Towers in Manila appear almost by reflex, but very few projects can credibly claim to reshape the upper tier of residential property. In its location, construction, and long-term investment fundamentals, The Estate Makati stands firmly among them. A joint development between SM Residences and Federal Land, Inc., the tower rises on the last undeveloped parcel of Apartment Ridge, the discreet strip that has long been home to families at the center of the Philippines’ business and cultural life. The address alone carries weight; what distinguishes The Estate Makati is the decision to match that history with an unusually rigorous approach to design and construction. Foster + Partners and the Value of Structure The building is designed by Foster + Partners, the British architectural practice behind projects such as Hong Kong International Airport and the glass dome of the German Reichstag—schemes that must work at scale, under public scrutiny, and over..