Cover The dining room and living room of Bini at Lahi in Lucban, Quezon
The dining room and living room of Bini at Lahi in Lucban, Quezon
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Explore how the Barchan + Architecture team transformed the hilly terrain of Lucban, Quezon into a meditative escape
“My favourite part of designing was not knowing what came next,” shares Jason Buensalido, the architect who turned the lush hills of Lucban, Quezon into a sprawling tropical sanctuary called ‘Binhi at Lahi.’ “As humans, we tend to impose our will and dreams on a site without realising that we’ve erased its potential,” he says. “It was important to keep quiet and listen to the direction nature nudged us in.”
Since ‘Binhi at Lahi’ serves as a weekend getaway for a landscape architect, the design intersects an indoor sanctuary with elements of the nearby wilderness. “The client wanted to see, touch, feel and smell all the plants,” explains Buensalido.
Situated in Quezon, one of the Philippines’ most rainy provinces, the home is built to withstand temperamental storms. At the same time, the house celebrates the deeply human pursuit of architecture by juxtaposing exposed steel beams with genuine wood. “We created a language for the steel columns to converse with the natural material throughout the home,” Buensalido says.
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An aerial view of the sprawling villas of Binhi at Lahi in Lucban, Quezon
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Deep in the forest of Lucban, far away from the city of Quezon and its concrete roads, there’s a rough pathway leading up to the house on the hill. One catches a glimpse of it briefly before it disappears into the wilderness. Drive on, anticipation heightening, until the villas reemerge from behind volcanic stone walls.
One finds themselves in a courtyard flanked by water features, greeted by a BenCab sculpture that ushers them to the main pavilion. The steps leading up to the front door and into the home are made of stone usually reserved for the outdoors—but not in this space. “We lured the material in, making the interior an extension of the exterior,” says Buensalido. Thus begins the symbiotic relationship between architecture and nature throughout the home.
The Natuzzi yellow sofa in the living room, along with an Arturo Luz wood sculpture and Gaston Damag painting
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The living room sets the stage with warm wood ceilings grounded by soothing stone floors. The homeowner’s extensive art collection, gathered over decades, is prominently displayed. Some notable pieces include Arturo Luz’s modern interpretation of a bulul (carved wooden figure) and paintings by contemporary artists Gaston Damag, Elmer Borlongan, Rodel Tapaya and Jonathan Ching.
These richly textured artworks complement the homeowner’s equally extensive furniture collection, which features various pieces from Italian designers in bold hues of mustard and scarlet. “Most homes subdue colour, but our strategy here was to pair the earth tones–taupes, browns, beiges and greys–with intentional pops of colour,” Buensalido shares.
Above The dining room
The dining room
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The living room leads seamlessly into the dining area and kitchen. The homeowner’s collection of wooden slabs was laid over leftover steel beams from the construction process, creating a sustainable, inviting space for entertaining. The drop lamp over the dining table was laid with natural wicker to add further dimension.
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The indoor spiral staircase behind the kitchen, leading up to the hobby lobby
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Behind the nearby kitchen stands an eye-catching spiral staircase. “Stairs are not only functional,” says Buensalido, “their organic forms can mimic the natural movements of humans since we’re part of nature ourselves.” The core of the staircase is a steel beam that was melted and rotated, leading guests up to a hobby lobby with a billiards table and unique Elmer Borlongan sculpture.
Above The guest bathroom, with green marble that mirrors the lush plants outside
The guest bathroom, with green marble that mirrors the lush plants outside
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Returning downstairs, the bathrooms in the main pavilion also provide breathtaking views of the surrounding forest. With floor-to-ceiling windows, guests are given an unobstructed view of the vibrant plants, which mirror the green marble of the bathroom counter.
The living area outside the master bedroom
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To access the master bedroom, one must cross a bridge to a separate pavilion. The living room houses original mid-century Eero Saarinen chairs, alongside the homeowner’s extensive collection of bulul statues and other exquisite Cordilleran artefacts.
One of the guest rooms, featuring a mural that echoes the sea and the forest
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The guest rooms echo the soothing natural palettes of the home while bringing in elements of the nearby sea. An expansive mural of greens and blues imbues the space with serenity, paving the way for a nearby outdoor jacuzzi and conversation pit.
For ‘Binhi at Lahi’, the homeowner wanted “pockets of experiences” throughout the property, imbuing each corner with reflective tranquillity. As the home continues to evolve amid Quezon’s climate, one thing is certain: the space will adapt to the whims of nature, wherever it leads.
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Credits
Images: Bayani Dela Pasion & Jar Concengco
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
