Walkability is the new luxury: Why Makati-maxxing begins in Ayala
Welcome to ‘Makati-maxxing,’ the Gen Z-coined lifestyle trend that romanticizes making the most of life in Makati.
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Welcome to ‘Makati-maxxing,’ the Gen Z-coined lifestyle trend that romanticizes making the most of life in Makati.
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Luxury used to mean owning a car, living in a gated village, or having the biggest condo in the skyline. Today, especially among young professionals, luxury looks a little different.
It’s being able to leave the office, grab a coffee, walk to dinner, squeeze in a workout, spend time in a park and head home — all without sitting in traffic.
Welcome to “Makati-maxxing,” the Gen Z-coined lifestyle trend that romanticizes making the most of life in Makati.
At its core is one thing many Metro Manila residents have long been missing: Walkability.
The city where everything is within walking distance
In most parts of Metro Manila, traveling just one kilometer often means hailing a ride or sitting through traffic. But inside the Ayala Central Business District (CBD) in Makati, that same distance is often easier — and faster — to walk.
Known as the country’s premier financial hub, the Ayala CBD stretches across major corridors such as Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and EDSA. Beyond housing the headquarters of leading corporations, it has evolved into a mixed-use district where offices, malls, hotels, parks and transport hubs are seamlessly connected. Destinations such as Greenbelt, Glorietta, Ayala Triangle Gardens and One Ayala are linked by wide sidewalks, pedestrian underpasses, elevated walkways, bike lanes and shaded paths, making it possible to move around comfortably without relying on a car.
This level of connectivity is no accident. According to Ayala Land, the district was master-planned as a people-centric environment where residents, workers, and visitors can live, work, shop and unwind within walking distance of one another.
The benefits extend beyond convenience. The World Health Organization says walkable neighborhoods encourage daily physical activity while helping reduce air pollution and dependence on private vehicles. Similarly, the United Nations’ Global Street Design Guide identifies walkability as a cornerstone of sustainable, healthy and livable cities.
Parks become part of your daily routine
Walkability is only valuable if there’s somewhere worth walking to.
That’s where Ayala Triangle Gardens has become the centerpiece of the Makati experience.
Built on the historic Nielson Airfield, the urban park offers more than 20,000 square meters of green space surrounded by office towers.
Office workers jog before work, friends meet over coffee, families picnic on weekends, and fitness communities gather for outdoor classes — all within the country’s financial capital.
Instead of treating parks as weekend destinations, Ayala integrates green spaces into everyday life.
The rise of the ‘15-minute lifestyle’
Around the world, urban planners have embraced the idea of the 15-minute city—a concept popularized by urbanist Carlos Moreno, where residents can reach work, groceries, healthcare, parks, schools, and leisure within a short walk or bike ride.
While Makati isn’t officially a 15-minute city the Ayala district comes remarkably close.
Residents can walk from One Ayala to Greenbelt, Glorietta, Ayala Triangle Gardens, offices, hotels, cafés, restaurants, museums and residential towers without relying heavily on private transportation.
For many professionals, that convenience has become the real status symbol.
