Creative minds and thought leaders from the Asia-Pacific region
Audrey joined LIXIL in 2016, where she was instrumental in leading and elevating GROHE, a LIXIL power brand, across Asia. Her pan-regional scope spanned 17 countries, including China, India and ASEAN, to deliver unique, relatable and high-result customer-centric branding and marketing campaigns.
In 2019, she was appointed to LIXIL Thailand, where she was responsible for the strategic, commercial and operational performance of LIXIL Thailand and developing all of LIXIL’s power brands - American Standard, GROHE and INAX.
Under Audrey’s leadership, LIXIL Thailand grew from strength to strength, including elevating the American Standard brand as Thailand’s Most Admired Brand for Sanitary ware by Brand Age magazine for several consecutive years. Supporting excellence remains key, including engaging the Thai architect and designer community at global events such as the World Architecture Festival and International Property Awards.
With over two decades of commercial and marketing experience in multinational organizations, Audrey has held senior positions at Electrolux (APAC and SEA) and United Overseas Bank (Malaysia). She holds a bachelor’s degree from University Science of Malaysia.
Antoine Besseyre des Horts is a French award-winning Designer with a holistic approach to Design and experience in various industries and markets. Throughout his multidisciplinary and international career, he has gained strong expertise in transforming consumer insights and companies’ strategies into brand-building, iconic, disruptive, and commercially successful products and experiences.
As Leader, LIXIL Global Design Asia, he leads International and multidisciplinary teams based in Singapore and Shanghai providing creative direction to translate Lixil brands' – such as American Standard, GROHE and INAX - strategies into culturally relevant consumer experiences, through product, packaging, environment, and communication.
He takes inspiration from everything he comes across: people, nature, architecture, fashion, art, design, and travels. He always refers to two specific quotes while he is designing: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” (Leonardo Da Vinci) and “People ignore Design that ignores people” (Frank Chimero). For him, Design is about creating experiences that enhance people’s daily lives emotionally and practically. Simultaneously, he believes Design to be a strategic tool to bring value at different levels within a business.
In December 2021 Antoine was recognized as a recipient of the A&D 40 under 40 2021 Awards. He has won numerous Red Dot Design Awards, IF Design Awards, Good Design Awards, Design For Asia Awards, A&D Trophy awards, ICONIC Awards, K-Design Awards, and Interior Innovation Awards. In 2011, as part of the Grohe Design team, he won the prestigious Red Dot Design Team of the Year Award; the highest Design accolade awarding the best team of designers across many industries and sectors.
He graduated with honors with a master’s degree in Industrial Design at the Nantes Atlantique Design School (France) and speaks French, English, Italian, and German.
Leading interiors at Elenberg Fraser, Melissa is driven by a deep understanding of brands, clients and the users of the spaces and places we create. With a background specialising in FF&E design (sourcing, production and documentation), Melissa's passion and attention to detail is fundamental in the curation and realisation of our designs.
Her pragmatic and organised approach, coupled with a breadth of knowledge in material and furniture selections, results in functional, well executed high end hospitality and residential environments.
Su Seam Teo designs high-end hotels with a steady hand imbued with vision, skill and creativity. As the go-to interior designer for some of the world’s top hospitality brands like The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong and Four Seasons Seoul, her body of work spans over three decades. In the past few years, Su Seam has ventured beyond Asia and taken on projects in Cyprus and Spain to break out of her mould. This evolution of her design style has attracted clients such as Alila, Moxy and Marina Bay Sands, to name a few.
While one might describe Su Seam as an aesthete and a purveyor of taste, who has the ability to craft visually striking spaces with intensity and nuance, it is her innate understanding of both the functional and commercial side of architecture, interior design and construction that makes her a bellwether of the industry.
Mr. Chansan has spent more than 15 years studying abroad in Singapore, United States and Boston, Massachusetts. In 2011, Chansan established Re : Edge Architecture and has directed the design completion of numerous notable projects in Cambodia. Chansan is a registered architect and his office’s works have been featured in multiple international publications and design magazines. Recently, he has been enlisted as the Singapore Straits Time’s 50 Asians to Watch as well as being certified as ASEAN architect. He has been named “the Rising Start of Cambodia’s Skyline” and in 2018, he won the “Personality of the Year Award’.
Swiss-born architect, Martin Aerne gained after a federal diploma of architectural draftsmanship a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Zurich University in 1995. Relocated to Cambodia in 2002, Martin was initially principal at the WEC International Vocational Training Centre in Phnom Penh as national director. He also established Aerne Architects & Associates Co.,Ltd. (AA&A) where he and his team have successfully designed a variety of innovative projects as well as won awards both locally and internationally. He has been professor and thesis advisor for Architecture and Urbanism at the Royal University of Fine Arts since 2013, rebuild philosophical and professional capacity of high standards and ethics. Since 2021, he furthermore lectures architectural design for the first masters of architecture degree in Cambodia at Limkokwing University.
Cynthia Almario, together with her sister Ivy Almario, founded ATELIER ALMARIO. An interior design firm that specializes in high end residential and condominium work, hotels and other commercial projects.
Their work can be seen in some of Manila’s busiest and most successful bars, restaurants, and hotels. But it is the quality of their residential work that has catapulted them to the forefront of commercial design.
An Atelier Almario project is always “IMPACTFUL”, the product of relentless pursuit for the best design solutions, delivered in a timely fashion at the right price.
Cathy Saldaña, an award-winning architect, is best known for her works in Island and Resort Development. She also designed some of the best commercial and mixed-use buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and offices. Largely influenced by her father who worked as an engineer in public housing, she took up Architecture at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Her work is often contemporary, modern-tropical, and a combination of mid-century and industrial style; creating stories behind every designed space. Over the years, she built a body of work with a distinct, creative, and environmental conservation imprint. She believes that design is not a gender-based talent; it is all about one’s mind, vision, passion, love for the environment, and attention to detail.
After pursuing her education in San Fransisco, Lea Aziz starts her career as interior designer in Los Angeles. Now, she become the figure behind lots of successful interior design projects in Indonesia, with airport project as one of her specialties.
As the head of Interior Designer Association in Indonesia (HDII, 2015-2018), she constantly shares her interior design knowledge through talk show or awarding platform such as Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA), Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), and many more national or international events.
Lea Aziz continues to influence interior design development in Indonesia with her office, Elenbee Cipta Desain.
Architect Richard Garcia graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and in 2018 was awarded as one of the School’s most outstanding Alumni. In the same year he was recognized as an ASEAN Architect, specializing in Commercial Mixed-Use Development.
He is the vice president and Senior Partner at Visionary Architecture or VisionArch, one of Building Design’s Online Top 100 architecture Firms in the world and belongs to BCI Asia top 10 Architecture Firms in the Philippines.
Architect Richard is also a Green Architect and the Architect-of-Record for two LEED Certified projects. He is also licensed to practice Landscape architecture and Environmental Planning.
Le Truong graduated from Hanoi University of Architecture in 1983 and started practicing in 1990. After 14 years of practice, he and his partner founded TT-Associates, located in Hanoi and HCMC. In architecture, Le Truong and his colleagues pursue rationalism, considering rationality as the source of knowledge. Achieving many high prizes in international competitions on the selection of architectural ideas held in Vietnam, 100 Architects of the Year, UIA (2017), National Architecture Award (2017, 2021), for many years in the Top 10 VN Architecture Firms by BCI (2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017). In addition, he was recently honored to receive the Acknowledged ASEAN Architect Award.
Giang Le was born in 1979 and graduated from HCM University of Architecture in 2003. From 2003 to 2009, as an architect, she worked at many domestic and foreign architectural and planning consulting organizations and state management agencies such as PTW Australia, CCI - Hanoi, and an expert from the Department of Planning and Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. In 2009 with her partner, Mr. Architect Nguyen Trung Kien, she established Gia Khang Architectural Design Consulting Company (in 2017 GKA was renamed GK Archi). In 2010, she achieved a full-ride scholarship to train for a master's degree from Viet Duc University, majoring in Urban Planning. In 2012, GK Archi expanded its development and established a branch with 100% foreign capital in Yangon, Myamar, and resonated in the Asia region. By 2017, she was the first woman to be recognized as an Asean architect and legally practiced in the ASEAN community. With her enthusiasm and passion, she and Nguyen Trung Kien have led GK Archi to become the Top 10 leading architectural firms in Vietnam (BCI Asia Award) in 2017-2020.
Pruitsatorn (Ou), the celebrated interior designer, earned the 2019 Designer of the Year title for his creative prowess in various design fields, from hospitality to high-end residential and co-creation workplaces. His design philosophy centres on "Non-Building Solutions," a groundbreaking approach that reimagines spaces sustainably. With striking projects in Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and beyond, his work gained international recognition. Notably, Airspace Huahin was shortlisted at the 2016 World Architecture Festival of Interiors, and Akira Back at the Marriott Marquis Bangkok won the 2019 Restaurant and Bar Design award in London. Ou continues to redefine interior design with his innovative and acclaimed creations.
Phaithaya Banchakitikun is a founder of ATOM design which established in 2011 with the aim of developing the architecture that create quality of life in built environment for sustainable well-being living in all types of buildings ranging from small scale retails, single-family house to large scale multi-family residential, condominium, hotel, office, as well as special public buildings such as museums.
Rattawut began his professional career as an architect at Architects 49. After four years, he went on to pursue his graduate studies, focusing on the integration between architectural design and building technology. He attained a Master of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, in 1999. Upon graduating, he returned to Thailand and took on the position of a full-time lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture, where he remained for four years. In 2004, he returned to Architects 49, becoming a Partner in 2007 and was concurrently appointed Executive Director of Architects 49 (Chiangmai). He is currently serving as the Deputy Managing Director of Architects 49 House Design, where the philosophy of “Innovative and Integrated Design Specialist” is addressed with sophistication.
Leading interiors at Elenberg Fraser, Melissa is driven by a deep understanding of brands, clients and the users of the spaces and places we create. With a background specialising in FF&E design (sourcing, production and documentation), Melissa's passion and attention to detail is fundamental in the curation and realisation of our designs.
Her pragmatic and organised approach, coupled with a breadth of knowledge in material and furniture selections, results in functional, well executed high end hospitality and residential environments.
Cushla is a highly-skilled designer, with decades of experience and a bachelor degree in interior architecture. She’s worked across a wealth of industries including luxury single residential and multi-residential developments, commercial workplaces, hotels, hospitality, luxury retail and wellness brands - with clients including WeWork, Snap Inc, Microsoft and Harris Farm Markets. She leads with an unpretentious approach to design.
Henri Sayes founded Sayes Studio in 2016. Practicing for over 12 years’, Henri brings deep expertise in villa and bungalow renovations, new builds and bespoke multi-residential to Sayes Studio. Having built two architectural homes for himself, he has huge empathy and respect for his clients.
A Registered Architect, Henri holds a degree in architecture from the University of Auckland where he has also been tutoring design since 2019.
At De Axis Architetcure Studio, the foundation of our works has been residential architecture, diversifying over the years into medium scale multi-residential, mixed-use, office, retail, and commercial. Our design approach draws on the handmade, handcrafted, sculptural form of modernism. We are interested in being socially and aesthetically progressive. This is evident in the highly individual nature of our projects which respond to the unique qualities of each site and client. We believes in creating architecture and interior design that captivate and move. A close and fruitful collaboration with clients, a precise design process and a tailored delivery guarantees that each De axis project successfully responds to the requirements of the brief.
Phyu Latt is a Burmese architect with 11 years of experience in architectural design. Phyu moved to Yangon in 2011 after graduated from Technological University of Mandalay, Myanmar. In 2011, she joined the architectural firm Spine Architects where she was involved in the design of commercial buildings, banks, warehouse as well as residential development. She decided to join Archetype Group in 2013, the largest French architecture firm developing worldwide, to pursue her career in an international practice and contribute to larger scale projects such as mixed-used buildings, resorts, high-rise projects and masterplans. Phyu Latt is now overseeing projects in Myanmar and collaborates to the development of numerous projects across different continents with Archetype France, Thailand, Mongolia, China, Vietnam and Africa. In terms of design, she is aware of the latest trends and follows the evolution of Architecture profession on a regular basis. She cultivates a sense of rigor and intellectual honesty in her practice of architecture based on a strict methodology and always keeping in mind to “do it with passion to put the experience of the end-user in the center of the design”. Self-driven in nature and with hardworking character, Phyu Latt’s has seen her work featured on BCI Asia magazines each year from 2015 to 2020.
After pursuing her education in San Fransisco, Lea Aziz starts her career as interior designer in Los Angeles. Now, she become the figure behind lots of successful interior design projects in Indonesia, with airport project as one of her specialties.
As the head of Interior Designer Association in Indonesia (HDII, 2015-2018), she constantly shares her interior design knowledge through talk show or awarding platform such as Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA), Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), and many more national or international events.
Lea Aziz continues to influence interior design development in Indonesia with her office, Elenbee Cipta Desain.
Cynthia Almario, together with her sister Ivy Almario, founded ATELIER ALMARIO. An interior design firm that specializes in high end residential and condominium work, hotels and other commercial projects.
Their work can be seen in some of Manila’s busiest and most successful bars, restaurants, and hotels. But it is the quality of their residential work that has catapulted them to the forefront of commercial design.
An Atelier Almario project is always “IMPACTFUL”, the product of relentless pursuit for the best design solutions, delivered in a timely fashion at the right price.
Cathy Saldaña, an award-winning architect, is best known for her works in Island and Resort Development. She also designed some of the best commercial and mixed-use buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and offices. Largely influenced by her father who worked as an engineer in public housing, she took up Architecture at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Her work is often contemporary, modern-tropical, and a combination of mid-century and industrial style; creating stories behind every designed space. Over the years, she built a body of work with a distinct, creative, and environmental conservation imprint. She believes that design is not a gender-based talent; it is all about one’s mind, vision, passion, love for the environment, and attention to detail.
Architect Richard Garcia graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and in 2018 was awarded as one of the School’s most outstanding Alumni. In the same year he was recognized as an ASEAN Architect, specializing in Commercial Mixed-Use Development.
He is the vice president and Senior Partner at Visionary Architecture or VisionArch, one of Building Design’s Online Top 100 architecture Firms in the world and belongs to BCI Asia top 10 Architecture Firms in the Philippines.
Architect Richard is also a Green Architect and the Architect-of-Record for two LEED Certified projects. He is also licensed to practice Landscape architecture and Environmental Planning.
Phaithaya Banchakitikun is a founder of ATOM design which established in 2011 with the aim of developing the architecture that create quality of life in built environment for sustainable well-being living in all types of buildings ranging from small scale retails, single-family house to large scale multi-family residential, condominium, hotel, office, as well as special public buildings such as museums.
Pruitsatorn (Ou), the celebrated interior designer, earned the 2019 Designer of the Year title for his creative prowess in various design fields, from hospitality to high-end residential and co-creation workplaces. His design philosophy centres on "Non-Building Solutions," a groundbreaking approach that reimagines spaces sustainably. With striking projects in Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and beyond, his work gained international recognition. Notably, Airspace Huahin was shortlisted at the 2016 World Architecture Festival of Interiors, and Akira Back at the Marriott Marquis Bangkok won the 2019 Restaurant and Bar Design award in London. Ou continues to redefine interior design with his innovative and acclaimed creations.
Throughout her career, Theeranuj has been responsible for projects ranging from hospitality to commercial retail located in Thailand and in various countries. As Vice President of Professional Affairs of Thailand Interior Designers Association (TIDA), Theeranuj engages in a network of its Professional practice. Among other social engagements, Theeranuj is thesis advisor at Bangkok University’s School of Art since 1993 and serves as a juror for Interior Architecture Thesis at Chulalongkorn University since 2006.
Rattawut began his professional career as an architect at Architects 49. After four years, he went on to pursue his graduate studies, focusing on the integration between architectural design and building technology. He attained a Master of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, in 1999. Upon graduating, he returned to Thailand and took on the position of a full-time lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture, where he remained for four years. In 2004, he returned to Architects 49, becoming a Partner in 2007 and was concurrently appointed Executive Director of Architects 49 (Chiangmai). He is currently serving as the Deputy Managing Director of Architects 49 House Design, where the philosophy of “Innovative and Integrated Design Specialist” is addressed with sophistication.
Tatsaya has knowledge and professional backgrounds in Landscape architecture, Urban design, Real estate management and Digital business management.
With her diverse design knowledge, Tatsaya has over 20 years experience in design consultant to support design solutions with initiative & implementation to A&Ds, project owners and hotel operators for hospitality, commercial and residential segment across domestic and international markets.
Le Truong graduated from Hanoi University of Architecture in 1983 and started practicing in 1990. After 14 years of practice, he and his partner founded TT-Associates, located in Hanoi and HCMC. In architecture, Le Truong and his colleagues pursue rationalism, considering rationality as the source of knowledge. Achieving many high prizes in international competitions on the selection of architectural ideas held in Vietnam, 100 Architects of the Year, UIA (2017), National Architecture Award (2017, 2021), for many years in the Top 10 VN Architecture Firms by BCI (2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017). In addition, he was recently honored to receive the Acknowledged ASEAN Architect Award.
Giang Le was born in 1979 and graduated from HCM University of Architecture in 2003. From 2003 to 2009, as an architect, she worked at many domestic and foreign architectural and planning consulting organizations and state management agencies such as PTW Australia, CCI - Hanoi, and an expert from the Department of Planning and Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. In 2009 with her partner, Mr. Architect Nguyen Trung Kien, she established Gia Khang Architectural Design Consulting Company (in 2017 GKA was renamed GK Archi). In 2010, she achieved a full-ride scholarship to train for a master's degree from Viet Duc University, majoring in Urban Planning. In 2012, GK Archi expanded its development and established a branch with 100% foreign capital in Yangon, Myamar, and resonated in the Asia region. By 2017, she was the first woman to be recognized as an Asean architect and legally practiced in the ASEAN community. With her enthusiasm and passion, she and Nguyen Trung Kien have led GK Archi to become the Top 10 leading architectural firms in Vietnam (BCI Asia Award) in 2017-2020.