Materiality and character at Casa Nueve
In Pasig, Philippines, within a lush residential enclave, Casa Nueve mirrors the constant presence of nature through expansive glazed surfaces and materials with a strong, distinctive character. Here, architecture and interiors echo the surrounding landscape: light filters through stone, glass, and dark finishes, shaping the spaces in a continuous interplay of contrasts and reflections, where formal restraint meets a warm, lived-in sense of home.
The house welcomes a family with a strong identity rooted in the world of food and hospitality. For this reason, the generous open-plan kitchen and living area becomes the true heart of everyday life and a source of pride: a space designed to gather, share, and experience the kitchen as a place to live.
Kitchen depth and reflections
The kitchen stands out for its enveloping (made by Valcucine Manila | Modularity Home), dark-toned language, where the grain of wood alternates with the solidity of stone and the transparency of glass. The Aerius wall unit, with upward opening, features a Smocky Grey Vitrum, creating a refined see-through effect: the semi-transparent surface reveals glimpses of what lies within, highlighting the system's technical precision while adding visual depth to the composition.
Glass, an iconic material for us, amplifies brightness and captures reflections of the greenery outside, turning the kitchen into a dynamic, vibrant space.
From a design perspective, the process was made even more effective by the clarity of the clients' vision. They had a precise idea of the kitchen they wanted and the level of detail to achieve, in continuity with the dining table. This awareness guided each decision and made the overall definition smoother, allowing the focus to remain on the quality of finishes and the balance of textures
Architecture between natural textures and contemporary minimalism
The architecture is shaped by the meeting of natural textures and contemporary minimalism. Dark stone cladding engages in dialogue with wood surfaces, while a slim, floating roofline and wire-mesh railings lighten the volume with a subtle industrial note. Large glazed openings expand the perception of space, and a central skylight draws daylight deep into the interiors, strengthening the bond between inside and out and reinforcing the home's openness to the surrounding green.
Architecture here arises from the encounter between natural textures and contemporary minimalism: dark stone cladding converses with timber surfaces, while a slim, floating roofline and steel-framed wire-mesh railings lend the volume a refined industrial lightness. Broad glazed openings expand the space, letting light articulate forms and materials in a continuous interplay between inside and out.
Ph credits Nazareno Architecture & Design
