Location: Metro Manila, Philippines | Latitude: 14.59926˚ N
The primary aim of this Metro Manila house was for it to embrace the lush garden landscape.
PXP Design Workshop Co. are the designer for the New Manila House. The client asked them to create a house connecting with the garden landscape.
This beautiful home facilitates a relaxing environment for the entire family.
New Manila House is in an old neighbourhood of Metro Manila in the Philippines. In this region, there is a current trend of converting large, old properties into reasonably dense townhouse developments.
However, the homeowner went against this trend. Instead, they envisioned converting the old lot into a garden oasis.
Manila is a dense city in the Philippines, but the client wanted a garden paradise. The ideas of a dense city and garden paradise do not go together. However, the designers were able to do this very well.
In addition, creating strong connections between the house and the garden landscape was paramount.
“The client’s brief was for a house that embraces the landscape – a space that blurs the boundaries of exterior and interior spaces where one cannot distinguish if they are in or out of the house as if creating an indoor urban villa.”
– PXP Design Workshop
The connection to the garden creates a comfortable home that facilitates a laidback and relaxing lifestyle, where the family and their dogs can enjoy each other’s company.
New Manila House has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is 1,000 m2 or 10,764 sq. ft. of total building area and was completed in 2020.
The house occupies a 2,000 m2 or 21,500 sq. ft. lot in the middle of Metro Manila.
PXP Design Workshop divided the lot into quadrants.
The main house is in the east quadrant, while a guest house is in the west. However, in the north and south quadrants are gardens.
Photo: Leslie Chua
Both the main house and guest house can enjoy garden views. This arrangement was ideal for the owners.
The site sits in between two townhouses. Hence, privacy was an issue because of the neighbouring properties.
Access to the property is through the main road north of the lot.
On entering the property, you come into a courtyard. Left takes you to a parking garage. The garage is at the basement level and uses a ramp for access from the yard.
Towards the front of the courtyard are a series of steps. These steps lead you to a more grand courtyard. From there you can go to the guest or main house.
The main house has an “O” shape plan with a courtyard garden in the middle.
As you enter the house through a metal door, the courtyard garden is straight ahead. This courtyard provides a fantastic backdrop to the entrance.
West of the courtyard to your left is a living room. To the right are the dining room, stairs and kitchen. According to the architects, the kitchen is the soul of the house. The grand kitchen attracts visitors to gather around its bar island with a beautiful solid wood countertop.
Black cantilevering metal stair accesses the upper floor.
A large master bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom occupies the entire west side of the house’s upper floor. The master bedroom also has garden views on both sides of it. These views are accessible through floor-to-ceiling windows and doors to the east and west.
In addition, the other two bedrooms are also on the upper floor’s east side. Each bedroom includes ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets.
The gardens and landscape are crucial aspects of the house’s design. Large portions of this property are gardens. They are views of the garden landscape from almost everywhere in the house.
The north and south quadrants of the property carry extensive gardens and landscaping.
In addition, there is a garden on the roof of the basement garage. The living room opens onto this green roof garden. However, on the other side of the living is a courtyard garden. Hence, the living room is between two gardens.
The courtyard garden in this house is a crucial feature. It is on the ground floor in the middle of the house. It is visible as soon as you enter the home and sets the tone for the entire house.
Photo: Leslie Chua
Adjacent to the kitchen and dining room is another pocket garden. Hence, giving the sense of an urban garden.
This home has fantastic connections to nature from almost every corner of the house. It is an excellent example of biophilic design and its impact on homeowners.
A house with strong connections to gardens and the natural environment has terrific sustainable benefits. It not only creates impressive-feeling spaces but also has a substantial psychological impact.
Connecting to the outdoors was one of the most significant aspects of this house. The client’s focus was to create a garden paradise in the middle of Manila.
However, with the abundance of garden landscapes around the home, you need a way to enjoy it properly. Therefore, you need to make strong connections to the exterior spaces.
The architects open up the home to the outside with floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, the courtyard and roof garden over the garage is practically on the same level as the interior floor.
These techniques of floor-to-ceiling openings and a continuation of the floor and garden ground level create seamless transitions. Hence, providing an extension of the indoors to outdoors.
Photo: Leslie Chua
In addition, most rooms are narrow. They are primarily one-room deep. Therefore, the rooms become like open pavilions in the vast garden.
Rooms on the upper floor, such as the master bedroom, also have floor-to-ceiling openings. These openings look down to gardens on three sides of the master suite.
In a region like the Philippines, having a home that responds to the tropical climate is an exemplary design aspect.
One of these climate responses is shading glazed openings from the sun.
Photo: Leslie Chua
However, the home opens to the garden landscape through large, glazed openings. Hence, shading those glass windows from direct sunlight is a challenge.
Since the site’s orientation has the house facing west, this was a more significant issue.
“This design brief could have been easily resolved with full height glass windows, but the challenge was the site orientation as it is facing west with the afternoon tropical sun.”
– PXP Design Workshop
Therefore, the architects use timber screens on the western side to shade the interior rooms. They also provide privacy.
The timber screens primarily shade the master suite. Slatted timber screens protect the bedroom while large vertical timber louvre blades shield the master bathroom and closet.
New Manila House also uses passive ventilation strategies.
The large windows and doors open, allowing great natural breezes to flow through the house.
Photo: Leslie Chua
In addition, most of the areas in the house are only one room deep. Hence, this makes it easy for cross-ventilation to occur.
Breezes can also pass through the solar shading and privacy screens. Therefore, rooms still have access to natural ventilation.
Furthermore, they are vents at the top of the courtyard. Hence, through the stack effect, hot air rises and escapes, allowing fresh, cooler air to enter below.
New Manila House uses a mix of warm wooden tones that contrast with dark and light colours. This colour palette and natural materials combine with the green landscape to create an amazing-looking tropical modern home.
“Upon entry is a courtyard, clad in dark grey cobblestone surrounded with Podocarpus plant as a soft contrast to the masculine texture of the stone.”
PXP Design Workshop
Sun shading screens and ceilings are wood with a natural finish. This finish brings out the natural tones and texture of the wood.
The stair and bars are black metal. They cantilever from a feature wall with travertine cladding.
New Manila House creates a stunning garden paradise in the middle of the city.
The abundance of the garden landscape creates a gem in this old neighbourhood in Metro Manila in the Philippines.
Strong connections to the outdoors and nature characterise this home. In addition, the importance that these gardens also make is that they create a peaceful haven.
In addition, it uses design strategies that respond well to its tropical climate. Timber screens provide shading, while large openings and narrow rooms allow ample natural ventilation throughout the home.
Architect: PXP Design Workshop Co.
Photographer: Leslie Chua
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