Relaxing Na, Maganda Pa! This Single Dad Built A Modern Tree House For Only P250,000

For as long as he could remember, Edgardo "Gbong" Suñiga, Jr. had always dreamed of having a Batcave just like Batman.

"Talagang I love cars and it's always been my dream na magkaro'n ako ng parang Batcave-style na bahay," he tells Summit Media's OG team.

With the completion of his tree house which was strategically designed for his cave-like parking area, Gbong has finally made that dream come true.

"Meron tayong concealed carpark here which I call na Batcave," he shares. "It is trimmed with pin lights and strip lights to add beauty do'n sa mismong sasakyang naka-park."

Apart from the Batcave-style carport, Gbong wanted to incorporate two more architectural concepts: a Bali-inspired kubo and a hanging garden design.

Growing up in a traditional bahay kubo, he wanted to capture its essence in a contemporary way.

As a civil engineer, Gbong also took it as a challenge to build the house around an existing acacia tree, ensuring none of its roots would be harmed during the construction.

Living big in a tiny house

Gbong's tree house may only measure 25 square meters, but it's big on the comforts of modern living. It has a studio bedroom with air-conditioning, a loft bed, an attic, as well as an outdoor dining area.

"The footprint of the house is only 20 square meters," he notes. "Maliit lang talaga siya; very, very compact. Meron din siyang sariling bathroom with shower. Meron din siyang kitchenette. So kumpleto na."

To access the living area, one has to climb up the entrance from the carport, which features steps made with tile planks, steel railings, and a canopy with trailing vines.

To maximize the available space, Gbong designed the bedroom to have a loft above it to serve as a sleeping area for visitors. The loft bed, a full-sized single bed, is accessible via a door from the outside, and a screen inside allows it to share the air-conditioning from the main bedroom.

A space for family bonding

Weaving around the tree house is the terrace, outdoor dining area, and a hammock bed, which adds to the airiness and coziness of the tiny home.

As a single dad to an active toddler, the al fresco area also serves as a great place for them to play and bond.

"Gusto ko talaga yung anak ko mapalapit sa 'kin," Gbong notes. "He loves playing around, he loves running around, so the memorable part is being with him do'n sa hammock bed. 'Yan kasi yung favorite part niya, e."

Thinking ahead

For Gbong, the best part about the tree house is that it only cost him P250,000.

He also believes that proper planning is key. "Hindi ako masyadong gumastos dahil it's made of materials na ready-made, old materials sa aming bodega, tapos at the same time, napagsama-sama ko yung mga konsepto ng mga bahay na gusto ko. The tiles came from five different houses. It's just a matter of making them communicate with each other to look nice."

"For me, I believe it's not the cost that makes a house nice," he adds. "It's the proper planning. You have to plan ahead, make sure mo lang those materials that you already have, and make them look good."

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