From atmospheric layers to forest canopies, the designers for Barchan + Architecture looked at systems of nature for inspiration in designing the Playa Laiya Clubhouse. “Whether it’s the sky, the sea, the mountains, the insects, the forests, and so on, there would be an almost inexplicable sense of balance,” shares Jason Buensalido, Barchan’s Chief Design Ambassador.
Situated in San Juan, Batangas, the Clubhouse is the crown jewel of a private beach enclave. Purposefully positioned at the endpoint of the main grand avenue, it serves as a landmark destination and portal between nature and people. From there, one can enjoy the uninterrupted view of the horizon and bask in the seaside.
The designers began with the spatial and atmospheric quality of the space rather than starting from the materials. “If the space is bright, if the space is windy, cross-ventilated, then it contributes to the overall feeling of maaliwalas. If the space is connected to the outdoors, visually and physically, it contributes to maaliwas. So, that’s where we started,” Buensalido details.
Rather than constructing a single large structure, the Clubhouse was designed as a collection of separate structures of various heights and sizes. The overlapping discs provide the structure with multiple layers of enclosures, giving form to nature’s hierarchy and balance. Aside from orienting the structure to frame the landscape, it also mirrors the elements as paramount architectural features.
This quality is further expressed in the transom windows placed in between the overlapping discs, providing natural light and ventilation to penetrate both grand and intimate spaces. Here, the elements of nature in collaboration with the constructed layered system are central to the feeling of maaliwalas.
The Clubhouse is an adaptive entity. Much like nature itself, the spatial experience shifts throughout the day. In the morning, it is a tranquil, sun-drenched haven where sunlight filters through the layered rooflines as the panoramic views of the sea command attention.
As dusk settles, the clubhouse undergoes a dramatic inversion. The roof forms, once silhouetted against the sun, absorb the deep blue of the twilight sky. The same transom gaps that drew in daylight now radiate a warm, internal glow, transforming the structure into a luminous beacon on the coastline. Below, the developer’s signature pool lights stud the water’s surface, creating a terrestrial constellation against the dark sea.
Ultimately, the Playa Laiya Clubhouse is more than a collection of amenities; it is a compelling thesis on contemporary Filipino architecture. By translating the hierarchies of nature into a porous, layered system, Barchan + Architecture crafted a setting for a distinctly coastal Filipino lifestyle. It is a place where modern design sensibilities and a timeless connection to the sea find a harmonious, maaliwalas form.
Get an exclusive tour of the Playa Laiya Clubhouse by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, 2025 at Sari Sari Shopping, Shopee, and Lazada. E-magazines are also available for download here or through Readly, Press Reader, and Magzter.
Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click here to find out more.
Photographed by Jar Concengco and Bayani Dela Pasion
Read More:
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 […]
