HBA designs fashion-inspired Shangri-La at Fort Bonifacio

Interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) designed the Shangri-La at Fort Bonifacio in Manila, Philippines.

According to HBA partner Sandra Cortner, in designing the Shangri-La at the Fort, the company aimed to appeal to the hotel’s younger guest, a target demographic. To do this, design elements include large-scale lighting and fixtures accompanied by plenty of community spaces for travelers to socialize.

The design team also drew inspiration from local Filipino fashion, jewelry and antique gold, using design talents from the Philippines in textiles, furniture and art.

The lobby has a custom chandelier by Lasvit, inspired by a vintage broach. Behind the custom-designed concierge and bellman’s desks is a series of textile art pieces by fashion designer Bea Valdes. The floor was designed with Statuario select marble slabs. Adjoining the lobby is the lobby lounge, which has high ceilings, custom artwork and an “inverted” chandelier also by Lasvit, and with custom carpets designed in conjunction with SEP designer Esther, custom leather panels by Townsend, and artwork by Jinggoy Buensuceso. A curving staircase leads to the mezzanine level, which houses restaurants, ballrooms and other function spaces.

Rather than use traditional chandeliers in the ballroom, HBA used thousands of hanging crystals dripping from above as lighting, said to be reminiscent of intertwined crystal necklaces. Carpets by SEP Designs were made with LUREX metallic yarns and other luxury fibers. Walls were wrapped in pleated fabrics with mother-of-pearl detailing inspired by men’s fashion to continue the fashion theme throughout.

Guest areas carry the fashion detailing with custom-woven textile artwork with motifs from the distinctive Filipino Barong, a men’s embroidered formal shirt. The palette continues into the guestrooms with paneled wood inlay details. Rather than implement large traditional case pieces, HBA designed custom boxes to create lighting details and house the in-room safe.