The Power of Place and how Experience is redefining long-term real estate value

At the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES) 2025, held as part of PropertyGuru Week in Bangkok, one idea resonated strongly across conversations on markets, communities, and the future of property: real estate is no longer defined by structures alone, but by the experiences they create.

- By PAMELA IMPERIAL

This theme came sharply into focus during the Design Spotlight session, "The Power of Place: Designing Retail, Culture, and the Human Experience," led by Simon Mitchell, co-founder of global architecture and design studio Sybarite.

Mitchell challenged the industry to move beyond static, transaction-driven thinking and instead view places as living, evolving systems. "Places must behave like living organisms—they must be adaptable; they must be expressive and responsive. Static environments belong to the past," he said. In an era shaped by shifting consumer behavior, digital disruption, and heightened expectations, adaptability has become essential to long-term relevance.

ARES 2025, themed "Trusted Marketplaces and Thriving Communties," provided an apt platform for this discussion. Across the summit, leaders explored how trust, human connection, and sustainability are reshaping real estate across Asia. Mitchell's talk added a design-led perspective to this conversation, emphasizing that experience is not decorative or optional—it is foundational.