The Drawing Board

Upping the Game: Gaming’s Evolution in Entertainment Spaces

When you think of gaming, the kind you find in real life, what comes to mind? Roulette tables? Windowless casinos? All-you-can-eat buffets? While you can certainly find that, WATG believes that gaming has upped its game to elevate the customer experience into the world of entertainment. 5-star treatment where even thinking is effortless from the moment you arrive is a given—and that includes getting to and from that perfect lucky parking spot. So how is the entertainment space pushing boundaries and creating spaces that go beyond expectations? What is the ultimate goal? What are the psychological and emotional components that need to be satisfied when creating a social space and what materials or design elements are key to achieving that? 

In this episode, Monita is joined by Mark Yoshizaki, Managing Principal of Architecture at WATG. With close to 2 decades of experience, Mark has worked on numerous notable hospitality, leisure, and entertainment projects throughout the Middle East, the United States, and the Caribbean; a couple of which include the Mohegan Sun Phase III Expansion which is a 1,000 room hotel and casino expansion that includes retail, dining and entertainment venues; as well as the Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Hotel Resort, a 2,500-room resort hotel with a 750,000-square-foot podium containing a casino, retail, dining, and entertainment facilities. 

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

So you Bought a Private Island; What Next?

What goes into creating a place that becomes a chosen space to live, to explore, to rest? Where do you even begin, how do you avoid sameness? And what are the crucial building blocks that must be present in order to ensure a destination is one that lasts?

In this episode, Monita is joined by Rob Sykes, Studio Director, Advisory Services, London, and Guy Cooke. Studio Director, Advisory Services, Singapore. Rob is a real estate economist whose extensive knowledge of the hospitality sector in global markets equips developers, investors, hospitality operators, and other stakeholders with the tools needed for effective project planning. Guy focuses on market analysis, development strategy, and financial feasibility for the hotel, resort, branded residential, mixed-use, and attraction sectors. He is an avid follower of lifestyle trends and market insights. Both collaborate with WATG’s design teams to ensure creative and future-proof solutions for clients.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

Beyond Greenwashing

Our Earth Day episode. The nature of human beings is the need to build, grow, and change, to find new landscapes and terrain on which to call our own. The desire for legacy, for impact, is huge. What kind of architectural styles and techniques can help not hinder our planet? And what can architects and interior designers learn from the intelligence of nature? Chiara Calufetti-Lim, Principal at WATG, discusses the issue of how we satisfy an innate human need with the challenges and pressures already felt by the environment.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

Designing for Fun

We discuss designing for fun with Senior Master Planner, Dan Hinch. So much of what we talk about these days, and so much of what is on our minds, is serious stuff. Even when it comes to hospitality design, we tend to focus on wellness, sustainability, and comfort – which are all important, of course. But what about fun? Where does that fit into the architecture and design process? How do you create a fun experience? After all, fun isn’t just for kids.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

The Architect of the Future, Part 2

In the latest episode, we spoke with Monica Cuervo who, with 30 years of experience at WATG, shared with us her perspective on what skills and talents are needed for architects, both present and future, to succeed in an ever-evolving landscape and climate. In part 2 of this discussion, we have a similar conversation but from the perspective of an architect who is considered one of WATG’s rising stars – Nora Pui, Senior Project Designer, based in our Singapore office.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

The Architect of the Future, Part 1

The built landscape is a reflection of us, of our need to develop, to grow, to live, to thrive, and to be remembered. It is also a reflection of our relationship to our environment. Architects and interior designers have always been translators between a need and a vision. Today, they are also leading the way in helping us change the way we relate to our environment towards a more sustainable and respectful relationship. The challenges facing architects today are vast and complex. What about the architect of the future? We get back to basics and ask what makes a good architect. How is talent defined? How are conversations between design teams and clients changing? And what will the architect of the future need to be ready for? Monita is joined by Monica Cuervo, Managing Director, Americas.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

Redefining Luxury

Opulent. Grand. Expensive. Aspirational.. Words that were once used to describe luxury. But what words would architects and interior designers use today? What does luxury mean? How has the pandemic reshaped our perspective and redefined our vision of what luxury hospitality really means?

In this episode of The Drawing Board, Monita Rajpal is joined by Rachel Johnson and Jeremy Heyes. As Studio Director of Wimberly Interiors, Rachel is experienced in advising on new innovative design techniques that introduce individuality to projects. Jeremy, Senior Vice President at WATG, has over 35 years of experience in master planning and architecture and an extensive background in design and project management.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat

How do you Relocate a Capital City?

How do you rebuild one of the world’s most overpopulated capitals? And what happens to the old one?

The city of Jakarta will no longer be the capital of Indonesia with plans to relocate the government to Kalimantan in Borneo. The new capital, named Nusantara, is a bid to redistribute wealth and create a new ‘center of economic gravity’. So, How do you conceive an entirely new capital city? What are the main factors that architects and master planners need to consider? And what are the challenges ahead?

In Episode 2, Monita Rajpal is joined by Chris Panfil, Vice President and Director of Planning and Urban Design at WATG. Chris’s work has included master planning and urban design for new communities, resort towns and villages, as well as planning strategies for cultural tourism destinations. His work has taken him throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America, including Brazil. Chris joins us from our Singapore studio.

Follow us: Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat