Opening the doors to new possibilities through design

MANILA, Philippines - The turn of the season calls for changes that could open doors to new possibilities and chances for growth. As summer comes knocking, ease into the mood of transition with a meaningful and enjoyable project such as a home or office renovation.

In ideal timing, the country’s leading events and exhibition organizer Worldbex Services International returns this year for the highly anticipated 20th Philippine Building and Construction Exposition or simply, Worldbex.

Slated to take place on March 11 to 15, the trade show will cover a total exhibition area of 30,000 sqm at the combined venues of World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), WTCMM East Wing A & B, and the Philippine Trade Training Center.

A global design and construction hub

Bannering the theme of “Building Visions in the Realm of ASEAN Integration,” this year’s Worldbex will be all about showcasing what the ASEAN region has to offer. Which means that visitors who are looking to find anything, from inspiration and advice to actual products and services, will surely have their needs and wants met at the five-day expo.

Moreover, as Worldbex celebrates its 20th year, a bigger and bolder installment can be expected. With 500 participating companies and close to 200 booths of international representatives including Australia, Singapore, the US, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, China, Germany, Brunei, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Spain, this year’s Worldbex is easily the biggest one-stop shop for design and construction enthusiasts who are seeking to discover new products and services in the global market.

For a dose of some serious design inspiration and not to mention, a convenient opportunity to get in touch with some of the country’s top architects and designers, visitors can head to the Archictect’s Gallery and the Interior Designer’s Gallery which will be showcasing a spectrum of interior design vignettes by the Philippine Institute of Interior Design.

There is also the Furniture Pavillion which will be mounted in partnership with the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines. Here, visitors can set their sights on the most captivating and trend-setting creations by the country’s biggest furniture manufacturers and exporters.

Meanwhile, art lovers and those in the process of redecorating and beautifying their spaces will delight in the Art Pavillion. Add depth and character to your space as you choose among spirited works of art from the local art scene. Plus, Southeast Asian artisans will also be holding a capsule art fair during the expo.

Inspiration and wisdom abound

Apart from booths and pavillions, several pocket events and activities will punctuate the expo. Making the visit truly worth one’s time is the annual Obra Maestra Competition. Held in cooperation with the Council of Interior Design Educators and Wilcon Depot, 11 schools will be competing for this year’s title. Attendees can definitely gather a handful of design inspiration from this event.

Plus, Worldbex will be launching two new events for this year, namely, the PALA Design Competition which will set the platform in which landscape architecture students can showcase their skills and talents as they transform the outdoor lawn of the event grounds into works of art. And to highlight the outstanding product and design innovations from the exhibitors, the first-ever Worldbex Lab will be showcasing a curated selection of displays at the main lobby of the event.

Lastly, adding an even more exploratory dimension to the exposition is the much-anticipated Worldbex seminars. 12 international and locally renowned speakers will be discussing the most pressing issues of the industry as well as insightful presentations to further enlighten us.

Some of the topics include Urban Design and the Greening Cities: Design Trends and Technologies, The Value of our Heritage in Interior Design, Designing Communal Spaces in Urban Residential Developments: Maximizing the Potential of Landscape Design, Diversified Architectural Practices, and much more.

Making changes, no matter how big or small can make a great impact in our lives. This season, shake things up at home or in the office by altering details here and there. Who knows what this could entail and how much it could improve your outlook!

The process could be stressful and tiresome but it can also be positively challenging and rewarding. Fortunately, heading out to the one-stop shop that is the upcoming Worldbex 2015 can be of great help and assistance to you.