Culture in design does not always announce itself through a recognizable motif, material, or symbol. It can also be embedded in the relationships designers build, the knowledge they listen to, the materials they choose, and the decisions they make in response to communities and their environments. This distinction emerged throughout the 2026 International Design Conference […]
The Dew is in the Mist: Kilyawan Farm Resort
Kilyawan is the local name for the golden oriole, a native bird with a song like a flute, which can be heard throughout our project site. Kilyawan Farm Resort is two hours from Manila, the Philippine capital. It is an 8.5-hectare property just north of Ibaan, a small town in the province of Batangas. The climate is tropical but relatively mild, because of its higher elevationElevationAn architectural drawing that shows one side of a building as a flat, straight-on view, without perspective. Elevations describe heights, openings, materials, and proportions of the façade, and are usedGo to Elevation Glossary. This gently-sloped farm is home to bamboo groves, fruit trees, and, until recently, 55,000 clamoring chickens. These were housed in eight rectangular chicken coops that occupied roughly half the farm.
The owners, the Ganzon family, had been interested in agricultural tourism, inspired by Italy’s “agriturismo.” They had developed a five-year plan to convert the farm into an eco-tourism resort for biking, swimming, fruit picking, and other activities.
Chicken Coop to Cabin Building
The development begins at the northern end of the farm, accessible from the town road. Two of the eight chicken coops have been developed. One is the Reception Building; the other is the Cabins Building which houses guests.
The new buildings relate to the trees in a manner unchanged from when they were chicken coops, reflecting our efforts to preserve the spirit of place. Four trees shielding the Reception Building were supposed to be removed, but we decided to keep them as a veil to create the surprise of a strong architectural axis inside.
As we move from one space to another, we pass the central corridor, where shadows move slowly across clay tile floor and clay brick walls marking the passage of time.
Daylight enters and touches different materials at different times of the day in different ways, inviting shadows to create intricate patterns that transform the simple surfaces. The silent eloquence of these brick walls is a testament to the immanence of material.
Kilyawan embodies our firm’s core values of authenticity, sustainability, memory, daylight, and spirit of place. As our clients also share these values, the spirit of dialogue was constant, and enabled all of us as a team to face unexpected challenges with unity and creativity.
The morning sun enters the interior space, as it has always done to restart its daily ritual. But whereas in the past it merely marked time with a slow brightening, it now begins a stately dance of light and shadow on the brick walls and clay tile floor. And the sound you hear is no longer the clucking of cooped-up chickens but the song of the golden oriole – the kilyawan.
This article has been abridged for digital publication. Read the full story behind the Kilyawan Farm Resort by ordering your copy of BluPrint’s “Design Conversations” 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 architectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary, 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
Read more: The Origins of a Signature Style: Revisiting a 25-year-old Design Challenge
Frequently Asked Questions
The resort utilizes adaptive reuse by transforming former chicken coops into guest cabins. This reduces construction waste and preserves the site’s heritage. By integrating local materials like woven split bamboo, clay bricks, and recycled footprints, the project minimizes its environmental impact while maintaining a “spirit of place” that honors its agricultural roots.
The palette features clay tile floors, clay brick walls, and woven split bamboo ceilings. These natural materials are chosen for their “silent eloquence” and ability to interact with shifting daylight. This combination creates intricate shadow patterns throughout the day, providing a tactile, organic atmosphere that blurs the line between the interior and the surrounding tropical landscape.
Yes, through a process inspired by Italian “agriturismo.” Kilyawan Farm Resort successfully converted an 8.5-hectare poultry farm into a sustainable destination. By repurposing existing structures rather than demolishing them, the developers created a high-end experience that includes fruit picking and biking while preserving the property’s natural biodiversity and historical narrative.
A major mistake in rural development is erasing the site’s history through total demolition. Kilyawan avoided this by retaining the original building axes and protecting existing trees. Additionally, they avoided “closed-box” designs; instead, they used deep eaves and breathable bamboo to ensure natural ventilation, preventing the common error of ignoring tropical climate realities in favor of modern aesthetics.
The architecture employs deep eaves of polycarbonate and bamboo to provide shade while inviting in diffused morning light. Thermal mass materials, such as clay bricks, help regulate indoor temperatures against the Batangas heat. This strategic use of daylight creates a “stately dance” of shadows, reducing the need for artificial lighting and mechanical cooling while enhancing guest comfort.
The DBP Building as a Landmark of the International Style At the corner of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and Makati Avenue stands a landmark of the Makati Central Business District. It is one of the last still standing that were built in the first wave of construction in district fifty years ago. The Development Bank […]
“Buildings only become architectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary when they are shared,” said William Ti Jr., founder of the Anthology Festival and WTA Architecture and Design Studio, […]
A Filipino Interpretation of Modernist Architecture Unlike the rest of Makati today, the northern end of Paseo de Roxas in Makati is anchored by a low complex rather than a tall skyscraper. This is the elegant Asian Institute of Management, designed by architect Gabriel Formoso and completed in 1971. In my opinion, the building is […]
“Thailand has claimed urban creativity and livability. Singapore has institutional design leadership. Indonesia is emerging as a design hub. Vietnam is moving into design innovation. And the Philippines? Its position is not weak. It is simply unclaimed.” For IDr. Cecil Ravelas, National President of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), the challenge is not […]
Read the issues.
Collect the volumes.
Recommended Video
Tap to Unmute
Unmute
0:00
0:00