Life / HomesH
ow does one maximise a limited amount of
space? If you pose that question to designer
Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda, they
will tell you that the question ought to be
“How do you transform a limited amount
of space?”
The powerhouse duo behind Budji+Royal
Architecture+Design has answered that question with a
house that certainly looks a great deal larger than its full
500 square metres.
“The owners of the house are artists and designers,”
Pineda says of the clients who commissioned the house.
“They wanted a house with modern sensibilities, but
also one where they could maximise the space.”
This wasn’t the only challenge the team faced with
regard to this particular structure. Located in a gatedcommunity near Antipolo, Rizal, the clients had to contend
with a local ordinance that forbade the construction of
fences and gates around individual properties. As luck
would have it, the natural environment of the location
provided the perfect solution.
The area surrounding the property was a lush urban
forest that serves as a habitat for over 60 species of
native birds. That said, trees, ferns, and other plants
endemic to Rizal province grew in profusion throughout
the area, and the ones surrounding the house formed
a natural perimeter barrier that doubles as a privacy
screen protecting those dwelling within.
“The clients actually wanted to cut down the trees,”
Layug recalls. “But we told them: ‘We have to respect
what is there.’ And what is there is the beauty and peace
of nature.”WIDE OPEN SPACES
Mirrors in the dining area make the space appear larger; (opposite) Spherical lamps add local flavour to the sitting room66 philippine tatler. august 2019