With climate change and global warming, the Philippine climate is in constant evolution. Consequently, it is important for Filipinos to have living spaces that respond to the local environment. In this article, BluPrint lists down Filipino architects who are reimagining the tropical house, aligning the built and natural environment. BAAD Studio Principal architects Benjee Mendoza […]
3 Filipino Architectural Firms Rethinking the Tropical House
With climate change and global warming, the Philippine climate is in constant evolution. Consequently, it is important for Filipinos to have living spaces that respond to the local environment. In this article, BluPrint lists down Filipino architects who are reimagining the tropical house, aligning the built and natural environment.
BAAD Studio
Principal architects Benjee Mendoza and An Bermejo of BAAD Studio have succeeded in building tropical homes. Mendoza and Bermejo were commissioned to build a family home in a secluded village in Antipolo. Rooted in tropical design, they retained much of the natural site to cater to the homeowners’ lifestyles.
On all sides of the house, nature acts as a protective barrier and ventilation: thick, tall trees on the north and west sides; and low foliage on the south side. Enclosing the tree in the middle of the lot, the home has glass-louvered windows and gardens open up the home to the sky. This central core of the home provides light and air throughout the interior space. The architects provided natural light and passive cooling in the home, maximizing the site’s openness and sloping topography.
Related Reading: Love is in the Details: Mendoza and Bermejo of BAAD Studio
Leandro V. Locsin Partners
Built in Canlubang during the turn of the twentieth century, Casa de Nipa is a large thatched house standing on an old sugar land. Headed by Leandro V. Locsin Partners, the home underwent reconstruction after years of continuous maintenance. The residential structure is a quintessential example of Philippine tropical design.
With an over 2-hectare garden on the site, nature is a key feature throughout the home. The south wing bedrooms are placed in between a veranda and a hallway with large windows to the courtyard—allowing for good exhaust ventilation. A pierced transom sealed with glass introduces natural light to the space.
The interior garden consists of foliage that acts as a natural cooling and shading tool. In the veranda-facing bedrooms, features such as louvered sliding doors and transoms are placed. This removes the need for air-conditioning and allows for natural ventilation. Its reconstruction and renovation stands as a testament to the timelessness of tropical architecture in the Philippines.
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Related Reading: Leandro V. Locsin Partners reconstructs Casa de Nipa
BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design
Architect Royal Pineda and designer Budji Layug have long been designing tropical homes in the country. For homeowners Jerry and Celia Jiao, it was natural to call BUDJI+ROYAL to transform their home.
Nestled in a forested subdivision, fronting a running stream fed by Hinulugan Taktak Waterfalls, the home is in conversation with its environment. The house features a glass-clad double-height living room overlooking the thirteen narra and mahogany trees that surround the home. Meanwhile, the second floor bedrooms cantilever over the ground floor to create shelter for the dining area and lanai from the sun and rain. On the deck, there is an entire canopy of trees, with the treetops bringing fresh air to the property.
Shading and ventilation through the natural environment allowed for a home that seamlessly blends the interior and exterior spaces. Rooted in tropical design, the home co-exists with its site, protecting the residents from the realities of living in the tropics.
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Related Reading: BUDJI+ROYAL enlaces tropical design with elegance
Ventilation involves the introduction of outdoor air into a room, providing occupants with their needs. Proper ventilation allows for the moderation of internal temperatures, the creation of better airflow, the dilution of carbon dioxide to acceptable levels, and the removal of contaminants. This addresses health risks associated with indoor air pollution, such as respiratory problems […]
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WORLDBEX 2026, running from March 12 to 15, 2026, proves itself as the Philippines’ leading construction and design expo as it wrapped its 29th edition. It drew together 1,000 local and international exhibitors under one theme, “Building Opportunities: Sustaining Lives.” Organized by Worldbex Services International (WSI), in support of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., the event […]
Located near the equator, factors such as heat and humidity are the norm in the Philippines. This tropical climate has shaped the development of architecture in the country. As Leandro V. Locsin stated: “The first consideration of the Filipino builder and certainly the most evident in his architecture, which is after all an outgrowth of […]
Art in the Park returned this year to Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This year’s edition featured a curated selection of works from 55 exhibitors representing galleries, art collectives, independent art spaces, and student groups. With all artworks capped at Php 70,000, the fair continued its mission […]
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