A LUXURY car descends from the ceiling as with acrobats flying on a trapeze. The life story of a debutante can be viewed on five giant screens around the ballroom. Watch a fashion show with the lights and sounds in perfect synchronicity and moving orbs spin above while following the models. Listen to a performance where the actor practically whispers but the sound lucidly reaches the end of the hall. The Makati Shangri-La?s newly renovated Rizal Ballroom has been girded for every imaginable use, especially with the installation of the latest technology. Not even ballrooms in other countries can match this standard, says an industry source.

With a capacity of 1,500, this transformable events space caters to weddings, formal functions, fashion shows, dinner-theaters and product launches.

?The ballroom has been around for a long time and it was dark. It needed newness by making it shine like a jewel box. The guests are meant to stand out like jewels. They deserve an opulent vault to hold their party,? explains Justin Kwok of the Hong Kong-based firm LRF Designers Limited.

The premise of the design was to have convertibility, hence many of the practical features of the ballroom are removable or can be added on. The new look is also in keeping with the hotel?s image of luxury. A lighter but vibrant color palette and floating mirrored wall panels are the main elements that make ballroom space exude a contemporary vibe.

Throughout the interior design of the hotel, there is a continuous sense of place to guests exuded by the warm atmosphere and the tropical foliage patterns on the walls, carpets and furniture. Floral patterns are carried on from the stairway, to the pre-function area to the ballroom in different materials. On the winding staircase on the west side of the hotel, even the accent mirrored wall is embossed with flowers. The tufted carpet is in deep burgundy so that guests, particularly newlywed couples, can stand out when they pose for photographs on the stairwell. Kwok adds that the colors of the carpet gradually change in the different areas.

Since the Rizal Ballroom will change its table and chair arrangements many times in the week, depending on the event, the background design should be fabulous. The details give a grander yet intimate feel. It starts with the moldings and trim that help bring large expanses of wall space into elegant symmetry.

Character

Colors and textures not only enhance but they also add character. For instance, there are combinations of copper, burgundy with golden yellow floral patterns set against white and champagne gold walls, with a third color for the architectural trim. For a finished look, wall spaces are either integrated with baroque woodwork, inspired by traditional Philippine carvings, or covered with rich fabrics suffused with rococo patterns. Tufted embossed leather doors are embellished with huge bronze handles shaped like twirling ends of a ribbon.
The ceiling also adds drama. Chandeliers were generously embellished with swags of crystals. Since the ballroom is often booked for weddings, the main chandelier, made from Murano glass, is partially concealed by layers of drop crystals. Kwok was inspired by the pearl headpiece, worn by the Chinese bride, which is opened up by her groom.

Architectural mirrors bring in more light. Some are installed near the chandelier to reflect its gleam so that it would look like ?a flashing ring,? says Kwok. For more natural light, windows were installed on walls in the pre-function area. Guests coming to the hotel can already see what?s happening from outside.

?The ballroom looks like a music box which reveals a ballerina. Everything is subtle so that the guests become the focal point,? he says.

The audio-visual system is what makes the Rizal Ballroom different from the rest of the hotels. There are two high-wattage, state-of-the-art sound systems with powerful acoustics, which make the event more pleasurable to the guests. A digital signal processor equalizes or shapes the sound accurately, according to the size of the venue, whether the ballroom is divided into three smaller rooms or if it is used in its entirety. A section of the ceiling reveals the hidden projectors to cast images on five screens that also come down from their hidden compartments.

While many places control lighting manually, the Rizal Ballroom boasts a centralized computer control system for accurate synchronicity. And, there are over 200 connections for additional stage lighting. A flexible hanging system in the ceiling has also been installed if organizers want aerial gimmicks for their events. A linear hanging system around the ballroom enables organizers to change the drapes so that the Rizal Ballroom can immediately turn red, black or any color depending on the occasion.

With all these features, the Rizal Ballroom can be transformed the way a user wants to.