Mushroom House: In harmony with its coastal setting
In a seaside residential community in Batangas, the Mushroom House emerges, a deliberate composition of architectural forms, designed to maximize the site’s dramatic slope and the sweeping views of Nasugbu Bay. Architect Royal Pineda’s plan prioritizes a seamless flow of space, crafting a residence that integrates with the landscape and frames the coastal panorama.
A couple retiring from bustling Singapore wanted to spend the rest of their lives immersed in the tranquility of the Philippine beach, not as weekend visitors but as permanent residents. Since the property is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac, the architect has designed their place with picturesque observations about the existing trees, the sunrise and sunsets, and the sweeping views.
The challenging sloping terrain, instead of being seen as an obstacle, became the canvas for Pineda. He envisioned a multi-tiered home, a series of interconnected spaces that would cascade down the hillside, each level offering a unique vantage point of the bay’s beauty.
From the road, the house appears to be nestled into the landscape, with the regal tree inside and a horizon still visible. The architecture, which wraps around the trees and a prominent acacia at the center, creates intimacy with nature and provides unobstructed views of the surroundings. Ascending the staircase, you feel as though you are ascending with the trees, creating a sense of oneness with nature.
Cascading floors
The house unfolds across six distinct levels. From the street-level lanai, a transitional space offering immediate vistas, the design directs the eye and the body. On one side, an expansive lounge establishes a visual connection with the bay. The adjacent foyer provides access to the main residence, while a staircase ascends to the guest villa, a self-contained volume poised for optimal views.
The villa, elevated above the primary living areas, introduces a layer of privacy and height. Its design establishes it as a distinct visual element within the house’s overall form.
The silong, the open space beneath the guest villa, acts as a pivotal point, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. From this vantage point, the horizon unfolds, creating a sense of infinite space.
“It’s like a floating space against the horizon. The idea was to make the house contribute to the whole village. If I didn’t lift up the villa, the view would be blocked. We want to share the view from the road so that other people can enjoy it. It’s our way of being gracious to the community. Otherwise it looks like any other village full of houses with no views,” says Pineda.
The outdoor staircases, mirroring the house’s layered composition, provide direct access to the pool deck and garden, reinforcing the design’s emphasis on spatial flow.
The descent into the main residence reveals a split-level living area, where a balcony extends outward, overlooking a curved pool. The main living area, comprising the living room, dining area, and master bedroom, occupies the ground floor.
The dining area and kitchen merge into a communal space, extending onto a broad deck. This design promotes a fluid transition between interior and exterior, facilitating social interaction and maximizing the enjoyment of the coastal environment.
Below, the master bedroom and pool deck offer a further connection to the outdoors, leading to the lower-level bedrooms. These bedrooms, positioned beneath the pool, maintain privacy while providing floor-to-ceiling glazing that captures the bay’s dynamic scenery.
Visually interesting
To create a sense of place, Pineda was inspired by the mushrooms on the site. “I try to bring meaning to a place by understanding its attributes,” says the architect. The “mushroom” roof, with its distinctive curves, serves as a unifying architectural feature. Its organic form not only provides visual interest but also enhances the building’s aerodynamic properties, ensuring that it stands resilient against the winds.
The interplay of light and shadow, cast by the trees and slatted railings, enlivens the white and gray palette, creating a sense of depth and texture. The curated furniture, a blend of the owners’ cherished pieces and contemporary designs recommended by his namesake firm Royal Pineda + Architecture + Design, adds a personal touch, reflecting their refined taste.
Pineda not only considered the present needs of his clients but also their future well-being. While the inclusion of an elevator was initially explored, the couple ultimately opted to prioritize physical activity within their home. They felt an elevator would counteract their desire for exercise. Consequently, Pineda designed the house with a series of half-level flights, effectively creating two-and-a-half usable floors, rather than a traditional, fully stacked structure. This deliberate split-level design was a direct response to the clients’ preference to forgo an elevator.
All told, the architectural approach extends beyond mere functionality, drawing pleasure from the sun, sea, and sky. “Many rooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls, integrating the outside environment. This provides constantly changing, framed views of nature—a dynamic panorama of clouds and colors,” Pineda explains. “The architecture acts as a frame, emphasizing the natural beauty of the location rather than competing with it.”
The emphasis on integration with nature aligns with the design’s core philosophy: “Humans are inherently part of nature, not separate from it,” he says.
By considering the site and the clients’ desire for an active lifestyle, the house was conceived to promote movement. The split-level design, beyond its practical function, encourages walking and climbing, thereby fostering a proactive and engaged relationship with the environment.
