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Manila Bulletin devider Property and Living devider Design Horizons: Celebrate the past, design for the future

Design Horizons: Celebrate the past, design for the future

Interior designer Mark Steven Perez's fresh perspective for the year ahead

Published Feb 3, 2024 06:22 am
Mark Steven Perez and Vianca Favila
Mark Steven Perez and Vianca Favila

EDITOR'S NOTE: In 2024, Manila Bulletin’s Property Living not only welcomes an exciting new year but also introduces a columnist with a fresh perspective on design, ranging from luxury furniture to award-winning interiors. With 15 years of industry experience, interior designer Mark Steven Perez will share his unique insights in the world of modern design.

“Design Horizons" will be published twice a month.

This year successfully marks the 15th anniversary of Empire Designs, the interior design company I co-founded with my managing partner, interior designer Vianca Favila. Together, we've built a robust portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, earning local and international design awards and recognitions. I've also taken on a role as a professor at my alma mater, the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID), and served in the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) as one of the Board of Trustees and Directors.

Looking ahead to this year, I am thrilled and privileged to embark on something new yet close to my heart - designing and sharing. In this column, I'll delve into the horizons and wealth of opportunities in well-designed properties and lifestyle, offering insights from a professional interior designer's perspective.

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A high-end private residential project recently completed by Mark Steven Perez and his interior design firm

For 2024, the outlook for the Philippine real estate remains bright, with developments continuing to rise in key, highly urbanized cities nationwide and extending to neighboring towns and remote destinations. This prepares for the next generation of dwellers, investors, and consumers.

This optimism is fueled by the confidence of our clients, some of the country's major developers boldly resuming residential and commercial projects previously halted by the pandemic. It is further supported by the government's ambitious infrastructure and rehabilitation projects.

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Residential condominium tower lobby designed by Empire Designs

As the saying goes, when construction and development thrive, other industries follow suit, especially when private and public sectors collaborate. Capitalizing on this ongoing boom in construction and development, a set of lifestyles designed to emerge from them will benefit and flourish.

Last year might've been a whirlwind, especially in the real estate and construction industry. We hustled to wrap up investments and spruce up residential and commercial projects that got hit with pandemic-induced slowdowns. It was a rush, but at least it set the stage for a somewhat decent "move-in" before diving into the long-awaited holiday shindigs.

Now, as we step into 2024 with the pandemic behind us, the hustle and optimism aren't taking a backseat. We're riding last year's momentum into the new one, aiming to craft, plan, and execute real estate projects with precision and speed. My hope for this column is to be able to provide thought-provoking insights and inspire more individuals to plan, obtain, and live the well-designed lifestyle they deserve.

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Unveiling ‘Design Horizons’: A glimpse into the year ahead

  • New and thoughtfully designed or re-designed commercial properties, including cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and retail spaces, to elevate your aesthetic experience
  • Unique and reputable design sources for surface materials in property construction, providing insights into finishing works
  • The latest product designs entering the Philippine market, spanning furniture, lighting, wardrobes, decor, kitchenware, dining essentials, appliances, lifestyle items, and fitness equipment
  • Exploration of luxury living, focusing on investing in extras to enhance your residential property
  • Highlighting promising upcoming hospitality and resort destination properties that are worth keeping an eye on
  • Insights into future well-planned township projects across the country that offer investment opportunities

Related Tags

Vianca Favila Mark Steven Perez MBPropertyLiving Empire Designs Philippine Institute of Interior Designers Philippine School of Interior Design
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