PSID-Ahlen leads the rise of experiential holiday interiors in the Philippines

Interior design has evolved to prioritize emotional involvement and immersion, particularly around the holidays, when houses become hubs of reminiscence, creativity, and community. 

The Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID)-Ahlen Institute is at the forefront of this movement, developing designers that use tradition, culture, and innovation to reimagine holiday interiors.

Globally, the experiential trend is taking hold in both retail and residential interiors, with designs that engage the senses and foster emotional connections.  PSID-Ahlen students are reacting to the increased desire for spaces that connect and engage the senses by creating interiors with intriguing storylines and multimodal aspects.

Here are some concepts from PSID-Ahlen students that showcase this design trend.

Perlas Restaurant

Perlas Restaurant, an example plate from the PSID Students

Perlas Restaurant, an example plate from the PSID Students

One example of this experience design is the Perlas Restaurant idea, which commemorates the Philippines' marine beauty by combining the beauty of the country's many islands with Filipinos' profound love of food and social connections during meals.

Polynesian Pool House

Polynesian Pool House, an example plate from the PSID Students

Polynesian Pool House, an example plate from the PSID Students

Another example is the Polynesian Pool House, a three-story resto-house designed to embody the spirit of the culture.  This proposal investigates how Polynesian patterns, textures, and stories may contribute to a meaningful eating experience, with each floor immersing diners in a distinct cultural layer.

Greek Mediterranean Home

Finally, the Greek Mediterranean Home concept envisions a place where guests can experience Greece.  The components, from furniture to accessories, texture to materials, make it the ideal leisure home for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the Mediterranean Sea.

This trend in experiential interior design is most seen in immersive holiday installations found in museums, cultural exhibits, and retail malls. 

Later this year, PSID-Ahlen is holding their exhibit for their graduating class called Designs of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.).

The exhibit will have four galleries that will immerse the audience in various ways of celebrating the holidays.  Visitors to the gallery will experience Christmas as a voyage through time, a reflection of its character, through color selections, or from a cultural perspective.

"The upcoming exhibit delves into Christmas styling and decorating as a major driving force in introducing holiday trends amid impeccable interior designed spaces. The exhibiting class of 2025 promises its viewers a variety of styles and trends guaranteed to inspire, setting the stage for a new way of designing for the holidays." ~Pojie Pambid, PSID-Ahlen's Vice President for Academic Affairs

PSID-Ahlen’s D.O.C.E. is slated to open on September 27, 2025 at the GH Tower in Greenhills.