FR House
Can we bring together whimsy and rationality in a living space?
Located in the beachside town of Punta Fuego, the FR House enriches the experience of the waterfront through architecture. This cast-in-place concrete home perches on a bluff overlooking the South China Sea in Punta Fuego, Philippines. The design was guided by two goals: to integrate with the steep topography and waterfront views, and to create natural ventilation that minimizes mechanical cooling and conserves energy.
The steep, narrow site determined the project’s character from the start. To fit within its context, the house is conceived as a modular cluster of equally-sized concrete cubes resting on the slope, each oriented through parametric design strategies to maximize views of the sky and ocean while minimizing the need for traditional façade windows. This thoughtful configuration reflects an approach rooted in metabolic architecture, where spatial and environmental flows interact to create a home attuned to its surroundings.
The home takes the form of a collection of volumes arranged around a ground-floor garden. Each modular volume defines a distinct room, with a single window or skylight framing a unique view of the ocean, landscape, or sky. This deliberate yet whimsical organization creates a series of intentional, interconnected spaces that celebrate both individuality and connection.
Location
Punta De Fuego, Philippines
Research Areas Parametric Design
Typology Housing
Size
Small
Status Complete
Project Team Carlos ArnaizLaura del Pino
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The home’s two staircases become outdoor experiences linked to nature: the private stair features horizontal planters that buffer the house from its neighbor, while the public stair acts as an open, tilted tunnel connecting terrain and sky — a dynamic expression of energy and movement within the architectural form.
By using cast-in-place concrete, the design minimizes structural footprint to maximize living space on the narrow lot. The material also supports passive temperature control: it absorbs heat during the day and releases it when temperatures drop, conserving energy and maintaining indoor comfort. Raw and unfinished, the concrete lends a sense of casual sophistication to the interiors, while light wood finishes at key points of human contact — door handles, handrails — add warmth to the tactile experience.
Raw and unfinished, the concrete lends a sense of casual sophistication to the interiors, while light wood finishes at key points of human contact — door handles, handrails — add warmth to the tactile experience.
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Each room’s skylight is oriented differently, framing specific views of the ocean, sky, or garden. Initially-identical modular volumes are thus transformed into unique spaces, each with its own natural light and privacy. At the top of the house, an open box connects inhabitants directly with the outside environment, embodying the home’s integration of metabolic architecture, energy-conscious design, and poetic whimsy.
