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design trail: island paradise

Tinago Falls in Cagayan de Oro

Coron in Palawan

Calauit Island in Palawan

Snake Island in Honda Bay, Puerto Princessa

One of the many rice terraces in Sagada.

Really, it’s not so bad here…

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design trail: traveling without moving

I just took the Lakbayan quiz and I got a C-! I guess I haven’t really gotten to explore much of the Philippines yet. For those of us who lack the time and resources to travel the country, plus63.com (or +63 which is the area code of the Philippines) is a great alternative to see the sights. Plus63 Visuals + Vibes is a “site for Philippine Music and Travel discovery”.  You even get to hear original Filipino music while looking at the amazing photos (some of which I’ve posted here).

You can also share your photos from your travels to different parts of the country. Visit plus63.com for more info. - lilli

{photos courtesy of plus63.com; photos from the top: airplane by melody sy, shoegazing by charles buenconsejo, capiz by berns de leon, miniature vigan, sunset by small onglatco}

conscious living: this month’s produce

We all appreciate gardening in the light of beautifying our “domestic landscape”, purifying our air, and cooling our surroundings (through trees). How about gardening for food?

In the concept of sustainable living, we are encouraged to provide ourselves with some of the basic necessities: water through rainwater collection, electricity through solar power, and food through edible gardening.

My parents are both probinsyanos (from the province). In the province, most households do not just plant for aesthetic reasons. They also plant for food. Think of it as having a multi-functional garden. That’s why here at home, we have some trees that are fruit-bearing—avocado, langka (jackfruit), mango, and cashew. All of them were grown by my parents from seed! We had to wait for around five years before the trees started bearing fruits.

For the past two months, our family (plus neighbors and friends) are enjoying this season’s Indian mangoes (top photo) and cashew (photo above). A lot of people don’t know (including me) that apart from the nuts, the cashew fruit can also be eaten. It has a sweet taste that is partially mapakla (acrid), so not everyone would appreciate it.

By June/July, we’re expecting to harvest everyone’s all time favorite—avocados! Guacamole, anyone? 

space matters: divine master chapel

To join the observance of the Holy Week, Design Folder will be featuring two chapel interiors to inspire you to be in the mood for quiet meditation and prayer this Lenten season. Today, we’ll share with you the Chapel of the Divine Master of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) convent in Cebu City.

I saw pictures of this chapel late last year when I went to see my aunt, Sr. M. Graziella, in their convent in Quezon City. Apart from being a nun, Sr. M. Graziella is also an interior designer. In their congregation, I think there are three of them who are interior designers. They design chapels and churches, not just for PDDM, but for other communities and institutions as well.

The Divine Master Chapel was conceptualized by Sr. M. Ester Sawal, pddm and Sr. M. Celeste Parrilla, pddm mission. The interior design highlighted the Eucharist as a sign of Christ’s continuous presence among His people. They also consciously integrated local Filipino ideas and Cebuano materials to make the space become more relevant to its community.

The tabernacle (where the sacred host is kept) is made of mother of pearl and is placed inside a silhouette of a shell. This composition is associated with the Filipino concept of  mutya— a treasure. Literally, a mutya is a pearl of a rare kind. The Eucharist, which is the mystery of God’s love for his people, can be considered as the mutya of our Catholic Christian faith.

The wall of the sanctuary and the solid boulder base of the altar table are made of Mactan stone. Mactan stone is a type of shellstone or coralstone that can only be quarried in Mactan, a small island off the coast of Cebu. Embedded in the stone are crustacean impressions and shell fossils which give the stone its interesting character and texture.

The simplicity of the design is paired with a rich collection of symbolic elements to create an inspiring and solemn space for prayer.

conscious living: water-saving tips

[photo via tigris777: hardy bougainvillea remains pretty amidst the el nino dry spell]

Here in the Philippines, we are knee deep in el niño season. Water has not just become a precious commodity, but an expensive one too. While we are being advised to conserve water in our everyday use, we (designers, builders, and future homeowners) can take this further and reflect it in the designs of our homes and buildings.

1. HOLD OFF ON THOSE WATER FEATURES

Pools and ponds can definitely add charm to a place. Having a personal swimming pool in your home is certainly a luxury. However, these water-features are resource consuming. The volume may not be huge, but the water still needs to be changed regularly. Plus, they are not as easy to maintain. I’ve seen many a grotto with a dry, dusty and neglected pond. Also, if not designed properly, water-features can add humidity especially during high temperatures, making the air stuffier than normal.

2. PLANT A HARDY GARDEN

One of the biggest sources of water consumption is watering the plants and lawn. To reduce the amount of water spent while retaining that garden, plant hardy species that require minimal watering (ie. Carabao grass over Bermuda grass). Do not be restricted with cacti. Ornamental plants such as bromeliads, draecena, bougainvillea (above), hibiscus (gumamela), sanseviera, and yucca are equally drought-resistant.

3. INSTALL WATER-SAVING TOILET FIXTURES

There are toilet fixtures in the market today that promote water-conversation. Self-closing faucets at sinks are heavily favored in commercial spaces (like malls) today. Furthermore, waterless urinals are prevalent in male washrooms. There are shower heads that have adjustable settings for water-saving. Water closets have dual-flush systems that consume water depending on the person’s use.

4. HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE

Why not tap the rain as alternative source of water? Install a rainwater collection system. Not your usual water-barrel-under-the-downspout (though that would be a simple and affordable way), modern systems nowadays collect rainwater from roofs and run-offs from the grounds and collect the water into underground cisterns. The collected water then passes through a filtering system to make it drinkable (potable), or use as is (non-potable) for watering the plants, cleaning the car and flushing the toilets.

Why not recycle what you already used? Set up a wastewater recycling system. Waste water or greywater from bath, laundry and kitchen sinks (not from water closets please) are collected, filtered and re-used for non-potable sources. –green guide

space matters: art + home

I don’t think our Cebu trip is complete if we weren’t able to visit at least one home in the city. My college friend, Zina, suggested her uncle’s home, but didn’t give any details about the design of the house. She just told me, “My uncle has a really nice house,” and I simply took her word for it. I just didn’t know what she exactly meant by “nice”, hehe.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the house is more than just “nice”. The design goes beyond style and aesthetics. It integrated features for sustainability (green design) and accessibility (universal design). Plus, the house is also home to an interesting collection of artworks.

This is the home of Dr. Ted Gonzales, an ophthalmologist, who also happens to be an art collector and a design enthusiast. The site was previously occupied by his parents’ house which, unfortunately, got burned several years ago. His interest in design and architecture grew during the time when he and his partners were building clinics. He learned so much about design and construction from those projects, which he later on applied into building his own home. In fact, Ted was the one who technically conceptualized and designed the house with the help of Google Sketchup. He still closely coordinated with his architect to check whether the design complies with building standards, and to draw up working drawings for construction.

A big part of his design was inspired by the book Off The Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy by Lori Ryker. Therefore, a lot of green features were integrated into the design. One, which is also the first thing that I noticed upon entering the house, is the use of louver glass windows (jalousie) all throughout the house to maximize the openings for ventilation. I personally like louver windows because I think they’re the best and most appropriate for tropical climates. While louver windows are often perceived as baduy in the Philippines, they are widely used in Australia especially in the design of many modern homes (see homes with louver windows here). Apart from providing 100% ventilation, their louvers could be adjusted/angled, instead of totally closing them (like in the case of casement and sliding windows), to protect the interiors from rains and strong winds while still allowing some amount of air to flow through. The clerestory windows above the living area are also in louver type. They allow hot air to rise and exit from the interiors and provide generous natural light during the day. Another green feature is the rainwater cistern built under the garage. Water collected here is used for watering the plants and for flushing the water closets.

Because Ted lives with his parents, the interiors, particularly the ground floor, have provisions for accessibility. The parents’ room is located near the entrance-living-dining areas, convenient enough for the older couple who have limited mobility. A ramp replaced typical steps leading to the adjacent bathroom under the stairs.

The rail-free staircase, an interesting focal point of the interiors featuring mangkono (Phil. iron wood) planks, leads to Ted’s space at the second floor. Starting from the staircase up to the hallways, he displays his collection of artworks, from paintings, sketches, and sculptures, mostly from artist Raymund Fernandez.

[Image above: This is a replica of Picasso's Guernica which was used for a stage play in Cebu. Part of the play was a reenactment of what happened to the painting--the words "KILL LIES ALL" were spray painted onto the artwork during a protest againts Richard Nixon's pardon of William Calleyin 1974. Read about it here.]

His den at the second floor is like a mini-apartment which includes a living area with a sleeper (sofa bed), a dining area, a small kitchen and a bathroom. Apart from being Ted’s workspace, it also functions as a small entertainment room where he hosts small gatherings, and as a spare room for guests. Opposite the den is Ted’s bedroom which is also fitted with a working desk and a bathroom.

[Images above: (left) Raymund Fernandez's "Ninoy", which is part of his Alpiler Series. Read about it here. (right) Nude drawings displayed in the masters bedroom.]

Apart from the design of the house and his collection of artworks, Ted is also proud to share that the house was built within a limited budget. He did this by making the design simple and functional. Also, a lot of his furniture pieces were flea market finds, like the leather chaise lounge and coffee table at the den (photo above).

Ted’s love for art and design coupled with a realistic and practical mindset allowed him to create a beautiful, functional and equally comfortable home. [Thank you again Sir Ted for welcoming us to your home. And for introducing us to dried langka and pineapple!]

space matters: a very merry vintage christmas

Before we take a break for the holidays, we would like to leave you with a peek at the lovely home of Gene and Ache Florendo.

Ache (or Ma’am Florendo to me) was my professor/adviser in college. Because of a feature in MyHome magazine, I learned that she has a penchant for collecting antique decors and does holiday decorating with so much passion. With that in mind, we were quite curious to see for ourselves how she puts together her home during the holidays.

True enough, the Florendo house sports a nostalgic look for Christmas with their vintage trinkets and decors. Every corner of the house shows off an array of cute Christmas-y ornaments. From the foyer, living and dining areas, down to the kitchen, the interior spaces are all rendered in the familiar holiday colors of red and green.

Their Christmas tree is filled with multicolored lights and the most adorable collection of handmade figurines.

At the bottom of the tree is a “Christmas Holiday Express” train railway setup. This triggered me to sing the old Coca Cola jingle “Holidays are coming…. Holidays are coming,” in my head all throughout the shoot, hehe! Ache told me that it’s one of Gene’s collections. Yup, collections with an emphasis on the “s”! Apparently, her husband also shares the same love for collecting interesting thingamabobs. (We’ll reserve that for a different post)

Their decors are not just limited to the nook of the Christmas tree. Tabletops, curio cabinets and shelves allover the house feature Christmas tableaus with a whole range of Santa Clause ornaments, unique antique finds (we especially love the vintage sleigh and the mini sewing machine), and mini Christmas trees.

In contrast to the contemporary, trendy decorating styles that we often see, Ache’s take on creating a classic Christmas atmosphere at home has an element of nostalgia and sentimentality. Her home actually made me feel like a kid again, bringing memories of how I eagerly anticipated the celebration Christmas during my childhood.

I’m sure these pictures are already making you feel the warm Christmas spirit!

So, from all of us here at Design Folder, we wish all of you, dear readers, a very merry Christmas!

space matters: a bachelor’s pad

Here’s something for the guys–a design for a bachelor’s pad.

The owner is a young economist currently pursuing his doctorate degree in UP. For several years, he was based in Bangkok (we want to go there!), working for the International Labor Organization. Now that he’s back in Manila, he finally got himself his own place. Because his loft-type condo unit is quite a challenge with it’s compact size, he asked for the help of an interior designer to maximize the space.

Like most men (i’m not sure if you’ll take my generalization on this, considering that I only have four male friends!), his space requirements and personal style are very simple and straightforward.  His designer seemed to understand this and made functionality as the main focus of the design. Everything incorporated into the space has its purpose. While aesthetics is equally important in order to create a visually comfortable space, it is only secondary.

The design paid attention on fitting everything into the small space. The designer’s strategy to make the interiors look bigger is easy–keep things simple, compact and, most imporatantly, clean and organized. As for the decor, he went for a contemporary theme with hints of Asian textures and details. His own stuff were integrated into the design to make the space look and feel more personal. His books and dvds are displayed on open shelves both in the living area and the bedroom. A series of framed buddha images and a pair of miniature tuktuk, which he acquired from Bangkok, were used to accessorize the unit. In addition to these, a couple of plants, such as a potted dancing lady orchid and a cut leaf from a bird’s nest fern, complete the modern tropical ambiance. 

If you want to get this contemporary look for your guy’s space, here’s the list of the stores which you can refer to:

          Living area furniture: Edia and AGP

          Computer area furniture: Edia

          Mirrors, dining set, and bed frame: 1903 Furniture, MarketMarket

          Lamps: Azcor

          Accessories: Rustan’s and Crossings Department Store

space matters: dr. arsi’s studio

How do you pack a small space with big style? Keep it simple, but multiply the look with mirrors! This was the game plan for Dr. Arsi Balisacan’s executive studio. 

Dr. Balisacan, a faculty member of the UP School of Economics and the former director of SEARCA in UPLB, has a natural inclination for a kind of aesthetics that has an organic flavor. Together with his interior designer, he went for a laid-back, clean, and contemporary design to avoid clutter in his compact space, but added a hint of Asian character through the materials and decorations used.

One interesting piece is this egg-shaped woven wicker droplight from DL Design, a shop of custom-made lamps (check  tomorrow for a separate feature on it). It gives the rather simple living space a punch of rustic texture. The window treatment, a combination of canvas roman shades and pleated draw curtains, also add to the visual texture of the room.

This studio is primarily meant to be Dr. Balisacan’s research hub, therefore storage, especially for his books and references, is one major requirement. A set of 3” thick cantilevered shelves is built-into the wall, connected to the protruding column by the window. Aside from the additional storage space, the shelves added some form of dimension to the room while softening the appearance of the column which could have been a possible eyesore.

Interesting tricks were incorporated into the design that made the unit seem larger. One common trick is the use of mirrors, but in this case, the designer used a large (1500mm x 2100mm) framed mirror that seem to appear like an entryway leading to another room. Because the dining area has a tendency to look cramped, the furniture used are sort of “transparent” – glass-topped dining table with a tripod-like base and dining chairs with a cutout back – to maintain the element of depth and the appearance of layering.

The cubist, harvest-themed painting above the sideboard is by Adrian Morales, a parting gift from his staff in SEARCA when he stepped down as the director early this year.

This table lamp from Keystone is consistent with the modern Asian theme with its sleek chrome stand and woven, banig-like shade.

Like what was done in the dining area, a large mirror was installed beside the bed to reflect more light from the window and to make the room look spacious. Except for the small plant by the window and the beige-white-blue beddings, everything in the bedroom is kept plain and simple to eliminate any chance of visual clutter.

space matters: apple and jesse’s home

Our first feature is interior designer Apple de Guzman’s startup home. In her own words, she explains the concepts behind its design:

When we were planning for the house, our goals were simple, practical, and straightforward. My husband and I wanted a home that would suit our needs—a simple, functional, comfortable yet safe for the family, especially for the kids. We wanted a house that had a lot of natural lighting and good air ventilation.

Being the cook in the family, my husband wanted a good-sized kitchen space.  We had only one child that time but we built bedrooms for us, our son and a future daughter, which we eventually had.  I also wanted a den which could double as a home office at the ground floor.  Storage is another requirement that we consciously integrated throughout the house.

When we were designing the house, Mediterranean homes were very popular, so there is a hint of that in the facade.  We didn’t like bright Mediterranean colors, though, so we opted for muted earth tones. Being the interior designer, I was on top of everything, from design to construction, down to furnishing and decorating the interiors. But my husband, Jesse, also collaborated with me. In fact, he did the general layout of the house. I only improved on it as we went along.

Because my husband and I are both from UP, we naturally wanted some Filipino features and textures. We used clay bricks to clad the front columns and the foyer wall, reminiscent of the Spanish Colonial bahay na bato.  We also used an indigenous material called arurug for the lanai’s high pitched ceiling together with solid Yakal posts, giving the outdoor space a resort-like atmosphere. We were fortunate to “inherit” some old Filipino furniture from a cousin who migrated to the US, adding to the Filipino character of the interiors. There’s the galinera in the foyer, the escritoryo under the stairs and the solid wood dining table at the lanai.

We opted for a high ceiling in the living room to give the illusion of space and to bring in a lot of natural light. For maximum ventilation, we used large casement windows in the ground floor since we knew that installing an air conditioner for the public areas is out of the picture.

The narrow balcony at the second floor, connecting the bedrooms on both wings, allows us to see what’s going on in the ground floor from the second level.  From that same spot, a glimpse of the Antipolo mountain range could be seen through the clerestory windows across.

The design approach for the bedrooms is both practical and personal. The strategic location of the masters’ bedroom gives us a good vantage point of our gate to see who comes in and leaves the house. The space has a minimalist arrangement, avoiding possible visual clutter, to maintain a relaxed ambiance. But we were more “adventurous” with the kids’ rooms. Aside from using color for the walls, we also added wall patterns, done by my sister and a couple of friends, for a more upbeat look.