Designed by TAYO Architecture & Design, Balai Ba’i is a 900-square-meter resort located in Los Baños, Laguna. The owners wanted to evoke the same calm and craftsmanship found in Bali, Indonesia, while celebrating the natural beauty of the Philippines. As advocates of a distinct tropical-modernist approach, TAYO designed a resort that responds to its local […]
Exploring the Designer-Inspired Interiors of Hotel 8
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Tagaytay’s charm is one that stands the test of time. You won’t feel it however in massive structures that defy the city’s sense of place. Instead, you will discover it in places that respect and highlight the natural beauty of the land. Hotel 8, an 8-room boutique hotel perched by the ridge, offers a designer-inspired date with the view of Taal Volcano.
Standing at the same site of the Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda-designed hotel called Domicillo, the original structure has been given new life through Hotel 8. Its creative director Pam Gonzalez Lopez saw the opportunity of the location – with its prime view of Taal lake – and the appeal of personal touches only a specialty boutique hotel can give. “The concept came naturally. With just eight rooms, the idea felt intimate and personal which set the tone for what Hotel 8 would become,” Lopez says.
Sonia Santiago Olivares & Associates, Inc. (SSOa), a pioneer interior design firm founded 48 years ago, was enlisted to do a total renovation of Hotel 8 which included architectural facades and interiors. Principal designer and creative director for SSOa, Maja Olivares-Co expounds on their design process, “We started with a vision to renovate the entire hotel and create five theme rooms of the favorite designers of [owners] Menchu Lopez alongside Pam Lopez of Hotel 8. This allows a guest to have a unique experience in staying in the different rooms.”
“My mother-in-law Menchu Lopez and I collaborated closely on the vision,” adds Lopez. “It was her idea to make the five rooms facing the lake our designer rooms, inspired by some of our favorite home and fashion brands.”
The five theme rooms all face Taal Lake with a spacious balcony to lounge in to take in the view. “The five distinct themes were inspired by the following designs by these designers: Josie Natori, Missoni, Marcel Wanders, Ralph Lauren and Mackenzie Childs,” adds Olivares-Co. “Expect yourself to be put in a totally different mood by staying in the various theme rooms. One thing is sure: every room has a spectacular panoramic view of Taal volcano and lake.”
Discover the designer-themed rooms of Hotel 8 by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, 2025 at Sari Sari Shopping, Shopee, and Lazada. E-magazines are also available for download here or through Readly, Press Reader, and Magzter.
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Photographed by Jar Concengco
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The project involved a total renovation of the original Domicillo structure by SSOa, focusing on architectural facades and interiors that respect Tagaytay’s sense of place. The design prioritizes the natural beauty of the ridge, utilizing the building’s prime location to ensure every space highlights the sweeping, unobstructed views of Taal Lake and the volcano.
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Hotel 8 features five distinct designer-inspired rooms that face the lake, each modeled after the aesthetics of renowned home and fashion brands. These include Josie Natori, Missoni, Marcel Wanders, Ralph Lauren, and Mackenzie-Childs, allowing guests to experience a completely different mood and artistic environment depending on which of the five specialty rooms they choose to inhabit.
The architecture leverages the hotel’s position on the ridge by equipping all five designer rooms with spacious private balconies. These outdoor extensions serve as personal lounging areas that maximize the panoramic views of Taal, ensuring that the spectacular natural landscape remains the focal point of the boutique hotel’s intimate and personal atmosphere.
Creative director Pam Gonzalez Lopez collaborated closely with Menchu Lopez and the firm SSOa to translate their personal design preferences into a hospitality experience. By limiting the hotel to just eight rooms, the team was able to maintain an intimate, specialty boutique feel where personal touches and high-end design curation take center stage over mass-market scale.
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Enlisting Sonia Santiago Olivares & Associates (SSOa), a pioneer firm with nearly 50 years of experience, brought a high level of interior expertise to the renovation. Their process involved reimagining the entire hotel to ensure a cohesive luxury experience, bridging the gap between world-class designer themes and the specific atmospheric charm that defines a classic Tagaytay getaway.
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