One of the most important things that a space can bring about is happiness. Projecting happiness in a given space can be achieved through a number of design choices: bright colors, open-spacious layout, and overall experience. Design perspectives with happiness in mind inevitably differ, but the intention to project a sense of joy consistently shines through in well-thought-out spaces. Two spaces designed with this perspective in mind are Dear Happy by Happy Ongpauco-Tiu and Happiness Boracay by Deo Alam Design Architecture, both located on our happy island of Boracay.

Dear Happy

Happy Ongpauco-Tiu opened Dear Happy at D’mall Station 2, Boracay in February 2024. She shares her original vision of a Filipino dessert bar concept that takes you on a walk down memory lane, with newly crafted flavors to surely excite your senses.

Dear Happy boasts an open and spacious layout for diners. The cozy and laid-back seats also encourage interaction while enjoying their take on famous Filipino desserts, such as their well-loved classic Halo-halopiness and their original ice-cream-filled sapin-sapin mochi.

In keeping with the seamless "happy" aesthetic, the interiors mesh well with the color and aesthetic of the food presentation. Dear Happy focuses on incorporating some nostalgic elements of Filipino design and materials while also incorporating modern flourishes.

The striking alpine green that gives the space its color evokes a lush beachfront location, creating a seamless transition between its exteriors and interiors. Familiar design elements such as solid wood, solihiya, and rattan woven seating are set against vibrant neon lights and subway tiles to create a more modern, hip, comfortable interior.

Happiness Boracay

Another place designed with happiness in mind is Happiness Boracay on Bulabog Road. Their vision of spreading happiness translates into their design choices and layout, echoing a familiar flow of joy and the flare of Boracay’s beachside living throughout their space.

They believe that “happiness is a way of life which we continue to spread in each space that we meet.” Being in the hospitality industry translates into their open and welcoming design concept that provides a variety of spaces depending on your needs. There are private spaces where one can relax alone and shared areas where one can mingle with others.

The carefree island lifestyle expresses itself in the simplicity of materials and furnishings throughout the interiors and architecture. The bright and powder-colored accents, along with curvilinear silhouettes, create a soft, free-flowing, relaxed, and homey ambiance throughout the space.

Elements from the iconic bahay kubo are featured throughout the hostel with a youthful sensibility. Bamboo and rattan are used not only as furniture materials but also as wall panels and lighting fixtures in natural finishes, paired with modern, interesting artworks and photographs throughout the hostel’s rooms and amenities. Cogon grass is used as roofing for concrete structures to give off a breezy and effortless summer vibe.

The refreshing cool aquamarine blue of the swimming pool is strategically repeated on various walls, while Instagram-worthy murals serve as additional accents throughout the space.

This Easter weekend is an opportunity for us to pause and reexamine our lives, revisit the spaces that bring us joy, and celebrate life itself. We find joy in coming home, in going out of town, and in the sense of togetherness as we spend time with our loved ones.

Perhaps, happiness is best expressed and felt through a life lived with ease and simplicity, as offered by island living. The Philippines is, after all, a country of islands. Spaces that make us happy are often the simplest, not the most complicated. They remind us of joyful memories while also giving us room to create new ones. They become places to gather with old friends while also creating opportunities to make new ones. And, most importantly, they give us insight into what makes a space joyful, what brings happiness.