The Creekside Residence creatively uses the busy setting, its facade a play of lines and volume used as shield against the hustle and bustle. (Contributed photo)
Creekside Residence isn’t just a project’s name—it refers literally to a residence that is built on the side of the creek, and shall we add, boldly and creatively.
The creek is usually a taboo location to many homeowners. In this case, however, architect Anthony Nazareno made use of the setting to plan and design the 1,000sqm area, with a little over 300sqm per floor. With the pool, lanai and balconies, the developed area is close to 1,200sqm.
His design turned the creek into an auditory stimulant for the dwellers. And the façade was used as shield from the hustle and bustle of the urban traffic outside.
Nazareno used a C-shaped layout to make the outdoor the visual focal point, the house facing the open common areas such as the pool.
Nazareno (Nazareno + Guerrero Design Consultancy) put the location to full use. He told TheDiarist.ph, “When I first went to this property in a gated community, I realized it was beside a man-made creek, and that there was still ambient noise from the nearby city. This seemingly insignificant feature became prominent in how we designed the house itself. The creek was an opportunity to play with one’s auditory perception and awareness.
“For that reason, we had the family room, master bedroom and office planned to be adjacent to the creek, which allowed the owners to experience the sensory stimulation in their own space.”
Nazareno comes from a family of artists. His grandfather was a sculptor and his sister, Rita Nazareno, is an acclaimed film director and designer. At a young age, he was already a visual artist and a performing artist, and as he grew older, he eventually realized his calling as an architect.
He has worked on various architecture projects of different typologies but his love for doing custom residential projects dominates his practice.
He said, “The Creekside Residence was a collaborative effort between myself and the client, where the project took a life of its own and exceeded everyone’s expectations. The brief was to design a home that was a tangible extension of the client’s character. While he agreed to have spaces to entertain, the home was designed for a family that valued their privacy.”
The design meant to balance the family’s need for privacy with their social life.
The outdoor area became the visual focal point for the entire home
“With this in mind, we designed private spaces tucked in by the rear of the property, while the open common areas, such as the pool and lanai were featured by wrapping the house and creating a C-shape layout. The outdoor area became the visual focal point for the entire home where even the second-floor balconies were intentionally placed to overlook the side court.”
It is contemporary architecture devoid of decorative details, but with the ample use of lines and volume. Yet the design achieves coziness and softness of lines and forms.
Nazareno explained, “The entire narrative of this house alludes that every idea, material, texture, and space be purposely crafted, ultimately setting the tone from the design process up to the construction completion.
“It was important that the design adapted to its environment. In the Creekside Residence, the user naturally veers towards the openness of the C-shaped home as the façade operates as filter from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A recurring theme of patterns surrounds the home, creating a modern profile that is free of decorative embellishments
“Orthogonal forms became the vignette of this design, emphasized through the use of materials of Accoya wood, Grey Basalt tile, and Laser-cut Metal Screens. A recurring theme of patterns surrounds the home, creating a modern profile that is free of decorative embellishments, manifesting the persona of the client.”
Nazareno added, “In its scale, you find purity and, in its robustness, you find softness. All of this was made possible by complementing elements that adhere to one another.”
The house carries other architecture and interior features such as the reverse staircase.
Nazareno described it, “The Creekside Residence shows how planning every detail meticulously is worth the effort.
“The reverse staircase is unusual because we designed it to not face the main areas of the house, and this was a conscious decision. It gives privacy to whoever goes up and down and it also acts as a sculptural element. We were free to behold and design the stairs—its underside wraps the structure and connects to the railing, the texture of the stone used for the steps, the whole staircase cutting through the screen. All these elements collectively created a contemporary silhouette.
“The C-shape plan allows both floors to overlook an abundance of outdoor space. The pool, lanai, and outdoor spaces are also essential in our design. This openness permits wind and light to enter the home. As the outdoor atmosphere changes, the winds are shifting, thus creating an architecture that co-exists with its environment—it is now a home that breathes.”
The restrained use of color is noticeable. It is almost devoid of color.
“The home is not entirely devoid of color, you will see vistas of colors through the choice of stone, tile, wood, and artworks,” Nazareno explained.
“Material became evident as an architectural feature wherein both the interior and exterior have a consistency about them. The Venetian Grey quarter-cut marble stone that greets you at the foyer is consistent with the tone of the Grey Basalt tile at the exterior. While the two are different compositions, they complement each other.
“Even as you enter the powder room, Ceppo Di Gre encompasses the whole flooring, again, maintaining a pattern with the choice of materials used.
“The walnut stain is also uniform throughout the home—from the Accoya wood, to the ceiling eaves, the door handle wood burl, and the slats. All of which were represented with the same stain.”
Nazareno explained how design was also in the details. “We were very particular in choosing every detail that was shown in the Creekside Residence. From the type of flooring, down to the fabric and color of each furniture, every decision was precisely made in consideration of the grander scheme of the design. One hobby of the client is black and white photography; hence, we took that into deliberation in interpreting our choices.”
