With a sprawling contemporary home as his canvas, set designer Gino Gonzales ventures out of his comfort zone to help tell a family's story through design
When design is done right, one can easily get a grasp of a person’s psyche by simply taking a look around the place they call home. So when a cosmopolitan couple decided to finally build their family home—after years of renting—it was of utmost importance that the house would be a reflection of their personalities.
Yet looking at their home from the outside, a passing stranger wouldn’t think that. Its spartan façade does little to invite a second glance. From the street, the home appears a large yet unassuming rectangular concrete structure, with hardly any embellishments, and no windows at eye level. This austerity was an intentional decision for the homeowners, who consider themselves very private people. And though this minimalist exterior does set the tone for what’s inside, one can’t help but be surprised at the sight of what’s past the home’s wooden front doors.
BIGGER ON THE INSIDE
Visitors are ushered from the foyer into the sprawling living room by a floor-to-ceiling metal and bamboo screen by Kenneth Cobonpue. Large windows line one side of the U-shaped house, allowing beams of light to stream generously into the space. With clean, boxy, yet elegant lines, the house is clearly an Ed Calma creation. “We really sought out Ed because of his distinct aesthetic,” explains the lady of the house. “A lot of people don’t understand the boxiness, but I really wanted the height that you get from a flat roof, so that when you come in, it just feels grand.”
Opposite the sitting area’s contemporary Italian seating and grand piano is an indoor basketball court for the couple’s three sons. (“That’s what we like about Ed. When we said we wanted a basketball ring inside, just because we find it fun, there was no judgment,” the homeowner laughs.)