Asian Contemporary design, a perfect fit for Mahogany Place III
Bela (Single-detached)
If you survey the popular residential design themes in the country, many homes today have adapted the so-called Asian contemporary style. Following the design sensibilities of Chinese taipans, the look is one of modern eclecticism marrying the clean lines of contemporary architecture to the traditional lifestyles many Chinese families still follow.
DMCI Homes Project Development Manager Renz Raule says the unique look of the Asian contemporary style was adopted for Mahogany Place 3, the premiere horizontal residential development by DMCI Homes in Township Central in Taguig City, since it suits perfectly the needs of mostly top-level executives, the project’s target market.
Mahogany Place 3 offers residents a quality pedestrian-friendly community and landscaped spaces for affluent families with sophisticated taste in search of a nature-rich setting offering a fully secured environment and concierge services. The development has themed gardens and an amenities center with resort-like facilities in an eco-friendly environment. The property boasts tree-lined strips that are conducive to leisurely afternoon walks.
Raule described homes following the Asian contemporary style to be “patrician” residences, a nod to its popularity among rich Chinese businessmen.
“The design was called Asian contemporary because the style is pervasive in different Asian countries, whether you are a Chinese in Singapore or a Chinese in China or Hong Kong,” Raule explains.
This particular style emerged during the eighties after Chinese businessmen slowly started leaving Mainland China to pursue their businesses abroad. Their exposure to Western culture and education gave them a new way of seeing the world, which was often reflected in the homes they built.
“It is not really a formal architectural movement, but just a tendency that many Chinese businessmen soon adopted,” Raule admits. “Their problem was fusing together traditional Chinese design with a modern-day one. Their education and contact with Westerners has slowly refined their taste in design.”
In the Philippines, the Asian contemporary style was seen in the design of the rest houses many successful Chinese businessmen built during this time. While their homes may follow the clean, simple lines of modern architecture, their taste in decoration was still traditional. There is also an emphasis on brighter colors and rounder shapes. The use of traditional materials and crafts contribute a vibrant look. This hodge-podge of style decisions governs the look of the whole house.
Raule says homes following the Asian contemporary style still share similarities with traditional Asian homes. At Mahogany Place 3, the homes have broad roofs that are common in Asian walls, as well as the use of natural stones as cladding on the façade. There are also wooden brackets in the exterior design, which reflect the wooden poles used in many traditional Filipino to prop up a window or ventilation opening.
More than the exterior, Asian contemporary design gives homeowners more leeway when it comes to decor. There is an emphasis on high-quality materials like hand-painted silk, teak, rosewood, copper, ceramic, and porcelain to convey a feeling of exclusivity. There are lesser rules when it comes to personalizing one’s space. Homeowners can follow their own design inspirations since they are freer to exploit more options.
Ariana (Single-detached)
Raule explains the décor as eclectic. “Since these businessmen travel a lot, they also collect artifacts on their trips,” he says. “Priceless Chinese antiques sit beside memorabilia collected in travels around the world in the same curio cabinet. This mix of styles typifies the Asian contemporary style.”
Apart from the eclectic collection, the general color palette of homes is neutral with splashes of vibrant and pulsating colors for accent. The use of neutral colors also provides a sense of serenity, something busy businessmen look forward at the end of the day. Warm colors like copper, amber, honey and even black appear in the color scheme. Among the Chinese, bold red is used as accent; among the Japanese, gold and yellow provide the contrast to unify neutral tones such as brown, gray and tan.
Furniture in rich fabrics often serves multiple purposes. Futons can be used as seats or stretched out in the evening as a convenient bed. Among the Chinese, wooden trunks double as drawer storage and tabletop. Floor coverings and window treatments serve as a statement on color and textures. A room with a vivid rug carpet will have a simple window treatment in neutral colors; if the floor is bare, the windows provide the color accent in a room. The overall look is subtle yet dramatic, creating a peaceful ambience.
Outdoors, the green provided by plants and cuttings contrast with the neutral color of exteriors. In Chinese homes, small bamboo plants adorned with red and gold tassels provide a fresh look and good luck, while in Japanese homes the bonsai take pride of place. There will also be a water feature outdoors, either a water flute or a burbling mini fountain to provide relaxing sounds.
Raule says the Asian contemporary design suits the homes at Mahogany Place 3. The use of natural materials and specific design decisions take into consideration the weather.
The homes at Mahogany Place were specifically designed with the Filipino family in mind. There are enough bedrooms to meet the needs of the extended Filipino family, including lolo and lola and other relatives who may decide to drop in unannounced.
There are four unit types available for Mahogany Place III: Tamara, a 120-square meter, three-storey duplex unit; Bela, a 240-square meter, two-storey single-detached unit; Helena, a 120-square meter, three-storey duplex unit; and Ariana, a 240-square meter, three-storey single-detached unit. Tamara and Bela offer fixed designs, while homeowners have the option to customize the Helena and Ariana units to suit their needs.
Both the Tamara and Bela units are appointed with large windows and door openings, a landscaped frontage, wide hallways on the upper floors and dining rooms that extend to a garden. However, in the Bela unit, the upper hallway can be transformed into a study area, and the master’s bedroom is provided with a separate balcony. Its kitchen also has a center island that functions as a preparation area and snack bar, giving homeowners flexibility when entertaining guests.
Meanwhile, the Ariana and Helena homes offer a modern and timeless style through the use of neutral earth tones and stone cladding. Homeowners can also enjoy easy access to the outdoors from almost any part of the house, through strategically-placed sliding doors and panoramic windows. Options for upgrades offer further design possibilities in Ariana and Helena, among them the conversion of the lanai area into a plunge pool, bedrooms into a family room (or vice versa), and the installation of a bathtub in the master’s T&B.
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