The Architect, the Engineer, the Feng Shui Expert, and the Interior Designers
Published Jan 27, 2019 09:27 am
By Minka Tiangco and Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Those who are planning to purchase their first home may find the task a little bit overwhelming.
After all, they have to consider the location, building materials, furnishings, and all of the other things that their first house requires. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of owning the “perfect” first home, would-be homeowners can seek advice from various professionals. Below are some expert tips in building a first home.
Structure, functionality, and aesthetics
Arch. Felino Palafox Jr., Principal Architect-Urban Planner of Palafox Associates, said the first thing a would-be homeowner should do is to “hire a good architect.”
A good architect would take “a client’s list of functional needs” and design a house “beyond structural and functional requirements” and create “an architectural design that is both beautiful and would make an impression.”
Palafox said there are five main considerations in building a house: Location; form, function, and accessibility; affordability; availability; and adequacy.
Places that are prone to disasters, such as flooding, earthquakes, storm surges, and tsunamis should be avoided, he said.
The area must also be safe and secure, and must be accessible to public transport, malls, schools, hospitals, and other amenities.=
Monitor construction
Megawide Construction Corporation Engr. Mark Anthony Beley advised first-time homeowners to personally monitor if their building plan was followed to avoid costly renovations.
“Homeowners should make sure that their plan is properly executed. They should check the walls, floors, and columns for cracks. They should also make sure that the electrical layout of their house complies with the building code as well as the plumbing layout,” he said.
Cracks on walls, floors and ceilings, as well as plumbing leaks are usually the first noticeable issues on newly-constructed houses, Beley said.
He also stressed the importance of the building’s water-tightness or the ability of the concrete to keep water in or out to avoid leaks.
Beley advised would-be homeowners that their developer should use 2,000 pounds per inch (psi) or 3,000 psi of concrete mix for walls and in between concrete hollow blocks while beams and columns require at least 5,000 psi.
Fortune and prosperity
According to Jean Chua, a celebrity feng shui consultant, the first thing to consider in buying a house is if it faces their lucky direction, which they can consult with feng shui experts.
Ideally, a house should have "mountains" or tall buildings at the back, which symbolizes support, and a body of water in front, which symbolizes money, Chua said.
Another important factor that should be considered is the alignment of certain rooms in the house.
“The front door should not be aligned with the back door or windows as this causes difficulties in career and money,” Chua said. “The bathroom should not be directly above the front door and the kitchen to avoid difficulties in health and emotions.”
Additionally, the master bedroom should not be directly above the garage or the kitchen as this causes emotional instability and a lack of opportunities.
When moving in to one’s new house, Chua said one should wear brightly-colored clothes. “When they go inside the house, they should wear brightly-colored clothes to attract good and happy energy, vitality, and brightness,” she said.They should also bring a pair of new lanterns, which symbolizes a good start. One should also place a prosperity basket filled with rice, lucky charms, lucky coins, and money on the dining table, Chua said.
More than just design
Blondie Riccio, interior design director at WTA Architecture + Design Studio, said that a ton of research is needed for homeowners who plan to personally design their ideal house.
“Figure out what style speaks to you the most and go from there,” she said.
Riccio said that “storage is key” for people who have limited living spaces because a house without storage is “not a functional one.”
Pojie Pambid, VP for academic affairs at the Philippine School of Interior Design, advised that a house should have at least one “outstanding” wall arrangement
as a focal point in the house.
As much as possible, every room in the house should be decorated, including the halls, stairs, and foyer. However, one should not go “overboard” in decorating, Pambid added.
“Restraint and simplicity is better than clutter. Create a lived-in look without making the room overcrowded and confusing.”
But aside from the aesthetics of a house, Pambid said one should also consider the functionality of its furnishings.
“Homes should be designed to consider the function of the different spaces that need to be allocated in the home. This will include effective space planning that takes into account furniture selection and flow,” he said.
He added that all the materials that a home will require “should be chosen based on how safe they can render the home.” Some of these materials include non-slip tiles, flame retardant fabrics, and the like.
Structure, functionality, and aesthetics
Arch. Felino Palafox Jr., Principal Architect-Urban Planner of Palafox Associates, said the first thing a would-be homeowner should do is to “hire a good architect.”
A good architect would take “a client’s list of functional needs” and design a house “beyond structural and functional requirements” and create “an architectural design that is both beautiful and would make an impression.”
Palafox said there are five main considerations in building a house: Location; form, function, and accessibility; affordability; availability; and adequacy.
Places that are prone to disasters, such as flooding, earthquakes, storm surges, and tsunamis should be avoided, he said.
The area must also be safe and secure, and must be accessible to public transport, malls, schools, hospitals, and other amenities.=
Monitor construction
Megawide Construction Corporation Engr. Mark Anthony Beley advised first-time homeowners to personally monitor if their building plan was followed to avoid costly renovations.
“Homeowners should make sure that their plan is properly executed. They should check the walls, floors, and columns for cracks. They should also make sure that the electrical layout of their house complies with the building code as well as the plumbing layout,” he said.
Cracks on walls, floors and ceilings, as well as plumbing leaks are usually the first noticeable issues on newly-constructed houses, Beley said.
He also stressed the importance of the building’s water-tightness or the ability of the concrete to keep water in or out to avoid leaks.
Beley advised would-be homeowners that their developer should use 2,000 pounds per inch (psi) or 3,000 psi of concrete mix for walls and in between concrete hollow blocks while beams and columns require at least 5,000 psi.
Fortune and prosperity
According to Jean Chua, a celebrity feng shui consultant, the first thing to consider in buying a house is if it faces their lucky direction, which they can consult with feng shui experts.
Ideally, a house should have "mountains" or tall buildings at the back, which symbolizes support, and a body of water in front, which symbolizes money, Chua said.
Another important factor that should be considered is the alignment of certain rooms in the house.
“The front door should not be aligned with the back door or windows as this causes difficulties in career and money,” Chua said. “The bathroom should not be directly above the front door and the kitchen to avoid difficulties in health and emotions.”
Additionally, the master bedroom should not be directly above the garage or the kitchen as this causes emotional instability and a lack of opportunities.
When moving in to one’s new house, Chua said one should wear brightly-colored clothes. “When they go inside the house, they should wear brightly-colored clothes to attract good and happy energy, vitality, and brightness,” she said.They should also bring a pair of new lanterns, which symbolizes a good start. One should also place a prosperity basket filled with rice, lucky charms, lucky coins, and money on the dining table, Chua said.
More than just design
Blondie Riccio, interior design director at WTA Architecture + Design Studio, said that a ton of research is needed for homeowners who plan to personally design their ideal house.
“Figure out what style speaks to you the most and go from there,” she said.
Riccio said that “storage is key” for people who have limited living spaces because a house without storage is “not a functional one.”
Pojie Pambid, VP for academic affairs at the Philippine School of Interior Design, advised that a house should have at least one “outstanding” wall arrangement
as a focal point in the house.
As much as possible, every room in the house should be decorated, including the halls, stairs, and foyer. However, one should not go “overboard” in decorating, Pambid added.
“Restraint and simplicity is better than clutter. Create a lived-in look without making the room overcrowded and confusing.”
But aside from the aesthetics of a house, Pambid said one should also consider the functionality of its furnishings.
“Homes should be designed to consider the function of the different spaces that need to be allocated in the home. This will include effective space planning that takes into account furniture selection and flow,” he said.
He added that all the materials that a home will require “should be chosen based on how safe they can render the home.” Some of these materials include non-slip tiles, flame retardant fabrics, and the like.