SOKN Design

A Modern Tropical Filipino Abode 🌱🇵🇭
Showcasing Filipino Culture and Craftsmanship through Art and Design

Designing this abode for a Filipino couple became an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of Filipino values, traditions, and the way we truly live and gather as a family.

The layout moves away from the conventional — thoughtfully shaped instead around how Filipinos naturally receive guests, celebrate milestones, and spend time together. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by lush tropical landscaping and a generous receiving space at the heart of the home.

At its center is an open kitchen with a bar, seamlessly connected to a communal dining table that accommodates up to 20 guests — reflecting the Filipino love for shared meals and meaningful conversations.

The lounge area features a modern interpretation of the traditional duyan — a space designed for rest, gentle movement, and comfort. Inspired by how our elders once embraced naturally breezy spaces (presko) to relax while keeping mosquitoes away, it brings nostalgia into a contemporary setting.

And of course, no Filipino gathering feels complete without music and entertainment. The home integrates centralized speakers, spaces for television and karaoke, and even showcases the owners’ personal collection of paintings — making the house not only a place of living, but a reflection of Filipino warmth, creativity, and togetherness.

Through carefully curated local materials, tropical elements, craftsmanship, and art, the home becomes a modern expression of Filipino identity — rooted in culture, yet designed for contemporary living.

Principal Architect: Ar. Orlando P. Sangalang Jr.
Principal Interior Designer: IDr. Nina Katrina Kho - Sangalang

Associate Architect: Ar. Marie Jeanette Padilla

Design and Build Team:
Kimverly Roldan
Ar. Allen Toledo
Ar. Darren Domingo

Documentation by RFH Images and Films