Platform 21 Architecture designs this pet-friendly home for a couple living in Metro Manila. The Concrete Garden is a tranquil abode that merges modernist design tropes with tropical motifs. Its single-story scale enables an intimacy between its occupants and their spaces.
The Concrete Garden aims to mimic the calmness of the outdoors through its design language. It’s a refined assembly of natural materials formed together by minimalist stylings. The structure makes itself understood by means of its symmetric and repetitive elements that bring about a balanced and orderly arrangement.
The facade’s “soft fence” is divided into 6 distinct rectangles formed by a timber outline that are filled with either a concrete breeze block or wood panel finish. It also acts as a screen that filters the sunlight and wind entering the site. Right above, a large concrete canopy extends over the fence providing shade, unifying the overall design.
Nature seemingly seeps inside as the building blurs the lines between itself and the landscape. In terms of landscaping, “walls” of soil surround the perimeter. A planting strip of bamboo sits right behind the “soft” fence of the facade. This array of greenery grows higher than the fencing and cuts into the roof, making it part of the building’s frontage.
“The dogs are primarily considered as the “home owners”. The house incorporates dog fences, while the cabinets with open bottom shelves act as the dog’s nook. The garden and lanai serve as the dog’s play area. The landscaping is also now a home to local birds, which became a haven to build their nests.”
The Concrete Garden’s plan features a single story with straightforward architectural programming. It invites users into the heart of the home with its shared spaces sitting right in the center. Private rooms are subsequently divided with bedrooms on one end and auxiliary spaces on the other. This forms an internal zoning within the structure that’s organized and easy to manage.
A central space housing the dining and living room connects the two different lanais that line the exterior. Despite its limited built area, an intentional alignment of spaces manages to bring about a sense of openness and introduces adaptability as a key feature. The utilization of built-in furniture and storage solutions keeps the interior clutter free and open to rearrangement. The dog fences and built-in shelves, with a notably open bottom, adds to the pet-friendliness of the design.
The choice of material and wood further accents the rhythmic pattern of balance and order already established so far. The warmth of wooden elements tastefully contrasts against the monotone colors of the exposed concrete walls and floors. The smoothness and properties of the flooring materials also makes it easier to clean and maintain. This interplay of materials creates a rich tapestry that contributes to the home’s tropical ambience and sleek modernity.
Embracing its name, the Concrete Garden incorporates greenery throughout, creating a constant connection with nature for residents. The outdoor spaces are integral to the circulation and movement of the design.
From the inside, each space has its own door that directly leads to the outdoors. The lanai areas act as entrances that connect the building’s center to the site’s entrances. A stone pathway circles around the northern end of the site. Adobe walls accent the outdoors and frame the garden.
The large glass doors and openings are spaced closely to the natural perimeter and landscaping. A variety in the casing and fixtures, such as blinds, brings an element of control. This liberal delegation of openings supports a slew of sustainable design principles. The permeable facade, open layout, and wide integration of fenestrations is a compelling formula for passive cooling and natural lighting.
The Concrete Garden demonstrates how artificial and natural elements can be deeply intertwined into one another. Its single level, large central space, and spatial characteristics make it an easy-to-maintain home that still meets everything its owners need.
Read more: EKAR’s Recent Project Is Every Dog Lover’s Dream
Photos from Platform 21
For more than nine decades, Fisher & Paykel has approached design with a simple but exacting belief: that the best living environments are those shaped by people, place, and purpose. Rooted in New Zealand and deeply attuned to island and coastal living, the brand’s philosophy centres on quiet performance, material honesty, and appliances that integrate […]
At Helm, dining unfolds as choreography. An open kitchen anchors the room, allowing guests to witness the precision behind its Michelin-starred fine dining menu. Designed by Kevin Nieves of Headroom, the 24-seat restaurant reflects that same discipline in its interior design. Tucked within Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Helm brings together culinary recognition and architectural […]
Exhibition designer Baby Imperial of All At Once shaped the spatial strategy of ALT ART 2026, its largest edition to date. The fair occupied Halls 1 and 2 of SMX Convention Center Manila, expanding in both footprint and ambition. Organized by the ALT Collective—Artinformal, Blanc, The Drawing Room, Galleria Duemila, Finale Art File, MO_Space, Underground, […]
ALT ART, organized by the ALT Collective—Artinformal, Blanc, The Drawing Room, Galleria Duemila, Finale Art File, MO_Space, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, and West Gallery—presents a focused platform for Philippine contemporary art. As the fair continues to evolve, it expands its scale and curatorial scope, reinforcing its growing presence within the Philippine art scene. Creative Practices […]
Art Fair Philippines 2026 gathered art enthusiasts and collectors in Makati for one of the country’s leading showcases of contemporary Philippine art. Designed by Nazareno/Lichauco, the fair moved to Circuit Corporate Center One in Ayala Circuit, marking a new chapter in its spatial identity. Across its booths and projects, the fair positioned contemporary Philippine art […]
Ronald Ventura is one of the most recognizable figures in Southeast Asian contemporary art. Since his first solo exhibitions in the 2000s, Ventura has become known for his signature multi-layered paintings. Featuring hyperrealism, cartoons, graffiti, and other recurring motifs, hisworks—from paintings to sculptures—are pluralistic in both form and material. Throughout his career, his art has […]
