Mexico (our house)

We needed a place to stay after renting for two years in Palawan. We bought the property infront of our rented apartment. Our landlord just pointed out the property and we said ok. The problem was, that everytime we asked where the property was, he pointed in different direction each time. After all it turned out ok. Our view is the mountain range of Palawan foregrounded with wide cogoon fields outlined with trees all around.

DESIGN

I said, lets design around a cube of 7 meters wide, long, and tall. We have two children, so must be three bedrooms and three bathroom with a kitchen that's accessable to the dining and living room. It's nice to be cooking while watching TV or entertaining. Well the cube protruded here and there to fit us all. Plus we have this must: ROOF DECK. So we have 7m x 7m of space on the roof with beautiful tree top view of the surrounding. Over and above what we expect, the garage likewise needed a roof that doubles as a very welcome balcony area on the second floor accessable to the master's bedroom and family room. We spend many sunset hours having brosquete and red wine.

CONSTRUCTION

Straight forward, a typical concrete structure with floor slabs which doubles as a clean ceiling (we didn't want to add ceilings since it'll add to costs and maintenance) and a roof for the third floor. The structure was designed for three storeys but we saved by not putting up a roof. 

We wanted the advantages of the M2 technology so we did all our walls with polystyrene which we manufactured ourselves.

UNIQUE

We rounded off all edges on the posts and beams and even headers on dooors and windows. When you come in the house you get a feeling of softness all around. All walls were cement plastered but not smoothed, leaving a rough finish looking like textured paint.OVERALL

The most coziest of all houses we've ever lived in. We enjoy all the cozy areas of the house and especially the family room where we hear everybody downstairs but feeling private, overlooking the mountain foregrounded by wide cogoon fields and we have three "Enyam" trees by the window where all different birds gather together early in the morning and late in the afternoon to feed on its tiny fruits. 

Perhaps this is whats keeping us here in Palawan.