Green Architecture' Highlighted in Laguna's South Lake Village
Eton Properties Philippines, Inc recently broke ground at Sta. Rosa, Laguna to commence the development of Eton City, a sprawling almost 1,000-hectare project along the South Luzon Expressway in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Soon after, South Lake Village, the maiden development within Eton City, was launched. South Lake Village will feature 18 islands of about 1 hectare each within a huge 35-hectare man-made lake.
Alex Jazmines, Eton Properties Philippines assistant vice president and general manager of the Eton City Project, explained that they contracted N.S. Mangio and Associates to design South Lake Village. NSM&A is a firm known for its previous involvements in several waterfront development projects in the Bermuda and the Philippines.
Addressing environmental issues
Jazmines explain that environmental concerns such as mosquito breeding, lake water supply, conservation and pollution, flooding and erosion were integrated into the “green architecture” or the environmental planning of the project.
The first question that comes to mind is where will a man-made lake of this size get its water supply? Jazmines explains, “The lake will have two primary sources of water supply: first is rainfall and second would be the creeks that run naturally across the development.”
To address water flow or stagnancy, Jazmines says, “There will be inflow and outflow of lake water, ensuring continuous water movement across the lake. Flowing water will prevent mosquito breeding. We will also populate the water with fish who will then feed on any mosquito larvae.”
The issue of flooding was also taken into consideration in the planning of the project. “We had a 50-year flood study that took into account the highest flooding levels in the area. The villages in Eton City will be elevated at the same height as the expressway and are designed taking into consideration the results of the said flood study,” Jazmines further clarifies.
Jazmines also spoke about other concerns that had to be considered in planning South Lake Village. In order to prevent erosion of the island lots, the lakeside will be protected by a lake liner, earth fill, rock layers and vegetation. Water pollution is also kept in check by the detention pond which will filter creek water before it is let into the lake.