The physical restrictions that resulted from the efforts to contain the global COVID-19 pandemic have primarily impacted the way that we live. As the various lockdowns have widely precipitated the “work from home” and “shelter in place” phenomena, homeowners have learned to assess just how much—or how little—our dwellings meet these emerging needs.

Have you ever thought about how your idea of home has changed drastically apart from just providing a roof over your head and a comfortable place to sleep in at night? In as much as the pandemic is a consequence of adverse human impact on the natural environment, perhaps the most important lesson of all is to be more mindful of how we interact and co-exist with others and with the environment.

Applying this concept to home and shelter, this is where the idea of “green” or sustainable buildings come in as the ideal dwellings of the future. Sustainability has long been touted as the solution for humans to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic has merely underscored the need for such approaches to building design and construction.

The good news is that while the idea of sustainable living structures may be new for most, it is already a reality that you can benefit from. Long before the onslaught of the pandemic, a sustainable living solution has been developed with foresight by independent real estate developer ISOC Land (I-Land). I-Land Residences Sucat is the company’s maiden residential condominium development that has been deliberately designed to meet the strict global standards of LEED certification.

This means that the design and development of the vertical community maximizes the use of energy, water and construction materials, thereby reducing impact on human health and the environment. In more ways than one, I-Land Residences Sucat successfully redefines and meets the need for what a home should be like in a post-COVID world:

A home that inspires.

As much as 60 percent of the development is devoted to open spaces as part of its basic orientation toward sustainability. Such freedom for physical movement inspires and encourages not only a more active daily lifestyle among its residents, but a commitment toward sustainable living practices. Ventilated open corridors with natural lighting, adaptive reuse of rainwater for landscaping and the use of energy-efficient light fixtures bringing not only cost savings to residents, but health and wellness benefits as well. With its strategic location, surrounded with support retail and commercial establishments, any instances of limited mobility such as those experienced during lockdowns are easily addressed by walking.

A home that adapts.

Within the residential units, smart and optimum space planning offers the best daily living experience for whatever type of resident—an aspirational professional, a starting-out couple, a young family or a growing brood. Proper design and planning allows adaptive reuse of space for work or schooling, which is a big life change that almost all homeowners have experienced during this pandemic. Unit features such as balconies can be transformed into an urban garden, for instance, or used as an expanded living space for recreation and exercise.

A home that nurtures.

Shared spaces such as amenities and public areas provide more than ample distance among community dwellers. Additionally, automated door access and other technology-based solutions such as smart switches for fixtures are not only part of sustainability measures but also provide additional peace of mind with less physical contact among residents. During this pandemic, there are just some of the most important health and safety considerations especially for those living in vertical communities.

In just a year after its launch, the first tower of I-Land Residences Sucat has already been almost completely sold out—a testament to the growing recognition among Filipino homeseekers of the value of making more sensible and beneficial choices not only in terms of property investment and finances, but in future-proof living as well. Those looking to call I-Land Residences Sucat their home have an opportunity to do so with more units available in its second tower.

Sustainability does not only mean respect for the nature but a more effective and lasting way for humans to co-exist with it. It is time that Filipinos take to heart the challenge of living a more sustainable daily lifestyle so that the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic are not put to waste. I-Land Residences Sucat might just be the perfect home as we know it in a post-pandemic world.