The Tile Gallery celebrated the grand opening of its newest showroom through immersive tours and an insightful roundtable discussion with leading Filipino architects and designers.
From 2005, The Tile Gallery has been committed to bringing the very best home essentials to the Philippines, establishing itself as the leading purveyor of Italian-made luxury brands among architects, interior designers, and home-improvement enthusiasts, all under the leadership of brothers Kenneth and Raymund Hing. Having begun its journey selling high-end ceramic and homogeneous porcelain tiles, the brand has since expanded its offerings to include world-class furnishings and other essential fixtures for its discerning clientele.
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On October 17, 2024, the brand celebrated an exciting milestone with the grand opening of its newest showroom at the Gallery7 Building, A. Mabini, San Juan. In partnership with BluPrint—the country’s definitive authority on all things architecture and design—The Tile Gallery marked the momentous occasion through the special event Completare: Completing Spaces with The Tile Gallery. Roughly translated as “to finish” or “to complete” in Italian, the title is a nod to the way the brand completes their customers’ spaces through thoughtfully-selected products and a keen eye for detail.
Crafting Expressive And Functional Spaces
The event began with an opening spiel from renowned, Milan-based Filipino architect Michael Vincent Uy, who flew all the way from Europe to share his inspiring design journey and talk about his past projects. A highly sought-after talent in Italy and beyond, Uy previously worked with luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana. The prestigious projects in his portfolio include the historic Ristorante Teatro Alla Scala – Il Foyer and more recently the soon-to-rise Mandarin Oriental in Tel Aviv. The architect also happens to be an ambassador of Olivari, one of the world’s oldest and most well-respected door handle manufacturers—and one of the many fine Italian brands that The Tile Gallery features.
Uy’s spiel was followed by rousing opening words from BluPrint editor-in-chief Geewel Fuster and The Tile Gallery president Kenneth Hing.
“The Tile Gallery embodies the values that BluPrint stands for, aligning perfectly with our mission to inspire and elevate the world of architecture and design,” Fuster shared during her speech. “As a leading platform dedicated to showcasing innovative ideas and exceptional craftsmanship, BluePrint aims to connect designers, architects, and homeowners with the best in the industry. This partnership allows us to present a collective vision that celebrates not only beautiful products, but also the stories and ideas behind them.”
Meanwhile, Hing expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the brand’s supporters and partners during his speech, and also emphasized the importance of being able to inspire creativity and individual style through The Tile Gallery’s selection of top-tier brands.
“The Tile Gallery exists because we believe in the transformative power of design,” he stated. “Our journey here hasn’t been without challenges, but every step has been fueled by our unwavering belief in the beauty and functionality of exceptional design. At The Tile Gallery, we don’t just offer products; we provide the essential elements that complete spaces—transforming them into environments that tell stories, reflect personal vision, and elevate everyday living.”
Officially Opening The Tile Gallery
A beautiful video presentation by The Tile Gallery Showroom showed how the brand distinguishes itself from the competition through its extensive stocks, installation services, and an immersive showroom—where the curation of beautiful, sensorial spaces begins.
This was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the presence of Fuster; Kenneth, Raymund (vice president of The Tile Gallery), and Manuel Hing (Chairman of the Board); Idea Group’s Daniela Modolo; architect Uy; and special guests Mayor Francis Zamora of San Juan and Tessa Prieto. Key representatives from some of The Tile Gallery’s various partners also gave brief introductions and presentations on their esteemed brands.
Vice president Raymund closed the opening with a speech of his own, adding to what his brother previously expressed: “The opening of The Tile Gallery Showroom is not just the unveiling of a new space; it marks the beginning of an exciting journey where cutting-edge design and superior craftsmanship come together to redefine how we create, beautiful, complete environments.”
BluePrint Circles
Towards the end of the program was BluPrint Circles, an insightful roundtable discussion with some of the country’s leading architects and designers. With the central theme “A Journey Through Material Craftsmanship,” Uy returned to share his invaluable perspective, alongside fellow architect Charisse Ong (Studio Ong) and design principal Nikki Escalona-Tayag (33rd & 3rd Architectural Lighting Design).
Facilitating the talk was host Issa Litton and BluPrint digital editor Chad Rialp. Together, the group discussed their personal takes on material craftsmanship, as well as their respective design philosophies, thoughts on merging culture and creativity, and the ways in which they use design elements to create sustainable, visually-appealing, innovative, and functional spaces.
Design Excellence
Divided into multiple floors, the newest showroom isn’t so much a room, but rather, a whole world to explore and discover. On one floor is Meridiani, a company that specializes in ultra-customizable furnishings that epitomize quiet luxury. Then of course there’s Olivari, known for its recognizable door handles in an assortment of designs and finishes that show why many of today’s luxury houses use their products. On another floor is Atlas Concorde, an Italian brand that offers eye-catching, sophisticated porcelain tiles for every space.
Not to be missed is the floor with more Italian brands like Zucchetti.kos and Idea Group, which both offer highly functional, durable, and trendy bathroom fixtures that clients can customize to their heart’s content. This doesn’t even begin to cover the many other coveted brands that The Tile Gallery offers, including Talenti, Lodes, Emil Group, Casalgrande, and Sant’agostino.
After the grand opening program, guests were invited to explore the entirety of The Tile Gallery Showroom, with giveaways and fun activities that—in the spirit of the brand—completed the evening through a showcase of exceptional possibilities.
Photos by Ed Simon of KLIQ, Inc.