A Lanai Extension ‘Renews’ a Decades-old House

Originating in Hawaii architecture, a lanai is the term for a sheltered (roofed) terrace, veranda or porch. This type of in-between space can be used to bring interiors closer to Nature, as is the case for this residence in Manila, the Philippines.

The existing house was built decades ago in the form of a family compound, belonging to a family that often gathers and hosts dinners for guests. They wished to expand the house towards a portion of the lot to create a welcoming terrace to receive visitors, leading to an indoor dining space. However, there were site limitations for the expansion, including an existing storage house, laundry area and kalachuchi (plumeria) tree.

Hence, the architects respected these parameters, designing an extension lanai that is oriented on one end towards the large tree. The extension’s straightforward block form is meant to clearly indicate its newness while respecting the house’s original architectural ‘language’. This is done by using materials like local yakal timber, solid white oak wood and matte porcelain tiles to cohesively connect it with the existing house.

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Open yet shielded

The extension is framed by full-length, operable windows to let in ample natural ventilation. The interplay of walls and windows along the laundry area were designed to conceal the services from view, while wider fenestrations are oriented towards the tree to bring in sights of greenery. Roof canopies are extended above the new mass to help shade the walls and openings from direct sunlight, thereby preventing solar heat gain to maintain a comfortable interior temperature.

Due to the ‘open yet shielded’ design of this extension, the residents were able to greatly adjust the natural ventilation and daylighting to their needs, and reported that this significantly reduced their use of artificial lighting and air-conditioning.

Although it is modest in size, the lanai’s visual openness managed to create a ripple effect within the compound: as the courtyard gained greater usage by the residents, they were compelled to improve the surrounding landscaping and many other features of their family home.

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PROJECT DATA

Project Name
A Lanai Extension

Location
Manila

Completion Date
2021

Site Area
290 square metres

Gross Floor Area
42.47 square metres

Number of Rooms
2

Building Height
2.90–3.32 metres

Architecture Firm
Edwin Uy Design Office (EUDO)

Principal Architect
Edwin D. Uy

Main Contractor
RU Design + Build

Images/Photos
Michael John Laviste

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Read more stories from FuturArc 2Q 2024: In-between Spaces!