This 722-square-meter residential concept in Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin combines the relaxed character of a Western-inspired bungalow with the practical requirements of tropical Philippine living. The design was developed around the actual surveyed shape of Lot 2297-B-4, including its approximately 15.76-meter road frontage and long, irregular boundaries.
Rather than forcing a conventional rectangular house onto the property, the design uses the length of the lot to create distinct living, private, service and outdoor zones. The result is a low-rise residence with a central swimming pool, generous outdoor spaces, an open-plan living area and a compact two-storey bedroom wing.
A Single-Level Lifestyle with Additional Upstairs Space
The primary living functions remain on the ground floor. The master bedroom, living room, dining area and kitchen can all be reached without using stairs, making the home particularly suitable for owners who want the convenience of single-level living.
A two-storey bedroom wing provides additional accommodation without requiring the entire house to become two or three storeys. Bedroom 2 occupies the ground floor with access to a shared bathroom, while Bedroom 1 is positioned above it and includes its own walk-in closet, ensuite bathroom and balcony.
This arrangement creates flexibility for a multigenerational household. The ground floor can remain the primary living environment for the homeowners, while the upper bedroom can accommodate children, grandchildren, guests or other family members.
For aging occupants, features such as a ground-floor master bedroom, minimized stair dependence, wide circulation, appropriately designed bathrooms, good lighting and slip-resistant surfaces can contribute to a more adaptable home. Additional aging-in-place provisions can be incorporated during detailed architectural design, including curbless showers, grab-bar reinforcement and step-free entrances.
An Open-Plan Social Area
The living, dining and kitchen areas are organized as an interconnected open-plan space. This arrangement allows family members to occupy different areas while maintaining visual and social connection.
The approximately 4.50 × 5.00-meter living area connects with the 3.50 × 4.00-meter dining area and 3.50 × 4.00-meter main kitchen. Rather than creating numerous enclosed rooms, the design allows these spaces to function as one larger entertaining environment.
Large openings toward the pool and veranda provide views and daylight while creating a strong connection between the interior and exterior.
This arrangement is particularly appropriate for a tropical home because outdoor living can become an extension of the main living space.
The Swimming Pool as the Center of the Home
One of the defining elements of the design is the approximately 6.00 × 3.00-meter swimming pool positioned within the central outdoor area.
Instead of placing the pool at the far end of the property, the design makes it part of the home’s everyday experience. The living and dining areas look toward the pool, while the veranda and pool deck provide areas for relaxation and entertaining.
The result is closer to a private tropical resort environment than a conventional suburban house.
The pool area can accommodate outdoor seating, lounge furniture, planting and shaded areas, creating an additional living environment during suitable weather.
Indoor-Outdoor Connection
The design uses large glazed openings and doors between the living spaces and the pool courtyard. These openings can provide natural daylight, views and ventilation when conditions are appropriate.
Shaded verandas are particularly useful in the Philippine climate because they can provide an intermediate zone between the interior and the intense outdoor environment. Properly designed roof overhangs and shading devices can reduce direct solar exposure while still allowing generous glazing.
The master bedroom can also be oriented toward the garden and pool environment, giving the owners a private relationship with the outdoor space.
Practical Window and Door Placement
Windows are positioned to provide natural illumination and ventilation while maintaining privacy.
The living and dining areas benefit from larger glazed openings toward the pool and veranda. Bedrooms receive exterior windows for daylight and ventilation, while bathrooms can use appropriately positioned windows or high-level openings for privacy and ventilation.
The master bedroom can use larger shaded windows or sliding doors facing the private garden or pool area. Bedroom 1 on the second floor can similarly take advantage of its elevated position, with its balcony providing an additional outdoor space.
The main entrance is separated from the more private bedroom areas, allowing visitors to enter the living and entertaining zone without passing through private sleeping areas.
A Separate Service Zone
The kitchen arrangement is designed around both appearance and practicality.
The main kitchen serves as the formal food-preparation and entertaining area, while the approximately 2.50 × 3.00-meter dirty kitchen provides a more utilitarian space for heavier cooking and preparation.
Adjacent to it is the approximately 2.50 × 3.00-meter laundry/service area.
This separation helps keep cooking, washing and service activities away from the main living and entertaining areas. It also creates a more appropriate location for service access and household equipment.
The Hip-Roof Architectural Character
The proposed roof is primarily a hip-roof composition, with interconnected roof sections responding to the different portions of the house.
The form gives the residence a familiar low-rise character associated with bungalow and ranch-style residential architecture. This architectural language is familiar to many North American and other Western residential markets, making it potentially attractive to clients who want a home that feels different from the typical Philippine concrete-house aesthetic.
The relatively broad roof forms and generous overhangs also complement the tropical setting by providing shade and helping protect walls and windows from direct sun and rain.
A hip roof can also offer favorable wind characteristics compared with some gable configurations, although the actual wind performance depends on the complete structural system, roof connections, materials and engineering. The roof should therefore be engineered for the site’s applicable wind and seismic requirements rather than marketed as inherently typhoon-proof.
ICF Construction for Tropical Comfort
The proposed Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction is another major feature of the concept.
ICF construction uses insulated forms around a reinforced-concrete core, creating a wall assembly that combines structural concrete with continuous insulation. Properly designed ICF buildings can provide benefits related to thermal performance, acoustic control and structural resilience.
For a tropical residence, the objective is to create a building envelope that reduces unwanted heat transfer while maintaining comfortable interior conditions.
The insulated wall system can be particularly attractive to homeowners who want a quieter, more temperature-stable interior environment. However, actual energy performance depends on the complete building envelope, including roof insulation, windows, doors, shading, air sealing, ventilation and mechanical systems.
For CBU Asia, the important message is therefore not simply “ICF means no air conditioning.” A more credible proposition is that the house is designed to reduce heat gain and improve indoor comfort, with the final performance depending on the complete design and construction.
Designed for Resilience
The reinforced-concrete core associated with ICF construction can form part of a structurally resilient building system when properly engineered.
For a home in the Philippines, structural design should consider earthquake forces, wind loads, roof uplift, foundation conditions and local site characteristics.
The design should therefore be marketed as engineered for Philippine conditions, rather than using absolute claims such as “earthquake-proof” or “typhoon-proof.”
The same principle applies to the roof, windows, doors and connections: resilience comes from the complete engineered building system rather than from one material alone.
Private Master Suite
The master suite is positioned toward the quieter rear portion of the property.
It includes:
- 4.20 × 4.20-meter master bedroom
- 1.80 × 2.20-meter His Closet
- 1.80 × 2.20-meter Her Closet
- 2.50 × 2.80-meter master bathroom
This arrangement gives the homeowners a dedicated private zone separated from the main entertaining areas.
The inclusion of separate His and Her closets provides additional organization and storage, while positioning the master bathroom directly within the suite creates a more private residential experience.
A safe room or secure storage space can also be incorporated into the final design if required by the client.
Bedroom Wing
The compact two-storey bedroom wing makes efficient use of the long property.
Ground Floor Bedroom 2
Bedroom 2 measures approximately 3.50 × 3.50 meters and is located on the ground floor. It shares a nearby 1.80 × 2.50-meter bathroom.
Its ground-floor location makes it suitable for guests, older family members or anyone who should avoid stairs.
Second Floor Bedroom 1
Bedroom 1 is approximately 3.50 × 3.50 meters and occupies the second floor.
It includes:
- 1.50 × 1.80-meter walk-in closet
- 1.80 × 2.50-meter ensuite
- approximately 1.50 × 3.50-meter balcony
The upstairs position gives Bedroom 1 greater privacy and allows the ground floor to remain more open.
Outdoor and Vehicle Amenities
The house provides a number of amenities expected in a premium custom residence:
- 6.00 × 3.00-meter swimming pool
- Pool deck/veranda
- Front veranda
- Landscaped garden
- 2-car carport
- Private driveway
- Outdoor circulation paths
- Central courtyard
- Upstairs balcony
- Dedicated dirty kitchen
- Laundry/service area
- Multiple private bathrooms
The proposed carport is approximately 5.50 × 6.00 meters, providing space for two vehicles.
Designed Around the Actual Property
An important feature of the concept is that the house was developed from the property’s actual technical description rather than an assumed rectangular lot.
The surveyed property is approximately 722 square meters, with the following boundary lengths:
- Line 1–2: 44.37 m
- Line 2–3: 15.76 m — road frontage
- Line 3–4: 52.58 m
- Line 4–1: 15.36 m
The concept also incorporates the preliminary setback framework being used for the design, including a 4.50-meter front setback and 2.00-meter side and rear setbacks, subject to confirmation by the project’s licensed professionals and the Local Building Official.
This is important from a custom-home perspective: the house isn’t simply a standard plan placed on a piece of land. The building arrangement responds to the unusual proportions and orientation of the actual property.
A Home Designed for Long-Term Value
The overall concept combines several characteristics that can make a custom residence attractive to expats, retirees, OFWs and families looking for a substantial home in the Visayas.
It provides the convenience of primarily ground-floor living while retaining additional upstairs accommodation. It combines an open social area with private bedrooms, separates formal and service functions, creates a strong indoor-outdoor connection and places a resort-like pool at the center of the property.
The proposed ICF construction adds another layer of differentiation by providing an insulated reinforced-concrete building system intended to support thermal comfort, acoustic performance and structural resilience when properly engineered.
Most importantly, the design is not based solely on appearance. Its value comes from the relationship between the site, building layout, climate, lifestyle, privacy, service functions, outdoor spaces and long-term usability.
