Artistic Impulse

Nearly ten years ago, Kim and Felicia Atienza found them- selves moving into the home of the late, great fashion designer Joe Salazar for two reasons. First, they wanted to give their growing children Jose and Eliana a more comfortable space, and second, their two-bedroom flat could no longer contain their flourishing art collection. “We were hanging our artworks in the hallways of our apartment buil- ding,” Felicia recounts. Luckily, a neighbour, the journalist Apa Ongpin, mentioned a house that had recently been put on the market in Manila, an ideal location for the couple. “We checked it out and immediately fell in love,” she says.

In the heart of Malate, the Atienza’s mid-century modern house is surrounded by a lush garden and guarded by a century-old balete tree

Though it was difficult to say goodbye to their bohemian neighbours and to an unobstructed view of Manila Bay, the family soon grew to adore the charm and fresh air of old Manila. “Every so often, the kids and I take a tricycle to the San Andres market or a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) around Malate,” says Felicia. “We love how Divisoria, Intramuros, and Chinatown are just a stone’s throw away.”

The Atienzas found more to explore within the gates of their new home, which was built sometime in the fifties or sixties and renovated extensively by Salazar when he bought it in the seventies. It is likely that the structure they are living in today is no longer the original one. “When we bought the place, the text in the land title was in Spanish,” Felicia says. “This house has probably gone through a few cycles of building, demolition, rebuilding, and renovation.”

Salazar’s influences are apparent in the silhouette of the structure, which is mid-century modern—a style that is perfectly matched to the couple’s tastes. Felicia discloses that together with the use of piedra china (Chinese granite cobblestone), the architecture was what drew them to the house. “We maintained the parts of the house that were renovated by Joe,” says Felicia. Meanwhile, they had help from the architect Ed Calma in planning the remodelling of the bedrooms and the kitchen, rendered as closely to Salazar’s style as possible but with modern facilities.

In the heart of Malate, the Atienza’s mid-century modern house is surrounded by a lush garden and guarded by a century-old balete tree

During the designer’s lifetime, many of his friends expressed admiration for his vibrant garden and the massive, century-old balete tree that grew on the side of the house. Today, the lush outdoor landscape continues to thrive under the care of the Atienzas, who have made some new additions of their own. “I’m a dog person, and Kim has always been into exotic animals and reptiles,” Felicia says. Together, they are the adoptive parents of 46 dogs, a couple of macaws, and a vast collection of snakes, lizards, and tortoises. “We’ve lost track because they keep reproducing!” she says, laughing.

The dining area is an eclectic mix of mid-century iconic pieces lit by hanging Frank Gehry Cloud lamps

When they bought the house, Kim and Felicia agreed to split the work of making the place their own. Felicia oversaw the structural renovation, whilst Kim took care of the interior finishing and decoration. Because it was in the shadow of the balete, Salazar’s version of the home was dark and cavernous, so the Atienzas decided to knock down a few walls to let more light in and to expand the space. “We asked for the walls to be painted white to let the art breathe,” Felicia explains, adding that they also wanted their col- lection of modern chairs to fit into the scheme.

“They are sculptures you can sit on,” she says, describing the chairs that are now signature pieces of the home. She and Kim continue to update their collection of both art and furniture, making new discoveries and adding exciting pieces to the mix. “Our once minima- list home is bursting yet again and looks more like a museum bodega (basement storage),” she happily says.

One of their pieces, Ma McKinley, by the artist Alfredo Esquillo Jnr, is currently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has been to at least seven countries, including the Whitney Museum in New York. “Before he sold it to us, he requested to borrow it for important exhibitions.” Ma McKinley is an eerie portrait of a Caucasian Thomasite with talons for hands, holding a Filipino child clothed in America’s stars and stripes. Various other art pieces have been lent to a few exhibitions. “Art means nothing if it is not shared and appreciated by others,” Felicia says.

The living room area features a portrait by the artist Elmer Borlongan, more iconic mid-century chairs—including a Charles Eames lounge and ottoman—and the couple’s leaning painting collection

The Atienzas have also been able to collect some abstract pieces from the eighties by the painter Elmer Borlongan, who is now known for his figurative style. They discovered and collected the early works of the contemporary visual artist Geraldine Javier, whom Felicia refers to as an auction superstar. “We know all the artists personally,” she adds. “It gives our appreciation of the art a dimension of friendship.”

Though their collections are stunningly selected and extensive in scale, Felicia maintains that she and Kim have remained easy-going, eclectic, and infatuated with mid-century modern objects. “We choose art that we like to look at and chairs that we enjoy sitting on,” she says. “The financial value is secondary.”

The family’s remarkable art collection includes a mural by the artist Arturo Luz and a portrait of Felicia, given as a gift by the sculptor Julie Lluch

For Felicia, the beautiful pieces they have collected are not just cultural luxuries but instruments of memory. Looking back, she realises that she and Kim began collecting seriously after she gave him an Arturo Luz piece called Temples when they were still dating. “His favourite pieces now are the Charles Eames lounge and ottoman because I gave those to him,” she says. “He also loves the wooden Jerry Araos chairs in the kitchen because he had a deep friendship with the old man before he died.”

Felicia herself treasures those moments when she is able to watch the kids play on the alligator see-saws, curl up with them in the Eames chaise longue and the Bertoia bird chair, or hang out with Kim on the George Nelson Marshmallow sofa. “To me, home means family, laughter, and love,” she says. “We can make a dream home out of any place as long as we’re together."

Read more in the latest edition of Philippine Tatler Homes, available in any leading newsstands and bookstores. Download the digital version for your device via Magzter and Zinio. | Photos by Toto Labrador