Daikin Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers open the country’s first entry into the regional competition.
Daikin Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers have launched the local edition of the Daikin Designer Awards ASEAN 2026, inviting Filipino architects and interior designers to compete in a regional program that has spent the last several years expanding beyond its Indonesian roots.
The announcement came during a gathering called Designing Cool Spaces, which brought designers, architects and homeowners together to discuss how cooling systems and interior design can work in tandem rather than in sequence. Sessions covered the fundamentals of air conditioning for spatial planning, methods for integrating cooling systems into interiors, and strategies for placing outdoor units without disrupting a building’s overall design.
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How Cooling Technology Becomes A Part Of Good Design
Talks grew out of an idea that design and cooling technology should develop together from the earliest stages of a project. The effort is a part of the company’s broader approach to air quality. Through initiatives like this one, Daikin has grown into a collaborator within the design community rather than a supplier of equipment.
According to Cecil Ravelas, president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers, designers often treat climate systems as something to conceal once the architecture and interiors have already taken shape, when those systems should instead shape decisions from the outset. “Good design is not only about aesthetics,” she says. “It is about creating environments that are comfortable, energy-efficient, sustainable, and ultimately enhance how people experience a space.”
A Regional Initiative: The Daikin Designer Awards 2026 Enters The Philippines
The Daikin Designer Awards began in 2020 as an initiative for architects and designers in Indonesia, and has broadened its geographic reach nearly every year since. Malaysia joined the competition in 2025, and this year the Philippines and Singapore will take part for the first time alongside Indonesia and Malaysia. The competition is open to both professionals and students, who may submit finished projects or conceptual designs for residential or commercial spaces.
Architects, interior designers and students from the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia can register for the Daikin Designer Awards through August 31, 2026, at daikindesignerawards.daikin.co.id/pre-register.
Photos courtesy of Before Deadlines
Frequently Asked Questions
The Daikin Designer Awards ASEAN 2026 is a regional design competition for architects and interior designers organized by Daikin.
The competition is open to professional architects, interior designers, and students.
Yes. Students are eligible to submit conceptual designs as part of the competition.
Participants may submit completed projects or conceptual designs for residential or commercial spaces.
The participating countries are the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
