With climate change and global warming, the Philippine climate is in constant evolution. Consequently, it is important for Filipinos to have living spaces that respond to the local environment. In this article, BluPrint lists down Filipino architects who are reimagining the tropical house, aligning the built and natural environment. BAAD Studio Principal architects Benjee Mendoza […]
A New Side to Medical Design: Skin Clinics as Places of Luxurious Calm
Skin clinics are reimagining the spatial design of medical institutions, moving away from traditional sterile environments. In 2025, BluPrint covered various clinics that subvert this design trope.
Belo Nexa
Inside Belo Nexa, the design prioritizes luxury, comfort, and a seamless patient experience. Designed by Budji Layag, the space offers a sense of openness, with a design language rooted in contemporary elegance. Drawing from the Belo Medical Group’s dedication to transforming medical spaces into welcoming environments, the spatial atmosphere is one of calm and comfort.
From floor to ceiling, the space establishes a luxurious ambiance. Designed by Kenneth Cobonpue, the lighting installation is a focal point of the clinic. Its custom chandelier blends organic form with intricate craftsmanship: wire mesh was woven into delicate, net-like structures, which are contrasted with perforated metal accents. In addition, the striking glass walls and marble floors further set the tone for an elegant medical experience.
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Whether it is the reception area or the consultation rooms, the clinic’s commitment to luxury is evident. These rooms blend technological innovation and elegant design: sleek stone finishes, glass and metal accents, and curated artworks. In doing so, they create a warm, inviting atmosphere in the medical experience.
Read More: Belo Nexa Reimagines Medical Design in the Philippines
Aivee Skin Spa
The Aivee Skin Spa, led by doctors Aivee Aguilar-Teo and Z Teo, brings premium, dermatologist-designed care to a wider demographic. As a leader in the wellness industry, the brand opened a new spa that embraced spatial softness, natural materials, and elegant detailing. To bring the brand’s vision to fruition, it worked with Malcom Chua, co-founder and design director of AVID Design Collective, and Benjamin Kim, co-founder and creative director of Genius Loci, collectively known as AVID GL.
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Defined by large curved walls reminiscent of Tuscan columns and the use of organic materials, the spa’s spatial atmosphere embodies its commitment to providing an intimate yet sophisticated escape for patients. With the intent of building a sanctuary, the spa balances elegance and ease.
Each room was conceptualized with a neutral color palette, soft lighting, and calming tones. Within private treatment areas, the ceilings featured lighting installations that recalled the image of a celestial night. Concurrently, herbal fragrances were employed to foster a multi-sensory environment. From the reception desk to the individual treatment rooms, a common design concept prevails: a setting where the design language elicits calm and wonder.
Read More: Aivee Skin Spa: Glow Up
CARA Laser Skin Care
Located in Shangri-La Plaza, the newest clinic of CARA Laser Skin Care offers luxury that centers on ease, authenticity, and emotional well-being. Designed by Barchan + Architecture, the space reimagines luxury. Inside, it is not about exclusivity but about comfort.
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Choreographed to form a cohesive story, the space’s materiality, form, light, art, and utility converge to ensure that wellness feels both personal and transformative. Inside, patients are enveloped by walls that have a warm peach-beige lime-based finish. Throughout the space, a pink color palette is present, paired with a brass finish on mirrors and fixtures.
To further enhance the space’s sense of comfort, original paintings by artist Yana Ofrasio, with nature-inspired motifs, were placed on the hallway walls. In pursuit of experiential luxury, the design is defined by softened volumes. When patients are inside CARA Laser’s Shangri-La clinic, they are made to feel relaxed and secure.
Read More: CARA Laser Skin Care: A New Kind of Luxury
A Place of Calm
Welcoming a new era in medical aesthetics, these skin clinics are at the vanguard of this progression. For them, design and hospitality work together to craft the patient experience.
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Ventilation involves the introduction of outdoor air into a room, providing occupants with their needs. Proper ventilation allows for the moderation of internal temperatures, the creation of better airflow, the dilution of carbon dioxide to acceptable levels, and the removal of contaminants. This addresses health risks associated with indoor air pollution, such as respiratory problems […]
WORLDBEX 2026, running from March 12 to 15, 2026, proves itself as the Philippines’ leading construction and design expo as it wrapped its 29th edition. It drew together 1,000 local and international exhibitors under one theme, “Building Opportunities: Sustaining Lives.” Organized by Worldbex Services International (WSI), in support of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., the event […]
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Located near the equator, factors such as heat and humidity are the norm in the Philippines. This tropical climate has shaped the development of architecture in the country. As Leandro V. Locsin stated: “The first consideration of the Filipino builder and certainly the most evident in his architecture, which is after all an outgrowth of […]
Art in the Park returned this year to Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This year’s edition featured a curated selection of works from 55 exhibitors representing galleries, art collectives, independent art spaces, and student groups. With all artworks capped at Php 70,000, the fair continued its mission […]
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