Draft Studio Portfolio 2020

D E S I G N & CR AFT STUDI O

Thanks for checking us out!

who we are

Our little practice is based in Quezon City, Philippines. We are a team of three dynamic architects with a combined love for making all sorts of things - big and small. Though we just recently founded the studio, we have been practicing individually for several years now. We have a combined experience of close to 20 years!

The types of architecture we focus on is residences, restaurants and retail spaces. We use a variety of programs in the production of drawings, 3D models and costings for our clients. But we still also go old school with pen and paper whenever the need arises, especially for detailing on site. This allows us to be always on top of the project activities at all times.

If you were wondering about the small things we love to make, we mean crafts! It is our form of creative release from the less exciting parts of our job. Besides that, we constantly ďŹ nd artistic and technical inspiration from working with our hands.

To us, architecture is the ultimate craft. We approach design as a conscious fusion of the work of the mind and the hand, hence our chosen name, Draft Studio. If you want something aspirational but grounded, you might just be thinking of us.

what we do

We are of the mind that we belong to spaces as places belong to us, and that each influences the other. What we do is to give form to our client’s vision. We do this by gaining an emphatic understanding of the client’s goals to be able to identify and anticipate their needs and requirements with clarity. The process is energetic and active -- a constant dialogue between our clients and ourselves. We are convinced that if we take care of the process, the outcome will take care of itself.

Our collective experience reveals that our strengths lie in residential and commercial projects where clients tend to be experimental, different, receptive, and desire to be actively engaged throughout the process.

Our goal in design is for the space to respond to the way people live. We like to believe that designing with this in mind benefits our clients by enhancing their well-being, supporting growth in their businesses and fostering harmonious social environments.

SI T It is important for us to work closely with our client to be able to arrive at designs that suit their values, goals and needs. Oftentimes, our client comes to us with a very vague idea of what they need, and how their budget stacks up against their plans. We sit down with our client and distill all ideas until we arrive at a comprehensive brief.

the process

SK E TCH Then we sketch. We come up with drawings, models and estimates to give the client a better grasp of the project. When we see eye to eye on what the project will involve, we move forward with developing our combined ideas for the project together with our design consultants for engineering and auxiliaries.

STACK Stack it up! We assist the client in bidding out the project to the most responsive contractors. As the project is being constructed, we make sure that it is built with integrity according to design standards.

meet the team

Dino Villarica

Dara Redulla Since the start of her career in 2008, Dara has been exploring the different aspects of architecture. Apart from design, she has devoted her time in heritage conservation, documenting and assessing heritage sites, as well as research, where her keen interest for lighting design led to her study being published in UPCA’s official journal, Muhon.

Being one of the founders of Draft, Dara’s goal oriented personality is what keeps the team on track. She views her work with a critical eye for detail making sure each piece fits perfectly in the puzzle. But behind all these intricacies lies her genuine love for making. She is constantly seeking inspiration from all around her.

How do you ensure a project starts off properly?

For that, seeing eye to eye with your client is key. That’s why as designers, we should hone our communication skills because this is how you verbalize what the client cannot.

What is the first thing you consider when designing?

Availability and accessibility, always. What features in a given site are available that can be optimized? What materials and methods are readily accessible to us to simplify the design and construction processes? I look for these straight away before anything else.

Dino has been a licensed architect since 2015 placing 3rd place in the January Architecture Board Exam. Dino is a natural maker who sees everyday objects based on how they are built. He approaches design and the process of making with the same practical eye while keeping efficiency, cleanliness, and a playful style in mind. In his free time, he delves into carpentry for some of our projects, making tables, cabinets, and other woodworking projects.

Dino has an intuitive sense for seeing potential problems in design and construction that helps the team be prepared.

As one of the founders of Draft, Dino stimulates the work environment with his unfiltered, frank, often jokingly delivered comments.

Skill that served you best in your architectural career?

More than skill, it was experience.

The fact that you are interested in learning continually, having endless curiosity even outside of architecture. So looking at things with a learner’s perspective, you are able to dissect and understand how and why things work, and it applies to architecture.

What do you enjoy doing in your work?

I like the designing part. The thinking of solutions to any problem that can be addressed spatially.

I enjoy finding out how we can make day-to-day life easier and simpler for people, and how a building can be designed to age with minimal upkeep.

What do you enjoy doing in your work?

Designing especially experimenting with different details using new materials.

What is the first thing you consider when designing?

Lighting, Ventilation, and Cleanliness. I always value a space that breathes and cleans easily. Letting natural air and light approach the important sections of a space is crucial in reducing maintenance and electrical costs.

Jeric has been honing his practice since 2015 when he placed 4th in the architecture boards. His experience in various renovation projects makes him an invaluable source of technical knowledge in this often-underrated type of work.

After delving into disaster housing research for a year, he has gained wonderful insight in designing and building for disasters. He is our de facto consultant on code compliance and residential design. Between climbing, surfing and leather crafting in addition to his design work, he undoubtedly has boundless energy that proves helpful to us especially on days when there is a palpable lull in the studio.

Jeric must be the sketchiest designer in the studio. Really.

He has a natural inclination to put even the most nebulous ideas into paper, and when all has been said yet still needs to get done, we look through his sketches and pick up from there.

Anna Robles

Jeric Rustia

What is the first thing you consider when designing?

Efficiency and Experience. I believe great design should be efficient be it in cost, use of space, ease of access, or in construction.

It should also value human experience, taking into account how the spaces we design connect to the people or to our client.

What do you enjoy doing in your work?

I really enjoy planning. My bosses have been very supportive of this and have been giving me work relating to project managment. It’s tedious work but it’s also very rewarding.

A year and a half before passing her board exams, Anna was already making a difference in the studio. Anna’s adventurous can-do attitude sees her taking on projects pugnaciously from start to finish. She grabs every opportunity to help others while honing her skills, and oftentimes gets the studio involved. Her undergraduate thesis on the revitalization of Lucena, which involved adaptive reuse for mixed-use developments earned her the Best Thesis award in the college in 2017, and was later featured in Archikonst magazine in 2018. Anna has also written for BluPrint’s Design Better book.

Aside from being a capable graphic artist, Anna is an avid architectural model-maker. Not one for stagnation, she recently started learning the art of leather crafting and has us envious of her new hand-made leather goods.

our works

black fork bistro

RESTAURANT RENOVATION

YEAR: 2018 LOCATION: MAGINHAWA, QC

bibo global OFFICE ARCH’L INTERIOR

YEAR: 2018 LOCATION: PANORAMA TOWER, BGC

loudbox studio ARCH’L INTERIOR COLLAB. WITH IDR. NATALYA LAGDAMEO

YEAR: 2018 LOCATION: LEGAZPI ST, MAKATI

launch pad CO-WORKING SPACE DESIGN

YEAR: 2016 LOCATION: COMMERCENTER, ALABANG

allarilla residences TWO-STOREY RESIDENCE

YEAR: 2015 LOCATION: MEYCAUAYAN, BULACAN

summerview residences SEVEN-DOOR APARTMENT DESIGN

YEAR: 2016 LOCATION: TAGBILIRAN, BOHOL

clubhouse facilities COMMUNITY FACILITIES

YEAR: 2015 LOCATION: MEYCAUAYAN, BULACAN

ganzon residences RESIDENTIAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION

YEAR: 2019 LOCATION: DONA ROSARIO HTS., MUNTINLUPA

el cielito

HOTEL ROOM FITOUT + CONSTRUCTION

YEAR: 2018 LOCATION: ARNAIZ AVE., MAKATI

lopez residences 2-BEDROOM CONDO UNIT FITOUT YEAR: 2016 LOCATION: VISAYAS AVE., QC

funny lion inn 24-ROOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL

YEAR: 2013 LOCATION: CORON, PALAWAN

dean’s

reception & braviera RENOVATION PROJECT

YEAR: 2013 LOCATION: UP COLLEGE OF LAW, DILIMAN

law storage STORAGE HOUSE DESIGN

YEAR: 2013 LOCATION: UP COLLEGE OF LAW, DILIMAN

balai surf HOSTEL DESIGN

PROJECT ONGOING LOCATION: BALER, AURORA

kampuhan project TEMPORARY SHELTER DESIGN YEAR: 2017 LOCATION: STUD FARM, UP DILIMAN

floen pamper salon

NAIL SPA COMMERCIAL UNIT FITOUT

YEAR: 2018 LOCATION: CONGRESSIONAL AVE., QC

new supreme court DESIGN COMPETITION

YEAR: 2016 LOCATION: TAGUIG

freedom memorial DESIGN COMPETITION

YEAR: 2019 LOCATION: DILIMAN, QC