Introduction and Interview Gabrielle de la Cruz
Images Pearl Robles and Adrian Alfonso (8X8 Design Studio)
Being business and real-life partners may be difficult, but 8X8 Design Studio Pearl Robles-Alfonso and Adrian Alfonso believe that playing these roles can flourish hand in hand. The architects have been together since 2009 and established their practice in 2012, learning work-life balance before the term was coined into existence. “Sometimes it requires switching roles,” the couple shares. They also said that it’s impossible for their personal and professional relationships to affect each other, but it all boils down to being on the same page.
For Valentine’s Day 2026, we asked the couple to share their story of making things work—from building a strong family foundation to designing homes and spaces for others. Below is our conversation on their commitment to design, harmony, and being present.
Kanto: Hello, Pearl and Adrian! Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s start with the story of
how you two met.
Pearl Robles: Hi Gabbie! Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too, and thanks to Kanto for having us! Adrian and I met in May 2008. It was his first day of work in Joey Yupangco Studio, and my last day before I took a leave for my board exams. We met very briefly, a day to turn over my work to him. It wasn’t until months after I got back that we bonded over our shared interest in music and, of course, architecture and design.
Adrian Alfonso: It was funny, right? We were in between different tracks then; I was just starting in the office, and she had to leave for boards. When Pearl went back to the office, and I got to work with her, we started to discover that we have a lot in common. We got to know each other at different levels and timings. Since we shared a love for design, coffee, and music, sometimes we’d talk about design over coffee and music. Sometimes we’d talk about all three at the same time. Today, our conversation pretty much revolves over the same things. Coffee now, however, is stronger, and music calmer. Design goes both ways.
Do you remember the day you decided to start your business together?
Pearl: I don’t recall the exact day, but even before we started 8X8, we’ve collaborated on some architectural competitions. Our very first project inquiry was a residential project, that, unfortunately, didn’t push through. Not long after, we had another inquiry, which became our very first residential project, the Chromium House. That was 2010. I do remember when we came up with our company name 8X8. It was December of 2009 at Northgate Starbucks in Alabang!
Adrian: It felt like a hobby then, until someone requested an official receipt. We liked doing the work, but not the business side of it. We learned this along the way through family and friends’ guidance.
How have you grown as a couple and as individuals since?
Adrian: We are mostly together in the office and at home, and having our interests overlap for a majority of things allows that to work well. Beyond the overlap, though, lies own eccentricities that we try to explore together but not necessarily. These come in the form of Korean drama and post-hardcore rock. In terms of sports, we’re both lousy. So we share that without any issues.
Pearl: As partners in work and in life, there is this mutual support for each other’s success. We have our shared goals, yet we allow each other to enjoy our individual passions. We’ve also learned how to enjoy each other’s quirkiness, but we leave space for each other to have some alone time to be able to reboot and decompress. Sometimes we also choose to have alone time together, which we believe is quality time itself!
Work-life balance is becoming a priority in our society (as it should be!). How do you juggle time between your professional and personal relationships? Was there ever a time that one affected the other?
Pearl: All the time! It’s hard not to mix our professional and personal relationships. But when we are at home, we try our best to be present with the kids and with each other. Not only physically, but truly present emotionally as well. I try my best not to pick up my phone when at home, because time is fleeting, and we have this “last time theory” where ordinary moments can happen for the very last time without us knowing it.
As much as we can, we also try to spend or insert a little date before we start our work, or after a meeting, or while doing errands. Just the two of us. It may seem ordinary, but those are quality time together that I look forward to, and don’t take for granted.
Adrian: We jokingly call our kids Intern 1 and Intern 2. There is a thin line between work and our family, in the belief that both can flourish hand in hand. We try to explain our work to the kids by sharing stories, because the work is very personal. So far, this sense of balance works since the interest in sharing and the habit of spending time co-exist.
How would you describe your dynamics as a couple and as business partners? What qualities make your significant other an ideal partner at work and at home?
Pearl: Currently in the office, I do mostly schematic design work, and administrative/HR, while Adrian does the technical aspects of the design, and operations and training of our staff. Basically, he does the heavy lifting, and I do the fun part. At home, though, it would be the opposite. I do the hard work. But we try our best to divide and conquer both aspects of work and home, and switch roles when needed.
Adrian is a provider. He is very hardworking, committed, and passionate about his work. Whatever he does, he does it with integrity. I see qualities of my dad in him. At the same time, he is good at compartmentalizing, while I am an overthinker and an empath. I get easily affected, and when the stress of work becomes too overwhelming for me, he helps me stay focused on what matters most and how to choose my battles.
Adrian: I’m a thinking fast person, while Pearl is a let’s think about this thoroughly and dwell on this type. There are situations for both, and I think we’ve learned to give way to each other as needed. We design somewhat differently but in the same spirit. She tends to think of meaningful ideals, while I tend to think of how to make sure that a cantilever does not leak or something similar.
At home, it is somewhat the opposite; I play with the kids, and Pearl makes sure that diapers do not leak. Kidding aside, Pearl is a great mom, which is an understatement if you ask our kids! She is a loving and supportive wife. I only get to stand here now because she has been by my side for the longest time.
Lastly, what do you hope to achieve in your studio in the next few years? Life-wise, what do you look forward to doing together?
Pearl: I wish for our studio to grow not exactly in size, but in terms of quality and impact. I would love to see us build deeper trust and maintain integrity to our craft and to our name. Life-wise, I’m looking forward to being able to travel more together and to be able to build and design our future home together.
Adrian: We hope to be better designers for our own growth and for the growth of the Filipino design industry. We hope to design more homes that are kind and minimalist. And yes, the goal is a future home we are proud of! Together, we look forward to building our own home in the near future in the same spirit that we have started 8X8. •
