Putting Down Roots – Efficiently Use Land and Do No Harm to Nature and Communities

Robinsons Place Dumaguete al fresco area takes a cue from Robinsons Magnolia when it comes to the provision of a large outdoor landscaped component not just as an adjunct to its many restaurants and cafes but as a destination in themselves. Inspired by the works of National Artist for Architecture I.P. Santos, who pioneered the use of indigenous plant and tree species in landscaping, the two malls' gardens grow native ground cover, shrubs, vines and trees such as the banaba tree (Lagerstroemia speciosa), with its vibrant and bright purple flowers; and white angel (Wrightia hanleyi and Wrightia palawensis are endemic to Palawan, and Wrightia candollei, endemic to the Philippines). Native plants—most of which are perennial, and have extensive root systems that hold soil and slow runoff when used as buffer strips—create sustainable andscapes. They are also self-sustaining, and they support wildlife including beneficial insects, pollinators, and native birds.