In the midst of the nation’s iron heat, Tagaytay’s cool climate makes it the perfect escape.
While many only head to the province for a short daytrip, Fely Sawit has made Cavite’s capital her second home.
Past the popular tourists haunts and into the forest-like enclave of identical cabin-styled houses, Fely stands in front of the largest one. Noticing the arrival of guests, she announces with a flourish, “Welcome to my humble abode!”
Like its host, the house is distinct.
Although it shares the same lodge-like appearance as its neighbors, the structure’s high A-frame roof, expansive windows and extensive garden sets it apart.
Mrs. Fely Sawit, a beautiful burst of mercury, had the house built, section-by-section, in 2003. Though still in line with the developer’s decision to make the residences “uniform to look like log houses,” Fely wanted to build hers “differently.” Originally two lots, the Sawit’s decided to combine the property in order to “create a bigger area to entertain guests.”
And by guests, she does not just mean humans. An animal lover with a plethora of pets in her Makati residence, has also made the patio area a welcome place for birds, such as the family of Maya’s which have already made one of the ceiling nooks their own.
Despite residing in country’s metropolitan center where she tends to her own nest with her husband, a successful doctor, she often travels to Tagaytay to recharge from the madness of city life.
And as one takes in the lush greens that surround her home, it is clear that the space is a place of rest and regeneration.
Within its country-American façade of faux wood logs is an eclectic fusion of East meets West design.
The living room’s high ceilings and large tempe...
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...ied but it is not the first death in the family.” Named up the “letter ‘I,’” Two of Fely’s younger siblings have passed away – one did not survive birth, while the other drowned in a pool accident at the age of 13.
In passing, Fely wistfully notes, “My sister, my best friend…I really miss her. I miss that sister of mine.”
As the host leads the way through the dwelling’s cascade of distinct spaces – the upstairs rooms where her children and grandchildren stay during their visits, the basement’s Zen-inspired design, Fely confesses, “It is so hard for me to throw away things…” However, rather than piling up as clutter, her mementos reflect her sentimental nature – a unique ability to find the beauty in every object, a home for every piece.
With each keepsake comes a story that not only plays a role in the narrative of a home, but in the narrative of a life.
Heritage is one of the most important factors that represents where a person came from. In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, this short story characterizes not only the symbolism of heritage, but also separates the difference between what heritage really means and what it may be portrayed as. Throughout the story, it reveals an African-American family living in small home and struggling financially. Dee is a well-educated woman who struggles to understand her family's heritage because she is embarrassed of her mother and sister, Mama and Maggie. Unlike Dee, Mama and Maggie do not have an education, but they understand and appreciate their family's background. In “Everyday Use,” the quilts, handicrafts, and Dee’s transformation helps the reader interpret that Walker exposed symbolism of heritage in two distinctive point of views.
That was one of the first times my older sister had ever sent me away. I went to my room and dropped the notebooks. Just like Squib, I made the resolution to find out what was wrong with Clary. Of course, it was to no avail. But she had begun to change in little ways, such as shutting me out, refusing to study, and boycotting running. Parallel to Andrew’s behavior, she no longer wanted to be the perfect older sister.
Where are the memories of our pasts held? In scrapbooks full of photographs, or perhaps written on the pages of a locked diary? Picture though, something as simple and ordinary as a closet full of clothes. Think about its contents, where they have been worn, what they have been through, the stories attached to each item. The nameless protagonist of Diane Schoemperlen’s short story Red Plaid Shirt does this as she recalls a snippet of her past life with each article of clothing she picks up. Red plaid shirt, blue sweatshirt, brown cashmere sweater, yellow evening gown, black leather jacket…each item has a tale of its very own, and when combined they reveal the full story of the main character’s life.
Not too long ago, grandparents will tell family stories to their grandchildren. Parents will also tell their children family stories. Those family stories will contain family history, struggle and heroism of family members. Also, those stories will pass down the family values and traditions to the next generations. Now a days, most parents read stories from books to their children. Family story telling is an almost lost tradition because it is not practiced anymore. In her short story “Everyday Use”, Alice walker illustrates the importance of keeping a tradition alive other than preserving it.
A person’s home is a good representation of himself or herself. The way one takes care of their home can tell a story about the owner of the home and its residence. The members of the home may also affect the situations that take place, creating good or bad circumstances. In a story, a character's home does just that. The more or less elaborate it is explained, the more detail is presented about how the character is or will be. In “The House of Usher” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the elaborate descriptions of the characters and their homes set the story and can predict the outcome. A writer’s home and view of life may have a profound impact on their idea of home and therefore their writing that is produced.
The idea of heritage is very different from one person to another. The story of “Everyday Use” shows a dynamic picture of two sisters that see their family history and upbringing nearly opposite points of view. The quilts become the catalyst for a cultural battle between Dee’s (Wangero) new “enlightened” lifestyle and Maggie’s contentment with her upbringing.
She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. ( This description of the scenery is very happy, usually not how one sees the world after hearing devastating news of her husbands death.)
By contrasting the family characters in “Everyday Use,” Walker illustrates lost heritage by placing the significance of heritage solely on material objects. Walker presents Mama and Maggie, the younger daughter, as an example that heritage in both knowledge and form passing from one generation to another through a learning experience connection. However, by a broken connection, Dee the older daughter, represents a misconception of heritage as material. Dee, the “heritage queen” portrays a rags to riches daughter who does not understand what heritage is all about. Her definition of heritage hangs on a wall to show off, not to be used. Dee’s avoidance of heritage becomes clear when she is talking to Mama about changing her name, she says, “I couldn’t bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me” (Walker 75). Thus resembling that Dee just takes another name without even understanding what her original name means. She tries to explain to Mama that her name now has meaning, quality, and heritage; never realizing that the new name means nothing. Changing her name bothers Mama and Maggie because Dee’s name is a fourth generation name, truly giving it heritage. Dee likes to gloat to her friends about how she was raised, so she tries to show off by decorating her house with useful items from her past. Her argument with Mama about taking quilts that were hand stitched as opposed to sewn by machine gives readers a chance to see Dee’s outlook of heritage is short lived. Dee says to Mama, “But they’re priceless. . . Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags. Less than that!” (Walker 77). Mama will not allow her daughter to take the quilts because she has been saving them for Dee’s sister, Maggie, and she wants the quilts to be put into everyday use. By helping
Like the real-life apartment, the impossibly wealthy setting of her daydreams about owning a mansion strengthens her unhappiness and her avoidance of reality. All the rooms of her fantasies are large and expensive, draped in silk and filled with nothing but the best furniture and bric-a-brac. M...
Frank Lloyd Wright has been called “one of the greatest American architect as well as an Art dealer that produced a numerous buildings, including houses, resorts, gardens, office buildings, churches, banks and museums. Wright was the first architect that pursues a philosophy of truly organic architecture that responds to the symphonies and harmonies in human habitats to their natural world. He was the apprentice of “father of Modernism” Louis Sullivan, and he was also one of the most influential architects on 20th century in America, Wright is idealist with the use of elemental theme and nature materials (stone, wood, and water), the use of sky and prairie, as well as the use of geometrical lines in his buildings planning. He also defined a building as ‘being appropriate to place’ if it is in harmony with its natural environment, with the landscape (Larkin and Brooks, 1993).
"The furniture you see was built for these rooms and for these rooms alone."(House Beautiful, April 1937)
Case Study 4: Mountain View House, Owner: Donna Pace, Builder: Wilde Construction, Architect: Visser Architects, Gallatin Gateway, Montana, USA, 2016
As I look back on my childhood a great number of memories hide in my mind; sleepovers with friends, hanging upside down on the monkey bars, eating ice cream are but a few. The one memory that doesn't hide is of the postcard perfect house that I love and adore. From the hearty cattails and rose brown apple trees to the grilled cheese, this place reminds me of my childhood fun but also the love that my whole family shared. The red brick house and its surroundings will keep my memories forever.
After adopting my mom my grandparents realized more space was needed. My grandpa built a second story onto the house with the help of my uncles. Deep brown and red bricks cover the bottom half exterior of the house, while caramel colored wood covers the top half. A rustic brick walkway corresponds with the exterior walls. The walkway leads to a chestnut colored door. Through the door is the entryway with mahogany colored wood floors.