Tagum House, Philippines

Design for a family house on a plot in the Philippines, a location subject to earthquakes, floods, termites and mosquitoes. A house raised above flood level gives privacy and shelter, with staggered upper and lower floors to create garden terrace, carport and shaded entrance.

Working with traditional materials and technologies (which today include site-welded lattice frames and concrete block), the building language answers the commercial western-derived models in the locality. A monopitch roof draws cooling breezes up through the stepped section. The design features terraced verandahs with bamboo-faced mesh screens to keep the mosis at bay giving a filigree appearance. Internally the spaces are as open as possible for ventilation, whilst the upper bed "rooms" could simply be an open deck.

Design 2017.