ORATA, Anthony R.

ARC228A

TOWNHOUSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. One Magsaysay Place Townhomes by TRANSPHIL

Santa Mesa, Manila

One Magsaysay Place Townhomes is a mixed-use property (contains one commercial space
and 10 3-townhouse units) located along Magsaysay Boulevard in Santa Mesa Manila. The
townhouses are composed of 3 floors with 2 carport garages and bedrooms ranging from 2
bedrooms to 4 bedrooms. The site is irregular in shape, resulting the townhouses with
different sizes and floor plan layouts. The style or theme of the townhouses is in
Contemporary Minimalist style, with colors only showing white and brown contrasting
palettes. The architectural style incorporated in this townhouse is something that can be
commonly seen in many recent residences developed around Metro Manila. While observing
its style, it can be realized that there is something to improve in terms of its façade layout by
adding design elements and playing more with the color palettes. However, the needed
ventilation and fenestrations are evident and provided enough as seen from the picture.
SCHEMATIC FLOOR PLANS
 2. Montville Place
Selecta Drive, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Quezon City

The Montville Place in A. Bonifacio Ave. in Quezon City is a 2-hectare residential property
developed by Harvard Multiland Realty Corp (HMRC), which contains 50 townhouse units
divided into 4 main Model houses, named Andrew, Nathan, Iverson, James, and John, which
each property dimensions varies from 91 square meters up to 170 square meters. According
to the townhouse’s description, it has subtle color palettes ranging from pastel tones of blue in
its interior and shades of brown which can be seen on the front façade. The townhouses range
from 2 to 3 floors containing one to two-car garages and 3 bedrooms. Unlike the typical
townhouses that can be seen around the urban city, Montville Place contains greeneries and
urban landscapes that offer users access to natural ventilation. These townhouses have
relatively large properties compared to many townhouses in Metro Manila. The architectural
styles of these townhouses are a combination of Modern and Contemporary themes.
FLOOR PLANS
3. Dover Hill
San Juan City, Metro Manila

Dover Hill is a luxury townhouse in San Juan City near the Ortigas Center, owned by
the San Miguel Corporation. It consists of 95 townhouse units, ranging from 200 up to
355 square meters. The townhouses consist of 2-5 floors, including basements, with a
varied number of bedrooms, from 2 bedrooms up to 5 bedrooms. Although the
townhomes are contained in a private and single site, it is surrounded by sufficient
urban landscapes and greeneries, aimed to divert the scenery from the cityscape. This
residence employs a Minimalist Contemporary Style.
 COMPARISON OF SPACES BY LOCAL TOWNHOUSES

SPACE One Magsaysay Place Montville Place The Dover Hill

Carport  Can accommodate  Can only  Can
2 cars accommodate 1-2 accommodate 3
 Has narrow access cars, but most cars
to the road garages are 2 car  Has a wide
 Not accessible to garage access road and
typical immediate  Access road is accessible to
spaces such as the wider than a the main road
Living Area and typical (especially
Service Area townhome, townhouse
 Since townhouses provided with units located on
face each other and enough vehicular Ortigas and
have narrow access and light access. Mabini
roads, vehicular  Accessible to Streets).
access, and natural spaces with entry  Unlike other
ventilation is not points (Laundry townhouses,
sufficient Area and Service Carports are
Area) located in the
basement,
 instead of on
the Ground
Floor
 Accessible to
Service Area,
not adjacent to
Living area
Living  Living Areas are  Located on the  Located on the
Area located on the Ground Floor and second level of
Second floor, not accessible to the townhouse
easily aggravated Carport and (basement is
by vehicular noise Access Roads located on the
 Adjacent to other  Sufficient light first level)
open spaces such and air ventilation  Provided with
as Dining may be sufficient
 Since located on obstructed since amount of
the second floor, the carport is fenestrations,
living areas can be located on the unlike small
seen on the front front. townhouses
façade, provided  The style is a mix with only small
with a reasonable of Scandinavian, windows.
amount of light and Coastal, and  The style is
air. Contemporary Modern
 The style is a mix Organic (green
of Contemporary color is
and a bit of prevalent
Scandinavian among the
 Relatively have material and
larger spaces than a decorations).
typical townhouse  Has larger and
living room more open
spaces
Dining  Has a maximum  Can  Located at the
Area capacity of 8 accommodate up second level
persons to 6 persons  Can
 Located on the  Located on the accommodate
second floor Ground floor up to 8 persons
 Larger than other  The space is the  Has a larger
typical residences common size of a space than a
in terms of space. typical dining typical
room such as in residence
apartments and
condominiums
Kitchen  Single-wall kitchen  Kitchen layouts  Unlike other
layout can either be kitchen in other
 Since most cornered layout townhouses,
kitchens are in ( L-shaped) or U- some kitchen in
single-wall layout, shaped layout these
the work triangle is  Work triangles townhouses
 much easier and are effective but have
more ergonomic. only have a fenestrations
 Has larger space reasonable size in  Single-wall
than typical terms of space. kitchen layout
kitchens  The work
triangle is
accessible and
effective
 Has wider
space in all
kitchens
compared.
Service/  Has a separate  Has access to the  Located on the
Laundry kitchen, a laundry kitchen and is basement
Area area, and a T&B located in the  The service
 Accessible to a most private part area has a
maid’s room of the residence separate
 Has only a small kitchen and a
space, with no laundry area
room for laundry  Accessible to a
maid’s room
T&B  4 T&B (including  Ranges from 2 to  Ranges from 4
from the Master 5 T&B (including to 5 T&B
Bedroom) from the Master (including from
 Has a complete set Bedroom) the Maid’s
of water fixture  Has a complete room and
set of water Master
fixture Bedroom)
 Has a complete
set of water
fixture
Bedrooms  Has 2 to 3  Has 2 to 3  Has 2 to 3
Common Common common
Bedrooms Bedrooms bedrooms
 Contains a private  Does not have a  Have separate
T&B in each separate T&B T&B in each
bedroom  Some common bedroom
 Mostly located in bedrooms are  Most common
the most private located in front of bedrooms are
area of the the residence, located on the
residence some are located third level
at the back  It has a
 Common relatively large
Bedrooms are size in terms of
usually small in space; two
size bedrooms
mostly take up
space in a floor
Master  Mostly located on  Mostly located on  Mostly located
Bedrooms the front part of the the front part of on the front
house the house part of the
 Compared to other  It has a larger house and
master bedrooms, space compared second level
it is a moderate and to a typical  It has also a
respectable size master bedroom; larger space
and space It took up half of compared to a
the second floor typical master
 The color palette bedroom; Its
used is subtle and space also took
pastel, mostly up almost half
shades of gray of the floor
and pink  The color
palette used is
subtle, most
colors used are
shades of
brown and
orange
 Has a bright
interior and big
fenestrations
FOREIGN TOWNHOUSE

Boston Common Townhomes by Hacin + Associates

Melrose St., Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The Boston Common Townhomes is a private townhouse residence in Boston, designed and
renovated by Hacin + Associates. It was a 19 th century home and eventually developed and
renovated into a townhouse. It won several awards including the Best Private Residential
Design in IIDA New England Design Awards 2015 and Regional Winner of the Sub-Zero +
Wolf Kitchen Design Contest. While renovating this historic site, the owners rebuilt key
historical elements and fused them with modern design aspects, including new structural
framing and reconfigured circulation to accommodate an elevator. The residence is composed
of six (6) floors, including the basement and floors 1 to 5.

The overall style of this residence as observed from the picture is in Federal style, a typical
style of house around Boston. Its bay windows and brownstone finish on the exterior is one
of the special architectural elements that is also famous in most residences in Boston. One
special feature of this house is it ground floor. The ground floor has said to have been
transformed into an open plan, which includes spaces such as kitchen, family area, and living
area.

Another design element that elevates its overall appearance from other townhomes, is the use
of white walls and floor-to-ceiling bay windows. These elements exemplify the entry of
natural ventilation, making every interior space to be bright and open-looking. The combined
design of light brown–colored hardwood and gray finishes (especially gray stones and gray
furniture) balance the composition of furniture in every space.

Exterior
FLOOR PLANS
SECTIONS
INTERIOR SPACES

Entry

In the entry, the amount of light coming from the door frame was strategic. The designers
took advantage of the light that coming against the building to illuminate to whole area.
Although as seen from the first picture, it seems that the light showing was a bit exaggerated.

Living Area
 The Staircase

Kitchen

The windows that can be seen from the kitchen and living area are one good example of
effective fenestration, as they give enough light to extend from the living area up to the
kitchen. The use of light-colored hardwood and light gray stone (as seen from the kitchen)
makes the composition of elements and objects inside to be well-balanced and reasonable.
The use of white walls gives the illusion inside appears larger than its actual size.

Family Area

Home Office

The black accent pillows, the piano, and the black fireplace in the Family Area and Home
Office limit and balance the repetition of the gray and tan colors to the whole area, adding
more boldness to the vibe.
 Master Bedroom

The carpets are also one good design element, especially for bedrooms, as it is intended to
minimize the noise in the area. There is also a contrast in terms of colors. Notice that the bed
color (with a shade of blue and gray) compliments the light brown–colored accent walls. The
intricate patterns on the accent walls adds elegance and character to the area.

As observed in the picture, the bathroom is relatively small in terms of space, but a light that
shows from its ceiling adds a larger illustration to the whole area. It could have been better if
the bathroom (on the left side) were accented with something brown element such as in the
right, to add playfulness to the area.
 REFERENCES:

Boston Common TH | Renovated townhouse celebrates modern heritage. (2022, January 31).

Hacin. [Link]

Dykstra, J. (2021, April 8). 14 High-End Luxury Townhomes from Around the World. Home

Stratosphere. [Link]

Dykstra, J. (2021b, August 16). Exquisite Boston Common Townhouse by Hacin +

Associates. Home Stratosphere. [Link]

townhouse-by-hacin-associates/

Montville Place A. Bonifacio. (n.d.). Montville Place A. Bonifacio. Montville Place a.

Bonifacio. [Link]

[Link]. (n.d.). Floor plan.

[Link]

San Miguel Properties. (n.d.).

[Link]