In the scenic landscapes of Benguet, discover a hidden gem – a bamboo house that embodies traditional architecture and highlights artistic craftsmanship.
Located along Asin Road in Tuba, Benguet, just past BenCab Museum, is Pinderella’s Kitchen. Built by Benguet-based artist Peter Pinder, this bamboo house serves as a welcoming space for guests, which can be booked through advanced reservation. Beyond being a café or restaurant, Pinderella's Kitchen functions as a commissary for food product development, supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers.
Making things
The bamboo house was initially conceived as a home for Pinder's daughter returning from Bali in 2020. The project, however, took a different turn. During the planning stage, Pinder created a small-scale model of the bamboo house using barbecue sticks to help his staff visualize his ideas.
“Making things has always been my passion – sometimes big things, sometimes small. In between making various things, I get other ideas. One rainy afternoon, I thought of making a bamboo house. Since I was already in the grandfather business and my son Reuben had a bamboo plantation, and with me living in another bamboo house, I made a scale model of a two-bedroom house with an old bamboo placemat and some barbecue sticks.”
When the pandemic struck, Pinder's trophy business struggled with the absence of events. His focus shifted to completing the bamboo house. A year into construction, a visitor showcased the house online, and the next thing they knew, inquiries started flowing in.
“It wasn't planned to be a restaurant. But when people started coming, we thought, well, since all these people are coming, why don't we make it a coffee shop or a little restaurant? And so we did. We transformed it into a restaurant where you have to book. So during the pandemic, only one family could come at a time,” said Pinder.
Pinderella’s Kitchen is named after Pinder's wife, Ella, who is responsible for the delectable meals served in the restaurant.
To secure a visit, one can message Pinderella’s Kitchen on Facebook. It operates from Mondays to Sundays, with different time slots available, allowing you to have the entire place exclusively for your group
Where nature and architecture embrace
The bamboo house on the property spans 30 feet on all sides, with an eye-catching eight-foot balcony. Standing at a height of 45 feet from the floor to the roof's peak, the house relies on steel posts spaced 10 centimeters apart for stability. The higher roof design also allows for better air circulation and ventilation within the living spaces, as hot air tends to rise, leaving the lower areas of the room cooler.
The fully equipped bamboo house boasts a kitchen, dining area, living space, a second-floor lounge, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. Yet, what captures the attention of visitors the most is the centrally placed swing.
“I was taking notes and thinking, 'What am I going to do with that space up here?' And I was looking at this beam, and I thought that'll make for a nice swing,” Pinder said, “Unlike a swing in the park, this gives you a real sort of rush as it goes because it's so long. Often when families come in, you've got toddlers and grandparents. There's arguments between them. ‘Get off the swing. It's my turn.’ And these grannies and grandpas haven't had a swing since they were 10 years old, and they really enjoy it. You get a group of people here, and there's always somebody on the swing."
Opting for bamboo as the primary building material, given its abundance on their property, the Pinder family meticulously cuts and treats the bamboo in a borax and boric acid tank. This process not only strengthens the bamboo but also protects it from fungi and insects, ensuring its durability.
Dreams on display
The bamboo house project not only functioned as a restaurant, but also showcased the creative endeavors of Pinders. While Pinder led the project, he acknowledged the collaborative efforts of his family and workers in bringing the bamboo house to life.
“With three of my Ifugao workers, we started making the building, following the scale of the model and reinventing things as we went along. While the guys did the strenuous work, I was busy making things for the interior from the ideas I'd had for a long time but never got around to making. While my wife Ella did some paintings and landscaped the garden, my son Reuben made the bamboo furniture, and my grandson Jazz helped in various projects.”
Pinder takes pride in pieces like the coffee table created for the bamboo house and an art decor titled “One Late Afternoon at Leonardo’s.” Previous works, such as the political chess set and various trophies, were also on display for visitors to appreciate.
In the heart of Baguio, this bamboo dwelling, shaped by the skilled hands of a craftsman, is a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation — of nature and architecture. Step into this world where every corner tells a tale.
In the scenic landscapes of Baguio, discover a hidden gem – a bamboo house that embodies traditional architecture and highlights artistic craftsmanship.
Located along Asin Road in Tuba, Benguet, just past BenCab Museum, is Pinderella’s Kitchen. Built by Baguio-based artist Peter Pinder, this bamboo house serves as a welcoming space for guests, which can be booked through advanced reservation. Beyond being a café or restaurant, Pinderella's Kitchen functions as a commissary for food product development, supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers.
Making things
The bamboo house was initially conceived as a home for Pinder's daughter returning from Bali in 2020. The project, however, took a different turn. During the planning stage, Pinder created a small-scale model of the bamboo house using barbecue sticks to help his staff visualize his ideas.
“Making things has always been my passion – sometimes big things, sometimes small. In between making various things, I get other ideas. One rainy afternoon, I thought of making a bamboo house. Since I was already in the grandfather business and my son Reuben had a bamboo plantation, and with me living in another bamboo house, I made a scale model of a two-bedroom house with an old bamboo placemat and some barbecue sticks.”
When the pandemic struck, Pinder's trophy business struggled with the absence of events. His focus shifted to completing the bamboo house. A year into construction, a visitor showcased the house online, and the next thing they knew, inquiries started flowing in.
“It wasn't planned to be a restaurant. But when people started coming, we thought, well, since all these people are coming, why don't we make it a coffee shop or a little restaurant? And so we did. We transformed it into a restaurant where you have to book. So during the pandemic, only one family could come at a time,” said Pinder.
Pinderella’s Kitchen is named after Pinder's wife, Ella, who is responsible for the delectable meals served in the restaurant.
To secure a visit, one can message Pinderella’s Kitchen on Facebook. It operates from Mondays to Sundays, with different time slots available, allowing you to have the entire place exclusively for your group
Where nature and architecture embrace
The bamboo house on the property spans 30 feet on all sides, with an eye-catching eight-foot balcony. Standing at a height of 45 feet from the floor to the roof's peak, the house relies on steel posts spaced 10 centimeters apart for stability. The higher roof design also allows for better air circulation and ventilation within the living spaces, as hot air tends to rise, leaving the lower areas of the room cooler.
The fully equipped bamboo house boasts a kitchen, dining area, living space, a second-floor lounge, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. Yet, what captures the attention of visitors the most is the centrally placed swing.
“I was taking notes and thinking, 'What am I going to do with that space up here?' And I was looking at this beam, and I thought that'll make for a nice swing,” Pinder said, “Unlike a swing in the park, this gives you a real sort of rush as it goes because it's so long. Often when families come in, you've got toddlers and grandparents. There's arguments between them. ‘Get off the swing. It's my turn.’ And these grannies and grandpas haven't had a swing since they were 10 years old, and they really enjoy it. You get a group of people here, and there's always somebody on the swing."
Opting for bamboo as the primary building material, given its abundance on their property, the Pinder family meticulously cuts and treats the bamboo in a borax and boric acid tank. This process not only strengthens the bamboo but also protects it from fungi and insects, ensuring its durability.
Dreams on display
The bamboo house project not only functioned as a restaurant, but also showcased the creative endeavors of Pinders. While Pinder led the project, he acknowledged the collaborative efforts of his family and workers in bringing the bamboo house to life.
“With three of my Ifugao workers, we started making the building, following the scale of the model and reinventing things as we went along. While the guys did the strenuous work, I was busy making things for the interior from the ideas I'd had for a long time but never got around to making. While my wife Ella did some paintings and landscaped the garden, my son Reuben made the bamboo furniture, and my grandson Jazz helped in various projects.”
Pinder takes pride in pieces like the coffee table created for the bamboo house and an art decor titled “One Late Afternoon at Leonardo’s.” Previous works, such as the political chess set and various trophies, were also on display for visitors to appreciate.
In the heart of Benguet, this bamboo dwelling, shaped by the skilled hands of a craftsman, is a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation — of nature and architecture. Step into this world where every corner tells a tale.