MANILA, Philippines?Since the owners shuttle between their province and Metro Manila, they wanted a pied a terre in the metropolis that would be accessible to the retail scene, yet quiet and close to nature.

Well-traveled, they liked the concept of Serendra One, where the condominium unit looks out to the courtyard surrounded by outdoor cafés and art. On the other side of the building, they find solitude in the themed gardens.

Since the couple loves to entertain, they got two units of approximately 60 sq m each and commissioned Budji Layug + Royal Pineda Architecture to stretch the space.

?If you want to live in the city, this is where the action is,? says architect Pineda, referring to Serendra?s prime spot in Bonifacio Global City and its proximity to main shopping areas and the business center.

Bowed architecture

The units had a curved-in periphery that followed Serendra?s bowed architecture. By tearing down the walls to combine the two units, the abode became fan-shaped.
Instead of a square box, the subtly concave walls added depth and dispersed sound, thus insulating the unit from the bustle of the outside.

The curved ceiling treatment, which echoes the concave walls, was made more pronounced with cove lighting. Now, the curvature of the walls and ceiling pulls the eye to the panoramic windows that look out at Serendra?s fountains at the piazza.

Pineda says the view evokes a stay in a hotel in Paris where one can watch chic people stroll and dine down below.

The finishes are woods, stone and glass. Wood veneers are popular with today?s architects as they are environmentally friendly. Veneers are fine slices of wood that are attached onto core panels to create walls, doors, tops and furniture.

For solid surfaces, Corian was used for the kitchen counter top, while natural stone such as grey travertine and Carrara were used for bathroom counters. These lavatory counters were trimmed with stainless steel for a tidy appearance.

?It?s like the clean edging of a well-tailored shirt,? says Pineda.

Warm white walls that bounce the light and frosted glass in cabinets contrast with the taupe Italian tile flooring and magkuno boards in the master bedroom.

Flexible space

Space planning called for a more flexible scheme, as the areas should have various functions.

?Instead of compartmentalizing, we created the illusion of more space by using one space for other purposes,? says Pineda. ?The open planning is dictated by the owners? modern lifestyle, which is informal but sophisticated. Since the kitchen is revealed, it needed to be enhanced.?

Upon entry, the visitor feels the hub of the condo?the kitchen/bar/entertainment area.

?We were dictated by the fan shape of the unit. That?s why the island counter/bar becomes the altar of entertainment,? explains Pineda. The counter?s sculptural quality, a solid block of Corian, is now the focal point of the foyer.

The kitchen, furnished with thick glass shelves, frosted glass cabinets and German hardware, was custom-fitted to the firm?s design. The plasma TV is strategically placed at the focal point, allowing it to be viewed from both the living room and dining spaces. The exhaust hood can be retracted during party time.

The den can be part of the whole public space for conversations. ?If there are no guests, the owners can enjoy the luxury of space,? says the architect. Or, it can be set off with the use of sliding glass panels for privacy.

The den?s sofa can be transformed into a bed at night, turning the space into a guest room with its own bathroom and storage.

?This gives the client the feeling that the total area is maximized,? says Pineda.

Intimacy

To create intimacy, Budji Layug + Royal Pineda Architecture used snugly upholstered pieces, dark, warm tones, and dramatic lighting. The furniture pieces combine earthy, ethnic textures such as abaca rope, tinalak weave, tanguile with metals and glass instead of the conventional synthetic materials.

Black is an accent to such accessories as wire or lacquered vases, plates and wooden trays.

To visually enlarge the space and to hide structural elements, beams in the powder room and the post in the living room were clad with mirrors. In the latter, the room?s reflections enable the post to blend with the environment. In the powder room, the mirror-clad beams create more height and reflect natural light.

Like the rest of the unit, the master bedroom is also concave, as the walls are not parallel to each other. The walls originally skewed out, with one wall wider on the bathroom side than on the window side. To create balance in the asymmetric room, the designers built a triangular headboard.