Cover Paved with Binangonan stones, Royal Pineda ensured that the entrance of the main pavilion has a clear view of generous wide eaves that provide comfort from the tropical heat
Paved with Binangonan stones, Royal Pineda ensured that the entrance of the main pavilion has a clear view of generous wide eaves that provide comfort from the tropical heat
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When all the elements are present—space, health, wealth—an architect with a vision such as Royal Pineda can whip up a luxurious oasis in an unexpected location and prove his point that Modern Filipino belongs anywhere and everywhere
They were so sure of what they wanted; but in the end, their house turned out to be more than what they had bargained for: grander than their vision and even farther from where their imagination initially took them.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this grand a scale,” she says. “The entire property is 4 hectares but the residential space we wanted to develop was so much less than a hectare, actually 700 sqm. We originally wanted a 250 sqm house on a 700 sqm lot. It was architect who suggested that we do it this way. After we talked to him, the project blew up ten times!”
Their architect of choice was Royal Pineda of Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design. He has always espoused the Modern Filipino style, and took on a personal mission to spread this concept to everywhere his projects take him, with no regional nor continental boundaries. “We really want to highlight the Filipino-ness in every project. Modern Filipino. To show that Filipino design can be tasteful,” he defines his mission.
Above The front entrance on the left opens into two spacious living rooms with furniture by noted artisans from all over the country and a stairway leading to the private theatre on the second floor
The front entrance on the left opens into two spacious living rooms with furniture by noted artisans from all over the country and a stairway leading to the private theatre on the second floor
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When he met the young couple, they were only in their mid-30s. They’ve seen his work on Instagram and were bringing to him pictures of some houses they liked, most of them, ironically, were Pineda’s projects. “Their original brief was for a smaller house,” he remembers. But after seeing his 4-ha canvas and getting to know his young clients, his vision went wild.
“I asked when they were planning on building their dream house and quickly suggested that they might as well do it now while they were still young and able to enjoy it together with their growing children,” Pineda says. “This was my pitch to them.”
For the architect, his clients ticked all the boxes. “They have time, money and health. They can enjoy an awesome house for a long, long time not just by themselves but with their children,” he explains. Moreover, his mission has more chances of being imbibed by a family whose sense of culture is still malleable. “So, why prolong?” he justifies.
More from Tatler: Home tour: A cliffside home with panoramic views of Quezon City, Manila
Above Nature as a partner in form is strongly felt, as the house grows with the landscape
Nature as a partner in form is strongly felt, as the house grows with the landscape
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The couple hails from the same town north of Manila, were classmates in high school and sweethearts in college. His family is in the trucking business; hers are professionals. His average academic performance bows to his sharp business acumen. She aced her medical technology course at the University of Santo Tomas and her clinical research degree at The Michener Institute of Education in Toronto. She was already the project manager at Gamma Dynacare Medical Laboratories in Canada when he gave her an ultimatum to get married. In ten years’ time, they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. Theirs is a perfect partnership. He built his own trucking company, like his father did, but entered as well the fuel station business. She immersed herself in what he built, ably handling the finances while he concentrated on the operations. With hard work, a feel for the business and a combination of caution and courage, they have successfully grown both their trucking and their fuel station businesses.
Above A formal dining room on the first floor
A formal dining room on the first floor
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This sense of stability, and their growing family of four kids then, perhaps inspired them to also think of expanding their small home, which was on this same spot where they built their dream house.
“From the very start I told my wife that this is where I want to build our house,” he declares. “I also promised my dad that I will take care of this ancestral property and will keep it within the family, having grown up in our ancestral home farther back. So, I bought the lots from my dad little by little.” Out of the family-owned 4 hectares, they now own half of it.
He is also a landscape hobbyist. Even before they consulted with Pineda, the couple already commissioned well-known landscape artist Ponce Veridiano to make sense of the trees and the foliage on the property. In fact, the garden played a crucial role in the essence of the house.
Above A view of the private wing showing the guest room on the first floor, the primary bedroom on the second, and the gym on the third
A view of the private wing showing the guest room on the first floor, the primary bedroom on the second, and the gym on the third
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“There is an existing acacia tree around which the design evolved,” Pineda informs.
Part of Pineda’s design mission is the emphasis on the culture of the family of his clients. “A house has to have a clear identity that pops out even if you don’t look for it. Otherwise, it’ll just be another house. If you don’t get to design the soul of the family, then you’ll just be designing another house,” the architect expounds. To do this, Pineda spent hours getting to know his young clients. He sat down with them, visited the project. “They were both very open and that helped,” he shares.
He learnt about their respective family histories and their love life. He learnt that they first tried it out living in Canada where all her family resides but that he was miserable being away from his beloved hometown and how she dutifully gave up everything to go back and start their family here. In the end Pineda concluded, “The culture of this family is entrenched in the garden and their roots in this town.”
Above On the right foreground, part of the acacia tree around which the house was designed, and across, the first floor living rooms with high ceilings
Above The second living room features Miguel Aguas ceiling lamps, OMO Furniture corner lamps and an accent wall of Monumental Travertine from Kaufman Stone
On the right foreground, part of the acacia tree around which the house was designed, and across, the first floor living rooms with high ceilings
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A house of this scale, style and grandeur may seem incongruous in a provincial location but Pineda quickly corrects this common notion. “Here is a couple very much in love with their roots. Rather than suggest abandoning those roots, help them move forward and achieve a dream. Put their roots together and discover their identity. Then make their them, a better them. Somehow, if you replicate that betterment in all parts of the country, then it becomes a Modern Philippines. This, I think, is the essence of the message. You may expect a house of this scale, this luxury in a place like Forbes. But why limit locations if the space exists?”
A common belief among Filipinos, according to Pineda, is that life is better outside or elsewhere. To which he vehemently disagrees. “We need not leave our roots. We just need to make our space better.”
See also: Home tour: A jeweller balancing sleek modernity with Georgian charm in Sussex, England
Above A koi pond leads to the Man Cave
A koi pond leads to the Man Cave
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Building an Oasis
This part of the country is known to be hotter than the rest of the regions, but not at this dream house enveloped by tall trees and refreshing foliage. Add to this a permeable design style that results in a feeling of being in the middle of the garden, not just seeing the greenery around but even the blueness above.
“The idea of the architecture is really to just let things flow,” Pineda explains. “For me, what dictated the design was the scale of the acacia tree around which the house is built. That’s why even the ceiling heights are tall because we wanted to emphasize the trees outside. At this height you view up to the top of even the tall trees. I think this is about a 3.5-metre-high ceiling. Might be too high for a typical Filipino but again it is all about bringing the atmosphere of the garden in.”
This continuous visual flow starts from when the huge metal door (humungous hinge designed by Jinggoy Buensuceso) opens. The eyes are drawn into a spacious living room and out through a glass sliding door into the garden and smack into the principal acacia tree which, the owner informs, is about 20 to 30 years old. The high ceilings and doors do not impair the vision and allows it to move on past the tree, deeper into the garden where, in the horizon is the end of the property. But you are told that to the left, before reaching the end, you find the couple’s business offices. How cool is that? To be able to walk from home to office and back every day.
Read more: Home tour: A black-and-white home in Colmar inspired by the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty
Above Across, the Man Cave and to the right, the swimming pool leading to the pool house
Across, the Man Cave and to the right, the swimming pool leading to the pool house
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Retracing our steps, we’re back at the entrance. Clearly, this spacious area that holds a sofa set by OMO Furniture and Bituin Furniture with a coffee table by Milo Naval is where several works by Filipino artists and artisans are displayed, whether they be functional or decorative. “We really wanted to feature Filipino designers. And art from all the regions,” affirms Pineda.
To the right of the entrance is a formal dining room, the elevator leading to two floors up, a family area and the guest room. Done in green with monstera leaves (her favourite plant) as a dominant pattern, the guest room is where her parents usually stay when they visit from Canada twice a year on the average. Like the other spaces in this wing, the guest room also visually and literally opens up into the garden.
To the left of the entrance is another sitting room, an entertainment area for the couple when friends come around. Above this space, on the second floor, is a more private sitting area that leads to the theatre for nine. Using this most often is the eldest child who’s in eighth grade. “We would rather that our children invite classmates and friends for a movie at home, rather than go to one in the mall,” she comments.
Above Lush vegetation frames his collection of cars
Lush vegetation frames his collection of cars
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Going out into the garden on the left is the Man Cave, which holds his car and motorcycle collections. Complete with a bar and great sound system, it is a favourite chilling area when they entertain. “We designed it in a way that if there was a bigger party, you can get all the cars out and the space becomes one big pavilion,” offers Pineda. During her recent birthday, around 150 people comfortably fit inside the Man Cave when all the cars were taken out. Now, if you’re wondering where the Woman Cave is, she will be quick to point out, “The whole house!”
Farther down is the pool house where there are longue chairs to relax in and a private room to enjoy a massage and other spa treatments.
The right wing, on the other hand, houses the private areas. All told, there are a total of six bedrooms.
Above The primary bedroom overlooks the entire garden
The primary bedroom overlooks the entire garden
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And a lot of areas to entertain or receive visitors as the couple love hosting parties for family and friends. She thinks that to date, the biggest party they’ve held at home is for 250 for her husband’s birthday; and the greatest number of parties in a month they’ve had is 14. “In fact, a friend who has an events place told me once, ‘You know, you have more bookings than my events place’!” she recalls with a light chuckle in her voice.
Another amusing anecdote is the seemingly parallel growth of the family and the house. “They had only four children when we were building the house, now she just gave birth six months ago to their fifth!” Pineda starts. “But there was one bedroom too many!” reacts the young husband.
Makes one wonder though what will happen if they build an annex.
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Credits
Photography: ANDRA Visuals
A journalist of more than 30 years, Chit has had varied exposures in this field, both in hard news as well as in soft news, and brings everything she has learnt to the production of the magazine. When not writing or editing, Chit is deeply involved in her chosen service organisation, Rotary International.
