Modern Mountain Hideaway | 958 sqm. of a Sustainable Architectural Innovation
With a surge in its popularity in the 2010s, the tiny house movement has caused a wave of lot owners going small - downsizing living spaces and material possessions for simpler living. Interestingly, this movement has only started in the Philippines with few premium tiny homes spewing in remote areas outside of the Metro.
When Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo came to us in October 2020, they were open to ideas on what to do with their vacation lot in Tanay, Rizal. Simultaneously, Team Hurray was also looking to innovate and work on projects that would utilize exterior design. Stumbling across tiny homes in their research, Team Hurray proposed the idea to Jennylyn and Dennis which they greenlit, being fans of tiny home living.
COVER PHOTO Pictured is a section of the home’s lanai
The Start of the Design Process
Soon after, Team Hurray comprising Principal Designer, IDr. Rossy Rojales, PIID, Managing Director, Bong Rojales, the Architecture and Technical Team (Ar. Orange Clemente, UAP, and Ar. Bing Ringor, UAP), the Schematic & FF&E Team (IDr. Kim Abla, PIID, IDr. Genevee Arceo, PIID, and France Alarilla) and Ar. Gerry Tua, UAP of GridCore Builders as a consultant, started collaborating with different teams and suppliers to design this vacation home. But it wasn’t smooth sailing as they initially thought.
In designing the container home, restrictions like the size and height of the containers were considered. Aside from the materials used, the flow of air was also studied to properly position and cluster the containers. Team Hurray ensured that all areas of the home were well-ventilated with enough open space where air and light can flow all throughout the home. As the lot is located in a rural area with no electricity, a provision for solar-powered panels and lighting was also included in its design. All things considered, the home had to be sustainable and long-standing.
PHOTO 2 OF 8 Modern Tropical vibes await you indoors as seen in this section of the living area
Another thing to consider was the non-negotiable requirements of Jennylyn and Dennis. As safety was a priority for the growing family, big windows with security film, screens, and locks had to be strategically placed. Aside from safety, the position of the windows also had to consider both the privacy and great views of the area. The couple also wanted the home to be pet-friendly and have a big open lot area for gardening.
The first tiny house for Hurray, this home is a collaboration between engineers, architects, and designers, with the behavior inside considered before the team designed the outside. An example of this is the placement of windows in the Kitchen and Lanai, something the clients shared in their Youtube video.
PHOTO 3 OF 8 The vacation home maximizes indoor to outdoor living as seen in its kitchen. Behind the kitchen is the Lanai design for socialization and recreational activities
The Evolution of the Home
To take care of the structural aspect of the home, Team Hurray hired a structural engineer who specializes in container homes to ensure their safety. The final design for the main house consisted of 3 40 feet containers for the first floor with 1 30 feet and 3 20 feet containers for the second floor. The containers are supported by Stiffener and Circular Columns with Ibeam Support. An additional container was later added to address the new addition to Jennylyn and Dennis’ family.
When discussing the final placement of the container vans, Team Hurray mentioned aiming for something unconventional to the usual stack-on-top design. This was done to maximize the potential of the container vans. As it is modular, there were many ways to play with its position. This explains the configuration of the containers with one overhanging. With this, there are multiple places to sit and enjoy the view and space.
PHOTO 4 OF 8
An initial sketch of a possible configuration of the containers
PHOTO 5 OF 8
Early schematic drawings of the home
As for the color, Team Hurray threw around ideas of it being black, brown, or white. But ultimately, black and white were chosen.
PHOTO 6 OF 8 The final render of the exteriors
Executing the Design
With the design development finished, the construction stage began. The containers were successfully delivered to the mountainside through extensive planning and good weather. Rock wool insulation was also added to the walls of the container to alleviate moisture and molds. But just a few months into the construction, the COVID-19 pandemic struck which made it difficult for the team to go out and visit the site. With a limited number of workers allowed on-site and the disruption in the production of some construction materials, communication between Hurray, the general contractor, and suppliers became more critical. During the construction, Team Hurray learned that everything should be well-coordinated and aligned with the design direction as minimal changes can cause a bigger impact on the project overall.
The Finish Line
PHOTO 7 OF 8 Pictured is the finished project
The project was completed less than 2 years since it started. Walking to the main house, you instantly feel the breeze of the mountains even from the inside. Additionally, standing in its dining area, the home doesn’t feel tiny or like it was built using containers. But its exterior texture will surely remind you of its added charm and character.
On his favorite part of the home, Ar. Bing shares, “My favorite part is the high ceiling in the Master Bedroom. Fun fact, the material used inside is also used outside which is pretty cool.” But even without a high ceiling in most of its areas, the vacation home is spacious and perfect for a growing family. “The project is exciting since it’s a new type of construction for us than the conventional one,” Ar. Orange shares. “[I had a lot of fun] researching about materials, how it should be done. I designed it with restrictions which I enjoyed. I gained a lot of new knowledge on how to build a container home.”
Despite the challenges and delays, visiting this Modern Mountain Hideaway is a vision made into reality, a project so rewarding for Team Hurray.
PHOTO 8 OF 8 One of the beautiful views of the home. Also pictured is the home’s guest cabin
If you like this project and want to see more of our designs, visit our works today. And don’t forget to check out our other articles at Beyond Ordinary!