Home tours, 7 of the best architects in the Philippines, and more of our best stories this 2023

From stories about renovation and inspiration to features on organised chaos and the resurgence of analogue, we bring you the most-loved and read features from our Homes vertical

This year marked a full swing back into the new normal, and our homes have transformed from quarantine habitats to mindful havens. We've covered a lot of ground in architecture and design this year, starting with our annual Tatler Homes Design Awards held earlier this year. Other than celebrating the best minds and talents in the industry, we bring you thoughtful features that speak on the importance of curation, culture, and bringing together pieces and ideas to create spaces we live in and around.

We've combed through our year-long reportage of Homes stories, and before the year ends, we'll bring you the most-read features that merit a second look.

Home Tour: An old Manila home is transformed into a spacious sanctuary to start life anew

At night, the house appears to be glowing from within, with dramatic lighting peeking through the huge glass windows and doors (Photo: Greg Mayo)

Above At night, the house appears to be glowing from within, with dramatic lighting peeking through the huge glass windows and doors (Photo: Greg Mayo)

While newly minted homes are a treat to discover, there’s also something captivating about renovation. Akin to new life and possibilities, with the even more challenging creative ordeal of bringing together old and new, such projects are monumental and inspiring. Such an example is this dreamy home transformed by one of the country’s most seasoned architects, Anthony Nazareno, and his team of experts. Built in the Eighties, the vast split-level home was revamped with ‘breadth’ and ‘space’ at the heart of its new design.

Many of our readers loved browsing through this story, which is unsurprising as this property also won Best Living Space at this year’s Tatler Homes Design Awards. Revisit a momentous journey of rebirth in this feature.

The harrowing fate of the Central Post Office building and how it is rising from the ashes

Above A huge fire engulfs the Manila Central Post Office building on May 22 (Photo: George Calvelo / Getty Images)

Many remember sifting through social media on the evening of May 22, 2023, with endless photos of the iconic Manila Central Post Office building engulfed in flames. Turmoil broke out as the property remains one of the few surviving American-regime edifices in the capital and the entire country. Our Art & Culture editor, Franz Sorilla IV, goes deeper into the incident and the valiant efforts towards its restoration in this deep dive piece.

Get to know 7 of the most prolific architects in the Philippines today

From favourite buildings, art, and furniture, our Senior Features editor, Maritess Garcia Reyes, sits down with seven of the most well-loved architects in the country today. Find out which among them dubs the Guggenheim Museum in New York their favourite building or who mentions that “the best pieces of furniture are the ones that disappear”. This and more when you re-read this insightful story.

Home tour: Interior stylist Kitty Bunag’s sanctuary in the city

Bunag has always been comfortable with high-contrast compositions; mixing dark and light, old and new, pastels and neons, synthetic and organic, as shown in this corner of her home (Photo: Kitty Bunag)

Above Bunag has always been comfortable with high-contrast compositions; mixing dark and light, old and new, pastels and neons, synthetic and organic, as shown in this corner of her home (Photo: Kitty Bunag)

Hanging above the master bed is a tapestry by @travelfundbysiriusdan and African-inspired prints Bunag found at a market in Dubai. A handwoven shawl from Japan serves as bedcover and visual eye candy for the room (Photo: Kitty Bunag)

Above Hanging above the master bed is a tapestry by @travelfundbysiriusdan and African-inspired prints Bunag found at a market in Dubai. A handwoven shawl from Japan serves as bedcover and visual eye candy for the room (Photo: Kitty Bunag)

Are you a fan of ‘organised chaos’? Find out why this property won the 2023 Tatler Homes Design Awards in Best Use of Colour. In her Sta Ana, Manila home, Kitty Bunag blends indoor-outdoor spaces with eclectic colour palettes—a testament to the philosophy that not all things have to match for a space to come together. Here’s a masterclass at curation, blending, and mindful design that will surely leave you green with envy. Revisit the article here.

Alice Eduardo on leading Santa Elena Construction Corporation by example

Above (Photo by Scott Woodward)

“Surround yourself with the best hires and let them do their job,” a steadfast statement from construction magnate Alice Eduardo herself in this interview with one of our Asia’s Most Influential 2023 honourees, the inspiring and ever-lovely president and CEO of the Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation talks to Tatler about the challenges in her industry and what exactly keeps her going.

Read More: Cover Story: Alice Eduardo continues her nation-building efforts as a businesswoman and philanthropist

Home tour: A Moroccan-inspired countryside home in Southern Luzon

Above The Lagdameo home

Get a glimpse into Ambassador Antonio and Linda Lagdameo’s weekend abode in Laguna, which the couple dubs their ‘dream home’. They take us through the building process and why they shifted from a modern Asian design to a Moroccan-inspired theme after travelling to the scenic country.

A 20-seater dining area, furniture pieces with Mindanaon touches, a floor made with sasag (crushed bamboo), and much more await when you revisit this larger-than-life property. It may also inspire you to invest in your dream home.

Stop, Look, Listen: The resurgence of vinyl and sound systems as the heart of our shared spaces

Above Photo: Charlie Alcaraz / Unsplash

With our lives becoming hyper-digital, it’s no surprise that many of us are aching for the romantic air of analogue days. Recently, the lingering appeal of vinyl music has slowly seeped from indie spaces to common households. This feature investigates the phenomena and how listening to music remains a shared event that melds together art, community, and individuality for many folks today.

Design Districts: 5 Tokyo neighbourhoods that travellers should explore

Above Pigment, an art supply store designed by famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma (Photo: Courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates)

Travelling to Japan anytime soon? Here’s a quick guide on discovering the nation’s capital through architecture. Find out which neighbourhood is perfect for art lovers or perhaps where to stay depending on your cultural interest. Vintage shopping? Head over to Slow House. Want to cover more ground? Try out a Tokyobike.

This and more Tokyo tips when you re-read this engaging piece.

Read more: Baby Crosta Pizza opens in Japan

Home tour: Inside Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez’s colourful family abode

Above Teal walls, contrast wainscotting and tropical touches make for a fun dining space (Photo: Scott A Woodward)

Find out why Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez won Tastemaker of this year’s Tatler Homes Design Awards in this exciting tour. “I’ve been living here for ten years, and I’ve changed my dining room three times,” she muses as she takes Tatler around her well-appointed home. Combining old-world elegance with modern twists, there’s much inspiration to take from Ocampo-Rodriguez and how she’s chosen to put things together in different areas of her house.

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