Perfecting The Air
DAIKIN Philippines and PIID call on designers to integrate smart cooling and indoor air quality from day one, prompting a more climate-conscious architecture.
Words Mian Centeno
Photos courtesy of DAIKIN Philippines
July 15, 2026
SERIBU RASA KEMAYORAN by Helen Agustine of HELEN AGUSTINE STUDIO (Indonesia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
Great architecture is often judged by its form, materials, or striking interiors.
But as cities grow warmer and sustainability becomes more urgent, designers are reminded that the best spaces are defined by something less visible: how they feel to live and work in.
THE STERIC SPES by Arch. Gerard Tambunan and Arch. Diana Pardede of GETS ARCHITECTS (Indonesia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
That message took center stage at DAIKIN Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), gathered industry professionals for Designing Cool Spaces—a seminar series encouraging architects and interior designers to rethink one of the most overlooked elements of design: air.
Too often, cooling systems are considered only after a building’s architecture and interiors have been finalized. The result is a compromise between aesthetics, performance, and comfort.
BORDERLESS HOUSE by Ar. Lee Cherng Yih & Ar. Caleb Ong Yan Weng of FORMZERO (Malaysia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
Instead, the discussions highlighted the importance of planning for thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality from the earliest stages of a project.
Sessions covered practical topics such as air conditioning fundamentals, spatial and outdoor unit planning, and integrating cooling systems into interiors—all reflecting the growing shift in architecture: designing spaces that perform as well as they look.
NV RESIDENCE by Jessyca Aprilia Limanto of ANIMA INTERIOR (Indonesia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
DAIKIN also launched the Philippine leg of the DAIKIN Designer Awards ASEAN 2026. Open to professionals and students, the competition invites residential and commercial concepts that integrate smart climate solutions into thoughtful design.
This also marks the country’s first participation in the regional awards alongside Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
LE JARDIN SECRETS of AP CONSULTANT (Indonesia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
As society faces the demands of a changing climate, good design is no longer measured by appearance alone—it is measured by how responsibly a space uses energy, how comfortably it supports everyday life, and how well it prepares for the future.
In the end, the smartest spaces are not simply beautiful. They are designed to breathe, adapt, and keep people comfortable long after the drawings leave the drafting table.
WEAVE by Yoval Julianto and Lady Viona Yacup of DREAMLABS ARCHITECTS)Of (Indonesia), Daikin Designer Awards 2025
Interested participants for the DAIKIN Designer Awards may register until August 31, 2026 via https://daikindesignerawards.daikin.co.id/pre-register.
