SLATED to be the next happening destination, The Sky Garden at SM North Edsa is an elevated park linking all three buildings of the mall.

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A BREATH of fresh air is blowing through Quezon City. And it’s coming from the direction of the oldest supermall.

Above the mayhem of the metropolis, SM North Edsa has built a rooftop promenade gilded with a profusion of foliage, from fat palm trees to grassy knolls. Complete with gushing fountains, and a 24-meter waterfall, the Sky Garden is designed to be an oasis within the city, a respite for urbanites who want a double dose of therapy—environmental and gastronomical.
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LUSH landscapes provide a welcome relief against the dreary gray of the city.

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A first in the country, the 16,350-square-meter model of green architecture will soon be home to popular dining establishments, such as Gerry’s Grill, Starbucks, Padi’s Point, and Ferinos Bibingka. By May 29 the retail giant expects to see 58 percent of its tenants opening their doors to hungry customers, according to Giselle Centeno from SM’s public relations office. Other food outlets include Chef Tony’s Popstore, Blushing Cupcakes, Churrasco Express, Fruits in Ice Cream and Freshbar by Big Chill.

The curvilinear garden has another distinctive feature: walkways canopied by white tensile fabrics over arching steel frames—a roofing system similar to the one in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It winds through clusters of restaurants and kiosks, past islands of glass-walled pavilions

surrounded by shallow waters, and a domed amphitheater for events and promotional activities.

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SOME cafés and restaurants will set up shop soon in “floating” glass structures at The Sky Garden.
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Allen Palipic, senior project architect at W.V. Coscolluela & Associates, the architect of record for the Sky Garden, says, “Because of climate change and concern for the environment, SM came up with the idea of a green roof project. The design concept is a collaboration with ARQ,”. Rising a floor above street level—where a terminal and a parking space used to be—the park not only provides a soothing buffer against the traffic and congestion of Edsa but also unites the entire complex. “The Sky Garden is interconnected to existing mall structures—The Annex, the main building [The City Center] and The Block,” he adds.

The latest expansion effort by the flagship supermall, following last December’s unveiling of the new Annex, catapults SM North Edsa into the status of largest mall in the Philippines, consequently knocking SM Mall of Asia into second place. The much-needed upgrades help level the playing field between the SM behemoth and TriNoma, its rival across the street. Realizing that there’s plenty of customers for everyone, however, the competitors finally agreed to a pedestrian overpass, erected just months ago, to facilitate the flow of shoppers. The project was also handled by the same architectural firm.