Guest room.
Ceiling and one wall in shades of metal
the information counter at the lobby. This is done in oranges and earth colours, matching the furniture and carpeting in the lobby area.
Another piece of special interest is the 50-metre bas relief in ceramic by sculptor, Abueva, for the wall border- ing the elevated garden and lilly pond on the southern side of the hotel. The garden and pool were designed by Dolly Q. Perez and laid out by Gertrude Stewart.
From this it will be seen that the architect and interior designers had the rare privilege of working to a grand budget. There is a school of thought that considers that such a budget is essential if specialist interior designers are to be employed on a project. The same school argues that if the interior design is not to be just applied decoration the decor should be built-up by the architect from his own details.
Its
The Sheraton provides the best possible answer to this attitude. interior is probably the finest example of the considerable amount of work being undertaken by the firm of Pacific House (Asia).
The principals of the firm, Dale and Pat Keller, spent several months travelling throughout the Philippines and making sketches of anything of interest that could be used in the hotel interior. Then architect and designers collaborated on the theme to be adopted for each room, the layout, the design of furniture and materials, the textures, weaves and colours of fabrics.
Almost all the materials used are from the Philippines capiz shell for lampshades, local leather and rattan for chairs, narra for furniture, wood panelling and other fixtures and local marble for lobby floors, elevator walls and bathroom counters.
Colour
Perhaps the most delightful of the many splendours of the Sheraton in- terior is its use of colour. The bold tones of fabrics from the Muslim re- gions of the Philippines oranges, reds, browns, olive green and purple
are widely used and beautifully co-ordinated in carpets, upholstery, curtains and walls.
In the impressive lobby which measures approximately 25 metres by 21 metres by two floors high, these colours are immediately apparent in the sunburst pattern of the circular carpet, centrally placed on the beige marble floor, and in the striped carpet which covers the lobby lounge areas
Calesa bar.
Mural by Malang
20
20
Tempura bar in upper basement
Far East BUILDER, September 1968.