MANILA, Philippines—The studio in a Greenbelt building reeks of austere luxury. The owner, a businessman, uses it as a weekend pied-a-terre for the “occasional singleton.”

The studio is designed by Eduardo Calma. There is literally no space for excess detail but there are many desirable elements, albeit naughty ones, such as a whirlpool Jacuzzi underneath a rain maker in the living room; a sauna that evokes the spa experience and a bathroom with a shower head as large as a serving plate that provides a rainforest experience.

The owner wanted a multifunctional space where cooking, dining, entertaining and relaxing would be accommodated in 52 square meters.

But Calma explained that the Jacuzzi was placed in the living room so one would not feel claustrophobic. Its nearness to the window enables one to enjoy the view.

In the contemporary sense, forms are reduced to their bare essential elements while textures present visual interest. Whitewashed walls are made warm by the expanse of grey oak veneer while sandstone flooring grounds the studio.

The space is dramatized by a counter, an imperious block of glass and Corian, floating in space that serves as a preparatory area, cooking and dining table.

There are built-in appliance counters that feature a top-of-the-line coffee maker and a dishwasher. The glass theme is echoed behind the glass-topped counter by the bathroom, enclosed by frosted glass walls. The room is sparsely furnished by a plush sofa that converts into a bed.

To maximize the ceiling, Calma designed rectilinear lighting alcoves to light up the grey oak veneer walls. The rest of the room is illuminated by up lighters to emphasize its modern aesthetic.

What activities does the owner, in his “bachelor moments” engage in? Let’s just say, every man needs to have his personal space some time.

KITCHEN

The rich wood veneer walls and black glass kitchen counter make a strong impact. This storage unit and table may work hard but it also looks great. The retractable range hood is another luxury. Cove lighting highlights Ed Calma’s signature overlapping ceilings.

WALL MODULE

Veneer cabinets with frosted glass and metal inserts create a distinctively sophisticated look

CABINET

Great looks are born from great function as shown in the storage cabinet. Frosted glass makes it easy to look for items.

LAVATORY

The illuminated mirror makes the most of out the compact bathroom by creating an illusion of more space. Classic in its appeal, the square glass sink bowl above the counter looks chic with a minimalist modern vanity.

SHOWER

Beige stone with sparkling stainless steel fixtures and glass exudes soft elegance.

JACUZZI

Set in an alcove, the wall-mounted Jacuzzi expresses purity of line.

LIVING ROOM

Fields of warm tones and grey against earthy wood veneers create depth.

WALL UNIT

This handsome wall unit that winds into a desk, shelving and storage transforms the living room to a high-performance space.

TOILET

The simplicity of Philippe Starcke’s cube water closet and swaths of stone in bathroom lend an artistic touch in the bathroom that looks like a quarry.

FOYER

The linear patterns on the door are reflected on the crossing of the cantilevered glass shelf and the mirror in the foyer.