The Montecima Clubhouse designed by LLG Architects wouldn’t feel out of place in a Romantic painting. Any visitor would be swept away by the glorious views and left breathless by how divine the surrounding nature is, as though they’re the gentleman gazing at the cloudy horizon in Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of […]
MEDUSA: A Dinner Club Up To The Nines
Tucked within the vibrant nightscapes of Uptown BGC, Medusa at The Palace amalgamates dinner and nightlife. As it embodies its namesake, Medusa transforms myth into an experience-driven space that transcends into and shapes the dining and nightlife experience.
Designed by Pauline and John Sac of 50/53 Architects, Medusa is a stand-alone venue within The Palace Complex that has its own private, checkered-tile driveway and a street-facing façade characterized by five arched entryways.
The black-and-white carpet’s motif seamlessly transitions into the table’s vertical tilework, shifting from soft fabric to smooth ceramic while retaining the same pattern. As the tiles taper in size toward the top, they subtly guide the eye to the center of the room.
Advertisement
Spatial Rhythm
Arches and vaulted ceilings serve as recurring architectural details that both guide and define the club’s spaces. As guests pass through the glass-framed entryway into the welcome bar, the layout then unfolds in layered seating. The journey culminates at the heart of the venue.
The spatial arrangement resembles a panopticon, with the bar anchoring the entire space, its stools forming the first ring of interaction. Tables seating two to four extend the circle, offering more intimate encounters before giving way to the built-in banquettes that line the walls for larger groups.
“We wanted an atmosphere where food, socializing, and nightlife could overlap naturally,” Sac explained.
Maximalist Materiality
The main area is a blueprint for thoughtful material harmony. “In this project, materiality became the primary means of expressing maximalism,” the architect shares. “Each specification played a role in building depth and contrast, demonstrating that maximalism is achieved through the thoughtful accumulation and cohesion of materials rather than excess for its own sake.”
Advertisement
For the seating, the architects utilized a wide set of fabrics, from animal prints to blue argyle patterns. Walls display hand-painted murals of tropical vignettes framed by ornate columns topped with golden leaves. These act as spatial borders, paired with velvet curtains, to form intimate social settings, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes.
Synca lighting illuminates the mural on the ceiling, which shifts in color temperature and intensity to mimic natural transitions. This follows the warmth of nature’s dusk to the coolness of night.
Visual Curation
Each room is given a distinct personality, consisting of its own unique spatial characteristics.
The lounge area unfolds like a cinematic set—wrapped in draped textiles that ripple across walls and ceiling, giving the space an enveloping softness. The palette leans into amber, ochre, and burnished gold, punctuated by glowing lamps and plush ottomans. Its symmetry and layered textures suggest a heightened theatricality, a space that invites hushed conversations against a backdrop of velvet and sheen.
Advertisement
The VIP room exudes a sense of drama. Deep green walls are lined with arched columns that curve upward into sculptural gold fixtures, casting a warm, upward glow. Overhead, a ceiling washed in crimson and hand-painted with swirling serpentine forms sets a theatrical counterpoint to the otherwise moody palette.
Between Dining and Nightlife
The client’s brief was simple: create a concept that felt fresh and not just another club. And 50/53 Architects accomplished exactly that. The client trusted their vision for Medusa, giving them the freedom to explore and deliver a venue that is truly unique, adding a new layer to the dining and nightlife scene in the country.
The supper club blurs the lines between restaurant, bar, and club. For the architects, the venue, through its challenges and successes, pushed them to grow as a team. From start to finish, the venue offers an immersive yet cohesive experience.
Advertisement
This article has been abridged for digital publication. Read the full story behind Every Room a Chapter by ordering your copy of BluPrint Art at Sari Sari Shopping, Shopee, and Lazada. E-magazines are also available for download here or through Readly, Press Reader, and Magzter.
Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click here to find out more.
Photos by Ed Simon.
Related reading:
In the coastal town of Dauin, known for its laid-back beach culture, one private residence stands out—not by competing with its surroundings, but by becoming a resort unto itself. Designed to make everyday life feel like a retreat, Villa Tropicana transforms the typical concept of a vacation home into a personal oasis. Gaston Lorenzo Pastrano, […]
It’s no secret that homebuyers seek a smart investment that delivers long-term savings and a healthier environment. This is the core proposition of Una Apartments by Arthaland, a mid-market offering within the highly sustainable Sevina Park community in Biñan, Laguna. This new development, together with global design leader American Standard, is setting an elevated standard […]
The new Crate and Barrel at The Podium—its first Philippine store in over a decade—signals the brand’s global shift toward a more design-driven, experiential retail model. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the President of SM Retail, Jonathan Ng; the Vice President and Business Unit Head of Crate & Barrel, Steven Ticzon; and the Senior […]
The modern corporate workplace is often synonymous with rigid, rectilinear forms—a sterile grid of glass and steel. However, at the intersection of Zhuhai and Macao, designer Kris Lin and his team at Kris Lin International Design have deliberately rejected this corporate norm. The Stream Office, a new business highland cover, is an architectural and interior […]
Arriving from Osaka, Japan, esteemed minimalist brand miratap opened its first flagship showroom in the Philippines, located in Greenhills Mall. Dating back to 1979, the brand’s name combines “mirai,” meaning future in Japanese, and the word “tap.” This aligns with its objective of being a forward-looking brand with a commitment to minimalist and future-ready design. […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]