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A House Built with Grace: Casa Elena Is a Tribute to Love and Legacy
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Resting on a cliffside lot in Quezon City is Casa Elena, a house built with love, intention, and decades of design expertise. It was envisioned to be the architect and his wife’s retirement home, which became a heartfelt tribute after the latter passed away mid-construction after a brave battle with cancer.
The architect considered selling the house after it was finished, but his daughter reminded him that it was her mother, Elena, who had inspired its creation—and that she would have loved to see it completed.
The architect’s late wife was instrumental in conceptualizing many of the home’s features such as the kitchen and the walk-in closet. Her presence remains, not only in the home’s name, but in every detail lovingly chosen and curated by the architect and his daughter.
Nature-Integrated Living
The design of the home embodies the architect’s core design principles: harmony with nature, resort-style relaxation, and a deep understanding of those who live within the space. The house is bathed in natural light and benefits from the steady breezes that flow freely owing to its cliffside location. Sustainable features also abound, which align with the architect’s firm’s design philosophy of building healthy homes: skylights for natural light, floor-to-ceiling glass walls to frame the view, vent stacks for heat circulation, and generous water features that help cool the property.
“We wanted to build houses na whoever will be staying there will enjoy nature,” the architect says not just about Casa Elena but also about the residential projects his firm undertakes. “You don’t have to go to Tagaytay, to Baguio, to enjoy this kind of view or ambiance.”
Material Expression
The home’s material palette evokes understated elegance: natural wood ceilings and floors, travertine stone walls, glass, and premium Italian fixtures. No synthetic substitutes were used—just honesty in texture and tone.
Generous Light, Views, and Spaces
The main door opens to a sizable, open space that houses the living and dining areas. On the far left side of the house is a smaller lounge area, separated from the rest of the space with a clad wall. Meanwhile, on the opposite end is the kitchen.
Art, Family, and Meaning
Artworks collected through the years adorn the walls—not necessarily from famous names, but pieces that resonated deeply with the couple.
“My wife loves art, and ako rin. Every time we have a project na matatapos namin, we reward ourselves with buying an art piece,” the homeowner shares. One such piece is a wood sculpture of a fish—bought before the house was built—which now serves as a conversation piece in the outdoor living area.
A Life’s Work and a Legacy
The architect calls Casa Elena his magnum opus, the eighth house he has built for his family and likely his last. Now that he is 60, he sees himself spending more time at home, as the house is fully equipped for retirement and enjoyment.
Aside from the parties the family has held at Casa Elena, friends, relatives, fellow bonsai enthusiasts, and church groups frequently gather, making the house a hub of connection and faith. And in all of it, the architect remains grounded. He speaks often of divine intervention, hard work, and humble beginnings—from selling fish door-to-door in his twenties to earning trust and building a successful architectural practice. “Nothing happens by luck. Nothing happens by coincidence,” he says. “It’s by God’s grace.”
Read the full story by grabbing your copy of BluPrint Homes, available at the sarisari.shopping, Shopee, and Lazada. E-magazines are available for download here or through Readly, Press Reader, and Magzter.
Photographed by Ed Simon
Read more: BluPrint Homes: A New Era of Conscious Living
Frequently Asked Questions
Casa Elena is named as a heartfelt tribute to the architect’s late wife, Elena, who passed away during the home’s construction. She was instrumental in conceptualizing key features of the residence, including the kitchen and the walk-in closet, ensuring her influence is felt in every room. While the architect initially considered selling the property after his loss, his daughter encouraged him to finish it as a lasting legacy of her mother’s inspiration and love.
The design maximizes its unique cliffside position by utilizing floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame panoramic views and allow natural light to flood the interior. The home features a sustainable “healthy home” philosophy, incorporating vent stacks for heat circulation and generous water features that naturally cool the property. These elements work together to create a resort-style ambiance, proving that one can enjoy a serene, nature-focused environment without leaving the city.
The architect chose a palette defined by “honesty in texture,” strictly avoiding synthetic substitutes in favor of natural, high-quality materials. Key elements include natural wood for the ceilings and floors, travertine stone for the walls, and premium Italian fixtures throughout the house. This commitment to authentic materials ensures that the home feels both timeless and sophisticated, reflecting the architect’s decades of design expertise and personal taste.
The walls of Casa Elena are adorned with a curated collection of artworks that the architect and his wife acquired to celebrate the completion of various professional projects. Rather than focusing on famous names, they chose pieces that resonated deeply with their personal journey, such as a wood fish sculpture that serves as a focal point in the outdoor living area. These pieces transform the house into a gallery of memories, representing the couple’s shared rewards for years of hard work.
As the eighth house he has built for his family, the architect views Casa Elena as his final and most significant work, fully equipped for his retirement at age 60. It represents the culmination of his life’s journey—from his humble beginnings selling fish door-to-door to his success in architecture. Beyond its design, the home serves as a hub for faith and connection, hosting gatherings for friends, church groups, and fellow hobbyists under the theme of “God’s grace.”
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