Winner of the Tatler Homes Design Award for Best Architectural Concept, Jim Caumeron takes us through the process behind creating the Viewpoint House
A lush acacia tree in a nearby park is the inspiration and focal point of the Viewpoint House, a glorious, modern sculpture of a home designed by Architect Jim Caumeron. Currently a teacher at St. Benilde’s School of Design and Arts and winner of the Tatler Homes Design Award for Best Architectural Concept, he still can’t believe the attention this project is receiving. “I didn’t really expect Viewpoint to blow up like this," expresses Caumeron. “But I just gave the best idea I could within the parameters and limits that were set. It was a very good project and I was lucky with the clients.” Earning the full trust of the homeowners for both the architecture and interior design allowed Caumeron to materialize his vision.
Caumeron graduated in 2002 from the University of Santo Tomas but only began to practice in 2007 after seeing elaborate scaled models in an upscale furniture store in Greenbelt. “It was then I realized that architects are progressive thinkers because they see the world in 3-dimensional forms .” Encouraged by this, he began his apprenticeship with Arch. Joey Yupangco followed by stints with Chut Cuerva and Tish de Borja of Archipelago Designworks. Admiring the works of Architects Ed Calma, Jorge Yulo, and Henry De Jesus as well, he was inspired to design with the goal of striking a balance between progressiveness and quality workmanship.
He always knew that the right client who can understand his design style would come along, and in this case, it came in the form of the Viewpoint House.
Read on to learn more about the creative process behind this year’s THDA winner in Best Architectural Concept:
Viewpoint house is extremely innovative, particularly for the local landscape. Would you say that Philippine clients are more conservative, or more averse to new shapes and bolder forms? What is the profile of the people you designed this for?
My friend’s sister and brother-in-law were looking for an architect. The husband is a cardiologist and the wife is a radiologist, which is the reason why we put a library. I think one important thing is that when your clients are trained professionals, then they treat you professionally as well. They trust you, and they wait for your decision. They were dream clients, to begin with.
What is the concept behind this house?
I try to come up with a unique idea for each client per project. In this case, the concept was derived from the site itself. It’s an L-shaped lot, there’s really nothing to celebrate on all the other sides of the property, nothing remarkable, but there was a small park nearby which had a big acacia tree. That was the starting point—most of the spaces in the design of the house were looking out onto that tree. That view of the tree informed the design language and the trapezoidal form of the house.
What were the needs of the client that guided you in shaping the house?
They asked for the typical family house: they wanted two rooms for their boys, a library, a master bedroom, a dining and a living room, etc. And a guest room on the ground floor to transfer to when they are old.
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