MANILA, Philippines—As the lone Philippine entry to the “Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture,” the house of builder Pablo Calma is not only lauded for its sophisticated style, but also for the way it goes against conventions of local architecture in the city—such as having high fences and living with lots of accumulations.

The urban-chic style is credited to his nephew, architect Eduardo Calma, who undertook the renovation.

The home stands on the corner lot of a Makati village that eschews fences. The residence itself functions as the perimeter wall. Instead of fences for privacy, there are fewer windows on the facade. The focus is on the play of bricks, manufactured by the elder Calma. The house was built around existing bamboo trees.

However, upon entry to the public area of the house, the visitor is welcomed by sunlight from the broad expanse of glass on the double-volume open plan area. The shape of the open plan is oriented toward the courtyard view. Architect Calma defined the different areas such as the dining and entertaining spaces by lowering the ceilings to establish some intimacy.

There is something soothing about the interiors. The space heavily depends on light to express the feeling of openness. The walls and flooring are elegantly covered in African padauk, an exotic hardwood with an intense vivid red-orange color that fades into a dramatic reddish or purplish brown, or even black over time. It has a fine texture with a natural sheen.

To balance the wood, some walls are kept in white for their reflective quality. A skylight and long narrow rows of horizontal louvers which run perpendicular to the ceiling control the light and block off the sun on the west side.

A floating staircase becomes a design statement as it is highlighted by a series of architectural brackets, made from aluminum strips.

The look is very masculine, what with luxurious black and deep brown leather furniture against the wood and white walls. In the living room, a large spherical lighting fixture, made of metal strips woven into a mesh, makes a strong focal point.

The space is furnished by stunning art pieces and furniture by the architect’s father, Lorenzo Calma. A coffee table made from two strips of tropical hardwood form a cross, with a glass as the fulcrum. The orientation of the table can be adjusted to the users.

The brick accent wall in the dining room actually serves as a continuity of the brick facade. This wall also serves as a backdrop for artworks.

The space is furnished by designer furniture—Patricia Urquiola’s lens table and Mario Bellini’s leather Cab chairs. Lor Calma’s carpet, made of random strips of lines that mimic the movement traffic of the feet, is no less striking.