LEADING Philippine sustainable developer Arthaland will make the Cebu City skyline greener as it recently broke ground on another environment-friendly project–Lucima.

"We want to share our vision and commitment to different parts of the country. Cebu is the best place to start it off in the South for Arthaland, following the success of our company's office building development, the Cebu Exchange," Arthaland Vice Chairman and President  Jaime C. González  told the press in an online forum.

The Amenity Deck—world-class amenities can be found on the 6th floor

Located at the corner of Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Samar Loop in Cebu Business Park, the 37-story development is envisioned to be the first quadruple-certified sustainable high-rise residential condominium in the country. It has garnered pre-certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold by the US Green Building Council. Meanwhile, it is vying for WELL  (WELL Building Standard), EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), and BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) certifications. "Cebu is fast gaining prominence as a leading regional hub and preferred location for some of the most renowned global institutions. Investors and locators alike can look to Lucima to set the standard of luxury living in the city through its timeless design, meticulously executed  construction and thoughtful sustainability features," Arthaland Executive Vice President  Christopher G. Narciso pointed out.  

Lucima was derived from the Latin word "Lux" which means light, and the Spanish word "Estima" which means appreciation, light and its benefits are the inspiration behind the building's aesthetics, functionality, and energy efficiency.

According to Architect Miguel Saraiva, CEO and founder, Saraiva + Associados, the design will put emphasis on carefully planned features allowing  abundant light to penetrate inside the homes while preventing indoor heat gain.

Lucima Main Lobby—the Main Lobby features a play of light 

Designed by Lisbon, Portugal-based Saraiva + Associados, Lucima features 263 one to five-bedroom living spaces ranging from 38 to 542 sq m. Moreover, Saraiva pointed out that its human-centered design approach puts comfort, functionality, and aesthetics at the center of every project they undertake. To be able future residents to enjoy the picturesque view of Cebu City, each unit will have a high floor-to-ceiling height of 2.9 meters, and residents can enjoy a view of the ocean, the mountains, or the city.

"The goal of this project was to design an iconic building in the city that would engage with its surroundings. This building sits on a podium—a podium with personality—which will showcase a vertically well-designed and integrated building. Its façade will have different interpretations depending on the solar incidence and depending on how it is viewed from the outside to the inside," Saraiva said.

For sure, Lucima will put a premium on health, safety, and security. In line with its sustainable mantra, future residents of Lucima will experience an environment-friendly lifestyle through lower electric and water bills and improved indoor air quality. Being a green and efficient building, Lucima will use an energy efficient air-conditioning and lighting system and low flow plumbing features that will allow residents and tenants to achieve at least 40 percent savings in electricity bills and at least 20 percent savings in water consumption. Each unit will have an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) that improves indoor air quality by bringing in fresh, filtered air while controlling the humidity for thermal comfort.

The introduction of the ERV is timely as it aims to protect future tenants from harmful microbes and pathogens through highly efficient air filters.  This results in reduced incidents of cold, fewer allergies, and a better quality of sleep.

As with other Arthaland developments, Lucima will have its own Potager Garden to provide residents with fresh, organic, and nutritious produce.

To ensure Lucima will be always in excellent shape, Arthaland's wholly owned subsidiary, Emera Property Management shall handle every aspect of the building's upkeep and day-to-day management.  

Lucima is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

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