Since setting up her design firm, MB Architecture Studio, in 2007, Ar. Micaela Benedicto has built a diverse portfolio of architectural projects. Her works, whether residential or commercial, showcase a distinct spatial quality, “I like to create things that can go from something static to something that is alive and reactive,” Benedicto states. “In creating […]
Ed Calma and the Layered Gaze
Recommended Video
Tap to Unmute
Unmute
0:00
0:00
A truly dynamic home should unfold over time. This is the power of a layered architectural space—a design philosophy that rejects static, compartmentalized rooms in favor of an orchestrated journey. Through stacked, overlapped, and strategically revealed volumes, a home becomes a narrative, fostering a continuous sense of discovery.
This thoughtful approach has become a recurring theme in architect Ed Calma’s work. His project, the Haw Residence, is a multi-level expression of this idea. This home, designed around exotic cars, art, and a specific mode of living, functions like a sophisticated panopticon where sightlines crisscross through floors, creating a profound and ever-changing connection between the residents and the spaces they occupy.
Unity and Verticality
The experience of the residence starts at the frontage, where the home’s core philosophy of layering is immediately put on display. The structure presents itself as a dynamic composition of intersecting volumes and voids. Cantilevered upper floors framed in dark, bold lines float above a more transparent ground level, while warm wood accents on the soffits and vertical slats offer a material counterpoint to the cool, pristine finish of the main walls.
Strategic use of glass and thoughtful openings offer glimpses into the interiors, revealing slivers of the life and light within. There is no traditional foyer, but an instant immersion into the home’s dual identity as a gallery and a living space. The eye is first drawn to a custom red sculpture by Jinggoy Buensuceso, which continues as a functional, floating console for keys and display items. Set against the dramatic diagonal veining of Saint Laurent marble, this piece is simultaneously art and function, signaling the thoughtful integration that defines the entire home.
The home’s full narrative unfolds through its vertical ascension across the distinct levels. This vertical stacking is unified by the central atrium space, where all floors visually intersect. The staircase, inspired by the inverted perspectives and impossible structures of an M.C. Escher painting is the main artery.
“In every view that you look at the stair, you don’t know whether it’s upside down or [right side up],” he notes. This sculptural element, along with another freestanding Buensuceso sculpture, reinforces the recurring diagonals seen throughout the home.
To ensure the home remained a warm and livable sanctuary, Calma employed a neutral palette. “My houses normally are very neutral in color tones,” he notes. “The artwork, whether it’s colorful or neutral, kind of blends with the neutral tones of the house.”
The Panopticon Effect
From the loft, for instance, you get a simultaneous view of the driveway, the cars below, the main living and dining rooms, and sightlines extending to the lounge, pool, and even glimpses of the rooftop bar. Crucially, these varied perspectives allow residents to appreciate the artwork from different parts of the house, seeing pieces not just head-on but in relation to the wider architectural narrative. From the master’s bedroom study desk, you can look down and survey the living room, the main staircase, and the art within, fostering a sense of connection and what Calma refers to as “surveillance.”
The residence stands as a meticulously crafted landscape for discovery. Ed Calma orchestrated a complex, layered experience designed for movement—a continuous journey where every sightline reveals another part of the story. This insistence on an unfolding narrative creates spaces that never cease to surprise. It proves that the richest and most enduring architectural spaces are the ones that continue to reveal themselves, offering new perspectives and deeper connections long after one has crossed the threshold.
This article has been abridged for digital publication. Read the full story behind The Layered Gaze by ordering your copy of BluPrint Art 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 Ed Simon
Frequently Asked Questions
The “Layered Gaze” is a design philosophy that replaces compartmentalized rooms with stacked, overlapping volumes and strategic internal sightlines. In the Haw Residence by Ed Calma, this is achieved through a central atrium where all floors visually intersect. This allows residents to experience the home as a continuous narrative, where looking from one level reveals multiple other zones—such as the living area, car gallery, and pool—simultaneously.
The Panopticon Effect in architecture refers to a layout that allows a central point of view to survey multiple spaces at once. Ed Calma applies this by creating “crisscrossing sightlines” throughout the house. For example, from a master bedroom study, a resident can look down into the living room and staircase. This fosters a constant sense of connection between occupants and allows artwork and exotic cars to be appreciated from various heights and angles rather than just head-on.
The staircase is designed as a sculptural “main artery” that challenges traditional perspectives. Inspired by M.C. Escher’s impossible structures, the stairs feature intersecting diagonals and inverted angles that make the viewer question whether the structure is “upside down or right side up.” This choice reinforces the home’s theme of verticality and serves as a functional piece of art that unifies the different layers of the residence.
A neutral color palette serves as a sophisticated backdrop that prevents architectural materials from competing with the residents’ collections. In Calma’s design, pristine walls and muted tones allow colorful artworks and bold elements—like a red Jinggoy Buensuceso sculpture or high-performance cars—to become the focal points. This balance ensures that while the architecture is complex and “layered,” the atmosphere remains a warm, livable sanctuary.
Functional sculpture bridges the gap between a gallery and a home. In the Haw Residence, a custom red sculpture by Jinggoy Buensuceso doubles as a floating console for keys and display items. Set against Saint Laurent marble, this piece signals the home’s dual identity immediately upon entry, proving that architectural elements can serve a utilitarian purpose while maintaining the high aesthetic standards of a private art museum.
Read More:
Luscara and Soliento: Barchan + Architecture on Designing a Clubhouse that Responds to its Landscape
Situated in Laguna, south of Metro Manila, is a multi-thousand-hectare development created by Ayala Land Premier within the growth corridor of the CALABARZON Region. Barchan + Architecture was tasked with crafting a clubhouse for the subdivisions of Luscara and Soliento. Principal Architect of Barchan + Architecture, Jason Buensalido, explains the firm’s process in creating the […]
Over the past decades, adaptive reuse has been utilized as a sustainable alternative for the built environment. It involves repurposing existing buildings for a new use, allowing the past to remain while serving a modern purpose. Here, structures facing potential demolition or no longer serviceable are seen as sources of raw materials for new projects. […]
The local design landscape has a significant new player following the grand launch of the Boloni Philippines showroom in Makati City. The celebrated event marked the official entry of a leading global brand, renowned for its “total interior solution” approach, into the Philippine market through an exclusive partnership with RDS Global Allianz. Hosted by Mica […]
Last November 26, the local design community gathered at Open Space in Makati for an immersive spatial experience. The event, Harmonious Spaces, served as the definitive reintroduction of AP Aluminum and Glass in a powerful reframing of their products. Instead of presenting aluminum and glass as mere architectural components, the evening showcased them as essential, […]
The apartment unit, often constrained by space and convention, has evolved from a functional living box into a canvas for highly personalized architecture and interior design. The year’s most compelling luxury apartment designs demonstrate a shift away from transient trends, instead prioritizing intentional curation, deep comfort, and a seamless visual flow. From the art-infused gallery […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]