DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Supper Club Solaire North
Artful Meaning- HABITUS DESIGN GROUP-
Samantha Drummond, founder of Habitus Design Group, occupies a unique position in hospitality development. Over the past 30 years, she has delivered interior design and advisory services on projects exceeding US $ 35 billion. From integrated resorts like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore to restaurants, luxury retail and private residences across Asia and Europe, her work blends scale, storytelling and a reverence for place. Along the way, she has collaborated with world-renowned artists to create deeply resonant interiors. She has also sought out little known local artists to complete her design purpose.
Q: What role does art play in shaping the guest experience?
SD: Thoughtfully chosen art has the power to evoke emotion, shift perception and add layers of meaning. It invites guests to pause, look closer, and engage, not just with the space, but with the culture around them. Art also has an important part to play in wayfinding, especially in large resorts, and in encouraging guests to journey into spaces where they might otherwise not venture.
Q: Do you see art as a finishing touch or a foundational element?
SD: It’ s absolutely foundational. My instinct is to create destinations that will be a benchmark in their location, so the design must be original. In my most recent project, Solaire Resort North, the client’ s strategy was nothing less than to create a luxury destination that would elevate the local economy and re-energise the potential for local and international tourism in Quezon City, the largest city in Metropolitan Manila. That kind of ambition calls for originality, and art was central.
At Solaire North, we integrated nearly 3,000 original works by Filipino artists, each carefully chosen or commissioned. For me, art is never merely a backdrop; it is part of the architecture of the experience. Too often, art in hospitality is an afterthought: generic abstracts with no story or local resonance. I’ m determined to avoid that.
Q: How do you collaborate with artists or consultants when curating art for a project?
SD: Collaboration is at the core of what I do. Take for example, Mangrove, a 30-metre-tall glass
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