Nestled in an oasis-like compound of late 1940s heritage houses in Pasay is the Manila outpost of Cebu’s popular Henry Hotel. The five post-war “Liberation style” houses have been adapted and transformed by renowned Filipino furniture and interior designer Eric Paras into this 34-room boutique hotel. Every detail has been executed to keep with the vintage theme, transporting guests back to another era. The tiles, the antiques, and the garden complete with post-war-appropriate greenery all make it perhaps the most exciting hotel in Manila at the moment.
Image courtesy of The Henry.While not a traditional design destination, Manila is a city that wears many hats, and lately design hot spot is one of them. Often dismissed as another over-crowded and polluted Southeast Asian capital city, or merely a stopover en route to one of the Philippine’s many island resort destinations, Manila has recently been coming into its own. The art scene is vibrant, and furniture design—which has always been the Philippines' forte—is being taken to the next level by some exceptional local talent. With ample foreign investment, and plenty of creatives developing the city in exciting new directions, Manila is quickly becoming a destination in its own right.
