to green spaces such as gardens, parks, and other open-air recreational areas. But when it comes to the home, they refer to features that add to the quality of life and comfort of its residents. Windows, for one, do more than provide a view of the outside world. They also widen the spaces they occupy while granting access to natural light and fresh air. Backyards and balconies allow gardens to be set up which can be treated as pastimes or spaces to relax and take a break from technology-saturated environments. Such amenities don’t just bring nature and wellness into a home, they also help reduce energy consumption where possible.
Energy-Efficient Designs
Adding to the above, energy-efficient designs incorporate the use of smart home systems and Energy Star-rated appliances that provide greater savings on water and electricity. These range from low-flow toilets to air-conditioning and refrigeration units that regulate energy consumption while maintaining a certain standard. Smart lighting and automation, while seemingly negligible, add up over time towards financial and environmental savings.
All these contribute to a lower carbon footprint and provide significant savings. At the same time, they cater to the ambiance and luxuries expected in a modern home. So while location and overall aesthetics are still major criteria in any buyer’s decision-making process, the value sustainable homes adds can be the little nudge they need to seal the deal.
Considerations such as these make sustainable real estate an investment opportunity for buyers—not just simply in their future home, but also in the future of the world we live in.
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About Santos Knight Frank
The world of real estate can be a difficult place to navigate. Whether property is your investment or a tool that drives your business success, you need a partner who can guide you in every step of the way.
Since 1994, Santos Knight Frank has been guiding Fortune 1000 companies, BPOs, private clients, and institutions in all facets of real estate. We advise companies on their best office, retail, and industrial location, oversee commercial fit-out projects, and manage facilities. We have facilitated over 4 million sqm of office transactions on behalf of clients and managed over 40 million sqm of real estate under our property & facilities management arm.
Our residential brokerage platform and wide collection of bespoke homes allow our private clients to buy, lease, and sell properties within their budget, timeline, and lifestyle.
For landlords and investors, we provide valuations and appraisal, consultancy and research, sales and leasing, and property management services across the Philippines.
Santos Knight Frank is part of the global Knight Frank network of over 384 offices in 51 markets, including the strategically important U.S. partnerships with Cresa (commercial real estate) and Douglas Elliman (residential real estate).
We are locally expert and globally connected, end-to-end and best-in-class – as any great partner in property should be.
Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs: What You Need to Know
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An example of Biophilic Design in a modern setting for an interior office fit-out.
About Biophilic Design
Biophilic design derives its name from “biophilia,” a term that captures the human tendency to connect and interact with other living organisms in nature. Biophilic design pushes people to reimagine their workspaces from mundane cubicles with fluorescent lighting to spaces encouraging productivity through natural elements like sunlight, plants, and more.
But why are most companies incorporating interior office fit-outs with this type of design? Well, it’s more than a philosophy as research shows that biophilic design actively promotes cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being.
Biophilic Design Benefits for Your Office’s Interior
By integrating elements like natural light, greenery, and other nature-inspired features in your interior office fit-outs, this design approach has been shown to positively impact physical and mental well-being, which is vital for workers attending their offices every day.
A few of their known benefits are:
1. Increase Productivity
The presence of plants and a biophilic design in office spaces has been specifically linked to improved concentration and creativity among employees.
Workspaces with natural elements achieve a 15% higher well-being score and a 6% increase in productivity compared to offices lacking such elements, according to a global study.
This shows that incorporating greenery and nature-inspired elements can enhance cognitive function, leading to a more focused and innovative work environment.
2. Reduce Stress
The University of Central Arkansas stated in its feature article that biophilic design “has the same mental effect on well-being as being outdoors in real natural environments”. This includes images featuring nature, plants, mountains, and even outdoor landscapes.
If you’ve seen an interior office fit out that’s thoughtfully designed, it’s more than just aesthetics. Having a presence of nature in the form of water, breeze, scents, light, shadows, etc. provides a refuge for people’s minds, enabling them to think clearer and maintain a logical perception.
For example, lively-looking areas vibrant with color can positively affect an employee’s mood. Even a small touch of green can go a long way in reducing stress among employees.
3. Promote Better Air Quality
When discussing biophilic design, many envision the incorporation of living architecture into both indoor and outdoor spaces. The inclusion of plants indoors not only elevates the aesthetic appeal of the interior environment, but also enhances air quality.
Strategically placing living architecture has proven effective in reducing thermal costs by providing shade. It also mitigates direct sunlight, which can lead to glare and heat accumulation. This allows your employees to refresh their minds and think more creatively.
How to Achieve a Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs
Add Indoor Plants
Incorporating plants in the interior office fit-out is in line with the biophilic design. They’re a great source of oxygen, especially when it gets stuffy. The green both catches and relaxes the eyes, especially after a long day of typing away.
However, not all plants find the office a habitual environment. Here are a few that you can add to office desks:
- Orchid
- Snake Plant
- Jade Plant
- Rubber Plant
- Dracaena Marginata
- Yucca
More Natural Light
A well-lit environment can enhance mood, reduce eye strain, and contribute to increased alertness and productivity among occupants. Finding a commercial office space that offers big windows can supply this type of benefit. If you’re already a tenant with a space that isn’t well-lit, you can always opt to open the blinds in the morning and cover them up with something sheer to soften the lighting.
Include Natural Elements
Among the six aspects of biophilic design is to include earthy colors to reconnect individuals with the natural environment features.
It doesn’t mean to completely change the color branding but to include materials that mimic/resemble them in the office setting.
This could mean changing the flooring to something brown, like oak wood, or incorporating fixtures made from organic materials like bamboo.
Get an Expert to Achieve a Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs
As the awareness of the built environment’s impact on human health and the planet grows, biophilic design continues to gain popularity as a holistic and forward-thinking approach to architectural and interior design.
Prioritizing employee well-being emerges as optimal, especially with recent (Y)our Space survey results. Amenities for leisure and development like a gym, a mental health well-being space, and a healthcare facility are among expected employee demands in the next three years. All this contributes to a more enhanced work-life balance that the biophilic design advocates for.
Amenities and services companies expect employees to demand in the next 3 years globally, according to (Y)OUR SPACE 2023.
Consulting with a project management team or a fit-out contractor is crucial for crafting a bespoke fit-out that prioritizes overall company well-being. From functionality, and biophilic design aesthetics, to the workforce’s needs, everything is accounted for and considered.
Contact us to learn more about Santos Knight Frank’s project management services today.
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Find media contacts, and get access to news releases and announcements.
About Santos Knight Frank
The world of real estate can be a difficult place to navigate. Whether property is your investment or a tool that drives your business success, you need a partner who can guide you in every step of the way.
Since 1994, Santos Knight Frank has been guiding Fortune 1000 companies, BPOs, private clients, and institutions in all facets of real estate. We advise companies on their best office, retail, and industrial location, oversee commercial fit-out projects, and manage facilities. We have facilitated over 4 million sqm of office transactions on behalf of clients and managed over 40 million sqm of real estate under our property & facilities management arm.
Our residential brokerage platform and wide collection of bespoke homes allow our private clients to buy, lease, and sell properties within their budget, timeline, and lifestyle.
For landlords and investors, we provide valuations and appraisal, consultancy and research, sales and leasing, and property management services across the Philippines.
Santos Knight Frank is part of the global Knight Frank network of over 384 offices in 51 markets, including the strategically important U.S. partnerships with Cresa (commercial real estate) and Douglas Elliman (residential real estate).
We are locally expert and globally connected, end-to-end and best-in-class – as any great partner in property should be.
