Negrense heritage is rich with Spanish influence, as they have stayed in the province for hundreds of years. The lifestyle, language, architecture, and of course interior designs lean on the use of wood — from wall treatments to furniture, even ornate ceilings. Continuing its rise as the new and modern central business district of Bacolod City, property giant Megaworld welcomed guests and visitors into yet another iconic facility inside the 34-hectare township — The Upper East House.
Taking a Tour of The Upper East House
Paying respects to the township’s historic past as it is the location of the former Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company (BMMC), Megaworld Bacolod opened The Upper East House.
It is an iconic three-story township information center that pays homage to the elegance and sophisticated ambiance of the ‘White Mansion‘.
Located within the curated park, the structure is just a short walk from One Regis–the township’s first residential condominium development. You may also easily find it beside McDonald’s Upper East, both along the eight-lane Upper East Avenue. The information center also stands right across the four-story No. 1 Upper East Avenue BPO tower Megaworld is currently finishing.
An Architectural Masterpiece
A spacious veranda and outdoor lounge with a water cascade welcome visitors in front of The Upper East House, whose exteriors are painted predominantly in white. The staircase outside leads guests to the upper ground floor. This hosts the reception area, lounge, negotiation area, and a gallery that will feature photos and other memorabilia of BMMC.
From the ground floor, there is an available elevator for seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs). This gives them access to the lower and upper floors. Located towards the back portion of the ground floor are two commercial spaces with a veranda.
The lower ground floor, meanwhile, hosts another negotiation area and lounge. Here you will also find meeting rooms, a bar adapted from heritage houses infused with modern touches, and toilets. Added to these are the security room, and the broker’s office. Upstairs on the second floor are the marketing offices, pantry, and training rooms.
Interior Design
The interiors of The Upper East House feature a warm color palette with hues of brown, white, and beige to emit a vintage, elegant vibe. Decorative wooden panels adorn the walls. While calados (carved wooden screens) and cartouches (decorative ceiling panels) hang from the ceiling as accents. They are not only decorative but help in circulating air across rooms.
Meanwhile, solihiya (woven rattan strands) further adorn the reception walls. To radiate a retro charm patterned wooden planks, tiles, and stones are all over the entire space.
Furniture pieces inside The Upper East House are designed similarly to those in the old house’s chairs and tables. The wood stain colors vary from light to dark tones, as adapted from old furniture pieces.
There is also a grand chandelier—a modern take on the original dining chandelier of the old house. Jars representing the banga or tapayan are displayed on the top of wooden pedestals. These jars are used in old times for water and food storage
An award-winning township
You may also find beside The Upper East House the refurbished, decades-old BMMC train. The “World’s First-Ever McDonald’s Dessert Station on a Train” won a Silver Award. The said award is under the Specialized Project or Purpose-Built Category at the 2022 Property and Real Estate Excellence Awards by FIABCI Philippines.
The Upper East was recently hailed the “Real Estate Project of the Year in the Philippines” at the World Business Outlook Awards 2023. The township is also a proud recipient of a Gold Award under the Master Plan Category, also from the 2022 Property and Real Estate Excellence Awards by FIABCI Philippines.
In the next few years, it will feature four residential condominium developments, namely One
Regis, Two Regis, One Manhattan, and Herald Parksuites. Moreover, the very first Landers Superstore in
Western Visayas will be opening very soon.
Meanwhile, office towers No. 1 Upper East Avenue and No. 5 Upper East Avenue; the 300-room Kingsford Hotel Bacolod; and a lifestyle mall are among many other components that will complete the live-work-play experience in this Bacolod township.
