It’s been six months since any of us have been to Poblacion for the sole purpose of a drink and maybe even a dance. Luckily for us, Annex House has made it possible to take a bit of Poblacion home.
The former post-colonial residence turned creative watering hole has released a limited line of upcycled glass bottle lamps on their website that quite literally light up the room. The lamps are made from materials like old liquor bottles and repurposed cloth. Each lamp is one of a kind and has the same cozy, lived-in feel as the popular bar.
According to one of Annex House’s co-partners, Liana Navarro, the inspiration for the lamps came from the desire to meet form with function to create something special.
“Since the pandemic has forced almost everyone to work from home/stay home, I thought I’d create decorative and functional home items that people would appreciate and make their living space even more special. So the lamps were our first pieces, made from upcycled liquor bottles and fabric in our workshop,” she said.
“Everything is handmade, hand sewn and built in Annex House,” she continued.
Aside from lamps, they also sell other items and upcycled wares that remind us of nights spent at Annex House. They’ve also made bottled versions of their signature mango rum cocktail and their pandan old fashioned available for purchase online. All of their items are made from upcycled or repurposed materials that reflect Annex House’s focus on sustainability.
“From the very beginning we’ve always believed in sustainability. We’ve built Annex House from salvaged wood, made our glasses from our liquor bottles, and built furniture from old doors and old wood from the house itself. The less trash we have, the better. So we basically upcycle, recycle and DIY everything. Seeing the amazing beautiful finished products we create through all these items is so fulfilling to us. That’s been our passion and goal ever since,” Navarro concluded.
As our creative spaces and artists are trying their best to keep afloat during these crazy times, Annex House is also doing their part to help them out by donating 10 percent of their sales towards relief grants for artists, creatives and social innovators.
This initiative stems from giving back to the community Annex House belongs to. According to Brian Temporosa, Liana’s co-partner, “We’re big fans of paying it forward and giving back to the community. With that said, many fellow creatives and entrepreneurs call Annex House home and have helped push our vision forward.”
“We created the Annex House Fund for Creative Arts & Social Innovation as a means to help creatives, artists and social entrepreneurs who are in need of financial help,” he concluded.
You can purchase these items and drinks through Annex House’s online shop.
Header photo courtesy of Annex House Facebook
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