FULLY furnished student dorm room at Upad with study area, kitchenette and bathroom
COLLEGE DORM life has just leveled up. University Pad Residences or “Upad” (www.universitypad.com.ph) has redefined dormitory living. Upad means a hip, condo lifestyle with awesome facilities and amenities. It was conceptualized by architect Jonathan Gan, working with Kingsville Property Holdings. Trezza Design Group’s Anne Gaerlan handled the hip and colorful interiors of Upad. The group saw the need to improve and provide excellent housing for students living here and abroad. In short, why should students need to fight traffic daily when they can stay in Upads near their schools?
MYHOME magazine editor Jie Pambid, event host Issa Litton, Tessa Valdes and One Mega Group’s Meryll Yan
The first Upad is at 912 Pablo Ocampo St. in Malate, walking distance to three big schools—De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde and St. Scholastica. The premium student residence is secure and conducive for study and play. It’s a home beside your school.
Upad is not the usual tight, overpacked and poorly ventilated dorm. These residences are equipped with loft beds, study area, shelves and closets with locks, cable TV, a compact yet functional kitchenette and a great bathroom. Each room has an intercom directly linked to the reception area.
They have a study lounge with free Wi-Fi, well-equipped gym, lap pool, recreation area and chapel. For the convenience of the students, the building has laundry service, parlor and spa, and two floors of fast-food outlets and kiosks. Adding to all that, Upad amenities are close to many city hotels, in case parents are visiting and want to stay nearby.
UPAD Residences interior designers Anne Gaerlan and Tessa Valdes of Trezza Group, Bangs Salon owners Victor Ortega and Jun Parreno and Upad owner Natalie Uy
The new building is equipped with fire exits and alarms, sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detector in every room, and a stand-by power generator. Daily garbage collection and weekly room service cleaning make it all too easy to stay at Upad.
Wash Up Wash Up provides daily laundry services and is right next to Bangs Salon, which offers a full range of hair services and a private room for massages. These services are both located at the top floor offering a spectacular view of Manila skyline.
Security is a major focus of Upad. There are 24-hour stationed and roving security guards throughout the building. Close-circuit TV systems monitor all common areas, and all rooms have a Card Identification and Security Access System. Residential floors are gender-specific.
BRIGHT and cheerful recreational area and swimming pool of Upad
The students living at Upad can personalize their spaces by checking out various interior design magazines. One of the country’s top home and shelter publications is MyHome Magazine. Each issue is packed with beautiful interiors, design ideas and useful house tips.
Vignette exhibit
In celebration of 12 years of advocating a beautiful home for every Filipino, MyHome presented “Decades of Design,” an exhibit at the Mind Museum at Bonifacio Global City last Tuesday.
ELEGANT reception area of Upad Residences
“Decades of Design” is a vignette exhibit inspired by iconic women, each the embodiment of timeless and elegant style. The women featured included interior designer Chat Fores, model and editor Apples Aberin and jewelry designer Jul B. Dizon. Each vignette also featured a chair that represented the design movement of their respective decades.
Jie Pambid, editor or MyHome magazine, delivered the welcome remarks at the opening, followed by Meryll Yan, multiplatform publisher of One Mega Group. Host Issa Litton then joined Jie on stage to honor their most valued partners with a short program and an awarding ceremony. A silent auction was also held to bid out the complete furniture set from Gus, on display at the 2012 Jessica Sanchez vignette.
Follow @tessavaldes on Twitter or e-mail her at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.