ALTHOUGH touted as the first eco house in Davao City, Molly Lomuljo considers her residence in an exclusive subdivision here more than just a structure.
“My heart belongs to Davao. This is really my home. I may be busy in the States but at least when I come back I can have peace here, a place where I could really rest,” she told this writer after jogging with some neighbors last May 12.
She was on a quick vacation.
Molly, who worked as a clinical coordinator in New York’s number one hospital - New York Presbyterian Hospital for several years, built her haven in Davao sometime in 2014, which was completed a year later with famed architect James Jao at the helm, after her husband Karl Pryzborosky, a Wall Street financial analyst, passed away following a long bout of cancer.
Now based in California, she opened her Davao home to SunStar Davao, which features a True Pilates Studio with its own male and female comfort rooms at the ground floor (She is by the way a world-class True Pilates instructor, studied True Pilates from founder Joseph Pilates’s disciples and received certification under Master Teacher Cynthia Lochard in Australia); her private quarters complete with a kitchen, living room, balcony, dining area and masters bedroom (with a bath tub in the spacious comfort room) on the second floor; and the attic room with a kitchenette, guests lounge and two guest rooms on the third floor. This set-up allows guests to have their privacy, too.
Her house consumed half of the 400-square meter lot while the other half is solely for her garden.
“I really wanted a garden,” she shared, explaining the huge lot she devoted to it.
The Eco House
Architect Jao used non-conventional construction techniques including the Thermawall, a wall cladding that lowers the heat between objects and cavity walls. He uses it as a building envelope, preventing the heat from penetrating the interior. Thus, providing more comfort.
Molly’s kitchen has veneered wood cabinets and granite countertops furnished by Mobelhaus Philippines, Inc. one of the most sought-after and reliable makers of high quality kitchens and closets using state-of-the-art German technology.
Local marble was used for the splashboard while the dining room has quilted dining chairs and “magkuno”-and-steel table.
“The masonry of the walls is poured concrete instead of concrete hollow blocks. When there is an earthquake, hollow blocks are the first to crack,” Jao was quoted in Marge C. Enriquez’s article in a leading broadsheet. He installed Hardiplanks that can withstand harsh elements.
He also used unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC), which is weather-resistant, reduces external noise and provides insulation. Passage of incoming and outgoing heat is reduced, needing less air-conditioning.
Most of the rooms, including her True Pilates studio, have an Echostop ceiling, perforated boards that absorb the sound.
The glass walls of the living room provide the best view of the well-kept garden. During early mornings, when good weather permits, panorama of majestic Mt. Apo is a sight to behold from the living room’s balcony. Molly also wakes up to a fresh and cool green view of the Indian trees from a monastery nearby.
Salvaged wooden planks (kamagong, molave, iron wood and magkuno) from grateful Typhoon Pablo victims whom Molly helped in 2012 through a feeding program covered the high-ceilinged living room. Ceramic tiles were used for the kitchen’s flooring.
“Sinasabi ko nga parang ang nature pinasok sa bahay ko,” she said.
Beautiful pieces of art from Molly’s travels adorn the interiors.