For us, nothing beats a warm cup of coffee enjoying the great company of family and friends; and an added element of thoughtful architecture is seemingly a domestic structure model for the future, and a recipe for happy experiences.”
The owners always dreamt of having their own sanctuary where they can relax as a family, entertain guests and have a nice secured structure where they can also work. And from these desires, a fantastic “work-live home” was crafted to accommodate their wishes.
As you walk into the property, you will pass by between the garage and the home office. Inside you will be welcomed by the airy light-filled courtyard that allows you to peek through to see the five level mini-tower dwelling. A five level mini tower dwelling that’s resting on an existing adobe ground. In order to take full advantage of the properties of the hard soil, a sub base and deep foundations were built to have structural stability due to its height and shape. To reduce the building footprint, some spaces were stacked vertically. The first level holds the social and entertainment areas, the second level has private rooms, the third has the home office and family room and an additional small mezzanine floor landing for “meditation area”. Natural light provides ample illumination through the interior of the house because of the "full-height double glazed" sliding doors and windows distributed on all levels. In addition, large bay windows were installed at the second floor to act as "brise soleil" during summer. Deep overhangs, large openings and vertical steel louvers were carefully positioned to bring in natural ventilation and increase the fresh air intake from the surrounding greens. The nearby Laguna Lake coupled with natural prevailing winds further enhances the air flow within the interiors of the house due to “stack ventilation system” using the stair shaft. The strategically placed lap pool beside the living and dining helps to acclimatize these areas due to evaporative cooling effect. To further capitalize on green building design, both the exterior and interior walls were made of prefabricated expanded polystyrene (EPS) walling system. The EPS blocks contributed in terms of budget savings in manpower, formworks, material handling, and minimal waste of construction materials. The walls are excellent thermal insulators, they are fire retardant, water resistant, seismic tolerant and typhoon rated to withstand 300km winds. The spaces were carefully laid out to emphasize hierarchy and importance that tailored the lifestyle of the owners. The unique materials and design concepts also helped the homeowners to live continuously with better and safer standards. The house will also serve as a reminder that buildings are not necessarily boring but rather, tangible proof for the future that they can be relaxing abodes, environment friendly, and enjoyable places to live in.
Please see youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bq8lA4cKaE
Design: Eugene Ragpa Architecture + O&E Builders
Builder: Oleihc and Enegue Builders
Video and Images: O&E Builders
Suppliers: Ergo Blocks System, Grand East