- Project: PK House
- Architect: 8X8 Design Studio Co.
- Location: Philippines, Calatagan, Batangas
- Year: 2023
- Area: 240 m2
- Photography: Bien Alvarez
A Contemporary ‘Bahay Kubo’ Overlooking Balayan Bay
Perched atop a hill in Calatagan, Batangas, PK House by 8X8 Design Studio Co. is a modern reinterpretation of the Bahay Kubo—the archetypal Filipino stilt house that has long defined the country’s vernacular architecture. Designed as a three-story weekend retreat with a rooftop deck, the residence captures panoramic views of Balayan Bay and the surrounding mountain range while paying homage to traditional forms through contemporary means.
Located three hours from Metro Manila, the residence sits at the heart of a 3-hectare property, strategically positioned at the site’s highest elevation to command a 360-degree view. The design merges tropical adaptability, structural ingenuity, and cultural memory, resulting in a home that embodies both heritage and modern sophistication.
A Modern Interpretation of Tradition
“PK” stands for Project Kubo, a direct reference to the Bahay Kubo, traditionally a thatched stilt house with three main parts:
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the Silong — the open understructure used for utility and ventilation,
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the Bulwagan — the elevated living area, and
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the Bubong — the expansive roof with wide eaves that protect the home from sun and rain.
In PK House, these archetypal elements are reimagined across three distinct levels:
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Ground Floor (Silong): An open-air social space featuring a 9-meter-long ironwood table, flanked by lounge nooks, a gallery kitchen, and outdoor amenities including a lap pool, hot pool, and firepit courtyard. The spatial layout encourages communal gatherings while framing breathtaking views of the sea horizon.
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Second Floor (Bulwagan): The main living level, enclosed by operable glass panels and surrounded by cantilevered perimeter decks that serve both as viewing terraces and shading eaves for the floor below. This area offers panoramic vistas of the bay and mountain range, blending openness with climate responsiveness.
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Third Floor (Master Suite): A private sanctuary featuring a wooden Hinoki bath, fully turnable Vitrocsa glazing, and an uninterrupted sunrise view over the sea. The design invites the natural landscape inside, merging architecture and horizon.
Atop the structure, a rooftop deck with a barbecue bar serves as an intimate venue for stargazing or sunset gatherings—a symbolic apex celebrating leisure, landscape, and light.
Structural Clarity and Tropical Resilience
PK House’s steel-frame construction ensures precision and durability in a seaside environment. To resist corrosion, all structural members underwent sandblasting and protective coating before assembly. The house’s tapered vertical profile—layered upward like a stepped pyramid—enhances both aesthetic dynamism and structural efficiency.
Each cantilever and overhang is purpose-driven, mitigating tropical heat and shielding the interiors from monsoon rains. This porous layering of spaces creates continuous airflow, maintaining comfort while minimizing energy consumption.
A Dialogue Between Past and Present
While the design embraces modern materials and technology, its spirit remains distinctly Filipino. The reinterpretation of the Bahay Kubo is not literal but conceptual—an architectural dialogue between heritage and innovation. By elevating traditional typologies into a steel-framed contemporary form, 8X8 Design Studio Co. redefines how tropical architecture can honor vernacular wisdom while achieving spatial luxury.
The result is a tranquil refuge that connects people, place, and culture—a structure as much about memory as it is about modern living.
A Contemporary Icon of Filipino Identity
Through PK House, 8X8 Design Studio Co. demonstrates how thoughtful reinterpretation can yield timeless relevance. Every design decision—from the layering of volumes to the articulation of open, breathable spaces—embodies the essence of tropical living. The project stands as a new architectural icon in Calatagan, one that respects the landscape, celebrates Filipino heritage, and points toward a sustainable, context-driven future.
