“Bahay Sibi” is a 3-storey residence, located at Baliuag, Bulacan. The site is inside a private subdivision that is composed of generic lots with restrictions typical of gated villages. The property is a corner lot with the village clubhouse on its front. The situation calls for a design that can provide a level of privacy to the family, yet open enough to allow the sun and breeze inside. The brief given by our client was concise. Their focus is more on the spaces that will fit the lot and budget, and left us the task of solving the design.

The design is contemporary Filipino architecture, with features adapting to tropical setting while reflecting the vernacular. The house took inspiration from the “bahay-kubo’s sibi”, originally an extension of the roof that protects openings. We adapted this to the design of the sun-shading devices.

This device controls the amount of the daylight, allows natural ventilation, while providing privacy and security. The main spaces are oriented toward the north, while the lanai and garden is located on the north-east, for the morning sun. All bedrooms have a “sibi”, to lessen the heat and diffuse the glare of sunlight.

The house is accessed through a concrete pathwalk surrounded by tropical landscaping. Vegetation surrounds the house with a gabion fence bordering the property. Inside the galvanized steel gabions are Limestones. The ground floor has an open-planned common areas. The lanai is connected to these common areas, and serves as an extension of the space. All wood doors and accent wall panel found inside the house follow the same wood strip design, simulating the wood sun-shading devices of the exterior. The idea is to bring inside the exterior design, showing not only the spatial relationship, but visual connections as well. The palette of the interior is neutral, with accents of wood. The furnishings and accessories are minimal to have a relaxed ambience, and to avoid unnecessary clutter. The stair connects the main spaces to the private rooms, while acting as a stack that allow air flow and cross ventilation. The motorized windows on the stairs acts as exhaust for hot air. It also has a skylight with UV film, showering the stairs with sunlight. The stair treads are made of solid Oak wood, supported by tubular steel stair stringers. The Oak handrail is supported by Copper balusters that will change its patina as the house ages. The design of the stairs reflects the openness and porosity of the house, while distributing sunlight to the common areas. Private spaces are located in the upper floors with balcony on the 3rd floor, which serves as an intimate space for the family. Operable wood louvers separate the family room to the stairs, with an option to control the amount of sunlight.