PSID's 'Globalscapes' exhibit: Embracing the world, one room at a time

Text by Joyce Reyes Aguila | Photos by Teddy Pelaez | Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com Wednesday, October 1, 2014 9:28 am

Interior designer and Philippine School of Interior Design professor Pojie Pambid (far left) is joined by some of the young, creative minds behind Globalscapes, an exhibit presented by the PSIDs graduating batch. Photo by Teddy Pelaez, InterAksyon.com.

Soak in a tub while enjoying the view of Turkeys skyline. Dine as you witness glory of South Africas sunset. Pick a great bottle of wine from an Egyptian-themed cellar.

Envision these and other rarefied scenarios at Globalscapes, this years thesis presentation of graduating students of the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID). Ongoing at the Super Sale Hall of SM North EDSAs The Block in Quezon City, the exhibition has the participation of 105 aspiring interior designers who conceptualized and created 22 living spaces inspired from various countries across the five continents.

We want the audience to travel to a country and re-imagine what makes it truly distinct, interior designer Nicky Jardenil, professor and exhibit advisor told InterAksyon.com in an interview. With globalization, there is an easy exchange of information that makes design influenced by different inspirations. That was our starting point for this exhibit; (the designs) should have an influence from each country.

Interior designer and PSID faculty Pojie Pambid shared that the students formed groups of three and drew lots for their country assignments, along with parts of the house they would render. They were initially daunted when they drew an unfamiliar country, Pambid related. But eventually, throughout the course of research, we were able to fine tune everything.

The goal wasnt to reproduce traditional homes of the assigned countries, but to reinterpret them. The translations are not literal, (merely) subtle details here and there. Its still really an exercise in interior design with a country as a focal point. We challenged them to have designs that the audience has not seen before.

This year we wanted to pick the brains of our students in terms of creating a smaller world by making design a universal language. Instead of given them the usual design themes, we wanted them to use design as a tool using the history, culture, material, customs of these people and mixing them all together in a very contemporary setting. Every year PSID takes it upon itself to really challenge students and present what will eventually be benchmarks (in the industry).

Globalscapes also marks the final requirement of the current batchset to graduate in Novemberand is an eye-opener of sorts for them. Says Pambid, who is also PSIDs director for external affairs: This is the first time they are dealing with contractors and suppliers. The exhibit teaches them to have results that are translatable to people, (while working with materials) that can be sourced or made locally to also provide work opportunities for weavers, carvers, and carpenters.

Visitors to the exhibit can take in a myriad of design inspirations and cues from Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Oceania while marveling at the prowess of the countrys next crop of interior designers from the halls of the PSID.

More here:
PSID's 'Globalscapes' exhibit: Embracing the world, one room at a time