Gerry Contreras’ Orientation
The Hindu goddess Natarajah greets you. She stands in the form of an antique bronze statue at the end of the black granite foyer which stretches out in between two ponds.
At the back of the 18th century statue is a coral red wall. The rich color continues the assertion of the Oriental design that we find in every section of this immense penthouse.
Welcome to Gerry Contreras’ Asian sanctuary.
The address had pointed to what appeared to be another office building amidst the busy business district of Makati City. Its incongruous location simply magnifies the sights and experiences awaiting its guests at the top of the building.
The surprises begin on the way up. A private elevator outfitted with mirrors, granite floors and metal trimmings brings one to a receiving area and through a set of double doors opening to the foyer.
The doors lead straight to the statue of Natarajah via a walkway bordered by pools on both sides. The water glows from concealed lighting and is marked by marble slabs, faux lotus leaves and mini fountains.
The walkway ends with the red wall concealing the rest of the penthouse interiors. Behind it lies an expanse housing the main sections. The formal living area situates itself like an island in the flowing sea of space. Upholstered sofas sit alongside an old Chinese bed utilized as another sofa. Adhering to scale, another antique bed lies in the middle of the arrangement as the centerpiece. Atop it, plants, books and various curios mimic the Japanese ikebana motif of heaven-man-earth; varying heights add to the composition.
A grand piano and a four-seater setting separates the living area from the dining room. The red upholstered chairs echo the palette of the Oriental theme, and here Contreras weaves in a touch of modern mix by using the modern Scandinavian seaters.
Two steps up brings one to the massive square dining table that seats up to sixteen people. By one side of the table is a settee; opposite are two ottomans upholstered in Chinese fabric. Eight chairs fill the remaining sides, completing the mix.
He had already been living in his main residence designed in his signature classic style for 9 years and he has another home in Manila that is decked out in modern Filipino fashion. Contreras had already made up his mind: his next home project was going East. “When the place was being renovated, I was already shopping for furniture,” he discloses. “I went to Beijing, Shanghai and other parts of China.” From antique Chinese armoires to Emperor and Empress statues, the Chinese element is unmistakable.
There is much more going on, however, than the distinctly Chinese elements. Contreras understands that going Oriental meant also working with pieces from the rest of the Asian region. A stunning Balinese wood carving in solid wood hangs on the wall of the lanai area, standing out among the wicker furniture. In the living room, the Indian god Rama stands on a console. In his master’s bedroom, modern furniture made out of native materials like rope completes the visual composite.
There was also the creative balance that Contreras brings to his Asian estate. “When I had all the Chinese décor already, I said, I had to mix them with some upholstered pieces to make it a little light. Chinese pieces have a tendency to be a little busy and heavy. Too much of anything is nakakasawa (tiresome).” This is relieved by the Scandinavian chairs’ Western impact, creating a break between the living area and Chinese dining setting.
The penthouse is colored mostly in bone, accented by black and mandarin red. “Black,” Contreras shares, “is my signature color.” He gestures to the table lamps around the house and points out that all the shades are in black. “I always have patches of black to tie it all in. I have never done a house without something black in it.”
But more than the black factor, Contreras’ personal affectations lie in the special details he has given this Makati home. This is a man who truly enjoys creating wonderful homes, whether for his clients or for himself. In fact, his zeal for it does not end with the design of the house.
“I enjoy fixing houses. It’s my fixation, wherever I am. When I’m here, I go swimming sometimes or watch TV. But not often. I would rather go around and check if things are in order. And I call the people concerned: ‘You have to water this. You have to do that.’ It’s really my passion.”
Contreras states that his homes reflect similar components. He divulges several features: the cove lighting, the grand piano, the white sofas, the dinnerware in black. Indeed, every aspect of this personal haven is well thought out. “Yes, deliberate,” he concurs.
The lighting, for instance, is never accidental. It is all directional bringing focus to its point of illumination: an art piece, a plant. Contreras has made sure that illumination works as a key accent that helps finish his home’s lush feel.
Luxury is obviously a major player. Texture, color and space interact to create sumptuous comfort. Step into the master’s bedroom for instance. A sitting area gathers more modern Filipino furniture, their brown and black details blending quietly with subtle beige canvass. The guest rooms next door follow the soft hues but also exhibit personalities of their own: One can very well be suited for a lady, all smooth and round; another may house a male guest comfortably well with it geometrical inclination.
The master’s bedroom opens to another special nook. Outside stands a private garden. A fountain lies bordered by birds of paradise and traveler’s frond crafting an idyllic private alcove.
Contreras may enjoy some alone time in his private garden, but the rest of his house is set for entertaining. Obviously, the huge living area makes for wonderful social interaction, while the rest of the place is a warm welcome in the middle of the busy city.
Outside, a very inviting garden may cause amused bewilderment as the view of the city’s skyline reminds us again of our urban location. A pool lies on one end, in the middle is a helipad and on the opposite end rises a tea house. The pool area is ornamented by a bust of the Greek god Milo, the helipad lies in the midst of plush grass and the teahouse and its rounded benches make a romantic picture backdropped by the cityscape.
From the outdoor haven, one may make use of the bar in the lanai or take refuge in one of the sofa beds in the second floor sitting area. It is a wonder to think of how one can enjoy this home fully, but Contreras appears to take great pleasure in such an undertaking. After all, this is a man who enjoys having several homes.
“Have I ever had a dream house?” he ponders. “No not at the moment. I think I can never, never have a dream house because I think I cannot settle for one design! I will always have ideas. Ideas come and I cannot ever just have one house and make it a dream house.”
Already, there are plans for building the next domicile, this time with a Balinese theme, in Tagaytay. Contreras is excited about another thing too: a seventy-room hotel in Roxas Boulevard. “It will be the first hip boutique hotel. I’m excited because my creativity again will be at work.”
It is fascinating to see this man continue to find fresh creative stimulation. He’s had plenty of acclaim from his contemporaries, serving as president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers for the fifth time. The furniture he designs is especially created to meet the demands of the export market. Can there be an end to his creations? “I think design is something limitless. Your creativity is limitless. This is true even in writing, in painting, in architecture and interior design. Later on,” he muses, “probably when I’m done with all this I’d like to create my own line of home furnishings and accessories.”
“When you have a certain limit on anything it also limits your creativity. It’s best to be free in life. Because when you’re free everything goes smoothly. If I were to live again or be reincarnated I would not change what I am experiencing now. I really love my work. I’m very fulfilled.”
Contreras may have seen design trends come and go in the decades passed, but he points out that his craft is something that he has discovered even as a young boy. “At an early age, I would decorate our house. I remember we had a major renovation in our house in Quezon City and my mom hired an architect and an engineer. I would look at what is being done and I would suggest to the engineer and architect, ‘I think you should change this into a cove light.’ I must have been 8 or 10 years. Then the architect and engineer would look at each other like, ‘This young boy makes sense, so why don’t we try it?’ Of course at the early age no one would really believe me, but they tried it and it came out nice and it made sense!”
And making sense is something Contreras has excelled at throughout the years. His Oriental penthouse is just one proof of this. But it’s the pride in his voice that allows you to see what a beautiful home means to him: “The best advertisement is the product, the houses that we have done. I love to share my talent and my work with my friends. I think everyone appreciates it.”
published in People Asia, September 2004
