Craft House client, Manila House, opens in the Philippines
In a market full of traditional golf and country clubs, our clients have opened a social club in the heart of the city offering a myriad of dining experiences, indoor and outdoor lounges and programming for lifestyle enthusiasts.
Manila House, an exclusive private membership club, is set to take the town by storm—find out why.
Taking inspiration from some of the most interesting private member clubs in the world, such as the ultra-tony 5 Hertford Street in London and the ultra-casual Soho House in London, New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, Manila House was conceptualised on creative and cultural capital. Manila House is a private club that will bring together a membership selected from the business, creative, cultural, and intellectual communities drawn by shared interests about art, culture, food, business, and politics.
Indeed, the “conceptualists” behind Manila House include some of the most creative, dynamic, and well-connected people, not just in the Philippines, but in Europe and Asia; among them Doris Magsaysay Ho, Linda Ho-McAfee, Rose Anne de Pampelonne, Ricco Ocampo, Katrina Panlilio, Bonnae Gokson, and international interior architect Gert Voorjans. Voorjans, who is based in Antwerp, is overseeing the club’s interiors. The “master of mixing,” as the Wall Street Journal calls him, is impressed at the blend of colonial and contemporary—the layering of eras and sensibilities that he finds both charming and sophisticated. He designed the homes of Mick Jagger and Nina Garcia, as well as the Dries van Noten boutiques worldwide, Voorjans is excited about his first Philippine commission.
All in all, Manila House occupies a prime location in the heart of BGC, in a space that sprawls over 2,385 square metres, surrounded by another 3,000 square metres of garden. The club has its own private lobby and entrance. Within this expansive space, Manila House offers a myriad of dining experiences; cool bars—one indoor and the other on the outdoor deck—and a dedicated cigar-and whisky room.
The people behind Manila House cite the country’s robust economy and increasing sophistication. Bonnae Gokson herself noted admiringly on a recent visit to Manila, “[The city has] a fantastic, cool energy. And so, this is the time for Manila to shine.”
For Manila House, Craft House assisted with club concept refinement, design reviews, membership structure, operating strategies and practices, and financial strategy.