A modern interpretation of classic ventanillas on the house's striking white and black facade

Disarmingly simple, understated, restrained, and yet robust in style: the house is a portrait of its art-collecting dwellers. Anna Sy, their architectural design consultant, collaborated with her architecture partner Jason Chai to make sure that everything complimented the culture that rested inside. “The baseboards, jambs, ceiling cornice, ceiling textures, and door patterns needed to all work together and in proper proportion. We wanted it all to be subtle but achieve an effect akin to that of a perfectly tailored suit.” Hence the home arrived to an earthy feel, its colour scheme indeed just whites and black.

Entering the gates, you behold a monochromatic façade before passing through a stone garden of bamboo stalks, metal greys, and black granite steps that lead to heavy black doors. “My clients specifically requested for a home that was more contained (unlike some Asian homes that diffuse the distinction between interior and exterior spaces). The entry was the one opportunity where we had some play in integrating the exterior/interior experience with the flow of the home,” says Sy. The stone garden was in fact the easy decision in contrast with the other option, which was a water feature. The lady of the house, a doctor, did not want any single factor that might be conducive to dengue in the home environment.

INTO THE FOYER

Living room table by Vito Selma and furniture from Furnitalia and B&B Italia

Swinging the door into the foyer, you are immediately drawn to paintings by BenCab, to the left which is Sabel, and right in front which is Tryst. True enough, it was Rene Orosa who could craft the best design palettes and cleverly incorporate new furnishings with 20 years of acquired Filipino art. He organised their shopping list and trips around Manila, which included visits to Furnitalia and B&B Italia. “We readily accepted his recommendation of Italian sofas and chairs, since these are constructed to balance firmness and comfort. But for the wooden pieces, we insisted that these be made by Filipino craftsmen, who work on a par with the best in the world,” says the master of the house. Hence, there are also pieces from the interior designer Ito Kish and the wood artist Omeng Esguerra that serve as perfect juxtapositions to the home’s interiors. The fine furniture fill a living room surrounded by some outstanding paintings, which include Lahar Flight by Ben Cab, Table by Lao Lian Ben, A Touch of Yellow by Florencio B. Concepcion, Father and Son by Ang Kiu Kok, and The Helpful Horse by Rodel Tapaya. Particularly noteworthy is the hollow Rizal-and-Bonifacio sculpture entitled Two Points by Juan Sajid Imao. “It reflects the constant debate as to who truly is our National Hero—Rizal or Bonifacio? It’s a very nice piece indeed—acquired in one of the Philippine Art shows a few years ago,” divulges the owner.

Tryst by BenCab hangs over an inlaid antique Filipino console table in the foyer

LET THERE BE LIGHT

The orientation of spaces in every single room allows for maximum exposure to natural light and ventilation—all have big glass doors and windows to invite invigorating sunlight and refreshing air.

This is probably why the master of the house is in love with their home—from the entry to the foyer, to the living room, to the lanai / dining room, then out to the garden; he relishes how “the flow is uncomplicated—and Rene furnished it nicely so the look is sophisticated but warm and very comfortable—for us, as well as the people who come by and visit.”

Orosa himself exclaims how it was such a joy working with his clients. Contrary to the traditional setup, it was the master of the house who was more involved in the decision-making over his physician wife. “He knew exactly what he wanted,” says Orosa, who appreciates a clear sense of purpose in his clients. He is satisfied in the work that he has accomplished, a feeling shared by Sy, who says, “More than just one part, it is the overall grace and simplicity of the house that is most appealing. It’s a handsome home that is elegantly restrained, inside and out."

Find out more about the art masterpieces found in this house in the eighth volume of Philippine Tatler Homes, available in leading newsstands and bookstores. Download the digital version on your device via Magzter and Zinio.