Situated in a quiet community in Dumaguete, Casa Diago is a retirement home shaped by tradition, constraint, and climate. Set on a roughly 1,200-square-meter lot populated by mature mango trees, the house enjoys an idyllic setting ideal for slow-paced living.
Architect Gaston Pastrano designed the 300-square-meter residence for a retired couple moving back to their hometown after decades of living in Manila. The brief called for a timeless, not-too-modern, not-too-traditional house that embraced Mediterranean influences while accommodating the couple’s collection of heirloom furniture.
One of the first challenges was site planning: “Half of the property is full of mango trees,” Pastrano shares. “The clients didn’t want to cut anything down, so we had to compress the design as much as possible.”
To preserve the trees, the house footprint was pulled inward, creating both a deep front garden and a private rear garden. A covered lanai connects the home to these outdoor spaces. “The main living area follows an open floor plan,” the architect explains. “Each space interacts with the lanai before reaching the garden.”
Another challenge was the location. Since Pastrano is based in Manila, all coordination during construction had to be done through phone calls. “Everything was done virtually with the contractor and with the clients—from sourcing the tiles, ceiling fixtures, and roofing materials,” the architect explains.
Construction also took place during the pandemic, making it difficult to find a reliable contractor. When the pandemic was followed by various global events that affected oil prices, material costs rose as well, adding to the challenges the design team was already facing.
“We had to really manage how to execute it without changing the design [while still retaining] good quality materials,” he adds. Some modifications were made to the initial plan, such as the design of the lanai and the roof material; instead of the originally envisioned clay, they opted for stone-coated roofing. “We had to find good suppliers that met the budget.”
With Casa Diago, it’s all about simplicity and resilience. Faux wood beams were used outdoors to minimize maintenance while adding an accent to the white ceiling. They also serve a practical function: concealing electrical wiring to maintain a clean, uncluttered look. For the lanai flooring, the design team chose wood-look tiles for their ability to withstand Dumaguete’s heat and humidity.
Reclaimed wood was also used as an accent material, including in the exterior roof weaves and repurposed wooden doors. Ceramic tiles were selected for the indoor flooring due to supply chain limitations, while modular kitchen cabinets and granite countertops sourced from Cebu offered long-lasting performance. Neutral finishes were chosen to complement the homeowners’ existing furniture.
Careful orientation and passive cooling strategies ensure the home suits its tropical setting. The structure is positioned to block the intense afternoon sun, with the garage acting as a buffer. Large operable windows on opposite walls allow wind to pass through, keeping the interiors cool.
Rain protection posed a unique challenge. “The tricky thing with Mediterranean architecture is that you normally don’t have large roof awnings,” the architect notes. “So, with this one, we have to be creative in a way that every window still has an awning for protection, but it still retains that nice Mediterranean character.”
He adds that the balconies also have their respective roof canopies that don’t extend throughout the perimeter of the house. “It only extends where their windows will be. So we get a nice, small roof profile. It still looks very Mediterranean, but at least it gets to protect them from any rainfall,” Pastrano notes. Meanwhile, a stone-coated roof offers resilience against typhoons.
While Casa Diago is decidedly Mediterranean in character, its planning is uniquely Filipino. Spaces are constructed to accommodate family gatherings and visiting relatives. A wide foyer greets guests and buffers the more private zones of the home.
The open-plan design of the living, dining, and kitchen spaces extend naturally to the lanai and garden, while the bedrooms are tucked away for privacy. “There’s a nice separation between the active areas and the quiet areas,” Pastrano describes.
The house also tells a story of continuity. Furniture pieces that the homeowners have collected over the years dot the spaces, carrying memories built across time. “We live here at the moment—just the two of us—and I look forward to every occasion when my children would come over and my grandchildren would be in town,” says the husband.
Since the house was built, the homeowners have already held gatherings, such as relatives and friends dropping by for lunch and dinner, or even just to enjoy a cup of coffee with the couple.
With its enduring structure and thoughtfully planned spaces, Casa Diago is more than a retirement home: it’s a setting for life well-lived. Built to honor both tradition and daily rituals, it offers the couple a place to celebrate the present while welcoming the future.
Here, design becomes the backdrop for gatherings, quiet moments, and the steady rhythm of family life—proof that a well-designed home doesn’t just house memories, it helps create them.
Photos by Excel Panlaque.
Related reading: The Hillside Villa Where Rock and Roll Finds Respite
Contemporary design refers to the constantly evolving design trends of today. With the power to design our built environments, architects have been experimenting with various architectural approaches. Whether that is through unconventional forms or the integration of smart technologies, BluPrint lists down Filipino architects who are defining contemporary architecture. Deo Alam Architect Deo Alrashid Alam […]
In the Philippines, adaptive reuse gained traction during the 1970s with the rise of conservation and environmental preservation movements. It offered an architectural solution that reuses existing spaces to fit modern needs. Across the country, several projects demonstrate how this approach is being applied—transforming heritage structures into active spaces for culture, hospitality, and community life. […]
From residential spaces to civic structures, lighting dictates the mood of a space. It controls the visual dynamics of an interior, serving as a guiding tool that highlights key design elements, including materials and textures. Related Reading: Lampscaping: How to Light up Your Home like a Pro Regulating the Mood: Natural and Artificial Light in […]
More and more Filipinos are flocking to condominium communities. Often tucked within busy city centers, condo living acts as a small respite from urban chaos. Faced with the challenge of transforming a cramped condominium into a warm living space, BluPrint lists condo interior design ideas that can maximize each square foot of small spaces. Purposeful […]
Modern bathrooms are no longer purely functional spaces. Increasingly, they are being designed as environments that support cleanliness, ease, and quiet restoration within the home. As daily life becomes more demanding and health awareness continues to rise, homeowners are beginning to expect more from the spaces where daily rituals begin and end. For architects and […]
From the moment a diner steps through the door, each detail shapes how a meal is experienced. Restaurant design has evolved, with architects and culinary professionals collaborating to create built spaces that are as intentional as the menu itself. The spatial atmosphere acts as an additional ingredient that can define the culinary experience. Taupe and […]
