Geometric Dreams in a One-of-a-Kind Tropical Retreat

Georg Kredler’s design aesthetic can best be described as unconventional. Having worked on tree houses and membrane roofs, star observatories and polygons, the architect from Germany had no qualms about incorporating what he learned on these projects when he built his tropical retreat in Boracay.

A multi-level structure of steel and concrete, it is an intricate study in geometry with a couple of moving parts thrown in for good measure. Located on a cliff overlooking Baling Hai Beach, the four corners of Georg’s hideaway are perfectly aligned to the points of a compass. There are two octagonal towers standing on opposite corners; one with an observatory and the other, a bedroom and sunset room. A system of levers and pulleys opens up three walls of the living area, offering guests a veritable 360-degree view of the sea. Some of the other walls are movable as well. By unscrewing them from their metal frames, the walls can be put away when Georg flies off to Germany.

Other elements make this retreat truly one-of-a-kind. Light shining from the center of the ceiling announces the arrival of the summer solstice. A statue of Toeris, the Egyptian protector of life, stands proudly in the midst of this 11,000sqm property. And a winding staircase rises up from the ground up this modern fortress. The beauty of modern architecture combined with the mystique of a tropical paradise—what more can one ask for?

Original article by Tisha Alvarez. Styling by Issa Villar. Photographed by Ocs Alvarez.

 Read the original article (“Baling High”) in the April 2006 issue of Real Living Magazine. To download a digital copy of Real Living Magazine, visit Summit Newsstand at https://summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living.