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Highlight projects

Luxury Mountain Lifestyle Resort

Our site, located on top of the Bavi Mountain and National Park looking over the might of the Red River, is spectacular yet peaceful in its setting. Memorable sunsets and spectacular mornings in the mist of the archeological area of the French colonial era will welcome the guests.
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Highlight projects

Sofitel Hung Yen

Inspired by the Hanoi Opera House, the French architecture acts as an elegant backdrop for the Vietnamese art and life to shine. Clean lines and strong connection with the natural surroundings, east and west, light and dark materials the design is a continues game of contrast that will follow the guest from, the arrival to the whole journey across the resort.
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Highlight projects

Dusit D2 Hotel

“How would Royal Pricess Tu Hoa receive and host her guests in the 21st century Vietnam?” With that challenging and dreaming brief from the client started our beautiful journey designing the city oasis. From a superb site overlooking the West Lake, we take an inspiring trip back in time learning about the royal times in past Vietnam to put ourselves into the eyes of Pricess Tu Hoa.

Who are we?

Established in 2016, DesignLab Architects & Designers was the brainchild of three partners who were passionate about hospitality, design and travelling – with a common goal to conceptualize and deliver projects with a strong sensitivity to place, culture and people. Backed by years of hospitality design experience the leadership established a dynamic and creative Studio environment that allows them to enjoy every aspect of the project from the first site visits discovering the site to the finished product.

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Our projects

We do not follow a predetermined design style, rather we approach each project as unique.

Research and understanding a client’s vision are a foundation as important as any other part of the design.

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Leadership

Alvaro

Alvaro Paredes brings with him almost 15 years of design expertise in the hospitality world. His passion for travelling and discovering the World brought him to Asia from his native Spain where he had the chance to work for notable design hospitality firm before co-founding DesignLab. Alvaro’s passion for travel, hospitality and design have inspired DesignLab’s story.
Alvaro sets the overall strategic direction for the studio, overseeing each project from conception through to completion.
His portfolio includes prestigious brands including Aman Resorts, Cheval Blanc, GHM, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, in locations as varied as Middle East, Caribbean , Asia and Europe.

Alvaro Paredes Palacios
PARTNER
Virginie

Virginie de Paeuw brings with her almost 20 years of design expertise. Form her native Belgium, her passion for new cultures and new design schools made her live in different countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Spain. Before co-founding DesignLab, she has worked for notable design houses such as Kengo Kuma Associates and Denniston International.
Virginie’s flexible style, combined with an interest to approach all aspects of the design process, instil in her the ability to create architecture and interiors with sensitivity and attention to the detail and scale.
Her portfolio includes prestigious brands including Aman Resorts, Cheval Blanc, GHM, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt in locations as varied as Mexico, Gabon, Tokyo, France, UAE, Bali and Portugal.

 

Virginie de Paeuw
PARTNER
Paul

Paul Francey is one of hospitality design’s most experienced and free-spirited figures. With over 20 years of hospitality expertise on his shoulders. He has a wide collection of luxury hospitality projects across the 5 continents. Before co-founding DesignLab, he lived in different countries across the Globe such as Spain, Malaysia Fiji or Macau.
With more than two decades’ experience, he has a wealth of knowledge in master planning, design, and detailing which he taps into when preparing concept presentations and design documentation before segueing into site visits and construction administration.
His portfolio includes prestigious brands including Aman Resorts, Cheval Blanc, GHM, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, One&Only across different counties and continents.

 

Paul Francey
PARTNER

Careers

We are always keen to meet people who think they might like to join our multi-national team. We have a friendly but hard-working work environment and are passionate about our projects.

We are happy to hear from talented graduates starting out in their careers, as well as accomplished professionals. Experience in hospitality is a plus, as is exposure to an international design environment. Most importantly though, we are looking for
team players.