Highlights

We were called by one of our favorites, and a certified nature aficionado clients to work with him on another project. This time however, we were designing a home for his soon to be wed daughter, wherein the home was not only going to be her first home, but also the father's very special wedding gift for the newly wed couple. Of course, in true nature loving fashion of our client, he chose a property with vigorous slopes, and lots of trees to preserve. He then left us with a firm note: "Make me something feature worthy, with lots of garden and space for my grandchildren to play". To which we responded, challenge excitedly accepted!

Nestled inside White Plains subdivision, the property was blessed with 180-degrees of Quezon city cityscape. Determined not to lose sight of that, lower floors were split-leveled along the natural terrain, whilst upper levels were tiered to offer varying views as you gradually made your way upward and through the house. Here you will find the bedrooms, each of which uniquely askewed so that every family member enjoyed their own special view of this prime scenery. All of this would conclude at an open air roof deck, where we recommend, the family enjoy the stars, the views and even celebrate a new year's eve from time to time under all the colorful festivities. On the outside, you will see a fragmented style in Tropical Deconstructivism influenced by the varying levels and orientations, but on the inside, it was became a personalized collaboration between our design and the owner's choice natural finishing he had collected over the years. The most noticeable of them all is the reclaimed bowling alley planks, which became the homes Main floor finish.

As of 2021, the family is already expecting their first child! We can't wait for the newly weds and their baby to start creating memories in their crafted home.  

In 2019, the Human rights violations victims' commission (HRVVMC) launched a design competition for a Museum & Memorial project to honor the victims and survivors who struggled for freedom, democracy, and human rights during Martial law in 1972-86. The project was to be developed on a 1.5hectare property inside the U.P. Diliman campus and was to house a Memorial, Museum, Library, Archives, Auditorium, outdoor public spaces amongst other supplementary offerings. As a whole, the objective of the project was clear: Create a destination where Filipino's can collectively know the truth, heal, recognize, and formulate inspiration from the memoriam of the events that transpired during this dark period of our history.

As a museum design, the project needed to be an art piece in itself accompanied with generous user oriented site development and with just consideration for modern efficiencies and sustainable operation. We were proud to have been given the opportunity to participate in this competition.

• Proposed location: U.P. Diliman Campus
• Status: Shortlisted

As part of their anniversary issue (July to October 2019), D+C Magazine wrote a cover story on CASA Arkitektura and our apparent familiarity with designing cliffside residential homes. In this feature, we shared our views on why we give such interest to sloping properties, the pros and cons of building with a slant; and while there will be some extra considerations in the build process, some creative design can result to highly efficient use of space, whilst creating a unique solution one can only accomplish via building on a hill.  

• Featured in this article as samples of this method:

                     - "Project Cliff-Drive" in Blue Ridge Subdivision, Q.C. 

                     - "Project Maple Loop" in Lindenwood Susana Heights, Muntinlupa 

                     - "Project Lodge house Villa" in Canyon Woods, Tagaytay  

See the full spread in D+C's 6th Anniversary issue titled "Edge of Reality"

Launched in 2016, an International design competition was held for the Conceptual design of a new Supreme court complex development to be located in Bonifacio Global city, Taguig. Some of the best designers were called on to conceptualize a "Culturally iconic building, justified to provide a legacy for generations to come" whilst integrating environmental friendly and sustainable standards for the "efficient dispensation of justice". Known for its iconic character, stately grandeur, and its colonial and cubical inspired form, the challenge became not just about providing more space, but how to create an original translation that instead exemplifies the Filipino creativity and own character whilst maintaining stately and symbolic.

Deriving our concept from the Lady Justice and her balanced scales, the forms were asymmetric yet equally distributed into two major nodes (a touch on the must be equal dissemination of the law) and representative of the two major functions of the SC in Adjudication and Administration. As forms came into play, substance of design was put in the fluid and graceful use of lines as a compliment to the femininity of lady justice, Purity and sincerity is represented in the predominant use of white on the facade, whilst a grand semblance of the past was developed through the extracted portal (Original building feature) which was scaled, and proportioned representing a modernized and progressive future.

The design is neither thematic nor a specific archetype of its past architecture. Instead it is it's own identity, semblance of a basic FILIPINO trait in creativity, application and interpretation.    

• Proposed location: BGC, Taguig
• Status: Participant