Ahead of the Curve: Designers making waves in the Filipino architectural scene

What key design trends do you see for 2025?

Integrating biophilic design into architecture and interiors.

How did sustainability influence interior design and architecture in 2024?

In the hospitality industry, sustainability has merged with luxury. It has been at the forefront of design for many years, and its importance will only grow.

How has technology and the smart home changed your design aesthetics?

Technology should be a designer’s friend. It has made the design process and the designs themselves much more efficient.

What new projects are you excited to start in 2025?

A contemporary artist’s residence, personal gallery and The Mountain Pass House, a mountaintop home with sweeping vistas of the southern islands.

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What key design trends do you see for 2025?

I see a focus on more sustainability and new material innovations. Health and wellness projects and eco-tourism will continue, with an approach to new craftsmanship and intricate techniques with some new-driven technologies and AI applications. There will be more plant-based and biophilic textures and materials from nature, like mushrooms, algae and even different plant fibres.

How did sustainability influence interior design and architecture in 2024?

In our 2024 projects, we used foliage to create cooling and ventilation, mimicking bio-diversity. We also explored sustainable ways to construct spaces focused on sustainable communities—questioning the crafts aspect and thinking about future possibilities. We also tried making new materials and texture applications from plastic waste.

How has technology and the smart home changed your design aesthetics?

We have given more thought to how you can have an efficient, self-sufficient home—to get electricity from solar or even to have a water catchment and reservoir. We looked at how to make an efficient and lower carbon footprint from construction to the homeowners’ experience.

How will you integrate Pantone’s colour of the year into your designs in 2025?

Mocha Mousse is very earthy, warm and organic. I like to use this palette, such as in one home, where we created a more earthy, skim-coat exterior finish. I also like the rammed earth textures, which show the stratifications of the earth, creating depth and gradients.

What new projects are you excited to start in 2025?

We are excited to start a new wellness project that will be a landmark project. We are also eager to build a few museum projects to expand our local culture and identity, promoting our rich cultural heritage.

What key design trends do you see for 2025?

In 2025, I predict a significant shift towards celebrating and integrating second-hand, antique and vintage items into home decor. With the ubiquity of mass-produced goods available on platforms like Temu or Shopee, there’s a growing desire among individuals to distinguish themselves through more meaningful acquisitions. People are moving away from disposable, trendy items and going towards collecting pieces with history or rarity. This trend reflects a broader societal shift, where individuals seek to leave a positive mark on the planet. There’s a fatigue with the culture of disposability; instead, there’s a move towards more intentional curation of personal spaces. By surrounding themselves with items that endure, people hope to cultivate resilience and longevity in their own lives, even amidst the challenges the year might bring.

How did sustainability influence interior design and architecture in 2024?

In our projects, we exclusively use bespoke pieces made from natural materials like steel and, whenever possible, FSC-certified timber. This year, we’ve begun sourcing 100 per cent recycled wallpapers and fabrics from repurposed paper or PET for our designs. Additionally, we collaborate with lighting consultants to implement low-energy lighting solutions that enhance aesthetic appeal and support circadian rhythms, ensuring energy efficiency and well-being.

How has technology and the smart home changed your design aesthetics?

In terms of lighting, we’ve moved towards implementing automated scene settings, a practice we initially developed for hospitality and now apply in luxury residential projects. Clients are increasingly asking for automated window shades and climate control systems. In some of our projects, we’ve integrated solar panels, which allow us to monitor energy consumption throughout the year. Most of these features are accessible via smartphone or tablet apps. We see a future where innovative home technology becomes the norm rather than a novelty, seamlessly integrated because all these technologies are readily available.

How will you integrate Pantone’s colour of the year into your designs in 2025?

Mocha is a versatile colour that can be used in minimalistic and luxurious settings, depending on the depth and richness you choose to apply. However, for our projects, we don’t typically base our colour selections on trends. We aim to create enduring designs, so our choice of colours and patterns is driven by the project’s conceptual narrative rather than the colour of the year. Mocha might serve more as a foundational colour in our designs, supporting the overall aesthetic and story we’re trying to tell.

What new projects are you excited to start in 2025?

In 2025, we’re excited to complete several restaurant projects in Manila, including Celera by chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar and a new La Chinesca venture in BGC with chef Bruce Ricketts and restaurateur Jae Pickrell. Additionally, we’re about to begin construction on various residential projects in Manila and Hong Kong.  

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