This Pinoy Lakehouse By Budji Layug Merges Its Interiors With The Outdoors
In photos: An award-winning lakehouse by Budji Layug fuses Filipino-modern design with the great outdoors

If you had a lakeside lot, what would you do? Internationally renowned interior designer Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda did this: build a house that totally opens to the lake.
Lumot Lakehouse is comprised of three different structures built on a 400sqm lot facing Lumot Lake, a body of water located in Laguna province. Upon approach to the property, it seems that each part of the house—from the interiors to the verandas—seem to merge with the sea and sky, creating a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors (above).
These residential structures use the vernacular hut (bahay kubo) as inspiration, and although these are constructed out of concrete and glass, the roofs and eaves are made out of crushed bamboo (photo below). A very discreet water feature (above) encircles each structure, making each house appear to blend in with the lake beyond it.
In Budji + Royal’s official Facebook page, the interior designer describes the concept for the project: “This house shows the evolution of the whole holistic philosophy, with all its elements and concepts. I started out making big bamboo furniture, then I landscaped natural gardens. Now, we have developed an architectural space that organically merges with its lake and sky landscape…and embraces the lifestyle, too!”
Its interiors are furnished with Budji’s own designs made out of indigenous materials. Each furniture piece is oriented towards the windows, giving guests a complete view of the lake.
Architect Royal Pineda describes the overall design: “We strove for the architectural feeling of merging the house with the landscape. From the moment you’re at the entry, you view the lake between the two bahay kubo units. As you approach, you can actually touch the bamboo roof of the guest house; and, as the modern slabs descend, leading you toward the water feature with its infinity edge—the glass house merges with the lake landscape.”
The Lumot Lakehouse won for the designer the Haligi ng Dangal honor in the Residential Interior Design category in 2017.
Is there a Filipino-designed house, building, or site that truly inspires you? Nominate your favorite designs now for Haligi ng Dangal (deadline is on October 31, 2018 at 11:59pm). Click on this link to access a nomination package, or for more information, email haligingdangal.ncca[at]gmail.com.