The studio model unit: The importance of nurturing individual creativity and the need to pursue every artistic passion will be reflected by the development.

When it seems that every available pocket of land at the Makati Central Building District (MCBC) has been used up for development, a new project crops up to alter the urban fabric and assert its claim in the skyline. The latest among these is The Lerato, the latest condominium in the portfolio of Alveo Land.

Because of its prime and enviable location—where commerce, entertainment, and leisure easily meld like strands of a river—The Lerato is marketed as a place where a homeowner can comfortably “juggle a career and enjoy life’s passions.” Gone are the days of long trips when going to work, buying groceries or meeting up with friends for a coffee session.

Proximity is the buzzword that underlines The Lerato, something that can not be said about other projects though they also harp on location as one of their key features. Location, as we know, has hierarchy; the Bonifacio Global City and Libis may have emerged as powerful urban centers but Makati—particularly the financial district—remains to be real estate heaven.

“MCDB North is Ayala Land’s newest district in Makati poised to develop into an impactful, integrated mixed-use district,” says Dante Abando, president of Alveo Land. “The Lerato is essentially the tangible representation of Alveo Land’s commitment to enrich the work/life balance of Makati’s urban achievers.”

Alveo Land has actually started the development of MCBD North with The Columns Ayala Avenue, the multi-tower residential address that is just right across some of the busiest commercial buildings. The Lerato, then, is part of the vision to shape Makati North as “the preferred address for residential, business and recreational pursuits.”

Located near the Reposo Area (now referred to as Nicanor Garcia St.), The Lerato is also in close proximity to commercial, retail, educational, and institutional landmarks that include Ayala Malls (Glorietta and Greenbelt), Makati Medical Center, Medical Plaza, Ateneo Graduate School, Mapua Institute of Technology, De La Salle Graduate School of Business, Assumption College, Colegio San Agustin, Makati Sports, and Makati Golf.

If there is anything that would distinguish The Lerato from just another high-rise residential tower, it would have to be its amenities devoted to the pursuit of creativity and artistic passion. “The three-tower project will house a Meditation room to help everyone be in tune with their inner selves and in touch with their creativity,” says Abando. “(Amenities also include) an AV/Theatre room for appreciation of the performing arts; Picnic/Barbeque area, jogging trail, and a Roof deck/garden to encourage convergence and bonding of a variety of cultures, characters, and personalities.”

Considering the fact that Nicanor Garcia is the bohemian side of Makati—with its quaint cafes, art and furniture galleries (mostly in the LRI Building), fashion outlets and the French institution Alliance Francaise de Manille—The Lerato’s emphasis on individual expression is a touching attempt to locate itself within the identity of the neighborhood. “The Lerato is for the new Makati resident that sees the city not just as a corporate arena but as a new frontier that combines work and recreation,” Abando concludes.