Words and Images UP BSID Batch 2025
Editing Gabrielle de la Cruz
“We are proud to continue the tradition of incorporating service into our capstone projects as students of the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (BSID) program at UP Diliman,” opens UP BSID Batch 2025. Their program includes a special course called ID 179, which has successfully turned over redesigned spaces for government and/or non-government institutions over the last two decades.
Batch 2025’s chosen beneficiary is the St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) Shelter for Girls in Quezon City, a haven for young girls between the ages of six and twelve. The shelter is led by the Sister Handmaids of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, aiming to nurture the girls through education, healthcare, psychological counseling, and spiritual growth programs.
Silay and kulay, which translate to “to glimpse” and “color,” speak of the student designers’ vision for the space. True to the project’s title, Design Through the Lens of a Child, the artworks and requests of the shelter’s young residents were the main drivers of the renovation. “Collaborating with the residents and giving them the chance to shape each of the spaces challenged us to translate childlike creativity into practical and artistic design solutions,” the students narrate. “We wanted to create an environment that not only meets the children’s needs but also inspires a sense of empowerment, safety, and belonging.”
With generous support from donors, sponsors, and mentors, and the dedication of skilled workers and the design teams, the refreshed spaces were turned over and became an early Christmas gift to the shelter’s community last December 17, 2024.
Brighter spaces
Setting the tone of the revamp is a cheered-up entryway, with the students refreshing the colors and improving the lighting to create a more inviting space. An existing welcome board was also redesigned by the students to introduce the playful atmosphere of the project.
What follows this is a multifunctional receiving area, which acts as an entertaining area for guests and a workspace for the sisters. The layout was improved for better flow, with the space dressed in homey accessories and warm lighting. An altar was also included to provide a space for worship.
The students brightened up the main hallway with a continuous and vibrant mural. “We also added framed pictures of the girls’ happy memories to remind them that they belong, as this is a space they pass through every day.”
Another mural can be seen at the stairs, which originally had no decorations or colors. The heart of the mural is Mai Mai, a little girl surrounded by flowers frequently drawn by the SVP girls. It also features a rainbow connecting the ocean, sky, and space to reflect the girls’ adventurous spirits and limitless potential.
Serving as the girls’ main work and play space is the multipurpose area. The students decided to split this into two to provide physical boundaries for the girls, with one acting as a quiet study area and another serving as a place for entertainment and recreational activities. Storage solutions, mainly shelving systems, were incorporated between spaces to hold shared items such as books and toys. Child-friendly and comfortable furniture was also added to the entertainment area, along with playful pillows and stuffed toys.
Organization and practicality were the priority for areas such as the toilet and bath and stock room. Going beyond design, the students addressed leaks and flooding in the bathroom by repairing the ceiling and retiling the walls and floors.
For the stock room, the students replaced freestanding shelves with labeled built-ins and a dedicated writing area to give the sisters more space to complete tasks.
SVP’s dining area was among the main concerns of the community. They wanted the space to sit people comfortably during meals, which was addressed by placing a 14-seater table. New cabinetry with labels was added for better organization, and the sinks were made more accessible to cater to the girls’ routines. Pops of color, including a continuation of the hallway’s mural, were added to infuse the space with more life.
“We also switched the layout of the cabinets for better mobility in the cooking area and chose low-maintenance and quality finishes for the cabinets,” UP BSID Batch 2025 shares. “We also did our best to resolve plumbing and electrical issues for safety and hand-painted some details to ensure that the space visually connects with the rest of the areas within the shelter.”
Bigger smiles
“Seeing Project Silay Kulay by UP BSID Batch 2025 makes me feel excited and blessed. I also feel like a Disney princess now! It’s clear that the students’ solution for our shelter’s interiors gave the place new life,” shared Sister Sheila of SVP Shelter. The students said that their journey was equally transformative, as their goal is not simply to provide physical upgrades but to inspire dreams and hope in the residents.
“If anything, this project reminded us of the power of design to inspire meaningful change,” the students explain. “It reminded us that our craft, when rooted in empathy and purpose, can provide solutions and leave a lasting impact.”
UP BSID Batch 2025 ends: “We hope that Silay Kulay will remind people of how it is to see the world through the eyes of a child—with every glimpse filled with wonder and endless possibilities.” •
