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A New Old House: A Home of Many Stories, Undefined by Trends and Time
Metro Home & Entertaining
January 2016
By Leah Puyat
Photographs by Paul Del Rosario
Working against time
The homeowner worked with Architect Popi Laudico, daughter of Yola Johnson, the artist and retail maven who established Soumak, the shop that pioneered the more contemporary use of Filipino fiber and antique Filipino furniture and indigenous wood.
“We had worked with Popi before on a vacation home, so we knew that we could work well together. She gives you a long questionnaire, not just about your tastes, but also your kind of sports, so she can plan the storage, or how willing everyone is to share a bathroom. It’s really quite detailed,” says the homeowner.
And yet for all those questions, she succinctly says, “I wanted a new old house, or an old new house. Yes I still wanted it to feel new, but I didn’t want it to belong to any certain time. For example, when we were building this house, everyone was doing that Asian modern look with travertine. But I don’t like travertine, I really want araal, so that’s what Popi used.”
There was a kind short and but the one bone of contention was the height of the doors. “When I first heard that Popi wanted floor to ceiling doors, I was afraid that it would end up looking like a villa, and that is so not us,” says the homeowner.
“So when I told her my worries, she just said that she would make one, we could see if we could live with it. If not, she would find a place where the door would not be seen. And I liked it in the end. I realized that she was right, I loved the effect.”
I had to ask about the staircase, because I find that many houses today lack a memorable staircase, which I consider a missed opportunity, as it is such a sculptural element that can be completely unique and stunning. The eloquent and effortlessly compelling homeowner elaborates, “I can grew up on this lot, and when we tore down our old house, I really wanted to use as much as we could from what we had saved. The wood on the staircase is from our old house.”
Like a magnet
The Joya in the foyer is such a joyful work of art and, of course, there is a charming story about it. “I actually dreamt that that painting was already there before we had placed any of the paintings. I feel that the colors and the brushstroke are saying, “I am not in your face, but I won’t be ignored.”
The paintings are juxtaposition of the classics by Anita Magsaysay Ho, Amorsolo, Bencab, and the more contemporary Gus Albor and Elmer Borlongan. The homeowner’s mother also loves to paint, and her works are displayed in the lanai and the dining room.
Her mother has what is known in Brit English as a “granny flat.” According to the homeowner, “She has her own wing, and her own schedule, but we eat together everyday. I really want my mom and my daughters to get to know each other well.
“My husband and I love to have friends over, and so do our kids, but I think my mom entertains the most,” she continues with a laugh, “When I was growing up, my friends would come over and open the fridge, and check out what’s for merienda. I wanted our house to be same.”
A close friend is with us, and she reveals, “This house is like a magnet. Or Grand Central Station. People are always coming by, or dropping things off. Plus, she (the homeowner) bakes so well, so there is also something good to eat.”
As the afternoon winds down, and it is almost dusk, there is time for one last story.
“The morning after we moved in, I was by the front door and overheard two construction workers talking. One of them said, ‘Ay, tapos na pala ‘tong bahay.’ And then the other one answered, “Hindi, matagal na ‘yan diyan.”
“I called Popi immediately, and said, ‘We got it right!’” They most certainly did.
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