A Look into the Makings of an Industrial House in the Philippines

Industrial House Philippines

Modern, minimalist, contemporary, traditional, industrial, classic, and retro – there are countless interior home design styles used in the Philippines. Each one of them draws from a different inspiration and makes use of distinct materials and fixtures, ultimately giving homes their own, unique feel and vibe. These design styles have all been in the spotlight at some point and have slowly faded into the background as their time passed. 

One, however, has continuously been at the forefront of architecture and that’s the industrial interior design. Admittedly, it’s not easy to find an industrial house in the Philippines. You could probably find an office that has an industrial interior but rarely a home that does. If you really wanted to, though, then you’d have to visit exclusive villages and subdivisions where the rich and famous reside. This is brought about by the misconception that an industrial house in the Philippines could only be owned by those who earn six, maybe seven, figures and live in urban environments that have the right surroundings. 

The truth is that any space can be turned into an industrial one given the proper investment of time and dedication; in other words, anyone who wants an industrial house in the Philippines. It doesn’t take money to accomplish this, though it takes a lot of research and knowledge to achieve the specific vibe that industrial design exudes. 

Once you put in the work, you can get an absolutely stunning home that is sure to stand out from others. You’d have your family, friends, and co-workers in awe of your one-of-a-kind home and end up being the talk of the town for many years to come. 

If you’re deeply in love with the industrial interior design and want a home inspired by it, then we suggest you read more as we give you a close look into the makings of an industrial house in the Philippines! 

A Brief History of Industrial Interior Design

The industrial home interior design pays homage to the past so it’s only right that we lay out its history and give you an insight on how it came to be. 

To start, we need to go way back to the late 1700s when the first industrial buildings were built. Historically, industrial architecture – the main inspiration of industrial interior designs – was meant to be utilitarian, efficient, safe, and functional. The first ever industrial buildings were used as factories and warehouses during the industrial revolution. They were kept simple and bare because they were only designed to house manufacturing processes and facilitate work and not to appeal to the masses or the workers. 

Many of its design features (which we’ll discuss later on) were born out of necessity. Large windows, for example, were included because there was an absence of technological innovation and advances, which is why they needed to maximize the use of natural light. They also needed to prevent or reduce the risk of fire which, unusually, brought about flat roofs and removed attics. There are more to this but we’ll save that for later. 

As time passed and due to the desire to house all operations in a single roof, industrial buildings grew larger and longer. They couldn’t fit in cities and metropolitan areas anymore and needed to be built in places where large parcels of land were available. Eventually, the first and smaller industrial buildings were abandoned, left uninhabited, and forgotten. 

After centuries, two to be exact, and around the 1960’s and 70’s, people regained interest in these abandoned urban factories and repurposed them into homes. Back then, they were called lofts and studio spaces. Instead of completely tearing down the already built establishments, architects, residents, and interior designers choose to highlight its many unique features. 

The industrial design slowly gained traction and was then glamorized by interior designers. During those days, an industrial home only referred to repurposed and reused industrial spaces. Simply put, they brought the components of a luxury home in the Philippines into those abandoned industrial buildings. Soon after, they started to do it the other way around – they designed homes and built them from the ground up using industrial buildings as inspiration and staying true to their key design features.

After taking a trip down memory lane, we now arrive at the present where the industrial design is still being used. As you may have noticed, the industrial design came from very humble beginnings and evolved into a style that carries history and meaning and eventually gained the love and affection of many. 


6 Reasons People Love Industrial Design

Many people have fallen in love with the industrial design for the reasons that we have listed below:

1. Goes Against the Norm

It’s hard to deny the fact that modern design has dominated home interiors for the past couple of decades. Most, if not all, modern homes for sale here in the Philippines can be considered stylish and sleek.

Unfortunately, some people are getting tired of this and want to break free from the norm, which is why industrial design is creeping into the picture. People love the rustic and unpolished look that they get from industrial design.

2. Extremely Versatile

The thing about the industrial design is that you can pair it with almost any other interior style. Modern, contemporary, and minimalist are just some of the most common ones paired with it.

The visual friction created by these strange and unusual combinations is something that interior designers absolutely love even if they themselves can’t put into words how exactly these individual styles fit together. It works, though, and quite well, in fact.

3. Connects to the Past

As mentioned earlier, most industrial houses are actually functional buildings that were once used by workers of the past. This appeals to those who want to feel a sense of permanence and connection to their past. 

Even if your walls, windows, and furniture are newly built and bought, the feel and look of industrial design brings you back to the past and triggers your nostalgia.

4. Carries Numerous Stories

Most fixtures in an industrial house in the Philippines have interesting stories behind them. The old furniture that you inherited from your parents or found and acquired through adventures carry actual stories from real life people. 

Newly-made industrial furniture, on the other hand, is often modeled on things of the past and imparts a piece of history. As a result, you become surrounded by thousands of interesting stories that you can share with anyone who steps foot in your home, kind of like a conversation starter if you will. 

5. Environmentally Green

Industrial design hinges on the use of reclaimed and repurposed items. Old doors that are repainted and redesigned are often seen in industrial homes. Furniture that is made from unusual items like wine barrels into chandeliers, for example, are also a staple. 

Of course, not everything needs to be recycled and/or taken from the thrift store, but they can be and it would still add charm to your overall interior design. 

6. Affordable and Easy to DIY

We mentioned the misconception about owning an industrial house in the Philippines is only limited to the rich and famous, but it’s actually quite the opposite.

One of the best things about industrial design is that people can spend the bare minimum and still end up with an amazingly designed home. They can craft their furniture themselves and make it look rustic or search through garage sales and estate sales for hidden treasure pieces. 

7.  Key Design Features of an Industrial House in the Philippines

  • Wide and Open Spaces
    The moment you enter an industrial house in the Philippines, you’re sure to notice the abundance of space in the area. Often, they have tall ceilings and minimal furnishings that almost feel bare but also somehow full. That’s the beauty of the industrial house; it isn’t as suffocating even though it probably measures the same way.
  • Large Windows
    The large windows in an industrial house serve to let natural light enter and reduces the need to consume electricity. Back in the day, these windows were a necessity because light bulbs and other advanced forms of lighting were yet to be available. Interior designers kept the feature and it was a hit among homeowners. The steel window frames were also retained and persisted even in modern homes. 
  • Exposed Pipes and Ducts
    Exposed pipes and ducts are signature elements of the industrial interior design. As opposed to other styles where these components are concealed and hidden behind thick walls, the industrial design aims to highlight them in order to achieve that unfinished look that design enthusiasts seek out with passion. It also makes spaces look visually bigger which achieves yet another of its key feature. On top of adding to the aesthetics of the common home, it also removed the need for further construction and lowered the overall cost. 
  • Brick, Steel, and Metal Materials
    Brick, steel, and metal are the usual materials used in building an industrial home in the Philippines. Bricks are often used for the foundation of the house and make up the walls and beams that hold it together. Metal is found on the ceiling and sometimes as supporting components for the brick walls. Steel, on the other hand, make up the stairs and railings, replacing elegant and wooden staircases. These materials can be used in a bunch of other ways, but these are their common purposes. 
  • Concrete or Wood Flooring
    A house that is strictly inspired by the industrial design rarely uses tiles as a flooring material. Concrete and wood are the common choices because they contribute most to the unfinished look. Between these two materials are a plethora of different colors and types that gives designers a lot of options, so don’t for a second think that your décor choices are extremely limited. 
  • Cool and Neutral Tones
    Black, gray, white, and brown are the common color choices when it comes to industrial design. It’s rare to find an industrial house that pops in color unless it is inspired by a unique mix of interior design styles. It’s also possible for an industrial house to use only the natural colors of the materials used to build it. Metal and wood create a perfect contrast, so it’s not unusual to find a combination of them when looking through houses inspired by industrial design.
  • Vintage Fixtures and Accessories
    An industrial house isn’t complete without vintage fixtures and accessories. They don’t need to be actual vintage and ancient items passed down from generation to generation, but they at least have to look like it. There may be a difference between actual vintage and vintage-inspired pieces but their effects and appeal are basically the same. 

6 Tips to Achieve an Industrial House Design

Now that you’ve had a good look into the makings of an industrial house in the Philippines, it’s time you turn yours into one using. You can do so by following these tips:

Lay Your Home Bare

If you really want to achieve the ultimate industrial house design, you have to lay your home bare. Don’t go for beautifully painted and designed walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. Your home must look as if decoration stopped somewhere in the middle, but in a good way. Highlight its natural features and avoid covering it up with paint and other materials as much as possible. 

Utilize Natural Lighting

It’s been repeated many times in this article that most industrial design-inspired buildings and homes make full use of natural lighting, so make sure your home does too. Place large windows all around your home and let all that sunlight in. You should also try to do without modern-looking light fixtures and go for those that look like they belong in an old factory. 

Go for Warehouse-Inspired Walls

Brick may be one of the key features of an industrial house but that doesn’t mean that it’s the only material you can use. Pressed tin, reclaimed timber, and wood paneling are also viable choices along with wallpapers that feature bricks and other industrial-inspired materials. Giant wall maps and murals are also great contenders when choosing for wall materials, so keep that in mind.

Use Repurposed Material

Repurposing objects is a surefire way to get that industrial look. You can make shelves out of metal piping and wood and make artwork from scrap pieces of metal. These repurposed materials are going to and a quirkiness to your space and the best part is, you won’t have to spend much to do them! If you aren’t into DIY then you can ask someone artistic to help you out or simply buy furniture and accessories that are specifically made to look as if they were repurposed. 

Stick to the Industrial Color Palette

It may be hard but try to limit your décor to a strict palette of neutral colors which we have enumerated earlier – black, gray, white, and natural brown wood. You’re sure to find budget-friendly and aesthetically pleasing pieces that look good in these colors without going out of your way. It may look boring and bare when you buy them but they’re sure to come together well with enough creativity. 

Mix Up Textures and Materials

When it comes to industrial design, you don’t really have to care about how uniform your house looks. You can mix and match materials such as wood, metal, steel, and brick, and still end up with a visually appealing design. You can even add some modern and minimalist items and they wouldn’t look the least bit out of place. The only problem here is that if you don’t have it in you to actually use mismatched pieces. Only those who can embrace eclecticism can really and truly appreciate the beauty of the industrial design. 

List Sotheby: The Real Estate Industry Leader in the Philippines

Don’t have a knack for interior design but in love with the industrial interior design style and want to live in a home that is inspired by it? Now that you know what you are looking for, take a look at List Sotheby’s extensive real estate listings! 

Established in the Philippines in September 2016, we, List Sotheby, have already been considered as one of the country’s real estate industry leaders. We cater to clients from all over the Philippines and have real estate listings spread across its islands. Our properties vary in size and design but you’re sure to find some that are inspired by popular styles such as modern, minimalist, and, of course, industrial. 

Our property specialists have invaluable local knowledge and expertise that they can offer to interested and qualified buyers. They pay attention to detail and understand the client’s needs to ensure that every real estate transaction is made more enjoyable and worry-free. 

We’ll surely take care of your real estate needs so let us by your partner for all your property investment and advisory needs!