Ed Calma is an architect, an interior designer and the design principal of Lor Calma and Partners, his father’s eponymous firm. And while there’s undoubtedly a continuity of design principles from father to son, the younger Calma sets himself apart with a distinctly modern style–often consisting of pristine lines, glass walls and a flair for the futuristic. It has placed him among the country’s most sought-after designers and architects.

In 1994, he earned his master’s degree in advanced architectural design from Columbia University in New York. Since then, Calma has built an unparalleled body of work. Apart from his residential projects in the Philippines’ most affluent neighbourhoods, Calma has designed boutiques, buildings, hotels, resorts, schools, museums and entire developments.

The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City is an Ed Calma original, as are the boutiques of luxury purveyors Univers and Ronnie and Joe, as well as the College of St Benilde’s School of Design and Arts building. He also conceived the design of the Chapel of St. Benilde, offering a contemporary approach to religious architecture. He helmed the creation of the new Miriam College Alviera (MCA), which will open for the school year 2023 to 2024.

His latest project, The Ocoy Hotel and Villas in Cebu, broke ground in September 2023. It is set to elevate the hospitality industry and promote tourism on Bantayan Island. Thanks to him and his work, the Calma name is among the most well-respected in Filipino design.