Cover The Boathouse at Lagen Island Resort in El Nido is inspired by the traditional sailboats in the Philippines
The Boathouse at Lagen Island Resort in El Nido is inspired by the traditional sailboats in the Philippines
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Journey to Lagen Island Resort in El Nido, where a thoughtfully transformed island sanctuary elegantly weaves indigenous craftsmanship with profound respect for the surrounding nature
A particular kind of reverence greets you at Lagen Island, with its harmonious hush of waves, chirping hornbills and the sheer, imposing presence of El Nido’s picturesque limestone karsts. For years, this secluded cove has been a cherished refuge for the discerning traveller. Yet sanctuaries, no matter how beloved, must eventually evolve.
After an extensive and highly anticipated transformation, Lagen Island Resort has reopened, but those expecting a loud, glittering overhaul will be pleasantly surprised by the subtlety of its new incarnation. Guided by Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, creative director of Ayala Land, and executed in collaboration with the renowned architectural firm WATG, the revamped resort is a masterclass in spatial choreography and cultural storytelling.
It is an endeavour that eschews the typical tropes of tropical luxury. Instead, it poses a more compelling question: how do we define modern Philippine design without tumbling into pastiche?
See also: Pangulasian Island Resort
Above Lagen Island Resort is a serene sanctuary framed by a lush forest and a lagoon in El Nido
Lagen Island Resort is a serene sanctuary framed by a lush forest and a lagoon in El Nido
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“Lagen was about reframing how Filipino design is expressed today,” Urquijo explains, her vision clear and uncompromising. “Too often, we borrow references at a surface level, applying them quickly, almost decoratively, without allowing them space to evolve. Here, we set out to slow that process down. To take familiar references and stretch them.”
This deliberate pacing is immediately palpable. The ambition was never to erase Lagen’s original charm but to distil it. The resulting aesthetic is “undeniably Filipino in its roots, but not bound by nostalgia,” as she puts it. “Something contemporary, living and forward-facing. A design language that feels both remembered and newly imagined,” Urquijo adds.
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Above The water villa looks out to the clear waters of the sea
The water villa looks out to the clear waters of the sea
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To achieve this, the design team embraced a philosophy rarely seen in luxury developments: restraint. Faced with a location of such spectacular natural beauty—the dramatic cliffs, the dense, verdant canopy, the pristine bay—the architecture had to yield.
“We removed more than we added, allowing the island itself to take the lead,” says Urquijo. “Lagen is already incredibly powerful as a setting... so the architecture needed to step back and frame rather than compete.”
We see successful hospitality design as something you don’t notice—it simply allows you to feel at ease
This approach is perhaps most breathtakingly realised in the resort’s welcome pavilion. Anchoring the design in origin rather than mere ornament, the team delved into Palawan’s heritage. “Our exploration into Filipino wood carving led us to the world of traditional paraw [local sailboat], these beautiful, handcarved wooden boats that are slowly disappearing,” she notes. Rather than lazily replicating the vessel, they abstracted its form. “The pavilion was reimagined, its roof now following the curve of a boat hull. It felt only natural to rename it the Boathouse.”
Beyond the Boathouse’s striking silhouette, the soul of the new Lagen in El Nido is woven into its tactile details. The interiors are anchored by three foundational crafts: weaving, pottery and wood carving. These practices are inextricably linked to Palawan, particularly the indigenous Tagbanua communities, and offer a framework that is as deeply cultural as it is material.
Above Traditional weaving is incorporated into the interiors
Above The design, using natural materials, is distinctly Filipino
Traditional weaving is incorporated into the interiors
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But do not expect heavy-handed displays. These elements run as a quiet undercurrent throughout the spaces. “In some moments, the reference is clear. In others, it’s more intuitive—a pattern, a proportion, a texture,” Urquijo shares. This nuanced approach creates a layered experience. For the local guest, it evokes a comforting sense of familiarity, a memory hovering just beyond recognition. For the international traveller, it offers a tangible sense of place, where a simple curiosity about a woven texture can unfurl into a rich historical narrative.
Of course, a breathtaking design is pointless if it fails to serve its inhabitants. The new Lagen is as much about function as about form, approached as a meticulous orchestration of experience.
Above Guests enjoy watching the sunset from the villa’s veranda
Guests enjoy watching the sunset from the villa’s veranda
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Interestingly, this choreography was not designed solely for paying guests. The team mapped the resort’s operational flow alongside the guest journey. They considered how a visitor arrives, lingers and explores, as well as how staff navigate and support the illusion of effortless luxury behind the scenes. “The goal was seamlessness,” she asserts. “Spaces that feel effortless to move through, but are in fact highly considered. Ultimately, we see successful hospitality design as something you don’t notice—it simply allows you to feel at ease.”
Above Each space allows ample breathing room
Each space allows ample breathing room
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As one wanders along the renewed pathways, cocktail in hand and the golden-hour sun painting the limestone cliffs in shades of apricot, it is hard not to ponder the broader impact of this renovation. It is not merely a facelift for a beloved property; it feels like a blueprint for the future of eco-luxury in the archipelago.
“I think Lagen begins to set a new direction for how we approach resort design in the Philippines,” Urquijo reflects. It was a delicate high-wire act—bringing in international collaborators to challenge the evolution of comfort and flow, while insisting that the foundation remain unshakeably Filipino. That balance was born from months of rigorous dialogue, exchange and iteration.
Above Guests can enjoy lunch by the beach, taking in the spectacular beauty of the island’s rock formations
Guests can enjoy lunch by the beach, taking in the spectacular beauty of the island’s rock formations
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The result speaks for itself. El Nido's Lagen Island Resort has not only been rebuilt; it has been reawakened. It stands today as an exquisite contradiction: grounded in local sensibility yet globally resonant. As Urquijo aptly concludes, it is “quietly assured, comfortable in its identity and confident enough to stand alongside the best.”
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Whether on assignment or not, Maritess is always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as the yummiest finds in the Philippines and abroad. In 2020, she plunged into the black hole of Korean la la land. Follow her escapades at @matetreyes.
