Street Art: Element of Urban Living
Posted: July 17, 2017 Filed under: Condo | Tags: condo for sale, Condominium, first-Time homebuyers, makati condo, philippines properties, Property Leave a commentIt’s wonderful to be able to start the day with a something to look forward to each day. Living in a condo for rent in Makati is exciting because the streets of the city are decorated with multiple installations, centerpieces, and architectural aesthetic. A few block from Makati is Taguig, where great masterpieces from local artists are scattered throughout the city.
The local street art varies from luxurious murals to spray painted comic-like characters that shadow the country’s history and culture. Gone are the days when graffiti was a form of vandalism. Artists are now encouraged to paint the town red (literally) to bring life and color to the flat concrete and neutral palette of the city.
Transforming the city
Public spaces are a perfect canvas for showcasing the local art scene.
Empty lots, transport stations, trash bins, park benches, and even trees are adorned using different styles art. All of these things are accessible to the public, and it can be seen by anyone who passes or lingers. Applying the designs on places open to everyone makes it easier to spread information and awareness. Artists can express their voices and ideas through their work.
The Guerilla painted this mural to show their support to the Lumad community when they came to Manila.
Sometimes, the works of art depict the repressed and unheard voices and struggles of the artistic community as well as those groups nearby. The artwork can also be a propaganda of historical and societal issues. Other times, there are works of art that just want to make people think. Gerilya, a group of Fine Arts graduates, turned street artists, shares this; “it feels better as an artist for your art to be of use to someone rather than for your art to just look cool but with no substance.”
The group categorized its artworks into three types: Kultura, Kasaysayan at Kasarinlan. Kultura is cultural pieces which celebrate Filipino traditions, values and way of life. Kasaysayan is artworks inspired by historical events. It features heroes and notable sightings of Philippine history. Kasarinlan is socio-political artworks that target common national issues.
“Whenever we support an issue through our art, we find a reason to do it. If it compels us enough to do a piece about it, then so be it. So most of the time, we only do issue-based work that concerns us, and that also affects us.”
One example is the artwork they constructed on Budget Cut for Education sector when they were still students. Election-themed works were also popular during the Election Period. Still, Gerilya is open to collaboration with groups and sectors of the society that needs representation. The team recently extended their help to the Lumad community for the Manilakbayan March. They believe in the cause, so they dedicated their time on a mural even if they are not members of the tribe.
The pictures and visuals can be powerful weapons that can be used to guide the unfaltering attention of the masses from mainstream media to sensitive and serious subjects in the community.
Art adds beauty and value to the dark and somber structures of the city.
The combination of colors and prints is delightful to the eye. It breaks the monotony of urban life with the awe-inspiring lines, curves, and patterns. The art piece allows the city to breathe. The culture and the individuality of the place take center stage as artists highlight note-worthy [and random] spots with their work.
BGC breaks the monotony of the city by inviting local artists to showcase their talent through street art.
Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is one of the country’s highly-urbanized cities that redefined its structure based on sustainable living. BGC’s Art Mural Festival by Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. expounded along with the area’s development. The design started with empty lots but was soon filled up. Art can now be seen on the city’s trash cans, transformer vaults, trees, and sidewalks. BGC is slowly transitioning to a full-scale art piece that inspired local artists to come out of their shells and share the beauty of their creations to the public.
Benefits of the craft
Producing and creating artwork, regardless of the medium, is therapeutic to both the artist and the audience.
For artists, it is an outlet of stored energy and emotions. The pent up creative energy is spread to the environment, especially to the people. The viewers of the artistry get inspired while the creative juices of the artists are renewed.
Making art allows the artists and children an outlet to release their creative energy and inner turmoil.
The images also cast a sense of peace to the artist and audience. Art encourages the creation of tangible products, which helps people who are not able to articulate their precise thoughts convey them to others. Victims of abuse find it difficult to communicate the sensations, emotions or perceptions because of what they went through. Employing the artistic side is a way of “voicing” specific memories or feeling without having to talk.
Art is also a sensory-based approach which allows children to experience themselves and communicate on multiple levels (visual, tactile, kinesthetic and others).
Street art is part of the urban life and has evolved in sync with the new workings of the society. Art is functional to the city when viewed as a ‘weapon’ or medium of communication. It also establishes the community’s identity through the colorful personalities encapsulated in the imagery. Lastly, art is essential to human nature. The process of creating an aesthetic is a cure for the anxiety and stress of past issues. A city filled with the wonders of art gives condo living a unique and distinct experience.
Home Decorating: Four Important Principles to Keep in Mind
Posted: January 22, 2019 Filed under: Condo, Home Interior Design, Homebuyers:, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Tips, Uncategorized | Tags: Ayala Land, home decoration, home design, home improvement Leave a comment
The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what is in or what is out. This is not an easy job”-Albert Hadley
It has often been believed that when it comes to interior design, no such rules would apply.
In this regard, homeowners are able to freely explore their creativity and express themselves as manifested by the resulting themes and designs of the various rooms in their homes. Unfortunately, while there should be no limits as to how far you can explore your creativity, your resulting design should have a semblance of cohesion insomuch that they do not only work well together but they would be a functional whole by then. An excellently applied and executed home interior design is characterized not only by visual aesthetics and comfortable ambiance, but by functionality and efficiency as well. With this in mind, the design principles you apply should not only be to improve a place’s overall visual appeal but you should also endeavor to create a space that is practical and purposeful as well.
After all, your design aspects and themed furniture would all be for naught if it turned out that the produced a space that is not efficient to move around in. So while your creativity should not be restricted, it is recommended that you keep a few principles in mind when it comes to applying it in interior design. So, whether you choose to live in one of the condo units in One Roxas Triangle or elsewhere, here are some design principles to keep in mind:
Plan for real life
One of the initial things to keep in mind during the interior design process is to remember to plan for the space first. In this regard, you should be able to visualize how the room should function by blocking out interior spatial areas and define circulation patterns. More importantly, furniture layout should be developed as well as equipment placement. Before even going into the nitty-gritty details of interior designing, it is imperative to survey the room and make an assessment of the room’s functional deficits. After all that, you should come up with a plan where the elements to be used can be manipulated best to fit the people it will service. Simply put how a space should be used and how the people live there should both be kept in mind. Ask yourself what you need from the space and how you move through it every single day. After all, planning for your space is largely hinged on efficiency insomuch that design only comes second to functionality. With all that considered, try to avoid design trends and thematic style if they impinge on the overall functionality of a room. Take note: Functionality first then aesthetics second.
Create a vision
Now that you have a plan on how your space should function, you are ready for applying style and design. A room’s functionality should be able to work cohesively with your aesthetic and atmospheric design. With this in mind, create a concept for the space and mentally tick off the requirements and elements needed to effectuate such vision. Have a unified approach instead of simply choosing a paint color or an appropriate couch for your room. A unified or global approach means creating a vision that would somehow encapsulate all of the elements of a room instead of picking them out one by one. In this regard, create a vision that is timeless and has longevity. A vision that is well thought of would be able to convey the room’s unique concept. More importantly, it should be able to tell a story of how the various elements in the room can come together and function cohesively.
Be thoughtful about materials and construction
While functionality serves as interior design’s core foundation, keep in mind that quality guarantees longevity. When it comes to selecting materials, remember that quality is key. A beautiful and functional room can only go so far if it is made with cheap materials. More importantly, the materials of a room and how it was constructed can significantly affect your overall experience in a finished room. Materials of poor quality will never be at par with excellent construction materials. The latter will always have a sound feel about them which its substandard counterparts can never even try to emulate. However, keep in mind that pricey materials do not always equate quality. Similarly, you should not dismiss affordable materials immediately as being of lesser quality. Scrutinize the products and be sure that you are getting the best bang out of your purchase. Evaluate whether a particular material is durable and built to last and determine whether or not it would mesh well with the space you have envisioned.
Juxtapose contrasting elements
Creating a vision for a space largely involves selecting various pieces and aspects from contrasting elements. To create a unified theme whose design functions cohesively, you should note the differences between two or more materials. Try to understand what makes each stand out and how these diverse set of materials, shapes, patterns and textures would work together. Remember, it is the differences in each one of them that can enhance or diminish the overall visual appeal of a room. Understand what makes each piece beautiful and pivotal to the design of a room in effecting your vision.
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Disorganized Homes: Three Reasons Why You Have Clutter (And Why Your Place is Constantly Messy)
Posted: January 15, 2019 Filed under: Condo, Home, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Tips, Uncategorized | Tags: Ayala Land, decluttering tips, disorganized homes, organized homes Leave a comment
“Clutter is a weight that has built on top of you gradually, you do not even realize anymore that it is holding you down” –Mary Johansson
Clutter can be rather difficult to deal with.
It eats up space and it tends to negatively associate our homes with feelings of unease, anxiety and just general discomfort. Our homes are supposed to make us relaxed and comfortable. It is supposed to be warm and inviting insomuch that we look forward to coming home each day. However, all of those feelings are immediately extinguished if clutter has claimed dominion over your living spaces. Unfortunately, while clutter is a pressing predicament in most households, most homeowners are even unaware that they have the problem. To them, the perpetual disarray of their home is its normal state as a consequence of accumulating personal belongings and household items. However, there is a marked difference between a home with manageable clutter and a home where finding something you need is a challenge. The first step to having a clean and organized living space is to accept the reality that indeed, you have way more things than you can handle. Ask and answer yourself honestly: What state is your home in right now? Is it messy? If it is what is causing now?
If you find yourself constantly putting in the effort in making your home clean and uncluttered and yet despite your best efforts, it still looks disorganized then your problem is rooted on failing to clean the clutter, but rather accumulating it. Even the strongest endeavour in maintaining a clean home is not proof against the common causes of clutter. You can organized and de-clutter as much as you want but you are eventually going to rein more clutter back in. To address this, you need to take a closer look at what is causing it. Whether you are living in a swanky place such as The Alcoves or even in the most spacious flat, here are some of the common causes why you are still attracting clutter:
You pile paper
This is often seen in homes with makeshift offices but it is evident in homes without it as well. So long as there is a desk or a filing tray, piles upon piles of documents would always be atop of it. However, paper can be in any form and still be clutter. Books, coupons, magazines, receipts—all of these are clutter especially when they are scattered in almost every surface of your home. It does not matter whether the paper is trash or not. If it does not have a proper storage place or if it no longer serves its purpose and is unwanted, it can quickly overwhelm and crowd a room.
You do not put things where they belong
We get it: You are in a rush. However, that is not a good excuse to just leave out your things out in the open. This is rather common among women who go through a series of clothes when getting dressed in the morning. They pile article upon article of clothing upon each other until they are satisfied with an ensemble. Unfortunately, the clothes that did not make the cut would be left in a heap on the bed and by the time they come back from work, they might be too tired to transfer it back to their closets and just leave it on a chair. If you find yourself relating to this, it is time to instil a sense of responsibility in yourself. Have a policy that constrains you to return whatever you have gotten back to its proper place. However, do not stop at just your closets and incorporate this policy on every room in your homes. Ask your family members to do the same and make sure they comply. Encourage them to return everything to its proper place. In this regard, make sure every item has a designated place as well.
You do not have a solution for your worn/dirty/used clothes
One of the biggest contributors to the clutter in your home is clothes, surprisingly. You would think that with all the household objects that could be cluttering your home, clothes would be the last thing contributing to the mess. But, as it turns out, clothes can be a significant factor in cluttered homes. This is particularly true for households who have not implemented a good system as to where their used and dirty clothes should go. Unfortunately, the habit of leaving clothes where they are the moment you take them off can be rather hard to break. Even harder is breaking the habit of simply putting clean clothes on whatever surface you can find and not putting them back in the closet. With this in mind, make it a point to stow away every article of clothing once they are washed, dried, pressed and folded. On that note, purge your closets from clothes you can no longer use as well.
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