Cover The exterior of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
The exterior of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
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Explore how Barchan + Architecture balances sustainable design and Filipino heritage in this vertical Manila home
The discussion around Filipino design is a fluid one, pulling from elements of the past while facing the blank canvas of the future. Such is the case for Obscura House, a recent project by Jason Buensalido of the Barchan + Architecture team. Standing amid an exclusive village of small plots that tower over the land, this distinctive property challenges one’s understanding of Manila’s urban density. It refuses to follow trends, maintaining a distinctively Filipino identity while remaining functional over time.
When the architects first visited this property before the pandemic, the village was virtually empty. However, they had their own set of challenges to overcome: each property was more inclined towards vertical growth than horizontal expansion. At the same time, the homeowners wanted to maintain an inviting space they could unwind in after a long day.
Buensalido and his team wanted to avoid a towering development, instead creating a home that flows seamlessly into its natural surroundings. “Architecture and design are shaped by context before they’re influenced by anything else,” he shares. “We have to respond to the sense of place, celebrating and magnifying its unique traits.” The designer and homeowner saw eye-to-eye, seeking to build a refreshingly unconventional project. Obscura House now stands at the intersection of many traits: complex enough to resist replication, yet not so avant-garde as to alienate. The result is a house that rewards careful observation rather than demanding immediate comprehension.
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The entryway of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
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The most striking aspect of this residence is how it subverts the typical problems of vertical living. Instead of maximising the plot with a rectangular footprint, the architects created an L-shaped plan. The journey into this home begins with a unique twist. The first front door doesn't lead directly inside but to an intermediate porch space with the dipping pool, a transitional moment that extends the entry sequence. This unexpected gesture sets the stage for a narrow-plan house, where natural light penetrates every corner and cross-ventilation becomes effortless throughout each season.
The exterior treatment further breaks down the building's scale through diagonal lines and asymmetrical elements that span multiple floors, obscuring the home's true height and creating visual complexity. A detached lower ground floor element breaks the four-story mass into more manageable visual components, while aluminium slats with wood grain detailing provide adjustable privacy and climate control, echoing the porosity of traditional Filipino architecture.
The Obscura House is wrapped in grey-tinted glass panels, which balance the homeowners’ need for privacy while allowing natural light to filter through the room. “This minimises the need for artificial light, lowering energy consumption and making the design as sustainable as possible,” Buensalido shares. “Cross-ventilation is also achievable, as opening the windows on one side allows the wind to cool the entire space.”
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Above The living room area of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
The living room area of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
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Above The living room area of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture, featuring the Taho Bench by Selena Placino
Above The dining room area of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture, featuring a Schema lighting fixture
The living room area of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture, featuring the Taho Bench by Selena Placino
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Only through the second front door do you truly enter the house, immediately encountering a generous open-plan space that combines living, dining, and kitchen areas. Peering through the door, one discovers a small office tucked between the kitchen and dining spaces. The office can disappear entirely when sliding doors are opened, creating an even more continuous space for entertaining.
The interior palette celebrates both local and international design, but always through a lens of authenticity. “Gone are the days of hiding the structural columns, the air conditioning, and other similar details,” muses Buensalido. “We work with the bones of each project, celebrating the distinct pieces that bring it to life.”
Other notable elements of the space include the main sofa, which comes from Milo Naval, while pieces from Kenneth Cobonpue and Selena Placino add a playful dimension to the living space. An eye-catching light fixture from Schema is paired with an Italian table, ensuring that contemporary Filipino design runs through the home. Similarly, paintings from Filipino artists like Anton Mallari and Yeo Kaa infuse the space with glimpses of the homeowners’ personality.
Above The stairway of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
The stairway of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
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Grounding the second floor is a central family hall and study area, which anchors the family’s bedrooms. The third floor has deliberately been left without a specific function, serving as a private gathering space for celebrations with family and friends alike. A key feature of the space is that furniture pieces and artworks from lower floors can elevate this space, encouraging the homeowners to develop their collection of memorabilia over time.
Above The family room and study of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
Above The family room and study of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
The family room and study of a vertical Filipino home in Manila, Philippines, designed by Barchan + Architecture
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Altogether, the Obscura House stands as a manifesto of contemporary Filipino architecture. Each detail has been optimised to reflect the fundamental principles of climate responsiveness, flexible design, and material sensibilities, all while meeting the growing family’s needs over time. “We anticipate that the home will change over time; the space has ‘good enough bones’ that it embraces all signs of growth,” shares Buensalido. In a landscape often dominated by fleeting trends, this house demonstrates the power of architecture that emerges from intentional problem-solving and deep cultural understanding.
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Credits
Photography: Jar Concengco
Design: Jason Buensalido
Design: Jerome Bautista
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.
