One may easily say that the Cobonpue house has a somewhat natural, elemental feel to it
Part of the Cobonpue family compound, the house sits on a 1,703.60-square metre lot on a hillside, hence the sloping nature of the design which follows the natural contours of the land. Split into three levels with a total floor area pegged at 866 square metres, the house has four bedrooms. Its primary living areas are on the second and third floors, while the lowest level is used as a service and storage area.
The unique thing about the lot is that there were a number of old molave ( Vitex parviflora or small-flower chastetree) trees growing on it. As the molave has been deemed an endangered species by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Pineda’s architectural team opted against removing them and, instead, built the house around them. The house is further surrounded by stands of native bamboo which serve as a privacy screen in lieu of curtains for the upper levels of the house.
One may easily say that the Cobonpue house has a somewhat natural, elemental feel to it. Air circulates freely throughout the house, given the open layout on all levels; likewise, the highceilinged lanai on the second level is cooled naturally by the breeze, save for the hottest summer days. Water is also a key element in the design, with a reflecting pool at the front of the house and a swimming pool in the back where the Cobonpues and their guests can relax and have fun. The trees surrounding the property serve as a natural privacy screen, windbreak, and pergolas in some of the social areas.
“We also had green living in mind for the design of the house,” Layug adds. “The glass walls minimise the need for electric lights throughout the day, as ambient light provides enough illumination throughout the space. The way the air circulates also cuts down on the need for air-conditioning, making it quite energy efficient.”
Some visitors to the house have been moved to compare its split-level form to the famed rice terraces of Banaue, but this is just one of