MonoMad: Experiencing Urban Design at Cebu's Seafront

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Recognized in the Philippines as the Queen City of the South, Cebu has evolved from an ancient municipality into a modern metropolis. Her breathtaking shores also thrive with life.

Created by STORIES OF ERNE™ on March 1, 2023

Cebu City is home to world-class architecture! Although this historic settlement is the product of colonial influences from various foreign nations, she continues to upgrade her built environments to suit the discerning tastes of Cebuanos and visiting tourists. Apart from the rapid development of buildings in the city's interiors, the massive growth of its coastal habitats also continue to attract people of all ages.

The soothing experiences provided by sea views and other natural bodies of water are one of the most sought-after spectacles of the environment. Would you still wonder why humans flock to the beach?

Being a beach lover myself, I went out for dinner with friends not too long ago to a coastal mall that offered stunning panoramas of the sea. This lifestyle establishment is situated at the South Road Properties, an enormous reclamation project encompassing various real estate developments such as restaurants, shopping centers, corporate infrastructure, and residential communities. Our specific destination was called IL CORSO.

We arrived late in the afternoon, a bit earlier than dinner time because we wanted to check out the coastal road constructed between the sea edge and Il Corso. Did you know that apart from the usual activities within this commercial complex, there are other interesting experiences available outside?

As I've mentioned, visitors can choose whether they wanted to take their pets for a walk, jog, stroll, or ride their bicycles along the beach road, or simply indulge in the surrounding outdoor restaurants to their heart's content.

Il Corso adopts a contemporary style of architecture with a touch of marine themes. Design details such as the overhead tent structures on the mall's roof mimic boat sails, aquatic decors on some dining places and cafes, plus the towering lighthouse of course, contribute to this atmosphere!

A few of the iconic landmarks that can be witnessed from there include NUSTAR, a shopping and entertainment complex with a built-in casino, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) which is Cebu's third bridge linking Mactan Island to mainland Cebu, plus the unprecedented sceneries of the Mactan Channel. Would you demand for more?

After spending the afternoon at the coastal road, our tummies started to grind while savoring the beautiful sunset nearby. Without delay, we proceeded to our favorite restaurant of choice: LANTAW IL CORSO.

Although the architectural construction of this dining space wasn't as lavish as you'd expect, I simply loved its open-type layout! So while we were savoring our delicious food, we could altogether feel the cool caress of the sea breeze nearby. This restaurant had 2 levels, and we were fortunate to have stayed at the upper deck for a much better experience of the seaside environment. If you're planning to dine here, I encourage you to choose seating on top. You won't regret it, that's a promise!

We spent the rest of the evening there until the mall's closing hours. Despite being a quick adventure, our unforgettable moments at Il Corso, Lantaw, including the other interesting highlights of SRP were absolutely worth celebrating. As a result, this lifestyle destination has become one of my favorite hangouts in Cebu City. Priceless indeed!

Without further ado, here are monochromatic visuals of the narratives I've just shared with you. Have you discovered your most admired image in the collection? What are your thoughts about the architecture of Il Corso, Lantaw, and the rest? Let's talk in the comments.

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_{Il Corso Lifemalls at SRP, Cebu City, Philippines}