Home tour: an expansive family home balancing peace and prosperity in Cavite, Philippines

Peace and prosperity: beyond being values these homeowners held close to their hearts, they became the foundation for their Bacoor, Cavite home. Designed by Barchan + Architecture for a young family, the house was built around the overarching idea of home as a sanctuary from the relentless pace of modern living.

From the beginning, the Cavite home had a distinctive story. During the pandemic, the homeowner’s motorcycle ride through a tree-lined avenue led him to a quiet cul-de-sac he’d never noticed before. The village was established, yet it maintained an air of privacy, with the home set deep beneath a secluded canopy of trees. As Jason Buensalido recalls, the homeowners “wanted to realise something sleek and contemporary, maintaining a grounded approach.” Over nearly four years, the collaborative project has taken on a life of its own.

Innovative architectural forms and atmospheric lighting frame the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Ventilation and exquisite material forms permeate the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

The staircase of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Innovative architectural forms frame the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Innovative architectural forms and natural light permeate the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Before the design process even began, the family revealed their personal connection with the values of ‘peace and prosperity,’ which are translations of their surname. Buensalido saw the alignment of such values with Barchan’s design philosophy. “When you go home, you want to be in a peaceful environment,” he mused. “You also want to feel the abundance and prosperity of your hard work paying off.”

As a result, the project is called the Halcyon Home, reflecting a serene and carefree environment for the family to create memories together. Another serendipitous occurrence emerged when the family remembered the title of a painting they had purchased years earlier at an art exhibit. The ‘Halcyon Blooms’ artwork by Perfecto Palero now hangs proudly in their home, almost seeming to ordain this fateful home project.

The entryway and dining room of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

For Buensalido, it was essential to maintain the balance between peace and prosperity in this Bacoor, Cavite home. “Peace without prosperity is isolation; prosperity without peace is excess,” he mused. Such rigorous discipline manifests at every level of the house’s design, from the innovative facade to the ventilating windows, from the local materials to the organic carvings on the threshold.

The Cavite home stands on 800 square metres, elevated above the street level by nearly two metres. Instead of reducing the lot’s height, they embraced its unique characteristics. The half-basement was carved into the podium, housing all service areas such as the carport and staff quarters. That ensured the two floors above belonged entirely to the family, creating a sense of sophistication amid the elevation.

Privacy was a key element in the creation of the Halcyon House, with solid facades and screened windows that create a true fortress in the city. The staircase at the corner positions guests’ silhouettes behind timber slats, animating the façade while maintaining a deep sense of tranquillity.

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An exterior shot of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

As the property stands, it has both the blessing and challenge of two frontages. The main entrance faces the private cul-de-sac, while the rear elevation has views of a more public avenue. With a distinctive blend of stone, timber and verdant plants, each entrance maintains cohesion and architectural grace. A notable feature of the front driveway is its ramp leading to the pool terrace, which allows guests and the elderly to arrive without negotiating the staircase.

Upon approaching the main door, its unconventional geometry immediately stands out. The foyer first opens into an antechamber, anchored by sculptural pieces and glimpses of the nearby garden. Stepping deeper into the home, one’s eye is drawn upward to the triple-height living room at the heart of the Cavite property.

Three sides open through full-height sliding glass panels that lead to the lanai, pool and atrium with its oculus. Amid the Philippines’ interminable tropical heat, cross-ventilation is present throughout the home. When the panels slide backwards, the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors are dissolved, allowing natural light and cool breezes to permeate any gathering.

The vibrant living room of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

The entertaining area and pool of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

The dining room and kitchen of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Warmth and material honesty characterise the Halcyon home, with rich timber engulfing the ceiling and tiles underfoot that mimic the linear texture of stone. The nearby walls are rendered in lime-based plaster with a matte, deep finish, while structural columns are left exposed. “Just like crafts where the process is as important as the product, architecture functions similarly. We want you to see how the building is being held up,” shared Buensalido.

The Bacoor, Cavite home’s open floor plan includes a dining room buffered by a sky garden suspended above the car garage. The kitchen is easily accessible from both the dining and living areas, ensuring that the preparation of delicious meals can be done without missing a conversational beat. Nearby, a separate structure houses the home office, ensuring that the homeowners can maintain total concentration on their work without interruption from the other rooms.

Architect Jason Buensalido amid the innovative architectural forms of the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Moving onto the second floor, the staircase opens up to a family hall and lounge overlooking the living room below. Two bedroom wings extend from either side of the hall, with the child’s bedroom featuring Barchan’s signature blend of aesthetics and functionality. With its own lounge space and sleeping loft, the space is designed to grow with the family over time.

The primary bedroom suite also reflects a considered design story, with a lounge and entertainment space preceding the room’s more enclosed areas. The room also features a study loft accessible through an internal staircase, while a set of sliding screens opens onto a private terrace to unwind in after a long day.

On the third and final floor, a roof deck stands open to the sky, with glazing that offers uninterrupted views of the living room below.

Ventilation and natural light permeate the Halcyon House in Bacoor, Cavite by Barchan + Architecture

Altogether, the Halcyon House came together with effortless coherence. Each element has its place in creating a purposeful, serene environment for a family to celebrate their milestones and bask in the mundane moments. To cross the threshold into this space is to understand, almost immediately, that the rest of the world has been left behind. Everything within the Cavite home fills each guest with a sense of peaceful prosperity that will carry them through until their return to the space.

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Home tour: an expansive family home balancing peace and prosperity in Cavite, Philippines