Luscara

Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines, 2013

This clubhouse for a premium subdivision developed by Ayala Land Premiere attempts to extract the essence of place, and respond to the context in which it sits. Situated beside a ravine and with views of dramatic mountains capes, the visual composition of this structure combines the timelessness, simplicity, and confidence of horizontal lines with the diagonally that is often visible in natural formations such as mountains, hills, cliffs, various land formations. The result is an architectural forms that belongs in its context, and one that frames and affords panoramic views of the surrounding natural formations.

Client \ Ayala Land Premiere

Location \ Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines

Building Area \ 3,000 sq.m.

Program \ Clubhouse, Basketball Court, Entry Statement

Status \ Completed

Challenge

Designers are always tested with the existing conditions of sites, spaces, and contexts. Not all projects are necessarily ideal as certain challenges present themselves. Some of these challenges include unappealing views, oddly shaped lots, limited space, unsightly structural and mechanical elements, among others. To turn weaknesses into strengths is truly a skill that not everyone masters.

For the Luscara Clubhouse (2013) in Calamba, Laguna, south of Metro Manila, the oddly shaped lot in a residential subdivision presented a unique challenge of incorporating different programs. The lot for the clubhouse did not have all right angles for its geometry. Furthermore, the site had a steep incline on one side of the property, with a long frontage of the lot facing the road on the opposite side. Adding to the challenge is the presence of a non-buildable road right-of-way that spans the entire length of the already narrow lot. To address these challenges, the firm focused on spreading the program along the elongated property, while emphasizing the terrain of the site.

Curves and Greens

The sweeping gentle curvature for the structure and roof embraced the arc shape of the property. Instead of having one large structure, the building was made porous with garden atria and pocket landscaping in between buildings, connected by an open colonnade. The spaces are light-filled, at once connecting the outside and the sheltered inside.

Program

The clubhouse was placed on split levels, with major spaces, such as the basketball court, function rooms, offices, and fitness gym, placed on the main ground floor, while carefully tucking below some of the services such as the lockers, showers, and storage. The pool was set adjacent to the clubhouse, with views extending beyond the property.