Kohler Bold Design Awards – shortlist announced in the Philippines

The Kohler Bold Design Awards is a new architectural and interior design competition in Asia Pacific. The inaugural event in collaboration with Design Anthology and ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. will be held in the Philippines and is going to rotate annually to other countries in the Asia Pacific region. The awards celebrate and honor significant projects in the design industry.On 25 January 2018, we announced the shortlisted architects, designers, developers, and projects for each category at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati, Philippines.

The two categories and sub-categories are:
The Boldest:
– Living: Condo, Villa, Apartment
– Travel: Resorts, Urban Hotels
– Leisure
– Culture: social and cultural spaces

The Visionaries:
– Influencers: Innovations
– Prodigies: Rising Talent
– And Master Patron

The esteemed panel of judges selected the top three projects in each category. Their job was everything but easy. As there were literally hundreds of submissions for the awards from local and regional hotel operators, hospitality, and residential development property professionals, architects, and designers, the selection of the most outstanding ones was a challenge.  There was an over-proportionally large number of entries for the ‘Rising Talent’ sub-categories which pleased the judges and the organizers to no end.

The international and Filipino judges are:
– Bill Bensley, Creative Director, Bensley Studios (Thailand and Indonesia);
– Budji Layug, Co-Founder & Designer, BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design (Philippines);
– Carmelo Casas, President & CEO Casas Architects (Philippines);
– Kenneth Cobonpue, Founder & Creative Director, Kenneth Cobonpue (Philippines);
– Royal Pineda, Principal Architect & CEO, BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design (Philippines);
– Simon Rawlings, Creative Director, David Collins Studio (UK)

Most of the entries that were vetted applying international standards (similar to other design awards) and a strict set of criteria came from the Philippines, but there are also some high-level projects from top market players from around the region.

The judges selected the shortlist by the designer’s boldness, the overall creativity and imagination for the project, the practical use and purpose of the design, and the aesthetics of the space/building. Last but not least the judges looked at the impact the project will have on the design industry in the Philippines.

The shortlist reads as follows:
Living – Condo:
– Raffles Penthouse of Atelier Almario Corp.
– Arya of Alero Design Studio
– Penthouse Edades Condominium Unit of Atelier Almario Corp.

Living – Villa
– Paraiso House of Manam Architecture
– The Cantilever House of Kreativ* Devgroup
– Blanco House of Manam Architecture

Living – Apartment
– Project Raft of Buensalido Architects
– C Residence of J+A Design
– 79C of Buensalido Architects

Travel – Resorts
– The Astoria Palawan and current resort of Atelier Almario Corp.
– Misibis Bay Ocean View of Grit Design Studio
– Bikini Hotel of Grit Design Studio

Travel – Urban Hotels
– Seda BGC Hotel Expansion and Associates
– The G1 of 90 Design Studio
– Acacia Hotel Davao of Grit Design Studio

Leisure
– Jamie’s Steak Room of Edwin D. UY Architecture, Interiors and Design Office
– Aphro Living of Jagnus Design Studio
– Shoe Salon – Ayala Cloverleaf Mall of Morfosis Design

Culture – Social Spaces
– The Terraces at Dao of Buensalido Architects
– The Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) of Sonia Santiago Olivares Associates
– The Latitude Corporate Center Cebu of Landmasters Inc.

Culture – Cultural Spaces
– Apt Studio of Buensalido Architects
– Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow of Kish Design Hub Inc
– Museo Kordilyera of 90 Design Studio

Influencers – Innovation
– Project Raft of Buensalido Architects
– Mactan – Cebu International Airport (MCIA) of Integrated Design Associates Ltd.
– Apt Studio of Buensalido Architects

Prodigies – Rising Talent
– Dos Manalo of Manam Architecture
– Edwin Uy of Edwin D. Uy Architecture, Interiors and Design Office
– Maria Isabella Robles Go of Living Innovations Design Unlimited, Inc.

Master Patron
– Vivian Sy Ng nominated by Atelier Almario Corp. / Ivy & Cynthia Almario
– Eduardo Tuviera nominated by Buensalido Architects

The winners of the KBDA will be announced at a gala dinner on 9 February 2018 at the Solaire hotel in Manila, Philippines.