Benilde student tops home office interior design competition

“Memory in Space,” a home office design that explored the interconnectedness of memory and spatial framework, clinched the top prize at the recently concluded 17th Estilo de Vida Interior Design Competition.

Created by School of Design and Arts Interior Design student Margaret Therese Hagad of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), her project attempted to examine the relationship between material objects, emotions and workspaces.

“Memory improvement helps people learn and retain new information better. As a result, people can boost their performance, which leads to greater overall productivity,” Hagad said.

Founded in 2004 by Filipino magnate Jorge Consunji, the annual inter-school contest continues to provide a platform for young designers to test their skills and showcase their talents to contractors, designers, industry professionals and design enthusiasts.

Co-organized by the Philconstruct Events, Exhibitions and Conferences Corp., Philippine Constructors Association and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), it promotes the use of sustainable, locally-sourced materials and the adaptation of the 5Rs of a great design: Restore, Respect, Reduce, Reuse and Recover.

This year’s theme challenged the participants to revamp an existing room in their house into a temporary home office set-up not smaller than 12 square meters, which should accommodate up to two persons and their office essentials to promote general office work, productivity for virtual meetings, plus online schooling and studying.

Reniel Reyes and Kyle Angelo Gavino, both from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), placed 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

Virneece Ragragio from SoFA Design Institute was named 3rd runner-up, Ynes Sofia Manguerra from the DLS-CSB placed 4th, while Pearl Raissa Seat from the Batangas State University (BSU) finished at the 5th spot.

Other finalists include Chino Garcia (EARIST), Danier Ann Mae Ebojo (EARIST), Lorenz Mico Masangcay (DLS-CSB) and Rachel Cacao (BSU) who placed 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, respectively.

The competition also gathered promising interior designers from Eastern Visayas State University, Philippine Women’s University Manila, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, University of San Carlos Cebu and University of the East Caloocan.

Estilo de Vida gave P120,000 to the champion, P60,000 to the 1st runner-up, P32,000 to the 2nd runner-up and P10,000 to the top seven finalists. Winners also received an automatic internship to the partner architectural and interior design firms.

Hagad was mentored by Karol Ann Antonio, PIID, the adviser of the Guild of the Rising Interior Designers, the official student organization of Benilde Interior Design Program.

Hagad’s top finish is Benilde Interior Design Program’s second consecutive win in the competition, as it also took top prizes last year.