Tribal design goes contemporary

MANILA, Philippines - When one thinks of Filipino design, one imagines a room with a giant spoon and fork on the wall, a wooden man in a barrel on a shelf and copious amounts of woven cloth in a mishmash of tribal patterns adorning everything from curtains to pillow cases. No wonder contemporary Filipinos shy away from their country’s own design.

This year, the graduating students at the Philippine School of Interior Design(PSID), in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), are out to change that notion though an exhibit that merges Filipino tribal sensibilities with modern interior design.

Dubbed “Kontempo Filipino,” the exhibit merges contemporary design with indigenous roots.

Regine Samson, a PSID student whose exhibit took inspiration from the T’boli tribe, says, “It was a challenge for the batch to design for this because the first thing that comes to mind when you say ‘Filipino’ is ethnic. We had to veer away from that and come up with contemporary, modern designs and just have hints of ethnic stuff. We’re trying to change that perception.”

Taking inspiration from selected tribes around the country and using them as inspiration to create contemporary living spaces resulted in designs that were stylish, as well as being spatial comments on the identity of the Filipino today.

Here are some of the highlights:

Dream Kitchen

A kitchen and dining nook draws inspiration from a T’boli home. The kitchen’s awning-type cabinets mimic T’boli windows, while tribal patterns etched onto the stainless-steel finish give the room a dynamic edge. The counter’s wooden base is actually made of drawers that swing out, providing storage space. “Our countertop is a concrete finish, which is the trend in the US,” says Gelo del Mundo, one of the space’s designers.

The tribe’s geometric patterns are likewise used as inspiration for the dining nook’s wall. “The T’bolis like brass, so we put some of their brass beads into jars and used them as centerpieces for the dining table,” co-designer Regine Samson says.

The two spaces are joined by an angular wooden ceiling with lights that jut out, reminiscent of the tribe’s love for weaving. “We used clean lines. The design is very simple. We tried to eliminate things that are not necessary, which is the definition of modernism,” Gelo says.

Treehouse Bedroom

A bedroom takes inspiration from the tree-dwelling Manobo tribe. Wooden scales extend from wall to ceiling, giving the room an effect of being under a tree, which is intensified by ambient lighting strategically placed under the scales. Separate study areas are provided for the room owners, with a faux copper and glass frame drawing them together, with the copper part of the frame also holding the TV.

 “We kept the room modern by using obviously contemporary furniture like steel lamps and plastic chairs. The use of plastic is very now,” says Rafael Pinoy, whose group designed the bedroom.

Wind-Inspired Lounge

The Ivatan tribe from the windy island of Batanes loves filigree and has a respect for stars. These are but some of the elements that make up an Ivatan loung area. A rattan chair inspired by traditional Ivatan headgear is the focal point of a modern living room whose padded walls are reminiscent of a green forest and whose marine accents highlight the tribe’s main source of livelihood.

 “The swirls on the mirror (behind the bar) are inspired by the filigree patterns of traditional Ivatan jewelry,” Leatrice Lu, one of the lounge’s designers, says. “Since it is very windy in Batanes, the ceiling is wind-inspired. The lights mimic stars, which, in Ivatan legend, are the souls of royalty.”

“The filigree design is reminiscent of Baroque and the mirror is architectural glass,” her group mate Russel Chua adds. “The padded wall is very modern, and we used a lot of metal.”

Sanctuary For The Urban Nomad

Taking inspiration from Palawan’s Batak tribe, a living area is transformed into an oasis for today’s urban warrior.

“Our design was inspired by their nomadic lifestyle,” says designer Ana Vitangcol. “The randomness of the furniture, the ceiling is honeycomb-inspired to represent honey, one of their major food sources.”

“They are hunters, which we translated into the leather and faux fur. They like to weave, hence, the basket chair,” adds fellow designer Ina Valencia.

Acrylic coffee tables take their design from tree trunks while touches of chrome ensures that the look stays modern. A mural represents the modern Batak, and gives the room a retro feel.

Luxury Lather

The bathroom, one of the most neglected parts of the house, gets an indulgent makeover thanks to Maranao-inspired accents like wall mosaics and wall columns. “We took the design from the panalong, which is a long beam that runs through the Maranao house. The four columns at the back are taken from a type of malong (wraparound pants) called the landap, normally blocks of color with embroidery that runs down the middle,” says Rina Prats, one of the room’s designers.

The tub is actually an outdoor Jacuzzi that filters its water every 24 hours, so that H2O only needs to be changed every six months. The use of chrome, plastic and modern lavatory features likewise gives the room a contemporary edge. The bathroom’s most striking feature is its shower, which merges modern lines with tribal wood accents. The brass sinks are designed after the kulintang or native gongs.

The result is spa-like: a bathroom that relaxes, even as its facilities clean.

Relaxing Waves

A dimly lit lanai with a water feature sends out waves of calm and relaxation.

 “The Sama Dilaut are sea dwellers, that’s why you see waves on the ceiling and the free-standing wall,” says designer Joel Mapue.

A boat-shaped daybed that looks out on the water feature evokes images of the sea-dwelling tribe, while carved accent pieces reflect the tribe’s talent for woodwork. “Unfortunately, the only things they carve are their boats and their grave markers,” says fellow designer Joy Lo. The carvings are replicas of Sama Dilaut grave markers.

The layout is very dynamic, giving the room a versatility found in modern spaces.

 “The water feature is for relaxation, says Joel, “This could also be a pool.”

The exhibit celebrates the slowly rising interest in discovering what it is to be a modern Filipino. Thankfully, it does not involve gaudy décor. If the exhibit is an indicator of what might become a design movement, then the country’s future, at least design-wise, looks bright indeed.

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PSID’s Kontempo Filipino runs from October 3 to 31 at the Athena Building in Eastwood City.