When designer Kenneth Cobonpue realized that his perfect parcel of property in the Philippines was punctuated with four majestic Mahogany trees, he presented architect Royal Pineda with the challenge “to design a house as open to nature as possible without removing any of the trees or backfilling the steeply inclined hill.” Interestingly enough, working alongside fellow architect Budji Layug, Pineda turned to one of Cobonpue’s own motifs – a skeletal chair named Tilt – for inspiration to achieve the coveted result.
Turns out, the homes’ angular, pitched roof mimics the concept of Cobonpue’s Tilt design which is comprised of myriad strips of wood that are cut and attached at extreme angles resulting in a modern interpretation of traditional Asian temple and villa architecture.
Inside, the organic furniture Cobonpue created for his home expands upon the theme of bringing the outdoors in, and his love of dramatic and romantic light fixtures led to the heavy use of organic oversized lamps, glowing clouds, paper lanterns and gold leafed jars. This can be seen in one of the children’s rooms, in which cloud lamps hang in clusters from the ceiling to complete its ocean theme a captivating sight viewed from inside the home or out.
“The architecture is quite simple, yet bold and intentionally cold, with extensive use of glass and stone,” he describes. “These were deliberate choices so that the furniture, lighting and artwork could provide the interior’s personality and warmth. The contrast between the architecture and interior elements is what I think makes the home so striking.”
Though the original intent was to create a home in which Cobonpue could showcase his work, the choices that went into the surrounding grounds proved to be just as important as those devoted to the interiors. For example, the homeowner and his wife spent significant time working on the landscaping, choosing each plant that was placed on the property.
The resultant home has a sense of peace and playfulness that flows from room to room, as well as a character that will continue to evolve as it is lived in, which is precisely what Cobonpue wanted.
“Like our guests, one of my favorite spaces is the patio in front of the pool,” the homeowner shares. “It offers a cooling breeze and a panoramic view of both my city and our garden. Sitting there, taking it all in, I just couldn’t ask for more.”
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