J House

Philippines

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J House

Philippines

Firm

Studiokama

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2024

SIZE

3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

While tropical architecture varies from region to region, its end goal is immutable—to provide thermal comfort and protection against extreme weather and climates. Culture and context shape the distinguishing aesthetics of various tropical designs, but at their core lie principles that constitute how the structure can fulfill its purpose of cooling its inhabitants.

Following these principles is the motivation behind the design of the J House, rather than complying to the aesthetic-focused guidelines provided by the themed subdivision it’s in. This private residence is planned around the spatial restrictions presented by the small, irregularly shaped lot. The terrain slopes down with a panoramic view of Taal Lake to the southeast, leaving the house exposed to strong winds and harsh sunlight. The house is split into three floors, with the communal spaces on the ground floor comprised of the dining, kitchen, and living areas, the bedrooms on the second, and the service areas on the basement accessible through the curved driveway on the northeast side.

Two architectural moves were key to establishing the J House’s massing and spatial configurations. The first is aligning the massing with the choice of materials, mainly cladding the bottom volume in adobe stone and the top half in concrete, resulting in an introverted form that ensures privacy while still having voids for sight lines and air flow. The structure is topped by a quatro aguas roof that is folded down on the southwest side to protect the interiors against sunlight. Practicality also influenced materiality—because of its status as a vacation home, materials that require minimal maintenance are used such as stone and polished concrete, with wood accents for the furniture.

The second move is orienting the 12-meter pool along the southwest perimeter, making it a key organizing element for the spatial configuration that helps induce cross and stack ventilation. The entire southwest side acts as a thermal mass, with a perforated adobe wall that absorbs heat which dissipates through the pool during the evenings. Steel grill floors were placed on the basement and second level for rising hot air to pass through, further reducing the buildup of heat within the house. The perpendicular orientation of the pool to the living and dining area created unique views, with the edge of the pool pointing to the south and bridging the house with the landscape. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows encase the rear elevations of the J House to open up different vistas of Taal Lake that residents can enjoy from any vantage point in the interiors, while still being protected from the elements.

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J House

Philippines

J House

Philippines

Product Spec Sheet

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