REFRAMING PARADISE

Journey to Lagen Island Resort, where a thoughtfully transformed island sanctuary elegantly weaves indigenous craftsmanship with profound respect for the surrounding nature

- Maritess Garcia Reyes —PALOMA URQUIJO ZOBEL DE AYALA

A particular kind of reverence greets you at Lagen Island, with its harmonious hush of waves, chirping hornbills and the sheer, imposing presence of El Nido’s picturesque limestone karsts. For years, this secluded cove has been a cherished refuge for the discerning traveller. Yet sanctuaries, no matter how beloved, must eventually evolve.

After an extensive and highly anticipated transformation, Lagen Island Resort has reopened but those expecting a loud, glittering overhaul will be pleasantly surprised by the subtlety of its new incarnation. Guided by Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, creative director of Ayala Land, and executed in collaboration with the renowned architectural firm WATG, the revamped resort is a masterclass in spatial choreography and cultural storytelling.

It is an endeavour that eschews the typical tropes of tropical luxury. Instead, it poses a more compelling question: how do we define modern Philippine design without tumbling into pastiche?

“Lagen was about reframing how Filipino design is expressed today,” Urquijo explains, her vision clear and uncompromising. “Too often, we borrow references at a surface level, applying them quickly, almost decoratively, without allowing them space to evolve. Here, we set out to slow that process down. To take familiar references and stretch them.”