Multiple Openings for Diverse Views
A 400m² two-story family house in Quezon City, the Phillipines, highlights views from an interior sheltered by a white concrete ‘hood’ with trapezoidal niches. The house’s floor plan follows the L-shaped site. A large second floor window is placed at the north-west corner. The entrance hallway and stairs are located on the west side with a ribbon window facing the street and a park. Above it is a wall of small punctured windows with a profile section-detail that is slanted to keep the rainwater out, but allowing natural air to pass through. This wall blocks the sun’s afternoon heat and also allows the stair atrium to breathe. The setback is kept open as small private open areas of the dining room and the ground floor guest room. The garage adjacent to the living areas can be entered from the living room by a square frosted glass door. Filipinos typically welcome many visitors during fiestas and religious events, but setting up a big table in the garage area leaves the house’s main living and dining areas private for family and close friends.
On the second floor, hallway windows deliver light and cross-ventilation. Hallway doors are recessed in the wall, echoing the profile of the windows. They access storage and closet spaces, and the library. The hallway’s picture window is openable, reducing air-conditioning demand. Small random windows on the opposite side of the library reflect the punctured windows of the west façade and become a backdrop of the library interior when looking towards the hallway.
A portion of the corridor is part family room. When the air-conditioning is on, a pocket glass door can be pulled out from the wall making the hallway area part of the space. The owners’ local hardwood collection was used for the second floor and wood finishes dictated the house’s color scheme.
The exterior geometric language of extrusions and trapezoids is echoed in ceilings and interior furnishings. Via interior windows, the principal “mother” window provides a viewing portal to the park for the family room and second floor master bedroom. Opposite the master bed, bay window seating overlooks internal areas and offers external views which can also be enjoyed in the family room. A tree at the corner of the park becomes the main viewpoint reference of the house.
Project: Viewpoint House / Architect: Jim Caumeron Design / Contractor: IDIAZ Urbanbuilt Corporation. / Photograph: Jim Caumeron Design
