NO. 21
Cradled in the urban fabric of Metro Manila, the residence reflects a pursuit of comfort through a tropical modern design approach. Grounded in climate responsiveness, deep wood-clad overhangs shade generous window openings and structure the house’s horizontal mass. The architecture remains understated, allowing its climate-responsive intent to quietly define the home.
At its core, No. 21 House is an act of care—an architect designing a home for her parents, and in doing so, for the entire family. Conceived for a family of six, the house is meant to evolve alongside its occupants: intimate today, yet flexible enough to accommodate a growing family. Guided by restraint and trust, the design favors longevity over statements, shaping a home where connection, memory, and quiet intention can endure.
A pair of four-meter-high Narra double doors welcomes guests. Embedded within the solid wood are the letters J and L—the initials of the clients and the architect’s parents—a quiet signature that anchors the home in lineage and care.
Upon entry, guests are greeted by a long, light-filled foyer that frames a lush garden. Connection is the soul of this home—visual, spatial, and emotional. With only six occupants, it was essential that spaces remain linked, so the house always feels alive. A grand piano anchors the foyer, establishing a visual axis that connects the living and dining areas, drawing light inward and creating a sense of depth, orientation, and ease of movement. Through this spatial composition, the expansive interior is shaped into an intimate abode for its occupants.
LIVING AREA
At the core of the house, the living area unfolds as a space of convergence. A square-cut, double-height curtain wall draws in warm daylight, illuminating an interior shaped by memory and connection. Coffered wood ceilings articulate the expansive volume, breaking down scale to support comfort and interaction. Modern furniture and sculptural decors introduce moments of color along the horizontal plane, adding a contemporary layer to the tropical palette. Together, these elements form a composed and balanced environment, establishing the living area as the heart of the home.
DINING AREA
To the right of the foyer is the dining area, featuring award-winning Fast Forest chairs paired with a custom 14-seater Kenneth Cobonpue table. Right above, a cascading sculptural light fixture bathe the space in warm illumination, creating a striking focal point that guides a visitor’s visual journey through the home.
Beyond the dining area, subtle visual cues guide movement toward the living space, where the house opens up both spatially and visually. Circulation gives way to gathering, and the home’s shared life comes into focus.
Along the foyer, a series of vertical Narra panels cleverly conceals the doors to the powder room and the library. This subtle detailing keeps the space seamless and calm.
POWDER ROOM
Inside the powder room, a Patricia Urquiola basin and mixer sit on a solid slab of natural stone. The walls are clad with individually installed slate tiles, arranged piece by piece to create a textured, in-and-out surface. Horizontal grout lines are darkened to emphasize the tile’s natural strata, while vertical lines blend into the stone so the pattern feels organic and uninterrupted.
OUTDOOR SPACES
The cantilevered balcony, floating lightly over the garden, creates a serene corner—perfect for quiet mornings. Directly above, a cantilevered bedroom mirrors its profile. Stacked yet weightless, these projecting forms define the façade—geometrically strong, yet gentle in presence.
A 1.10-meter-deep beam spans 11 meters to support a four-meter cantilevered room—an unconventional structural decision made possible through close collaboration between architect and client. The complexity of this structure is deliberately concealed, allowing proportion, balance, and calm to remain at the forefront. Warmth, comfort, and the rhythms of family life guide both creative freedom and bold structural moves, bringing life to moments of calculated precision.
Below these floating sanctuaries, the experience continues seamlessly into the surrounding architectural landscape.
That is why No. 21 feels exactly right - a meticulous pursuit of comfort crafted through beautiful architecture. It is a home shaped by love, comfort, and the desire to create a place where everyone can return to and feel at ease - an expression of love from the architect to the people who shaped her.