Set within the quiet weekend town of Calatagan in Batangas, Patsy Zobel’s home is evocative of the many transitions a life goes through—from the sweltering rumble of the city to the peaceful vibrations of seaside living; from day to evening, past to present, and one season of life to another.

Built in 2000, her first house was meant to be used for summers and holidays in the Philippines as her family was then living abroad. But upon moving back to Manila two years ago and finding herself spending more time out of town, Patsy decided to put up a second house on the other side of the property. The new house, completed in 2015, can be accessed by a path and a charming hanging bridge. “I built a new house with just one bedroom and with a big lounging area, so the kids and their friends could have more space to themselves in the old house,” she says. While that one overlooks the ocean, her private abode is more secluded and surrounded by trees. “From the upstairs bedroom and sala, I have a perfect view of the Calatagan sunset,” she shares.

Both houses were designed by the architect Noel Saratan, who has worked closely with her family for many years. Saratan is known for his dedication to the use of Filipino motifs and materials, which sit well with Patsy who cites “the sea and anything Filipino” as her inspiration in the design of her private quarters. This is obvious in the preponderant use of local limestone and native wood for the new house. “We even made use of beautiful old driftwood and tree roots found along the road in Tagaytay,” she shares.

Collaborating on the second home, Saratan made sure to cull from what the landscape had to offer. He calls it a house that looks like it “enjoys its surroundings” as it soars above a sloping terrain. Made of two structures resting on stilts, it is built in a contemporary style that allows the maximum use of glass and opens up to take advantage of the breeze.

An elevated walkway connects the living and dining areas in one structure to the other structure, which holds the master suite. “The highlight of the design is a four-and-a-half metre cantilevered extension of the master bathroom, an outdoor space for the shower, and the natural stone tub from Bali,” Saratan says, pointing to the most stunning part of the house. The pond and water features, which Saratan suggested for the first Calatagan house, were again requested to enhance the calming atmosphere of the second house.

For furniture, Patsy has chosen simple pieces made by local craftsmen from Calatagan. For beds and sofas, she went to another long-time collaborator, the furniture designer Yola Johnson of Soumak Designs. “She is firm about using indigenous items made by Filipino hands,” says the designer. “But, of course, the object must have a use for her home.”

In Patsy’s home even the curtains are a joy to look at, and the banig sofa is a source of comfort when reading or resting. “Patsy has a high regard for Filipino craftsmen,” Johnson shares. “She so lovingly chooses to position their pieces around her sanctuary in Calatagan, where you will find only local materials.” These are abaca rugs made in Bukidnon, abaca curtains woven in Bulacan, banig from Marawi used as upholstery, cogon rush stools and coffee tables crafted in Nueva Vizcaya, and wooden carvings from the Cordilleras.

Patsy’s need for open spaces is well-known as attested by Johnson, “To describe Patsy’s home is to describe Patsy herself. She loves the sun, sea, water, and wind.” She further describes Patsy as an adventurer, someone who dares to be different in many ways. Thus, visitors to her home should expect to see light, space, and nature itself. “Less lines, less enclosures,” Johnson adds, “And windows, tons of windows to look out of at sunrise and sunset.”

Above all, it is a place where the indoors and outdoors can co-exist. “I want a natural flow into nature,” Patsy explains. “I want to have a lot of light and air—to use the air-conditioning as little as possible.” True to this lifestyle, the doors and windows are always left open to let in the soft, cool winds.

This open feeling extends to her guests, usually several families hanging out and using both the old and new houses. “I love having people over but I don’t entertain formally,” says Patsy. “When we come for the weekends, it is all very outdoorsy.” Even dining is fairly casual, with guests serving themselves and settling into the warm welcome of her home.

For Patsy, the Calatagan home is a place to be treasured for the peace it brings into her life. “Whenever I am in Manila, I cannot wait to come back,” she shares. Her weekend schedule is relaxed but full of leisurely adventures. “I wake up every morning to take a long walk, and then go out on the boat to spend the day at sea—swimming, snorkelling, going for a dive,” Patsy narrates. “For me, being out here is bliss.”

Patsy’s home is a space for her to do everything herself, including cooking in the open kitchen. “I really made this house so I could sit and read,” she says. Her idea of a perf ect afternoon is a game of mah-jong, or curling up with a good book, her children and dogs coming in and out the door.

One book that can be found on Patsy’s shelf is the best-seller Eat, Pray, Love written by Elizabeth Gilbert. In a memorable scene, the author is described as “a woman in search of a word,” and towards the end of her journey she discovers that word to be attraversiamo, meaning “to cross over.” And while this concept applies very literally to the hanging wooden bridge that connects the old house to the new one, it also captures the essence of her home—a place that has truly grown around its owner, each moment spent there a treasured one.

Written by Marielle Antonio | Photography by Pia Puno | Styling by Mia Borromeo

 This article is in Philippine Tatler Homes Volume 13. Available in all leading newsstands and bookstores, downloadable via Zinio, Magzter, and PressReader.