Elevated living at the heart of it all
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When the brief for The Balmori Suites first reached acclaimed interior designer Butch Valdez, the creative force behind the interiors of Rockwell’s Joya Lofts and Towers, Edades Tower and Garden Villas, and Proscenium at Rockwell, he was faced with an exciting challenge: Balmori was initially intended to become a uniquely Rockwell hotel.
Located along bustling Hidalgo Drive, only a few steps away with direct access to the Power Plant Mall, The Balmori Suites was launched last year. It now stands as an exclusive residential condominium right at the heart of Rockwell Center offering a limited number of suites. Finally, its residents are getting a first glimpse at the lobby that they will come home to.
Standing tall with the awe of Hong Kong’s structural expressionism and the Italian way of highlighting materiality in the scale of a five-star hotel, Valdez has created an oasis-like experience in a centrally located property as soon as you step into its lobby.
How did he do it? Valdez looks back, “I traveled with Mr. (Nestor J.) Padilla, Rockwell Land president and CEO and visited different hotels around the world to gain inspiration from them.”
The well-traveled resident will experience an affinity with Valdez’s distinguished curation of fine art and precious antiques from all around the world. Among the treasures he handpicked is an intricate Japanese wedding gown from the 1800s by the elevator lobby, offset by minimalist paintings by a Korean artist. A woven agave mat adds an organic feel to the space, creating a new-meets-old juxtaposition alongside wares from China and Africa.
Adding to the lobby’s vibrant character is a floor-to-ceiling oil on canvas painting, an original artwork by the Filipino artist Isagani Fuentes, commissioned especially for The Balmori Suites. On view behind the reception vestibule, Balmori residents can delight in an art museum experience every day, beginning at the lobby.
Valdez concludes, “The Balmori is contemporary but still has elements that bring warmth and openness.”
The true luxury of space at a central location is available at Balmori, starting with 144-square-meter two-bedroom units and 232-to-288-square-meter three-bedroom units. Each expansive, sunlit space is designed with your leisure — as well as your exclusivity and privacy in mind. There are only three to five units to a floor.
The most premium of finishes in its 218-square-meter lobby set the stage for this high level of finery — striking in its own right.
“The black floors are timeless — you can see that even this has a subtle pattern of graining in white and gold,” he says in describing the St. Laurent flooring mixed with yellow accents called Avorio Siena. The bold, contrasting graining matches the Viola Italian marble on the captivating 8.6-meter accent wall, sourced from Italy and inspired by a hotel wall in one of the world’s design capitals. The cool marble — and the bright Manila sunshine from the windows — is then warmed by the exotic dark Wenge wood.
He points out, “The concept initially was Contemporary Asian, leaning more towards Filipino, but it kept changing and evolving into more of a hybrid with some English or European styles.”
The window frames wrapping around the lobby extending all the way to the sky in its garden rooftop pool lounge are not unlike oversized neo-traditionalist renditions of the checkered patterning of the shoji screens of the Japanese vernacular home, echoed by the floor patterns and ceiling patterns.
“That’s the beauty of an interior that is not specific; it’s very timeless,” Valdez states.
The beauty of nature and the Metro Manila skyline take center stage among Balmori’s amenities. Recreation and entertainment amenities is elevated at this exclusive residence.In its high levels, residents and guests can enjoy breathtaking views from Balmori's 7th floor garden and tent, which is set to be a site where events may take place. Residents can take their fitness to the next level from the highest floor of the property with private access to a sleek, high-ceiling gym and a highly modern pool deck amid lush greenery.
Sophisticated, luxurious, and inspiring at every corner, Balmori offers refinement and indulgence for a select few, redefining what your home can be at the heart of it all.
For more information, please visit their website.
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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Rockwell Land Corporation.
