DEQA Design Collaborative

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DEQA Design Collaborative

We are an integrated design studio grounded in the belief that design can transform the everyday and shape a better future. Live Well, by Design™

We create environments that uplift people, strengthen communities, and positively impact the planet.

14/04/2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our Founder and Principal Architect, Ar. Denise De Castro.

She was the heart and vision behind DEQA—a leader whose grace, empathy, and dedication shaped not only the spaces we design, but the culture of care, collaboration, and excellence that defines our team. Her belief that design should uplift and enrich lives continues to guide us in everything we do.

01/04/2026

Design with purpose. Grow with intention.

Join us as a Junior Interior Designer!

26/03/2026

What if a resort could truly calm and rejuvenate you?

This boutique property in Palawan is designed to heal through nature. To feel grounded, calm, and connected from the moment you arrive.

Our Well-Living Design™ uses open structures to welcome the breeze and light. Cogon thatch softens the heat while stone stays cool underfoot. Every view of the ocean and greenery is intentional, calming the mind and helping the body reset. Paths flow through the landscape and spaces stretch open to the horizon.

The result is a resort that feels quiet and deeply rooted, to restore guests wellbeing.

Live Well, by Design™

24/03/2026

What if a place could carry the past forward while shaping the future?

The Centre for Local History and Culture Pasonanca Campus is envisioned as a living museum. A landmark for Zamboanga that reflects a vibrant, evolving identity.

Guided by our Well-Living Design™ approach, the facade draws from local textiles and patterns. Layered elements filter light, create shade, and respond naturally to the climate.

Inside, spaces unfold as immersive environments that connect people to place. The building becomes a repository for culture in motion, strengthening continuity, pride, and connection to Pasonanca’s natural ecology.

The result is a space that feels meaningful and alive. Where culture is preserved, celebrated, and lived.

Live Well, by Design.™

13/03/2026

Good design feels right. Great design makes you thrive. That is the DEQA difference.

We are officially live at WORLDBEX 2026 today until March 15, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Visit us at Booth L05 to see how our designs positively impact human behavior. We create environments that enhance well-being, joy, and purpose — ensuring every project empowers people to be healthier, happier, and more fulfilled through our Well-Living Design (WLD) framework.

Stop by the SMX Convention Center (Mall of Asia Complex, Seashell Ln, Pasay City, Metro Manila) to see the proof behind the design. We are here to redefine the standard of how we thrive through the Value of Well-being.

06/03/2026

How do you design a space where students can truly focus, when the city's energy is constantly at their doorstep?

At PHINMA Saint Jude College, the LRT 2 tracks run close and the tropical sun runs hot. That environment deserved more than a renovation — it deserved a reimagination.

Through our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ philosophy, adaptive reuse became our sustainability strategy. Working with the existing structure, we enhanced the Aurora Building with a "second skin" — a double facade inspired by the climate-smart legacy of historic Gabaldon schools — that dampens transit noise, filters tropical heat, and frames calming views of the outside world.

A building that doesn't just stand beside the city. It stands up for its students — and for the planet.

This is how design turns a busy urban location into a superior space for learning.

Live Well, by Design™

03/03/2026

The Hospitality Catch-22
How do you design a space that feels like a cozy communal living room, while managing the high-speed flow of a premium bakery, restaurant, and bar?

At Hatch 22 in Rockwell, that paradox shaped every decision. Th In high-traffic spaces, flow management is the primary determinant of success. The challenge was to house three distinct revenue centers within a limited footprint without sacrificing guest comfort or seating density.

Through our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ framework, we turned a spatial dilemma into a high-performance reality:
• The Narrative of Home: We reimagined the features of a lived-in residence—worn timber floors, aged balustrades, and drawers filled with "stuff" to create an immediate sense of belonging. We even turned the traditional family photo gallery on its head, creating a feature wall of framed “artwork” where the stars are the fresh loaves and pastries.
• Spatial "Compression and Release": To set the guest experience, we engineered a signature "Hatch" ceiling. You enter under low, intimate wood planks for a quick mental reset, before the room sweeps upward to open into a bright, social hub.
• Kinetic Engineering: The design does more than just look good; the ceiling planks generate kinetic energy as they transition into vertical wall features, preventing the site from ever feeling enclosed.
• Sustainable Prosperity: This layout enables a seamless transition from a 7 AM bakery to a high-volume late-night bar without ever changing the floor plan.

The result is an airy, communal environment that invites guests to stay a little longer and return more often. This is how design turns a complex F&B dilemma into an effortless, high-performance guest experience.

Live Well, by Design™

01/03/2026

How do you design a co-working space that feels as good as the destination it's in?

For resort developers, the digital nomad and remote worker market represents a powerful and growing opportunity. But capturing it requires moving well beyond the utilitarian arrangement of desks and chairs. In premier destinations, a generic workspace creates an unconscious sense of detachment — one that drives high-spending guests toward competitors who understand them better.

At Greenhouse Siargao, we used our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ framework to bridge the gap between global hospitality and local heritage — redefining the co-working space as a cultural hub designed around the rhythms of today's location-independent workforce.

Tactile Authenticity: Terrazzo tiles echo the texture of beach sand while timber ceilings bring the warmth of the tropics indoors — replacing cold, synthetic surfaces with materials that feel genuinely rooted in place.

Atmospheric Layering: A tiered lighting scheme facilitates a seamless transition from deep focused work to a relaxed social atmosphere — supporting both productivity and the kind of meaningful connections guests return for.

Purposeful Zoning: Strategic layouts offer a full spectrum of environments — from high-energy collaborative areas to quiet, integrated niches for deep focus — ensuring every type of remote worker feels genuinely accommodated.

Sensory Connection: Natural ventilation and framed sea views maintain a living, restorative link to the landscape outside — keeping guests inspired throughout the workday.

By prioritizing human experience over corporate efficiency, the result is an inclusive, culturally rich space where guests are inspired to do their best work, forge unexpected connections, and stay a little longer.

This is how design turns a resort co-working space into a hub for inspired work and connection.

Live Well, by Design™

27/02/2026

How do you create a home that keeps pace with a remarkable life — while giving it every reason to slow down?

For a global entrepreneur and art patron, that question defines everything. A high-performance lifestyle demands a space that can match its energy. But true luxury, we've learned, isn't about display. It's about depth.

Through our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ framework, we shifted focus from aesthetic impact to emotional outcome — designing not a gallery, but a journey.

Spatial Narrative: The home is planned as a sequence of spaces that slowly reveal each piece of the client's extraordinary collection. Every room earns its place by telling its own story, rewarding curiosity and encouraging a slower, more intentional pace.

Boundaries by Design: High-performance, floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the line between interior and the lush landscape beyond — naturally cooling the space while letting nature do the deeper work of restoring the mind. Sliding doors extend living outward into gardens and external corridors, echoing the ease of traditional Filipino verandah living.

Adaptive Sociality: Fluid "Conversation Pockets," anchored by lightweight, iconic furniture, allow the space to shift effortlessly — from a private sanctuary for focused solitude to a warm, generous hub for hosting.

The result is a home where design and art don't compete with life. They deepen it. Where a remarkable collection becomes the backdrop for even more remarkable moments.

This is how design turns a vision into a conscious reality.

Live Well, by Design™

26/02/2026

How do you create a space where food, culture, and community come together?

At Davao's Poblacion Market Central, that question guided everything. Our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ envisioned Kukun Food Hall as a social sanctuary — a vibrant hub that celebrates ALDEVINCO Shopping Center's legacy as it begins an exciting new chapter.

Inspired by the spirit of the Kadawayan Festival and the rich bounty of the region, the space pulses with cultural energy. Flexible seating flows seamlessly from intimate gatherings to live events, while warm, crafted lighting keeps the celebration alive at every hour.

Kukun Food Hall is more than a dining destination. It is a cultural bridge — bringing the best of Davao's food, traditions, and community into one iconic, living space.

The heartbeat of a city, by design.

Live Well, by Design™

Principal Architect | Ar. Denise de Castro
Project Lead | IDr. Chi Servando
Design Team | Ar. Andre Villarico, IDr. Marianne Wamelda, Ar. April Dalangin and, Ar. Alison Estabaya

24/02/2026

How do you turn a narrow, curved, and irregular retail footprint into a welcoming neighborhood home?

At Amici SM North EDSA, our Well-Living Design (WLD)™ strategy saw opportunity where others might see constraint. Rather than working around the site's unique geometry, we leaned into it by transforming every quirk into a defining asset.

The L-Type Strategy: We pushed the kitchen to the rear to maximize frontage, creating an open, barrier-free entrance that is naturally inviting.

The "Piazza" Concept: We reimagined the dining area as a sun-drenched Italian square using timber, lush greenery, and wall murals working together to evoke an alfresco feeling, indoors.

Operational Intelligence: Every corner was considered. Irregular nooks became strategic storage; waiter stations were optimized based on staff movement and feedback.

The Gelato Gateway: The signature gelato cart, positioned at the foot of the escalator, turns passing foot traffic into a moment of delight — and a reason to stay.

Good design isn't just about how a space looks. It's about how it creates possibilities. At SM North EDSA, we transformed a challenging location into neighborhood favorite worth returning to.

Live Well, by Design™

Address

Roof Deck, Molave Building, 2231 Chino Roces Avenue
Makati
1231

Telephone

+639209504109

Website

https://ddc.studio/contact-us/

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