“The balconies are all over. If you notice the railings, it’s like a boat with decks all around”

“As you enter the property, you start to have a more intimate relationship with the spaces. This is the time you see the layers of the house,” expounds the architect Royal Pineda. The house branches out into two pavilions cascading into an expanse that reaches as far over the ocean as possible. Each wing is strategically plotted to complement the residents’ lifestyle and hobbies. “That’s how we always do our projects, we try to amplify the personalities of the owners,” adds Pineda. Natural finishes temper the newness of the structure to a degree that suits a weekend home. To heighten this ambience, the architect reveals that even the patinas of the raw textures are designed to age. “We’re trying to forget the city, so the more we have it, the better.”

The right pavilion, decked in stone and tiles that mimic the earthy look exudes an inviting warmth. The top level opens up to a blissful living and dining area, illuminated by natural light spilling in through full height sliding glass doors on all sides. Daylight likewise permeates the ever-busy kitchen through clerestories in the ceiling. “That’s always our concept for tropical homes: to make use of what nature offers you,” says the architect. Indoor lighting is used only after the sun has set.

This spacious setting is where the gracious owners hold all their social gatherings. On the day Philippine Tatler Homes came to visit, the space was the setting for the gastronomic offerings of Punta Fuego’s Country Club courtesy of its general manager Mikel Arriet. The spread consisted mainly of Spanish pintxos— butifarra (Catalan sausages), croquetas de bacalao (salt cod roll), and gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic)—