Meet the winners of the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2025 in the Philippines

The interior reveals sophisticated spatial planning across three floors, with an adobe portal greeting visitors in the foyer and soaring ceilings that contradict the modest exterior proportions. The living room showcases a muted palette celebrating varied textures, from abstract rugs to marble surfaces, while curated artworks and sculptures create visual continuity throughout the dining area.

The crown jewel is the warm wood-raftered attic, where traditional Filipino design elements merge with industrial details. This residence demonstrates how thoughtful renovation can create spaces that celebrate architectural heritage while serving the needs of a growing family. Here, Lino Architecture proves that the most compelling living environments emerge from dialogue between past and present.

In a world that often prioritises monochrome conformity, designers who utilise colour are shifting the tide. Colour is a powerful narrative tool that shapes emotional experience and spatial storytelling. The groundbreaking designers who understand this transformative potential harness colour’s psychological impact to transport visitors beyond the ordinary, creating immersive environments where hues serve as vehicles for imagination. Industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue demonstrates this mastery at Fable Café + Lounge in Grand Hyatt Manila Residences, Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Departing from a conventional approach, Cobonpue turns the space into an otherworldly adventure. Forest green paper drapes shield the entrance, immediately establishing a mysterious jungle feel that beckons visitors into Alice’s whimsical Wonderland. “The design is based on stories I grew up reading, and they’re still around today,” Cobonpue says. “I would lie in bed imagining what they looked like. The next morning, I would recreate them using materials around the house. This is a return to all of that, where I can recreate these stories all at once in a small space.”

Inside, a rich palette of deep greens, earthy browns and vibrant florals creates an enchanted rainforest canopy. Giant handmade flowers and leaves in varied organic tones cover ceilings and walls, while mood lighting from cloud-shaped fixtures and illuminated creature cages enhances the magical ambience. The space transforms dramatically from day to night, with dimming lights revealing deeper, more mysterious hues that bring mythical creatures to life. Cobonpue’s fearless approach to colour demonstrates how thoughtful chromatic choices and sustainable Filipino craftsmanship set the stage for an unforgettable commercial space.

The best spaces elevate art beyond mere decoration, transforming the soul of a room through intentional curation. The designers who master this discipline understand that every piece must serve a purpose beyond the aesthetic. In their own way, they weave together cultural history, personal memory and artistic excellence into a reflective environment.

The award for this category goes to León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon. He exemplifies this philosophy in his Manila entertainment residence, where Filipino antiques merge seamlessly with European sensibilities. His approach defies conventional symmetry, embracing deliberate asymmetrical imbalance that creates visual tension and theatrical warmth. From the tent-like foyer with its matching ceiling and drapes, to the salon adorned with Amorsolo war scenes that serve as powerful reminders of Manila’s wartime suffering, every artwork carries intentional weight.

The space showcases an extraordinary collection: Fernando Zobel from the Seventies, David Medalla pieces, an Yves Klein coffee table, early Macario Vitalis works and sculptures by Saprid, among other pieces. These carefully orchestrated elements create what Ponce de Leon describes as a “visual melody”. The result is what he sees as “a rich amalgamation” that resonates deeply with visitors, proving that a slow-paced, thoughtful gathering turns interior design into vibrant storytelling.

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A tastemaker has honed their sense of aesthetic values over time, ensuring that they engage in unique design choices for each space they inhabit. Their level of influence extends to those around them, inspiring them to live creatively. In the world of design, few understand the delicate balance between beauty and purpose as intimately as Erica Concepcion Reyes. A distinguished jewellery designer with an artist’s eye and a curator’s soul, Reyes has transformed her inherited family home into a masterclass in thoughtful living.

Her approach transcends mere decoration, weaving together stories, memories and meaning into every carefully chosen piece. “I want our home to feel soulful and lived-in, layered with history, personal treasures and modern touches,” Reyes explains, revealing her philosophy that spaces should evolve with their inhabitants. Her grandmother’s former residence now serves as both sanctuary and canvas, where antique European mirrors anchor contemporary art, and family heirlooms dialogue with modern discoveries from recent travels.

Reyes’ design methodology mirrors her jewellery craft—each element must earn its place through both aesthetic merit and emotional resonance. She champions the art of considered layering over time, investing in quality pieces with provenance and craftsmanship that tell stories. Her home exemplifies her belief that truly exceptional spaces aren’t about perfection, but about creating environments that inspire while embracing the beautiful complexity of life.

Sustainable design transcends environmental responsibility, embodying a profound respect for place that harmonises human habitation with natural ecosystems. True luxury emerges not from excess, but from thoughtful integration with the landscape, celebrating local craftsmanship while oscillating between development and conservation.

The winner for this category is Nay Palad Hideaway on Siargao, which drives this ethos forward through architect Daniel Pouzet’s vision of “barefoot luxury”. Nestled between ancient mangrove forests and pristine beaches, the resort’s ten thatched-roof villas demonstrate sustainable architecture that allows the island’s natural beauty to shine through. Following extensive renovations from 2022 to 2023, the property showcases an extraordinary commitment to environmental stewardship through coral reef nursing, mangrove replanting, regular coastal cleaning and farm-to-table dining experiences.

The design celebrates Filipino craftsmanship through hand-weaving, wood carving and traditional building techniques using sustainable local materials. Architectural highlights include the floating Dansuli Lounge suspended over water ponds, the Tree Lounge hanging from 300-year-old logs and garden villas connected by wooden decks that minimise landscape disruption. The ocean-view restaurant and Coral Villa demonstrate how luxury can coexist with environmental consciousness. Altogether, its sustainable design illuminates a hospitality experience that paves the way for future generations.

Showroom design transcends mere product display, becoming a compelling narrative for people to dream of the next chapter of their lives. The designers who excel in this discipline understand that effective showrooms maintain elegance and warmth, becoming a canvas for the breadth of human experience.

RHK Land’s Velaris Residence showroom in Bridgetowne exemplifies this philosophy through its presentation of contemporary luxury living within the emerging C5 megalopolis. The showroom experience emphasises the residential enclave’s commitment to inspired living, highlighting spacious indoor patios and balconies designed to contemplate the soaring city skyline. The presentation showcases an extensive amenity lineup that is unprecedented in Philippine urban developments.

Through strategic layout and material selection, the showroom transforms architectural concepts into tangible lifestyle aspirations. Visitors experience streams of natural light through the showroom as they navigate the flexibility offered by each residential layout. The understated sophistication of the space helps them envision their daily rituals. This approach demonstrates how exceptional showroom design can bridge the gap between conceptual vision and personal achievements, creating spaces that inspire confident decision-making.

Innovation transcends technological advancement, embodying the courage to challenge fundamental assumptions about how spaces should be conceived and experienced. Still, breaking conventional patterns requires not just creative vision but deep understanding of human movement, natural systems and the relationship between built form and environmental response.

The winner of this category, Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates, demonstrates this philosophy through the Equilateral House. Here, the space veers away from the standard 90-degree grid, creating anthropomorphic circulation patterns that feel “less calculated”. Built on an equilateral triangle grid that responds to both the land’s orientation and equatorial climate challenges, the design prioritises continuous discovery over predictable navigation. As explained by Yulo, “I wanted to liberate users from walking around blindfolded—like walking through a forest rather than a built structure.”

The innovation extends beyond geometry to material storytelling. This “museum of wood” showcases ten different wood types, including dining furniture crafted from African Bubinga and elaborate geometric ceiling patterns that enhance acoustics while eliminating the need for chandeliers. Steel stairs devised from railroad materials date back to the 1880s.

Meanwhile, a strategic Oculus, inspired by Rome’s Pantheon, increases passive cooling in this tropical abode. This residence proves that innovative design can emerge from challenging fundamental assumptions about circulation, materials and environmental response, creating spaces that thoughtfully depart from conventional architectural logic.

Emphasising a multisensory approach to design is a challenging feat. Success in this endeavour involves transcendence of visual aesthetics, allowing architecture to become the choreographer of emotion and connection within the space. This year’s newly minted category, the Best Experiential Design Award, is awarded to Medusa. It stands as the Philippines’ pioneering true supper club, nestled within The Palace Manila complex in Uptown Bonifacio, BGC. This revolutionary venue seamlessly transitions from sophisticated dining to vibrant late-night revelry.

Medusa’s theatrical opulence unfolds through maximalist design elements that command attention at every turn. The main dining room captivates with a sweeping trompe-l’œil sky painted across curved ceilings, while rich burgundy velvet drapery cascades dramatically from floor-to-ceiling windows. Marble-topped tables, adorned with intimate, shaded lamps, create pockets of warmth. At the same time, plush seating in mismatched, geometric patterns evokes vintage glamour with contemporary flair.

The venue’s exotic retro-tropical motif emerges through whimsical Jungle Book murals and sculptural columns, balanced by modern geometric black-and-white floor tiling. A dramatic central bar anchors the 250-guest capacity space, complemented by welcome and mini-bar lounges that accommodate every social occasion. Beyond mere aesthetics, Medusa demonstrates that exceptional hospitality design lies in crafting experiences that resonate emotionally, proving that great spaces are felt as profoundly as they are seen.

Architecture transcends mere spatial function, embodying the dynamic interplay of textures, materials and cultural narratives. The architects who dare to push creative boundaries discover unexpected ways to work with diverse elements. The winner of this category is the Woven Pavilion, standing at Expo 2025 Osaka. This extraordinary project is led by the Philippine Organizing Committee under the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board and brought to life by Carlo Calma Consultancy as the lead architectural firm. It is produced by Chochay Garcia, with Yuki Kanou as executive architect and Tellart as the experience designer.

The pavilion’s breathtaking façade showcases a living mosaic of 212 handwoven indigenous textiles, from T’nalak to piña, created by 2,331 artisans across 121 communities. “We wanted the structure itself to breathe and move with the stories it holds,” shares Calma. “It reflects who we are as Filipinos—always in motion, always evolving, always expressive.”

Inside, 18 suspended woven artworks represent each Philippine region, crafted over six months using traditional materials—abaca, cotton, environmentally sound as well as upcycled packaging and the curious choice of chicken feathers. Enhanced by integrated light, sound and projections, these pieces immerse visitors in Philippine culture.

The innovative use of scaffolding as permanent structural elements creates dynamic performance spaces where performers, such as Ballet Philippines artists, bring the pavilion to life. Altogether, this architectural poetry demonstrates how collective Filipino creativity can weave together tradition and innovation on the world stage.

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