A house in the eastern suburbs is transformed by architect Ramon Antonio into an elegant family home in the midst of a lush, verdant garden
Amidst the hustle and bustle of a major urban megalopolis like Quezon City, a green sanctuary that is, at the same time, a modern family home is a breath of fresh air. Located in an elegant gated community east of the city, a short distance away from the academic cluster of Katipunan Avenue, this breathtaking residence sits on a 4,340 square metre property and measures approximately 2,000sqm.
“I wanted this house to reflect a love of nature,” Ramon Antonio, its proud architect, declares enthusiastically when asked as to the theme behind the design. “The environment around it is lushly verdant, so apt for a tropical look.”
The house is located in an area designated as a bird sanctuary. Decades-old trees line the village streets, and many houses in the neighbourhood were built around the trees in their respective lots. On top of these idyllic surroundings, this house also offers a magnificent view of the Marikina Valley down below.
The exclusive community is on high ground, with a gently rolling landscape which lends itself beautifully to a wide array of decorative tropical plants like bromeliads, large succulents, and red-button ginger.
“Oh, we can’t really take any credit for the way the landscaping looks,” the lady of the house admits with a laugh. “We put all our trust in our architect. Everything—from the landscape to the accessories—was his idea.”
When the property was purchased nearly four years ago, there was already a mid-20th century family bungalow standing on the lot. The owners showed it to Antonio, whose architect’s eye rendered it to be completely outmoded. His verdict? To demolish it and build anew. Which the owners followed. Such was their trust on their architect.
“Up until we bought the property, we were living in a 450sqm three-bedroom house,” the lady of the house continues. Their married son, his wife, and their toddler daughter. The owner’s unmarried daughter is away in Australia. The number of family members must have been a factor in the decision to move to a bigger property. Another is the fact that the couple both long for the countryside. “My husband and I are both from Isabela Province. We wanted a home that would bring a bit of the country to the city: fresh air, big trees, and plenty of space.”
Antonio has certainly delivered with regard to that request. “We tried to keep all of the original trees on the property,” he says, “save for two which stood where the kitchen is now.”