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| The Sofia, with its cantilevered floors and irregular walls. |
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Browsing through DMCI Homes' website, one particular development caught my eye - the Sofia Townhouses. The project is located within the vicinity of C-5 road and situated right next to other DMCI developments in Taguig City. Unlike traditional townhouses with their monotonous rectangular facades, the Sofia stands out with its unique architectural features that serve not only to make it stand out, but also practical purposes as well.
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| Full-length windows provide ventilation |
DMCI Homes employed the services of Buensalido Architects, a
firm known for their work with green architecture, to make the Sofia not only stylish, but also a comfortable abode as well. The walls of the house are irregularly shaped and serve to block out the sun - their positioning based on the different angles of sunlight during the day. The cantilevered floors, tapering outward from the ground floor and reaching its longest at the top, serve as shade for the lower floors - not only for the sun but from the rain as well.
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| Cantilevered floors and awnings provide shade |
Full-length windows, located front and rear of the unit, provide not
only spectacular views but also cool the house and provide ventilation as well. Another distinguishing feature of the project is its roof. Instead of the sloped GI sheets of most homes, it utilizes a cement roof with a garden. Cement is less heat-conducive than metal, so temperature within the house is cooler than others. Soil and plant foliage further decrease heat touching the roof. These architectural features make the Sofia cool and comfortable
in the midst of the scorching heat - while keeping electricity costs
associated with cooling a house to a minimum.
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| Windows in the lounge provide added lighting |
Along with the cool temperature, what strikes you the most upon entering the house is the brightness of the space, quite uncharacteristic of townhouses in general given their tunnel-like shape - which allows for light to come in from only the front and rear openings. Light in the unit is indeed provided by the front and rear windows of the ground floor, but these are augmented by light coming from the window located in the lounge area above the front door. This last is a result of a split in the ceiling of the ground floor - effectively dividing the second floor into the master bedroom and the lounge.
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| An open plan layout lends a feeling of airiness |
An open-plan layout, combined with the high ceiling and lots of light, lend a feeling of roominess to an otherwise tight and confined space. The unit negates the negative association with this layout by having the kitchen and dining areas at the back, rather than the entrance of the house. Apart from aesthetic purposes, this move is also practical, as proximity to the window flushes food odors out of the house rather than circulate within.
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| Master bedroom with two-level ceiling |
The unit delivers way beyond expectations with its master bedroom. As with the living room, this sleeping area boasts of a two-level ceiling which gives an air of grandness and luxury to its occupants - a feature unheard of in a townhouse.Picture windows and a spacious bathroom complete the comfort accommodations for the master of the house.
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| Open layout of the ground floor; 2-level master suite; Garden on roofdeck |
Although it shares the exact same rectangular tunnel-like configuration of the usual townhouses, the Sofia has a much sleeker and elegant design. While aesthetically pleasing, the Sofia is also practical - ensuring proper ventilation, ample living spaces, and keeping the temperature comfortable. Combining the aesthetic appeal of a condo and the larger space of a townhouse, the Sofia is a home that hip and active professionals would surely love going home to.
