Design can change the world.

“Bahay ni Juan” (House of John) is a restoration and design project focused on the idea of renovating old and forgotten heritage houses and transforming them into creative commercial spaces for the community.

The “Bahay ni Juan” will feature a creative workspace on the first floor- a “playground\” for local creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs to convene and exchange ideas. It will be a venue for creative collaboration- a space to work, play, buy, sell and make things happen. The second floor is where people can “hang their hats”- a bed and breakfast area with simple but well designed rooms for all kinds of travelers and potential collaborators. The roof will be converted into a greenhouse/cafe- a sustainable restaurant concept that uses local ingredients and fresh produce.

“Bahay ni Juan” is just what it says it is- A house for the filipino, made by filipinos. Design is used as a tool to create a greater sense of community which in the end will generate jobs and livelihood. Just as “Bayanihan”, the filipino concept of helping each other move houses, is a symbol of community building, so will the “Bahay ni Juan” be a center for collaboration and synergy.

This project aims to bring design closer to the people, to become more than just about visuals, but of vision. A way of thinking that makes do with what it has and turns it into something that, who knows, might just change the world.

*images are taken with my own camera and grabbed from the internet