Lagen Island Resort

WATG, a leader in integrated luxury hospitality design, has completed the final phase of its landmark renovation of Lagen Island Resort, El Nido, a 42-key private island retreat on the northwestern tip of Palawan in The Philippines.

Setting a new benchmark for eco-sanctuaries in South East Asia through a preservation-first approach, WATG collaborated with Filipino developer Ayala Land Hospitality to create Lagen Island Resort. The vision for the project is rooted in authentic local design narratives, and a deep immersion into the islands’ breathtaking topography—without compromising on luxury guest experience. Set across 6 hectares, the resort features a waterfront arrival building, 42 water villas and forest rooms, a spa, a sunset bar, a dive center, and a chapel. WATG’s multidisciplinary approach spanned advisory, architecture, and interiors by their design studio, Wimberly Interiors.

Design as Preservation
Nestled amongst majestic limestone cliffs shaped by time, turquoise waters, and lush tropical rainforests, the resort has long served as a refuge for travelers seeking serenity and a deep connection with nature. WATG’s integrated design team embraced their role as ‘guardians of Lagen Island,’ through a multifaceted sustainable design approach that ensures the resort will remain integral to Lagen’s ecosystem for generations to come.

WATG’s preservation-first approach prioritized structural conservation. Nearly all the building structures of the former resort were retained, dramatically reducing environmental impact by removing the need for excessive demolition and reconstruction, while protecting biodiversity. WATG also explored innovative ways to ensure material reuse beyond structural conservation, which included integrating existing nara wood flooring, carefully repurposed into feature wall paneling. ​

Traditional Filipino Craftsmanship
Lagen Island Resort underscores WATG’s approach to regionally specific design, taking inspiration from locally sourced materials and Filipino heritage and craftsmanship, in particular, weaving and carving. In Palawan, weaving is a living testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the island’s tribes: for generations these techniques have been passed down, each with a unique story of heritage and tradition. Similarly, carving is a revered craft among local tribes, celebrated as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, telling stories of ancestry, mythology and tradition.

Exquisite weaving, carving patterns, and traditional motifs have been thoughtfully woven into WATG and Wimberly Interiors’ design vocabulary, celebrating and preserving the region’s timeless artistry through their integration across architectural elements, furniture, and textiles. Guests are welcomed into an arrival hall inspired by the region’s traditional Paraw boats, adorned with hand-carved wood and ceramic beadwork that echo the geometric rhythms of Sawali patterns. Within the rooms, intricate woven textures and finely crafted woodwork pay homage to the richness of Filipino craftsmanship. Architectural references to the traditional Filipino house, the bahay kubo, are also reinterpreted through wall treatments and partitions inspired by vernacular forms, while indigenous motifs from the Tagbanua, Tausug, and Maranao peoples subtly thread through the interiors, grounding the spaces in the cultural heritage of the Philippines.

Design: WATG and Wimberly Interiors
Photography: courtesy of WATG & Wimberly Interiors