CWC Interiors Turns 34: “Designing Legacy, Celebrating Excellence”
An anniversary is often a moment for reflection, a retrospective glance at the path traveled. For CWC Interiors, its 34th year offered two distinct canvases for such reflection. The first was the celebratory one: the effervescent scene at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club for the Anniversary Gala Night. Here, under the banner of “Designing Legacy, Celebrating Excellence,” Founder Fred Yuson’s community gathered to honor the milestone. The guest list itself was a testament to this diverse community, bringing together industry titans, key suppliers, partners from premier international brands, and celebrated architects and interior designers.
The presence of numerous De La Salle University alumni was particularly significant, highlighting a core component of the CWC legacy: a deep-seated commitment to education, most notably through the CWC Design a Legacy Scholarship Program for students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. This foundational investment in the next generation of creatives anchored the evening’s celebrations. Yet, the second, and more telling, canvas for reflection is found not in the fleeting energy of a single evening, but in a permanent landmark across the city—a structure that does more than commemorate a legacy, it embodies it. This is the story of the new CWC Design Center.
A Manifesto in Concrete and Glass
Inaugurated earlier this year, the CWC Design Center marks the company’s pivotal evolution. Located at 814 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, the landmark 12-story, 6,000-square-meter facility is a formidable new presence in the city’s urban fabric. The project itself is a landmark collaboration: the Eames-inspired structure, envisioned by architect Jojo Tolentino of Aidea, features interiors meticulously crafted by architect and interior designer Eduardo Calma. This partnership between two of the nation’s leading design figures has resulted in a building that is a statement in itself, aspiring to a LEED certification and underscoring a commitment to world-class sustainable principles. It is a physical anchor for a company that has long shaped the interiors of boardrooms, offices, and homes in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Inside, the building is a living library of modern design. Housing over 30 of the world’s most respected brands—including the comprehensive MillerKnoll Collective, Vitra, Muuto, Capellini, USM Haller, Dauphin, Walter Knoll, Magis, and Gufram—the Center is an act of strategic curation on an unprecedented scale.
The high-profile inauguration drew a veritable who’s who of Philippine design and architecture, a community exemplified by the presence of leading figures such as Eduardo Calma. His attendance underscored the event’s significance, bringing together the pillars of the industry. As the Managing Partner and Design Principal of Lor Calma & Partners, Calma’s own work resonates with a legacy of innovation, garnering significant international acclaim including a 2024 Platinum win at the Outstanding Property Awards for Univers NUSTAR, Cebu and a prestigious TOYM award for Architecture. His influence extends into global discourse through features in publications like Progressive Architecture and Tropical Urbanism, making his acknowledgement of the new center a testament to its importance.
This gathering of luminaries also marked the formal launch of the MillerKnoll Collective, a partnership built around the powerful theme of “Redefining Modern in the 21st Century.” By providing local creatives—from established masters to emerging talents—with direct access to this global design dialogue, CWC has effectively expanded the vernacular of Philippine interior architecture and design.
Weaving the Fabric of Future Design
A key thread in the rich tapestry of CWC Interiors’ legacy is its deep-rooted commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative minds. This dedication is most prominently embodied in the CWC Design Scholarship Program at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), an initiative that provides crucial support to aspiring designers.
This scholarship fund is a cornerstone of founder Fred Yuson’s philosophy of giving back to the community, particularly to the academe. It represents a foundational investment in the future of Philippine design, ensuring that talented students have the resources to pursue their passion and contribute to the industry’s ongoing evolution.
This commitment extends beyond financial support. CWC has also made significant contributions to the educational resources of DLS-CSB, most notably through the donation of the valuable Vitra Miniatures Collection. These iconic pieces serve as tangible learning tools, offering students a miniature history of design to study and draw inspiration from. By placing these masterworks directly into the hands of students, CWC actively fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the craft.
The scholarship program and academic partnerships underscore the company’s belief that a true legacy is built through investing in the people who will design the world of tomorrow. It is a philosophy that moves beyond commerce to cultivation, ensuring that the spirit of Philippine design excellence continues to thrive for generations to come.
From Publication to Exhibition
A special exhibit featured iconic chairs alongside elegant portraits of their esteemed collectors, a physical manifestation of the recently launched publication, Seats of Distinction. The book, which pairs these seminal pieces of furniture with captains of industry and various personalities, is a masterstroke of cultural commentary.
The exhibit took this a step further, skillfully removing the chair from the pristine context of the showroom and placing it directly into the narrative of people’s lives. This act elevates the furniture from a mere product to a cultural artifact, a signifier of taste and identity, compellingly arguing that design is not peripheral but is, in fact, central to the way we define ourselves.
The glamour of the book launch was made even more palpable, amplified by the presence of the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2024 queens in exquisite pieces from the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines.
A New Creative Nexus
This ethos is the very foundation of the Design Center. It is the first of its kind in the Philippines to integrate an augmented reality (AR) experience, allowing clients an interactive way to visualize spaces. Beyond retail, the Center houses CWC Solutions, an in-house service providing expert conceptualization and design execution.
This is augmented by dedicated spaces for art exhibits, photography hubs, and industry talks, cultivating a new nexus for creative convergence. Its stated openness to collaborations with design schools, combined with future plans for a publicly accessible furniture museum and a rooftop bar, transforms the building from a commercial space into a pedagogical and social one—a true investment in the design ecosystem.
As CWC Interiors reflects on its 34-year journey, its legacy is clearly no longer confined to the spaces it furnishes. The CWC Design Center, the publications, and the academic partnerships all point to a much larger ambition. This vision is most powerfully realized in Fred Yuson’s role as President of Yuson Huang Excellence Soberano Tan Realty and Development Corp. (YHEST), which is shaping entire cityscapes. Through monumental projects like the 22-hectare Davao Global Township (DGT) and The Paragon Davao, YHEST is crafting integrated, master-planned communities from the ground up.
This endeavor reaches its zenith with the establishment of a new De La Salle University campus within DGT, made possible by a landmark donation from Yuson’s family and YHEST. It is the ultimate expression of designing a legacy—moving from providing a scholarship, to building the very institution itself. From a single well-designed chair to a dynamic new business district, the story of Fred Yuson and CWC is one of escalating scale and unwavering vision, proving that the ultimate goal has always been to build the platforms upon which future generations of Filipinos can thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CWC Interiors wanted clients to experience their designs in a more interactive way. With AR, you can visualize how furniture and layouts fit your space before making a decision.
The scholarship is designed to help emerging designers grow. It offers financial assistance, expert mentorship, and exposure to global design trends, giving recipients a competitive edge.
CWC Interiors carefully chooses brands based on innovation, quality, and sustainability. This ensures every piece meets high design standards and supports eco-friendly practices.
The team continues to follow energy-efficient practices, use sustainable materials, and innovate with green solutions to maintain its LEED-certified status.
You can look forward to design workshops, product showcases, and networking sessions—events aimed at sparking creativity and connecting design professionals.
