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# BluPrint | The Leading Authority on Architecture, Interior Design, and Modern Design Trends

An authoritative archive of architecture and interior design excellence. Featuring innovative projects, design philosophy, and modern trends for a creative and stylish global audience.

## Posts

### [‘bioSignals’ Fosters a Message About Our Interdependent World](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/biosignals-climate-change-no-community-run-space/)

**Published:** October 14, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*bioSignals* is the new exhibition at NO Community-run Space. It’s a multinational collaborative effort between the Philippines, the UK, and New Zealand to comment on climate change. Each country took the theme of “resilience in the face of environmental challenges” and ran with it, coming up with perspectives that show off the cultural differences between the three.

!["bioSignals," a multinational art exhibit showing at NO Community-run Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191419.jpg "20241008_191419 - BluPrint")“bioSignals,” a multinational art exhibit showing at NO Community-run Space.For the Philippines’ portion, the focus is on the idea of survival and the effects of climate change on a country considered part of the Global South. The team of seven, led by Dr. Diego Maranan, combined these elements to create a “living laboratory” that triggers the discussion of environmental survival in a time of change.

“In the Philippines, where climate change impacts are often felt most severely and where resources for mitigation may be limited, resilience becomes the reality,” the exhibit write-up said. “Our decision to explore resilience was driven by the urgent need to understand and enhance the adaptive capacities of both human and ecological systems in vulnerable tropical regions.”

## **Nature Without Boundaries**

For the works featured in *bioSignals*, the team used *kangkong* as a common thread throughout the different artwork. The team believes that it represents the Philippines best due to its ease of cultivation and its place as a food staple in many local dishes. They see it as a “testament to resilience and adaptability in Filipino culture, thriving in the margins.”

![Shelves with kangkong being cultivated.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191455.jpg "20241008_191455 - BluPrint")Shelves with kangkong being cultivated. “Our exhibition tells the story of kangkong through collected plant signals, environmental adaptations, and cultural connotations,” the write-up said. “This exhibition harnesses the silent language of plants, transforming biological processes into a dialogue that transcends geographical boundaries.”

![Plants of kangkong in milk cartons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191341.jpg "20241008_191341 - BluPrint")Plants of kangkong in milk cartons.

![Plants of kangkong in Tupperware cases.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191329.jpg "20241008_191329 - BluPrint")Plants of kangkong in Tupperware cases.

![Sprouts of kangkong in plastic cups.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191325.jpg "20241008_191325 - BluPrint")Sprouts of kangkong in plastic cups.

![Plastic basins containing plants.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191348.jpg "20241008_191348 - BluPrint")Plastic basins containing plants.

![Sprouts of kangkong in tin foils.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191353.jpg "20241008_191353 - BluPrint")Sprouts of kangkong in tin foils.

Portions of the exhibit showcase the growth of kangkong in different mediums. One sees it grow in plastic cups and milk cartons, from old Tupperware containers to yarn-works. It shows the dynamism of the human spirit, and the persistence of Filipino culture even in our changing climate.

## **Intertwined Life and Nature**

The exhibit art pieces in *bioSignals* straddle the line of art and science well. Its presentation looks akin to a cyberpunk-ish greenhouse, mixing luminescent combinations of colors together. Much of the works are uncovered, allowing viewers to really examine them unencumbered.

!["Life Between the Gaps" as exhibited in "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191232.jpg "20241008_191232 - BluPrint")“Life Between the Gaps” as exhibited in “bioSignals.”

![Close-up look of "Life Between the Gaps."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191236.jpg "20241008_191236 - BluPrint")Close-up look of “Life Between the Gaps.”

![The heart and a tablet monitor connected to it.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191243.jpg "20241008_191243 - BluPrint")The heart and a tablet monitor connected to it. 

The mixing of art and science leads to some vividly strange work straight out of a sci-fi movie. “Life Between the Gaps,” for example, utilizes an embroidered heart filled with small sprouts of greenery coming out in between. A giant ultraviolet light points at the heart that’s connected to a tablet monitoring its vital signs.

Below it, “Cycle of Decay” gives us a plaster of a human body surrounded by dirt and strands of *kangkong*. Red light glows below the dirt, and it brings to mind the natural horror of death and how it contributes to the life cycles of every being on Earth.

!["Cycle of Decay" for climate change-focused exhibit "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191300.jpg "20241008_191300 - BluPrint")“Cycle of Decay” for climate change-focused exhibit “bioSignals.”

![Top view of "Untitled 2."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191203.jpg "20241008_191203 - BluPrint")Top view of “Untitled 2.”

![Top view of "Cycle of Decay."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191313.jpg "20241008_191313 - BluPrint")Top view of “Cycle of Decay.”

![Side view of "Untitled 2."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191218.jpg "20241008_191218 - BluPrint")Side view of “Untitled 2.”

Another artwork, “Untitled 2,” showcases yarn-work with growing buds of kangkong coming out of it. It is enclosed by a small terrarium and surrounded by small petri dishes. Compared to most of the other mixed media works here with purple and blue colors, it gives off a sunlit glow emanating from under the table.

## **The Science of Exploration**

Adding to the sci-fi feel of the project is how *filled* with gadgets the exhibit is. Thick cable wires, routers, tablets, and lights decorate the scene just as much as the plantworks. It generates this feeling of exploration and examination, representing a lived reality conclusively found through repeated testing and trial-and-error.

![One of the works exhibited.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191020.jpg "20241008_191020 - BluPrint")One of the works exhibited.

![One of the works exhibited.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191222.jpg "20241008_191222 - BluPrint")One of the works exhibited.

![Two works exhibited at NO Community-run Space for "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191135.jpg "20241008_191135 - BluPrint")Two works exhibited at NO Community-run Space for “bioSignals.”

That’s something science and art has in common: the repeated testing and exploration of ideas before coming to a conclusion. It seeks to represent the unknown, whether metaphorical or physical or beyond.

*bioSignals* merges science and art in unique ways to craft a visual metaphor and narrative about climate change. It reminds us that in this changing condition, *we* as humans need to change and adapt to the new circumstances, moving beyond awareness and into action. And that the pathway forward is to integrate ourselves into nature better, not to destroy nature.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Mastering Resilient Architecture in the Face of Climate Change](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/mastering-resilient-architecture-in-the-face-of-climate-change/ "Mastering Resilient Architecture in the Face of Climate Change")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Climate change, Environmental Art, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### ["Architecture of Silence”: A New Book Celebrating Modern Filipino Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/e-mag/architecture-of-silence-celebrating-modern-filipino-architecture/)

**Published:** February 19, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Excerpt:** BluPrint, the leading authority in modern Filipino architecture and design, proudly presents its latest masterpiece: "Architecture of Silence." 

**Content:**

BluPrint, the leading authority in modern Filipino architecture and design, proudly presents its latest masterpiece: *“Architecture of Silence.”* This exquisite coffee table book is a celebration of intuitive spaces. In it, we showcase 18 remarkable architectural projects across the Philippines that redefine the boundaries of design and innovation.

![Architecture of Silence coffee table book in black and white.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEAOS.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(AOS) - BluPrint")“*Architecture of Silence”* captures the essence of silence and serenity within these unique homes. It is an ode to the profound impact of space on human experience. Each featured project embodies a unique narrative. They blend cultural influences with contemporary design principles to create environments that speak volumes through their tranquility.

## An Anticipated Comeback to Print

It was in 2019 since BluPrint released a coffee table book. Since then, the brand focused on establishing its digital presence. With much anticipation from avid readers, the time has come for BluPrint to produce new editions of coffee table books championing Filipino architecture marvels. 
 
With meticulous attention to detail and stunning visual imagery, *“Architecture of Silence”* invites readers on a journey through diverse landscapes. Explore bustling urban havens to remote retreats surrounded by nature. From the sleek lines of modern Filipino architecture to the timeless elegance of traditional design, the book showcases the rich tapestry of design philosophies that shape the built environment.

![Architecture of Silence coffee table book in black and white.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2023-February-FEATURED-COVER-BP-AOS.jpg "BluPrint-2023-February-FEATURED-COVER (BP AOS) - BluPrint")Among the featured projects are modern homes and hidden gems. Each possess anability to evoke a sense of calm and contemplation amidst the chaos of everyday life. These spaces serve as sanctuaries for introspection and connection. They invite visitors to pause and reflect on the beauty of their surroundings.

## “Architecture of Silence”

*“’The Architecture of Silence*‘ presents a common ground where home and peace merge into one entity that doesn’t feel entirely modest nor entirely stylized,” notes Geewel Fuster, Editor-In-Chief of BluPrint. “Mindful silence and understated architecture come to play with design, cohesiveness, utilitarianism, tranquility, and a humbling sense of serene, creating a fusion of home and genuine peace.”

*“Architecture of Silence”* is a visual symphony of form and function. It offeres insights into the [intersection of culture, tradition, and innovation in Philippine architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/). Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a design aficionado, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the built environment, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

BluPrint’s *“Architecture of Silence”* is available online via the [SariSari Shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-architecture-of-silence) website, Shopee, and Lazada. It is also available at the SariSari pop-up stores in Estancia Mall, Eastwood Mall, and Festival Mall and major National Bookstores.

**Categories:** E-Mag, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [‘Finer Pursuits’ Celebrates the Masters with Rare Art Auction](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/finer-pursuits-salcedo-auctions/)

**Published:** June 25, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

[*Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles*](https://members.salcedoauctions.com/auction/finer_pursuits_june2025) from Salcedo Auctions gives collectors an opportunity to acquire exceptional work from the past prized for their beauty as well as their scarcity. The auction will feature Philippine artworks and artisan pieces celebrating “the rare, the refined, the remarkable.”

![A person looking at some of the paintings for sale at "Finer Pursuits" in Salcedo Auctions.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_173411.webp "- BluPrint")A person looking at some of the paintings for sale at “Finer Pursuits” in Salcedo Auctions.This collection of works encompass a broad spectrum of brilliance across different mediums. Beyond their rarity, they illustrate the unique qualities of Philippine art and their signature figures, finding a *je ne sais quoi* that exists in past masters and contemporary works alike.

“More than an auction, this is a celebration of the Filipino spirit,” Salcedo Auctions chairman Ramon E.S. Lerma said. “\[It is\] expressed through masterworks by global Filipino artists and the visionary collectors who championed them.”

## **Rare Works and Collections**

*Finer Pursuits* focuses on works taken from both artists’ personal collections and private collectors. For example, included in the auction are paintings from fashion designer Auggie Cordero, which consist of two abstract cubist paintings by National Artist H.R. Ocampo and one portrait from Onib Olmedo.

![Artworks owned by Auggie Cordero for sale at "Finer Pursuits."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_1727130.webp "- BluPrint")Artworks owned by Auggie Cordero for sale at “Finer Pursuits.”“Friends of artists and collectors, he didn’t hoard but acquired only works he liked through the decades,” Thelma Sioson San Juan wrote in describing Cordero’s collection. “He was definitive about the themes he liked and the artists he wanted to mount on his walls.”

Other works by National Artists were also up for auction, including abstract expressionist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. “Florero,” dated in 1965, and “Paisaje en Azul,” dated 1967, showcase the evolution of his abstract form as he continued his exploration of colors, shapes, and figures. Another artwork from 1975, “View of Manila,” portrays a vision of the city in between its romantic, green past and its dense, urbanized future.

![A work by Fernando Zobel being auctioned.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_173608.webp "- BluPrint")

!["View of Manila" by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172840.webp "- BluPrint")

![Multiple works shown in "Finer Pursuits" at Salcedo Auctions.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172907.webp "- BluPrint")Multiple works shown in “Finer Pursuits” at Salcedo Auctions.

![Works by Sanso and Alcuaz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172645.webp "- BluPrint")

![An artwork shown at "Finer Pursuits."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_173558.webp "- BluPrint")An artwork shown at “Finer Pursuits.”

Masterworks like these abound, from sketches and paintings by Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, to paintings by Francisco Amorsolo, Juvenal Sansó, and José Joya. Of note is Vicente Manansala’s “Untitled (Carabaos),” which utilizes striking red colors in its depiction of carabaos resting in the fields.

![Vicent Manansala's work at "Finer Pursuits" in Salcedo Auctions.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Elle-Feature-Cover-2-scaled.webp "- BluPrint")Vicent Manansala’s work at “Finer Pursuits” in Salcedo Auctions.“With its striking scale and color, provenance, and unmistakable visual language, this work is a vital piece of Manansala’s legacy,” the write-up from the auction said. “It reminds us not only of his formal genius, but also of the cultural bridge he built—between tradition and innovation, between the Philippine countryside and the modern world.”

## **Elevation of Philippine Artistry**

More contemporary artists, such as Demi Padua, Arnold Lalongisip, [Rodel Tapaya](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/rodel-tapaya-showcases-his-work-in-solo-exhibition-may-tenga-ang-lupa/), and Geraldine Javier also had works for sale. It also has sculptures from Renato Rocha, Eduardo Castrillo, and Leeroy New. Collectors seeking a wide range of Philippine art history will find plenty to appreciate here.

![A work by Demi Padua.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_180014.webp "- BluPrint")A work by Demi Padua.

![A work displayed for "Finer Pursuits."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172854.webp "- BluPrint")A work displayed for “Finer Pursuits.”

![Three works shown at "Finer Pursuits."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172938.webp "- BluPrint")Three works shown at “Finer Pursuits.”

![One of the works shown in the auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172724.webp "- BluPrint")

![Two works shown in the auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172622.webp "- BluPrint")

Beyond the artworks, *Finer Pursuits* also showcases crafted furniture, statues, and accessories from different parts of the country. For people hoping to decorate their homes or offices with indigenous materials, available here are *bululs*, wooden figures of roosters, belts and earrings of indigenous origins, and a collection of daggers from different regions.

![A giant pathway being sold at the "Finer Pursuits" auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_173307.webp "- BluPrint")A giant pathway being sold at the “Finer Pursuits” auction.

![Two pieces of furniture being sold at the "Finer Pursuits" auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_172924.webp "20250605_172924 - BluPrint")Two pieces of furniture being sold at the “Finer Pursuits” auction.

![Some indigenous and localized material being sold at the "Finer Pursuits" auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_173319.webp "- BluPrint")Some indigenous and localized material being sold at the “Finer Pursuits” auction.

![Paintings and sculpture found at the auction.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250605_180342.webp "- BluPrint")

For others, there are aged, artisan-crafted furniture like cabinets, benches, and even the Neoclassical entryway used as the Holy Door of Mercy at a church in Mandaluyong City in 2016. They also have vintage vases, luggage, historic books, and religious memorabilia in the collection.

Salcedo Auctions won’t end their search for masterful works with *Finer Pursuits*. They have other plans in the pipeline, including the launch of *The Well-Appointed Life Experience*, which seeks to elevate “quiet luxe” to a “curated” global audience.

“These experiences—rooted in Filipino artistry, hospitality, and elegance—embody our nation’s unique take on living a life of meaning, beauty, and sophistication,” Lerma said.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Salcedo Auctions Unveils Catalog for September Edition of ‘The Well-Appointed Life’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/salcedo-auctions-unveils-catalog-for-september-edition-of-the-well-appointed-life/ "Salcedo Auctions Unveils Catalog for September Edition of ‘The Well-Appointed Life’")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What defines the “Hello, Home, Forever” theme of the RLC Residences Expo 2025?

The theme emphasizes the emotional and personal nature of the homebuying journey. It shifts the focus from technical specifications like bedroom counts to the “turning point” when a home finally matches the life a person has built, celebrating the search for a place to truly belong.

### How does the Expo cater to the “deeply personal” nature of finding a home?

The event is designed around the individual home seeker, offering an immersive property showcase and personalized consultations. It recognizes that every buyer’s story is unique, providing a space where people can connect with developments that specifically fit their future memories and growth.

### What exclusive incentives are offered to home seekers during the three-day event?

To reward the decision to commit to a “forever home,” the Expo provides event-only offers. These include limited-time discounts, flexible payment terms, exclusive freebies, and raffle prizes designed to make the homefinding experience more rewarding and accessible.

### Who are the featured speakers, and what perspective do they bring to the Expo?

The event features Heart Evangelista (Brand Ambassador), Charm De Leon (Finance Creator), and Frances Cabatuando (Home Buddies Founder). They provide a blend of practical financial advice, community-driven home inspiration, and personal stories about the significance of choosing the right living space.

### Where and when is the RLC Residences Expo 2025 taking place?

The Expo is a three-day celebration happening from June 20 to 22, 2025. It is located at Park Avenue in Bridgetowne, Pasig City, serving as a central hub for those actively searching for “the one” or beginning their homeownership journey.

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![Ateneo Art Gallery Ben Chan gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-4-1.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-4 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ateneo-art-gallery-arete-discourse/) 

### [Beyond Exhibitions: How the Ateneo Art Gallery Became a Place of Discourse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ateneo-art-gallery-arete-discourse/)

For 66 years, the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) has been at the forefront of preserving modern and contemporary Philippine art. Today, its home at Areté reflects an expanded mission: to extend beyond exhibitions to cultivating education and creative exchange. Building a Home for Contemporary Art The AAG was founded in 1960 after artist, collector, and \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Likhang-Filipino-Featured-Image.webp "Likhang Filipino Featured Image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/likhang-filipino-exhibition-halls-a-new-era-for-philippine-design-and-craftsmanship/) 

### [Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls: A New Showcase for Filipino Creativity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/likhang-filipino-exhibition-halls-a-new-era-for-philippine-design-and-craftsmanship/)

Likhang Filipino stands on the former site of the PhilTrade Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, a landmark that once symbolized the Philippines’ export ambitions and introduced Filipino craftsmanship to international audiences. Originally inaugurated in 1979, the PhilTrade Center was conceived as a national showcase for Philippine exports, with its longitudinal form and sloping \[…\]

 [![Abstract metal sculptures on white pedestals arranged in an industrial gallery setting.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/studio-view.webp "studio view - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/anton-v-quisumbing-pasulong-yuchengco-museum-makati/) 

### [Anton V. Quisumbing Returns to Sculpture at the Yuchengco Museum with Pasulong](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/anton-v-quisumbing-pasulong-yuchengco-museum-makati/)

Pasulong by Anton V. Quisumbing explores loss, longing, and repair. Two years in the making, Quisumbing pieced together the remains of bronze propellers from boats damaged in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in 2021. Curated by Miguel Rosales and designed by Caramel Creative Consultancy, the exhibition consists of twenty-nine compositions. The works suggest that moving \[…\]

 [![SoFA Design Institute Partners with IE University to Expand Opportunities for Filipino Design Students](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sofa-featured-image.webp "sofa-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/sofa-design-institute-partners-ie-university-filipino-design-students/) 

### [SoFA Design Institute Partners with IE University to Expand Opportunities for Filipino Design Students](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/sofa-design-institute-partners-ie-university-filipino-design-students/)

SoFA Design Institute has established itself as one of the Philippines’ leading centers for creative education. It is dedicated to equipping students with the skills, perspective, and confidence needed to succeed in design both locally and internationally. Last March 11, this vision was brought into sharper focus through the launch of SoFA’s academic partnership with \[…\]

 [![Filipino Designer Bianca Carague, Technospoonism, Milan Design Week 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Bianca-Carague-header.webp "Bianca Carague - header - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/technospoonism-bianca-carague-milan-design-week-2026/) 

### [Technospoonism: Bianca Carague Reimagines Kamayan as Avant-Garde Dining at Milan Design Week 2026](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/technospoonism-bianca-carague-milan-design-week-2026/)

In a platform that aims to overturn hierarchies and reimagine societies, a Filipina designer secures a spot at Milan Design Week. This proves that Kamayan, the traditional Filipino practice of communal eating by hand, can be recoded into a futuristic ritual. Every Milan Design Week, BASE Milano becomes a ground for eccentric ideas, transforming into \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Art Auction, Makati City, Rare Art, Salcedo Auctions

---

### [‘Palette and Perspective’ Links Art and Interior Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/palette-and-perspective-links-art-and-interior-design/)

**Published:** June 13, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Palette and Perspective* presented a guided gallery walkthrough and artist discussion arranged by space curator [Glenn Cuevo ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/the-streamlined-contemporary-style-of-glenn-cuevo/)and Interior Designer [Rossy Rojales](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/rossy-yabut-rojales-the-alchemy-of-space/). Held on May 24 for their fellow peers, it was executed as a way to expand the vistas of designers, giving an incisive and philosophical angle on the importance of art in design.

![IDr. Rossy Rojales at ‘Palette and Perspective’.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-19-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 19 - BluPrint")

![Space Curator Glenn Cuevo at ‘Palette and Perspective’.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-16-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 16 - BluPrint")

The events happened at [MO\_Space](https://www.mo-space.net/) in BGC and [Silverlens](https://silverlensgalleries.com/) Gallery in Makati, and involved talks from artists Gerardo Tan, Gregory Halili, and James Clar. Both Cuevo and Rojales emphasized that the project originated from their belief in the importance of artistry to defining spaces as a whole.

“Coming from an interior design profession,” Rojales said, “definitely art is one of the key elements to really elevate the space, and really make it more personal and bring the story in the project in a space.”

“\[It transforms the\] space from something functional like a sitting area to something that’s very personal,” Cuevo added. “And the artwork actually added that in another dimension \[or\] space. And, of course, now the space \[has\] personality, \[has\] certain character, and now the space, it’s not cold anymore; it’s very welcoming, and it’s very comfortable.”

## **Spaces of Inspiration**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-14-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 14 - BluPrint")*Palette and Perspective* came together as an idea that Cuevo and Rojales had been discussing since last year. Cuevo said that it was a gift for their architect and designer peers, a curated tour that allowed them to bask in different artworks whilst seeing how they work together in an interior design context.

Rojales, meanwhile, participated in helping make the event happen due to Cuevo’s passion for the arts. “When he talks about art, I feel like that’s something that I also wanna learn from. I like hearing his stories, I like hearing how he selects his art for his projects,” she shared.

The pair looked to collaborate with MO\_Space and Silverlens, galleries which they had good relationships with. Cuevo himself personally selected the artists who would be giving discussions due to the uniqueness of their artworks and how they work with space.

Cuevo selected Tan for his fusion of collages and paintings, and chose Halili for his distinctive shell-based piece. Clar’s integration of lightworks and sculpture earned him his spot in the event.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-7-1-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 7 (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-2-1-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 2 (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-6-1-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 6 (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-5-1-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 5 (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-9-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 9 - BluPrint")

“We want\[ed\] true artists, very well-experienced in the art world, to share their insights,” he said. “You share their profile, their body of work \[…\] and we can exchange ideas from there. That would be something exciting and something new. There’s something very fresh that we could do for art and the design worlds in the Philippines.”

At the end of every talk, Cuevo would show pictures of a room before and after artwork was added. He did this to exemplify the change in vibe that art can provide from a design perspective.

## **Personalizing the World You Live In**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-3-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 3 - BluPrint")The MO\_Space portion of *Palette and Perspective* included a talk from Gerardo Tan who discussed his art career and how he uses collages to refine his large-scale artworks. He shared his belief that art and interior design finds commonality in being sensitive to how you manipulate spaces. For him, every room should strike a perfect balance between the objects within it.

“ I’m pretty conscious of that,” he said, “like creating certain balance or equilibrium so that in a way you notice the objects, the space, the room, but they’re not imposing. I think that’s what I’m striving for whenever I create a show or even \[when I set\] up a room or when I’m working on a collage or painting. It’s not imposing itself too much on you, but it’s there.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-10-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 10 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-11-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-12-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-13-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 13 - BluPrint")

For the event, the building housing MO\_Space—home to various local and international furniture brands—showcased artworks by Tan and other artists alongside the furnishings on display. Gallery director Mawen Ong shared that each piece was thoughtfully selected and paired to demonstrate how art can transform a space and contribute to a calming atmosphere when curated with intention.

![Interior designers gather for ‘Palette and Perspective’ at MO_Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-8-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 8 - BluPrint")“We took, really, a lot of pains to perfect the curation, to put the right works in the right places, and send the right signals to such a critical audience, which are interior designers and architects,” she said.

## **A Dialogue Between Art and Space**

![Interior designers gather for ‘Palette and Perspective’ at Casa Bella.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-17-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 17 - BluPrint")The Silverlens portion of *Palette and Perspective* focused more on artistry. Co-founder Isa Lorenzo explained that the most compelling artworks—those that resonate deeply within a space—often come from the artist’s own inspiration rather than commissioned pieces. To illustrate this, she highlighted select works from Silverlens’s roster.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-20-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-21-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 21 - BluPrint")

James Clar, who was unable to attend the event in person, gave a talk through Zoom about the history of his sculptures. He spoke about how his work in different countries influenced the way that he approached art, laying out the complicated engineering that comes with his combination of metalwork and light.

Gregory Halili’s talk centered around the importance of inspiration in creating art. His expansion from the smaller-sized mother-of-pearl shells to larger sculptural works like the one featured during the tour came about from a need to fill a space in his home during the pandemic, allowing his muse to add, remove, and layer ideas within the sculptures.

![Architects and interior designers gather for ‘Palette and Perspective’ at Silverlens.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Palette-and-Perspective-15-scaled.webp "Palette and Perspective 15 - BluPrint")“I was never a sculptor, but I had developed appreciation late in my career,” he said. “For me, it’s during the pandemic that made me want to explore other means of creating my art other than painting. And that developed into my fascination with exploration of objects and building it up.”

Halili believes that art not only shapes the mood of a space, but also reveals a person’s taste. When used in interior design, it becomes a reflection of both the designer and the homeowner—offering insight into their identity and character.

“It’s really fascinating because art and design really reflects who you are,” he said. “As a person, as a collector, as a means to be comfortable in your own home. So whatever art that you present, it becomes personal, it’s an extension of yourself… Art and design really goes hand in hand; it’s a personal thing.”

## **Linking **Art**** and **Interior Design**

In the end, both Cuevo and Rojales hoped that *Palette and Perspective* allowed their designer and architect peers to get a glimpse of how to expand their design tastes to include artworks that may allow one to personalize a space. More than that, they hope that the similarities between the two opens them up for more creative uses of the areas they work on in the future.

“As designers, we want to understand the difference and the similarities of our storytelling \[from artists\],” Rojales said. “Because as designers of space, we do a \[type of\] storytelling ourselves. We choose \[and\] design the space, the layout, the things, the materiality, the lighting. But when I think about it, it’s also the same with art. They also design it with a space in mind, with lighting, with materiality, with color.”

Photos by Elle Yap and Jegs Santos.

**Read more:** [“Visions in Glass” Celebrates the Unique Artistry of Ramon Orlina](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ramon-orlina-visions-in-glass/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How can art transform a functional room into a personal sanctuary?

Art adds a layer of “storytelling” that shifts a space from purely functional, like a sitting area, to something with distinct personality and character. According to space curator Glenn Cuevo, adding artwork provides another dimension that makes a room feel welcoming and comfortable rather than “cold.” By integrating pieces that resonate with the owner, the interior becomes an extension of their identity, ensuring the design feels lived-in and intentional.

### What is the importance of ‘balance and equilibrium’ when curating art for a room?

Artist Gerardo Tan emphasizes that every room should strike a perfect balance where objects and art exist in harmony without being “imposing.” The goal of thoughtful curation is to ensure that while you notice the artwork and the furnishings, no single element overwhelms the space. Achieving this equilibrium allows the art to contribute to a calming atmosphere, seamlessly blending with the room’s layout and lighting to create a cohesive aesthetic.

### How does a designer’s process mirror an artist’s creative journey?

Both designers and artists utilize similar elements such as materiality, lighting, and color to convey a narrative within a specific area. While an architect designs the layout and physical structure, an artist like Gregory Halili might build sculptures to fill a spatial void, reacting to the environment much like an interior designer. This shared focus on how to “manipulate space” creates a dialogue between the two fields, making art a key tool for elevating professional design projects.

### What are the common mistakes to avoid when selecting art for interior design?

A common mistake is choosing art solely based on current trends or treats it as a commissioned afterthought rather than a piece of personal inspiration. Isa Lorenzo of Silverlens notes that the most compelling artworks—those that truly resonate—often come from an artist’s authentic muse. Avoid “cold” curation by selecting pieces that reflect the collector’s taste and character, ensuring the art acts as a soulful focal point rather than just a decorative filler.

### How do lighting and metalwork impact the perception of space in art?

As discussed by James Clar, the integration of lightworks and sculpture uses complicated engineering to add a dynamic, non-static element to an interior. Light-based art can physically alter the mood of a room, interacting with the existing architecture and “materiality” of the space to create shifting visual interest. This intersection of metalwork and illumination serves as a modern way to introduce sculptural depth while highlighting specific architectural features of a home.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, Interiors

**Tags:** Art, Design, Interior Design, Philippines

---

### [‘Here & Now & Now & Then’: The Way Spaces Speak To Our Being](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/here-now-now-then-rcbc-plaza/)

**Published:** June 20, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Here & Now & Now & Then* at [RCBC Plaza](https://rcbcplaza.com.ph/ "RCBC Plaza") is an unparalleled combination of ambition and scale. The artists for this group exhibition, assembled by curator Nilo Ilarde, take advantage of the hugeness of the space to really make the most of their artworks.

The vacant, empty office space used for the exhibit contains artworks that tell a larger story of what society uplifts and what it abandons. It’s mostly just an expanse of unvarnished concrete floors, pillars, and walls, ceilings with exposed wiring, and large windows providing a view of the business district as light streams through indiscriminately.

![Partial view of the exhibition space of "Here & Now & Now & Then" at RCBC Plaza.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121604.webp "20250509_121604 - BluPrint")Partial view of the exhibition space of “Here & Now & Now & Then” at RCBC Plaza.The exhibit exists adjacent to coffee shops, food stores, and a pharmacy—noisy areas filled with people, which makes the contrast of the large, quiet space where the exhibit exists more jarring and strange.

Cocoy Lumbao, Jr., who wrote the write-up for *Here & Now & Now & Then*, said that Ilarde couldn’t resist the chance to explore the meaning behind the empty space. It converses with the past and the future, the bare present exposing histories and possibilities from within the same area.

“What was here before? What is to become of it? The grey absence of coating and color does not suppress imagination but instead leads to a kind of abstracted thought, where both emptiness and presence lurk to conjure meaning. Its dark corners are also alive with elucidation. Each debris can also tell a story,” Lumbao wrote.

## **Dilapidation as Decoration**

*Here & Now & Now & Then* has nineteen different artists, including Ilarde, contributing to the exhibition. They all provide a variety of perspectives towards creating adaptive works that blend in with the empty unfurnished concrete of the space without losing their unique artistic voice.

Many of the artworks featured here mimic debris and construction materials. Some of these look like what one would typically find in an abandoned building; working together with the exhibit, the artworks create structures that cater to the listless feeling that the exhibition space provides.

![Jose Santos III's "Phermones" for "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121653.webp "- BluPrint")Jose Santos III’s “Phermones” for “Here & Now & Now & Then.”Some of the most unique works function as an extension of the concrete construction materials found in the emptiness: Jose Santos III, for example, has “Phermones” in the exhibit. This piece has hundreds of termite-like white bugs made of resin crawling up a wall towards a hole in the ceiling.

Many of the pieces certainly feel like construction objects tweaked just enough to not fully blend into the environment. It adds to a sense of abandonment; a liminal space of an unfinished project just lurking underneath the trappings of civilization.

Oca Villamiel’s “Bahay ng Mangingisda” is made of nylon fish nets that look like discarded insulation material for the building. Bernardo Pacquing’s “Quorum Sensing” appears to be a deconstruction of a wooden basket. Ilarde’s own piece, “Faulty Landscape,” is a giant open crate with paint tubes spilling out of the structure.

![Ringo Bunoan’s “In the Same Breath" at "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121712.webp "20250509_121712 - BluPrint")Ringo Bunoan’s “In the Same Breath” at “Here & Now & Now & Then.”

![Nilo Ilarde's "Faulty Landscape."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122530.webp "20250509_122530 - BluPrint")

!["Quorum Sensing" as shown in "Here & Now & Now & Then" at RCBC Plaza.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121818.webp "20250509_121818 - BluPrint")“Quorum Sensing” as shown in “Here & Now & Now & Then” at RCBC Plaza.

!["Bahay ng Mangingisda" by Oca Vaillamiel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122046.webp "- BluPrint")

Possibly the most interesting recontextualizing of the construction materials comes from Ringo Bunoan’s “In the Same Breath.” It’s an older piece from the artist where pillows that look like sacks of cement are arranged in a circle. The pillows have photographs of gravestones of people related to Bunoan—a personal piece of reflection from the artist.

## **Floating Through the Detritus**

Other works in *Here & Now & Now & Then*, meanwhile, display a contrast between the bareness of the space and the flashiness of their artworks. It’s most obvious with the works of Roberto Chabet; bright neon signs that flash messages both inspirational and cynical in its vague panderings.

!["Dwelling Place” by Pete Jimenez for "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121932.webp "- BluPrint")“Dwelling Place” by Pete Jimenez for “Here & Now & Now & Then.”Another excellent piece is “Dwelling Place” by Pete Jimenez. It is a series of stacking steel houses entrapped in an unadorned room; one can still see the cement blocks with how exposed the space is. The stacks of steel houses are illuminated by bright lights, crafting what looks like a prison-like environment inside the small room.

Elaine Navas showcases a quadriptych painting of the ocean with “Nothing Moves Itself,” the blueness of the work another bright spot in the greyness of the space. Acrylic paintings by [MM Yu](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/mm-yu-either-or-mo-space/) are colorful and abstract, with “if you could hear a pin drop 1-2” especially looking like color gradients one finds in a palette book.

![A work by Zean Cabangis for "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122620.webp "- BluPrint")A work by Zean Cabangis for “Here & Now & Now & Then.”

![Elaine Navas's work for the exhibit at RCBC Plaza.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121432.webp "- BluPrint")Elaine Navas’s work for the exhibit at RCBC Plaza.

![MM Yu's work for "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122627.webp "20250509_122627 - BluPrint")

![A work at "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122419.webp "20250509_122419 - BluPrint")

![A work at "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122455.webp "20250509_122455 - BluPrint")

Lumbao said that these works have a way of producing “their own kind of pattern, as if floating amidst the chaos.” It feeds into the main idea of the exhibition of how meaning changes in the works depending on the space where they’re exhibited, and discovering new truths about different ideas in the process.

“The paintings that adorn the dilapidated walls of the space are also seen from this peculiar vantage point,” the write-up said. “These works, whose subject matter and processes are deeply associated with the artists, can give way to new meaning because of their present surroundings and context.”

## **Removing the Rigid Walls in Art**

If there’s one consistent theme in *Here & Now & Now & Then*, it’s redefinition. The unembellished look of the space functions as a kind of tabula rasa, allowing artists and audiences to project their own meaning into the pieces. It gives a freer flow of ideas unencumbered by boxes and labels, instead being in conversation with what the space needs and desires.

![Two works showcased at "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122507.webp "20250509_122507 - BluPrint")Two works showcased at “Here & Now & Now & Then.”

![A work featured in "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121520.webp "20250509_121520 - BluPrint")A work featured in “Here & Now & Now & Then.”

![Moonwork featured in "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122150.webp "- BluPrint")

![A work featured in "Here & Now & Now & Then."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_121557.webp "20250509_121557 - BluPrint")

“The term art space has long served as a neutral descriptor—functional, even forgettable,” Lumbao wrote. “Yet today, it carries with it a persistent shift in meaning. It no longer simply pertains to a room, a gallery, or a designated area for hanging work. Instead, it signals a broader approach to art-making: one that values openness over enclosure, process over product, and dialogue over display.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Building Narratives: A Look Into Architectural Art Exhibits](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/building-narratives-a-look-into-architectural-art-exhibits/ "Building Narratives: A Look Into Architectural Art Exhibits")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does the “Here & Now & Now & Then” exhibit recontextualize vacant office space?

The exhibit, curated by Nilo Ilarde, transforms a raw, unvarnished office floor in RCBC Plaza into a commentary on societal abandonment and presence. By stripping away the “neutral” gallery box and utilizing an expanse of concrete, exposed wiring, and pillars, the space forces the artworks to converse with both the history of what was there and the possibilities of what might become of it.

### What is the significance of “Dilapidation as Decoration” in the exhibit?

Many participating artists created adaptive works that mimic construction debris or abandoned materials to blend into the unfurnished environment. For example, Jose Santos III’s “Phermones” features resin bugs crawling toward a ceiling hole, while Oca Villamiel’s nylon fish nets resemble discarded building insulation, effectively turning the site’s decay into a curated aesthetic.

### How do the artists use “construction materials” to tell personal or social stories?

Artists like Ringo Bunoan reframe industrial objects for deeper reflection; her piece “In the Same Breath” uses pillows that resemble cement sacks but are printed with photographs of family gravestones. This blending of harsh construction imagery with soft, personal memory highlights the “liminal” nature of the exhibit—existing between an unfinished project and a graveyard of ideas.

### How does the exhibit contrast “bareness” with “flashiness”?

While many works mimic the grey environment, others provide a sharp visual break. Roberto Chabet’s bright neon signs and MM Yu’s colorful abstract acrylics act as patterns “floating amidst the chaos.” This contrast emphasizes how the meaning of a work shifts based on its surroundings, proving that color and light can feel even more intentional when placed against dilapidation.

### What does the exhibit suggest about the modern definition of an “Art Space”?

According to the exhibit’s narrative, an art space is no longer just a functional room for hanging work. Instead, it represents a broader philosophy that values openness over enclosure and dialogue over display. By using a “tabula rasa” like RCBC Plaza, the exhibit promotes art-making that prioritizes the process and the relationship between the work and its environment.

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

 [![The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-2-1.webp "the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/) 

### [The Philippines at WAF: A Growing Presence in Global Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/)

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced its 2026 shortlist, with several Filipino practices earning recognition across a diverse range of categories. Across civic architecture, interiors, landscape, and future projects, this year’s selection reflects the breadth of work emerging from the Philippines and the continued participation of Philippine firms on one of the profession’s most \[…\]

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### [MQ Residence: Arkisens’ Layered-Terrain Home for Three Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/)

Located in Paroc, Pampanga is MQ Residence—a tropical-modern private residential home designed by Marikina-based architecture firm Arkisens, spearheaded by principal architect and co-founder Ar. Edwin A. Rivera. The project sits on an 834-square-meter sloping site at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. Its design emphasizes the character of the landscape, from its horizontal cues to spaces \[…\]

 [![Benilde Aseana City Campus](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-benilde-aseana-feature-image.webp "1-benilde-aseana-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/de-la-sallecollege-of-saint-benilde-aseana-city-campus/) 

### [Benilde’s New Aseana Campus Interweaves Learning and Creativity ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/de-la-sallecollege-of-saint-benilde-aseana-city-campus/)

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) will open its new campus in Aseana City, Parañaque. Occupying a 3,845-square-meter site, the new development signals a fresh chapter for the college, where architecture becomes an active part of how students learn, create, and connect. The campus will be named after the late Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr., \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Design, Philippines, RCBC Plaza

---

### [Mark Nicdao's latest #ShotoniPhone exhibit showcases iPhone prowess](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/mark-nicdao-shotoniphone/)

**Published:** February 27, 2018
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Content:**

In a sea of iPhone users, I stood on the sidelines with my android smartphone, stealing looks at and snapshots of renowned photographer Mark Nicdao’s #ShotoniPhone photos in an exhibit entitled, “Life In Style.” The exhibit, a collaboration between MegaStyle.Ph, Power Mac Center, and Moshi, runs from February 23 to 27, 2018 at SM Aura Premier.

While the exhibition features Mark Nicdao’s work on MegaStyle.Ph’s latest cover story with Power Mac Center’s brand ambassador Mari Jasmine, Nicdao also presented a collection of Europe’s cityscapes and other portraits.

![bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-art-mark-nicdao-iphone-x-image-1.jpg "bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 1 - BluPrint")*Presepi dal Mondo* in *Arena di Verona* in Verona, Italy shot on iPhone X“Taking pictures now is so important. Whatever the subject matter you have in your head, I think it’s the most important; and a very able phone can actually save the day if you don’t have a camera,” Nicdao said in a short speech before the ribbon cutting.

[Power Mac Center’s](https://powermaccenter.com/) Marketing Manager AG Constantino told me in an interview, “The cameras of the iPhone are the most advanced yet, so it works better even in low light—that’s why we have the set up here with dark background and contrasting light (light installation). So, the iPhone works well even in (photographing) architecture, just as what our featured photographer today, Mark Nicdao, showcased. Even in printing the photographs, you can see the details and the clarity of the photos.”

![bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-art-mark-nicdao-iphone-x-image-5.jpg "bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 5 - BluPrint")(Left) Athens Olympic Sports Complex shot on iPhone 6 Plus (Right) shot on iPhone 6 Plus## The technology of iPhone’s cameras

The latest iPhone breakthrough, [iPhone X](https://meg.onemega.com/2018/02/23/photographer-mark-nicdao-uses-x-for-amazing-pictures/), features multiple still photo shooting modes, including panoramas, slow motion, time lapse and portrait mode (plus the bokeh effect usually associated with DSLRs). Compared to the earlier versions of iPhone, the latest’s camera specs capture a wider dynamic range, and photos have excellent clarity and sharpness.

The cameras also has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which the older iPhone models don’t have, and even other non-flagship android phones. OIS enables the camera’s shutter to stay open for longer to let in more light, hence photos are sharper in low light.

**READ MORE: [The surreal ‘scapes’ of Jay Yao’s drone photography](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jay-yao-low-hum-drone/)**

![bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-art-mark-nicdao-iphone-x-image-4.jpg "bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 4 - BluPrint")Rue de l’Ancienne-Comédie in the district of La Monnaie in the 6th district of Paris, shot on iPhone 6 PlusOther iPhone X key specifications include:

- Dual 12MP sensors
- 28/56mm equivalent focal lengths
- F1.8/2.4 aperture
- On-sensor phase detection
- Quad-LED flash
- DNG Raw capture and manual control with 3rd party apps
- 4K video at 60 fps
- 1080p 120/240fps slow-motion video
- 7MP front-facing ‘TrueDepth’ camera with F2.2 aperture

“Even if you’re not a professional photographer, the interface of the phone gives you everything you need right off the bat. You don’t need any special functions. When you access the phone, you can see all the features—portrait, burst mode, even the videos—you can use to take stills. It’s really: open the camera, shoot. Whether you have extra lighting or chose natural light, you can actually adjust within the app,” Constantino explained. “The iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X have dual lens, so your photos will really come out better compared to the older models,” he added.

Undoubtedly, the advanced technology of iPhone’s cameras is one of the factors that drives smartphone users into using the phone. This is also one of the premises of Apple’s #ShotoniPhone worldwide campaign.

![bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-art-mark-nicdao-iphone-x-image-6.jpg "bluprint art mark nicdao iphone x image 6 - BluPrint")Shot on iPhone 7 Plus## The #ShotoniPhone campaign in PH

Apple’s #ShotoniPhone worldwide campaign is the brand’s way of showcasing the creativity and diversity of its users with only the powerful cameras on the iPhone as their instrument. In the Philippines, Power Mac Center, a premium Apple partner, first brought the #ThisIsManila photo exhibit, highlighting Manila’s beauty through the lens of regular iPhone users.

The #ThisIsManila photo exhibit was immediately succeeded by #LifeInStyle featuring Mark Nicdao’s photographs shot using the iPhone.

**READ MORE: [Tips for better architecture photography](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/architecture-photography-tips/)**

---

## About the photographer

Mark Nicdao, a graduate of Visual Communications from the University of the Philippines, started his career as a photographer’s assistant, gaining valuable experience and insight that helped shape his career to what it is now.

Based in Manila, Nicdao has built remarkable reputation and portfolio through his captivating, cinematic and provocative style and has released unforgettable works through local and international advertising campaigns and magazine covers, establishing himself as one of the Philippines’ premiere photographers.

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Europe, Exhibit, Greece, iPhone, Manila, Mark Nicdao, Paris, Photography, Power Mac Center, Santiago Calatrava

---

### [‘A Synergy of Ventures’ Showcases Collection of Post-WWII Artwork](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/a-synergy-of-ventures-post-wwii-artwork/)

**Published:** October 7, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*A Synergy of Ventures: The Postwar Art Scene*, the new exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery, puts into historical context the massive shift of artistry in the Philippines after World War II. The exhibition seeks to highlight the different influential trends in the country at the time, from modernism to abstraction to Neo-Realism.

The name comes from [an essay by Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez](https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/43/article/721044/pdf "an essay by Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez") that discusses “the role of women in the development of art in Southeast Asia.” This focused on the founders of the Art Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Art Gallery: Purita Kalaw-Ledesma and Lydia Arguilla.

For this exhibit, the focus is on another important figure of the art movement, [Fernando Zóbel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/zobel-the-future-of-the-past-celebrates-fernando-zobels-centennial/), who helped create the Ateneo Art Gallery in 1960.

![Fernando Zobel regarding the art collection he gave to Ateneo Art Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161751.jpg "20241003_161751 - BluPrint")Fernando Zobel regarding the art collection he gave to Ateneo Art Gallery.Much of the works shown will be from the collection of Zóbel. Other works come from the collections of the family of Purita Kalaw Ledesma, the Kalaw-Ledesma Foundation, Inc. (KLFI), and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“This exhibition offers a glimpse into the beginnings of artists who are now considered stalwarts in Philippine art history,” the exhibit notes said. “Some have also earned the country’s highest recognition — the National Artist Award. In their youth, their individual paths converged and helped pave the way for new ideas that have shaped the development of Philippine art.”

## **Redefining Philippine Art History**

The most fascinating thing about *A Synergy of Ventures* is the diversity of the movements it highlights. Its curation takes care to involve as many influential and important artists to its roster as possible.

![Anita Magsaysay-Ho's "Fish Vendors."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163436.jpg "20241003_163436 - BluPrint")Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Fish Vendors.”

![Manuel Rodriguez Sr.'s "Circus Horses."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163446.jpg "20241003_163446 - BluPrint")Manuel Rodriguez Sr.’s “Circus Horses.”

![Pandy Aviado's "Kristo."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163450.jpg "20241003_163450 - BluPrint")Pandy Aviado’s “Kristo.”

!["Black Machine" by J. Elizalde Navarro.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162618.jpg "20241003_162618 - BluPrint")“Black Machine” by J. Elizalde Navarro.

![Two works by Roberto Chabet.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162637.jpg "20241003_162637 - BluPrint")Two works by Roberto Chabet.

There’s the headline star Fernando Zóbel, whose birth centennial made the exhibit happen. But this also features other important figures like Arturo Luz, Lee Aguinaldo, Hernando Ocampo, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, and more. At times, it feels absolutely daunting to go through the exhibit with the large variety of works being displayed.

![Arturo Luz's "Kristo."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162414.jpg "20241003_162414 - BluPrint")Arturo Luz’s “Kristo.”

![Lamberto Hechanova's "Man and Woman."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162647.jpg "20241003_162647 - BluPrint")Lamberto Hechanova’s “Man and Woman.”

![Vincent Manansala's "Banaklaot" for "A Synergy of Ventures."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161904.jpg "20241003_161904 - BluPrint")Vincent Manansala’s “Banaklaot” for “A Synergy of Ventures.”

![Cesar Legaspi's "Stairway to Heaven."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161921.jpg "20241003_161921 - BluPrint")Cesar Legaspi’s “Stairway to Heaven.”

![Anita Magsaysay-Ho's "Sheaves" at the Ateneo Art Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162214.jpg "20241003_162214 - BluPrint")Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Sheaves” at the Ateneo Art Gallery.

But going beyond that curational aspect, the exhibit also showcases written works that highlight the importance of the pieces. From newspaper articles to whole artbooks open for scrolling, it gives the context of these paintings for the country. Art students who go through this exhibit will likely come out more knowledgeable about the prevailing styles of the time.

![Newspaper excerpts.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163151.jpg "20241003_163151 - BluPrint")Newspaper excerpts.

![One of the books featured in the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162114.jpg "20241003_162114 - BluPrint")One of the books featured in the exhibit.

![One of the books featured in the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162202.jpg "20241003_162202 - BluPrint")One of the books featured in the exhibit.

![Newspaper excerpts.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163200.jpg "20241003_163200 - BluPrint")Newspaper excerpts.

![Notes and sketches from the artists.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163224.jpg "20241003_163224 - BluPrint")Notes and sketches from the artists.

It moves through different movements of artistry happening at the same time. From modernism to abstract expressionism to neo-realism, they emphasize the different congruent phases of art in the country—and more than that, how they ended up affecting us in the modern day.

## **Fernando Zóbel, Figure of Interest**

Another curious thing about *A Synergy of Ventures* is just *how much* it features Fernando Zóbel. The works featured here mainly come from his collection, but it really does create a portrait of his importance to the period. It personalizes him to the viewers to make him relatable: one is greeted entering the exhibit with a list of his classes and grades while going to Ateneo de Manila.

![Fernando Zóbel's memorabilia of his time in Ateneo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161832.jpg "20241003_161832 - BluPrint")Fernando Zóbel’s memorabilia of his time in Ateneo.

![A manifesto on the creative process.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161827.jpg "20241003_161827 - BluPrint")A manifesto on the creative process.

![Fernando Zóbel's grades during his stay at Ateneo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_161848.jpg "20241003_161848 - BluPrint")Fernando Zóbel’s grades during his stay at Ateneo.

He played multiple roles in his life, from curator to painter to collector. This exhibit contains a multitude of his paintings, with the gallery noting what awards it won while he was alive. His paintings skewed closer to abstraction, taking cues from expressionists in his use of color and paint splatter.

![A description with artwork by Fernando Zóbel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162721.jpg "20241003_162721 - BluPrint")A description with artwork by Fernando Zóbel.

![Artwork by Fernando Zóbel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162730.jpg "20241003_162730 - BluPrint")Artwork by Fernando Zóbel.

![Artwork by Fernando Zóbel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162752.jpg "20241003_162752 - BluPrint")Artwork by Fernando Zóbel.

Even some of the works here feature him in action. A series of sketches shown in the exhibit, “Zobel Lecturing on Art” by David Medalla, portray his active role in defining art for the Philippines.

![David Medalla's "Zobel Lecturing on Art."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_162300.jpg "20241003_162300 - BluPrint")David Medalla’s “Zobel Lecturing on Art.”His collection goes beyond his work, however. Many of the paintings featured here come from his collection that he donated to the Ateneo Art Gallery, or from the Purchase Fund he established to help the gallery acquire paintings. The artists featured here spread across the world—not just Filipino artists but foreign ones like Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, and Georges Roualt.

## **Developing the Future of Philippine Visual Arts**

*A Synergy of Ventures* offers more than a lesson of history for its viewers. It reminds us that fostering artistry requires attention, funding, and effort. Developing our current future for art requires more than passivity, more than likes and sharing on social media. It requires the kind of focused intentionality that creates an environment of creation for artists in the country.

![Foreign art bought by Fernando Zóbel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241003_163306.jpg "20241003_163306 - BluPrint")Foreign art bought by Fernando Zóbel.Zóbel ushered modern sensibilities into Filipino art through his own paintings, but also through his efforts and funding ensuring that artists can create for another day. The exhibit works as a celebration of his legacy, and as a way of showcasing the influential branches that his undertaking allowed.

*Article photos by Elle Yap. Featured image courtesy of Ateneo Art Gallery.*

Related reading: [Drawing Room: A Complete Overview of a Historical Social Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/drawing-room-a-complete-overview-of-a-historical-social-space/ "Drawing Room: A Complete Overview of a Historical Social Space")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Ateneo Art Gallery, Fernando Zobel, Philippine History, Philippines

---

### [Lamina Lifestyle Fair Opens with Collaborative Art Couture Show](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/lamina-lifestyle-fair-opens-with-art-couture-show/)

**Published:** June 11, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair* was a three-day event held at [City of Dreams Manila](https://www.cityofdreamsmanila.com/en/whats-on/lamina "City of Dreams Manila") from May 2 to 4, spotlighting the latest trends in art, fashion, and design. A collaboration between [ManilArt](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/manilart-2024-filipino-artistry/) Foundation and the Bayo Atelier Foundation, the event features modern contemporary designs and art couture rooted in sustainability and heritage—offering functional, stylish pieces for today’s consumers.

## **Translating Art into Clothing**

![The runway for the art couture collections central to "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170301.webp "20250502_170301 - BluPrint")The runway for the art couture collections central to “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”A curated collection of artists, fashion designers, jewelers, and furniture makers were featured in the exhibition, many of which are small-scale artisans making hand-crafted works. The big spectacle of opening day was “Luminous Threads,” which debuted three new fashion lines from artists Francis Dravigny, Anna Orlina, and Bea Policarpio. Each portion had a thematic idea that centered around the voices of the artists involved.

![Art couture runway show "Luminous Threads" for "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_185226.webp "- BluPrint")Art couture runway show “Luminous Threads” for “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Fashion line by Francis Dravigny and Patis Tesoro.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_185015.webp "- BluPrint")Fashion line by Francis Dravigny and Patis Tesoro.

![Fashion line by Francis Dravigny and Patis Tesoro.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_185051.webp "20250502_185051 - BluPrint")

Dravigny’s fashion line, made in collaboration with designer Patis Tesoro, leaned towards both indigenous and traditional Filipino designs, integrating hallmarks like the conical farmers’ hat to its design. Even then, Dravigny’s tendency of creating patchwork textile art comes into play, creating a stylish line of clothes that still feels recycled and sustainable.

![Fashion line designed by Anna Orlina with the Bayo Foundation.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_190832.webp "- BluPrint")Fashion line designed by Anna Orlina with the Bayo Foundation.

![Art couture runway show "Luminous Threads" for "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_191108.webp "20250502_191108 - BluPrint")

![Art couture runway show "Luminous Threads" for "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_191159.webp "- BluPrint")Art couture runway show “Luminous Threads” for “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

Anna Orlina’s line looks like her sculptures: colorful and abstractly-shaped. It leads to some sharp-cornered silhouettes for the clothing, making the models look statuesque and reminding one of Brutalist building designs. The accompanying music for the show were some Christmas-esque doo-wop-inspired songs that increased the uniqueness of the pieces in the fashion line.

![Art couture runway show "Luminous Threads" for "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_192035.webp "20250502_192035 - BluPrint")Art couture runway show “Luminous Threads” for “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Fashion line by Bea Policarpio and Anouck Tantoco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_192101.webp "20250502_192101 - BluPrint")

![Fashion line by Bea Policarpio and Anouck Tantoco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_191833.webp "20250502_191833 - BluPrint")

Policarpio partnered with Anouck Tantoco for her runway show, highlighting different people with disabilities, putting them on stage alongside the models to parade the designs to the public. Their show was accompanied by symphonic music from an orchestra.

These three shows, overall, portrayed the key aspects of *Lamina* to the public: an artistic sensibility that allowed for uncommon ideas to stand out; a presentation of how sustainable fashion can actually be put in practice; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion that represents the openness of the Filipino community at large.

## **The Convergence of Art and Design**

A whole section was devoted to “functional and kinetic art” which holds different pieces of furniture—tables, chairs, benches, and the like—that also function as art pieces which speak to the environment that they were created in.

![Some of the functional and eclectic furniture in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170337.webp "20250502_170337 - BluPrint")Some of the functional and eclectic furniture in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Eclectic furniture being sold and shown in the fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170824.webp "- BluPrint")

![A curated area in the fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170449.webp "20250502_170449 - BluPrint")

![Four turtle sculptures.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170811.webp "20250502_170811 - BluPrint")

![Some of the functional and eclectic furniture in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170326.webp "- BluPrint")Some of the functional and eclectic furniture in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

“\[These works\] explore the dynamic intersection of utility and imagination,” a write-up for the mini-exhibit said. “Featuring works that move, illuminate, or transform, these pieces redefine how we interact with everyday objects in their multi-dimensionality, combining form and function, design and intention.”

A section for jewelry was included in *Lamina*. This contained a unique set of works that push the boundaries of shape and structure of gemstones in seemingly-singular ways. This mini-exhibit featured works from Helena Alegre, Marge Organo, C. Alexander, and more.

![Jewelry as shown in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_172124.webp "20250502_172124 - BluPrint")Jewelry as shown in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Some of jewelry shown in the lifestyle fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171748.webp "20250502_171748 - BluPrint")

![Some of jewelry shown in the lifestyle fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_172151.webp "- BluPrint")

“More than adornment, they are intimate sculptures that carry meaning, narrative and intention. They become part of a living composition,” its write-up said. “In this way, art jewelry transforms into a collaborative medium-one that speaks both of the maker’s craftsmanship and conceptual voice, and of the wearer’s values, moods, and personal mythologies.”

![Some of the curated art couture Filipino fashion in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171428.webp "- BluPrint")Some of the curated art couture Filipino fashion in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Mannequins showing off the latest in contemporary Filipiniana design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171452.webp "- BluPrint")

![Mannequins showing off the latest in contemporary Filipiniana design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171519.webp "- BluPrint")

Another section featured contemporary Filipino clothing that utilized traditional Filipiniana design tropes with modern stylistic choices. These clothes focus on hand-crafted design and detail that exemplifies the talent of the people working on these projects.

## **‘The Orlina Legacy’**

![Some of the cars designed by Ramon Orlina and Dominic Rubio for "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170523.webp "- BluPrint")Some of the cars designed by Ramon Orlina and Dominic Rubio for “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Volkswagen Beetle with Dominic Rubio's painting on the hood.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170528.webp "- BluPrint")Volkswagen Beetle with Dominic Rubio’s painting on the hood for “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Porsche Cabriolet with side design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170606.webp "- BluPrint")

![A 1970 Fiat 124 Spyder redesigned by Ramon Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170626.webp "20250502_170626 - BluPrint")

One display showcased a collaboration between glass sculptor Ramon Orlina and painter [Dominic Rubio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/a-tapestry-of-filipino-life-a-collection-of-home-pieces-featuring-dominic-rubio/). Here, they restore three vintage cars with significant pop culture cache, with Rubio’s heritage-centric artworks decorating the body of the cars. It melds together that significance in late 1960s history with Filipino heritage, making something colonial into something uniquely Filipino.

![Glass works by Anna Orlina in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair" which inspired her art couture collection.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_170955.webp "- BluPrint")Glass works by Anna Orlina in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair” which inspired her art couture collection.

![Works by the three Orlina sculptorists in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171916.webp "- BluPrint")Works by the three Orlina sculptorists in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair.”

![Glass works by Anna Orlina in "Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair" which inspired her art couture collection.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250502_171016.webp "20250502_171016 - BluPrint")Glass works by Anna Orlina in “Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair” which inspired her art couture collection.

The Orlinas feature prominently in the exhibition, with entire sections of the lifestyle fair dedicated to the works of Ramon, Anna, and Michael Orlina. Beyond the car display, Anna Orlina’s vibrant glass sculptures stood out—her expressive, abstract forms drawing significant attention from fairgoers.

## **A Showcase of Filipino Sustainability**

*Lamina: A Curated Lifestyle Fair* gives viewers the opportunity to see the innovations and obsessions of Filipino fashion and design today. Its focus on heritage, sustainability, and artisan craftsmanship exemplify how local industries can expand by highlighting the singular aspects of our culture. It shows that we can make world-class products through adopting local ideas and sensibilities rather than just importing foreign design ideas.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [ICA Art Fair: Funding Philanthropic Efforts Through Artistry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/ica-art-fair-2024-news/ "ICA Art Fair: Funding Philanthropic Efforts Through Artistry")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of the “Luminous Threads” collection in modern Filipino fashion?

“Luminous Threads” serves as a benchmark for art couture by translating diverse artistic voices—ranging from patchwork textile art to glass-inspired silhouettes—into sustainable fashion. This collection demonstrates how traditional Filipino elements, such as indigenous fabrics and iconic farmers’ hats, can be reimagined through contemporary design. By merging the sensibilities of artists and designers, the show proves that local heritage is a powerful foundation for innovative, world-class style.

### How does functional and kinetic art redefine traditional furniture design?

Functional and kinetic art blurs the line between utility and imagination by creating pieces that move, illuminate, or transform within a space. These works challenge the user to interact with everyday objects as multi-dimensional sculptures rather than mere tools. By combining intentional design with artistic form, these pieces reflect the environment they were created in and elevate the role of furniture into a conversational, living part of a home.

### Why is jewelry considered “intimate sculpture” within the Lamina Lifestyle Fair?

Jewelry in this context is viewed as a medium that carries deep narrative and intention, transforming gemstones into wearable, living compositions. Unlike mass-produced adornments, these hand-crafted pieces act as collaborative media that speak to both the maker’s craftsmanship and the wearer’s personal values or “mythologies.” This approach elevates jewelry to the status of a personal landmark, bridging the gap between fine art and daily fashion.

### How can sustainable fashion be effectively put into practice according to local designers?

Effective sustainable fashion focuses on artisanal craftsmanship and the creative reuse of materials, such as Francis Dravigny’s patchwork textiles which utilize recycled elements. It involves a commitment to small-scale production and hand-crafted details that reduce the waste associated with mass manufacturing. By highlighting local sensibilities and high-quality artisan work, Filipino designers demonstrate that eco-conscious choices can coexist with luxury and high-concept style.

### How does the collaboration between Ramon Orlina and Dominic Rubio represent Filipino identity?

The collaboration transforms colonial artifacts—specifically vintage cars from the late 1960s—into uniquely Filipino icons by decorating them with heritage-centric paintings and glass sculptures. This process of “restoration through art” melds significant pop culture history with local craftsmanship, reclaiming foreign objects as symbols of Filipino pride. It showcases a broader movement in the industry to prioritize local ideas and historical narratives over imported design trends.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Art Couture, City of Dreams Manila, Design, Lifestyle Fair, Manila

---

### [Laki Mata Reinterprets a Greek Myth with 'The Flower Eaters'](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/laki-mata-the-flower-eaters-space-encounters/)

**Published:** June 9, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*The Flower Eaters*, an exhibition by [Laki Mata](https://lakimata.com/) at Space Encounters Gallery, performs a fascinating spin of an ancient story to make it fit in modern times. This new exhibit pinned its concept on the myth of the Lotus Eaters from Homer’s *The Odyssey*, with the artist utilizing it as both social commentary and as an expansion on their own artistic lore.

![Some of the works shown at "The Flower Eaters" by Laki Mata.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_163835.webp "- BluPrint")Some of the works shown at “The Flower Eaters” by Laki Mata.The Lotus Eaters, as a myth, exist as a cautionary tale of allowing pleasure to take over one’s life. Odysseus and his crew find an island where its population is constantly in a drugged-out state of bliss by constantly consuming this lotus flower.

His crew also end up addicted to the flower, forgetting their plans and desires to journey back to their homeland. Odysseus had to drag them back to their ship as they left the island, worried that they would forget their goals and ambitions due to the flower.

For this exhibition, Laki Mata takes the basic conceptualization of the Lotus Eaters and applies it to our modern society and its treatment of women. She saw the way society tends to suppress women’s ambitions and agency, exchanging that with a false sense of security within the patriarchal structure, and connected it with the story from *The Odyssey*.

![Laki Mata's artworks for "The Flower Eaters" at Space Encounters.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_164435.webp "20250510_164435 - BluPrint")Laki Mata’s artworks for “The Flower Eaters” at Space Encounters.“In her world, the flowers are not just distractions—they’re societal expectations, sweetened with performative affection and beauty,” the exhibit write-up said. “They are the metaphors we’re handed: gifts of admiration that also pacify, tame, and control.”

## **The Confinements of Society**

*The Flower Eaters* is loosely-connected to the previous two exhibits that Laki Mata had created. All of them center around a character named Liwayway, a celestial being who inhabits a mortal woman’s body to experience life as a human.

Laki Mata’s first exhibit, *Soft Pink Feelings*, revolved around learning about the messiness of human emotions. The second exhibition, *She Rage*, is about the discovery of the oppression of women in the world and the anger that this creates in her. For *The Flower Eaters*, the storyline continues as the character finds herself trapped in an island, force-fed the flowers to remove her anger and ambition.

![One corner of the exhibition space with art by Laki Mata.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_163923.webp "- BluPrint")“Noong nagagalit na siya and ito na, kinontain siya in this island,” she explained. “And they make her eat flowers, tapos yung flowers na iyon, i-co-conceal yung emotion mo. Or ma-fe-feel mo siya pero makakalimutan mo kung ano ba ang purpose mo, ano ba yung gusto mo talaga. Magiging kung ano ang gusto noong Liwayway.”

(“When she got angry, she was sent and contained on this island. And they make her eat the flowers to conceal her emotion. Or you can still feel it, but you forget your purpose and what you really want. What Liwayway desires will be whatever they dictate.”)

## **Imprisonment to Social Conventions**

The social commentary presented works with the idea that even adherence to the social conventions bring no escape or happiness to the people’s life, only dullness and apathy. Even as Liwayway participates in this community as she consumes and produces the flowers, she becomes a non-entity as her independence and personhood is taken away from her.

![Watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for "Flower Eaters."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_164008.webp "20250510_164008 - BluPrint")Watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for “Flower Eaters.”

![Two watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for "Flower Eaters."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_163941.webp "- BluPrint")Two watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for “Flower Eaters.”

![Two watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for "Flower Eaters."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_163947.webp "20250510_163947 - BluPrint")

![Watercolor paintings by Laki Mata for "Flower Eaters."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_164001.webp "20250510_164001 - BluPrint")

“Ang take ko naman doon ay about societal standards. Ito yung parang, sa paningin ko, ang ginagawa sa atin ng society,” she said. “Ito tayo, na malayang species, tapos papakainin tayo ng something na para ma-put in place tayo na, ‘ah, itong women, ganto lang: must be seen but not heard, or kailangang i-conceal yung emotions mo.’”

(“My take on this is about societal standards. This is, from my perspective, what society does to us. Here we are, a free species, and then they feed us something that puts us in our place: ‘women must be like this, must be seen but not heard, or they need to conceal their emotions.’”)

## **Mixed Media, Paintings and Fabrics**

*The Flower Eaters* bring this idea to life with a mix of different mediums. Laki Mata utilizes the same art style and characters from the previous exhibit, which are “big-eyed” women with emotional facial expressions whose openness and vulnerability are presented as a strength and not a weakness.

![Six mixed-media artworks by Laki Mata for "The Flower Eaters" at Space Encounters.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_163813.webp "- BluPrint")Six mixed-media artworks by Laki Mata for “The Flower Eaters” at Space Encounters.“Traditionally seen as passive symbols of fragility, these feminine crying figures are reclaimed as powerful archetypes,” the exhibit write-up said. “Their tears aren’t weakness; they are weathered resistance. In a society that demands silence, smiles, and softness from women, these Flower Eaters weep—loudly, vividly—to remember their agency.”

Beyond those characters, different extensions of the art style abound, from mixed media paintings combining acrylic painting and textile, to full-on fabric plushies of the flowers being eaten. The exhibition itself highlights this, arranged in such a way that it showcases the character Liwayway with their tongue open as it overflows with flowers coming out of her.

![A painting and a fabric work by Laki Mata for her "Flower Eaters" exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_1638260.webp "- BluPrint")A painting and a fabric work by Laki Mata for her “Flower Eaters” exhibit.## **The Art of a Busy Person**

Laki Mata shared that she’s always wanted to explore fabric artworks in her exhibitions. She never found an opportunity with her previous exhibits, however, as she couldn’t figure out how she wanted to utilize the medium.

She uses fabric in *The Flower Eaters* as an expansion of the idea that dulling yourself for society can give one an illusion of comfort. And yet, what ended up pushing her to start integrating it with her work was largely due to the busy schedule that she had as she raised her son, and the lack of accessibility that painting had for her lifestyle.

“Palaging kaming nasa school, so yung painting, hindi ko madala,” she said. “Parang nag-sto-stop din yung art ko kapag nasa labas kami. Ito ang pagbabalik ng \[fabric dahil\] nadadala ko; kasi pwedeng cut-out siya, diba? Pwedeng nag-gugupit lang ako sa labas, or nag-tatahi ng konti, ganon. And then saka ko ilalapat sa canvas pag-uwi ko na.”

![The individual flower plushies that Laki Mata made for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_164041.webp "- BluPrint")The individual flower plushies that Laki Mata made for the exhibit.(“We’re always at school, so I can’t bring my paintings. It’s like my art stops sometimes when we’re outside. This is where fabric comes in, because I can bring it around; because it can also be a cut-out, right? I can cut it outside, or stitch a bit, and then I can put it on the canvas when I get home.”)

## **The Escape of Liwayway?**

![A small shrine-like area at the Space Encounters exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_1638490.webp "20250510_163849(0) - BluPrint")Though there’s a sort of loose storyline to the exhibitions of Laki Mata, she said that she had no plans yet for what happens to the character Liwayway in the next exhibition.

“Actually yung process ko, once I’m making an exhibit, hindi ko rin alam kung saan papunta yung story,” she said. “Kapag inisip ko kasi na, ‘ay, ito ang gusto ko, gusto ko matapang ang thema, gusto ko ganito,’ nakukulong naman ako doon na, ‘ay, hindi sapat ang i-ski-ne-sketch ko, parang hindi bagay sa \[idea\].’ Habang ginagawa ko siya, saka siya nagkakaroon ng story.”

(“Actually, my process is that once I’m making an exhibit, I also don’t know where the story goes. Because, when I think, ‘oh, I want this, I want this strong theme, I want it like this,’ I get caged until it’s ‘oh, what I’m sketching is not enough, it doesn’t fit the idea.’ While I work on it is when the story comes out.”)

## **Finding Freedom for Ourselves**

*The Flower Eaters* convey a different sense of spiritedness and rebellion from what we typically see in society. It seeks strength and agency through an outpouring of feelings and building a community from like-minded people rather than repressing emotions and enduring it all alone.

Liwayway can only escape if she rejects the easy comfort of the flowers and expresses her feelings, and that’s something that the artist feels people need to do to get out of the constraining standards society imposes on us.

“Suspended above, a singular acrylic chime echoes like a call to wakefulness-a shimmer of resistance in a world dulled by compliance,” the exhibit write-up said. “Here, in the land of the Flower Eaters, beauty is not an escape. It is a battle cry.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Territorial’: Artists Discuss the West Philippine Sea Dispute in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/territorial-exhibit-west-philippine-sea-dispute/ "‘Territorial’: Artists Discuss the West Philippine Sea Dispute in New Exhibit")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does Laki Mata reinterpret the Greek myth of the Lotus Eaters for a modern audience?

In The Odyssey, the lotus flower represents a drug that makes sailors forget their homes; however, Laki Mata reinterprets these flowers as societal expectations and performative beauty used to pacify women. In this exhibit, “eating the flowers” acts as a metaphor for conforming to patriarchal standards that dull a woman’s ambition and individual agency. By consuming these expectations, the character Liwayway forgets her purpose, mirroring how modern society often demands that women be seen but not heard.

### Who is Liwayway, and how does her story progress in this exhibition?

Liwayway is a celestial being inhabiting a mortal woman’s body, a recurring character in Laki Mata’s artistic lore across three exhibitions. After discovering the “messiness” of emotions in Soft Pink Feelings and experiencing “oppressive rage” in She Rage, she is now trapped on an island in The Flower Eaters. Here, she is force-fed flowers to conceal her anger and ambition, representing a stage of forced compliance where her independence is threatened by social conventions.

### What is the symbolic meaning behind the “big-eyed” crying women in the artworks?

The “big-eyed” crying figures are reclaimed as powerful archetypes of resistance rather than symbols of fragility or weakness. In a society that pressures women to hide their true feelings behind smiles and softness, these figures weep vividly and loudly to remember their own personhood. Their tears represent a refusal to be silenced, suggesting that vulnerability and the open expression of emotion are essential tools for reclaiming one’s independence from restrictive standards.

### Why did the artist choose to integrate textiles and fabric plushies into this exhibit?

Laki Mata integrated fabric and textiles to symbolize the “illusion of comfort” that social compliance provides, while also reflecting the practical realities of her life as a busy mother. Because she could not easily transport large paintings while at her son’s school, she began cutting and stitching fabric pieces on the go. This “portable” medium allowed her art to continue outside the studio, eventually evolving into the mixed-media canvases and flower plushies seen in the gallery.

### What is the ultimate message of “The Flower Eaters” regarding societal standards?

The exhibit serves as a “battle cry” against the dullness and apathy caused by blind adherence to social norms. It suggests that true freedom for women can only be found by rejecting the “sweetened” distractions of performative affection and embracing raw, spirited rebellion. By building a community based on shared feelings rather than repressed silence, the exhibit encourages individuals to wake up from the drugged state of compliance and fight for their inherent agency.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Fabric Art, Laki Mata, Philippines, Space Encounters

---

### [‘What Now?’: Christian Regis Transforms the Urban Landscape](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/what-now-christian-regis-kapitolyo-art-space/)

**Published:** June 6, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

The constant changes in society can be truly hard to deal with, a ruinous pain especially with how quickly things of the present become things of the past. *What Now?*, the new exhibit of artist Christian Regis at [Kapitolyo Art Space](https://www.instagram.com/kapitolyoartspace/ "Kapitolyo Art Space"), crafts a chaotic representation of our world, pondering upon the transformation of our city and the traditions we discard and keep.

Regis crafted this exhibit as something that’s in conversation with his 2024 exhibition, *What If?*. That exhibit explored more of the possibilities of the world before us, a look into how we see the future. *What Now?* appears to be in the same line of thought, but this time asking ourselves about how the past shapes the way we live today.

![Three paintings by Christian Regis for "What Now?" at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_183233.webp "20250510_183233 - BluPrint")Three paintings by Christian Regis for “What Now?” at Kapitolyo Art Space.“His works trace the quiet tensions of a society in flux—where signs, gestures, and moments linger just long enough to remind us of what’s slipping away,” the exhibit write-up said. “They

confront the erasure of lived traditions and prompt a reckoning with what remains. Each piece is a testament to how culture teaches, resists, and dissolves in a world constantly reinventing itself.”

## **A Snapshot of Our Everyday Life**

The artworks Christian Regis creates for *What Now?* pinpoints a wild sense of humor in depicting the Philippine commuting experience. Some of the paintings depict commuters in treadmills or ziplines as they attempt to navigate our notoriously bad traffic situation.

Others appear to contort the buildings and vehicles into strange shapes as if trying to fit through the miniscule nooks and crannies that commuting forces one to go through to escape the bedlam. There’s a zaniness in some of these paintings that can only be seen as frustration from having to experience a crumbling traffic infrastructure on a daily basis.

!["Fast and Furious Rush Hour" by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_180555.webp "- BluPrint")“Fast and Furious Rush Hour” by Christian Regis for “What Now?”

!["Si idol pala ito (Pompompurin)" by Christian Regis.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_181017.webp "- BluPrint")

![A painting by Christian Regis for Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_180547.webp "- BluPrint")A painting by Christian Regis for Kapitolyo Art Space.

!["Sikat ka na pala!" by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_181012.webp "- BluPrint")“Sikat ka na pala!” by Christian Regis for “What Now?”

“Inspiration is more sa society natin. Some things aren’t meant to be neglected, pero I notice it nga, kaya this is what lumalabas sa canvas, yung mga things na hindi naman—na dapat bigyang pansin pero hindi binibigyang pansin,” the artist said. “Most of it, yung mga everyday life na nawala na, dapat nakikita pa rin.”

A prominent symbol that Christian Regis kept including within the exhibit is the jeepney; a colorful figure of a past that’s slipping away as our roads become more and more homogenized. With the traditional jeeps being replaced by mini-buses, his perspective on it is that maybe its design shouldn’t be changed; that it should exist as a monument of the past.

!["Na-ghost ka" by Christian Regis.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_181202.webp "20250510_181202 - BluPrint")“Na-ghost ka” by Christian Regis.“Just one thing na nilagay ko sa painting na, ‘you cannot replace this icon. You can modernize it, but you cannot replace what it looks like.’ Pwede mo naman pagandahin, palitan ang makina or something, i-re-invent mo ang design, pero wag mo baguhin.”

(“You can make it prettier, change the engine or something, re-invent the design, but you shouldn’t change it.”)

## **Abstracting Our World to Dig New Layers**

Tonally, *What Now?* utilizes both a zany sensibility in its depiction of Philippine commuting life and one that’s drenched in overtones of nostalgia. Some of the paintings feel more traditional, showing kalesas, ice cream vendors, and tricycle drivers plying through the streets as they work their trade, backgrounded by a dreamy depiction of buildings and colorful skies.

Despite their differences, the tones don’t clash with each other due to Regis’s painting style, where he uses palette knives and a direct application of paints from the tube to the canvas. It creates a distinctive abstract figurative look that makes the art look tactile and physical without removing a sense of whimsy within them.

![Two artworks by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_1805170.webp "- BluPrint")Two artworks by Christian Regis for “What Now?”

![Two artworks by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_183325.webp "- BluPrint")

![Four artworks by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_180524.webp "20250510_180524 - BluPrint")Four artworks by Christian Regis for “What Now?”

“This style is more of a building of colors then as you build, nakikita mo yung figures,” he said. “You’re building different kinds of colors through palette, direct tube, at saka a few brushes, brushstrokes; pero mostly palette.”

His use of colors construct the feeling of escalation, one on top of the other, as the colors match together without really fully blending in. The abstractness of his depiction of daily life in the Philippines sells us an environment where space and dimensions bend to the will of the user—things will only be as narrow or as broad as they need to be in any given moment, to best depict the feelings needed for the time.

## **What’s Next for Christian Regis?**

The artist is already working on his next exhibition, which will feature several sculptures among the paintings. According to him, it will continue the line of thinking from his past two exhibits: “Parang magtatanong pa rin, ‘is it now?’ or ‘is it today?’ \[…\] It also tackles the everyday problema ng society. Medyo abstract yun, meron na mga figures.”

![Two artworks by Christian Regis for "What Now?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250510_180705.webp "20250510_180705 - BluPrint")Two artworks by Christian Regis for “What Now?”As for the current exhibit, *What Now?* exists as an encapsulation of the changing times, finding humor in the stressful quagmire our cityscape seems stuck in. It defamiliarizes our world, asking us whether the traditions we had in the past are worth preserving—or if the transformation is necessary for our survival.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Bloom’ Celebrates the Vibrant Freedom of Individuality](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/bloom-womens-month-exhibit-kapitolyo-art-space/ "‘Bloom’ Celebrates the Vibrant Freedom of Individuality")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core message behind Christian Regis’s exhibit “What Now?” at Kapitolyo Art Space?

“What Now?” serves as an abstract exploration of the quiet tensions within a society in flux, specifically focusing on how the past shapes our present urban landscape. The exhibit acts as a sequel to his 2024 show, “What If?,” shifting the focus from future possibilities to a reckoning with disappearing traditions and the erasure of lived experiences. Through his art, Regis prompts viewers to consider which cultural elements are worth preserving as the city constantly reinvents itself.

### How does the artist use humor and zaniness to depict the Philippine commuting experience?

Regis utilizes a “zany” sensibility to illustrate the frustrations of navigating notoriously bad traffic, often placing commuters in surreal situations like using treadmills or ziplines to get to work. His paintings contort buildings and vehicles into strange, fluid shapes, mimicking the physical and mental gymnastics required to navigate the city’s crumbling infrastructure. This exaggerated style highlights everyday societal issues that are often neglected or taken for granted by the public.

### Why does the traditional jeepney feature so prominently in this exhibition?

For Regis, the jeepney is an irreplaceable cultural icon that represents a “past that’s slipping away” due to modernization and the introduction of homogenized mini-buses. He argues that while engines and mechanics can be updated, the distinct visual identity of the jeepney should remain untouched as a monument of Filipino heritage. By featuring them in his work, he asserts that certain icons are fundamental to the national identity and cannot be replaced by modern alternatives.

### What is unique about Christian Regis’s “abstract figurative” painting technique?

Regis employs a tactile “building” process, applying paint directly from the tube to the canvas and using palette knives rather than traditional brushes. This technique creates a physical layering of colors that do not fully blend, allowing figures to emerge from a textured, multidimensional background. This abstract approach effectively mirrors the chaotic energy of the urban environment, where space and dimensions feel as though they are bending to the will of the commuter.

### How does “What Now?” bridge the gap between nostalgia and modern social commentary?

The exhibit balances dreamy, nostalgic depictions of traditional street life—such as kalesas, ice cream vendors, and tricycles—with sharp critiques of modern urban struggle. This tonal blend suggests that even as society moves toward a “homogenized” future, the warmth and vibrancy of the past remain a vital part of the Filipino spirit. Regis uses this contrast to defamiliarize the world, asking the audience to decide if current urban transformations are truly necessary for survival or if they represent a loss of soul.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Abstract Figurative, Art, Kapitolyo Art Space, Philippines

---

### [‘Shifting Reality’: The Debut Exhibit of Michael Orlina](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/michael-orlina-shifting-reality-galerie-stephanie/)

**Published:** May 19, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Shifting Reality* at [Galerie Stephanie](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/galerie-stephanie-march-2024-exhibitions/) marks the inaugural exhibition of sculpturist Michael Orlina. The son of famed glass sculpturist Ramon Orlina, Michael has also adopted glass as his medium of choice for self-expression.

The artist seems to be building upon the ideas of the original master, finding new permutations of glass as artistry for a new generation of audiences. His works find a compelling youthful energy in them, seeking something dramatically transformative in approach and output.

![Five glass sculptures by Michael Orlina for "Shifting Reality" at Galerie Stephanie.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170714.webp "20250422_170714 - BluPrint")Five glass sculptures by Michael Orlina for “Shifting Reality” at Galerie Stephanie.“\[The exhibit\] showcases Orlina’s ongoing exploration of glass, delving into its inherent mutability through meticulous coldworking techniques,” the exhibit write-up said. “Orlina’s unique approach highlights the reflective, refractive, and dynamic qualities of glass, creating a visual experience that challenges perceptions and invites contemplation.”

## **New Avenues of Experiences**

For his first exhibition, Michael Orlina works to differentiate himself from his father through a distinctiveness of technique. He said that he and his sister Anna were sent abroad by their father to learn new approaches to glass art that both of them are currently adopting for their work.

![Glass artwork for "Shifting Reality."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170655.webp "20250422_170655 - BluPrint")Glass artwork for “Shifting Reality.”“He sent me and my sister to the US to explore and see what glass is also like outside the Philippines and what they do,” he said. “Kasi sa US meron silang glass blowing, kiln working, flame working, \[and\] cold-working as well. And what we were exposed to in the US, which was, also the school \[that\] attracts people from all over the world.”

This exposure broadened both of their perspectives to the possibility of the form, and Orlina said that it made him curious as to how far he can take these techniques and implement them into his own work.

![A blue glass art work by Michael Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170605.webp "- BluPrint")A blue glass art work by Michael Orlina.His methodology for this exhibit is [cold-working](https://libguides.cmog.org/cold), which are methods where you alter the state of glass after the material has cooled. Procedures like sandblasting, etching, engraving, and other methods would fall under this. Even with that in mind, Orlina still feels compelled to appropriate the other methods that he learned in time.

“\[These methods were\] also a really big inspiration in seeing all of the different ways people work with glass and the possibilities that me and my sister can do,” he shared. “In the US, we saw so many more possibilities. So eventually we want to explore those things as well and try different techniques now.”

## **Explicit Influence of the Media Around Him**

*Shifting Glass* alludes to some of Orlina’s influences, mainly science fiction and pop culture. Even to the untrained eye, some of these artworks have a familiar feeling to them, as Orlina uses colors and motifs with the intention of calling back to those futuristic ideas from the past.

The most prominent and eye-catching sculpture is this rocket-shaped piece with a circle in the center. It utilizes this utopian color scheme of green, yellow, and cyan to create a luminous *Star Trek*-esque object for the exhibition.

![A glass sculpture by Michael Orlina in the shape of a rocket.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170618.webp "- BluPrint")A glass sculpture by Michael Orlina in the shape of a rocket.Others are less explicit in that influence, but they still show: some artworks here seem to use comic book architecture reminiscent of *Superman’s* Fortress of Solitude in . The whole exhibit, really, works to evoke that clean, crystal-based technology that science fiction seems to adore.

![One of the sculptures in "Shifting Reality."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170727.webp "- BluPrint")“I like themes of pop culture in a way,” Michael Orlina shared. “And it somehow connects also to my ‘shifting reality’ title where things are out of this world. And using the properties of the glass, the magic of the glass, na may refraction, may reflection, nagiiba din ang mga shapes: those are the themes I wanted to put with the glass \[because it’s\] inherent \[within\] it.”

## **Pushing Glass Artworks Further**

With *Shifting Reality*, Michael Orlina challenges the immutability of glass. His artistry focuses on change, on how the glass reflects the way ideas shift and move from beyond ourselves. And as he moves forward with his practice, he hopes to explore that even further with his future endeavors and exhibitions.

![A sculpture featuring clear glass for "Shifting Reality" by Michael Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250422_170722.webp "- BluPrint")A sculpture featuring clear glass for “Shifting Reality” by Michael Orlina.“With this texture, as you move around \[the glass\] shifts, it changes,” he said. “And that’s what I really love about the glass, \[…\] that’s its magic. Not everything is fully polished na makintab at maliwanag and see through na see through. There’s also a play in opacity that gives \[it\] more dimension and more depth.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [“Visions in Glass” Celebrates the Unique Artistry of Ramon Orlina](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ramon-orlina-visions-in-glass/ "“Visions in Glass” Celebrates the Unique Artistry of Ramon Orlina")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of the “Shifting Reality” exhibition at Galerie Stephanie?

“Shifting Reality” marks the solo debut of Michael Orlina, son of the renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina. The exhibition showcases Michael’s unique artistic voice, blending youthful energy with advanced glass-working techniques to explore the material’s mutability. By focusing on how glass reflects and refracts light, the show invites viewers to experience a “shifting” visual reality that differentiates his contemporary style from the established traditions of his father.

### How does Michael Orlina’s technical approach differ from traditional glass art?

While he honors his heritage, Michael utilizes “cold-working” techniques learned during his studies in the United States to distinguish his work. Cold-working involves altering the glass after it has cooled through methods like sandblasting, etching, engraving, and grinding. This allows him to play with varying levels of opacity and texture rather than relying solely on high-polish finishes, adding a unique sense of dimension and depth to his sculptures.

### What role does pop culture and science fiction play in this exhibition?

Michael Orlina draws heavy inspiration from futuristic motifs and utopian aesthetics found in science fiction and comic books. For instance, several pieces evoke the “Star Trek” aesthetic or the crystalline architecture of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. He uses these pop culture themes to complement the “magical” properties of glass, such as its natural refraction and reflection, to create objects that feel like they belong to another world.

### How did Michael Orlina’s international education influence his artistry?

Michael and his sister Anna were sent to the US by their father to explore global glass-making methods, including glass blowing, kiln working, and flame working. This exposure broadened his perspective beyond the techniques common in the Philippines, inspiring him to push the boundaries of what is possible with the medium. While his current exhibit focuses on cold-working, his international training has sparked a desire to incorporate more experimental methods in his future collections.

### What does the artist mean by the “magic” of glass in his sculptures?

To Michael Orlina, the “magic” lies in the inherent ability of glass to change and shift based on the viewer’s perspective and the surrounding light. By manipulating the glass to feature both clear and opaque surfaces, he creates a dynamic interplay where shapes appear to move and transform. This focus on “shifting reality” ensures that his sculptures are never static, but rather evolving pieces of art that offer a different experience from every angle.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Design, Galerie Stephanie, Glass Sculpture, Michael Orlina

---

### [Sam Feleo Presents a Fleshy New Sculptural Vision with ‘Grip/Pulse’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/sam-feleo-grip-pulse-cartellino-art/)

**Published:** May 9, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

In *Grip/Pulse*, artist [Sam Feleo](https://www.instagram.com/_fffffeleofish_/ "Sam Feleo")‘s recent exhibition at [Cartellino](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/galerie-stephanie-x-cartellino-new-space/) Art, ceramic stoneware pieces evoke an organic, almost alien quality. Their naturalistic hues and the way crystals seem to grow from within give each work a sense of life and quiet transformation.

![Sam Feleo's ceramic works arranged in a circular shape.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171938.webp "- BluPrint")Sam Feleo’s ceramic works arranged in a circular shape.Feleo described the forms as “embryonic”. They reflect the natural state of flux found in nature, but also the way artists can change the conditions of a material to how they see fit.

“It translates the conceptual essence of organic unfolding into a sculptural language highlighting the interplay between artistic intervention and the processual unpredictability of crystal formation,” the exhibit write-up said.

## **‘Embryonic’ Artworks to Reflect Life**

This collection utilizes pottery techniques that Sam Feleo modified to get the desired effect for her different sculptures. She avoids glazing her ceramic pieces, which makes the final product “glass-like”. Instead, she opts for more organic textures by hand-painting each work with acrylic pigments to emphasize their raw, tactile quality.

“All of these works are made from ceramic stoneware,” she said. “They are bisque-fired only. Not at all completely vitrified, because when you’re working with ceramics, you have to fire it twice. Itong mga works na ito, they’re only fired once para matanggal ang tubig.”

![Four works by Sam Feleo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171948.webp "20250404_171948 - BluPrint")Four works by Sam Feleo.

![Multiple ceramic stoneware artworks at "Grip/Pulse."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171957.webp "20250404_171957 - BluPrint")Multiple ceramic stoneware artworks at “Grip/Pulse.”

![Multiple ceramic stoneware artworks at "Grip/Pulse."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171817.webp "- BluPrint")

![Works by Sam Feleo for "Grip/Pulse."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171827.webp "20250404_171827 - BluPrint")Works by Sam Feleo for “Grip/Pulse.”

![Four works by Sam Feleo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171834.webp "- BluPrint")

“Hindi ko kasi ma-achieve ang subtlety na gusto ko, yung fleshy effect with glazing,” she continued, “\[so\] I chose to hand paint all the pieces here.”

The forms Sam Feleo uses are striking because they defy the usual expectations of stoneware. Instead of appearing ceramic or rigid, they resemble flesh—rendered in brown and red tones, with folds, pores, and organic protrusions that mimic skin. Each piece feels suspended in motion, as if caught mid-transformation or gesture.

“Kaya siya embryonic forms kasi gusto ko paglaruan ang idea na ang art, hindi nila kailangan maging static, pwede siyang nag-ta-transform, nag-pupulsate,” she said. “I wanted to capture that softness, the organicness in these works.”

## **Sam Feleo Figures Out Her Own Process**

In the exhibit write-up, Feleo cited [James T. Merry](https://jtmerry.com/pages/about), best known for his work with avant-garde pop musician Björk, as the inspiration for the works. The artist said in the exhibit write-up that Merry’s embryo forms “generated through Artificial Intelligence,” which are both fluid and futuristic in its arrangement.

But she also shared that the development of the ideas for the exhibit came as a result of her own experimentations with pottery and the form.

“\[The\] idea came to me serendipitously, I would say, in 2013,” she said. “I was learning to work with ceramics; nag-enroll ako sa isang class ni Ma’am Rita Gudino sa UP College of Fine Arts. At that time, I was only doing really small and very detailed seeds; para silang beads.

![An aqaurium with one of Sam Feleo's sculptures displayed at "Grip/Pulse."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_171923.webp "- BluPrint")An aquarium with one of Sam Feleo’s sculptures displayed at “Grip/Pulse.”“So yung tanong niya is ‘Okay, kung ganyang kaliit at ganyang kadetailed, paano mo sila i-gla-glaze?’ Kasi pag gin-laze mo yan, mawawala yung detail. So sabi niya, wag mo na lang i-glaze. I asked kung pwede ko silang pinturahan at sabi niya wag din, kasi painting clay goes against the integrity of clay, na dapat ginaglaze. Ako naman, thinking about contemporary art practices, matigas ang ulo ko. Sabi ko, ‘hindi, hindi ko siya susundan.’”

In the center of the exhibit is a work-in-progress, showing part of how she crafted the artworks displayed in *Grip/Pulse*. An aquarium contains a claw-like sculpture immersed in water and covered with crystals, which seems to emerge from a coral-like base.

## **Crystalline Sculptures**

This artwork embodied the ethos of the show, which centers on the cycle of life, showcasing how growth and agency can be found in different natural processes that are different from ours but lives on just the same.

She started exploring the process recently from a crystal growing kit given to her by her husband. Instead of a plaster substrate, she used her own sculpture for the crystals to latch onto, and this reinvigorated her interest in the matter. It’s also another reason why she doesn’t glaze her sculptures: it removes the ability for the crystals to latch onto the work.

![Two works by Sam Feleo for "Grip/Pulse" with crystals embedded in the structure.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_172020.webp "- BluPrint")Two works by Sam Feleo for “Grip/Pulse” with crystals embedded in the structure.“I simply substituted that plaster substrate with my own sculpture and it worked,” she said. “Doon similar idea na pwede ko pala siyang gawin with clay. And since then I’ve tried it on shell, on rock, on paper, on found objects, \[and\] sponge plastic. But clay is still the best substrate, I would say kasi porous, maganda ang sipsip niya, \[and it is\] sturdy enough to sustain ang matagal na pagbabad.”

## **‘Grip/Pulse’ and the Constant Change of Life and Death**

As an exhibition, *Grip/Pulse* discusses a broader idea about life cycles at work in nature. The flesh-like quality, her utilization of crystals, come together as a way of discussing the process of growth and decay, of how important both parts are in our lives. Sam Feleo sought to showcase that constant evolution includes both life *and* death, that both are necessary for a balanced existence within ourselves.

![Artist Sam Feleo in front of some of her works for "Grip/Pulse."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250404_174809.webp "- BluPrint")Artist Sam Feleo in front of some of her works for “Grip/Pulse.”“This is not only about growth, it’s also about death, it’s also about regeneration,” she elaborated. “At first glance, it starts small. Tapos biglang lalaki, so gets mo na agad na this is a series, may nadedevelop na organism or form. But beyond that, hindi lang siya about growth. Kasi yung idea natin ng progress is always related to paglaki, pagyaman. But sometimes yung reverse engineering, yung pagliit at pagbawas, it’s also significant. Kasi, it might reveal something.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/terror-incognita-generative-ai-cartellino-art/ "‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the artistic concept behind Sam Feleo’s ‘Grip/Pulse’ exhibition?

‘Grip/Pulse’ explores the “embryonic” nature of life through ceramic sculptures that mimic fleshy, organic forms. Feleo challenges the traditional static nature of art by creating works that appear to be in a state of flux, pulsating with potential life or caught in mid-transformation. The exhibit uses a sculptural language to highlight the interplay between deliberate artistic intervention and the unpredictable, natural growth of crystals.

### How does Sam Feleo achieve the “fleshy” texture in her ceramic sculptures?

To achieve a realistic skin-like appearance, Feleo deviates from traditional pottery techniques by avoiding glazes, which she finds too glass-like and destructive to fine detail. Instead, her pieces are bisque-fired only once and then meticulously hand-painted with acrylic pigments. This process emphasizes pores, folds, and organic protrusions, allowing her to capture a raw, tactile quality that mimics biological tissue more effectively than standard vitrification.

### What role do crystals play in the sculptures featured in ‘Grip/Pulse’?

Crystals serve as a symbol of growth and regeneration, emerging from the “embryonic” clay forms to suggest an ongoing natural process. Feleo uses her porous stoneware sculptures as a substrate, allowing crystals to latch onto and grow from the pieces while they are submerged in water. This technique integrates the unpredictability of nature into the artwork, showcasing a cycle where minerals and organic-looking forms coexist in a state of constant evolution.

### How did Sam Feleo’s “rebellious” approach to clay shape her unique style?

Feleo’s style was born from a refusal to follow conventional ceramic rules, specifically the requirement that clay must be glazed rather than painted to maintain its “integrity.” While studying at the UP College of Fine Arts, she discovered that glazing would obscure the intricate details of her small, seed-like works. By choosing to “reverse engineer” the process and use non-traditional coatings, she successfully blended contemporary art practices with classical stoneware.

### What does the exhibition say about the relationship between life, death, and progress?

The exhibition reframes the concept of progress, suggesting that growth is not just about accumulation or getting larger, but also involves decay and “reduction.” By showcasing organisms that appear to be both growing and regenerating, Feleo highlights that death is a necessary part of a balanced life cycle. This “reverse engineering” of form reveals deeper truths about existence, moving away from a linear view of life toward a more circular understanding of nature.

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Cartellino Art, Ceramic Art, Ceramics, Philippines

---

### [‘No Boundaries by NewFolk’ Showcases Emerging Designers in the Country](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/no-boundaries-by-newfolk-gabriel-lichauco/)

**Published:** May 14, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

In 2015 at Singapore Design Week, designer Gabriel Lichauco inaugurated the *[NewFolk](https://www.instagram.com/newfolkph/ "NewFolk")* brand that worked to explicitly showcase the emerging talents of the Philippine art scene. Ten years later, with *No Boundaries by NewFolk*, Lichauco yet again features the upcoming crop of innovative designers seeking to change the product design world today.

Shown at Space 63 in Comuna Creative Space, *No Boundaries by NewFolk* crafts a compelling exhibition. It seeks, as the original did, to open up the possibilities of design in the Philippines—charting a path of where it can go today.

![The crowd at the opening of "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172218.webp "- BluPrint")The crowd at the opening of “No Boundaries by NewFolk,” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.“\[The exhibit\] showcases the remarkable works of eleven rising design stars who embrace themes of connectedness, sustainability, community, and heritage,” the write-up said. “This exciting showcase isn’t just about trends; it’s about amplifying new voices that will redefine local design for years to come.”

“It’s really a matter of encouraging them to continue,” Lichauco said. “Because when you’re a starting designer, of course you want your pieces \[shown\]; any person in the creative industry \[wants\] to get \[their\] work noticed, right? If you don’t have that platform, what’s gonna happen? Then they’ll stop producing, they’ll stop thinking, they’ll stop, you know? So I think it’s a good venue.”

“I mean, everybody has to start somewhere,” he added. “But I think they also need a certain platform push and you can push them.”

## **Spotlighting the Youth**

The designers involved include Jasser Aguila, [Bianca Carague](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/aciiid-trend-report-worldbuilding-and-designing-for-the-pluriverse-with-bianca-carague/ "Bianca Carague"), Meyte Chan, Razel Mari, and Selena Placino. Companies like Lamana and Krete Manila were also involved in the exhibit, helping make collaborative designs that adhere to the theme of the project.

Gabriel Lichauco said that he’s been following many of these designers on Instagram for years and was familiar with their progress when he tapped them for the exhibit. Some of them were even his former students, and he was impressed with their work ethic and what they’ve been creating.

!["Scoop Wall Light" by Selena Placino for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_170925.webp "- BluPrint")

!["Batirol Hook Rack" by Selena Placino for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_170933.webp "- BluPrint")“Batirol Hook Rack” by Selena Placino for “No Boundaries by NewFolk.”

![Jasser Aguila's work for "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172351.webp "- BluPrint")Jasser Aguila’s work for “No Boundaries by NewFolk,” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

!["Rebound Lamp" by LAMANA for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172212.webp "- BluPrint")

“They just have different processes: the way they design, the way they think,” he said. “It’s a different generation where multidisciplinary is something that’s a norm already. Before, during our time, it was the early 2000s when they ask, ‘So, what you do? What sort of practice do?’ Of course, \[back then\] it’s only architecture and interior design.

“\[These designers are\] like, ‘oh, it’s not \[just that\]’, and now everybody’s like, ‘oh, I’m working multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary.’ So it’s a good thing that people \[are\] catching up \[with\] the idea about it.”

## **A Kitchen ‘Concept Café’**

To integrate all of these disparate designers’ works, Lichauco came up with a baseline theme to center some of these ideas around: the kitchen. All the designs shown in this exhibition are functional objects that can be used around the kitchen, while still displaying the unique stylistic choices of the designers.

He described the exhibit as a “concept café” for its emphasis on interactivity. The space invites visitors to touch, sit, and engage directly with the objects on display.

![A table lamp by Meyte Chan as shown at "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172036.webp "- BluPrint")A table lamp by Meyte Chan as shown at “No Boundaries by NewFolk,” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

!["Hana" from Krete Manila.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171211.webp "- BluPrint")

![Edward Sibunga's table and chairs as shown at "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172204.webp "- BluPrint")Edward Sibunga’s table and chairs as shown at “No Boundaries by NewFolk,” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

![Jasser Aguila's desk works.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172148.webp "- BluPrint")Jasser Aguila’s desk works.

And thus, the kitchen was chosen due to its prominence in architecture and interior design. Every home tends to have a kitchen, he opined, and that opens up possibilities for unique spins from the participating designers.

“ I think kitchen is a place where, you know, it’s a gathering place, it’s very casual,” he said, before adding, “and of course, objects in the kitchen is what makes the kitchen not just like those modular systems. Like those counters, like those designs of the kitchen. But what are the objects in the kitchen? And that’s important, right? That creates a new composition. It’s also something that \[is\] very casual, so they’re all just relaxed.”

## **Uniquely Innovative Works**

Interesting designs abound for the exhibition. Selena Placino utilizes normal everyday objects like an ice scooper or the containers used to carry taho in a recontextualized manner, turning them into a wall light and a bench, respectively. Chini Lichangco’s works are similarly-playful; most eyecatching is a tea set collection that adds maya feet under the set to make it look like they were birds.

![Chini Lichangco's "Maya Tea Set" for "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171942.webp "- BluPrint")

![Chini Lichangco's "Maya Tea Set" for "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_170948.webp "- BluPrint")

![Chini Lichangco's "Maya Tea Set" for "No Boundaries by NewFolk," curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_170958.webp "- BluPrint")Chini Lichangco’s “Maya Tea Set” for “No Boundaries by NewFolk,” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

!["Beard Nest" by Razel Mari for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171857.webp "- BluPrint")

!["Beard Nest" by Razel Mari for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171852.webp "- BluPrint")“Beard Nest” by Razel Mari for “No Boundaries by NewFolk.”

Bianca Carague, meanwhile, showcased these minimalist dishes that she conceptualized through creating a virtual world and designing the dishes from there. Videos of how that world looked were shown in the exhibit, giving us an idea of why the design leaned towards that aesthetic.

Razel Mari’s “Beard Nest” uses environmentally friendly materials to create what looks like birds’ nests, which can be used as a storage place for materials in the kitchen. Lamana, meanwhile, worked with Patrick Kasingsing for some Brutalist-inspired knobs and kitchen hooks made from offcut construction materials.

![Binanca Carague's work for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171101.webp "- BluPrint")

!["Brut Hook" for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172055.webp "- BluPrint")“Brut Hook” for “No Boundaries by NewFolk.”

![Binanca Carague's work for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_171112.webp "- BluPrint")Binanca Carague’s work for “No Boundaries by NewFolk.”

A recurring theme for this exhibition is how environmentally-friendly many of these final designs are. Lichauco said that he saw these designers as deeply-aware of the resources available; thus, they strive towards sustainability without losing their vision or the functionality of the products.

“A lot of them are very environmentally conscious about what they produce, resourceful,” he said. “I think it’s not just about designing, but how: the challenge for them is not just design, but how do they make their designs come to reality.”

## **The Limitless Potential of Design Today**

*No Boundaries by NewFolk* shows the seemingly-unlimited potential of the Filipino designer’s imagination, even with the limited capacities of our country’s infrastructure. It spotlights new talent and the singular ideas that they work with; how they integrate the special Filipino flavor that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Lichauco understands that many of these designs are “niche.” And yet he doesn’t just see them as important to our country’s future, but essential in differentiating our culture from the rest of the world. “Niche” designs, he said, allows the country to move away from trends; to set new standards instead that makes us leaders in the future of design instead of followers.

![Selena Placino's "Taho! Bench Outdoor" for "No Boundaries by NewFolk" curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172505.webp "- BluPrint")Selena Placino’s “Taho! Bench Outdoor” for “No Boundaries by NewFolk” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

!["Hatch Occasional Chair" by Gia Viray for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172444.webp "- BluPrint")

!["Tulip Hanging Lamp" by Gia Viray for "No Boundaries by NewFolk."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172511.webp "- BluPrint")“Tulip Hanging Lamp” by Gia Viray for “No Boundaries by NewFolk.”

![Simon Te's "Grounding Chair and Table."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172525.webp "- BluPrint")

![One of the works for "No Boundaries by NewFolk" curated by Gabriel Lichauco.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250405_172432.webp "- BluPrint")One of the works for “No Boundaries by NewFolk” curated by Gabriel Lichauco.

“Somebody said, what do you think of this show, \[compared\] with the shows abroad?” he said. “Like currently, next week is Milan Salon De Mobile. And I said, it’s very comparable, the concepts are good.

“In fact, a lot of the things in Salon are not even that great as well. Because if you’re in the show and if you’ve been there so many times, you know who’s good and who’s not,” he elaborated. “But yes, \[this crop of designers\], they do have a chance. And I think we are creating this new generation \[that are\] creating their own design language.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Must-See: Nazareno/Lichauco Showcase at JJ Acuña / Bespoke Studio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/must-see-nazareno-lichauco-showcase-at-jj-acuna-bespoke-studio/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the primary goal of the “No Boundaries by NewFolk” exhibition?

Curated by Gabriel Lichauco, the exhibition serves as a vital platform to showcase and revitalize the work of emerging Filipino product designers. It aims to push the limits of local design by featuring innovative creators who might otherwise stop producing without a professional venue to display their ideas. By providing this “platform push,” the exhibit helps redefine the local design language for a new generation while addressing themes of community, sustainability, and heritage.

### How does the “Concept Café” theme influence the exhibition’s layout?

The exhibition is designed as a “concept café” centered around the kitchen, chosen because it is a universal gathering place in architecture and interior design. This baseline theme allows for a relaxed and casual environment where visitors are encouraged to touch, sit, and interact directly with the objects. By focusing on kitchen-related items, the designers explore how functional everyday objects—beyond standard modular systems—can create a new and unique composition within the home.

### What makes the design process of this new generation of designers different?

Lichauco notes that these emerging designers naturally embrace a “multidisciplinary” and “interdisciplinary” approach, which has become the norm for their generation. Unlike the traditional silos of architecture or interior design from previous decades, these creators merge various fields and digital processes into their work. For example, designer Bianca Carague conceptualized minimalist dishes by first building a virtual world, illustrating how digital environments now inform physical product aesthetics.

### How is sustainability integrated into the “No Boundaries” showcase?

A recurring theme throughout the exhibition is environmental consciousness and the resourceful use of materials. Designers like Razel Mari use eco-friendly materials for her “Beard Nest” storage, while the brand Lamana collaborated with Patrick Kasingsing to create Brutalist-inspired hooks from offcut construction materials. This shift demonstrates that the current generation is deeply aware of limited resources and prioritizes the challenge of bringing sustainable designs to reality without sacrificing artistic vision.

### Why does Gabriel Lichauco emphasize “niche” design for the Philippines?

Lichauco believes that focusing on “niche” designs is essential for differentiating Filipino culture and moving the country away from global trends. By fostering unique, singular ideas rather than following mass-market aesthetics, Filipino designers can set new standards and become leaders in the international design scene. He asserts that the concepts shown in “No Boundaries” are highly comparable to prestigious global events like Milan’s Salone del Mobile, proving that local talent has a strong chance on the world stage.

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Design, Gabriel Licahuco, Philippines, product design, Sustainability

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### [‘A Knife Sharpens Itself’ Slices Through Gender Norms in Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/a-knife-sharpens-itself-5th-house-xenofeminism/)

**Published:** April 11, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*A Knife Sharpens Itself*, the new group exhibition at [Cartellino](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/galerie-stephanie-x-cartellino-new-space/) Art, convened twenty-two artists for a show celebrating International Women’s Month. This line-up was assembled by The 5th House, a curatorial project of artists Brisa Amir and Jose Olarte.

Amir centered the exhibit around the idea of degendering art. It works towards an abolitionist perspective: a defiance against norms to instead encourage someone to move towards a journey of self-discovery. Because of this, she unified this thematic focus with the symbolism of the knife—its power as an object towards “transformation, building, destroying, and \[dismantling\].”

![A view of the exhibit "A Knife Sharpens Itself," an exhibit by Brisa Amir inspired by xenofeminism.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174452.webp "- BluPrint")A view of the exhibit “A Knife Sharpens Itself,” an exhibit by Brisa Amir inspired by xenofeminism.“In their hands, a gash opens up a potential for self-discovery, a celebration of one’s constitution, or a defiance against conventions,” the exhibit write-up said. “A knife must wound before it heals, before it clears the space for regrowth and transformation.”

## **Redefining Ambition as Gender Neutral**

*A Knife Sharpens Itself* was explicitly inspired by the gender abolitionist movement of [xenofeminism](https://lab.cccb.org/en/new-vectors-from-xenofeminism/ "xenofeminism"), which aims for degendering through the advent of technology. Amir said that she was influenced by novelist Clarice Lispector in her approach on the subject, specifically quoting one of her works: “I haven’t been human for a long time. They wanted me to be an object. But I don’t totally obey: if I have to be an object, let me be an object that screams.”

Amir talked about how the existence of gender norms tends to create inequality in the systems that we have today.

![A painting by Victoria Keet for "A Knife Sharpens Itself."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174236.webp "- BluPrint")A painting by Victoria Keet for “A Knife Sharpens Itself.”“I like that xenofeminism is an advocate for a future where humans are not defined by their gender,” she said. “Gusto ko yung idea na kailangan mawala ang future na yung male ay linked with power and privilege while yung female, nonbinary, cis, trans, queer, bi, result in less access to power.

(“I like the idea of a future where we remove the links of power and privilege with the male gender while the female, nonbinary, cis, trans, queer, and bi people result in less access to power.”)

“I like how it dismantles rigid gender categories and it’s generating a future that is not patriarchal,” she continued.

## **Knives and Power**

The metaphor at the center of the exhibit connotes violent transformation, an understanding that society’s changes towards equality entails a fight and reckoning upon the old systems. Thus, with *A Knife Sharpens Itself*, Brisa Amir and the artists that she chose envision that transformative quality, and how, in a patriarchal society, any attempts to attain it is never easy or fully peaceful.

![Painting with scissors for "A Knife Sharpens Itself," a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174039.webp "- BluPrint")Painting with scissors for “A Knife Sharpens Itself,” a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.

![Gia Luistro's "tree hollow."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174317.webp "20250314_174317 - BluPrint")

![Works by Regie Hidalgo for "A Knife Sharpens Itself," a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174220.webp "- BluPrint")Works by Regie Hidalgo for “A Knife Sharpens Itself,” a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.

“With the metaphor ‘knife,’ artists are given space to share or mag-bahagi ng karanasan kaugnay sa salita na ‘kapangyarihan,’ ‘pagbabagong anyo,’ and ‘paglaban.’ (Artists are given space to share their experiences with the words ‘power,’ ‘changing forms,’ and ‘fighting.’).

“It’s a form of resistance.”

## **Imagining Transformation**

Several artists used depictions of severed body parts to challenge the societal idea that a person’s body dictates their social standing or future. For instance, Len-Len’s “Your Resistance is Ready to Slice” features a fabric representation of a spiked woman’s body part presented on a platter with cutlery, subverting expectations of how bodies are typically viewed.

![A work by Len-Len for "A Knife Sharpens Itself," curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173940.webp "20250314_173940 - BluPrint")

![A work by Len-Len for "A Knife Sharpens Itself," curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173947.webp "- BluPrint")A work by Len-Len for “A Knife Sharpens Itself,” curated by Brisa Amir.

![A work by Celeste Lapida for "A Knife Sharpens Itself."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174023.webp "20250314_174023 - BluPrint")A work by Celeste Lapida for “A Knife Sharpens Itself.”

![Three works shown in "A Knife Sharpens Itself," an exhibit themed around xenofeminism curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174047.webp "- BluPrint")

Arvi Fetalvero created two textile sculptures that meld together the penis and the vagina, transforming it into an unrecognizable shape. Nika Dizon’s “The Perfect Cinderella Girl” shows a painting of a woman with her toes cut off to fit into stiletto shoes, while Celeste Lapida’s silicon sculpture is a severed hand with its palms open.

These works specifically function as commentary on how success and existence in our world requires us to remove parts of ourselves behind to become more palatable. This, of course, comes doubly for women, expected to be beautiful while balancing work with family life and running a household.

It’s an impossible standard, and these works point towards that impossibility and how women sacrifice themselves for the *image* of being put together and successful.

## **Female Artistry in a Hostile World** 

Many of the artworks utilize metaphors to illustrate the current struggles of women in a patriarchal system. Chesca Co’s “Lethal Glitter,” for example, combines pulverized glass and a mortar and pestle to subvert the idea that “fragility is weakness.”

![Three works from the exhibit, with Chesca Co's work at the bottom.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174123.webp "- BluPrint")Three works from the exhibit, with Chesca Co’s work at the bottom.“The problem isn’t fragility itself but the expectation to remain harmless, to sparkle without revealing complexity,” Co said about their work. “This piece exposes the tension between perception and reality, questioning norms that confine identity and urging viewers to reconsider their assumptions about strength and vulnerability.”

Christina Dy, artist and founder of Polecats Manila, created black stilettos with literal blades for heels. She also presented a video of her dancing with the shoes on, as the scraping of the blades echoes across the room.

![A work by Christina Dy for the xenofeminism exhibit done by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174213.webp "20250314_174213 - BluPrint")

![Close-up of Christina Dy's knife stilettos. ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174146.webp "- BluPrint")

![A work by Christina Dy for the xenofeminism exhibit done by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174140.webp "- BluPrint")A work by Christina Dy for the xenofeminism exhibit done by Brisa Amir.

One artist, Pam Quinto, created “Self-Inflicted” by painting a canvas in seemingly neutral colors before slashing a message on its work with a knife: “THE WORLD IS VIOLENT TO OUR BODIES AND IT HAS TAUGHT US TO TURN THE KNIFE TOWARDS OURSELVES.”

!["Self-Inflicted" by Pam Quinto.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174430.webp "- BluPrint")Meanwhile, Ashley Gimpayan’s “Guard’s Veil” shows a pillowcase with make-up on it crumpled and nailed into a smaller shape. Inspired by the Veil of Veronica, the artist said that it captures the vulnerability of existence and the sacrifices that come with trying to achieve one’s goals.

!["Guard's Veil" by Ashley Gimpayan.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174227.webp "- BluPrint")“It reflects my personal experience of navigating identity, where strength and softness are not opposites, but inseparable,” Gimpayan said.

## **Sharpening Ourselves in the Face of A Discriminatory World**

*A Knife Sharpens Itself* is multifaceted in its attempt to discuss the complexity of achieving gender equality in society. The exhibit showcases how society hampers women from their ambitions, forcing them to work towards conformity towards a specific gender box and enact violence onto their own identities to fit in.

![Camille Quintos' "Fluid."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174252.webp "- BluPrint")

![Nichole Fern's work for "A Knife Sharpens Itself," a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174034.webp "- BluPrint")Nichole Fern’s work for “A Knife Sharpens Itself,” a xenofeminism exhibit curated by Brisa Amir.

![Ange Laybrinth's work for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174055.webp "- BluPrint")

![Arvi Fetalvero's "Dried Cutting 1 and 2."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174242.webp "20250314_174242 - BluPrint")Arvi Fetalvero’s “Dried Cutting 1 and 2.”

![Jan Sunday's work for "A Knife Sharpens Itself."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_174101.webp "- BluPrint")

These works reckon with the effects that this kind of violence can have with the psyche. But in the end, it also tries to see a future in all that violence where women can be freed from such gender norms to pursue their own ambitions as they see fit, unhampered by such norms.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [New Exhibit Recontextualizes Lamps and Light at Karrivin Plaza](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/recontextualizing-lamps-and-light-centers-new-exhibit-at-karrivin-plaza/ "New Exhibit Recontextualizes Lamps and Light at Karrivin Plaza")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core theme of the ‘A Knife Sharpens Itself’ exhibit at Cartellino Art?

The exhibition explores the intersection of power, self-discovery, and gender abolition through the lens of xenofeminism. Curated by Brisa Amir and Jose Olarte of The 5th House, the show aims to degender art and challenge the link between the male gender and societal privilege. By using the knife as a central symbol, the collection explores how transformation and regrowth often require dismantling rigid patriarchal structures and traditional gender norms.

### How does the exhibit use the symbol of the knife to discuss gender and identity?

The knife serves as a metaphor for “transformation, building, destroying, and dismantling” within the context of a journey toward self-discovery. It represents the “double-edged” nature of resistance, suggesting that progress requires a metaphorical wounding of old systems before healing and regrowth can occur. This symbolism encourages artists to share experiences of power and fighting, framing art as a form of resistance against a world that seeks to categorize and confine individuals based on gender.

### What is xenofeminism and how does it influence the artworks in this collection?

Xenofeminism is a gender abolitionist movement that advocates for a future where technology and social change remove the rigid categories of male and female. In the exhibit, this philosophy inspires artists to imagine a future where access to power is not dictated by gender identity, whether cis, trans, or nonbinary. This influence is seen in works that subvert the human form, moving away from human-centric gender roles toward a more fluid and inclusive understanding of identity.

### How do the featured artists use severed body parts to comment on societal standards?

Artists like Arvi Fetalvero, Nika Dizon, and Celeste Lapida use depictions of severed or modified body parts to critique the “impossible standards” forced upon women. These works, such as the painting of feet modified to fit stilettos, serve as a commentary on how society demands that individuals remove parts of their true selves to become palatable or successful. This visceral imagery highlights the physical and psychological violence inherent in conforming to beauty and domestic expectations in a patriarchal world.

### What role do metaphors like “Lethal Glitter” and “Self-Inflicted” play in the exhibition?

Metaphors in pieces like Chesca Co’s “Lethal Glitter” challenge the assumption that fragility is weakness by combining pulverized glass with traditional tools. Pam Quinto’s “Self-Inflicted” further illustrates how systemic violence teaches individuals to turn a knife toward their own identities. These works collectively explore the tension between perception and reality, urging viewers to reconsider their assumptions about strength, vulnerability, and the sacrifices made while navigating a discriminatory world.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Brisa Amir, Cartellino Art, Philippines, Women's Month

---

### [Justin Nicolas Rethinks Creativity as Development to Strengthen Communities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/justin-nicolas-creativity-in-social-work/)

**Published:** March 31, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

In celebration of National Arts Month in February, the [Concerned Artists of the Philippines](https://www.instagram.com/concernedartists_ph/ "Concerned Artists of the Philippines") hosted multiple talks discussing different angles of our perception of art in the country entitled *If Art is a Hammer 2025*. During their final day of talks, they invited Justin Nicolas, a UP associate professor, to discuss the links between social work and creativity in our communities.

## **Creativity in Social Work**

“Social work” and “creativity” seem like two disparate concepts when pitted in our society. And yet, Justin Nicolas redefines creativity in his research as something essential—integral even in the supposedly more data-driven work.

Nicolas discussed the five different studies he’s spearheaded over two decades to explore the idea of creativity in social work, which he gathered through interviews and analysis of different social workers from around the world.

![Social workers from the US Navy in Vietnam. Photo by Roadell Hickman. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1024px-Flickr_-_Official_U.S._Navy_Imagery_-_Pacific_Partnership_2012_visits_Vietnam._1.jpg "1024px-Flickr_-_Official_U.S._Navy_Imagery_-_Pacific_Partnership_2012_visits_Vietnam._(1) - BluPrint")Social workers from the US Navy in Vietnam. Photo by Roadell Hickman. Source: Wikimedia Commons.The most interesting portions of his studies he shared was how different social workers saw creativity. They saw it as an intricate part of problem-solving, something that is used in policy advocacy or client work or keeping teams together.

Nicolas found that the same qualities that exist in the creation of art—community building, trial-and-error, using self-expression to push forward different goals—can be found in non-artistic fields. It’s utilized the same way, but for different contexts. Within his studies, social workers utilize their creativity to enact social protection and transformation for their clients.

## **Typologies of Creativity**

In Justin Nicolas’ studies, he set up different typologies, so to speak, of how creativity exists in our mind: individual, organizational, and societal.

The individual level is, of course, the most subjective—it centers around personal expression and development. For the organizational level, it utilizes more objective metrics, seeking out competence and efficiency in getting work done towards something sustainable. Finally, for the societal level, people tend to look for larger, broader social transformation: a creative economy and engagement.

And the thing about his studies is that it can be applied in different realms of work. Obviously, art seems individualistic, but there’s a certain need for organizational knowhow in order to create the structures necessary to sell and show art to others. People also need a broader scope of engagement to encourage a culture that values beauty and art.

![A graph from one of the studies by Justin Nicolas for "If Art is a Hammer 2025."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_142407.jpg "20250215_142407 - BluPrint")A graph from one of the studies by Justin Nicolas for “If Art is a Hammer 2025.”Meanwhile, the individualistic level aims for pioneering ideas that promote better, efficient work on a personal level. The organizational level works in communication to coworkers and bosses for teamwork and finding satisfying conclusions for everyone. And that contributes to the broader societal attitudes that center around social work: of its importance, its relevance, its essentiality in our world today.

## **Alienation and Creativity**

The core of Justin Nicolas’ studies came after he originally read a paper that blamed the high turnover rate of social workers to their alienation from work. The low salaries and high caseload tended to push them towards burnout, and he used his studies to explore why.

And of course, if one talks about alienation from work, one always returns to the philosophies of Karl Marx. The German philosopher postulated that capitalist societies created a separation between the labor of a worker and the outcome of their work, which leads to alienation from the self.

From there, Nicolas said that Marx saw creativity as the “anti-thesis of alienation.” It creates a meaningful link between the work we do and its outcome in our personal lives and our society. Nicolas drew some interesting parallels to different philosophers’ conceptualizations of how integral creativity is to normal work.

“Creativity is a core element of human nature that is suppressed by the alienating conditions of capitalist labor,” Nicolas explained.

![German philospher Hans Joas during a speech in Germany. Photo by Ziko. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1024px-2014-gottingen-historikertag_182.jpg "1024px-2014-göttingen-historikertag_182 - BluPrint")German philospher Hans Joas during a speech in Germany. Photo by Ziko. Source: Wikimedia Commons.During the talk, he pointed listeners towards the work of German social theorist Hans Joas, who postulated that creativity is an integral part of how we express creativity as we interact with the world. We craft new ideas and assert ourselves in it through its practice.

“Human action is not simply the execution of a pre-given plan, but rather a process in which new goals, new meanings, and new patterns emerge in an ongoing creative manner,” a quote from Joas said.

## **Engaging in Society Through Creativity in Work**

Later in the talk, the associate professor discussed the different applications of the ideas in the field of social work. Reading through it, one sees the possibilities of how development can be pushed forward by engaging in an imaginative, community-centric approach in solving problems.

Vlad Petre Glăveanu called it “we creativity.” Other philosophers like Teresa Amalie and Keith Sawyer stated that it creates a culture of collaboration that sets up a foundation for collective knowledge and historical accumulation.

![Justin Nicolas in the midst of the discussion with visitors and members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_142556.jpg "20250215_142556 - BluPrint")Justin Nicolas in the midst of the discussion with visitors and members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.This can apply to social work, to art, and to any field of development, really. Creativity stops being this idea of “singular vision” popularized by ideas like the auteur theory, and becomes a tool for partnership with others to make something better in whatever field they’re in.

For Nicolas, creativity is not just found in artworks like music, painting, or film; instead, it exists as an outpouring of ingenuity and ideas that come from the working environments of people today. Creativity is action, where the personal and the professional meet together.

*Photos by Elle Yap unless otherwise stated.*

Related reading: [‘Warm Bodies’: Creating Empathetic Art in an Unkind World](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/warm-bodies-the-right-to-dissent/ "‘Warm Bodies’: Creating Empathetic Art in an Unkind World")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Justin Nicolas and what is the focus of his research?

Justin Nicolas is an Associate Professor and the current Dean of the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) at the University of the Philippines Diliman. For over a decade, his research has focused on the intersection of social work and creativity. He challenges the traditional view of creativity as purely artistic, instead redefining it as a vital tool for problem-solving, policy advocacy, and community development.

### How does Nicolas define creativity within the field of social work?

In his studies, Nicolas frames creativity as an “outpouring of ingenuity” essential for social transformation. He argues that the same qualities found in art—such as trial-and-error, self-expression, and community building—are used by social workers to navigate complex social protections. He views creativity not as a “singular vision” or “auteur” concept, but as a collaborative tool (or “we-creativity”) used to re-invent methods and adapt to specific environmental challenges.

### What are the three “typologies of creativity” presented in his study?

Nicolas categorizes creativity into three distinct levels:

Individual Level: Focuses on personal expression, subjective development, and pioneering ideas that improve personal efficiency.

Organizational Level: Centers on objective metrics like competence and efficiency, utilizing creative communication to foster teamwork and sustainable institutional goals.

Societal Level: Aims for broader social transformation, encouraging a “creative economy” and engagement that shifts public attitudes toward the essentiality of social work.

### What is the link between “alienation” and “creativity” in his findings?

Drawing on the philosophies of Karl Marx, Nicolas explores how high caseloads and low salaries lead to worker burnout and “alienation”—a separation between the worker’s labor and the outcome. He proposes that creativity is the antithesis of alienation. By engaging in creative practice, workers find a meaningful link between their efforts and the impact on society, thereby asserting their human nature and resisting the oppressive conditions of high-stress labor.

### How can creativity be applied as a “tool for development”?

Nicolas suggests that development is best pushed forward through an imaginative, community-centric approach. By moving away from rigid, pre-coded plans, social workers can use creativity to forge new goals and meanings in real-time. This “creative-critical” practice allows for collaboration that sets a foundation for collective knowledge, making creativity a functional engine for structural change rather than just an aesthetic pursuit.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Activism, Art, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, If Art is a Hammer, Justin Nicolas, Philippines

---

### [‘Witness of the Quiet’: Denise Weldon Finds Serenity in Past Works](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/witness-of-the-quiet-denise-weldon/)

**Published:** March 7, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For artist and photographer Denise Weldon, *[Witness of the Quiet](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGCtnKgNnSa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== "Witness of the Quiet")* showcases the ways we can find peace and quiet in our world for even the smallest things. The exhibit, assembled from thirty years of her photography, highlights how the nature of silence means that it exists in the most mundane and surprising of places.

“It builds that understanding and awareness \[that\] there’s a witness and a quiet in everything,” Weldon said. “Whether it’s being at home and observing a chair or how the light plays with the chair or how a leaf is slowly aging, you will have seen that there are things that are alive and are having their own life cycle, if you will.”

![Audience members looking at some works at "Witness of the Quiet."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173439.jpg "20250213_173439 - BluPrint")Audience members looking at some works at “Witness of the Quiet.”The exhibit, showing at the Yuchengco [Museum in Makati](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/international-museum-day-philippines/), showcases different planes of existence; from domestic kitchens and rolling fields to fruits and vegetables propped up in strange places.

These photos add a sense of depth and poetry that affect the texture of a scene. The objects captured may be mundane, but they exist in this plane where that mundanity is elevated into an eloquence of being. The legs of a chair, a pair of feet in ballet shoes, the details of a flower; all small elements blown up to discuss bigger ideas as a whole.

## **Curating the Semi-Survey of Weldon’s Work**

The choices for the photos in *Witness of the Quiet* came from Denise Weldon and from art curator Migs Rosales. His choices set out to highlight the consistent thematic ideas that come from Weldon’s work, adding only the ones that punctuated her artistry well.

![An image of a fruit at "Witness of the Quiet."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173233.jpg "20250213_173233 - BluPrint")An image of a fruit at “Witness of the Quiet.”“You have to be very decisive and to the point about what you select,” he said. “I just wanted to choose key pieces—along with the artist, of course, suggesting them—just to kind of give an overview of over 30 years of work. We went one by one through the archives and we both chose what we felt would highlight her.”

![Two images of blue bedsheets by Denise Weldon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173249.jpg "20250213_173249 - BluPrint")Two images of blue bedsheets by Denise Weldon.Interesting choices abound, including a provocative portion of the exhibit where the words “you” and “are” bookend a picture of a nobleman in marble. The letters, he said, came from a set in an old exhibit of Weldon that also had other words alongside it. He chose the words to highlight the impermanence of our world.

![Three images by Denise Weldon in "Witness of the Quiet."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173853.jpg "20250213_173853 - BluPrint")Three images by Denise Weldon in “Witness of the Quiet.”“It kind of asks that question, ‘Are you?,’” he started. “And you look at that guy, who’s obviously gone long, long, long ago already, right? It’s like, ‘who are you?’ Or ‘what are you? Where are you?’”

“It’s all these open-ended questions that were so impermanent. The show is about \[bearing\] witness to the quiet, and it’s like you’re searching for that quiet in this very busy world. I wanted to kind of do that for that piece and recontextualize it \[for the exhibit\].”

## **Black and White Ephemera**

Most of the images chosen for *Witness of the Quiet* are in black-and-white. This came from Weldon’s own background as an artist. Her photography classes at the International School of Bangkok when she started tended to use only that kind of film.

![Five works by Denise Weldon for "Witness of the Quiet."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173334.jpg "20250213_173334 - BluPrint")Five works by Denise Weldon for “Witness of the Quiet.”Since then, black and white has been her default. She admitted that the monochrome creates a poignancy in her images that wouldn’t be possible with colored images.

“Black and white sort of distills everything,” she said. “Color has another element of distraction, or we can look at it as distraction, or we can look at it as embellishment, or a creative, colorful voice to a situation. But a lot of things when you actually take away the color you feel the essence more.”

![An image of a flower by Denise Weldon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173514.jpg "20250213_173514 - BluPrint")Still, the exhibit contains interesting splashes of color that add a variety to the offerings. Rosales called it a “visual anchor” that gives a punch of something new that the eye can go to. One highlight is a photograph of a lemon in a dark landscape, its bright yellowness contrasting well with the surroundings.

![A work by Denise Weldon involving a yellow lemon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173304.jpg "20250213_173304 - BluPrint")A work by Denise Weldon involving a yellow lemon.“I was in Iceland at the time,” she said. “I’d gone to the grocery \[store\]. The lemon was huge, it was bright, it was beautiful, and we were renting a very tiny AirBNB with a kitchen interior of a very dark slate blue, almost black. It was just that. I wasn’t trying to change it, I loved the way it was as a blue wall and as a yellow lemon.”

## **Finding Quiet in Our Environment**

The different images of nature and domesticity meld together within *Witness of the Quiet*. It becomes an account of the way the ordinary can become expressive objects in their own right. Weldon calls it a “witness state,” to bring testimony to the cycles that adorn our lives silently and daily, and the way that taking time to pay attention to it creates an added meaning to our own existence.

![A picture of chair legs by Denise Weldon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173259.jpg "20250213_173259 - BluPrint")A picture of chair legs by Denise Weldon.“We witness all of those states all the time,” she said. “And, to your observation, you can see it whether it’s with a chair, with a person, or with a piece of nature or a landscape. The quiet is always there. It’s really a matter of us becoming aware, cultivating a practice of that. The pull of the world is really to pull us outside. The pull of the spirit is to go within.”

![A vegetable photographed by Denise Weldon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250213_173924.jpg "20250213_173924 - BluPrint")Pondering on this survey of her work, she said that it showed her the purpose, so to speak, that her works played in society as a whole. It reminds people to stop and allow moments of reflection to understand better what they are experiencing.

“I think, at the end of the day, it’s just to remind people to make quiet for themselves so that they have an inner life,” she said.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘I/Land’: FotomotoPH Captures the Diversity of the Country](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/i-land-fotomotoph-ayala-museum/ "‘I/Land’: FotomotoPH Captures the Diversity of the Country")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of the title “Witness of the Quiet” in Denise Weldon’s work?

The title reflects Weldon’s philosophy of the “witness state,” where one observes the silent life cycles and hidden details of the world around them. Compiled from thirty years of photography, the exhibit encourages viewers to find serenity in mundane subjects like the light on a chair or the aging of a leaf. By bearing witness to these quiet moments, Weldon suggests that individuals can cultivate a deeper inner life and awareness amidst the distractions of a busy world.

### Where is Denise Weldon’s “Witness of the Quiet” exhibit being held?

The exhibition is currently showing at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City, featuring a diverse collection of photography that spans three decades. The museum space hosts a variety of Weldon’s planes of existence, ranging from expansive rolling fields to intimate domestic kitchen settings. Visitors can explore these poetic visual narratives to see how ordinary objects are elevated into eloquent subjects through her lens.

### Why are most of the photographs in the exhibit presented in black and white?

Denise Weldon utilizes black and white photography as her default medium because it distills a scene to its essential essence by removing the distraction of color. This choice stems from her early training at the International School of Bangkok, where she learned that monochrome creates a specific poignancy and depth. By stripping away “embellishments,” the artist believes the viewer can better feel the texture and soul of the captured moment.

### How did curator Migs Rosales select the pieces for this thirty-year survey?

Curator Migs Rosales worked closely with Weldon to choose “key pieces” that punctuated her long career and highlighted her consistent thematic ideas. The curation process involved a meticulous one-by-one review of Weldon’s extensive archives to ensure the final selection provided a decisive and powerful overview. Rosales also introduced “visual anchors,” such as occasional splashes of color, to provide a punch of variety and recontextualize older works for a modern audience.

### What role does the “yellow lemon” photograph play in the exhibition?

The photograph of a bright yellow lemon against a dark slate-blue background serves as a striking visual anchor that contrasts with the predominantly black-and-white collection. Captured in an Airbnb in Iceland, the image represents Weldon’s ability to find beauty in simple, unarranged moments found in everyday environments. This specific piece highlights the interplay between light and color, drawing the eye and offering a brief, vivid departure from the monochrome essence of the show.

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Denise Weldon, Manila, Philippines, Yuchengco Museum

---

### [‘Breaking to Mend’: Ciane Xavier Illustrates the Fragility of Human Emotions](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/breaking-to-mend-ciane-xavier/)

**Published:** March 13, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Seeing the spectrum of human emotions as fragile is a concept as old as time. The way emotions break and mold itself to our environment is the subject of a lot of art. What [Ciane Xavier](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/breaking-to-mend-ciane-xavier/) does with *Breaking to Mend,* however, is to capture these emotions in porcelain, literalizing the conceptual framework interplaying with the work.

![The artworks for "Breaking to Mend." The Ciane Xavier works, made of porcelain, surround the room.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171032.jpg "20250212_171032 - BluPrint")The artworks for “Breaking to Mend.” The Ciane Xavier works, made of porcelain, surround the room.The [Galerie Stephanie](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/galerie-stephanie-march-2024-exhibitions/) exhibit uses the delicate nature of porcelain to run the gamut of human emotions that we experience. The plates in these exhibits depict different situations and states of emotions, and it gives us a general idea of the breadth of feelings that humanity deals with in a lifetime.

“In its fragility, this delicate material is strengthened by stories that are glazed by the human emotions and the relationships that bind one to another,” the exhibit write-up said. “This exhibition is an invitation to engage in the metaphorical mending of ‘moments we cherish and the moments we fear.’”

## **Porcelain Heart**

Xavier, a self-taught artist and sculptor who grew up in South Brazil, works as a pop surrealist in a variety of mediums. For her, the medium informs the truth of the experience, and she allows her ideas to bend to what the material she works with requires.

![The artworks at "Breaking to Mend."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171101.jpg "20250212_171101 - BluPrint")The artworks at “Breaking to Mend.”In *Breaking to Mend*, she works with porcelain plates and sculptures, depicting a slew of emotions with the medium. At the center of the exhibit are two porcelain structures of people with large feet—one person is doing a defensive stance as they stare at the other person, holding a heart while seemingly offering it to the first person.

![One angle of the work of Ciane Xavier in the exhibit. One of the figures is giving their heart to the other.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171043.jpg "20250212_171043 - BluPrint")One angle of the work of Ciane Xavier in the exhibit. One of the figures is giving their heart to the other.Surrounding the ground of the sculptures are broken plates, showcasing the turmoil of the relationship at the center. Some of the plates contain sad, reluctant faces, adding even more emotionality to the shattering. Others are empty, just collateral damage in whatever argument is being depicted at the moment.

![Another angle of the works at "Breaking to Mend."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171049.jpg "20250212_171049 - BluPrint")Another angle of the works at “Breaking to Mend.”“The interplay of both whole and broken porcelains symbolize the various stages of vulnerabilities that each relationship narrates-either still seeing the whole in its brokenness, or too shattered that it identifies as a new entity,” the exhibit write-up said.

## **Strength in Fragility**

The walls around them contain different paintings done in a variety of plate sizes—some utilizing the typical rounded plates, while others are more jagged at the edges. The artist glazed her artworks directly into the plate, showing the seeming inevitability of these emotions being felt.

![Some of the plates positioned above the porcelain sculptures.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171124.jpg "20250212_171124 - BluPrint")Some of the plates positioned above the porcelain sculptures.Ciane Xavier shows a diverse set of situations there: there are lovers talking to each other, people dissociating while listening to music, and multiple people seemingly screaming into nothingness. Many even place the people in more fantastical situations, making references to pop culture touchstones like *Alice in Wonderland*.

![Another wall of porcelain plate artworks by Ciane Xavier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250212_171118.jpg "20250212_171118 - BluPrint")Another wall of porcelain plate artworks by Ciane Xavier.*Breaking to Mend* shows that the fragility of our relationships aren’t dependent on their explosiveness. Ciane Xavier characterizes the brittleness of our stability, and how who we are can be changed by the situations we find ourselves in.

The complexity of these depictions—fantastical and ordinary at the same time—provides that even the small emotions that we experience can upend the frail balance that we bring upon ourselves.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Sandata’: Archie Geotina Probes at the Fragility of Power](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/sandata-archie-geotina-modeka-art/ "‘Sandata’: Archie Geotina Probes at the Fragility of Power")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central theme of Ciane Xavier’s ‘Breaking to Mend’ exhibit?

The exhibition explores the spectrum of human emotions and the inherent fragility of relationships through the literal and metaphorical use of porcelain. By depicting moments of both cherished connection and deep-seated fear, Xavier invites viewers to engage in the mending of their own emotional vulnerabilities. The works symbolize how identity can be shattered by life’s experiences and subsequently transformed into something entirely new and resilient.

### Why did the artist choose porcelain as the primary medium for this collection?

Ciane Xavier selected porcelain because its delicate nature literalizes the conceptual framework of human stability and emotional brittleness. For this self-taught sculptor, the medium informs the truth of the experience, requiring her ideas to bend to the material’s physical requirements. Porcelain’s ability to be both exquisitely beautiful and easily broken serves as a perfect metaphor for the vulnerable stages of interpersonal relationships.

### What do the broken plates at the center of the exhibit represent?

The broken plates surrounding the central porcelain sculptures represent the emotional turmoil, collateral damage, and inherent vulnerability found within human relationships. Some shards feature sad, reluctant faces, while others are left blank to signify the loss of identity after a traumatic or explosive event. This display illustrates the stages of a relationship, highlighting whether one sees the “whole” within the cracks or identifies as a newly shattered entity.

### How does Ciane Xavier incorporate pop culture and surrealism into her porcelain works?

As a pop surrealist, Xavier blends ordinary human situations with fantastical elements, including references to literary touchstones like Alice in Wonderland. Her glazed plate artworks feature diverse scenes, from lovers in dialogue to characters dissociating through music or screaming into the void. These surreal depictions emphasize that even the smallest, most quiet emotions can upend the frail balance of our reality, making the ordinary feel profoundly extraordinary.

### What is the significance of the two central porcelain figures in the gallery?

The two central structures depict figures with characteristically large feet, representing a dynamic of vulnerability and defense between two people. One figure is captured in a defensive stance while the other offers a porcelain heart, literalizing the risk and exposure involved in emotional exchange. This focal point anchors the surrounding wall of plates, providing a physical narrative of how stories are “glazed” by the emotions and relationships that bind us.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Ciane Xavier, Galerie Stephanie, Philippines, porcelain

---

### [‘Unveiling Perspectives’ Showcases the Materiality of the World](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/unveiling-perspectives-kaida-contemporary-group-exhibit/)

**Published:** April 23, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Unveiling Perspectives*, Quezon City-based art gallery [Kaida Contemporary](https://www.instagram.com/kaidacontemporarygallery/ "Kaida Contemporary") assembled a group of artists to create different compositions that portray their daily lived experiences. It shows them in a way that illustrates their individuality as artists, with different materials that are important to them and their craft as a whole.

![Two works by Ikang Gonzales.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152409.jpg "- BluPrint")Two works by Ikang Gonzales.“Art has a way of shifting our vision, of making the familiar strange and the strange familiar,” Kaye O’Yek wrote in the exhibit write-up. “*Unveiling Perspectives* gathers eleven artists whose works unfold in layers of material, of memory, of quiet insistence.”

## **Transfixing Images of Everyday Life**

Despite the different mediums and perspectives, the exhibit unifies them with works that depict something real and personal. It’s unique in its format, structure, and materials, yes, but the biggest differentiating thing is how these pieces could only be created by these specific artists within this context of time.

!["Roundtrip from HK to Macau" by Nicole Coson for "Unveiling Perspectives."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152520.jpg "20250304_152520 - BluPrint")“Roundtrip from HK to Macau” by Nicole Coson for “Unveiling Perspectives.”For example, [Nicole Asares](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/kapitolyos-newest-art-haus-fifty-one-collective-launches-with-a-slam/) utilizes a layered, string-like process that creates abstract pipe-like images that interconnect together in a larger environment. In this exhibit’s context, the method works to create “Roundtrip from HK to Macau,” which depicts a bustling cityscape and its different transportation options.

!["Dream, girl" by Natasha Juliano.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152537.jpg "- BluPrint")“Dream, girl” by Natasha Juliano.Natasha Juliano’s contribution to *Unveiling Perspectives*, “Dream, girl,” is a fragmented depiction of women’s legs in movement, offering a skewed and surreal view of women seemingly being cut out from the full picture. It looks like a television screen going berserk, which O’Yek refers to as “a twisted choreographed dream.”

!["Spectrum of Dots: The Colors of Pointillism" by Veronica Ibarreta for "Unveiling Perspectives."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152747.jpg "20250304_152747 - BluPrint")Veronica Ibaretta, meanwhile, demonstrates skilled craftsmanship with “Spectrum of Dots: The Colors of Pointillism.” This painting shows different oil dots layered on top of each other, creating a striking and immersive wave of color. Ibaretta added unused oil pastel color sticks above the pointillist work to contrast with their use in the work.

## **New Perspectives**

*Unveiling Perspectives* captivates its audience by curating artworks that distinctly diverge, each offering a unique and compelling viewpoint. Nina Garibay’s “Mamma,” for example—a headless, disembodied torso served on a platter—finds aesthetic similarities with [Genavee Lazaro](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/crossing-boundaries-exhibit-cartellino-art/)’s “The Kiln Gods are Women,” which depicts a collection of jars inside a container.

![Nina Garibay and Genavee Lazaro's works for "Unveiling Perspectives."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152546.jpg "20250304_152546 - BluPrint")Nina Garibay and Genavee Lazaro’s works for “Unveiling Perspectives.”

!["Perennial" by Kadin Tiu.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152256.jpg "20250304_152256 - BluPrint")“Perennial” by Kadin Tiu.

![Two works by Julieanne Ng for "Unveiling Perspectives."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152312.jpg "20250304_152312 - BluPrint")Two works by Julieanne Ng for “Unveiling Perspectives.”

![A work by Genavee Lazaro.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152325.jpg "- BluPrint")

![Janelle Tang's "Life in the Dream House."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250304_152334.jpg "20250304_152334 - BluPrint")Janelle Tang’s “Life in the Dream House.”

In a way, despite the diverging styles, the exhibit still finds links to the paintings in interesting ways. The scientific-looking fingerprint ink and incense-burned paper art by Julieanne Ng can be put side-by-side with Kadin Tiu’s painting of an orange seasonal leaf. This creates a conversation about the similarities and differences of the work despite the lack of obvious connection at first.

Instead of seeking uniformity, *Unveiling Perspectives* embraces contrasts. The exhibit gave each artist space to present their distinct—even conflicting—viewpoints. It invites audiences to recognize that while these perspectives may not seamlessly align, they can still coexist—reflecting a world as diverse in thought as it is in life.

“Each piece in this exhibition opens a door, shifts a line, alters what we think we see. These are perspectives in flux-unveiled, but never fixed,” O’Yek wrote.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Sur’ Celebrates the Artists’ Perspectives of Culture in Mindanao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/sur-mindanao-group-exhibit/ "‘Sur’ Celebrates the Artists’ Perspectives of Culture in Mindanao")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central theme of the “Unveiling Perspectives” exhibit at Kaida Contemporary?

The exhibition highlights how personal outlooks and daily lived experiences influence the creation of art. By gathering eleven different artists, the show illustrates how individuality and memory shape an artist’s craft, effectively making “the familiar strange and the strange familiar.” The collection emphasizes that art is a layer of material and quiet insistence that shifts a viewer’s vision of the world.

### How does materiality play a role in the artworks featured in this exhibition?

Materiality is central to the show, with each artist utilizing unique mediums that are personal to their craft. For instance, Nicole Asares uses a layered, string-like process to depict a cityscape, while Veronica Ibaretta incorporates unused oil pastel sticks alongside a pointillist painting to contrast the raw material with its finished application. These diverse textures and techniques invite the audience to appreciate the physical substance and evolution of each piece.

### What are some examples of the “unique viewpoints” showcased in the exhibit?

The exhibit features contrasting perspectives, such as Natasha Juliano’s “Dream, girl,” which uses fragmented imagery to offer a surreal view of movement, and Nina Garibay’s “Mamma,” which presents a disembodied torso on a platter. These works diverge significantly in style and subject matter, yet they are unified by the artists’ specific personal contexts and the particular moment in time in which they were created.

### How does the exhibition create a conversation between seemingly unrelated works?

“Unveiling Perspectives” intentionally places diverging styles side-by-side, such as Julieanne Ng’s scientific fingerprint ink art next to Kadin Tiu’s painting of a seasonal leaf. This curation encourages audiences to find hidden links and explore the similarities and differences between pieces that lack an obvious connection. By embracing these contrasts, the exhibit reflects a world that is as diverse in thought as it is in life.

### What is the significance of this exhibit being held during Women’s Month?

As a Women’s Month exhibition, the show celebrates the distinct and compelling viewpoints of female artists, providing them a platform to present their individuality without the need for uniformity. The exhibit suggests that artistic perspectives are in a constant state of flux—unveiled but never fixed—highlighting the multifaceted nature of the female experience. It invites the audience to recognize and respect the coexistence of conflicting or diverse viewpoints within the art world.

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Group Exhibition, Kaida Contemporary, Philippines, Women's Month

---

### [Galerie Stephanie Untangles the Boundless Potential of Filipina Artists](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/galerie-stephanie-womens-month-exhibit-2025/)

**Published:** April 14, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For International Women’s Month, Galerie Stephanie and curator Gwen Bautista premiered the exhibit *Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth*. Amassing a group of more than thirty artists, the show focuses on a central feminism theme of the boundless potential of women’s art in the face of misogyny.

!["The Sound of A Woman Thinking" by Gabby Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173136.webp "- BluPrint")“The Sound of A Woman Thinking” by Gabby Prado.Comparing it to how June’s Pride Month is both a celebration of queerness and a protest for rights, Bautista sees the exhibit as a way to celebrate female artists of today while also acknowledging the trials faced in the past and to be conquered in the future.

![Sher Cajucom's "Why Are We Not Having Sex Right Now?" for the Gwen Bautista-curated exhibit at Galerie Stephanie.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173743.webp "- BluPrint")Sher Cajucom’s “Why Are We Not Having Sex Right Now?” for the Gwen Bautista-curated exhibit at Galerie Stephanie.“It’s a celebration among us women and how far \[we’ve come\],” Bautista said. “We have to applaud ourselves and also we have to pay tribute to the women who had put themselves on the line for this generation. \[The exhibit also aims\] to open paths and pavements and ways for this generation \[…\] and the next generation to proceed with life and have less and less of that \[struggle\].”

## **‘Power’ and Adrienne Rich**

The Galerie Stephanie exhibit’s theme and title comes from the poem [“Power”](https://www.best-poems.net/adrienne_rich/power.html) by writer and feminist Adrienne Rich. It discusses the contributions of Marie Curie to science while ruminating on the consequences of these achievements to both her body and her life.

Bautista sees feminist progress as a double-edged sword for the women who push them forward. Even with their levels of tragedy and marginalization (Curie with how her discovery of radiation ended up killing, Rich with how she was ostracized in society by being a lesbian), they succeed in breaking barriers that make it easier for women in the future to get into their chosen fields.

![Adrienne Rich's "Power" at the Galerie Stephanie exhibit "Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173021.webp "- BluPrint")Adrienne Rich’s “Power” at the Galerie Stephanie exhibit “Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth.”“A lot of inspiration \[comes from\] having Adrienne Rich paying tribute to Marie Curie; from one great female figure to another. But it is also highlighting, at the same time, the oppression that both of them have also experienced and the marginalization of themselves in the fields where they have actually succeeded.

“There’s a lot of \[that in society\] whether we like it or not,” she continued. “For example, the literary world and the art world \[are\] heavily dominated by patriarchal structures. As women, we have to learn how to navigate these structures. And it’s always about finding our own ways. There’s also a lot of kinship and a lot of solidarity in that.”

Bautista paired the poem with an art piece by Poeleen Alvarez, “Locked and Loaded.” It uses a three-dimensional comic-book style collage of a man pointing an unloaded gun to the horizon as their background appears to be a close-up of a gun being fired.

“\[Alvarez\] is also an art historian \[and\] an educator; she teaches at UP. She works with zines, printed matter; you know, marginalized, I guess, mediums. But there’s a lot of strength in what she does, so, I feel like it’s apt \[as representation\] for the whole exhibition.”

## **New Generations of Artists** 

All of the artists in this Galerie Stephanie exhibit are under 35 years of age. According to both Bautista and Grace Micah Oreiro, operations manager for Galerie Stephanie, this was to highlight where contemporary Filipino art is today, and as a way of giving up and coming artists a boost in visibility.

“I feel like it’s a good concoction of two generations in itself,” Oreiro said. “And we feel like they’re also the movers of contemporary art now. They’re the ones showing new media, new concepts, very fresh and very much out there through social media. So, yeah, we really wanted to capture that kind of age bracket.”

![Mixed media works and paintings for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173205.webp "- BluPrint")Mixed media works and paintings for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

![Some of the works for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173819.webp "- BluPrint")Some of the works for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

![Paintings and sketches for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173122.webp "- BluPrint")Paintings and sketches for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

“We wanted to see the progress,” she added. “We wanted to see the changes. We wanted to see experimentations happening at the age where everything seems so ripe, seems so peak.”

A variety of works from prominent artists abound. One sees abstract paintings by Gabby Prado, Grace Impas, and Tammy de Roca alongside realistic renderings of surroundings by Alyson Ortega, Nicole Britas, Izza Catayas, and Jem Magbanua.

## **Experimenting with Form**

More experimental paintings were incorporated in the exhibit. Three examples of this were Tia Avila’s colorful paintings depicting a woman’s body covered in flowers and greenery, Amiel Louise Rivera’s mixed-media painting of a woman in distress, and Maica Borlagdan’s cloudy and space-like paintings made from acrylic and resin.

![Tia Avila's works for Galerie Stephanie's Women's Month exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173309.webp "- BluPrint")Tia Avila’s works for Galerie Stephanie’s Women’s Month exhibit.

![Maica Borlagdan’s two paintings.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_175225.webp "- BluPrint")

![A work by Microsluts for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173610-1.webp "20250314_173610 (1) - BluPrint")

!["in light of recent events" by Amiel Louise Rivera.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Featured-Image-Template-1.jpg "- BluPrint")“in light of recent events” by Amiel Louise Rivera.

Bautista also desired to showcase more variety in the artworks beyond paintings, so she included stoneware works by Jessica Anne Alba, mixed-media sculptures by Sam Bumanlag, and textile works by Veronica Lazo and Jheane Borja.

![A work by Jessica Anne Alba.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_175553.webp "- BluPrint")

![Sculptural works by Sam Bumanlag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173546.webp "- BluPrint")

![Textile art by Veronica Lazo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173845.webp "20250314_173845 - BluPrint")

“Female artists are always marginalized in a way but at the same time \[it signals that\] paintings are not the top \[medium\],” she explained. “ I guess it’s the more popular choice, but we need to also highlight that there are different formats of expression, and there are many, many ways in which you can realize ideas, your opinions, your insights. And women throughout many, many generations have been able to show that, oh, pwede pala yun, you know, that \[it\] can be done, not just in the arts, but also in society.”

## **Inventiveness and Expansion of Artistry**

And when women don’t get marginalized, it allows the kind of artistic inquiries that are unpredictable. There’s space for them to discover new narratives, new ways of saying things, through the mediums that they currently have.

![The five Anna Orlina works for the Galerie Stephanie exhibit "Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173347.webp "- BluPrint")The five Anna Orlina works for the Galerie Stephanie exhibit “Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth.”An interesting example of this is Anna Orlina’s five glass sculptures of two pairs of lips and eyes, and a hedge of flowers in between them. She created the work because she experimented with a new shipment of red glass that she hadn’t used yet. This blossomed into her utilizing and integrating new colors and ideas towards a piece that depicts two women talking next to a flower bush.

![Examples of the eye and lips made by Anna Orlina for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173720.webp "- BluPrint")Examples of the eye and lips made by Anna Orlina for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit.“ When I first made it, I was just like, ‘oh, eyes and lips.’ And I was like, ‘oh, maybe I \[can\] make two pairs of lips,’” she said. “It just came to be with the pieces I had. And I was like, ‘oh, that’s so cute,’ because I had two pairs of lips, it’s like they’re gossiping or they’re chatting over a rosebush.

![The hedges in between the works.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173712.webp "20250314_173712 - BluPrint")“That’s how the storyline came to be, like a little narrative thing when putting it all together. Originally when they asked me for three sculptures, I came up with five just because I felt like it’s more complete to make, at least, a narrative \[with the works\]. I haven’t done that with my previous works, it’s always just been separate. But this one was like, ‘oh, it’s cute, it has a little story to it.”

## **Pushing the Mantle of Womanhood Forward**

*Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth* provides the end-product of the potential that exists in every aspiring artist if they’re just given the opportunity. It genuinely feels like these works just crack the surface of potential on where women’s art—and Filipino art as a whole—can go from here.

![Tammy De Roca painting for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173108.webp "20250314_173108 - BluPrint")Tammy De Roca painting for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

![Jem Magbanua's work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173253.webp "20250314_173253 - BluPrint")

![Alyson Ortega's work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173417.webp "20250314_173417 - BluPrint")

![Maria Nelle Valmoria and Gabby Prado's works.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_175200.webp "- BluPrint")

![Tintin Lontoc's work for Galerie Stephanie's feminism exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_175515.webp "20250314_175515 - BluPrint")Tintin Lontoc’s work for Galerie Stephanie’s feminism exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

![Sophia Cabugoy's work for the exhibition.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173443.webp "- BluPrint")

![Works by Izza Catayas and Nicole Bitas for the Galerie Stephanie Women's Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173512.webp "20250314_173512 - BluPrint")Works by Izza Catayas and Nicole Bitas for the Galerie Stephanie Women’s Month exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

![Two Faye Pamintuan paintings for Galerie Stephanie's feminism exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250314_173530.webp "20250314_173530 - BluPrint")Two Faye Pamintuan paintings for Galerie Stephanie’s feminism exhibit curated by Gwen Bautista.

“We hope that these narratives will somehow overturn the wounds of becoming a woman,” the exhibit write-up said. “To rise and heal from the inherited collective and generational trauma of living inside patriarchal structures and unlearn any internalized sexism and misogyny. Together, we can relentlessly emerge from the crumbling flank of discrimination and inequality.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Galerie Stephanie Showcases an All-Filipina Lineup at Art Fair Tokyo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/galerie-stephanie-art-fair-tokyo-2025/ "Galerie Stephanie Showcases an All-Filipina Lineup at Art Fair Tokyo")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the theme of the ‘Emerging Out of a Crumbling Flank of Earth’ exhibit at Galerie Stephanie?

The exhibit centers on the boundless potential of Filipina artists while navigating the patriarchal structures of modern society. Curated by Gwen Bautista, the show explores how ambition and progress act as a double-edged sword, acknowledging the historical struggles and future triumphs of women. It serves as both a celebration of contemporary creativity and a protest against the marginalization of women in the art world.

### How does Adrienne Rich’s poem “Power” influence this Women’s Month exhibition?

The title and central theme are derived from Adrienne Rich’s poem “Power,” which reflects on the life and sacrifices of scientist Marie Curie. The exhibit uses this literary connection to highlight the “double-edged sword” of success, where women break barriers in their fields despite facing physical or social consequences. This narrative underscores the shared experiences of oppression and the strength found in female solidarity across different generations and disciplines.

### Who are the featured artists in Galerie Stephanie’s 2025 Women’s Month exhibit?

The exhibit showcases over thirty artists under the age of 35, including prominent names like Anna Orlina, Gabby Prado, and Poeleen Alvarez. Other contributors include experimental painters such as Tia Avila and Maica Borlagdan, as well as sculptors and textile artists like Jessica Anne Alba and Veronica Lazo. By focusing on this specific age bracket, the gallery aims to highlight the “movers” of contemporary Filipino art who are currently redefining media and concepts.

### What types of art mediums are displayed in the exhibit beyond traditional painting?

To challenge the dominance of painting in the art market, curator Gwen Bautista included a diverse array of mediums such as stoneware, glass sculptures, and textile works. Notable examples include Anna Orlina’s intricate glass pieces, Sam Bumanlag’s mixed-media sculptures, and Poeleen Alvarez’s three-dimensional comic-book style collages. This variety emphasizes that women have countless ways to realize their insights and opinions beyond traditional formats, fostering greater inventiveness in artistry.

### How does the exhibit address the “generational trauma” of women in a patriarchal society?

The exhibit aims to “overturn the wounds of becoming a woman” by creating a space where artists can unlearn internalized sexism and rise above systemic inequality. By showcasing the success of younger Filipina artists, Galerie Stephanie fosters a sense of kinship and collective healing from inherited struggles. The ultimate goal is to provide a platform where women can relentlessly emerge from the crumbling flank of discrimination to explore unpredictable new narratives.

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Galerie Stephanie, Philippines, Women Artists, Women's Month

---

### [‘Bloom’ Celebrates the Vibrant Freedom of Individuality](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/bloom-womens-month-exhibit-kapitolyo-art-space/)

**Published:** April 2, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Running from March 15 to April 5 at [Kapitolyo Art](https://www.instagram.com/kapitolyoartspace/ "Kapitolyo Art") Space, *Bloom* explores individuality as a form of freedom. This group exhibit gathers thirteen women artists from various disciplines, each offering a distinct perspective. Together, their works celebrate the depth and diversity of artistic expression, inviting viewers to reflect on the many ways creativity shapes identity and experience.

![Some of the artists during the opening of "Bloom" at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_184937.jpg "20250315_184937 - BluPrint")Some of the artists during the opening of “Bloom” at Kapitolyo Art Space.“The women in this exhibition capture these complexities in their work,” the exhibit write-up said. “\[This exhibit is\] reflecting not only the personal but also the collective journeys of women throughout history. Each piece speaks to a woman’s ability to persist, challenge, and embrace change, while boldly asserting her place in the world.”

## **‘Bloom’ and International Women’s Month**

Curated in honor of International Women’s Month, the exhibit celebrates the progress of women’s rights over the past century while underscoring the ongoing challenges in achieving true gender equality.

During the opening reception, artist Eghai Roxas paid tribute to the continued struggle of women for equality, and their importance for a flourishing Philippine art scene.

![Artist Eghai Roxas during the opening of "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_184704.jpg "20250315_184704 - BluPrint")“Pinakita ang mga isyu at hamon sa kinakaharap ng mga kababaihan \[sa\] kabila ng pagtaas ng kaso ng karahasan sa tahanan at ang mga oportunidad na nawawala sa trabaho dahil sa pagbabago ng ekonomiya,” Roxas said. “Sa kabila ng hamon nito, nanatiling matatag at nakikibaka ang mga kababaihan, at patuloy nilang ipinaglalaban ang kanilang mga karapatan, pagkilala sa kanilang kontribusyon sa lipunan.

“Napakalaking bahagi ng ating mga kababaihan sa lipunan. Sa ating kabayan natin sa Pilipinas ay marami na ring anak ng sining. Lalo na mga kababaihan sa sculpture, painting, at simpleng papamaraan sa sining.”

(“It showed the issues and harms women face as the cases of domestic violence rise and a lack of job opportunities abound due to the changing market. Yet despite the harms, they continue steadfast in fighting for their rights and for recognition in society. Women are a big part of our society; in the Philippines many of them are artists. Lots of women work in sculpture, paintings and other forms of art.”)

## **‘Pakikibaka’ of Women in the Society’s Struggles**

!["On This Site Will Rise" by Grace Corpus.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185327.jpg "20250315_185327 - BluPrint")That spirit of change and individuality exists in every work in *Bloom*. Many of the works revolve around a societal issue that the artist feels strongly about. Works like Grace Corpus’s “On This Site Will Rise” uses wood and corrugated steel to create sculptural assemblages. The piece critiques the way society inflicts violence against indigenous people in the name of progress.

![A work by Racquel De Loyola for "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185100.jpg "20250315_185100 - BluPrint")Racquel de Loyola contributed a piece from her “Oasis Series”, which is a fabric pillow shaped like a uterus with a vulva made of blue resin. “It’s basically inspired from the Baybayin form and symbol,” she explained. “It also represents \[the\] womb, and a home or a house or a sanctuary.”

The artist shares that it’s a commentary of women’s roles in society today. “Basically, that’s how I \[see\] this work. I think women have a very crucial role in changing our society as well,” she elaborated. “Women embody nurturers and the same value \[of\] sustenance as well. So, it’s very much related to how home reflects \[in\] this work.”

## **Encouraging One’s Interest**

Others are not so overtly political, but they show an exploratory spirit in their artistic endeavors that wouldn’t be possible in a more repressive society. Artists like Lala Jara Tuazon, Camille Dela Rosa, and Katelyn Miñoso contribute colorful and flowery landscapes. These paintings find small notes of introspection through their impressionistic stylistic choices that highlight their moodiness to their surroundings.

![Lala Jara Tuazon's work for "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_192212.jpg "- BluPrint")Lala Jara Tuazon’s work for “Bloom.”

![Katelyn Miñoso's work for "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185812.jpg "- BluPrint")

![Katelyn Miñoso's work for "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185808.jpg "20250315_185808 - BluPrint")Katelyn Miñoso’s work for “Bloom.”

![Camille de la Rosa's work for "Bloom."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185235.jpg "- BluPrint")Camille de la Rosa’s work for “Bloom.”

Stylistic differences abound in *Bloom*. Kitty Taniguchi contributed the portraits “Woman with Bangles” and “Woman with Pet Crow.” Both of them have this abstract aesthetic that envisions something both expressive and simplified with the way it renders its subject.

![Two works by Kitty Taniguichi.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_184125.jpg "- BluPrint")Keiye Miranda, meanwhile, has two paintings in the exhibit, “Blowing Bubbles 1” and “Blooming Underneath V.” These paintings, made from the perspective of being underground, have a realist sensibility that immerses you in the surroundings.

![Keiye Miranda's two works for "Bloom" at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185350.jpg "20250315_185350 - BluPrint")## **Interactivity** **at Play**

Melanie Libatique provided three tactile sculptural works on canvas. These works utilize a more interactive model of art creation, informed by Libatique’s years of experience as an art teacher for children. It uses toys, metronomes, xylophones, and other objects in motion that give children something to engage with.

![Melanie Libatique's works for "Bloom" at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185739.jpg "20250315_185739 - BluPrint")Melanie Libatique’s works for “Bloom” at Kapitolyo Art Space.“I want the people to be able to manipulate \[the art\],” she said. “Sa gallery kasi, they put ‘do not touch’ \[signs on the works. But in these ones\], you can touch it, you can feel, and then you can see na art pala is not too abstract. What’s wrong with touching the \[work\] if it’s designed that way?”

![Side view of the works by Libatique.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185937.jpg "20250315_185937 - BluPrint")Side view of the works by Libatique.“My background in play, I taught kids for 15 years,” she continued. “And so I think that \[…\] I would want \[to have\] play things in the gallery. \[It goes\] back to the same idea that artwork can be also a source of play and pleasure, and good memories can happen anyway.”

## **Revolutionary Spirit of Taking Control**

One of the more provocative and eye-catching works in *Bloom* is the work of Maan de Loyola, whose work is likely the most explicitly political of the thirteen. She places national heroines like Oriang (Gregoria de Jesus) and Selang Bagsik (Marcela Marcelo) in the modern context of informal settlements.

![Maan de Loyola's paintings for "Bloom" at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185139.jpg "- BluPrint")Maan de Loyola’s paintings for “Bloom” at Kapitolyo Art Space.De Loyola’s portraits depict the revolutionary figures challenging viewers to confront the ongoing struggle for gender and income equality.

“I think women have \[a\] responsibility,” she said. “Hindi lang sa loob ng bahay; I think, ayun yung nangyayari ngayon na nakikita ko sa mga kababaihan hanggang ngayon \[ay\] patuloy yung paglalaban.

“Kasi ngayon nagreflect na, like, what happened to the EJK (extra-judicial killings), diba? Karamihan diyan, majority women ang nagkipaglaban. So ang laki ng parte ng babae na para magbago ang ating lipunan. Kaya I think these women ngayon are a symbol na sila yung light at sila yung way \[para sa\] pagbabago ng ating lipunan.”

(“Women have a responsibility beyond the home; I think, I see what’s happening today with women is that they continue to fight. We can see that today reflected with what happened to the EJK, right? Most of the people who fought for that were women. So women have a big part to change society, and that’s why I chose these women as a symbol of our role as the light and change of our society.”)

## **Women Charting Their Own Futures**

![Rara Carrillo and her works exhibited at Kapitolyo Art Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315_185023.jpg "20250315_185023 - BluPrint")Rara Carrillo and her works exhibited at Kapitolyo Art Space.*Bloom* showcases womanhood in the context of freedom and independence. It challenges the patriarchal belief that women—or any gender—should be confined to subservience within hierarchical structures. True progress lies in breaking these constraints, allowing everyone the freedom to explore, create, and achieve without limitation.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Kapitolyo Art Space Celebrates New Building with ‘Projekt Kapitolyo’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/kapitolyo-art-space-projekt-kapitolyo/ "Kapitolyo Art Space Celebrates New Building with ‘Projekt Kapitolyo’")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the primary theme of the ‘Bloom’ exhibit at Kapitolyo Art Space?

The exhibit explores individuality as a fundamental form of freedom, celebrating the diverse ways women artists express their unique identities and narratives. Running from March 15 to April 5, 2025, it honors International Women’s Month by gathering thirteen artists who reflect on both personal and collective journeys. The showcase invites viewers to witness how bold self-expression serves as a tool for women to persist, challenge societal norms, and assert their place in the world.

### How does ‘Bloom’ address political and societal issues through its artworks?

Several pieces in the exhibit serve as critiques of systemic violence and inequality, such as Grace Corpus’s sculptures regarding indigenous rights and Racquel de Loyola’s commentary on women’s nurturing roles. Maan de Loyola contributes explicitly political portraits, placing Philippine national heroines in modern informal settlements to highlight the ongoing struggle for income and gender equality. These works symbolize the revolutionary spirit of women as primary agents of change and resistance against historical and modern injustices.

### What unique interactive elements are featured in the exhibition?

Artist and long-time educator Melanie Libatique challenges traditional gallery norms by presenting tactile sculptural works on canvas that encourage visitors to touch and manipulate the art. Her pieces incorporate toys, metronomes, and xylophones, drawing from her background in childhood education to foster a sense of play and pleasure. By removing the “do not touch” barrier, Libatique aims to make art more accessible and grounded in the joy of physical engagement.

### How do the landscapes and portraits in the exhibit reflect personal introspection?

Artists like Lala Jara Tuazon, Camille Dela Rosa, and Katelyn Miñoso utilize impressionistic styles in their flowery landscapes to capture specific moods and internal reflections. Meanwhile, Kitty Taniguchi’s abstract portraits and Keiye Miranda’s underground-perspective paintings offer contrasting ways of rendering the human experience and surroundings. These stylistic choices highlight the “exploratory spirit” available to women in a free society, allowing for diverse aesthetic interpretations of identity and nature.

### What is the overall message regarding womanhood and independence in ‘Bloom’?

The exhibition frames womanhood through the lens of freedom and independence, directly challenging patriarchal structures that seek to confine any gender to subservience. By showcasing a wide array of disciplines—from sculpture to interactive media—the show illustrates that true progress is achieved when constraints are broken. It asserts that everyone should have the unhampered right to explore their passions and chart their own futures without the limitations imposed by traditional hierarchies.

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Group Exhibition, Kapitolyo Art Space, Philippines, Women's Month

---

### [‘Sintang Dalisay’ Modernizes Shakespeare for a New Age](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/sintang-dalisay-tata-tuviera-interview/)

**Published:** March 28, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Sintang Dalisay*, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*, recently finished a second run of six shows at the Hyundai Theater at Areté, Ateneo de Manila after a successful first run last 2024.

The show, which was first performed in the late 1990s, is set in a pre-colonial Mindanao community as two people from opposing families, Rashiddin and Jamila, fall in love with each other. The two face hostility and resistance from their family members and community, ultimately leading to the young lovers’ deaths.

![The actors of "Sintang Dalisay" mid-dance. Photo by Sophie Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2911.jpg "IMG_2911 - BluPrint")The actors of “Sintang Dalisay” mid-dance. Photo by Sophie Prado.It was written and composed by Edru Abraham and Jayson “Dyandi” Gilmore and originally directed by the late Dr. Ricardo Abad, with set design made by the late National Artist Salvador Bernal.

This interpretation was mounted by Tanghalang Ateneo. It was co-directed by Abad and Guelan Valera-Luarca, with additional choreography direction by Matthew Santamaria and set design done by Bernal and Tata Tuviera.

## **Propulsive and Expressive**

Watching *Sintang Dalisay* allows one to immerse in the musicality of traditional Philippine culture even as it finds itself diverging from our definitions of what a musical can be. The resonance of this production, aided by a full orchestra of traditional indigenous instruments, pins itself on the rhythm and the movement of the bodies.

Even in the 800-seating capacity of the Hyundai Theater, one feels every stomp and clap and slam to the rhythm that the performers provide. These big movements and dances create a flow to the story that makes it easy to follow for audience members and allow them to get lost in the big emotions of the story.

![A scene from "Sintang Dalisay." Photo by Sophie Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2921.jpg "IMG_2921 - BluPrint")A scene from “Sintang Dalisay.” Photo by Sophie Prado.It brings everyone along for the big swings of the adaptation, from the elaborate fights and celebrations of the beginning to the jokey, romcom-like middle section to the big tragic finale.

That’s certainly a credit, of course, to choreographer Matthew Santamaria. His intricate work inspired by “[Sama-Bajau natives from the Southern Philippines](https://www.ateneo.edu/news/features/2025/01/27/sintang-dalisay-timeless-tragedy-love-reimagined)” creates a sensational and immersive experience akin to that of Jerome Robbins’ work in *West Side Story*, another *Romeo and Juliet* adaptation with similarities in its propulsive choreography.

![The full set designed by Tata Tuviera for "Sintang Dalisay." Photo by Sophie Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2686.jpg "IMG_2686 - BluPrint")The full set designed by Tata Tuviera for “Sintang Dalisay.” Photo by Sophie Prado.But it’s also a credit to the set design, a truly captivating staging that really puts the audience in the rural Mindanao community whilst allowing for some clever and decisive ideas that retain the original spirit of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. It feels lived-in and authentic to the communities it harkens toward despite its vastness, heightening the tension of the scenes even further.

## **Creating the Atmosphere of the Community**

Set designer and theater veteran Tata Tuviera shared that the original production design by Bernal was intimate and small due to being performed at the Rizal Mini Theater. The challenge for this production was to create something that would fit the larger Hyundai Theater without losing the intimacy of Bernal’s original ideas.

“The design challenge was how to fill the cavernous stage of the Hyundai Hall, but at the same time \[to\] bringing the staging closer to the audience,” he said. “Since the Hyundai Hall has a massive apron (the stage in front of the proscenium and house curtain) that can easily separate the audience from the performers, I wanted to retain the intimacy that the original production had, by trying to push the action as close to the audience as possible.”

![The original set design by National Artist Salvador Bernal. Photo provided by Tata Tuviera.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/481010465_1569814823536665_7554923506308198247_n.jpg "481010465_1569814823536665_7554923506308198247_n - BluPrint")The original set design by National Artist Salvador Bernal. Photo provided by Tata Tuviera.The biggest thing that Tuviera retained from the original Bernal design was the panolong on top of the stage. A panolong is a house ornament typically found in the ceilings of the front of the house, typically of the sultan and wealthy families of the Maranao people.

![One of the scenes from "Sintang Dalisay" with the panolong prominent in the background. Photo by Sophie Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2889.jpg "IMG_2889 - BluPrint")One of the scenes from “Sintang Dalisay” with the panolong prominent in the background. Photo by Sophie Prado.For the production, this curving beam with intricate carvings added a touch of regal expanse to the set—a sort of sky-like, eye-of-god feeling looming over the whole production. Tuviera kept the design, but made it “four times” bigger to fit the larger stage.

“The challenge wasn’t so much modernizing it, but re-contextualizing the staging of the action,” Tuviera said. “How can we still make it feel authentic and truthful to the story, but within the context that this is a made up Muslim community of the Rashiddin’s and Mustafa’s?”

## **Indigenous and Pre-Colonial**

His eventual design ended up being a combination of different elements to evoke an indigenous feeling to the production. Tuviera liberally used bamboo stalks throughout, creating cresting walls that add a sense of homeliness to the proceedings. He even added the stalks to the front of the stage, as a way to immerse the audience even further to the setting and the action.

![A sketch of the original "Sintang Dalisay" set. Photo provided by Tata Tuviera.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/480821712_2514685998888960_7692507731874215190_n.jpg "480821712_2514685998888960_7692507731874215190_n - BluPrint")A sketch of the original “Sintang Dalisay” set. Photo provided by Tata Tuviera.Tuviera explained that the use of bamboo harkens back to a “pre-colonial, Southeast Asian community” in shorthand, since materials like bamboo were used as the primary construction materials of the time.

“The design was initially more stylized, which was inspired by bamboo architecture and had weaving, weaving of cultures and families as its main metaphor,” he said.

He centered it with a large landing in the middle, which added a second floor to the set while giving the musicians an orchestral pit underneath the landing. Though an ingenious idea, Tuviera said that the production’s original staging wasn’t supposed to be that way.

![Some of the original sketches by Tata Tuviera of the "Sintang Dalisay" set.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/475836952_1086992866534358_6051100500077747669_n.jpg "475836952_1086992866534358_6051100500077747669_n - BluPrint")Some of the original sketches by Tata Tuviera of the “Sintang Dalisay” set.“The second level of the set was where the musicians were initially supposed to be at, but there were some logistical concerns,” he said. “But positioning them underneath the structure worked better as they were more integrated into the action and it paid homage to original production. It also turned the musicians as the heart of the piece being enclosed in that area.”

## **Taytayan and Creating Intimacy to the Audience**

Another interesting design element was a “taytayan” catwalk which spanned throughout the right side of the audience. During the play, it was utilized every time the Datu character came on stage, flower girls and servants at hand.

Tuviera said that this was inspired by the Japanese concept of Hanamichi, which choreographer Santamaria renamed “taytayan” as a Filipinization of the concept.

![Original models for the "Sintang Dalisay" set by Tata Tuviera.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/482361826_999074435447512_6007984600958209401_n.jpg "482361826_999074435447512_6007984600958209401_n - BluPrint")Original models for the “Sintang Dalisay” set by Tata Tuviera.“It was the bridge to the outside world where we see the character Datu Piandao enter from, which also became the bridge to the spiritual world,” Tuviera said. “But it is also the bridge for the audiences to enter the world of Sintang Dalisay.”

Made with wood and steel bracing, the taytayan was meant only to facilitate the entrance and exit of the actors on stage. But, especially with the show this writer caught during the second run, its accessibility to the audience allowed some of the viewers to come up on the catwalk during the curtain call when the cast was dancing freely to the music.

“\[The taytayan was\] only meant for the entrance and exits of actors, so imagine the horror of the technical stage team when hordes of students decided to turn it into their dance floor after one of the performances,” he shared. “But the Sintang Dalisay and Arete teams always consider the safety of the actors and audiences by making everything structurally safe.”

## **Bringing the Classics to the Mainstream**

However one sees it, the Tanghalang Ateneo’s staging of *Sintang Dalisay* is a success in terms of how properly and thoroughly the cast and crew were able to execute their vision. Tuviera especially seemed proud of the final product, enjoying how well-done the reimagined staging turned out.

“I just love how everything came together beautifully,” he said. “From the set, to the costumes, the lighting, actors, musicians, and the stage crew. It was a production that Ricky Abad would have been proud of, as he had very big ideas for the remounting of this show.”

![The "Sintang Dalisay" set during a performance. Photo by Jules Ballaran.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jballaran-02342-scaled.jpg "jballaran-02342 - BluPrint")The “Sintang Dalisay” set during a performance. Photo by Jules Ballaran.Tuviera hopes that this daring iteration of *Sintang Dalisay* will encourage future generations of theater people to be ambitious in their reach of the stories. He also hopes that artists will dig further into the collective past to mount something adventurous for audiences.

“The relevance of this piece is to bring back the classics to the mainstream, as well as re-introducing dance/Igal, Shakespeare, drama, prose…to a whole new generation of theater audiences, and letting them know that there are a plethora of ways of how to tell a story,” he said.

*Photos by Sophie Prado and Jules Ballaran provided for by Tanghalang Ateneo. Sketches of the set design provided by Tata Tuviera.*

Related reading: [Ballet Philippines Presents a Reimagined Adaptation of Peter Pan](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ballet-philippines-presents-a-reimagined-adaptation-of-peter-pan/ "Ballet Philippines Presents a Reimagined Adaptation of Peter Pan")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is ‘Sintang Dalisay’ and how does it relate to William Shakespeare?

‘Sintang Dalisay’ is a Filipino stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It translates the classic tragedy into a pre-colonial Mindanao setting, centering on the star-crossed love between Rashiddin and Jamila, who hail from opposing families in a Muslim community. The production modernizes the story not by changing the plot, but by re-contextualizing it through traditional Philippine music, indigenous dance (Igal), and a setting that honors Southern Philippine culture.

### How did set designer Tata Tuviera adapt the original design for a larger theater?

The original set by National Artist Salvador Bernal was designed for the intimate Rizal Mini Theater. For the 2024–2025 runs at the expansive Hyundai Hall in Areté, Tata Tuviera had to fill a “cavernous” stage while maintaining intimacy. He achieved this by pushing the performance area as close to the audience as possible and scaling up key elements—such as the iconic panolong—to four times their original size to match the theater’s volume.

### What is a ‘panolong’ and why is it significant to the play’s visual identity?

A panolong is an ornamental, carved beam traditionally found on the house-ends of the torogan (the stately houses of the Maranao sultan or upper class). In ‘Sintang Dalisay’, Tuviera utilized a massive, intricately carved panolong that loomed over the stage. It serves as a “regal expanse,” acting like an “eye-of-god” or a cultural sky that anchors the play in the specific traditions and architectural heritage of Mindanao.

### What materials were used to evoke a pre-colonial Southeast Asian atmosphere?

Tuviera used bamboo as the primary material for the set to create “cresting walls” and a sense of homeliness. Bamboo was chosen as a visual shorthand for pre-colonial construction, representing a “weaving of cultures and families.” By placing bamboo stalks even at the very front of the stage (the apron), the design physically immersed the audience in the rural, indigenous environment of the story.

### What is the ‘taytayan’ and how did it influence audience interaction?

The taytayan is a catwalk-style bridge that extends into the audience area, inspired by the Japanese Hanamichi. Renamed ‘taytayan’ (meaning bridge) to fit the Filipino context, it was used for the grand entrances of the Datu and his entourage. Symbolically, it represented a bridge to both the spiritual and outside worlds. During the curtain calls, the taytayan became so accessible that students often joined the actors on it to dance, fulfilling Tuviera’s goal of breaking the barrier between the performers and the viewers.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Art + Design, Arts & Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Set Design, Sintang Dalisay, Tanghalang Ateneo, Tata Tuviera, William Shakespeare

---

### [‘Storm in a Teacup’ Explores Abstraction in Printed Images](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/storm-in-a-teacup-explores-abstraction-in-printed-images/)

**Published:** March 18, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Artist Patrick de Veyra has always been obsessed with the idea of images and appropriation. As recently as last year, [he curated](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/on-the-self-faculty-projects/) [two exhibits](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/on-appropriation-faculty-projects/) for Faculty Projects which tackle the idea of how we deal and define the images we use today. *Storm in a Teacup*, his most recent exhibition at [West Gallery](https://www.instagram.com/westgallery/ "West Gallery"), circles around the same ideas of image appropriation.

“Part of my exploration is to break down the printed image and use it as visual stimuli for a work that tackles gestural abstraction and appropriation,” he said. “There is a relationship between the painted and the printed; it almost is like a commentary on technology and humanity.”

![Curator Soler Santos analyzing a painting by Patrick de Veyra for "Storm in a Teacup."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Curatorial-design-by-Soler-Santos_-1.jpg "Curatorial design by Soler Santos_ (1) - BluPrint")An art enthusiast analyzing a painting by Patrick de Veyra for “Storm in a Teacup.”But there are headier ideas here, and *Storm in a Teacup* showcases Patrick de Veyra at his most conceptual. He creates new meaning through his methodology, utilizing touchpoints of abstract art to obscure the essence of an artwork and really ask what purpose is in the images we see every day.

## **Seeing Images in a New Light**

For *Storm in a Teacup*, Patrick de Veyra utilizes images from open-access databases of museums around the world, and then layers them on top of each other.

![A circular painting in "Storm in a Teacup" by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250227_175944.jpg "20250227_175944 - BluPrint")A circular painting in “Storm in a Teacup” by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the paintings in "Storm in a Teacup" by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250227_182020.jpg "20250227_182020 - BluPrint")One of the paintings in “Storm in a Teacup” by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the paintings in "Storm in a Teacup" by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250227_175950.jpg "20250227_175950 - BluPrint")One of the paintings in “Storm in a Teacup” by Patrick de Veyra. Photo by Elle Yap.

It’s not just one layer of images and another layer of paint. In some, he uses a specific type of paper as a way of imprinting the image onto the paint itself, before adding more layers on top of it.

“Actually, the works here, they do not exist on a singular plane,” he said. “They are not transferred on a singular plane. If you look closer, there are some images transferred onto the canvas, which is the base of the work. But a lot of the images are also transferred onto the actual paint. So when the paint cured, I transferred on top of it.”

## **Distortion of Images**

These paintings end up distorting, in a way, whatever images are printed on top of it. The brushstrokes come in short bursts, trying to wiggle on top of the image and each other. At times, the colors drip downward, coating over other layers of paint and images in the process.

“I didn’t want to just have one layer of appropriated images, because I want to keep on reacting,” de Veyra explained. “Being able to keep on reacting to the process; visual stimuli. Because if I have one layer of printed imagery, then the only way I could react to it is through paint.”

![Some of the details in a painting by Patrick de Veyra.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Storm-in-a-Teacup-4_-by-Patrick-de-Veyra_.jpg "_Storm in a Teacup #4_ by Patrick de Veyra_ - BluPrint")Some of the details in a painting by Patrick de Veyra.

![Close-up to one of the paintings for "Storm in a Teacup."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Storm-in-a-Teacup-5_-by-Patrick-de-Veyra_.jpg "_Storm in a Teacup #5_ by Patrick de Veyra_ - BluPrint")Close-up to one of the paintings for “Storm in a Teacup.”

![Close-up to one of the paintings for "Storm in a Teacup."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Storm-in-a-Teacup-2_-by-Patrick-de-Veyra_.jpg "_Storm in a Teacup #2_ by Patrick de Veyra_ - BluPrint")Close-up to one of the paintings for “Storm in a Teacup.”

An intentionality exists with the abstraction, in the way that the images are obscured by the paint. It mimics the hyperactive visual environments of today, with all its distracting variability, so that even the images meant to be appreciated become nothing more but detritus in an overbursting visual world.

“I want to be able to react also with the appropriated images,” he added. “That’s why the appropriated images are also situated in areas: on top of the paint, \[and\] the surface itself. And then, I would overlay paint again, so they become suspended in layers of gestural abstraction.”

## **Commenting on Mass Perception and Production**

For additional context, Patrick de Veyra shared that growing up, his family home had a printing press. His family did mass production printing like offset lithography for corporations. This became de Veyra’s first exposure to art and it influenced his perspective of the practice.

From there, he ruminated on the idea of “visual tolerance,” or how images tend to lose their power and meaning the more times we see them; they become part of the background of the world instead.

“This \[exhibit\] is my way to comment on visual tolerance,” he said. “Because when you have a printed image, a mass-produced image, that is basically the epitome of visual tolerance. You see it again and again to the point that you don’t see it anymore; you lose the grasp of the details of the image. It becomes like a peripheral image.

![Portrait of Patrick de Veyra by Luis Antonio Santos.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Portrait-photography-by-Luis-Antonio-Santos_-1.jpg "Portrait photography by Luis Antonio Santos_ (1) - BluPrint")Portrait of Patrick de Veyra by Luis Antonio Santos.“So, this is my way of lifting it from that space, and bringing them into a more immediate space, which is the immediacy of painting. \[Those ideas are\] a key component of a gestural work, a gestural abstraction painting, but with key components that are appropriated \[instead\].”

*Storm in a Teacup* is showing at West Gallery until March 29.

*Photos provided by the artist unless otherwise stated.*

Related reading: [Finding Order Within Chaos: Patrick de Veyra’s Fifth Solo Show](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/finding-order-within-chaos-patrick-de-veyras-fifth-solo-show/ "Finding Order Within Chaos: Patrick de Veyra’s Fifth Solo Show")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core concept of Patrick de Veyra’s ‘Storm in a Teacup’ exhibition?

The exhibition explores the complex relationship between technology and humanity by breaking down mass-produced printed images through gestural abstraction. Artist Patrick de Veyra utilizes appropriation to question the purpose of the digital and physical images we consume daily, layering museum database imagery with physical paint. This methodology creates a headier, conceptual dialogue that elevates printmaking into a space of immediate, fine art painting.

### How does the artist use image appropriation in his abstract paintings?

Patrick de Veyra sources his visual stimuli from open-access museum databases, layering these appropriated images onto both the canvas base and the curing paint. By imprinting imagery directly into the layers of the work rather than on a singular plane, he creates a multi-dimensional surface where paint and print interact. This process allows the artist to react continuously to the visual stimuli, suspending the appropriated details within thick layers of gestural brushstrokes.

### What is “visual tolerance” and how does this exhibit address it?

Visual tolerance refers to the phenomenon where mass-produced images lose their power and detail because they are seen so frequently that they become part of the background. De Veyra uses his family’s background in commercial printing to comment on how images become peripheral detritus in a hyperactive visual world. By distorting these images through abstraction, he pulls them from the space of mass production and reintroduces them into the immediate, focused space of high art.

### What techniques are used to create the distorted effects in the artwork?

The paintings feature short, wiggling brushstrokes and downward-dripping colors that intentionally obscure and distort the printed images underneath. De Veyra layers the images at different stages of the paint’s curing process to ensure they do not exist on a single plane, creating a sense of suspended animation. This tactile distortion mimics today’s distracting visual environments, forcing the viewer to work harder to grasp the details hidden within the layers of abstraction.

### How does the artist’s personal background influence his printmaking style?

Growing up with a family-owned printing press specializing in offset lithography for corporations gave Patrick de Veyra a unique perspective on mass production. This early exposure to the “epitome of visual tolerance” led him to ruminate on how repetition strips an image of its meaning. His current work serves as a bridge between that commercial past and his artistic present, using the immediacy of painting to reclaim the significance of the printed form.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Art, Patrick De Veyra, Philippines, West Gallery

---

### ["Visions in Glass" Celebrates the Unique Artistry of Ramon Orlina](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/ramon-orlina-visions-in-glass/)

**Published:** December 15, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The atmosphere at the [ManilArt](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/manilart-2024-filipino-artistry/) fair in SM Aura was electric with anticipation. The country’s art enthusiasts, critics, and admirers gathered for the launch of *Visions in Glass,* a comprehensive monograph chronicling the career of celebrated sculptor Ramon Orlina.

As guests entered the exhibition hall, their eyes were inevitably drawn to the ethereal Orlina Glass Lounge. Meticulously brought to life by Space Curator Glenn Cuevo, the mesmerizing installation of Ramon Orlina glass sculptures bathed the room in radiant hues.

![The Orlina Glass Lounge curated by Glenn Cuevo, a collection of glass sculptures by Ramon Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-096.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-096 - BluPrint")The Orlina Glass Lounge curated by Glenn Cuevo.The space invited each visitor to immerse themselves in the beauty and soul of his work. Each glass sculpture was a poignant reminder of Orlina’s enduring legacy and the transformative power of his art. Amidst the celebration, Ramon Orlina himself engaged with guests with humility and grace.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-097.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-097 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-101.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-101 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-100.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-100 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-086.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-086 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-095.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-095 - BluPrint")

The collection of fluid forms and radiant colors, honed over decades, showcased Orlina’s vision. Both the book and the event are a profound homage to a national treasure, highlighting his profound impact on the local and international art scenes.

This year marks two significant milestones for Orlina: his 80th birthday and the 10th anniversary of Museo Orlina. These celebrations highlight his personal journey and his enduring contributions to the art world and Filipino culture.

## *Visions in Glass*: Chronicling the Illustrious Career of Ramon Orlina

![The Orlina Glass Lounge curated by Glenn Cuevo, a collection of glass sculptures by Ramon Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-088.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-088 - BluPrint")*Visions in Glass* explores the groundbreaking work of Ramon Orlina, one of the Philippines’ most pioneering sculptors. Written by art critic Cid Reyes, the book traces Orlina’s evolution from architect to globally recognized glass artist. Through essays and rare visual documentation, *Visions in Glass* captures the elegance and complexity of his art. It offers readers an intimate view of his process, inspirations, and five-decade commitment to Filipino artistry.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-070.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-070 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-080.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-080 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-031.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-031 - BluPrint")

Orlina’s masterful, heat-free techniques transform blocks of colored glass into elegant, carved forms. Orlina evolved from abstract themes to his celebrated explorations of the female form. He consistently uncovered new possibilities in glass with boundless fascination.

Having graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in 1965, Orlina began his career with C.D. Arguelles and Associates before establishing his own practice. However, the declaration of Martial Law disrupted his career in architecture. Despite this tumultuous period, Orlina had to resolve to pivot into what would quickly become his true calling. His transition to the arts in 1976 made him one of the first to use glass as a sculptural medium in the Philippines. This eventually led to exhibitions worldwide.

Orlina’s contributions to art have earned him numerous accolades. This includes the ASEAN Awards for Visual Arts (1993, 1994), The Outstanding Filipino Award (2006), and international honors like the “Mr. F” prize at the 1999 Toyamura International Sculpture Biennale in Japan. His monumental works, such as the *QuattroMondial* for the University of Santo Tomas, and his museum, [Museo Orlina](https://www.instagram.com/museoorlinatagaytay/), in Tagaytay, have further cemented his legacy. Recognized alongside global luminaries like Dale Chihuly and Bertil Vallien, Orlina remains a national treasure in the Philippines, celebrated for his unparalleled artistry and innovation in his chosen medium.

## A Marriage of Art and Architecture

![A collection of colorful glass sculptures by Ramon Orlina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-39.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-39 - BluPrint")Ramon Orlina’s work is a seamless fusion of art and architecture. It reflects his foundational training and innate understanding of structural elegance. Orlina brings a unique architectural precision to his glass sculptures. This marriage of disciplines is evident in the meticulous geometry and balanced proportions that characterize his pieces. Each sculpture embodies the principles of architectural design—symmetry, form, and spatial harmony.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-51.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-51 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-50.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-50 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-49.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-49 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-48.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-48 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-47.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-47 - BluPrint")

Orlina’s architectural background informs his approach to glass. It’s how he constructs the complex forms that evoke both aesthetic beauty and structural integrity. His ability to envision the interplay of light and shadow within his sculptures mirrors the way architects design spaces to interact with their environment. This duality enhances the viewer’s experience, as each piece invites contemplation of both its artistic expression and its architectural sophistication.

![A yellow glass sculpture by Ramon Orlina resembling a mountain range.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-52.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-52 - BluPrint")Moreover, Orlina’s installations often transform spaces in a manner akin to architectural interventions, redefining the environments they inhabit. Whether creating monumental public artworks or intimate gallery pieces, his sculptures serve as both decorative art and architectural elements. This holistic approach elevates his glass work. But it also reinforces his reputation as a visionary who transcends traditional boundaries, embodying the true essence of both an artist and an architect.

## Discovering the Art in Glass

![Ramon Orlina (center) with his collaborators for Visions in Glass, graphic artist Dopy Doplon (left) and author Cid Reyes (right).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-17.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-17 - BluPrint")Ramon Orlina (center) with his collaborators for *Visions in Glass*, graphic artist Dopy Doplon (left) and author Cid Reyes (right).Cid Reyes described the process of writing *Visions in Glass* as both a challenge and a privilege. “The challenge,” Reyes noted, “was to find the right shape or structure to his life and career.” He likened the project to creating a piece of sculpture itself, carefully crafting each narrative element to reflect Orlina’s prolific achievements accurately.

![Visions in Glass author Cid Reyes captures the “astonishing talent of the Filipino artist” through Orlina’s achievements and legacy. ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-11.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-11 - BluPrint")*Visions in Glass* author Cid Reyes captures the “astonishing talent of the Filipino artist” through Orlina’s achievements and legacy. Reyes emphasized the importance of structuring the book around themes rather than a simple chronology, given Orlina’s recurring motifs and extensive body of work. The final product—a substantial 570-page book with 57 chapters—highlights each significant theme. The artist’s *Ningning* collection and the *Pregnancy* sculptures, all have their own dedicated space. “Despite the technical nature of Orlina’s work, we aimed for high readability,” Reyes said, adding that Orlina’s wife, Lay Ann, played a critical role in explaining the intricacies of glasswork, making her, as Reyes put it, “virtually my co-author.”

## An Intimate Portrait

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Orlina.jpg "Orlina - BluPrint")The master at work.To portray Orlina’s work with depth, Reyes made a point to become “intimately familiar” with each sculpture, understanding its elements and the inspiration behind it. “You cannot write about Orlina without grasping the essence that goes into each piece,” Reyes remarked. For him, each work has a rich story, often rooted in a pivotal moment in the life of Ramon Orlina.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-24.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-24 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-26.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-26 - BluPrint")

Reyes highlighted Martial Law as one such moment, a period that abruptly halted Orlina’s career as an architect but simultaneously catalyzed his journey into sculpture. “Orlina discovered glass as a gem within waste,” Reyes shared. He noted how Orlina’s resourcefulness led him to innovate without the necessary tools, even creating his own instruments to shape glass.

## Charting Unfamiliar Territory

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-14.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-14 - BluPrint")Reyes recounted that he initially found working with glass daunting, as it differed greatly from traditional materials like wood or bronze. “Glass was unfamiliar territory to me,” he said, revealing that he typically associated glass with utilitarian purposes. Yet, Orlina’s transformative vision turned glass—a material commonly viewed as ordinary—into a medium of breathtaking artistic expression, elevating it to the status of “gems and masterpieces of light and color.”

Reyes hopes readers would recognize the “astonishing talent of the Filipino artist” through Orlina’s achievements and legacy, challenging the perception that Western art is inherently superior.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-40.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-40 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-45.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-45 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-46.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-46 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-43.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-43 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-44.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-44 - BluPrint")

“Orlina’s work has global implications,” he emphasized, pointing to his acclaim in Japan, Spain, and the United States. But Orlina’s impact goes beyond his own art. He founded Museo Orlina, a museum dedicated to making his work accessible to the Filipino public. Reyes considers Orlina’s contributions to Filipino art and culture monumental, describing him as a “national treasure.”

Reyes praised the expertise of designer Dopy Doplon, a frequent collaborator. Doplon’s design added visual energy, skillfully blending text and images to create what Reyes called “a sense of surprise” for readers.

## Designing the Narrative

Doplon approached the design of this monograph with a specific vision in mind. He wanted readers to appreciate both the manuscript and the visual design as seamlessly integrated elements. “It’s not your typical coffee table book,” Doplon noted. Unlike image-focused publications, *Visions in Glass* blends imagery and narrative, giving it the feel of a storybook.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-12 - BluPrint")Graphic artist Dopy Doplon carefully chose the color palette and typography of *Visions in Glass*, providing a visual guide to readers as they leaf through the book. He and Orlina started collaborating on the project around 2011. This was during the University of Santo Tomas’ 400th anniversary, when Orlina unveiled his renowned sculpture, *QuattroMondial*. Over time, through casual discussions and manuscript development led by Reyes, the design concept took shape.

One of Doplon’s key challenges was to convey the dynamic nature of Orlina’s glass sculptures within the static format of a book. “Some artworks were blown up, while others received unique treatments to highlight certain details,” he explained.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-10.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-10 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-09 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-08 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-07 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-06.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-06 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-05.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina)-05 - BluPrint")

Doplon used spot UV gloss on the details to mimic glass’s reflective quality. This created a tactile experience that echoes Orlina’s medium. To ensure an engaging reader experience, Doplon carefully chose the color palette and typography. He used color-coded dividers and related visual cues to create a unified flow across the chapters, enhancing the storytelling.

The choice of typeface was equally deliberate. Although he initially leaned toward a classic serif font, Doplon ultimately selected Garamond. Orlina was delighted to discover that “Ramon” is within the font’s name, a serendipitous nod to his distinctive character. “That made the sculptor very happy,” Doplon noted.

Doplon is especially proud of the layout’s symmetry, which he designed to reflect Orlina’s sculptural style.

## Ramon Orlina: A Story in Light and Color

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-019.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-019 - BluPrint")The launch of *Visions in Glass* at ManilArt in SM Aura was a fitting tribute to the enduring influence of Ramon Orlina in the world of glass art. The event drew a captivated audience who explored Orlina’s artistic journey through the Orlina Glass Lounge.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-015.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-015 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-029.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-029 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-068.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-068 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-004.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-004 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-059.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-059 - BluPrint")

This installation brought Orlina’s intricate glass creations into a shared, immersive setting. Cuevo encouraged visitors to experience “the beauty, the meaning, and soul of each work,”. The lounge became a focal point of the evening. Guests and art enthusiasts alike found a deeper appreciation for the master sculptor’s work, enhancing the book’s success as a visual and experiential celebration of Orlina’s remarkable legacy.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/viber_image_2024-11-08_08-26-05-148.jpg "viber_image_2024-11-08_08-26-05-148 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-055.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-055 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-027.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-027 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Ramon-Orlina-Book-Launch-030.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Ramon Orlina-Book Launch)-030 - BluPrint")The highlight of the ManilArt event was the grand unveiling and ceremonial signing of *Visions in Glass*. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as Orlina officially presented the book to a crowd of art enthusiasts, collectors, and distinguished guests. Adding to the moment’s significance, attendees were treated to a special video directed by Lorenz Roi Morales, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of this extraordinary publication.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Orlina-1.jpg "Orlina (1) - BluPrint")The event also drew notable figures, including Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Marichu G. Tallano; National Museum Director Jeremy Barnes; and Chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jaime Laya. Their presence underscored the cultural significance of Orlina’s work and his monumental contributions to Philippine art.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [Ramon Orlina carves 150 glass pieces for Trinity Chapel’s altarpiece](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tua-chapel-altarpiece-ramon-orlina/)

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### ['Heaven Earth Hello': Jet Leyco Crafts Unrestrained Personal Collages](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/heaven-earth-hello-jet-leyco/)

**Published:** September 9, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Heaven Earth Hello*, Jet Leyco overwhelms his viewers with a distinct and colorful art experience that works on its own artistic logic. The Gravity Art Space exhibit moves towards attacking at least three of the senses as the artist pitches the balance between chaos and organized intent.

Leyco said that he aimed “to illuminate three distinct spheres” in the works for this exhibit. The first looks heavenward as he portrays the unreachable expanse of the divine. The second grounds him to the reality of our temporal plane. And the third explores “the enigmatic liminal space where they converge.”

“The restaged narratives play themselves out beyond Biblical realms, extending their mapping of the afterlife to include concepts of heaven and hell as ancient as Mesopotamian history and as recent as AI regurgitations,” Ian Carlo Jaucian said in their exhibit write-up.

## **Sensory Overload**

Audiences may find Leyco’s exhibit to be extravagant. Distinct from the gallery’s other exhibits, *Heaven Earth Hello* utilizes a large rainbow-tinged carpet on the entire exhibit floor. Taking off one’s shoes to step into the exhibit, the carpet relaxes audiences with its soft fluff even before they can take in the surroundings.

![The built environment for Jet Leyco's "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161408.jpg "20240822_161408 - BluPrint")The built environment for Jet Leyco’s “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![A portion of the paintings for "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161328.jpg "20240822_161328 - BluPrint")A portion of the paintings for “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![One side of "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161340.jpg "20240822_161340 - BluPrint")One side of “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Jet Leyco's "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161347.jpg "20240822_161347 - BluPrint")Jet Leyco’s “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Tinklings of sound flow through the air, playing low-volume rumblings across the exhibit. Large quotes in red stick out in the walls, some from the childhood game “Langit Lupa.” The lighting combination is bright, crafting a contrast between the colorful works hanging on the wall and the cream-colored walls themselves. Red lighting from the ceiling adds a bit of pop to the exhibition; it also contains drawings of face-like figures in black hanging above.

![Ceiling works for "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161454.jpg "20240822_161454 - BluPrint")Ceiling works for “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.![The ceiling works as seen from standing upright.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161412.jpg "20240822_161412 - BluPrint")The ceiling works as seen from standing upright.All of this works in service of the collages and paintings, which melds images and colors in unique, often-unintuitive ways. The images vary between animals, cut-out pictures from papers and magazines with comic speech bubbles, three-dimensional shapes, and abstract paint strokes. .

## **Deliberate Excess**

![“A Tale of a Centaury” by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161548.jpg "20240822_161548 - BluPrint")“A Tale of a Centaury” by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.Every work is packed with detail, building on its ideas to aid its atmosphere. Collages like “A Tale of a Centaury” or “Paradise Para Dies” accomplish creating an explosive environment akin to a Renaissance painting. These mimic motion well as it allows viewers to step into the chaos of its surroundings.

!["Paradise Para Dies" by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161508.jpg "20240822_161508 - BluPrint")“Paradise Para Dies” by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161527.jpg "20240822_161527 - BluPrint")Two works by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Three works for "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161535.jpg "20240822_161535 - BluPrint")Three works for “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["To War is Human, To Love is Divine."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161554.jpg "20240822_161554 - BluPrint")“To War is Human, To Love is Divine.”

!["Our White Guide."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161618.jpg "20240822_161618 - BluPrint")“Our White Guide.”

A personal favorite of the collage works is “Worst Creature.” For this work, Leyco cuts up frames of different comic strips and puts them together in a visually-coherent way. It mocks the standardized fashions we tell stories in whatever medium we use. But it also portrays how easily a person can fill in the gaps and meaning in images we put together, even if they’re practically incoherent.

!["Worst Creature" by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161540.jpg "20240822_161540 - BluPrint")“Worst Creature” by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.Beyond the framed pieces that mimic motion, Jet Leyco also includes different videos of animated collages. Some of these were included in the recently-concluded *Terror Incognita* exhibit, and they provide whimsy in their repeated, gif-like bouts of motion.

![Video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161744.jpg "20240822_161744 - BluPrint")Video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161649.jpg "20240822_161649 - BluPrint")Video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Another video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161725.jpg "20240822_161725 - BluPrint")Another video collage by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

Mixed in the collages are abstract paintings combining different kinds of paint on paper. They evoke the same chaotic spirit as the collages but with less detail. Leyco’s abstract paintings showcase his deliberate technique in creating disorder.

## **Finding Grounding in Wonder**

To pair with the excess, Jet Leyco grounds *Heaven Earth Hello* with personal touches which link towards his own upbringing to add a layer of meaning to the works.

![Two pages of a script about Satan with a graduation photo in between. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161627.jpg "20240822_161627 - BluPrint")Two pages of a script about Satan with a graduation photo in between. Photo by Elle Yap.Childhood pictures and paraphernalia litter the middle spaces of the framed works. A photo of a young tween graduating occupies a prominent place in the exhibit. Aged paper hanging in the exhibit contains important quotes, a script page, and even a report card.

!["Peak A Pack of Piper" for "Heaven Earth Hello." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161653.jpg "20240822_161653 - BluPrint")“Peak A Pack of Piper” for “Heaven Earth Hello.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![A page from a book. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161757.jpg "20240822_161757 - BluPrint")A page from a book. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["There is No Race in Paraiso" and "SabogsaNova." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161807.jpg "20240822_161807 - BluPrint")“There is No Race in Paraiso” and “SabogsaNova.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161613.jpg "20240822_161613 - BluPrint")Two works by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

Leyco even uses faded photographs for the collage work “Memories of Murmur.” The pictures appear to fade in together, merging into a giant mess of hazy pasts that seemingly disappear into the white background.

!["Memories of Murmur" surrounded by a report card and old photographs. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161608.jpg "20240822_161608 - BluPrint")“Memories of Murmur” surrounded by a report card and old photographs. Photo by Elle Yap.“The relentless act of sampling evades the conviction of an explicit narrative, but it encourages the search for a grander allegory that transcends time and culture,” Ian Carlo Jaucian wrote.

*Heaven Earth Hello* samples and appropriates ideas together to form a distinctly personal portrait of an artist’s life and perspective. It doesn’t aim for narrative coherence; instead, it endeavors to overwhelm the senses and give its audience a messy, chaotic experience they themselves can decode.

Related reading: [‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/terror-incognita-generative-ai-cartellino-art/ "‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Collage, Gravity Art Space, Jet Leyco, Philippines

---

### [‘Eyes Closed’: Nunzio Paci Dissects Humanity and Nature's Relationship](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/eyes-closed-nunzio-paci/)

**Published:** September 18, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Eyes Closed*, the newest exhibit at Galerie Stephanie, finds the balance between realism and fantasy in the paintings featured. Italian artist Nunzio Paci revels in capturing the middle ground of life and death, creating something both haunting and calming in the process.

Paci works with the idea of portraying life as dreamlike and intangible. It evokes a togetherness with our surroundings, merging humanity and nature when much of our history attempts to overcome it.

![Two paintings by Nunzio Paci for "Eyes Closed." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_163914.jpg "20240912_163914 - BluPrint")Two paintings by Nunzio Paci for “Eyes Closed.” Photo by Elle Yap.“This series of works portrays women in states of slumber and meditation,” the exhibit write-up said. “This atmosphere of vulnerability creates a paradoxical catharsis where the abundant flowers personify an articulated wilderness.”

## **Nature and the Human Body**

Paci’s paintings in *Eyes Closed* depict a version of humanity that’s tied directly to nature. The portraits of sleeping women become transparent like in a medical textbook. But instead of showing internal organs, blood vessels, and bones, it instead shows fruits and flowers and root systems entangled where those vessels and bones exist.

![A painting by Nunzio Paci. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_163947.jpg "20240912_163947 - BluPrint")A painting by Nunzio Paci. Photo by Elle Yap.These works emphasize the similarity of plants and their root systems with humanity’s own internal systems. The stem of a plant supplants the backbone effortlessly, and its own branches work as blood vessels and nerves well.

![A work featured in "Eyes Closed." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164007.jpg "20240912_164007 - BluPrint")A work featured in “Eyes Closed.” Photo by Elle Yap.Imprints of flowers exist within the skin of the female models, and flowers seem to bloom in their hair. In some of the portraits, the flower petals expand to become clothing, covering different parts of the arms and torso.

![A painting by Nunzio Paci for "Eyes Closed." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_163953.jpg "20240912_163953 - BluPrint")A painting by Nunzio Paci for “Eyes Closed.” Photo by Elle Yap.The environment and atmosphere for the works are intentionally dreamlike. *Eyes Closed* depicts the subjects with their eyes closed because it wants to transport viewers to a world where the surreal co-exists together with our own reality. There, the connection between nature and humanity becomes less tenuous and more easy to link.

“Paci’s dreamlike exhibition untangles the intangible and ever-intriguing dialogues between humans and nature,” the write-up said. “\[It involves\] the states of the subconscious as a vital element of what it means to fully be absorbed and rooted into one’s surroundings.”

## **Portraying the World as One**

Despite these links, many people still see our humanity as separate from our surroundings. They draw lines and borders between where humanity and nature lives. Nunzio Paci, however, merges these two into a singular whole in his works. He uses these elements together to build towards a broader dissection of how we use art to portray the world around us.

The end result incorporates these fantastical imagery to what amounts to medical sketches and illustrations. These stylistic choices, his [website wrote](https://www.nunziopaci.it/p/statement.html), attempt to reduce the “distance between artifice and naturalism” in art.

![Two sketches by Nunzio Paci. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_163959.jpg "20240912_163959 - BluPrint")Two sketches by Nunzio Paci. Photo by Elle Yap.“His faithful reading of tangible data, through the use of a surreal and poetic language, offers a glimpse into alternative scenarios and impossible perspectives,” a statement from his website said.

*Eyes Closed* represents nature as a vital part of our own humanity. Its surrealist imagery allows one to ponder these links, and how parts of ourselves are intrinsically important to our surroundings. We are shaped by the world around us, and Nunzio Paci portrays that with openness.

The exhibit is open to view in Galerie Stephanie until September 27.

Related reading: [Galerie Stephanie Debuts Two New Exhibits on Nature and City Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/galerie-stephanie-march-2024-exhibitions/ "Galerie Stephanie Debuts Two New Exhibits on Nature and City Life")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Galerie Stephanie, Nunzio Paci, Philippines, Surreal Art

---

### [Vettina Villarica Paints Optimistic Landscapes, Endless Possibilities in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/vettina-villarica-no-end-and-no-beginning/)

**Published:** October 1, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*No End and No Beginning*, an exhibition of paintings by Vettina Villarica, crafts captivating patterns that evoke the optimistic perspective of the artist herself. Its use of pastels and curving, circular shapes depicts gracefulness and enthusiasm for the world today.

![Three works shown at Art Camp Gallery for "No End and No Beginning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153601.jpg "20240912_153601 - BluPrint")Three works shown at Art Camp Gallery for “No End and No Beginning.”Shown in Art Camp Gallery in Greenbelt 5, the exhibit presents a portrait of positivity from the artist, and how it affects our creative muses. She seeks to illustrate a version of peace and joy in contrast to the world we live in—creating a vision that works with the artist rather than against it.

“Villarica’s new collection delves deeply into the nature of creativity,” press materials from the gallery said. “\[It shows\] a nature of the symbolic and never-ending journey of one’s self-improvement and personal exploration.”

## **Curving Through Shapes**

For *No End and No Beginning*, much of the works obsess over the usage of circles and round shapes. For multiple paintings, Vettina Villarica paints rows of them with different varieties of dark and light colors. At times, she superimposes larger ones over smaller circles. Some slash the smaller ones in half, creating granular crescent shapes in the process.

![A painting by Vettina Villarica.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153506.jpg "20240912_153506 - BluPrint")A painting by Vettina Villarica.She embellishes many of the circles with curving waves and colorful yet contrasting lines which stand out in different ways. These combinations of colors and lines establish the illusion where the paintings wobble and oscillate in the eyes of the viewers.

![One of the paintings exhibited for "No End and No Beginning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153519.jpg "20240912_153519 - BluPrint")One of the paintings exhibited for “No End and No Beginning.”According to press materials for the exhibit, Villarica found her interest in circles largely due to the expansive movement and direction of the shape. It inspired her creative process, and the artist hopes that these works help inspire others as well.

![Two paintings by Vettina Villarica.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153540.jpg "20240912_153540 - BluPrint")Two paintings by Vettina Villarica.“As there are times we might feel stuck, we might feel like we’re on a loop,” press materials said. “\[It\] is important not to lose the fact that we never stop going and we never stop improving. Little do we know that our enclosed bubble continuously expands and reaches bigger bit by bit.”

## **An Idyllic Landscape**

While many of the works are artistic interpretations of circles, the other half constructs idyllic landscapes of mountainous areas. Villarica employs the most interesting variations of color, imparting the idea of greenery, of shadows and reflections, through them.

![Two landscape paintings by Vettina Villarica.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153535.jpg "20240912_153535 - BluPrint")Two landscape paintings by Vettina Villarica. These landscapes’ skies play with hues seen during the golden hours. The mountains and oceans of these pieces look almost surreal with how segmented much of them are.

![A painting for "No End and No Beginning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153500.jpg "20240912_153500 - BluPrint")A painting for “No End and No Beginning.”

![Centerpiece painting for "No End and No Beginning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153453.jpg "20240912_153453 - BluPrint")Centerpiece painting for “No End and No Beginning.”

![Side view of painting by Vettina Villarica.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_153611.jpg "20240912_153611 - BluPrint")Side view of painting by Vettina Villarica.

And yet, even then, the artist applies the ideas of roundness within them, through the stroke work that weaves through the skies and mountains like waves. It gives the paintings an interesting texture that makes it feel more grounded, almost reminiscent of claymation with how it pops out.

*No Beginning and No End* is successful in how it creates peaceful patterns and landscapes for the viewer’s delight. Vettina Villarica paints the endless continuous need to evolve artistic creativity with a gleam of positivity in it, seeing the possibilities that exist within the endlessness. In the end, it finds serenity in the continuous evolution of our imaginations.

*Photos by Elle Yap*.

Related reading: [Lui Gonzales’ New Exhibit Is A Celebration of Her Journey as an Artist](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/countable-and-uncountable-lui-gonzales-new-exhibit-is-a-celebration-of-her-journey-as-an-artist/ "Lui Gonzales’ New Exhibit Is A Celebration of Her Journey as an Artist")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Art Camp Gallery, Landscape Paintings, Oil Painting, Philippines

---

### [Artificial Intelligence and Its Effects in Art and Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/artificial-intelligence-bluprint-year-end-2024/)

**Published:** January 13, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Artificial intelligence, and AI art specifically, continues to have a terrible impact and reputation in the art community. Despite [efforts from artists](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/artists-pivot-to-cara-over-anti-ai-policies/) to keep art human-focused, the data suggests that the industry has changed irrevocably for the worst.

The Harvard Business Review [recently reported](https://hbr.org/2024/11/research-how-gen-ai-is-already-impacting-the-labor-market#:~:text=Gen%20AI%20will%20continue%20transforming,rather%20than%20merely%20replacing%20it.) that they measured a 17% decrease in freelance art work since generative AI products like Midjourney and DALL-E penetrated the market. More than that, despite promises from AI companies that they would augment artists’ jobs instead of replacing them, the data they gathered suggests that artificial intelligence is, indeed, replacing artists instead.

“Additionally, we noticed that over time, there were no signs of demand rebounding, revealing a growing trend of job replacement,” the article said. “We compared this impact against both typical seasonal demand fluctuations on the job platform and the effects that automation had on traditional labor markets. The impact produced by gen AI tools was significantly more substantial.”

For BluPrint’s *2024 in Art* year-end series, we showcase how our coverage of the AI phenomenon highlighted different discussions of the technology. More than that, we showcase the ways that artists in the country have used AI, whether in critique of the technology or as a way of augmenting their practice.

## **How BluPrint Covered AI in Architecture**

BluPrint’s coverage of artificial intelligence in architecture showcases experimentation coming from the profession, as well as the fears that dominate the technology’s continued adoption.

On the positive side, architects have been experimenting with the technology to create nontraditional designs. Rather than being weighed down by traditions and movements, they allow AI to create stranger, nonintuitive designs through their prompts. From here, many architects can move forward to creating something earnest and buildable.

![How Is Artificial Intelligence Disrupting the World of Architecture?](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AI-architecture-1.jpg "AI architecture (1) - BluPrint")

![The Ultimate Guide to Future Proofing Your Home.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AI-architecture-8.jpg "AI architecture (8) - BluPrint")

![A parametric design that uses artificial intelligence architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AI-architecture-4.jpg "AI architecture (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AI-architecture-2.jpg "AI architecture (2) - BluPrint")

![A parametric design that uses artificial intelligence architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AI-architecture-5.jpg "AI architecture (5) - BluPrint")

Some architects welcome artificial intelligence as a way of streamlining their workflows. Potentially, many see it as a tool that augments the sketches and designs that architects put forward in their work.

Read more: [How Is Artificial Intelligence Disrupting the World of Architecture?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/how-is-artificial-intelligence-disrupting-the-world-of-architecture/)

And yet, even with the supposed positive applications, the fear remains. In BluPrint’s last *Ask the Expert* panel, architect Sudarshan Khadka Jr. expressed his despair about artificial intelligence replacing our systems. He discussed how it may lead to lower fees for architects because of clients attempting to take over some of the design aspect of the work with generative AI—which is a significant part of an architect’s work.

![Sudarshan Khadka Jr. discussing AI in architecture for Ask the Experts.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-ASK-THE-EXPERTS-x-SDE-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article ASK THE EXPERTS x SDE-19 - BluPrint")Sudarshan Khadka Jr. discussing AI in architecture for Ask the Experts.Khadka then said that this new age dawning upon us requires humanity to redefine the importance of art. Redefining, in this scenario, means exemplifying the human touch that’s so lacking in AI art.

“What is the spirit of our age and what is the freedom of our art?” he asked. A question that requires more soulsearching to find a true answer to.

Read more: [BluPrint’s ‘Ask the Experts’ Probes the Role of AI in Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/bluprints-ask-the-experts-probes-the-role-of-ai-in-architecture/)

## **Capturing the Soullessness of the Machine**

Architects covered on BluPrint have more or less acclimated to the rise of artificial intelligence. Artists, however, continue to fight against the rising tide of machine-made art in opposition to what tech overlords say is inevitable. They capture the soullessness of AI art, and very much live to define the spirit and the freedom of our age, as Khadka desires.

The most prominent art exhibition about AI art this year was *Terror Incognita*, the collaborative exhibit between Indy Paredes, Jet Leyco, and Buen Abrigo. For this exhibit at [Cartellino](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/galerie-stephanie-x-cartellino-new-space/) Art, there was a proper execution taking down AI art as derivative, fragmented, and altogether meaningless.

!["Oligarchs Colonizing the Heavens" by Buen Abrigo, made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155819.jpg "20240814_155819 - BluPrint")“Oligarchs Colonizing the Heavens” by Buen Abrigo, made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Virtual Visual Catharsis I" by Buen Abrigo, made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155755.jpg "20240814_155755 - BluPrint")“Virtual Visual Catharsis I” by Buen Abrigo, made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Mabisang Gabay para Sa Bukas Na Bahay" by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155847.jpg "20240814_155847 - BluPrint")“Mabisang Gabay para Sa Bukas Na Bahay” by Jet Leyco. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Different prints presenting Buen Abrigo's work for "Terror Incognita," all made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155828.jpg "20240814_155828 - BluPrint")Different prints presenting Buen Abrigo’s work for “Terror Incognita,” all made with generative AI. Photo by Elle Yap.

Abrigo’s work in the exhibit, for example, showed how AI art came without intentions or visions. Nothing more than a mishmash of styles connected to the prompt, none of the digitized pixels mean anything in the end. That lack of authorial intent means that AI art exists instead as an abstract blender, something *we* have to assign meaning to instead.

## **The Humanity of Creation**

More than that, Paredes’s contribution utilizes physical, nondigital equipment to make its point about the need of human labor in the act of creation. As first established, AI art has no intent. With that in mind, it’s not really creation or artistry because no meaning has been assigned to it.

!["Show the Step" and "Emphasis Was Laid" by Indy Paredes. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155814.jpg "20240814_155814 - BluPrint")“Show the Step” and “Emphasis Was Laid” by Indy Paredes. Photo by Elle Yap.Parades’s contribution to the exhibit shows that even the least polished artworks made by a human stand above artificial intelligence because of the personal effort put in the human to mark its creation. It makes the point itself: human-made artworks are fantasies made real, carefully or haphazardly crafted in a way that the sanitized, derivative AI art cannot even imagine.

!["Ride or Go to Victory" by Indy Paredes. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_155801.jpg "20240814_155801 - BluPrint")“Ride or Go to Victory” by Indy Paredes. Photo by Elle Yap.The spirit and freedom of our age, then, might be moving away from derivative works and trying *something* new, building on the past to reflect our times instead of churning out the same thing again and again to lessening results and satisfaction.

Read more: [‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/terror-incognita-generative-ai-cartellino-art/)

## **What the Future Holds**

The fears and turmoil of AI in the creative community continue unabated. Questions still abound about its place in our future. Will this be integrated into our workflows as tools, will it end up replacing workers, or will people continue to rebel against its onslaught and refuse to work with it?

![Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Photo by TechCrunch. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1024px-487908877AP00005_TechCrunch.jpg "speaks at TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2014 - Day 1 on May 5, 2014 in New York City. - BluPrint")Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Photo by TechCrunch. Source: Wikimedia Commons.There is reason for humanity to be optimistic. For example, OpenAI is currently [unable to increase its revenue or reduce its costs](https://www.wheresyoured.at/godot-isnt-making-it/). In fact, most AI companies not named Google or Microsoft are operating at a huge loss with no clear path out. Nvidia’s AI chips, delayed to next year, are also having [potential problems with cooling and scaling](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/nvidia-customers-worry-about-snag-with-new-ai-chip-servers). And recently, AI training, presumed to be automatic, was [revealed to be done with underpaid workers](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-work-kenya-exploitation-60-minutes/) in places like Kenya.

Only time will tell, but right now, there is a mood that humanity may end up winning this war against the machines.

Related reading: [Artists Pivot to Cara as Anti-AI Sentiment Grows Among Artists](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/artists-pivot-to-cara-over-anti-ai-policies/ "Artists Pivot to Cara as Anti-AI Sentiment Grows Among Artists")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the current impact of generative AI on creative freelance work?

According to a report from the Harvard Business Review, there has been a 17% decrease in freelance art work since the introduction of generative AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E. Data suggests that rather than simply augmenting roles, these tools are actively replacing artists, with no current signs of demand rebounding in traditional labor markets.

### How is the architecture profession responding to the rise of AI?

Architects are experiencing a duality of experimentation and fear, using AI to streamline workflows and generate non-intuitive, nontraditional designs that serve as starting points for buildable projects. However, experts like Sudarshan Khadka Jr. warn that AI could lead to lower professional fees and a loss of the “human touch,” urging a redefinition of the importance of human spirit in design.

### What was the significance of the “Terror Incognita” art exhibition?

“Terror Incognita” was a collaborative exhibit that served as a critical takedown of AI art, labeling it as derivative, fragmented, and devoid of authorial intent. Artists like Buen Abrigo and Indy Paredes used the showcase to argue that because AI lacks a vision or personal labor, it cannot be considered true creation, contrasting “sanitized” pixels with the meaningful effort of human artistry.

### Why do some critics argue that AI art lacks “authorial intent”?

Critics argue that AI art functions as an “abstract blender” that merely mashes together existing styles based on prompts without a guiding consciousness or purpose. Because the machine does not understand the meaning behind the pixels it generates, the responsibility of assigning meaning falls entirely on the viewer, stripping the work of the traditional relationship between artist and creation.

### What are the current economic and ethical challenges facing the AI industry?

Despite the technology’s rapid spread, many AI companies are operating at significant losses with no clear path to profitability, facing scaling issues and hardware delays. Furthermore, the “automatic” nature of AI training has been exposed as a manual process relying on underpaid labor in developing regions, raising serious ethical concerns about the sustainability and humanity of the industry.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** 2024 in Review, ai art, Architecture, Art, Artificial Intelligence, Philippines

---

### [‘Now/Here’ and Illustrating the Strange Contradictions of Philippine Society](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/now-here-bunso-gallery/)

**Published:** February 21, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Now/Here*, also known as *Middle of Now/Here*, is a group exhibition at [Bunso Gallery](https://www.instagram.com/bunso.gallery/) in San Juan City. It features different artists defining their sense of self in an ever-evolving world. The artworks allow them to characterize their own environment as *they* see it, these differing angles coming together to orchestrate a picture of our society.

![Some of the exhibited works during the opening of "Now/Here" at Bunso Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173235.jpg "20250128_173235 - BluPrint")Some of the exhibited works during the opening of “Now/Here” at Bunso Gallery.“This exhibition confronts the existential tension of presence—the sense of being everywhere and nowhere at once,” Jan Sunday, one of the contributors for the exhibit, wrote. “Here, time and space collapse, and the self is suspended in a state of uncertainty. Neither fully grounded nor entirely adrift, we occupy the “/” — a symbolic slash that marks the threshold between opposites.”

## **Un/Familiar Lands**

*Now/Here*, as an exhibition, showcases a mix of styles and personal ideas about society that feels cognizant of the alienation one experiences from society. In the vastness of the Earth, one appears small, mutable, and swept away by the powers-that-be. Some of the artists certainly speak to a specific kind of ennui that comes from existing specifically in this time period.

!["The Doorman's Dead Language" by Georel Albaña.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173510.jpg "20250128_173510 - BluPrint")“The Doorman’s Dead Language” by Georel Albaña.Georel Albaña., for example, utilizes abstraction and graffiti-like textures for “Untitled” and “The Doorman’s Dead Language,” expressing a colorful angst through the curves and swiggles prominently displayed in the painting. At times, it harkens towards arabesque styles with the way the patterns interact with each other.

!["Untitled" by Georel Albaña for "Now/Here" at Bunso Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173503.jpg "20250128_173503 - BluPrint")“Untitled” by Georel Albaña for “Now/Here” at Bunso Gallery.Different artists play with the texture from nature. There’s Aleng Lukresya’s flowery, curving shapes in “To Live Without Self-Delusion,” or Potti Lesaguis’s “Bye bye Butterfly” which finds a shape-like relationship between flowers and butterflies. Neil Atienza contributes two black-and-white paintings of trees and their surroundings, while Gene Paul Martin showcases a bright and fiery explosion of color in “Slow Factory.”

![Works by Aleng Lukresya and Neil Atienza for "Now/Here."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173115.jpg "20250128_173115 - BluPrint")Works by Aleng Lukresya and Neil Atienza for “Now/Here.”

![Gene Paul Martin's "Slow Factory" and a work by Santo Slogo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173320-1.jpg "20250128_173320 (1) - BluPrint")

![Work by Neil Atienza for "Now/Here."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_174208.jpg "20250128_174208 - BluPrint")Work by Neil Atienza for “Now/Here.”

These different artists exude a sense of congenial familiarity with the world around them, allowing for such unorthodox creativity in highlighting these environments. It exemplifies nature as an experience separate from ourselves, one easily dissectable within our minds.

![A work by Bryan Pollero for "Now/Here."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173257.jpg "20250128_173257 - BluPrint")A work by Bryan Pollero for “Now/Here.”

![Yeo Kaa's "Shit Bout To Happen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173306.jpg "20250128_173306 - BluPrint")Yeo Kaa’s “Shit Bout To Happen.”

![A work by Bryan Pollero for "Now/Here."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173311.jpg "20250128_173311 - BluPrint")

“Playing on the duality of ‘nowhere’ and ‘now here,’ it draws from the conceptual frame of “ILALM / IBABAW” (below /above), positioning us at the liminal divide: the in-between,” Sunday wrote.

## **The Politics of Being ‘Now/Here’**

Most interesting about *Now/Here*, however, is how it addresses our political climate as an important part of our sense of place. Something as abstract as “politics” tends to be seen as ideals. But in this exhibit, some works imply the idea that the political climate can be as important as the physical climate when pinning down our situational self.

![Multiple artworks for "Now/Here," including Bandomeng’s “Untitled (Holocaust)."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173348.jpg "20250128_173348 - BluPrint")Multiple artworks for “Now/Here,” including Bandomeng’s “Untitled (Holocaust).”

![Gino Javier’s “Mobile Police Outpost.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173527.jpg "20250128_173527 - BluPrint")

![Work by Franchesca Casauay.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_175817.jpg "20250128_175817 - BluPrint")Work by Franchesca Casauay.

![Some works for "Now/Here," including Kiko Escora’s “Ek - Ek Ng Talipandas."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_174451.jpg "20250128_174451 - BluPrint")Some works for “Now/Here,” including Kiko Escora’s “Ek – Ek Ng Talipandas.”

Works like Bandomeng’s “Untitled (Holocaust),” Kiko Escora’s “Ek – Ek Ng Talipandas,” or Gino Javier’s “Mobile Police Outpost” deliberate on the symbolisms that permeate our daily life. Tanya Villanueva even included an open call poster for contributors to a zine about the politics of womanhood, arts, and culture.

![Gawen Fuji’s “Tinakot ang Sariling Multo,”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_174425.jpg "20250128_174425 - BluPrint")Gawen Fuji’s “Tinakot ang Sariling Multo,”

![Uri de Ger's work for "Now/Here."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173147.jpg "20250128_173147 - BluPrint")Uri de Ger’s work for “Now/Here.”

![A work by Victoria Keet for Bunso Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173126.jpg "20250128_173126 - BluPrint")

Other works seem to function more as subtle criticism of appearances and how ugliness tends to lead to ostracization. Gawen Fuji’s “Tinakot ang Sariling Multo,” Santo Slogo’s multiple stylized portraits, and Jan Sunday’s “Sancta Family” really pierce through that bubble of beauty to question why we assign a moral value to ugliness.

## **The Dynamics of Being**

![Different works for "Now/Here" behind the DJ playing at the opening reception.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_173337.jpg "20250128_173337 - BluPrint")Different works for “Now/Here” behind the DJ playing at the opening reception.The dynamics being explored, on how politics can in fact be an immutable part of who we are, are interesting. They ponder on how it affects how we define ourselves, pulling on the cords while leaving the answers for its audience to figure out.

Does our environment affect the way that we perceive ourselves, or do we ourselves—our ideas of soul and being—affect our perception of our environment? *Now/Here* abounds with provocative images and interpretations. And it challenges how we engage with such questions individually—and how that affects our lives as a whole.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Pwera Usog’: Finding Freedom from the Hypocrisy of Society](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/pwera-usog-gravity-art-space/ "‘Pwera Usog’: Finding Freedom from the Hypocrisy of Society")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central theme of the ‘Now/Here’ exhibition at Bunso Gallery?

The exhibition explores the existential tension of presence, playing on the duality of being “nowhere” and “now here.” It features 27 artists who characterize their environment to orchestrate a broader picture of Philippine society, focusing on the “liminal divide”—the “in-between” state of the self. This theme is represented by a symbolic slash (“/”) that marks the threshold between being fully grounded in reality and entirely adrift in an evolving world.

### How do the artists in ‘Now/Here’ interpret alienation and ennui?

Many artists address the specific angst of existing in the modern era, where individuals can feel small and mutable against global powers. Georel Albaña uses graffiti-like textures and arabesque patterns to express colorful angst, while other artists like Aleng Lukresya and Potti Lesaguis use organic, nature-inspired shapes to dissect the experience of nature as something separate from the self. These varied styles highlight a sense of “congenial familiarity” with a world that simultaneously feels alienating.

### In what way does the exhibit address the “politics of place”?

The exhibition posits that the political climate is just as crucial as the physical environment in defining a person’s situational self. Works by artists like Bandomeng, Kiko Escora, and Gino Javier use symbols of authority and historical trauma (such as police outposts or holocaust imagery) to ground the abstract concept of “politics” into daily life. This suggests that political realities are immutable parts of individual identity rather than just external ideals.

### How does ‘Now/Here’ challenge traditional standards of beauty and morality?

Several artists, including Gawen Fuji, Santo Slogo, and Jan Sunday, intentionally “pierce the bubble of beauty” by focusing on stylized portraits and themes of ugliness. These works question why society often assigns a negative moral value to the unsightly or the ostracized. By embracing these contradictions, the exhibit challenges the audience to look past superficial appearances to understand the complex internal “soul” of the subjects.

### What question does the exhibit leave for the audience to figure out?

The collection ultimately asks whether our environment dictates how we perceive ourselves, or if our internal sense of being shapes our perception of our surroundings. By presenting provocative images of nature, politics, and the human form, Now/Here functions as a catalyst for viewers to engage with these questions individually. The goal is to spark a realization of how these internal and external dynamics affect our lives as a collective whole.

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Art Exhibition, Bunso Gallery, Paintings, Philippines

---

### [‘I/Land’: FotomotoPH Captures the Diversity of the Country](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/i-land-fotomotoph-ayala-museum/)

**Published:** February 19, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

How do we comprehend the variety of customs and societies that exist in the Philippines? With *I/Land*, photography collective [FotomotoPH](https://fotomoto.ph/), in partnership with Ayala Museum, provides us with a dazzling array of images from different areas of the Philippines.

These images, taken by 74 different photographers from across the country, focus the lens on the different realities that every Filipino lives through. Whether it’s urban or rural, in vast farmlands or in the middle of large bodies of water, they highlight the unique multicultural aspect that appears to blossom in an archipelago like ours.

![Members of FotomotoPH and the Ayala Museum staff during the opening of "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_181858.jpg "20250201_181858 - BluPrint")Members of FotomotoPH and the Ayala Museum staff during the opening of “I/Land.”“ Philippine society is extremely diverse,” FotomotoPH co-founder Stephanie Frondoso said. “Part of the reason is because we live within islands, archipelagos and have many ethno-linguistic groups, \[and\] many languages. But now the theory of archipelagic thinking is becoming stronger and stronger in which the waters don’t just fragment us, they’re like our highways.”

“It tries to push that boundary of ‘how do you visualize a specific topic, especially a topic that’s sort of close to your identity?’” fellow FotomotoPH co-founder Veejay Villafranca said about the topic.

## **Choosing the Photographs of ‘I/Land’**

The images featured for *I/Land* were found through an open call, with FotomotoPH receiving over a thousand photographs from 300 different photographers. The collective involved the heads of Angkor Photo Festival, Objectives Singapore, and Jakarta International Photo Festival in a blind vetting process that kept the photographers’ identities anonymous.

![Some of the photographers chosen for the exhibit during the opening reception of "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_182154.jpg "20250201_182154 - BluPrint")Some of the photographers chosen for the exhibit during the opening reception of “I/Land.”“It’s based purely on the image,” Frondoso said. “Which is why the mix of the Open Call are from very established photographers to new ones we’ve never met. And that’s how we discover talent from all around the Philippines, which we’ve been discovering for the past three editions.”

“All of these three people bring together their expertise and also their knowledge in photography \[and\] in representation,” Villafranca added. “Mix that with the local experts, the local Filipino photographers and also curators meeting together.”

![Three photographs for "Centrefold," the side exhibit shown alongside "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_184450.jpg "20250201_184450 - BluPrint")Three photographs for “Centrefold,” the side exhibit shown alongside “I/Land.”

![Image shown for "Centrefold," the side exhibit shown alongside "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_184732.jpg "20250201_184732 - BluPrint")

![Dashcam video shown for "Centrefold," the side exhibit shown alongside "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_184623.jpg "20250201_184623 - BluPrint")Dashcam video shown for “Centrefold,” the side exhibit shown alongside “I/Land.”

![Image shown for "Centrefold," the side exhibit shown alongside "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_184654.jpg "20250201_184654 - BluPrint")

In the end, seventy-four photographers were chosen for the exhibit. Though that number does not include the photographers featured on *Centrefold*, a different side exhibit running alongside *I/Lands*. Curated by FotomotoPH co-founder [Gio Panlilio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/artinformal-angela-panlilio-gio-panlilio/), it features dynamic videos of island life across the country.

## **Documenting the Country**

That variety shows up a lot on *I/Land*, which overpowers viewers with the vastness of its collection. From oceanic landscapes to city life, from the rural countryside to the frenetic rush of rebellion, the exhibit offers a variety of spectacle for everyone.

![Christian Balictan’s three photographs named after the three major islands in the Philippines.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165731.jpg "20250201_165731 - BluPrint")Christian Balictan’s three photographs named after the three major islands in the Philippines.Unique images include Ricky Ladia’s black-and-white photographs of small buildings surrounded by large bodies of water, or Christian Balictan’s three collages of different photographs pasted together like puzzle pieces from around the country.

![Ricky Ladia’s work as showcased by FotomotoPH for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165838.jpg "20250201_165838 - BluPrint")Ricky Ladia’s work as showcased by FotomotoPH for “I/Lands.”

![Ricky Ladia’s work as showcased by FotomotoPH for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165845.jpg "20250201_165845 - BluPrint")

![Ricky Ladia’s work as showcased by FotomotoPH for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165926.jpg "20250201_165926 - BluPrint")Ricky Ladia’s work as showcased by FotomotoPH for “I/Lands.”

Decay, at times, is highlighted in some of the photographs. MM Yu’s two contributions, both set in the ruined remains of a church, portray that symbolic destruction happening in our world today. So does the image that Effy Calingao contributed to the exhibit, which shows a mountainside being carved with subdivisions and roads.

![Effy Calingao's "Ere."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170227.jpg "20250201_170227 - BluPrint")Effy Calingao’s “Ere.”

!["In The Belief That - Left Wing" by MM Yu for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170255.jpg "20250201_170255 - BluPrint")“In The Belief That – Left Wing” by MM Yu for “I/Lands.”

![A photograph shown at "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170022.jpg "20250201_170022 - BluPrint")A photograph shown at “I/Lands.”

!["In The Belief That - Remnants" by MM Yu for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170100.jpg "20250201_170100 - BluPrint")

## **Rebellion and Signs of Life**

Others, however, provide a feeling of rebellion from the norms that tend to be missing from many people’s lives. One photograph from Billy shows a trio of women hiding in the mud. Another photograph, credited to Romy, shows a group of indigenous people in the midst of a tug-of-war contest in a rushing stream.

!["Punnuk Festival" by Romy for "I/Lands" by FotomotoPH.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170231.jpg "20250201_170231 - BluPrint")“Punnuk Festival” by Romy for “I/Lands” by FotomotoPH.

!["Taong Putik. Bibiclat, Nueva Ecija" by Enrique.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170332.jpg "20250201_170332 - BluPrint")

![Billy's "Bulating: Mud and Vine People of Boac, Marinduque."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170345.jpg "20250201_170345 - BluPrint")

!["The Gentle People that Live by The Sea 03" by Hersley Casero for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170538.jpg "20250201_170538 - BluPrint")“The Gentle People that Live by The Sea 03” by Hersley Casero for “I/Lands.”

![Ken Guanzon's "Action and Reaction."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170826.jpg "20250201_170826 - BluPrint")

In the same vein, Hersley Casero captures the recklessness of youth as he photographs a group of children jumping into the water from a boardwalk. All these highlight the broadness of experiences that happen around the Philippines. *I/Land* attempts to capture that to show to a larger audience that would typically never have exposure to such images in the first place.

“I think \[this\] is the unique point of FotoMoto,” Frondoso said. “I don’t know of any other [art show](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-fair-2024-open-to-public/) that really looks around the whole Philippines and tries to decentralize art from Metro Manila or decentralize photography from Metro Manila.”

![Paul Quiambao's work at "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170528.jpg "20250201_170528 - BluPrint")

![Two images shown at "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165808.jpg "20250201_165808 - BluPrint")Two images shown at “I/Lands.”

![An image of a fisherman.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170650.jpg "20250201_170650 - BluPrint")

![Jayb Paule's "Hiling" for "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165757.jpg "20250201_165757 - BluPrint")Jayb Paule’s “Hiling” for “I/Lands.”

## **Photography as an Art Tool**

![A photograph shown at "I/Lands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165641.jpg "20250201_165641 - BluPrint")

![A work shown at "I/Lands" by FotomotoPH at the Ayala Museum.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165702.jpg "20250201_165702 - BluPrint")A work shown at “I/Lands” by FotomotoPH at the Ayala Museum.

![Jethro's "Water World" for "I/Lands" by FotomotoPH.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165706.jpg "20250201_165706 - BluPrint")Jethro’s “Water World” for “I/Lands” by FotomotoPH.

![Direk Kyle's "Innocence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170217.jpg "20250201_170217 - BluPrint")

Even what some would call the more typical photographs have a flair of the fantastic in them. The moments where city life is captured either finds a quiet sense of peace in the midst of spectacle, or allows one to dive right into the rush.

!["Bago mag hapuan" by Christopher Salvador at "I/Land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165646.jpg "20250201_165646 - BluPrint")“Bago mag hapuan” by Christopher Salvador at “I/Land.”Christopher Salvador photographs a city street at sunset, smoke coming out of a street food stall, and it finds a haunting note to the normalcy of city life. Another photograph by a different photographer shows a group of commuters rushing eagerly into a bus, their bodies blurring in the scramble for seats.

![One of the images shown at "I/Land" by FotomotoPH at the Ayala Museum.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_165620.jpg "20250201_165620 - BluPrint")## **Can All Tools Become Art?**

*I/Lands* showcases how photography can be used beyond a tool for documenting. Like how art can represent the world without the worry of being a perfect facsimile, photography allows for unique interpretations of reality that are grounded without being tethered to slavish devotion. It reminds us that art can come from any medium, that it is in the hands of the artist to distinguish from the norms.

![A viewer appreciating some of the photographs.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250201_170730.jpg "20250201_170730 - BluPrint")A viewer appreciating some of the photographs.“Ideally, one of Fotomoto’s main goals is to help promote photography not only as an art form but as a mode of representation and expression,” Villafranca said.

“Parang \[it\] helps us highlight that photography is an actual discipline; hindi siya how the majority knows of photography na, you know, you have a phone camera and then \[just shoot\]. There are different facets to it, but originally, it’s still an art form, it’s a discipline, it’s a method that people use and has been using for quite some time already.”

*I/Lands* will be shown for free at the Ayala Museum until February 23.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Romancing the Lens: Architecture through the eyes of a travel photographer](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/architecture-through-the-eyes-of-a-travel-photographer/ "Romancing the Lens: Architecture through the eyes of a travel photographer")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core objective of the ‘I/Land’ exhibit at Ayala Museum?

The I/Land exhibit, presented by the photography collective FotomotoPH, aims to visualize the diverse cultural and natural heritage of the Philippines. By featuring 74 photographers from across the archipelago, the collection challenges the idea that islands and waters fragment us, instead treating the sea as a “highway” that connects various ethno-linguistic groups. It seeks to decentralize the art scene from Metro Manila by capturing urban, rural, and oceanic realities that many Filipinos rarely have the chance to witness.

### How does FotomotoPH ensure a fair and diverse selection of photographers?

To discover talent from all over the country, FotomotoPH held an open call that received over 1,000 entries. The selection process utilized a “blind vetting” system, where international experts from festivals in Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia judged images anonymously based purely on artistic merit. This method allowed the exhibit to feature a democratic mix of established professionals and undiscovered new artists, ensuring the focus remained on the power of the image rather than the photographer’s reputation.

### What recurring themes or subjects are captured in the ‘I/Land’ collection?

The exhibit offers a vast spectrum of the Philippine experience, ranging from quiet rural landscapes to the “frenetic rush of rebellion.” Notable works include MM Yu’s depictions of decaying church ruins and Effy Calingao’s commentary on environmental destruction through images of carved mountainsides. Others, like Hersley Casero, capture “signs of life” through the recklessness of youth, portraying children leaping into open water, highlighting the multicultural and archipelagic nature of Filipino identity.

### How does the exhibit distinguish photography as a fine art discipline?

FotomotoPH co-founder Veejay Villafranca emphasizes that photography is an actual discipline and a mode of expression rather than just a tool for documentation. The exhibit showcases how photographers use the lens to create unique interpretations of reality—such as Christopher Salvador’s haunting street scenes or blurred action shots of commuters—that are not tethered to being “perfect facsimiles.” This approach promotes photography as a sophisticated art form that utilizes light, timing, and perspective to communicate deep personal and social narratives.

### What is the “Centrefold” side exhibit and how does it complement ‘I/Land’?

Curated by Gio Panlilio, Centrefold is a digital counterpart to the main exhibit that features dynamic videos of island life across the Philippines. While the main I/Land collection focuses on the still image, Centrefold uses moving pictures to provide a more immersive sense of the country’s natural rhythms. Together, they create a comprehensive vision of the “I/Land” theme, allowing viewers to experience the archipelago’s vastness through both frozen moments and fluid, cinematic documentation.

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Ayala Museum, FotomotoPH, Philippines, Photography

---

### [‘Ilog Hanggang Laot’ Demands Empathy and Action for War-Weary Palestinians](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ilog-hanggang-laot-sikad-pro-palestinian/)

**Published:** September 19, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Ilog Hanggang Laot: A Palestinian Solidarity Art Exhibit* expresses the need to support Palestinian refugees and causes in the country. The exhibit opened on September 13 at the SFAD Art Space of the Philippine Women’s University. Running until October 11, the exhibit was organized by art collective and labor rights activists SIKAD.

Multiple artists participated in the group exhibit, including Tanya Villanueva, Louvia Ramos, Resty Flores, Victoria Perote, and Malayo Pa ang Umaga. The works ranged from acrylic paintings and photographs, to mixed media works like bracelets and wood structures.

![Artist Zero Eviction performing at "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_145137.jpg "20240913_145137 - BluPrint")Artist Zero Eviction performing at “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.During the opening reception on September 13, SIKAD invited different speakers and musicians to discuss the issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian war. This included Amira Lidasan from the Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance (MCPA), and musicians like Tambisan and Zero Eviction. The short films *Bahay Barikada* and *Remnants of a Conversation* were also shown.

## **Re-engaging The Narrative**

*Ilog Hanggang Laot*, which translates the slogan “From the River to the Sea” in Filipino, showcases art that criticizes the international community’s response to the relentless bombing and killings in Gaza. These works emphasize a normalization in Western governments and the press to ignore Palestinian civilian casualties by labeling them as “terrorists.”

![Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141147.jpg "20240913_141147 - BluPrint")Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141156.jpg "20240913_141156 - BluPrint")Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.”

![Resty Flores’ “Mensahero." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141643.jpg "20240913_141643 - BluPrint")Resty Flores’ “Mensahero.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works by Brian Barrios for pro-Palestinian exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141227.jpg "20240913_141227 - BluPrint")Two works by Brian Barrios for pro-Palestinian exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Work by Mahmoud Abu Dalal for pro-Palestinian exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141525.jpg "20240913_141525 - BluPrint")Work by Mahmoud Abu Dalal for pro-Palestinian exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’” uses the typical toys that children play with, and adds splashes of red paint and strings to indicate the rising death toll of children in Gaza. Brian Barrios and Mahmoud Abu Dalal similarly emphasize the same point in their works. Resty Flores’ “Mensahero” recontextualizes the Christian imagery of a cherub by giving it a bomb to drop on the people below.

These works affirm that the attacks of Hamas against Israel cannot “[justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians](https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15462.doc.htm).” That really, no terrorist attack or group justifies the marginalization and genocide of an entire subset of civilians.

## Palestinian Refugees in the Country

Amira Lidasan, who spoke during the opening reception, called out the Philippine government for its support of Israel’s war in Gaza, as well as the lack of support for the Palestinians, specifically Filipino-Palestinian refugees in the country.

![Amira Lidasan from the Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_143423.jpg "20240913_143423 - BluPrint")Amira Lidasan from the Moro-Christian Peoples Alliance. Photo by Elle Yap.The small community of refugees fled to the Philippines after the start of the current conflict. Also known as Little Gaza, the community received little help from the government. They are currently [struggling to raise funds](https://www.instagram.com/p/C_4D44QSjGo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) to keep their home in [Quezon City](https://www.instagram.com/little_gaza_donantonio/) despite their various efforts, including [an initiative](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2485346/world) that sells home-cooked Palestinian food.

## Recontextualizing Media’s Portrayal of Palestinians

While *Ilog Hanggang Laot* condemned the media portrayal of Palestinians as terrorists, it also provided a protesting counter to the mainstream Western narratives shown today. “Intifada” by SAMAEL and the works of Julius Bagoyo shown in the exhibit recontextualize the portrayal of freedom fighters away from the “terrorist” label of the West.

![“Intifada” by SAMAEL. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142528.jpg "20240913_142528 - BluPrint")“Intifada” by SAMAEL. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Julius Bagoyo in "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142516.jpg "20240913_142516 - BluPrint")A work by Julius Bagoyo in “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Julius Bagoyo in "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142520.jpg "20240913_142520 - BluPrint")A work by Julius Bagoyo in “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.

It reminds viewers that terror groups like Hamas did not spring out of the ground out of evil. Instead, they came about due to decades of radicalization that came from oppression and deliberate marginalization from powerful governments.

One remembers that attempts to broker a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine problem, like the Oslo Accords, resulted in the [assassination of its leaders](https://www.britannica.com/topic/assassination-of-Yitzhak-Rabin). If the government refuses to recognize the plight of its people through peaceful means, then what else is there left to do in the search for freedom and recognition?

!["Decolonization" by 3uzli and "ilan?" by Yllang Montenegro. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141419.jpg "20240913_141419 - BluPrint")“Decolonization” by 3uzli and “ilan?” by Yllang Montenegro. Photo by Elle Yap.## **Connecting the Palestinian Plight to the Filipino Muslim Community**

![Works by Louvia Ramos for "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141438.jpg "20240913_141438 - BluPrint")Works by Louvia Ramos for “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.Lidasan linked the Israeli War on Gaza explicitly to the War on Terror the United States initiated after 9/11. She calls it a “legitimization” of war, baking in the imagery of Muslims as terrorists in our daily language. She also links the killings in Gaza to our own government’s penchant for extrajudicial killings, as the “tools of war” are now used against ordinary people.

![Three works featured in "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141444.jpg "20240913_141444 - BluPrint")Three works featured in “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.The speech, and the exhibit as a whole, links the marginalization of Palestinians in and outside of their country to our own local causes and problems. Through that, it exemplifies the necessity of a united front to create a sustained effort that helps the Moro and Palestinian communities—both the refugees in this country, and the ones still experiencing the war.

![Work shown for "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141336.jpg "20240913_141336 - BluPrint")Work shown for “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.## **Imploring for Peace in the Face of War**

!["The Art of Arabic Calligraphy" by Mahmoud Abu Dalal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141839.jpg "20240913_141839 - BluPrint")“The Art of Arabic Calligraphy” by Mahmoud Abu Dalal. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Work by Mahmoud Abu Dalal for pro-Palestinian art exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141843.jpg "20240913_141843 - BluPrint")Work by Mahmoud Abu Dalal for pro-Palestinian art exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works by Mahmoud Abu Dalal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_150438.jpg "20240913_150438 - BluPrint")Two works by Mahmoud Abu Dalal. Photo by Elle Yap.

The works featured in *Ilog Hanggang Laot* do not all focus on the destruction experienced by Palestinians in the war. Abu Dalal’s calligraphy work and their “Radiance of Stone and Spirit” showcase a vision of a Palestine at peace. Friendship bracelets were also displayed to show love for Gaza and Palestine.

![Friendship bracelets with pro-Palestinian content.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141036.jpg "20240913_141036 - BluPrint")Friendship bracelets with pro-Palestinian content. 

![Barbie dolls in pro-Palestinian garb. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141347.jpg "20240913_141347 - BluPrint")Barbie dolls in pro-Palestinian garb. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Three images by Victoria Perote of a pro-Palestinian protest.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141606.jpg "20240913_141606 - BluPrint")Three images by Victoria Perote of a pro-Palestinian protest. 

Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen” also envisions a map of Palestine before the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. The map is described as “a land liberated from apartheid Zionist domination and inclusive of all ethnicity and faith.”

![Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen.” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141242.jpg "20240913_141242 - BluPrint")Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Pictures at the side of Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142354.jpg "20240913_142354 - BluPrint")Pictures at the side of Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen.” 

![Pictures at the side of Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142406.jpg "20240913_142406 - BluPrint")Pictures at the side of Bhumisvara’s “Filasteen.” 

![Upper portion of "Filasteen." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142427.jpg "20240913_142427 - BluPrint")Upper portion of “Filasteen.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Middle portion of "Filasteen." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142430.jpg "20240913_142430 - BluPrint")Middle portion of “Filasteen.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Lower portion of "Filasteen." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142437.jpg "20240913_142437 - BluPrint")Lower portion of “Filasteen.” Photo by Elle Yap.

As a whole, however, *Ilog Hanggang Laot* minces no words or images in the Israeli oppression against Palestine. The exhibit comes to us angry but clear-eyed in the knowledge that *something* needs to be done against this destruction. It finds its strength in its righteousness, in the knowledge that one must come together to preserve our own humanity.

Related reading: [Pro-Palestinian Students and Faculty Arrested for Protests](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/pro-palestinian-encampments-arrest/ "Pro-Palestinian Students and Faculty Arrested for Protests")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Muslim Art, Palestine Protests, Philippines, Pro-Palestinian Art, SIKAD

---

### [‘Points and Endings’: Keka Enriquez Paints Domesticity to Vivid Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/points-and-endings-keka-enriquez/)

**Published:** February 17, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Points and Endings*, shown at [Silverlens Manila](https://silverlensgalleries.com/exhibitions/2025-01-09/points-and-endings), portrays the hecticness of the household of Keka Enriquez. She finds a way to represent the lived-in energy of the house, contrasting against more polished portrayals of one’s home as seen in the media. It’s unruly and active and *alive*, finding a rhythm that suggests comfort in one’s surroundings.

!["Points and Endings" at Silverlens Manila.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141510.jpg "20250128_141510 - BluPrint")“Points and Endings” at Silverlens Manila.This is Enriquez’s first exhibit in the Philippines since 2008, and it shows paintings from different eras of her life from the 1980s in Manila to the present day in her residence in San Francisco. In all of them, her expressionistic style prevails as she explores the depiction of the household in the most interesting and abstract ways.

“Domestic interiors rendered in dynamic brushwork, bold colors, and innovative form wherein she explores the house as both a familiar place and an aspirational ideal will be exhibited alongside newly-made works of dense abstract scenes that, upon closer inspection, reveal figurative silhouettes–a man’s face, a child, a dog–among interiors and exteriors alike,” the exhibit write-up said.

## **Distorting Our Perceived Environment**

The most interesting thing, for anyone seeing some of these works by Keka Enriquez for the first time, is how inscrutable she depicts her surroundings. If one were just skimming through her work, it would scan as a splatter-heavy work akin to Jackson Pollock.

!["Gimme Shelter" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141714.jpg "20250128_141714 - BluPrint")“Gimme Shelter” by Keka Enriquez.

!["Marriage" by Keka Enriquez for "Points and Endings."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141603.jpg "20250128_141603 - BluPrint")“Marriage” by Keka Enriquez for “Points and Endings.”

!["Untitled 2" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141545.jpg "20250128_141545 - BluPrint")

!["3 Generations in the Lake" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141612.jpg "20250128_141612 - BluPrint")

!["Childhood" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141551.jpg "20250128_141551 - BluPrint")

But the abrasive brushstrokes, the dense layering of different colors, and the wild, intersecting shapes function really well as a depiction of a cluttered, active household. The figures and objects fit together like puzzle pieces, hidden in plain sight as they are buried by the jungles of lines and bright colors in the exhibit.

!["Childhood and Weird Tales" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141619.jpg "20250128_141619 - BluPrint")“Childhood and Weird Tales” by Keka Enriquez.“Childhood and Weird Tales,” for example, feels like a mural-like depiction of various events happening all at once. “Gimme Shelter,” meanwhile, appears to contort buildings and trees together like a kaleidoscope. One can appreciate “Woman With Four Heads” as a strange combination of movie poster chic and neo-expressionist street art.

!["Woman with Four Heads" at Silverlens Manila.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141704.jpg "20250128_141704 - BluPrint")Many of these works were created as recently as 2024. As such, they feel fresh and varied, an explosion of life as time and space bend around the objects and the viewers. It renews our perspective of our environment and the way chaos can function as a balm of the familiar.

## **Calm Interiors, Layered Domesticity**

!["Pitcher Collection" by Keka Enriquez.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141630.jpg "20250128_141630 - BluPrint")“Pitcher Collection” by Keka Enriquez.Of course, the other paintings by Keka Enriquez acquire a calmer, less spirited depiction of the clutter of domesticity than the other works. “Pitcher Collection” and “Blue Kettle,” for example, shows its household objects with clarity, well-lit and positioned to allow us to take in all of the details of the work.

!["Blue Kettle" by Keka Enriquez at Silverlens' "Points and Endings."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141656.jpg "20250128_141656 - BluPrint")“Blue Kettle” by Keka Enriquez at Silverlens’ “Points and Endings.”Others, like “Suppertime” or “Birdcage in a Chair,” bring in the distortion found in the other paintings, whilst maintaining the legibility of the objects and the room being shown. These are scenes of domesticity as seen from a funhouse mirror.

!["Suppertime" as displayed at "Points and Endings."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141642.jpg "20250128_141642 - BluPrint")“Suppertime” as displayed at “Points and Endings.”“However way it is grasped and rendered, the subject comes out vividly inhabited, even if it is sometimes styled to appear in a certain way, mediated as a commodity or an aspiration from a magazine, surely meant to entice,” the exhibit write-up said.

!["Birdcage on the Chair" for "Points and Endings."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250128_141636.jpg "20250128_141636 - BluPrint")“Birdcage on the Chair” for “Points and Endings.”Keka Enriquez tends to set her work in the domestic sphere, a way for her to bring a level of social complexity to a sphere of influence not typically taken seriously by other artists. And with *Points and Endings*, there’s certainly some ideas at work here that collide our ideal views of the household with what’s real and familiar with our everyday lives.

“Here, paint no longer alludes to the object or objectifies the subject,” the write-up said. “It confuses the eye that expects a reconciled home and is finally led to the telling remains of an always eventful day, which may well speak of history, repressed or becoming.”

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Santos Family Debuts New Collaborative Exhibit at Silverlens Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/santos-family-collaborative-exhibit-silverlens-manila/ "Santos Family Debuts New Collaborative Exhibit at Silverlens Manila")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central theme of Keka Enriquez’s ‘Points and Endings’ exhibit?

The exhibit explores the “lived-in energy” of the household, contrasting the messy, active reality of a home against the polished, aspirational portrayals often seen in media. Spanning works from the 1980s in Manila to present-day San Francisco, Enriquez uses domestic interiors as a canvas to discuss social complexity. Her paintings find a rhythmic comfort in chaos, suggesting that a home’s true history is found in the “telling remains” of an eventful day.

### How does Enriquez’s painting style distort the perception of a home?

Enriquez utilizes dense layering, bold colors, and abrasive brushwork that initially scan as pure abstraction. However, upon closer inspection, these wild intersecting shapes reveal figurative silhouettes—such as a child, a dog, or a kitchen kettle—hidden within the “jungle of lines.” This kaleidoscope-like distortion renews the viewer’s perspective of their environment, turning a cluttered household into a vivid, mural-like explosion of life where time and space appear to bend.

### What is the difference between her “spiritied” and “calm” interior paintings?

While many works in the exhibit are high-energy and near-abstract, pieces like Pitcher Collection and Blue Kettle offer a more legible, well-lit depiction of household objects. Other works, such as Suppertime, strike a middle ground by maintaining the legibility of the room while applying a “funhouse mirror” distortion. This variety shows the artist’s range in navigating the domestic sphere, shifting between frantic expressionism and quiet, detailed observation of the objects that occupy our lives.

### Why does the artist focus primarily on the domestic sphere?

Keka Enriquez focuses on the domestic sphere to bring a level of social and artistic complexity to a space that is often not taken seriously by the traditional art world. By treating the home as a site of history and repression, she elevates daily chores and household clutter into “points and endings” of human experience. Her work suggests that the domestic environment is a powerful influence on our identity, acting as both a familiar sanctuary and a site of constant evolution.

### Is ‘Points and Endings’ considered abstract or figurative art?

The exhibit “blurs the lines of reality” by occupying a space between abstraction and figuration. While her dynamic brushwork alludes to abstract expressionism, the “telling remains” of faces and furniture ensure the work remains grounded in the physical world. As the exhibit write-up notes, the paint no longer merely objectifies the subject; instead, it “confuses the eye,” leading the viewer to find hidden meanings and personal histories within the colorful layers.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Keka Enriquez, Paintings, Philippines, Silverlens

---

### [‘Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute’ and the Legacy of Nena Saguil](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/lakbay-voyages-into-the-absolute-nena-saguil/)

**Published:** February 8, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute* provides a recontextualization of artist [Nena Saguil](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/lakbay-voyages-into-the-absolute-nena-saguil/) in our modern sociopolitical context. The exhibit, organized by [The Art House](https://arthouseph.com/), includes some never-before-seen works by Nena Saguil, a pioneering figure in Filipino abstract art. Saguil did much of her work abroad in Paris. In this exhibit, she becomes a vehicle to discuss the Philippine diaspora experience as it relates to art.

![[From Left] Art House founder Carlo Pineda, artist Kulay Labitigan, curator Marika Constantino, The Nena Saguil Foundation head Benjamin Sanguil, and Maritess Pineda. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250127_160700.jpg "20250127_160700 - BluPrint")\[From Left\] Art House founder Carlo Pineda, artist Kulay Labitigan, curator Marika Constantino, The Nena Saguil Foundation head Benjamin Sanguil, and Maritess Pineda.*Lakbay* features nine Filipino artists based outside of the Philippines. Together they pay tribute and re-evaluate Saguil’s legacy in the pantheon of Filipino history through this connection. But more importantly, it opens up further conversations about the Philippine diaspora experience and the way these experiences fit into Filipino history and culture as a whole.

![Artwork by Marissa Gonzalez for the Nena Saguil exhibit "Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250127_151435.jpg "20250127_151435 - BluPrint")Artwork by Marissa Gonzalez for the Nena Saguil exhibit “Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute.” Photo by Elle Yap.Exhibit curator Marika Constantino said that they had to give crash courses to the artists about Nena Saguil so that they could appreciate her contributions to the art world. Constantino felt it was important to connect these artists to local culture to better understand their roots.

“In relation to the arts, we do recognize that there are a number of artists, Filipino artists, who are establishing their practices abroad,” she said. “These are important people for us to learn from or for us to know about. It’s a two-way thing. And they also have this compelling need to know more about their roots. So, that exchange is important.”

## **The Philippine Diaspora and Filipino Art**

*Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute* assembles the following artists for the exhibit: Jana Benitez, Rose Cameron, Kim Cruz, Lizza May David, Wayne Lacson Forte, Marissa Gonzalez, Racso Jagarap, Kulay Labitigan, and Jaclyn Reyes. Constantino relays the importance of highlighting the voices of the diaspora in the Filipino art scene.

![A work by Jana Benitez for the Nena Saguil tribute exhibit "Voyages Into the Absolute." Photo provided by the organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/viber_image_2025-01-20_11-06-45-693.jpg "viber_image_2025-01-20_11-06-45-693 - BluPrint")A work by Jana Benitez for the Nena Saguil tribute exhibit “Voyages Into the Absolute.” Photo provided by the organizers.“ I think, for any person who identifies himself or herself as part- or full-Filipino, we need to hear their voices. It’s not up to us to define who they are or where they’re supposed to be,” Constantino said. “For us, as the audience, I think it’s \[very\] important that we’re open to hear what they’re trying to say and hear what those voices are saying.”

!["Stillness II" by Kim Cruz. Photo provided by the organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Stillness-II-Sumi-Ink-Acrylic-and-Charcoal-on-Canvas.jpg "Stillness II, Sumi Ink, Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas - BluPrint")“Stillness II” by Kim Cruz. Photo provided by the organizers.The works submitted find inspiration in the abstraction that Nena Saguil pioneered, while capturing the diaspora experience of modern artists. Kim Cruz, for example, was inspired by Saguil’s monochromatic works for her contribution to the exhibit.

![A work by Lizza May David for the Nena Saguil tribute exhibit. Photo provided by the organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/David_Trias-Aftermath_2016_145x110cm_0143.jpg "David_Trias-Aftermath_2016_145x110cm_0143 - BluPrint")A work by Lizza May David for the Nena Saguil tribute exhibit. Photo provided by the organizers.Artists like Jana Benitez and Lizza May David utilizes similar gestural and conceptual nature to their works to discuss their personal experiences as Filipinos in another land. Kulay Labitigan, meanwhile, utilized fabrics and boxes to mimic balikbayan boxes. These boxes and the items we keep from them allow us to feel closeness with the people left behind.

![Works by Kulay Laibitigan for "Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250127_151349.jpg "20250127_151349 - BluPrint")Works by Kulay Laibitigan for “Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute.” Photo by Elle Yap.## **Connecting Nena Saguil to Today’s Society**

Altogether, these works speak to the nature of art as a communication tool between cultures. It’s especially pertinent for the people who were separated from the culture itself. Nena Saguil, in this regard, becomes an inspiration and a bridge to find these cultural similarities.

It’s why the concept of *Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute* was so important to The Art House founder Carlo Pineda. He said that they cold-called and sent proposals to some of these artists due to their belief in the concept. Pineda saw this as a way of inviting Filipino artists abroad to find and reconnect with their local community.

![The Art House founder Carlo Pineda discussing "Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250127_152737.jpg "20250127_152737 - BluPrint")The Art House founder Carlo Pineda discussing “Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute.” Photo by Elle Yap.“What’s very important for us is \[that\] we hope that we can resonate to different Filipinos all over the world that are living \[in\] this diaspora,” Carlo Pineda said. He sees this as an expansion of The Art House’s goals of creating community engagement with people. But this time, it’s aimed towards artists on an international level.

!["Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute," a tribute exhibit for Nena Saguil. Photo provided by organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Featured-Image-Lakbay.jpg "Featured Image Lakbay - BluPrint")“Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute,” a tribute exhibit for Nena Saguil. Photo provided by organizers.“ Because what we want to create is a movement and an ecosystem that all these collaborative partners form part of that equation to make it stronger and stronger,” he said. “That’s the message that we want to get out there, that you can join this movement and you \[can\] be part of that community. And being part of that community, everyone there in that community is there to help each other.”

*Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute* opens on February 8 at the mezzanine of Discovery Primea.

Related reading: [The Art House Curates Sustainable Murals in Circuit Makati](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-house-circuit-makati-installation/ "The Art House Curates Sustainable Murals in Circuit Makati")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of the “Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute” exhibit?

Organized by The Art House, this exhibit serves as a recontextualization of Nena Saguil’s legacy, a pioneer of Filipino abstract art. By showcasing never-before-seen works alongside contributions from nine contemporary Filipino artists based abroad, it uses Saguil’s experience in Paris as a bridge to discuss the modern Philippine diaspora and its place in Filipino history and culture.

### How does the exhibit connect modern diaspora artists to their Filipino roots?

Curator Marika Constantino facilitated an exchange where artists based outside the Philippines received “crash courses” on Saguil’s contributions to the art world. This connection creates a two-way dialogue, helping international artists rediscover their cultural identity while allowing local audiences to learn from the diverse practices of Filipinos establishing themselves globally.

### Who are the participating artists in the “Lakbay” exhibition?

The exhibit features a diverse lineup of nine artists from the Philippine diaspora: Jana Benitez, Rose Cameron, Kim Cruz, Lizza May David, Wayne Lacson Forte, Marissa Gonzalez, Racso Jagarap, Kulay Labitigan, and Jaclyn Reyes. Each artist offers a unique perspective on the diaspora experience, ranging from monochromatic abstract works to physical installations.

### How do the contemporary artworks in the exhibit reflect the diaspora experience?

The participating artists use varying mediums to express themes of identity and separation; for instance, Kim Cruz drew inspiration from Saguil’s monochromatic abstractions, while Kulay Labitigan utilized fabrics and “balikbayan” boxes. These elements symbolize the tangible items and memories that maintain a sense of closeness between Filipinos abroad and the loved ones they left behind.

### What is the ultimate goal of The Art House in presenting this tribute to Nena Saguil?

Founder Carlo Pineda envisions the exhibit as a catalyst for a global movement and an ecosystem that strengthens the Filipino artistic community worldwide. By inviting international artists to reconnect with their local roots, the project aims to create a collaborative network where members of the diaspora feel supported and recognized as an integral part of Filipino culture.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Nena Saguil, Philippine Diaspora, Philippines, The Art House

---

### [Poula Sitjar Captures the Multilayered Struggles of Women Today](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/poula-sitjar-am-i-ysobel-gallery/)

**Published:** December 2, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Am I?*, the second exhibit of up-and-coming artist Poula Sitjar, finds itself reckoning with the way expectations from society affects us and our perspectives in life. The artist specifically comes to this from the perspective of a woman, with all the contrary pressures and expectations put upon women in modern times.

Feminism and the continued fight for women’s rights offered women seemingly contradictory expectations for their life and others. Women are supposed to have rich and successful careers in this capitalist world. But alongside that, patriarchal expectations for a family and a household puts a large amount of pressure on women. Many attempt to balance these in their lives, to the detriment of their own mental health.

!["An assembly" for "Am I?," an art exhibit for Ysobel Art Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/7.-An-assembly-9-letters.jpg "7. An assembly (9 letters) - BluPrint")“An assembly” for “Am I?,” an art exhibit for Ysobel Art Gallery.With *Am I?*, Poula Sitjar sits with those expectations and ruminates on the effect of those pressures on the lives of women.

“As she looked into the dolls she used to play with, Sitjar had an epiphany,” Ryan Uy’s write-up said. “\[S\]omehow she has deeply personal questions that many women and artists ask themselves: Am I worthy? Will I be a good mother? Can I become the successful artist I aspire to be? Will I grow into the person I’ve envisioned?”

## **Life and the Cycle of Nature**

*Am I*? features a collection of different paintings by Poula Sitjar that play with the iconography of wealth and nature. The works utilize images that feel familiarly Western in its origin, from snow to its depiction of small towns that come straight out of a ‘90s movie. Its depiction of mansions and wealth feel specifically influenced by that as well with the Colonialist design of the buildings.

![Poula Sitjar painting "Shadows."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/3.-Shadows-cover-4-letters.jpg "3. Shadow's cover (4 letters) - BluPrint")Poula Sitjar painting “Shadows.”

![Poula Sitjar painting "Street Crossing Point."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/4.-Street-crossing-point-9-letters.jpg "4. Street crossing point (9 letters) - BluPrint")Poula Sitjar painting “Street Crossing Point.”

!["A Pair" by Poula Sitjar.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/10.-A-pair-6-letters.jpg "10. A pair (6 letters) - BluPrint")“A Pair” by Poula Sitjar.

For these specific iconographies, the point appears to align with the depiction of a cold world for the central figure. The figure spends a lot of time in the different paintings standing alone. For the most part, the figure is a small shape struggling against the elements engulfing her being.

“Weather motifs, particularly snow and other natural elements, are prominent in Sitjar’s collection. These serve as powerful metaphors for the cyclical nature of a woman’s life, symbolizing resilience and the quiet strength needed to endure,” Uy wrote.

!["Origami Player" by Poula Sitjar for Ysobel Art Gallery exhibit "Am I?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/5.-Origami-flyer-two-words-10-Letters.jpg "5. Origami flyer (two words, 10 Letters) - BluPrint")“Origami Player” by Poula Sitjar for Ysobel Art Gallery exhibit “Am I?”In one painting, “Origami Flyer,” she stands alone in a field of green struggling against the wind, the backdrop of a church behind her. Another painting, “Not Right,” has the figure standing alone outside as a car drives away from a nearby mansion, the snowy fields freezing up even the statues outside the home.

!["Not Right" by Poula Sitjar for "Am I?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7521.jpg "IMG_7521 - BluPrint")“Not Right” by Poula Sitjar for “Am I?”These paintings seem to really capture the vastness of the world, and how, as an individual and especially as a woman, battling against the tides of norms and expectations can feel overwhelming and impossible with the dice rolled against us.

## **Loneliness of Existence**

Poula Sitjar depicts the central figure’s loneliness as caused by the expectations of society around her. It stifles her freedom, and more than that, limits her to only exist within the pre-established boundaries given to her.

The most provoking work in the collection is “Bethrotal,” which puts the figure in a dark hallway, holding a champagne glass as she looks blankly to one side. The title suggests that she’s in an engagement party. It depicts the loneliness of such an event, the sorrow over her seeming lack of choice over the engagement overwhelming even the well-lit corridors in the center of the image.

!["Betrothal" by Poula Sitjar.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8.-Betrothal-8-letters.jpg "8. Betrothal (8 letters) - BluPrint")“Betrothal” by Poula Sitjar.The work is interesting and engaging, and it really gets down to the themes of the images, of how women attempt to fit themselves into these expectations whilst never feeling fulfilled by any of it.

!["Bridal Accessory" for art exhibit about womanhood "Am I?"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2.-Bridal-accessory-4-Letters-1.jpg "2. Bridal accessory (4 Letters) (1) - BluPrint")“Bridal Accessory” for art exhibit about womanhood “Am I?”Uy said, in their exhibit write-up, that Sitjar had an epiphany after finishing the collection. “Instead of seeking answers to questions that have no guarantees, she embraced a simple yet profound truth—‘I am enough.’ This declaration resonates as a message of courage, reminding women and artists alike that their worth isn’t contingent on achievements, timelines, or societal benchmarks, but rather on their intrinsic value and authenticity,” they wrote.

*Am I?* gets down to the core emotions of living in a society with contradictory expectations that leave women unhappy. Poula Sitjar expresses that familiar loneliness in painted form, while using it as a way to find within herself the strength to fight against it and define her own worth away from society.

The exhibit is showing at the Isobel Art Gallery until December 4.

*Photos provided by the artist.*

Related reading: [Women’s Month as Seen Through the Artist’s Lens](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/womens-month-recap-art-exhibits/ "Women’s Month as Seen Through the Artist’s Lens")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Paintings, Philippines, Women Artists, Ysobel Art Gallery

---

### [‘Resolutions’ Brings Artists Together for the Outlook of the Future](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/resolutions-art-district-escolta/)

**Published:** January 31, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

There’s a sense of idealism found in *[Resolutions](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGb38M0j5s/_XAqwrep7HWjCWlvX-M0cA/view?utm_content=DAGb38M0j5s&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h68c28640da#1 "Resolutions")*, curated by Yul Servo Nieto and organized by Mark Nilo Odiaman for [The Art District Escolta](https://www.instagram.com/theartdistrictgallery/). It’s the nature of the New Year’s resolution, to find the ideal image one rallies around. But it also gives us an idea of what each of the 16 artists perceive as an ideal image, something that highlights the type of realities that people deal with.

![Some of the artists who contributed for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190624.jpg "20250111_190624 - BluPrint")Some of the artists who contributed for “Resolutions.”“*Resolutions* offers a curated collection of imagined realities and reveries that reflect the artists’ creativity and optimism for the future,” Lorraine Datuin’s write-up for the exhibit said. “Some works are highly figurative, presenting vivid, high-definition depictions of nature, while others take on more abstract forms, offering deconstructed elements.

“Whether rendered in high or low resolution (pixelated), each piece serves as a personal reflection of the artist’s vision for what’s to come.”

## **What the Future Can Be**

There’s a sense of hopefulness and creativity to be found in the artworks displayed here. It’s not necessarily the optimal future or the ideal image they’re showing; rather, the paintings take the reality of our country today and find new layers of optimism to build upon.

![A sculpture by Ayen Quias for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_193036.jpg "20250111_193036 - BluPrint")

![A sculpture by Ayen Quias for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190318.jpg "20250111_190318 - BluPrint")

![Another sculpture by Ayen Quias for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190526.jpg "20250111_190526 - BluPrint")Another sculpture by Ayen Quias for “Resolutions.”

Some of the most interesting works take today’s context and filter a sense of elation through it. Ayen Quias’ three sculptures for the project, for example, utilizes the look of favelas and shantytowns to assemble a colorful rendition of the closeness of city life. It acknowledges that people who live in the city are often crowded into each other, and yet it also finds the happy humanity that exists in those areas.

![Two works by Ely Tablizo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190407.jpg "20250111_190407 - BluPrint")

![Jun Rocha's works for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190428.jpg "20250111_190428 - BluPrint")Jun Rocha’s works for “Resolutions.”

![Two works by Daryl Ajero for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190247.jpg "20250111_190247 - BluPrint")Two works by Daryl Ajero for “Resolutions.”

At times, many of the other paintings here attempt to create an Amorsolo-esque mood of ideal provincial life. Some of the paintings, like “Moonlit Waterscape” by Daryl Ajero or Fernando Sena’s “Peaceful Path,” show off the beauty of the country’s natural environment.

!["Peaceful Path" by Fernando Sena for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_191003.jpg "20250111_191003 - BluPrint")“Peaceful Path” by Fernando Sena for “Resolutions.”

!["Provincial Scene" by Dan David Garcia.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190550.jpg "20250111_190550 - BluPrint")

!["Agos" by Angelito Florendo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190341.jpg "20250111_190341 - BluPrint")

!["Going Out Fishing" by Dan David Garcia.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190546.jpg "20250111_190546 - BluPrint")

It can come off as a little bit *too* idealistic, not acknowledging the struggle that exists in those spaces. But also, artists like Ely Tablizo or Jun Rocha balance that idealism out with depictions of people at work, never minimizing the labor that comes into these jobs.

## **Resolutions for the Future**

!["Borderless" by Noel Nicholas for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_191233.jpg "20250111_191233 - BluPrint")“Borderless” by Noel Nicholas for “Resolutions.”The exhibit certainly works best when the artwork feels more personal. For example, Noel Nicholas’ “Hard Driven” and “Borderless” depict what appears to be people on their daily commute. But there’s a state of expressive detachment here that atomizes feelings of alienation one might undergo in such a tiring daily ritual.

!["Hard Driven" by Noel Nicholas for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190145.jpg "20250111_190145 - BluPrint")“Hard Driven” by Noel Nicholas for “Resolutions.”In that same line of thought, Bing Siochi’s “Mother and Child” depicts a woman cradling a baby against a colorful, fiery background of orange and red that adds awe and fear to the simple image. It feels like *danger*, looming over this tender, parental image in front of us.

![Some of the paintings, with "Mother and Child" at the upper left.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_191213.jpg "20250111_191213 - BluPrint")## **Towards An Community-Centric Future**

Two intriguing works in the group exhibit are “Add to Cart” and “People Power” by [Nicole Asares](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/unveiling-perspectives-kaida-contemporary-group-exhibit/). Both paintings utilize a unique, 3D-printing-esque method of strings woven on top of each other to create its figures and background.

[!["Add to Cart" and "People Power" by Nicole Asares.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190846.jpg "20250111_190846 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/kapitolyos-newest-art-haus-fifty-one-collective-launches-with-a-slam/)“Add to Cart” and “People Power” by [Nicole Asares](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/kapitolyos-newest-art-haus-fifty-one-collective-launches-with-a-slam/).But more than the method, it feels like a showcase of multiple intersecting lives coming together as a whole. They all coexist together in this environment, and it reminds viewers that resolutions go beyond ourselves. They expand outwards, to the community, each personal resolution of each figure building into a potential for a better society for everybody.

![Details for "Add to Cart" from "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190852.jpg "20250111_190852 - BluPrint")Details for “Add to Cart” from “Resolutions.”

![Details for "People Power" from "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190900.jpg "20250111_190900 - BluPrint")Details for “People Power” from “Resolutions.”

![Close-up for "People Power" from "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_190950.jpg "20250111_190950 - BluPrint")

As a whole, *Resolutions* provides audiences with an effective and appreciative look at different artists taking stock of their present and looking forward to the future. However differently we all see what’s coming, the exhibit takes us into these 16 artists’ minds to understand the perspectives that fuel their works.

![Multiple works showcased for "Resolutions."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_191037.jpg "20250111_191037 - BluPrint")Multiple works showcased for “Resolutions.”“The exhibition invites viewers to explore the artists’ motivations—whether it’s the pursuit of passions, the expansion of horizons, or personal development,” Datuin wrote. “A clear vision can take one far, but even a small spark of inspiration, when acknowledged and acted upon, has the power to move mountains and create lasting change.”

*Resolutions* is open at The Art District Escolta until February 8.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Manila x Bohol’ Showcases Creativity Outside of the Capital](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/manila-x-bohol-art-district-escolta/ "‘Manila x Bohol’ Showcases Creativity Outside of the Capital")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who curated the ‘Resolutions’ exhibit, and what is the central theme?

The exhibit was curated by Yul Servo Nieto and organized by Mark Nilo Odiaman. The central theme explores the concept of “resolutions” through the imagined futures and personal reflections of 16 different artists, ranging from high-definition figurative works to deconstructed abstract forms.

### How does the artwork address the reality of urban life in the Philippines?

Many artists find optimism within current societal contexts rather than showing a purely escapist future. For example, Ayen Quias uses sculptures of shantytowns and favelas to depict the colorful vibrancy and “happy humanity” found in the closeness of city life, highlighting resilience despite crowded urban conditions.

### What unique artistic techniques are featured in Nicole Asares’ paintings?

Nicole Asares contributes two intriguing works, “Add to Cart” and “People Power,” which utilize a 3D-printing-esque method of overlapping woven strings. This tactile style creates a visual metaphor for intersecting lives, suggesting that personal resolutions are interconnected and contribute to a larger community-centric future.

### How do the artists balance idealism with the reality of labor and struggle?

While some paintings evoke a peaceful, “Amorsolo-esque” mood of provincial life, other artists provide a necessary balance by depicting the dignity of work. Artists like Ely Tablizo and Jun Rocha showcase people in the middle of their daily labor, ensuring the struggle and effort behind the ideal image are never minimized.

### Where is the exhibit located, and how long will it be open to the public?

‘Resolutions’ is hosted at The Art District Escolta, a prominent creative hub in the historic district of Manila. The exhibition is open for public viewing until February 8, 2025, inviting visitors to stock of the present through the perspectives of these 16 local artists.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Art District Escolta, Landscape Paintings, Paintings, Philippines

---

### [Authenticity Zero Collective Challenges Norms With ‘Machine of Thought’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/authenticity-zero-collective-machine-of-thought/)

**Published:** January 22, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Art groups, by definition, tend to push boundaries with their works as a statement of independence. But [The Authenticity Zero Collective](https://www.instagram.com/taz_collective/?hl=en "The Authenticity Zero Collective") have truly set themselves apart as a group that wants to deconstruct the way we envision *ideas* themselves. With their newest exhibit, *Machine of Thought*, they continue to change perceptions of how we conceive the world around us.

![Four members of the Authenticity Zero Collective alongside executives of Conrad Manila during the ribbon-cutting.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3588.jpg "_DSF3588 - BluPrint")Four members of the Authenticity Zero Collective alongside executives of Conrad Manila during the ribbon-cutting.Showing at Gallery C at the Conrad Manila until March 8, The Authenticity Zero Collective gathered five of its members for the exhibition: Cocoi Base, Gab Brioso, Almi Domingo, Walther Ocampo, and Ravi Ravago.

The group, consisting of architects, designers, and other artists, aims to reconceive how we perceive architecture and art. They push for abstraction; a redefinition of the way we think, analyze, and practice architecture. It moves away from the rigid, traditional ideas and into a future where people are free to explore new avenues to the craft.

![Walther Ocampo during the opening of "Machine of Thoughts."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3582-scaled.jpg "_DSF3582 - BluPrint")Walther Ocampo during the opening of “Machine of Thoughts.”Their works showcase the idea of the transformative nature of art in the lives of the individual and collective. They seek to depict a “primordial sense of creativity,” as Ocampo phrased it, to open viewers up to new possibilities and ideas instead of imposing them. That, for them, requires to go beyond the concrete ideas of art today and into more abstract possibilities

“Rather than striving for resolution, we embrace ambiguity,” Ocampo stated. “We welcome unpredictability and blur the boundaries between the two disciplines. And we try to invite new interpretations and hopefully create new possibilities, if not probabilities.”

## **New Thoughts and Ideas**

Collectively, the members of The Authenticity Zero Collective align with those ideas. Their artworks eschew representational art altogether to create stark images that confront its audience with its rebellion against rules.

Spaces contort; subtle nuances on color and shape build on top of one another. It feels counterintuitive at times, but the artists find ways to make it work for their overarching ideas.

![Two works by Walther Ocampo for "Machine of Thought."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3510.jpg "_DSF3510 - BluPrint")Two works by Walther Ocampo for “Machine of Thought.”

![Two works by Walther Ocampo for "Machine of Thought."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3514.jpg "_DSF3514 - BluPrint")

!["Eurhytmy 7.1" by Walther Ocampo from the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3552-scaled.jpg "_DSF3552 - BluPrint")“Eurhytmy 7.1” by Walther Ocampo from the Authenticity Zero Collective.

![Six works by Walther Ocampo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3557.jpg "_DSF3557 - BluPrint")

Walther Ocampo’s work for *Machine of Thought* feels deconstructive, for example. Many of his paintings feel like they’re peeling an object slowly to reveal its most basic shapes. It feels like the most accessible of the works in the exhibit due to how it adheres to past markers of expressionist art.

!["Hyper Proun 7" by Gab Brioso of the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3507.jpg "_DSF3507 - BluPrint")“Hyper Proun 7” by Gab Brioso of the Authenticity Zero Collective.Gab Brioso’s work utilizes a pronounced mix of different objects crafted to create alien-like structures of different objects. The most interesting part about Brioso’s works is that they *feel* ancient, especially as they’re exhibited in a way that makes it seem like they were cut up from each other.

!["Hyper Proun 5" by Gab Brioso for "Machine of Thought."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3503.jpg "_DSF3503 - BluPrint")“Hyper Proun 5” by Gab Brioso for “Machine of Thought.”## **Layers of Nuances in Ordinary Objects**

In that same vein, Robin Ravago and his “Construction AL 01-03” pins together a concrete display of the abstract ideas that The Authenticity Zero Collective has. He uses what he calls “offcuts,” made from excess construction material after it’s cut or shaped.

!["Construction AL 01-03" by Robin Ravago for "Machine of Thought."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3491-scaled.jpg "_DSF3491 - BluPrint")“Construction AL 01-03” by Robin Ravago for “Machine of Thought.”“When you cut up plywood, meron siyang mga sobra (it has excess material),” he said. “I get inspired by that. Mostly, ginagamit ko siya (I use it) to create art. What you see here, some of them are scraps in our workshop. And then I try to compose na lang para magmukhang sculptural. So, para siyang an intersection between sculpture and painting na kinompose architecturally.”

From there, he reformats it into art, layering them with textures and different shades of red to bring a stormy appearance to the works. It works as a sculpture, but depending on the perspective, it also works as a kind of quasi-landscape painting, an image of the outdoors without the outdoors. This plays with audience preconceptions of waste, asking them to look beyond the label to find something deeper.

![Spectator looking at the work by Robin Ravago of the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3493-scaled.jpg "_DSF3493 - BluPrint")“I try to compose my works in such a way na it’s minimal yet complex,” he said. “When you look at it at first glance, it’s like a minimal piece of art, a sculpture. But when you look \[na\] matagal, it’s very complex pala. It’s made up of multiple textures and multiple layers of art. So I try to make it like that. It’s complex yet minimal.”

## **Looking From a New Perspective**

Most interesting is Almi Domingo’s work for the exhibit; stark black-and-white etchings on acrylic panels. They are almost confrontational in their minimalism of depicting buildings and people. The dimensions of each line and shape works towards boldness, pushing viewers to use their imaginations to see what the artist wants to show.

Domingo says as much, calling his works a “revolt of spaces.” Influenced by the Suprematism movement in the early 20th century, he cites the simplicity as a way of engaging against rules and redefining it in our modern day and age.

![Almi Domingo's work for the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3517.jpg "_DSF3517 - BluPrint")Almi Domingo’s work for the Authenticity Zero Collective.“My composition is using the geometry revolting, telling us \[…\] what we can do in the future,” he said. “But for the revolt of spaces, it’s telling us to do more, not to follow the norm, the constraints, and to be limitless.”

He also cites his background as an architect for his abstract creations. For him, these works rebel against the tendency towards rigid standards of style that gatekeeps people from exploring new ideas that could help people in the country better.

“Since I’m an architect, when I was working in the architectural firm, I was so limited on doing spaces on a standard basis with different constraints: financial, climate, also, religious constraint,” he said.

“We can build more and we can do more, not only for the privileged. We can—architecture should be, it should be universal. So, I represent it using geometries; a culmination of this geometry. What I want the people to know about my piece is \[that\] all spaces are not only for the privileged, but it should be universal.”

## **Going Beyond Form and Structure**

Cocoi Base also adheres to a similar stripping down to the most basic of elements. Unlike Domingo, however, his works use sprinklings of color, seemingly mimicking the inside of machinery with how the lines intersect with one another.

!["Tiny Dwellings 6" by Cocoi Base for "Machine of Thought."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3524.jpg "_DSF3524 - BluPrint")“Tiny Dwellings 6” by Cocoi Base for “Machine of Thought.”Base said that the works depict real objects and events, with figures of humans put in the paintings for scale. He finds the artistry in the skeletal frames of construction sites, working to help the audience connect the ideas together as a whole.

![Multiple paintings by Cocoi Base.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3536.jpg "_DSF3536 - BluPrint")

![Six paintings by Cocoi Base of the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3521.jpg "_DSF3521 - BluPrint")Six paintings by Cocoi Base of the Authenticity Zero Collective.

![Three paintings by Cocoi Base.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3528.jpg "_DSF3528 - BluPrint")

“I find basic structures very beautiful in essence,” he started. “Kasi it’s what holds a structure together. So even in paintings, if I put a skeletal frame here, and then kinonect ko lang siya ng dots, nabubuo niya yung elements na watak-watak sa space.

“So lagi siyang present sa, you know, in all of my works. And then it also shows the tension, although it’s just visually, pero nakikita mo yung physics ng form, so binabalance niya yung movement composition visually and logically.”

The works of Base balances the feel of traditional abstraction and the higher ideals of The Authenticity Zero Collective. It’s both well-planned and intuitive in its execution, from the splatter to the color schemes, taking account of the different mechanics working for the paintings while still executing them with personal panache.

![Close-up details of "A Machine to Live In" by Cocoi Base.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3532.jpg "_DSF3532 - BluPrint")Close-up details of “A Machine to Live In” by Cocoi Base.“Basically, if we’re talking about a construct, hiniwa-hiwalay ko yung elements niya, but still showing the relationship,” he said. “For example, physically, mayroon siyang physics involved, may science involved. And then visually, may color scheme na nilaro. And then, stripping everything into its most basic form.”

## **The Authenticity Zero Collective and its Pursuit of Questions**

The idea of authenticity tends to have gatekeepers in society, a way of enforcing normalcy in our works. For *Machine of Thoughts*, and for their artworks in general, The Authenticity Zero Collective pushes against that to explore new ideas that they’re told not to explore. Are the limits we impose ourselves truly the borders, or do they hide something new, spectacular, evocative for our future?

![A viewer admiring the works of the Authenticity Zero Collective.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3541-scaled.jpg "_DSF3541 - BluPrint")A viewer admiring the works of the Authenticity Zero Collective.“What if the way we engage with objects could redefine the space among us?” Ocampo asked. “As architects and educators, we think that architecture is not just a project, but rather, it’s also a metaphysical thing. And then, what if objects themselves could challenge our understanding of presence and absence, transforming not just our physical surroundings, but our very thoughts?

![Crowds of people admiring the works at the "Machine of Thought" exhibit during the opening.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSF3612-scaled.jpg "_DSF3612 - BluPrint")Crowds of people admiring the works at the “Machine of Thought” exhibit during the opening.“These are the questions that guided this whole exhibition. The exhibition before you, dares to challenge preconceived frameworks. It asks us to stick away from our personal biases and release our attachment to historical and cultural narratives.”

*Machine of Thoughts* can be viewed at Gallery C at the Conrad Manila until March 8.

*Photos by Ed Simon.*

Related reading: [‘Probe: Precedents + Phenomena’ and Adapting to Changing Times](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/probe-precedents-phenomena-authenticity-zero-collective/ "‘Probe: Precedents + Phenomena’ and Adapting to Changing Times")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the primary objective of the ‘Machine of Thought’ exhibition?

The exhibition aims to deconstruct traditional architectural perceptions by embracing abstraction and ambiguity over rigid, representational art. By blending the disciplines of architecture and fine art, the collective encourages viewers to explore a “primordial sense of creativity” that transcends historical narratives and conventional design constraints.

### Who are the featured artists in the Authenticity Zero Collective exhibit?

The ‘Machine of Thought’ exhibit features works from five prominent members: Cocoi Base, Gab Brioso, Almi Domingo, Walther Ocampo, and Ravi Ravago. This diverse group consists of architects and designers who utilize their professional backgrounds to revolt against standard spatial norms through sculptural and painterly expressions.

### How does the collective incorporate architectural materials into their artwork?

Artist Robin Ravago specifically utilizes “offcuts” or excess construction materials, such as scrap plywood from workshops, to bridge the gap between sculpture and painting. These materials are layered with textures and shades to transform industrial waste into complex, minimal art that challenges audience preconceptions of discarded objects.

### What role does Suprematism play in the artworks displayed at Gallery C?

Almi Domingo’s stark black-and-white etchings are heavily influenced by the early 20th-century Suprematism movement, focusing on fundamental geometric shapes. This style serves as a “revolt of spaces,” advocating for universal architecture that breaks free from financial, climate, and religious constraints to become accessible to everyone.

### Where and until when can the ‘Machine of Thought’ exhibit be viewed?

The ‘Machine of Thought’ exhibition is currently showing at Gallery C, located within the Conrad Manila. Art enthusiasts and architecture professionals can visit the display to experience these transformative, abstract works through March 8, 2025.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Architecture, Art, Design, The Authenticity Zero Collective

---

### [‘A Place to Let Go’: Pattpiha Takes a Journey of Self-Conviction Through Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/a-place-to-let-go-pattpiha/)

**Published:** January 16, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*A Place to Let Go*, the first exhibit of [Pattpiha](https://www.instagram.com/pattpiha/ "Pattpiha") at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, works to capture the artist’s inner life. The exhibition adopts a chaotic, surrealistic look as a way of peering into the feelings of the author at this stage in their life.

!["A Place to Let Go" by Pattpiha at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_181028.jpg "20250108_181028 - BluPrint")“A Place to Let Go” by Pattpiha at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery.A collection of paintings, sculptures, and various artistic touches portray the interconnectedness of her artworks with her emotions, painting a muted-by-vivid representation of the self as the artist sees it. The works demonstrate how self-conviction and self-doubt can co-exist, which in turn allow us to move forward to the next thing in our lives.

“\[It\] captures her journey as she navigates through these negative and positive emotions,” the exhibit write-up said. “It is the exploration of her art’s expansion-from journal drawings and personal experiences to now being able to paint and sculpt as a way to let go.”

## **Vibrancy in Sadness**

The most unique aspect of *A Place to Let Go* is the strange color scheme. Its works use neon-like shades of pink, colors that typically pop out in bright, flashy ways in other contexts. But here, the brightness of these colors appear dimmed, which appear to reflect the differing emotions of the author.

![Three works by Pattpiha for "A Place to Let Go."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_181101.jpg "20250108_181101 - BluPrint")The elements here seem to clash against each other thematically. For example, the cartoonish art typically used for whimsical subjects hides the darker themes being explored by the artist. Many of the characters are in these fantastical settings, and yet their demeanor and atmosphere looks ambivalent, even grieving at times. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of how positive and negative emotions can coexist together.

## Dark but Neon

Pattpiha herself said that the color palette, described as “dark but neon,” came about due to the colors she had at hand and the different lighting in her room. Still, she said, she enjoys the way people reinterpret the emotional nature of the works from the color paired with the images.

![The artist putting finishing touches to "A Place to Let Go."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_181132.jpg "20250108_181132 - BluPrint")The artist putting finishing touches to “A Place to Let Go.”“Feel ko, itong combination ng colors na ito, parang random siya,” she said. “Pero ang interesting pag na-vi-view siya ng tao, it looks cohesive, it looks intentional. But it’s more of like, ‘oh, ito ang green na I have. Maybe if I put some yellow, it will brighten up.’

“Yung parang contradicting na elements ay na-se-serve yung subject na iyon kasi hindi ako ang nag-dicta. So interesting, na parang, ‘huy, ano ang input mo,’ so nadadala ko siya along the way.”

!["Look Closer," a bust by Pattpiha for "A Place to Let Go."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_182423.jpg "20250108_182423 - BluPrint")“Look Closer,” a bust by Pattpiha for “A Place to Let Go.”

!["2-faced" by Pattpiha.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_182431.jpg "20250108_182431 - BluPrint")

!["It's always in my head" by Pattpiha.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_182437.jpg "20250108_182437 - BluPrint")

\[“I feel that these combination of colors are random. But it’s interesting when people view it, it looks cohesive and intentional.”\]

\[“These contradicting elements serve the subject because I’m not dictating it. It’s interesting, like I can go to people and go, ‘hey, what’s your input?’ and I’m able to bring that along the way.”\]

## **Representing Inner Turmoil**

One painting, “Look Closely,” leaves the character peering through a happy horizon with suspicion. Pattpiha said that this was an intentional move to showcase how people tend to expect the worst even when faced with happy situations. She calls this the person’s armor, a way to protect themselves from the disappointment of being too happy in life.

!["Look Closely" by Pattpiha for "A Place to Let Go."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_181203.jpg "20250108_181203 - BluPrint")“Look Closely” by Pattpiha for “A Place to Let Go.”“It’s more of like nandoon ka na sa bagay na ginusto mo noon pero since nag-go-grow tayo, there are times that na kahit nakuha mo na ang gusto mo, may nire-reserve—kaya siya naka-eye patch—may nire reserve ka na percentage na parang ‘something bad is gonna happen,’” she said.

“Kahit na parang sinasabi naman yung universe na no, ito na, ito na yung good thing na hinahanap mo. It’s more parang, yes, thank you, but parang maybe may mangyayari. So I need to expect it.

!["Still a kid" by Pattpiha.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_182411.jpg "20250108_182411 - BluPrint")“Still a kid” by Pattpiha.\[“It’s more like you’re here at the place you want to be, but because of our personal growth, there are times where we get what we want and we still reserve a percentage of ourselves to believe ‘something bad is going to happen.’ No matter what even the universe says that this is the good thing you’re looking for, it’s more the need to expect something to happen.”\]

## **Accepting the Self**

Overall, *A Place to Let Go* reflects the artist’s need to find control of their feelings as they experience the ups and downs of life. She reflected that the negatives of the past tend to loom over the positive experiences. Thus, one needs a place where we can let go of these emotions and exist with the contradictory feelings that these contain.

![Three busts by Pattpiha for "A Place to Let Go."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250108_181108.jpg "20250108_181108 - BluPrint")Three busts by Pattpiha for “A Place to Let Go.”“It’s basically a journey of self-doubt, but then being able to get back to it again,” Pattpiha said. “Like, waking yourself up now, parang all of what’s happening to me is a bit \[of\] a downer. But still, hindi naman natin alam lahat ng future natin.

“So, just keep going and have a place to let go. Like art, or music, or writing. \[It\] just so happens na right now ang medium ko is painting, but I think lahat naman tayo may simple ways of letting go. So for me, this is a place to let go.”

*A Place to Let Go* is open at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery until February 11.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Places Within’ Reflect the Emotional Resonance of Our Environment](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/places-within-exhibit-vinyl-on-vinyl/ "‘Places Within’ Reflect the Emotional Resonance of Our Environment")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central theme of the ‘A Place to Let Go’ exhibition?

The exhibit explores the artist’s inner journey of self-conviction and self-doubt, illustrating how positive and negative emotions coexist. Through surrealist paintings and sculptures, Pattpiha creates a visual diary that universalizes personal struggles, ultimately serving as a creative outlet to release past turmoils and navigate life’s uncertainties.

### How does the artist describe the unique “dark but neon” color palette?

Pattpiha describes her color scheme as a “random” yet cohesive combination born from the specific materials and lighting available in her studio. This “dark but neon” aesthetic uses dimmed vibrant shades to mirror complex emotional states, allowing viewers to find intentional meaning in the contradiction between bright colors and somber themes.

### What is the significance of the character in the painting ‘Look Closely’?

In ‘Look Closely,’ the character peers suspiciously at a happy horizon through an eyepatch to represent the “armor” people wear to protect themselves from disappointment. This intentional detail showcases the human tendency to expect negative outcomes even when experiencing success, highlighting the lingering presence of self-preservation amidst growth.

### How do the artistic styles and subjects in the exhibit contrast with one another?

The exhibit utilizes a whimsical, cartoonish art style to explore heavy, surrealistic, and often darker emotional themes like grief and ambivalence. This juxtaposition demonstrates that vibrancy and sadness are not mutually exclusive, pushing the audience to see how fantastical settings can hide and process deep-seated personal anxieties.

### Where is the exhibition held and what does it represent for the artist?

The exhibition is hosted at the Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery and marks Pattpiha’s first solo show, transitioning her work from private journal drawings to public sculptures and paintings. It represents her personal “place to let go,” advocating that everyone needs a creative medium to process the downs of life and keep moving forward.

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Metaphorical Paintings, Pattpiha, Philippines, Vinyl on Vinyl

---

### [‘Spirit Ecologies’: Catalina Africa Creates a Personal Portrait of Nature](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/spirit-ecologies-catalina-africa-west-gallery/)

**Published:** December 27, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Spirit Ecologies*, artist Catalina Africa explores her ever-deepening and complicated relationship with nature. The artist relocated to Baler from Metro Manila as a way of seeking a peaceful existence. Through this exhibit, she found herself reflecting on her experiences a decade after that decision.

Her move to Baler appears to have forced her to redefine the meaning of community. Society tends to focus on the people that we surround ourselves with. Africa, however, found herself focusing more on the environment around her. This new exhibit in West Gallery finds her visually representing these ideas on canvas.

![Three different works by Catalina Africa for "Spirit Ecologies."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_185522.jpg "20241205_185522 - BluPrint")Three different works by Catalina Africa for “Spirit Ecologies.”“I began to feel insecure and worried about who my community was, and then I realized that community doesn’t necessarily have to refer to humans—my community is my developed relationship with the land. The plant beings, the elements are my community. I refer to all of \[them\] as spirits… and the works in the show are my effort to connect with the land,” Africa is quoted as saying in the exhibit write-up.

## **Our Relationships With The Land**

*Spirit Ecologies* contains eight different paintings from Catalina Africa, including four major pieces in large canvases. Every work utilizes curving lines to suggest a certain wavy balance to the surroundings being shown. Lots of green and violets abound in the work, mixing with the wavy-ness to give off a sense of spirituality to the works.

![Three paintings by Catalina Africa for "Spirit Ecologies."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184455.jpg "20241205_184455 - BluPrint")Three paintings by Catalina Africa for “Spirit Ecologies.”The presentation allows for some interactivity with the audience. Curved vines seem to sprout out of many of the paintings in the exhibit. At times, they even spill out and overwhelm the barriers of the canvas.

!["imagining the aquifers (studies on the movement of water)."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_185540.jpg "20241205_185540 - BluPrint")“imagining the aquifers (studies on the movement of water).”It presents itself like this as an apparent extension of the idea central to Africa’s exhibit. The artist wants to show off the environment as active living entities, and her role as essentially a conduit that communicates the needs of the environment out to the people.

![Two works by Catalina Africa with the additional side images.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184524.jpg "20241205_184524 - BluPrint")Two works by Catalina Africa with the additional side images. “Catalina Africa’s art mirrors an intimate and deepening relationship with nature, and highlights her role as a vessel for spirits to reveal themselves through her creations. Africa refers to her works as ‘inner landscapes,’ as a way of honoring the wisdom and gifts from the natural world,” Timmy Potenciano’s exhibit write-up said.

## **Nature in Our Hearts**

Something like “practicing starlight vision/creating my own cosmologies” appears as a spiraling of multiple worlds connecting as one within the paintings, mimicking religious drawings of chakras and the like to make its point.

!["practicing starlight vision/creating my own cosmologies" for "Spirit Ecologies."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184501.jpg "20241205_184501 - BluPrint")“practicing starlight vision/creating my own cosmologies” for “Spirit Ecologies.”Others, like “merging auras / plant bodies” exist as personifications of the nature around us. The painting shows off what appears to be the spirit of a person vibrating out of a central organism in the middle. Potenciano writes that the exhibit evokes the Flower of Life in its imagery. It was also inspired by a real-life tree in the artist’s home.

![The painting "merging auras / plant bodies" by Catalina Africa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_185655.jpg "20241205_185655 - BluPrint")The painting “merging auras / plant bodies” by Catalina Africa.“In the solar plexus of the humanoid figure is a glowing tree; a homage to the dangkalan or bitaog tree in the artist’s home. The tree has often been a subject of Africa’s paintings, and is symbolic of her ongoing study of plant spirit medicine,” they wrote.

## **Heightened Consciousness**

The title painting of the exhibit, “spirit ecologies (tree of life),” vividly pulses with life as Catalina Africa depicts the same bitaog tree in her home. Sunlight appears to the sides of the tree in the center in swirls of violet and yellow, all while the leaves of the tree dance in a seemingly-explosive sprawl.

![“spirit ecologies (tree of life)" by Catalina Africa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184507.jpg "20241205_184507 - BluPrint")“spirit ecologies (tree of life)” by Catalina Africa.“When looking at the painting, the bright colors and brushstrokes sing with life-giving wisdom. From its roots, curling lines of energy extend upwards to the tree’s canopy, symbolizing that the tree is alive and well,” Potenciano wrote.

*Spirit Ecologies* gives us a joyful depiction of heightened consciousness from the plants and nature around us. The artwork of Catalina Africa accentuates the spiritual connection of plants to our own selves. This expands our sense of community to include all living things around us, hoping to find serenity in this togetherness.

*Spirit Ecologies* will be open at West Gallery until January 4.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Eyes Closed’: Nunzio Paci Dissects Humanity and Nature’s Relationship](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/eyes-closed-nunzio-paci/ "‘Eyes Closed’: Nunzio Paci Dissects Humanity and Nature’s Relationship")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Environmental Art, Nature, Philippines, West Gallery

---

### [Postcolonial Art in 2024 and Expressing Discontent Today](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/postcolonial-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/)

**Published:** December 21, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For BluPrint’s *2024 in Art* year-end series, we showcase different types of [postcolonial art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/postcolonial-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/) and how artists distilled these thoughts and philosophies in a local context.

Colonialism still pervades in Philippine society today. You can see it in our language, in the popularity of imported Western brands, and even in the strain of conservatism that dominates public thought. Thus, postcolonial theory and thinking remains an important lens to assess our country’s present and future.

[Postcolonial theory](https://www.britannica.com/topic/postcolonialism) looks into the consequences of countries that were subjugated and exploited by imperialist powers. As a country who’s had three imperial powers in the past, the Philippines remains affected by the long-term effects of colonialism, even decades after the last foreign power left this country.

Thus, the importance of highlighting postcolonial art within our country’s contemporary scene. Whether dealing with personal or societal repercussions, these tackled the Philippines in a postcolonial perspective, showing how Filipinos attempt to deal with these issues.

## **Dealing with Modern-Day Colonialism**

The most interesting exhibits of this year dealt with the very real specter of imperialism and colonialism still hanging on the Philippines like the sword of Damocles. From the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to our local problems related to China and the West Philippine Sea, thoughts of subjugation and fighting back abound.

![A work featured at "Ilog Hanggang Laot" organized by SIKAD. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Ilog-Hanggang-Laot-Featured-Image.jpg "Ilog Hanggang Laot Featured Image - BluPrint")A work featured at “Ilog Hanggang Laot” organized by SIKAD. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Julius Bagoyo in "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_142516.jpg "20240913_142516 - BluPrint")A work by Julius Bagoyo in “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Three works featured in "Ilog Hanggang Laot." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141444.jpg "20240913_141444 - BluPrint")Three works featured in “Ilog Hanggang Laot.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141419.jpg "20240913_141419 - BluPrint")20240913\_141419

![Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141156.jpg "20240913_141156 - BluPrint")Bunniefacio’s “A Portrait of a 2024 ‘Terrorist’.”

![Resty Flores’ “Mensahero." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240913_141643.jpg "20240913_141643 - BluPrint")Resty Flores’ “Mensahero.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Exhibits like [*Ilog Hanggang Laot*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ilog-hanggang-laot-sikad-pro-palestinian/) from SIKAD pushes an anti-war sentiment in relation to a war-weary nation like Palestine. The current genocidal actions pushed on by the economic and political interests of the United States and Israel necessitate such sentiments. Tools of war used on civilians create an environment where the *only* way to survive and win back their freedom is to fight back.

!["Gonna Tell My Kids This is West Philippine Sea" by VOLTA for "Territorial" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240716_142502.jpg "20240716_142502 - BluPrint")“Gonna Tell My Kids This is West Philippine Sea” by VOLTA for “Territorial” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Another artwork by Dengcoy Miel commenting on the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240716_161655.jpg "20240716_161655 - BluPrint")Another artwork by Dengcoy Miel commenting on the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Gentleman's Agreement" by Burn Aquino for the "Territorial" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240716_142553.jpg "20240716_142553 - BluPrint")“Gentleman’s Agreement” by Burn Aquino for the “Territorial” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![An artwork by Dengcoy Miel commenting on the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240716_161646.jpg "20240716_161646 - BluPrint")An artwork by Dengcoy Miel commenting on the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Panacot, Galit, at Lumbay" by Laki Mata for the West Philippine Sea exhibit "Territorial." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240716_142518.jpg "20240716_142518 - BluPrint")“Panacot, Galit, at Lumbay” by Laki Mata for the West Philippine Sea exhibit “Territorial.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Dengcoy Miel for "Sacred Shores," one of the art exhibits featured in Kaida Contemporary. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240716_161719.jpg "20240716_161719 - BluPrint")A work by Dengcoy Miel for “Sacred Shores,” one of the art exhibits featured in Kaida Contemporary. Photo by Elle Yap.

While the Philippines is not in a similar predicament at all with Palestine, the threat of being so remains, especially with the current political climate in China. Exhibits like [*Territorial*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/territorial-exhibit-west-philippine-sea-dispute/) and [*Sacred Shores*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/july-2024-art-exhibits-you-may-have-missed/) express this angry energy that readies itself to fight for the country’s sovereignty. It shows an evolution of Filipino attitudes: instead of *bahala na*, a sense of earnest assertiveness has taken over.

## **Talking about the Filipino Diaspora**

Meanwhile, more and more exhibitions find themselves discussing the diaspora experienced by Filipino families here and abroad. A subject within postcolonial art, these experiences continue to transcend generations, as even younger artists tackle the meaning of diaspora for them personally.

Recently, artist Nicolei Buendia Gupit’s [*Mother/land*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/mother-land-philippine-diaspora-nicolei-buendia-gupit/) demythologizes the immigration of Filipino families to the United States. She likens it to a lottery that harshly alienates us from Filipino culture, preventing them from building stronger community ties with the country.

![The empty dinner table mixed media artwork for "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191052.jpg "20241109_191052 - BluPrint")The empty dinner table mixed media artwork for “Mother/land.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191113.jpg "20241109_191113 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191037.jpg "20241109_191037 - BluPrint")

![A work for "Mother/land" by Nicolei Buendia Gupit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mother-landFeatured-Image.jpg "mother-landFeatured Image - BluPrint")A work for “Mother/land” by Nicolei Buendia Gupit. 

[*Project Belonging: From There to Here—The Familiar in the Foreign*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/project-belonging-pt-2-alfredo-isabel-aquilizan/) at Ateneo Art Gallery, meanwhile, utilized art from Isabel & Alfredo Aquilizan, the premier art couple for discussing the experience of migration in the country. Their postcolonial art tends to center on found objects and communities around the world.

![The Aquilizans' "Nothing to Declare" for "Project Belonging."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241109_155304.jpg "20241109_155304 - BluPrint")The Aquilizans’ “Nothing to Declare” for “Project Belonging.”

!["Foreigners: Project Another Country" by the Aquilizans.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241109_155636.jpg "20241109_155636 - BluPrint")“Foreigners: Project Another Country” by the Aquilizans.

!["Nothing to Declare" by the Aquilizans for "Project Belonging."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241109_155547.jpg "20241109_155547 - BluPrint")“Nothing to Declare” by the Aquilizans for “Project Belonging.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241109_155440.jpg "20241109_155440 - BluPrint")

Their works here speak to the idea of attempting to transplant the self and the community to a different place. More than that, it reflects the harshness of the experience of having to compress the self into small, transportable bits in other countries. Their use of common everyday materials exemplifies these feelings further.

!["Diaspora in Blue" by Winna Go. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_173831.jpg "20240814_173831 - BluPrint")“Diaspora in Blue” by Winna Go. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Revolutionary Antecedents" for Finale Art File's exhibit on Chinese diaspora. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_173800.jpg "20240814_173800 - BluPrint")“Revolutionary Antecedents” for Finale Art File’s exhibit on Chinese diaspora. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["The Azure Dragons" by Winna Go for her Chinese diaspora exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_173819.jpg "20240814_173819 - BluPrint")“The Azure Dragons” by Winna Go for her Chinese diaspora exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![“On the Roots and Routes of Diaspora” exhibit at Finale Art File. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_173701.jpg "20240814_173701 - BluPrint")“On the Roots and Routes of Diaspora” exhibit at Finale Art File. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Reimagined Community" for “On the Roots and Routes of Diaspora.” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240814_173753.jpg "20240814_173753 - BluPrint")“Reimagined Community” for “On the Roots and Routes of Diaspora.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Finally, for the different experience of the Chinese diaspora, Winna Go’s postcolonial art for [*On the Roots and Routes of Diaspora*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/roots-and-routes-of-diaspora-winna-go/) offers a perspective on how broad the experience is. Even in a superpower like China, empires fall and displace people, leaving centuries of trauma that even the current generation continues to deal with.

## **Nontypical Mediums Discussing Colonialism**

Discussions of the effects imperialism through postcolonial art can take on unique ways that reflect the topic at hand. For example, [*bioSignals* at NO Community-run Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/biosignals-climate-change-no-community-run-space/) merges plants with science and art to craft a message about the effects of climate change to the Global South.

![One of the art/science hybrid works for "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bioSignals-Featured-Image.jpg "bioSignals Featured Image - BluPrint")One of the art/science hybrid works for “bioSignals.”

!["Life Between the Gaps" as exhibited in "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191232.jpg "20241008_191232 - BluPrint")“Life Between the Gaps” as exhibited in “bioSignals.”

!["Cycle of Decay" for climate change-focused exhibit "bioSignals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191300.jpg "20241008_191300 - BluPrint")“Cycle of Decay” for climate change-focused exhibit “bioSignals.”

![Top view of "Untitled 2."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_191203.jpg "20241008_191203 - BluPrint")Top view of “Untitled 2.”

Meanwhile, the rough, *Mad Max*-esque stylings of Jose Olarte’s [*Gyre Dominion*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/gyre-dominion-jose-olarte/) showcase how marginalized groups are affected by unchecked industrialization that tends to ravage our environments and displace indigenous groups all for the comfort of a few.

![A mirror with "Main Character Energy" written on it. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_173527.jpg "20240619_173527 - BluPrint")A mirror with “Main Character Energy” written on it. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two televisions with eyeballs showing in each screen. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_173538.jpg "20240619_173538 - BluPrint")Two televisions with eyeballs showing in each screen. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Downward Spiral" by Jose Olarte. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_173452.jpg "20240619_173452 - BluPrint")“Downward Spiral” by Jose Olarte. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Tertiary Growth" by Jose Olarte for "Gyre Dominion." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_173602.jpg "20240619_173602 - BluPrint")“Tertiary Growth” by Jose Olarte for “Gyre Dominion.” Photo by Elle Yap.

And finally, with [*Void of Spectacles*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/void-of-spectacles-mirrors-illusion-autobiography/), mirrors and repeating images and figures commentate on society’s self-perpetuating cycles of poverty and violence. The images repeat and expand, seemingly creating an infinite loop where nothing but the violence can coexist within society.

![A portion of "Arkipelago: Province" by Mark Justiniani at the "Void of Spectacles" exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-13.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-13 - BluPrint")A portion of “Arkipelago: Province” by Mark Justiniani at the “Void of Spectacles” exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.

![A work by Mark Justiniani at the "Void of Spectacles" exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-12.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-12 - BluPrint")A work by Mark Justiniani at the “Void of Spectacles” exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-16.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-16 - BluPrint")

![A portion of "Arkipelago: Province" by Mark Justiniani at the "Void of Spectacles" exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-15.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-15 - BluPrint")A portion of “Arkipelago: Province” by Mark Justiniani at the “Void of Spectacles” exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.

![A portion of "Arkipelago: Province" by Mark Justiniani at the "Void of Spectacles" exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-14.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-14 - BluPrint")A portion of “Arkipelago: Province” by Mark Justiniani at the “Void of Spectacles” exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.

![A portion of "Well" by Mark Justiniani at the "Void of Spectacles" exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLEVOID-OF-SPECTACLES-04.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE(VOID OF SPECTACLES)-04 - BluPrint")A portion of “Well” by Mark Justiniani at the “Void of Spectacles” exhibit at Ateneo Art Gallery. Photo by Patricia F. Yap.

## **The Continuing Trauma of Colonialism**

For many of these artists, postcolonial art becomes a pertinent rallying point in reflecting the chaos of our world today. Disparate events and emotions find themselves interconnected as the continued waves of imperialism crash into the present.

The lingering effects of colonialism will likely never disappear. But as long as artists continue to discuss and dissect it in their works, our country (and others like ours) can continue to work towards representing and expelling these experiences in a way true to our own lived realities.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Political Art in 2024: How Artists Discuss Our Sociopolitical Climate](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/political-art-in-2024-how-artists-discuss-our-sociopolitical-climate/ "Political Art in 2024: How Artists Discuss Our Sociopolitical Climate")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** 2024 in Review, Art, Philippines, Post-colonial, Post-Colonial Art

---

### [Religion in Art: Five 2024 Exhibits That Questioned Our Beliefs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/religion-in-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/)

**Published:** December 25, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For BluPrint’s *2024 in Art* series, we compile four different exhibitions that invert and subvert religious imagery as commentary on our world today. As a country with a Catholic majority, religion occupies a large space in Philippine society. Even for non-Catholics, these values seep through in different public views and practices.

There’s a need to interrogate these beliefs hardcoded into our country’s morality—and art remains one of the best ways to do so. With these exhibits, questioning beliefs allows us to form stronger ones that evolve with the people of our times. It crafts a perfect balance between faith and lived experiences, bringing a coexistence of lives with them.

## **‘Speak of the Devil’**

This [Modeka Art exhibit](https://modeka.space/exhibitions/speak-of-the-devil/ "Modeka Art exhibit") by Victoria Keet discussed an interesting phenomenon in how religion functions. Because, as much as we see Christianity—and Catholicism, in particular—as a monolith, many of the places that adopted them integrated them with local pagan faiths.

!["Headhunter's Companion" by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-16.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-16 - BluPrint")“Headhunter’s Companion” by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.We see that in work like Mike de Leon’s *Itim* or Robin Hardy’s *The Wicker Man*. Instead of overtaking it, the cross becomes a part of the arsenal in local faiths. Religious imagery becomes another mantle on the shelf of gods. Which is what makes Keet’s works so interesting: it’s a very local, very pagan interpretation of Christian faith.

!["Good Boys" by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-15.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-15 - BluPrint")“Good Boys” by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.

![The pentagram and pyramid in the "Speak of the Devil" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-08.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-08 - BluPrint")The pentagram and pyramid in the “Speak of the Devil” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Kantutan sa Gubat" by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-10.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-10 - BluPrint")“Kantutan sa Gubat” by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Salimpusa" by Victoria Keet. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-12.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-11.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-11 - BluPrint")

![The pentagram, podium, and pyramid. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-SPEAK-OF-THE-DEVIL-05.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(SPEAK OF THE DEVIL)-05 - BluPrint")The pentagram, podium, and pyramid. Photo by Elle Yap.

Here is a version of paganist Christianity where women are the central characters, where Jesus coexists with tikbalangs and goat men and ritualistic sacrifice. It caused viewers to question the need for a monotheistic society: maybe these things *can* coexist together, even when they aren’t meant to.

Read more: [‘Speak of the Devil’: Redefining Provincial Myths and Ideas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/speak-of-the-devil-victoria-keet/)

## **‘God Save The Queers, Bless The Badings’**

This exhibit, from Gravity Art Space, might have been the most sacrilegious of all the exhibits here. Part of that comes from how it recontextualized religious imagery towards queer iconography. In a country that still struggles with acceptance of queer lives, there’s something genuinely revolutionary in mixing queerness with religion.

![The "EUTOPIUM" series by GINOE. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183647.jpg "20240619_183647 - BluPrint")The “EUTOPIUM” series by GINOE. Photo by Elle Yap.Much of the exhibit riffed on staples of Catholic iconography, from a rotting crucifix to banners mixing queer images with Christian slogans to a cake calling a butthole “the divine pussy.” They even had a shrine dedicated to queer individuals and different equipment related to the queer community like PReP and gender-affirming hormones.

!["O Come to the Altar" by 1haida. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183013.jpg "20240619_183013 - BluPrint")“O Come to the Altar” by 1haida. Photo by Elle Yap.

![The "EUTOPIUM" series by GINOE. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183647.jpg "20240619_183647 - BluPrint")The “EUTOPIUM” series by GINOE. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Worshipthegays’ “The Divine Pussy." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183834.jpg "20240619_183834 - BluPrint")Worshipthegays’ “The Divine Pussy.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Thoughts and Prayers" by Gio Dionisio. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183058.jpg "20240619_183058 - BluPrint")“Thoughts and Prayers” by Gio Dionisio. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Christal Chung's "trial & error" series. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_182934.jpg "20240619_182934 - BluPrint")Christal Chung’s “trial & error” series. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Andi Osmeña's "Jackets." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240619_183122.jpg "20240619_183122 - BluPrint")Andi Osmeña’s “Jackets.” Photo by Elle Yap.

The glibness is the point: rejected by their communities, queer people have created their own version of religion and faith, circling around their experiences. It finds salvation and divinity from the moment, understanding that no god will save them but themselves.

Read more: [Gravity Art Space’s New Exhibit Examines Ideas of Queerness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/god-save-the-queers-bless-the-badings/)

## **‘you were there from the beginning’**

Another [exhibit from Modeka Art](https://modeka.space/exhibitions/you-were-there-from-the-beginning-group-exhibition/ "exhibit from Modeka Art"), this one is a group exhibition focused on the incompleteness of life. Curated by Gary Ross Pastrana, the exhibit assembled multiple artists to craft nebulous imagery tackling the existence of life.

![The Modeka Art exhibit "you were there from the beginning." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_153539.jpg "20240718_153539 - BluPrint")The Modeka Art exhibit “you were there from the beginning.” Photo by Elle Yap.It was not particularly religious in comparison to the other exhibitions, except for Jed Gregorio’s artworks and video about a fallen angel. And yet it also explored that sense of religious angst for the nebulousness of faith. Being religious in any way means believing in something that can’t be proven until you die; that is what faith entails.

![A frame from Jed Gregorio's "Angel." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_154235.jpg "20240718_154235 - BluPrint")A frame from Jed Gregorio’s “Angel.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Veronica Peralejo’s “why do ghosts wear sheets?” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_153809.jpg "20240718_153809 - BluPrint")Veronica Peralejo’s “why do ghosts wear sheets?” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Neo Maestro’s “Untitled (dregs from Don’t Sleep At The Wake)" at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_153916.jpg "20240718_153916 - BluPrint")Neo Maestro’s “Untitled (dregs from Don’t Sleep At The Wake)” at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Untitled (From ‘Angel’ -Shooting Stars)" by Jed Gregorio. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_153759.jpg "20240718_153759 - BluPrint")“Untitled (From ‘Angel’ -Shooting Stars)” by Jed Gregorio. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["You Were There From The Beginning" by Jed Gregorio from the Modeka Art exhibit of the same name. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/you-were-there-from-the-beginning-featured-image.jpg "you were there from the beginning featured image - BluPrint")“You Were There From The Beginning” by Jed Gregorio from the Modeka Art exhibit of the same name. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Lou Lim’s “Trees Among Us.” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718_154418.jpg "20240718_154418 - BluPrint")Lou Lim’s “Trees Among Us.” Photo by Elle Yap.

This exhibit straddled that line very well as it explored the nuances that exist in the vagueness of religious reality. The use of religious imagery comes at never knowing the full picture of meaning. It’s finding contentment in that incompleteness, crafting a fuller existence accepting that we’ll never really know everything even while we’re alive.

Read more: [‘you were there from the beginning’ Explores a New Take on Loneliness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/you-were-there-from-the-beginning-modeka-art/)

## **‘Pwera Usog’**

The final exhibit spotlighted here is another group exhibition from Gravity Art Space. This one revolved around the hypocrisy of society and the art world in general. It utilized religious imagery at times, showing how faith is used to exploit the masses.

!["Pispisan ATBP" by Marco Tabamo for the "Pwera Usog" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/feautred-image-pwera-usog.jpg "feautred image pwera usog - BluPrint")“Pispisan ATBP” by Marco Tabamo for the “Pwera Usog” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.There’s a sense of helplessness in the exhibition, the artworks showing the suffering of people under the specter of religious beliefs. Not just in violence, but in classist attitudes as well: the rich are well-rewarded in a system and religion that teaches poverty as a noble status one must not upend.

!["Anti-Palkups Eye" by Mac Eparwa for the "Pwera Usog" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181457.jpg "20240510_181457 - BluPrint")“Anti-Palkups Eye” by Mac Eparwa for the “Pwera Usog” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["The Lord Knows I'm a Voodootz Child" by Margaux Blas. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181509.jpg "20240510_181509 - BluPrint")“The Lord Knows I’m a Voodootz Child” by Margaux Blas. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Dasal sa Panyo 5" by Roger Mond. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181248.jpg "20240510_181248 - BluPrint")“Dasal sa Panyo 5” by Roger Mond. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["17/45" by Manuel Gomez for "Pwera Usog" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181342.jpg "20240510_181342 - BluPrint")“17/45” by Manuel Gomez for “Pwera Usog” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Roger Mond's "Dasal sa Panyo 1." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181421.jpg "20240510_181421 - BluPrint")Roger Mond’s “Dasal sa Panyo 1.” Photo by Elle Yap.

*[Pwera Usog](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/pwera-usog-gravity-art-space/ "Pwera Usog")* is complicated, and it touches upon different aspects of society that one feels subjugated by. It rejects an “it is what it is” attitude, calling for change in between the mockeries of the present system.

!["Babailan" by Laura Abejo. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240510_181400.jpg "20240510_181400 - BluPrint")“Babailan” by Laura Abejo. Photo by Elle Yap.Read more: [‘Pwera Usog’: Finding Freedom from the Hypocrisy of Society](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/pwera-usog-gravity-art-space/)

## **Complicating Religion**

As these exhibits show, artists build on religious imagery to find a personal perspective that connects it together with reality. Especially in an age where people are being taught *not* to question their whole belief systems and instead live in stasis forever, questioning and reinterpreting things becomes an important tool to protect one’s self from blind acceptance of the status quo.

A better society starts with questioning what’s *nakagawian na*. And then, moving forward from questioning to finding something that creates a more equal and open society for all.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [7 Famous Churches in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/famous-churches-in-the-philippines/ "7 Famous Churches in the Philippines")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** 2024 in Review, Art, Philippines, Religion, Religious Art

---

### [Abstract Art in 2024: Five Standout Exhibits This Year](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/abstract-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/)

**Published:** December 20, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For BluPrint’s *2024 in Art* year-end series, we wanted to highlight the way artists have used abstract art in interesting and provocative ways. This list features a different wave of modern artists who use abstraction as a means of expressing deeply personal narratives and universal truths, liberated from the constraints of representational art.

## **‘Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly’**

Janice Liuson-Young’s productive year ended with a new exhibition at Art Camp Gallery in Makati City. This exhibit, especially in comparison with the two other exhibitions BluPrint covered this year, represents a kind of small evolution in the artist’s works.

![A work by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Art-Camp-Featured-Image-Template.jpg "Art Camp Featured Image Template - BluPrint")A work by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.

![A colorful abstraction by Janice Liuson-Young.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182341.jpg "20241122_182341 - BluPrint")A colorful abstraction by Janice Liuson-Young.

![A red-and-yellow painting by Janice Liuson-Young.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182443.jpg "20241122_182443 - BluPrint")A red-and-yellow painting by Janice Liuson-Young.

![Four paintings by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182240.jpg "20241122_182240 - BluPrint")Four paintings by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.

The images are more intense, the variations in color and strokes more magnified, the nature imagery more pronounced. The paintings give off this roughness that mimics our relationship with the environment, overlapping with each other to create turmoil in its depiction of nature.

![Green painting by Janice Liuson-Young.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182315.jpg "20241122_182315 - BluPrint")Green painting by Janice Liuson-Young.

![Painting by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182309.jpg "20241122_182309 - BluPrint")Painting by Janice Liuson-Young for Art Camp Gallery.

![Painting by Janice Liuson-Young for "Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182404.jpg "20241122_182404 - BluPrint")Painting by Janice Liuson-Young for “Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly.”

![Black painting by Janice Liuson-Young for "Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182359.jpg "20241122_182359 - BluPrint")Black painting by Janice Liuson-Young for “Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly.”

![A red-and-yellow painting by Janice Liuson-Young.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241122_182443.jpg "20241122_182443 - BluPrint")A red-and-yellow painting by Janice Liuson-Young.

“These works challenge viewers to move beyond surface-level interpretations and embrace the essence of creation—its raw, uncontainable beauty intertwined with imperfection,” the exhibit write-up said. “The gestural abstractions in this exhibition bring ‘truth real,’ presenting the world in its full complexity and revealing the mysteries of existence through art.”

Read more: [Art Camp Opens Exhibits on Humanity’s Relationship with Nature](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-camp-janice-liuson-young-frank-alexi-nobleza/)

## **‘Laundry’**

For [Bea Aspiras’ *Laundry*](https://modeka.space/exhibitions/laundry-bea-aspiras/), abstract art becomes a cleansing ritual of self-renewal. This Modeka Art exhibit gave viewers a series of images inspired by Aspiras’ travels around the world. She utilized materials from the places she visited as a way of reflecting her perspective at the time. And for the exhibit, she hung the paintings up like clothes left to dry.

!["The Sun: Washer-woman's Point of View" by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240628_173218.jpg "20240628_173218 - BluPrint")“The Sun: Washer-woman’s Point of View” by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Soak" by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240628_173153.jpg "20240628_173153 - BluPrint")“Soak” by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Stream" by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240628_173039.jpg "20240628_173039 - BluPrint")“Stream” by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Wash" by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240628_173130.jpg "20240628_173130 - BluPrint")“Wash” by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.

The exhibit is interesting because of how small-scale the works are. They reflect places, thoughts, and feelings from the artist wandering through the world. In the end, it becomes a timeless representation of the beauty of our world from the perspective of one artist, finding color and happiness even in the smallness of our existence.

!["Accord" by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240628_173133.jpg "20240628_173133 - BluPrint")“Accord” by Bea Aspiras. Photo by Elle Yap.“Each stroke of paint and layer of pigment echoes the rhythm of washing away the past, a gentle reminder that, like freshly laundered linens, we too have the capacity to emerge from the wash revitalized and ready to embark on a new chapter,” the exhibit write-up said.

Read more: [Five Noteworthy June Art Exhibits You May Have Missed](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/five-june-art-exhibits-you-may-have-missed-2024/)

## **‘Serendipity Flukes: The Kutkotan Diaries’**

This [Mono8 Gallery exhibit](https://www.mono8gallery.com/exhibitions-serendipity-flukes-the-kutkotan-diaries/#About) from Elmer Nocheseda showed audiences the creative output of a person coping with the struggles of Parkinson’s disease. Nocheseda’s works here give off a sense of hopeful creation during a time of turmoil.

!["Serendipity Flukes: The Kutkotan Diaries," one of the art exhibits shown at Mono8 Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173757.jpg "20240619_173757 - BluPrint")“Serendipity Flukes: The Kutkotan Diaries,” one of the art exhibits shown at Mono8 Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.The images can be foreboding, and at times its muted tones can feel haunting to look at. But overall, these doodles or scribbles exist as a stand of individuality and a fight for one’s humanity. It shows that the creation of art links us to our humanity, and strengthens our personhood even through our worst struggles.

![Eight works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173844.jpg "20240619_173844 - BluPrint")Eight works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173839.jpg "20240619_173839 - BluPrint")Works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Five works in the "Serendipity Flukes" art exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173826.jpg "20240619_173826 - BluPrint")Five works in the “Serendipity Flukes” art exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Six works by Elmer Nocheseda as presented in Mono8 Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173820.jpg "20240619_173820 - BluPrint")Six works by Elmer Nocheseda as presented in Mono8 Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Three works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_173812.jpg "20240619_173812 - BluPrint")Three works by Elmer Nocheseda. Photo by Elle Yap.

“In the midst of this existential turmoil, he finds solace in the realization that even in the darkest moments, there exists a glimmer of divine grace that leads him to the joy of finding his serendipity flukes,” the exhibit write-up said.

## **‘Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor’**

Shown at Galerie Stephanie, Gabby Prado’s work communicates the expressiveness of abstract art—even as it utilizes a limited palette. The exhibit relied a lot on the intuition of the viewer, to connect the dots and see the images within the scribblings.

![One of Gabby Prado's works for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gabby-Prado-Featured-Image.jpg "Gabby Prado Featured Image - BluPrint")One of Gabby Prado’s works for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the works by Gabby Prado for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164105.jpg "20240912_164105 - BluPrint")One of the works by Gabby Prado for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

![A work by Gabby Prado depicting an abstract painting alongside a blue-white painting.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164035.jpg "20240912_164035 - BluPrint")A work by Gabby Prado depicting an abstract painting alongside a blue-white painting. 

For this exhibit, the abstract art exuded a frenetic energy that could garner overwhelming emotions from the output. The work felt exciting, especially as Prado paired it with voids of blue to accentuate the color and harmonies within it.

![A smaller work by Gabby Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164135.jpg "20240912_164135 - BluPrint")A smaller work by Gabby Prado.

![One of the bigger abstract works in "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164153.jpg "20240912_164153 - BluPrint")One of the bigger abstract works in “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

![One of Gabby Prado's smaller works for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164121.jpg "20240912_164121 - BluPrint")One of Gabby Prado’s smaller works for the exhibit.

![An abstract painting for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164057.jpg "20240912_164057 - BluPrint")An abstract painting for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

![An abstract painting for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164146.jpg "20240912_164146 - BluPrint")An abstract painting for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

There’s just an interesting dynamic working through these paintings that provokes a reaction, from the colors to the intentionality of its linework and how it all mixes together.

Read more: [‘Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor’ Paints with Abstract Voids of Blue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/blue-plate-synthetic-savor-gabby-prado/)

## **‘The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean’**

This final exhibit finds that abstract art need not be abstract in its meaning; in fact, it creates an avenue that discusses ideas that go beyond the typical Western traditions taught in art classrooms in the country.

![Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag for "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Heart-is-Ocean-Featured-Image-Template.jpg "Heart is Ocean Featured Image Template - BluPrint")Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag for “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.” Photo by Elle Yap.The showcase, another from Mono8 Gallery, was a modernization of Kalinga textile art from artist Irene Bawer-Bimuyag. Her work here flowed together like the waves of the ocean, utilizing traditional weaving techniques from this indigenous tribe to create artwork that represents their interests.

![Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag for "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Heart-is-Ocean-Featured-Image-Template.jpg "Heart is Ocean Featured Image Template - BluPrint")Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag for “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![A Kalinga textile work featured in "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134607.jpg "20240912_134607 - BluPrint")A Kalinga textile work featured in “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.”

![Close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134552.jpg "20240912_134552 - BluPrint")Close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag. 

![A Kalinga textile work featured in "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134616.jpg "20240912_134616 - BluPrint")A Kalinga textile work featured in “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.”

![A close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134556.jpg "20240912_134556 - BluPrint")A close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag. 

Every woven artwork here looks beautiful, with eye-popping colors and tactile, three-dimensional textures that present small images of the tribe at work. There’s a beauty in the works here, communicating to viewers in a language of familiar elements rooted in the history of the tribe. Overall, a great and involving experience to reckon with.

Read more: [‘The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean’: Turning Kalinga Textile into Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/irene-bawer-bimuyag-kalinga-textile-mono8-gallery/)

## **Abstract Art and Emotionality**

Whether to showcase culture or one’s personal perspective and experiences, abstract art broadens the artist’s ability to represent something unrepresentable in typical art. Through its use, the craft is reflective of the emotions swirling around life, untethered to the physical while still able to resonate on deeply human levels.

Abstraction will always have a place in contemporary art, to bring to life something beyond our own reality.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [The Drawing Room Presents 3 Japanese Artists in a Group Exhibition](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/the-drawing-room-presents-3-japanese-artists-in-a-group-exhibition/ "The Drawing Room Presents 3 Japanese Artists in a Group Exhibition")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** 2024 in Review, Abstract Art, Art, Paintings, Philippines

---

### [‘Revirescence’: Jill Paz Deconstructs Environmental Wonders in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/revirescence-jill-paz-artinformal-gallery/)

**Published:** January 8, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

[*Revirescence*](https://artinformal.com/exhibitions/2024-11-21/revirescence), the new exhibit at Artinformal Gallery by artist Jill Paz, exudes a modern-day spin of pastoral paintings that borders on worshipful. It doesn’t just showcase the trees and the flowers, but casts them in a light that transcends the physicality of nature.

Paz said that her studies at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts influenced some of the imagery she used. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Eastern United States, she said that these surroundings grounded some of the work in the exhibit.

![Four works by Jill Paz for "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163839.jpg "20241121_163839 - BluPrint")Four works by Jill Paz for “Revirescence.”“That’s where I started to draw en plein air with some of my fellow artists,” she said. “And I think most of the works, because they started from there, a lot of the landscapes have that feel from Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“So you see more of these evergreens and waterfalls that evoke nature from that part of the world, which is also where I grew up, being Canadian, American, and Filipina.”

## **Mixing Modern Methods and Traditional Influences**

For *Revirescence*, the exhibition contains a mix of sketches, watercolor paintings, sculptures, and cardboard paintings. She showcases new types of artworks that she finds herself working with. The glazed stoneware sculptures are the newest, which she said she learned over the past three years from a family of ceramics artists at their studio in the United States.

![A cardboard laser-engraved work and sculptures by Jill Paz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163926.jpg "20241121_163926 - BluPrint")A cardboard laser-engraved work and sculptures by Jill Paz.

![Painting by Jill Paz for "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163902.jpg "20241121_163902 - BluPrint")Painting by Jill Paz for “Revirescence.”

![Sculptures by Jill Paz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164019.jpg "20241121_164019 - BluPrint")Sculptures by Jill Paz.

![Watercolor painting by Jill Paz for "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_171944.jpg "20241121_171944 - BluPrint")Watercolor painting by Jill Paz for “Revirescence.”

![Watercolor painting by Jill Paz for "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_172006.jpg "20241121_172006 - BluPrint")Watercolor painting by Jill Paz for “Revirescence.”

The most eye-popping of these are the cardboard paintings, which are mostly enlarged versions of some of the sketches and paintings displayed in the exhibit.

These cardboard paintings utilize a mix of laser engraving and cardboard from Balikbayan boxes that produce a specific texture. Paz layers different sections of cardboard on top of each other, creating a collage-like effect that resembles fragments of various photographs coming together to form a cohesive whole.

## **Methodology and Reasoning**

Jill Paz’s process for enlarging images involves a meticulous methodology she developed for over more than a decade. First, she scans the image into a computer, then uses Photoshop and other software to enlarge it. She then executes her vision onto the cardboard with “a sort of Ben Day dot pattern” to bring the images to life.

![Some of the details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163959.jpg "20241121_163959 - BluPrint")Some of the details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at “Revirescence.”

![Some of the details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164102.jpg "20241121_164102 - BluPrint")Some of the details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at “Revirescence.”

![Details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164038.jpg "20241121_164038 - BluPrint")Details on the cardboard laser-engraved works at “Revirescence.”

“I was using my ancestors’ destroyed paintings—so paintings that were no longer in existence. And that’s why I started using this sort of Ben Day dot pattern because I was using photographs of destroyed works, photographs that are \[of\] a low or bad jpeg quality. A way for me to make it into a more visible composition was to use the Ben Day dot pattern,” she explained.

![A cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz for "Revirescence."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164055.jpg "20241121_164055 - BluPrint")A cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz for “Revirescence.”

![Cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163950.jpg "20241121_163950 - BluPrint")Cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz.

![Cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_163858.jpg "20241121_163858 - BluPrint")Cardboard engraved work by Jill Paz.

The end product crafts a modern twist to picturesque images of nature. From a personal perspective, it gives off a very tangible and yet very unreal image—three-dimensional in flavor while still looking like a battered frame of a Filipino comic book. It’s a very unique combination, one that transposes nature without removing the artifice of art.

## **Nature in the Present and the Past**

The work of Jill Paz for *Revirescence* concerns itself with the beauty of nature. She said that she was largely inspired by past movements like post-impressionism and romanticism in her subject matter and approach.

![Two works by Jill Paz for "Revirescence" at Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164133.jpg "20241121_164133 - BluPrint")Two works by Jill Paz for “Revirescence” at Artinformal Gallery.

![Painting by Jill Paz for "Revirescence" at Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164126.jpg "20241121_164126 - BluPrint")Painting by Jill Paz for “Revirescence” at Artinformal Gallery.

![Painting by Jill Paz for "Revirescence" at Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164120.jpg "20241121_164120 - BluPrint")Painting by Jill Paz for “Revirescence” at Artinformal Gallery.

“Those art movements, they really evoke emotion in a painting or a sculpture, and they also have a sense of mysticism and spirituality,” she said. “And so those are, these are the subject matter, the sort of topics that I was approaching.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164144.jpg "20241121_164144 - BluPrint")That desire to depict the mystical divinity of the world around us extends beyond nature. The glazed stoneware sculptures showcase a person sitting down, their knees on level with their chest as they put their arms over it. It looks akin to indigenous statue designs, which Paz said she was inspired by.

![Glazed sculptures by Jill Paz.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241121_164151.jpg "20241121_164151 - BluPrint")Glazed sculptures by Jill Paz.“I was really interested in how anitu figures have this pose, this gesture, that’s both empowering and also at rest, and that’s what I was really interested in,” she explained. “The glazes for all the sculptures, which are hand modeled, \[they’re\] all homemade glazes.”

In the end, *Revirescence* provides viewers with a deconstruction of our relationship with the glories of nature. Jill Paz adds touches like indigenous symbols or the use of the Balikbayan box as an additional dimension to how the ordinary Filipino experiences separation from nature, the artifice of the art explicit.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Nawawalang Paraiso’ Utilizes Concrete Works to Examine Modern Landscapes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/nawawalang-paraiso-zean-cabangis/ "‘Nawawalang Paraiso’ Utilizes Concrete Works to Examine Modern Landscapes")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core theme of the ‘Revirescence’ exhibit by Jill Paz?

The exhibition presents a modern spin on pastoral landscape paintings, blending Appalachian imagery with a sense of mysticism and spirituality. Through a mix of media, Paz explores the beauty of the natural world and the “mystical divinity” of the environment, drawing heavily from movements like Post-Impressionism and Romanticism.

### How does Jill Paz utilize Balikbayan boxes in her artwork?

Paz creates large-scale “cardboard paintings” by repurposing cardboard from Balikbayan boxes, using laser engraving to etch detailed landscapes onto the surface. She layers different sections of the cardboard to create a collage-like, three-dimensional effect that reflects the Filipino experience of separation and connection to home.

### What is the “Ben Day dot pattern” methodology mentioned in her process?

Inspired by low-quality digital images and lost ancestral paintings, Paz uses a Ben Day dot pattern—similar to the printing style in old comic books—to reconstruct low-resolution photographs into visible compositions. This technique allows her to enlarge small sketches or scans into massive artworks without losing the artifice and texture of the original image.

### What influenced the design of the glazed stoneware sculptures?

The sculptures are inspired by the gestures of indigenous anitu figures, specifically the empowering yet restful pose of sitting with knees tucked toward the chest. Paz hand-models these figures and finishes them with homemade glazes, merging traditional Filipino symbolism with contemporary ceramic techniques learned from a family of artists.

### Where does the natural imagery in the exhibit originate?

Much of the imagery, including evergreens and waterfalls, is rooted in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachia in the Eastern United States. These landscapes were drawn en plein air during Paz’s residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, grounding the exhibit in her multi-layered identity as Canadian, American, and Filipina.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Artinformal, Jill Paz, Paintings, Philippines

---

### [‘VLands’: Lena Cobangbang Critiques Modern Land Use in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/vlands-lena-cobangbang-west-gallery/)

**Published:** December 30, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*VLands*, styled *√L@nDs*, is the new exhibit by Lena Cobangbang at West Gallery. The work stands as a colossal sprawl of artwork Cobangbang made as a critique of modern land use issues. It derives its name from real estate mogul and former senator Manny Villar.

Considered the richest man in the Philippines, his wealth comes from land ownership from subdivisions across the country, mainly in Cavite. Despite losing the presidency in 2010, he remains a vital force in the country through his properties and his family in different positions within the government.

![The video and some of the artworks for "VLands" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184605.jpg "20241205_184605 - BluPrint")The video and some of the artworks for “VLands” by Lena Cobangbang.In a country where land distribution between the rich and the poor remains a hot issue, Cobangbang spotlights that class divide with the title. What does it say about modern society where a family can accumulate wealth and power through exploiting the dreams of middle-class society?

“The conversion of rural areas to residential and commercial spaces serves as a point of departure for Cobangbang in examining our attitudes towards land, exposing underlying paradoxes that are ingeniously revealed through her deliberate exploration of a modernist approach in abstract painting,” the exhibit write-up by James Tana said.

## **Critiquing Contemporary Realities to Scale**

Lena Cobangbang highlights these through an expanded multimedia presentation that makes its points about land use potently clear to its audience. *VLands*, for example, contains “Territorial Piecings,” which are six different textured colored carpets. These works mimic an aerial view of the sprawl of farmlands, rows of greenery chopped up into pieces.

!["Territorial Piecings" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190049.jpg "20241205_190049 - BluPrint")“Territorial Piecings” by Lena Cobangbang. They literally represent pieces of different territories in the Philippines—but of six different Camella Homes subdivisions around the country. The depiction of it as rural farmland is important. It’s a telling tale of how land reclassification takes land away to create wealth for specific people.

![Side view of "Territorial Piecings" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184629.jpg "20241205_184629 - BluPrint")Side view of “Territorial Piecings” by Lena Cobangbang.

![View of "Territorial Piecings" for "VLands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_185944.jpg "20241205_185944 - BluPrint")View of “Territorial Piecings” for “VLands.”

![View of "Territorial Piecings" for "VLands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184610.jpg "20241205_184610 - BluPrint")View of “Territorial Piecings” for “VLands.”

“Modernism, whether within the context of art or urban development, is an impulse to break away from traditions. However, Cobangbang makes use of our inherited notions of modernity to critique contemporary realities,” Tana wrote.

They scattered the carpets across the floor. The works find themselves separated from each other in an isolated sea of the gallery’s concrete flooring. From a personal perspective, it appears to represent the isolation of suburbia, how the dreams of affluence removes us from the broader world and its realities.

## **Suburbia and Its Repercussions**

The interesting thing about the set-up of *VLands* is how Lena Cobangbang puts these figures in between each carpet of “Territorial Piecings.” This is her other series, a part of this exhibit, “Loam is Where the Hearth is.”

!["Loam is Where the Hearth is" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190106.jpg "20241205_190106 - BluPrint")“Loam is Where the Hearth is” by Lena Cobangbang.

!["Loam is Where the Hearth is" for the West Gallery exhibit "VLands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190005.jpg "20241205_190005 - BluPrint")“Loam is Where the Hearth is” for the West Gallery exhibit “VLands.”

![One of the works by Lena Cobangbang for "VLands" at West Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184656.jpg "20241205_184656 - BluPrint")One of the works by Lena Cobangbang for “VLands” at West Gallery.

![One of the works by Lena Cobangbang for "VLands" at West Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/VLands-Featured-Image.jpg "VLands Featured Image - BluPrint")One of the works by Lena Cobangbang for “VLands” at West Gallery. 

This shows burned scale-model buildings encased in resin, looking like they’re sinking into nothingness. There’s a feeling of apocalyptic dread in these small model works. They look akin to a still life of a crumbling building, the terror and danger halted in a single immortal moment.

## **Ritualistic Burning in a ‘Vlands’ Context**

![Video "Loam is Where the Hearth is" for "VLands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190110.jpg "20241205_190110 - BluPrint")Video “Loam is Where the Hearth is” for “VLands.”

![Still from the video "Loam is Where the Hearth is" for "VLands."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184619.jpg "20241205_184619 - BluPrint")Still from the video “Loam is Where the Hearth is” for “VLands.”

![Still from the video "Loam is Where the Hearth is" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_184708.jpg "20241205_184708 - BluPrint")Still from the video “Loam is Where the Hearth is” by Lena Cobangbang.

Each model contains a 16GB USB drive with a video showcasing its creation. The video, projected on the exhibit walls, features the score from the classic Lino Brocka film *Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag* as the soundtrack to the burning of the scale building models in an open field.

The exhibit also contains another video of a burning object in a field, “Hazard the Plough.” This time, the screen is encased in resin alongside an unidentified black shape. Different colors also appear to superimpose themselves over the object at times.

!["Hazard the Plough" for "VLands" at West Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190035.jpg "20241205_190035 - BluPrint")“Hazard the Plough” for “VLands” at West Gallery.

!["Hazard the Plough" for "VLands" at West Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190039.jpg "20241205_190039 - BluPrint")“Hazard the Plough” for “VLands” at West Gallery.

![Still image from "Hazard the Plough" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190041.jpg "20241205_190041 - BluPrint")Still image from “Hazard the Plough” by Lena Cobangbang.

![Still image from "Hazard the Plough" by Lena Cobangbang.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241205_190042.jpg "20241205_190042 - BluPrint")Still image from “Hazard the Plough” by Lena Cobangbang.

Lena Cobangbang seems to have a broader point for the burnings. It’s the artist’s attempt to express rage at the gentrification of decent housing for only those with money.

“Throughout history, the act of burning is a symbolic ritual for liberation,” Tana explained. “There is rage in this kind of burning—its embers have ignited long before another city is burned down to ashes.”

## **Feudalism as Imperialism**

The discussion of modernism and land use will always be a fraught one. No one wants to be left in the past, but the people crafting the future tend to forget the poor and the marginalized when designing it. Especially in a country with a feudal history like the Philippines, the control of land tends to mean the control of wealth in the country.

Thus, *VLands* functions as an essential critique of our approach to modern society. Lena Cobangbang shows audiences how our systems root itself in colonialism and feudalism. Regardless of how much technology and philosophy moves forward, the powerful still hoards the land to keep the authority and wealth centralized to themselves.

“Cobangbang sees both destruction and abstraction as persistent modes of resistance against forms and ideas, and perhaps, a conscious defiance from being integrated into the ‘exceptional collection of communities’, a promise that is rooted in the imperialist ideology,” Tana said.

*VLands* will be exhibited at West Gallery until January 4.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Elmer Borlongan’s ‘Morning Rituals’ is an Exercise and Negotiation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/elmer-borlongan-morning-rituals-100-paintings/ "Elmer Borlongan’s ‘Morning Rituals’ is an Exercise and Negotiation")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Manila, Philippines, Subversive Artworks, West Gallery

---

### [Retrospective Exhibit on Junyee Premieres at Altro Mondo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/junyee-exhibit-altro-mondo/)

**Published:** January 3, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For their annual ICONS series, Altro Mondo Creative Space spotlighted legendary artist Junyee as their second featured artist. *Of Man and Nature* is only Junyee’s fifth gallery exhibition in his decades-long career due to the nature of his artworks.

![A work shown for "Of Man and Nature" at Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_2014280.jpg "20241207_201428(0) - BluPrint")A work shown for “Of Man and Nature” at Altro Mondo Creative Space. “I’ve been doing art professionally for 60 years, but I only have five shows,” he shared. “I don’t like doing \[an\] exhibition in a gallery. Most of my work \[is\] outside: in the mountains, in the river, in the field. But this time, I cannot say no to the owners, a good friend of mine. Because they have this series \[that\] Ben Cab started last year, every December.

“I’m the second one, so I cannot say no. Besides, last year, there was a tribute show here for me. So that is the first time \[I had\] been given a tribute show from different artists and professional artists. So that’s the reason why I’m around.”

## **Versatility of Wood in a Modern Setting**

For *Of Man and Nature*, the exhibit attempts to reflect on the career of Junyee, including the different themes that appear to pop out within his work. Much of his work utilizes wood and other natural materials, functioning as commentary on a modern industrial world.

![A mixed media work by Junyee for "Of Man and Nature" at Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192753.jpg "20241207_192753 - BluPrint")A mixed media work by Junyee for “Of Man and Nature” at Altro Mondo Creative Space. “Each piece symbolizes growth, life, and change, presenting wood not merely as a material but as a living testament to the natural world’s cycles,” the exhibit write-up said.

Of interest to art history aficionados is a recreation of “Wood Things.” First exhibited at the 1982 Paris Biennale, it’s the work that established his name as an artist internationally. For this artwork, Junyee repurposes dry banana stalks and kapok pods to create these bug-like entities that look like fleas.

!["Wood Things" by Junyee for Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192548.jpg "20241207_192548 - BluPrint")“Wood Things” by Junyee for Altro Mondo Creative Space. 

![The "wood things" made by Junyee as exhibited for "Of Men and Nature."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192608.jpg "20241207_192608 - BluPrint")The “wood things” made by Junyee as exhibited for “Of Men and Nature.” 

![The "wood things" made by Junyee as exhibited for "Of Men and Nature."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_194913.jpg "20241207_194913 - BluPrint")The “wood things” made by Junyee as exhibited for “Of Men and Nature.” 

![A "wood thing" made by Junyee.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192621.jpg "20241207_192621 - BluPrint")A “wood thing” made by Junyee. 

It uses an abstract version of a typical “pet animal” shape as a way of commenting on the need of depicting the ideal artistic beauty shapes to instead depict our personal perception. The work is a sincere deconstruction of colonialist standards, and a strange sight to behold in real life.

## **Modernity and the Sustainability of Our Systems**

Many of the other works featured in *Of Man and Nature* incorporate natural and fabricated objects in interesting and innovative ways. Some, for example, utilize soot alongside a variety of materials like metal sheets and electronic boards. Junyee manipulates them into looking like typical tech parts, adding an ominous feeling through the combination of disparate elements.

![A soot work by Junyee.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192631.jpg "20241207_192631 - BluPrint")A soot work by Junyee.

![Painting by Junyee mimicking a microchip.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192809.jpg "20241207_192809 - BluPrint")Painting by Junyee mimicking a microchip.

![Circular painting by Junyee for "Of Man and Nature."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192820.jpg "20241207_192820 - BluPrint")Circular painting by Junyee for “Of Man and Nature.”

![One painting by Junyee mimicking a CD Drive.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192824.jpg "20241207_192824 - BluPrint")One painting by Junyee mimicking a CD Drive.

![Circular painting by Junyee for "Of Man and Nature."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192850.jpg "20241207_192850 - BluPrint")Circular painting by Junyee for “Of Man and Nature.”

Other pieces in the show utilize dried seeds collected and arranged circularly on canvas. They appear caged in a metal matrix, with some of the seeds painted in primary colors to add a sense of offness to the work. The works here are also combined with seeds scattered below the painting, suggesting a spillover of raw materials escaping the cage of the canvas.

![Front view of two of the seed works at Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192425.jpg "20241207_192425 - BluPrint")Front view of two of the seed works at Altro Mondo Creative Space.

![Side view of the seed works.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192437.jpg "20241207_192437 - BluPrint")Side view of the seed works.

![A work by Junyee at "Of Man and Nature" at Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Junyee-Featured-Image.jpg "Junyee Featured Image - BluPrint")A work by Junyee at “Of Man and Nature” at Altro Mondo Creative Space. 

“This integration highlights the dualities of progress and preservation, demonstrating how even industrial remnants can coexist with organic elements to create something meaningful. These combinations reflect the exhibition’s deeper theme of interconnectedness, illustrating the complex relationships between human innovation and the natural world,” the write-up said.

## **The Present and the Past**

![A microchip, soot, and seed work by Junyee.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_192719.jpg "20241207_192719 - BluPrint")A microchip, soot, and seed work by Junyee.

![A microchip, soot, and seed work as presented at Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_195134.jpg "20241207_195134 - BluPrint")A microchip, soot, and seed work as presented at Altro Mondo Creative Space.

![Close up of a microchip, soot, and seed work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_195148.jpg "20241207_195148 - BluPrint")Close up of a microchip, soot, and seed work.

![Close up of a microchip, soot, and seed work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241207_201025.jpg "20241207_201025 - BluPrint")Close up of a microchip, soot, and seed work.

*Of Man and Nature* assesses and summarizes the decades-long career of an artist who integrated the modern and the environmental in different aspects of their work, cultivating thematic points that centers the narrative of the colonized in today’s postcolonial society. And that means moving beyond technology and towards preserving the resources and beauty of the planet.

“Through his art, Junyee challenges us to reflect on our role in the planet’s ongoing narrative, urging a deeper appreciation of the connections that bind humanity to the earth and to one another,” the write-up said.

*Of Man and Nature* is showing at Altro Mondo Creative Space until January 11.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Filipino Artist Junyee Makes A Stand with Felled Trees](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/installation-artist-junyee/ "Filipino Artist Junyee Makes A Stand with Felled Trees")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of the ‘Of Man and Nature’ exhibit at Altro Mondo?

This retrospective marks only the fifth gallery exhibition in Junyee’s sixty-year career, as he traditionally prefers creating art in outdoor environments like mountains and rivers. As part of Altro Mondo’s ICONS series, the show honors his legacy as a pioneer of installation art and his mastery of blending organic materials with modern commentary.

### How does Junyee utilize wood and natural materials in this collection?

Junyee treats wood and dry organic matter not just as medium, but as living testaments to the cycles of life, growth, and change. His work often repurposes materials like dry banana stalks, kapok pods, and seeds to symbolize a primordial creativity that resists rigid industrial standards and colonialist definitions of beauty.

### What is ‘Wood Things’ and why is it important to art history?

‘Wood Things’ is a recreation of Junyee’s landmark installation from the 1982 Paris Biennale, which established his international reputation. Using banana stalks to create bug-like entities, the piece deconstructs colonial artistic standards by favoring personal perception and raw, abstract forms over idealized, traditional representation.

### How does the exhibit address the tension between nature and technology?

The artworks often combine industrial remnants, such as electronic boards and metal sheets, with natural elements like soot and seeds. This juxtaposition explores the dualities of progress and preservation, suggesting an ominous yet meaningful interconnectedness between human innovation and the organic world we inhabit.

### Where and until when can the public view this retrospective?

The exhibition is currently being held at Altro Mondo Creative Space. It serves as a comprehensive assessment of Junyee’s storied career and is open for public viewing through January 11, 2025, offering a rare opportunity to see his gallery-scale installations in a modern setting.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Altro Mondo Creative Space, Art, Junyee, Manila, Philippines

---

### [‘On The Self’ Deconstructs the Idea of Self-Portraits](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/on-the-self-faculty-projects/)

**Published:** November 26, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*On the Self*, a group exhibit curated by writer and artist Patrick de Veyra, expands and redefines the idea of what a self-portrait can be. The show was conceived for Faculty Projects, a space run by artists for academic themes in contemporary art. With a roster of fourteen different artists contributing to the project, each of them presents a vision of themselves without the limits of verisimilitude.

![A person viewing some of the works for "On the Self." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173209.jpg "20241113_173209 - BluPrint")A person viewing some of the works for “On the Self.” Photo by Elle Yap.“Through their varied approaches,” de Veyra wrote in their exhibit write-up, “these artists confront the fluid, oftentimes fragmented, and at times paradoxical nature of the self, creating spaces and producing objects wherein perception, memory, and emotion intersect.”

It’s certainly provocative, especially in how it showcases the way an artist sees themselves. “What would you be without your face,” the exhibit seems to ask its audience. “How would you define yourself outside of your physicality?”

## **How Do You See Yourself?**

The artists deliver a lot of creativity in bringing the concept of *On the Self* to life. Some of the ideas that the artists showcase feel like pure conceptual candy, utilizing different mediums and forms to create a portrait of themselves.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_172848.jpg "20241113_172848 - BluPrint")Stephanie Frondoso, for example, contributes to the exhibit with “If You Are Bored, You Must Be Boring.” The artist found photographs from their youth, including random objects like newspapers, shoes, and a birthday cake. They then transferred these photographs into broken tiles, representing the fragmented, incomplete nature of these memories.

![Stephanie Frondoso's “If You Are Bored, You Must Be Boring.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173333.jpg "20241113_173333 - BluPrint")Stephanie Frondoso’s “If You Are Bored, You Must Be Boring.”“These everyday images that were not originally meant for the art gallery or museum, inevitably become a record of objects that may no longer exist or are on their way to obsolescence. They take on a value beyond personal nostalgia; they gain historical value,” she said.

Wipo, meanwhile, provides the exhibit with “Dimensions,” a strange faceless bust that represents his journey away from “personal ego.” The bust, which personally looks a lot like the Toxic Avenger, came about by the artist throwing the sculpture on a recent artwork to damage it.

![Wipo's "Dimensions." Photo provided by Faculty Projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_0488_4.jpg "DSC_0488_4 - BluPrint")Wipo’s “Dimensions.” Photo provided by Faculty Projects.“Through this act of measured violence, he establishes both a material and conceptual relationship, where the act of collision becomes a metaphor for breakthrough and surrender, an exploration of transformation through destruction,” de Veyra wrote.

The most provocative work in the exhibit is [Isabel Reyes Santos](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/renown-x-isabel-reyes-santos-now-now-canteen/)’ work, which shows the artist drawing 19 squares of black with markers that were nearly-depleted of ink. It ends with a single white square in the end, implying the loss of ink. According to the artist, it represented their state of mind at the time, the feeling of emptiness they felt.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173503.jpg "20241113_173503 - BluPrint")## **Detaching Physicality from the Self**

*On the Self* gives the artists a lot of leeway for self-interpretation, defining the portrait in their own way. For artist Julieanne Ng, for example, she creates her self-portrait through the burning of incense sticks in paper—adding details like fingerprints, dots, and spirals in the process to make it more personal.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_172839.jpg "20241113_172839 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_174733.jpg "20241113_174733 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_174737.jpg "20241113_174737 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_174740.jpg "20241113_174740 - BluPrint")

“These patterns express the macrocosm of production and transform into the language that bridges the material and natural world, machine and man. I respond to the monotony of mass production with my own patient and mindful process, no less intense yet meditatively repetitive,” the artist said about her process.

Ayka Go, meanwhile, paints this image of what seems to be either “crumpled paper or the worn blankets of an unmade bed.” It radiates a vibe of fragility. According to de Veyra, the work is “inviting viewers into a space where the mundane transcends its ordinariness, revealing the unexpected and profound poetry embedded in the everyday.”

![Ayka Go's work for "On the Self."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_172857-scaled.jpg "20241113_172857 - BluPrint")Ayka Go’s work for “On the Self.”In the end, *On the Self* doesn’t necessarily redefine the self-portrait as much as it expands its potential towards abstraction. As the way we define ourselves transcends physical features, maybe the way we define the self-portrait needs to transcend the realism of depicting faces to find hidden truths about who we are and how we feel.

![Five self-portrait works for "On the Self" at Faculty Projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173324.jpg "20241113_173324 - BluPrint")Five self-portrait works for “On the Self” at Faculty Projects.

![Three self-portrait works for "On the Self" at Faculty Projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173215.jpg "20241113_173215 - BluPrint")Three self-portrait works for “On the Self” at Faculty Projects.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173227.jpg "20241113_173227 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173241.jpg "20241113_173241 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113_173247.jpg "20241113_173247 - BluPrint")

*On the Self* will be showing at Faculty Projects until December 15.

Related reading: [‘On Appropriation’ Explores the Nuances of Repurposing in Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/on-appropriation-faculty-projects/ "‘On Appropriation’ Explores the Nuances of Repurposing in Art")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Artist Self-Portrait, Faculty Projects, Philippines, Self-Portrait

---

### [‘Flower Power’: Jesse Camacho Finds Inspiration in the Anti-War Movement](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/flower-power-jesse-camacho/)

**Published:** November 25, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Flower Power* by Jesse Camacho peers into the past to find escapism for the present. JT Gonzales’s new exhibit at Modeka Art is a nostalgic journey back to 1960s counterculture and the iconic Summer of Love, a period defined by the youth-driven Hippie movement.

![The "Flower Power" exhibit of Jesse Camacho for Modeka Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182247.jpg "20241109_182247 - BluPrint")The “Flower Power” exhibit of Jesse Camacho for Modeka Art.The anti-war and anti-consumerist movement of the 1960s, fueled by the Vietnam War and inspired by the Civil Rights and Feminist movements, sought to challenge societal norms. Jesse Camacho, recognizing parallels between the turbulent 1960s and our current era, finds solace in the counterculture movement of the past.

“Ang meaning kasi ng mga ‘Flower Power,’ originally, isa siyang protest, or a phrase na binuo noong 70s na parang basically, ‘make love, not war.’ And then, parang naisip ko is, parang underrated ang word na iyon, pero sobrang powerful niya. Why not bring back ko ulit ang phrase at gamitin ulit natin?” he said.

(“The meaning of ‘Flower Power’ originally came as a protest, or a phrase made during the 1970s to denote ‘make love, not war.’ And then, I thought, ‘what an underrated but powerful phrase.’ Why not bring it back and use it again today?”)

## **Accuracy of Depiction**

*Flower Power* was an idea that was stuck in Camacho’s head for a long while before he executed it. “Well, the concept ng ‘Flower Power’ is inspired siya, actually, sa [isang song](https://genius.com/Eraserheads-shake-yer-head-lyrics) ng Eraserheads, which I’m a huge fan of. So, while listening to it, it sparked \[inspiration\],” he said. “Kasi matagal ko siyang ginagamit sa mga artworks, yung theme ng ‘Flower Power,’ but never in a whole show.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182310.jpg "20241109_182310 - BluPrint")The exhibit utilizes a character of Camacho, Jack, for many of the works, putting the figure in different poses and looks reminiscent of that movement. We see the character with flower braids in their hair, or with accessories like the rounded glasses and the unkempt facial hair associated with the time. Mostly, the figure is surrounded by colorful nature throughout the exhibit’s paintings and works.

JT Gonzales, who curated the exhibit, said that he aimed to ensure that Camacho represented the era properly in the works.

![Sketch by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_1824080.jpg "20241109_182408(0) - BluPrint")Sketch by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![Works by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182342.jpg "20241109_182342 - BluPrint")Works by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![Work by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182334.jpg "20241109_182334 - BluPrint")Work by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_1823530.jpg "20241109_182353(0) - BluPrint")

![Sketch by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182358.jpg "20241109_182358 - BluPrint")Sketch by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182403.jpg "20241109_182403 - BluPrint")

“\[I told him\], ‘if you want to explore \[this theme\], especially ‘Flower Power,’ then you have to go research into the 60s and 70s hippies generation and then you look at reference photos of like hippie girls and the combi Volkswagen over there,’” he said.

“These are the things that were prevalent in the sixties and seventies when the hippies were pursuing the message of peace. And so if he wanted to, then he can take elements from these \[historical symbols\].”

## **Positivity in a Time of Negativity**

Camacho saw the exhibit as a place to push for positivity in our tumultuous and hectic times. He said the artworks had a “fairy tale vibe” to them that encouraged good feelings. Gonzales also saw the exhibit as a respite not just from the current bad news, but also from the general bad vibes of traffic, work deadlines, and other mundane stressors in our daily lives.

![A work by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182427.jpg "20241109_182427 - BluPrint")A work by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![A work by Jesse Camacho for "Flower Power."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182432.jpg "20241109_182432 - BluPrint")A work by Jesse Camacho for “Flower Power.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182441.jpg "20241109_182441 - BluPrint")

He discussed a bit of Camacho’s approach as playful and untroubled, reflected in the methods used in the paintings. “It’s \[a\] lighter palette than you would expect from somebody who just wants to explore angst,” he said. “I think they’re very soothing to the eyes. It’s not meant to cause alarm.”

Camacho’s playful spirit extends to the medium of his art. While most of the exhibit features paintings and sketches, he adds a fun twist with two skateboard decks, which are a nod to his past.

![Skateboard decks by Jesse Camacho.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182346.jpg "20241109_182346 - BluPrint")Skateboard decks by Jesse Camacho.“I’m fond of making skateboard decks. Before pa sa mga shows, gustong-gusto kong gumawa ng skateboard deck,” he said. “\[Inclined\] din ako sa parang high risk culture before bago ako nag transitioned dito. So I wanted, parang, \[a\] small representation \[of that past\], kahit sa—di mismo sa artwork, kundi sa surface na ginagamit ko. And it’s fun, it’s fun to do.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182303.jpg "20241109_182303 - BluPrint")*Flower Power* gives audiences a warm breather from the stressors of life, with Jesse Camacho bringing to life a colorful world of harmony and unity. Taking lessons from movements of the past may help us unlock potential peace in ourselves and in society for the future.

*Photos by Elle Yap*.

Related reading: [‘safe up here with u’: Finding Peace in Created Sanctuaries](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/safe-up-here-with-u-dj-amago/ "‘safe up here with u’: Finding Peace in Created Sanctuaries")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Jesse Camacho, Manila, Modeka Art, Philippines

---

### [‘Crisis in Meaning’: Wataru Sakuma Deconstructs the Symbols of Order](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/crisis-in-meaning-wataru-sakuma/)

**Published:** November 22, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Crisis in Meaning*, the new exhibit by Wataru Sakuma at Modeka Art, merges the past and the present with its deconstruction of symbols of power. The symbols here represent religious texts from the five major religions in our world. Sakuma filters them through today’s technology to recreate the confusion of meaning and ideals found in postmodern society.

![Opening of exhibit "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma at Modeka Art Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181729.jpg "20241109_181729 - BluPrint")Opening of exhibit “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma at Modeka Art Gallery.Today’s world finds itself in deep turmoil as a broadening base of new knowledge and ideas challenge long-held beliefs. Sakuma’s work offers a timely response, bridging the gap between tradition and technology to create new meanings that befit our times.

“\[In\] the period of globalization, traditional notion of nationalism appears insufficient when global cooperation, collaboration and innovation are on the contrary the most practical way to also lead humans out of the insurmountable task of surviving the global systemic crisis,” the exhibit write-up said. “Without a new narrative that integrates the highly fragmented state of world order, via identity politics, a crisis in meaning remains to be the present world order.”

## **Finding New Meaning** 

*Crisis in Meaning* was guided by Donna Haraway’s 1985 essay, “A Cyborg Manifesto”. The ideas of fusion between “machine” and “human” in the posthumanist writing is represented in the work.

Wataru Sakuma, in this exhibit, attempts to merge human and mechanical elements together to form a cohesive whole. These works use a mix of generative AI, laser-cutting technology, and Sakuma’s own hand-crafted paper to create a specific look that questions the divinity we give objects today.

Sakuma fed different sacred passages from the Bible, the Quran, and holy texts from three other religions to Chat-GPT. He said he gave it a prompt of “peace and harmony.” According to the exhibit write-up, each text was reworked to fit towards an idea that represents each religious order.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_1844180.jpg "20241109_184418(0) - BluPrint")Using the output from the AI, he used a computer design model to bring the ideas into life. The design was then laser engraved on paper that he personally crafted.

![Works made for  "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_184357.jpg "20241109_184357 - BluPrint")Works made for “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma.“I kind of wanted to make it something very spiritual, sacred, and I thought like the color white, a floating effect on a very thin paper is something that maybe \[is the\] best materials to use. And I also make the paper, so I can kind of control what kind of materials I use, what kind of thickness that I can use,” he said.

## **Guiding the Machine**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182000.jpg "20241109_182000 - BluPrint")While he still guided the final design and ideas, he utilized different programs to create the look of the project. He also kept the mistakes and holes that came from laser engraving the design on paper. “Basically \[how it was printed was\] based on the program,” he said about the process.

![A mountain-like work for "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182025.jpg "20241109_182025 - BluPrint")A mountain-like work for “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma.

![A circular work for "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182035.jpg "20241109_182035 - BluPrint")A circular work for “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma.

![Inscriptions from a sacred text for "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182013.jpg "20241109_182013 - BluPrint")Inscriptions from a sacred text for “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma.

![Inscriptions from a sacred text for "Crisis in Meaning" by Wataru Sakuma.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182007.jpg "20241109_182007 - BluPrint")Inscriptions from a sacred text for “Crisis in Meaning” by Wataru Sakuma.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181723.jpg "20241109_181723 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181717.jpg "20241109_181717 - BluPrint")

“All the gaps, all these holes are not part of my intention. It’s done by the computer, like in a way that—I don’t know how it works, but the laser machine, it would decide on the different path that it will take, which is not really actually very efficient, in a way. But so it kind of goes in random, and then it will eventually go back and fill up those spaces.”

## **Fusion of Technologies**

*Crisis in Meaning* gives thirty-six new pieces made by Wataru Sakuma for the exhibit. The works find repeating patterns based on the text itself. Texts from Hinduism, for example, go about in a circular direction. Similar ideas pop up for words from the Quran or the Bible, following patterns that fit within their religious doctrine.

![Close-up of a work at "Crisis in Meaning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181852.jpg "20241109_181852 - BluPrint")Close-up of a work at “Crisis in Meaning.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181843.jpg "20241109_181843 - BluPrint")

![Close-up of a work at "Crisis in Meaning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181900.jpg "20241109_181900 - BluPrint")Close-up of a work at “Crisis in Meaning.”

The end products contain texts that overlap with each other significantly, cutting through one another as to make the words seemingly illegible. Spaces pop up even within the works. This leaves a stark whiteness in the paper that evokes holiness and emptiness in the same figure. It seems to exist beyond the original text’s meaning, tasking its audience with deciphering the indecipherable.

![The gigantic scroll-like works for "Crisis in Meaning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_181835.jpg "20241109_181835 - BluPrint")The gigantic scroll-like works for “Crisis in Meaning.”## **Deciphering the Past for the Present**

Each piece looks like they came from scrolls in the past, an aged look permeating them. The sizes of the work vary, going between portrait-sized works they would post on church walls as guides for followers to giant ceiling-to-floor monstrosities that belie the epic scope of the project.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182157.jpg "20241109_182157 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182204.jpg "20241109_182204 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182211.jpg "20241109_182211 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_182214-1.jpg "20241109_182214 (1) - BluPrint")

“Through the gaze of the artist himself, the objects took on different representations and meanings. First, they look like windows, cages, a structural façade. Up close, as you decipher the forms within the negative spaces, they take a more symbolical meaning like vessels of text or language, mandalas, hieroglyphics, remains of some devotional action like a hymn, a chant,” the exhibit write-up said.

![Artist Wataru Sakuma in front of one of his works for "Crisis in Meaning."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_183324.jpg "20241109_183324 - BluPrint")Artist Wataru Sakuma in front of one of his works for “Crisis in Meaning.”In the end, *Crisis in Meaning* finds Wataru Sakuma deconstructing symbols into meaninglessness. It fuses our traditions with new technologies that upend our definitions of the world. What remains, however, is not new meaning but missing meaning: holes in our preconceptions, divorced from any real-life experience, just words repeated into utter nothingness.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Mangha-Likha: Defying ART Conventions: Awe and Wonder in Unconventional Artmaking](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/mangha-likha-defying-art-conventions-awe-and-wonder-in-unconventional-artmaking/ "Mangha-Likha: Defying ART Conventions: Awe and Wonder in Unconventional Artmaking")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design

**Tags:** Art, Modeka Art, Postmodern, Wataru Sakuma

---

### [‘Mother/land’ Explores A Different Facet of the Philippine Diaspora](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/mother-land-philippine-diaspora-nicolei-buendia-gupit/)

**Published:** November 21, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Mother/land*, the new exhibit by Nicolei Buendia Gupit at Altro Mondo Creative Space, delves into the emotional scars hidden beneath the enduring stories of the Filipino diaspora. Our history with migration is filled with tense desires of seeking better economic opportunities abroad. While wealthy families have long sought opportunities abroad, it wasn’t until the [Marcos regime](https://jacobin.com/2024/07/filipino-diaspora-international-activism-migration) in [the 1970s](https://www.routedmagazine.com/post/the-filipino-dream-continues-escaping-the-grasp-of-another-marcos-regime) that this trend intensified, evolving into the OFW-driven diaspora we recognize today. This started as economic resistance against Martial Law, but quickly morphed into our institutions today. A huge chunk of our economy today is reliant on remittances from exported labor to other countries.

!["Mother/land" by Nicolei Buendia Gupit for Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191045.jpg "20241109_191045 - BluPrint")“Mother/land” by Nicolei Buendia Gupit for Altro Mondo Creative Space.Many stories tackle the struggle of Filipinos abroad. Gupit, however, comes at this from a different perspective: the offspring of a migrant who never got the chance to establish roots within the country. Her outlook showcases how the trauma of the Filipino diaspora and colonialism can be passed down through generations.

“My mom emigrated to the U.S., and so it meant that I was born in the U.S. after she emigrated,” she said. “I actually was going to school, an elementary school in the first grade in the Philippines in Rosario, Cavite, when suddenly my mom decided to bring me. Without any planning, or without any notice, she had me move and emigrate with her to the U.S.”

## **Excavating History**

*Mother/land* is filled with interesting pieces that harken back towards the fracture within migrant families. Nicolei Buendia Gupit uses abaca fibers to attain the look of crumpled paper. She then adds found objects like family photographs and legal documents to create a chaotic collage that portrays the fragmented messiness of her past.

Some of the works appear wrapped and ready to be shipped abroad, akin to the Balikbayan boxes Filipinos are famous for. Others look ripped apart, shredded, and then glued together again to craft something that mimics memories in scrapbooks or photo albums.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191037.jpg "20241109_191037 - BluPrint")That fragmentedness of her work is intentional: she feels that her link to the Philippines is tenuous at best. In our postcolonial world, she exists with a mangled identity. This leaves her unable to connect to her Filipino roots due to growing up with a different cultural identity. That severs her from her Filipino roots and her American upbringing, never fully one or the other.

Thus, the works here attempt to illustrate the “digging,” so to speak, that she has to do in order to connect with her motherland, to understand the connections that she missed out on when she emigrated to the United States.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191113.jpg "20241109_191113 - BluPrint")“Basically, I use paper as a kind of metaphor for excavating history,” she said. “Through paper, I’m able to embed things like those \[family\] photos, but also lottery scratchers and other found objects into the paper. And then, I kind of stack them vertically, kind of like sediment, you know, layers of \[information\].

“It’s kind of like an archeological dig, me trying to bring back information about my family history, but there’s so many gaps, there’s so many absences that are part of it, too.”

## **Fragmented Families**

One work in the exhibit is an empty dinner table, a variety of seemingly fossilized vegetables surrounding empty plates. There’s a lack of sentimentality here, evoking the loss of connection for Gupit in families experiencing the effects of diaspora.

![Close-up of the empty dinner table mixed media artwork for "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191225.jpg "20241109_191225 - BluPrint")Close-up of the empty dinner table mixed media artwork for “Mother/land.”

![The empty dinner table mixed media artwork for "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191052.jpg "20241109_191052 - BluPrint")The empty dinner table mixed media artwork for “Mother/land.”

![Artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191055.jpg "20241109_191055 - BluPrint")Artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit.

“The loss is like, for example, in my family, we don’t eat together,” she said. “We don’t have reunions in person. We’re not able to spend time together in a meaningful way. And so, that’s something that I think Filipinos in the Philippines often overlook \[when discussing diaspora\].”

Many of the works in *Mother/land* show the lack of unity within a family. The paper layers over each other, linking past images and documents shakily together. One work shows an empty family tree, its branches lacking any members. Instead, different documents and crumpled documents float in the scene, seemingly lost in time.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191120.jpg "20241109_191120 - BluPrint")“What I learned is that people often focus so much on the privilege or a kind of perceived success of emigrating or living and working in another location abroad. But then what’s overlooked is the kind of emotional toll \[it takes on people\],” she said. “Sometimes it’s tragic. The ending is that we don’t have a family tree. It’s really just fragmented. We’re in different geographical places.”

## **The Lottery of Success**

A series of works for *Mother/land* shows off vandalized Philippine passports, with different symbols imposed over them. They imitate the transparent symbols printed on lottery tickets.

![Audience members discussing "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191259.jpg "20241109_191259 - BluPrint")Audience members discussing “Mother/land.”

![An artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit showing the Philippine passport as a lottery ticket.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191141.jpg "20241109_191141 - BluPrint")An artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit showing the Philippine passport as a lottery ticket.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191152.jpg "20241109_191152 - BluPrint")

![An artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit showing the Philippine passport as a lottery ticket.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191157.jpg "20241109_191157 - BluPrint")An artwork by Nicolei Buendia Gupit showing the Philippine passport as a lottery ticket.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191204.jpg "20241109_191204 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191209.jpg "20241109_191209 - BluPrint")

“The reason why I used the \[image of the\] lottery ticket in a lot of the works is because I think of diaspora as a gamble, where there’s no guarantee that people will be economically successful. But there’s a kind of promise, right, because of the American dream, people think that if they gamble on their life, that they have a chance to become successful,” she said.

## **The Consequences of Colonialism**

*Mother/land* is a compelling look at the kind of destructive force that labor exportation has become in the Philippines. The Philippine diaspora negatively touches the lives of even those thought privileged to leave.

![The artist Nicolei Buendia Gupit in front of one of her works for "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_193519.jpg "20241109_193519 - BluPrint")The artist Nicolei Buendia Gupit in front of one of her works for “Mother/land.”Even the supposed financial upsides might not pan out; the country ends up with severed families and the destruction of the community that affects how our culture grows onward. It makes the audience reckon with the stark effects of this practice. The exhibit asks us to consider the emotional toll it puts on families, cultures, and the country as a whole.

“It’s also always a story about sacrifice and loss,” she said, “and that it’s much more complicated than a simple story. So I use my family as just a case study to speak on \[the\] many varied and diverse experiences of the diaspora.”

*Mother/land* is showing in Altro Mondo Creative Space until November 29.

*Photos by Elle Yap*.

Related reading: [Winna Go Explores Asian Diaspora and Migration in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/roots-and-routes-of-diaspora-winna-go/)

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Altro Mondo Creative Space, Art, Asian Diaspora, Nicolei Buendia Gupit, Philippines, Post-Colonial Art

---

### [‘Zephyr’: Joshua Barrera Lays Out A Tribute to Asian Culture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/zephyr-joshua-barrera-altro-mondo/)

**Published:** November 20, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For Joshua Barrera, the works for *Zephyr*, his newest exhibit for Altro Mondo Creative Space, uses a common element in all of them: wind. That elemental part of the Earth which permeates through most everything also spreads itself in his works.

“All of the subjects that I chose here, from the faces of these beauties, homages to masters, as well as these portraits, the butterflies, the birds, the waves, the mountains: wind passes through them and it causes all of them to flutter, fly,” he said.

![Artwork shown in the exhibit "Zephyr."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191451.jpg "20241109_191451 - BluPrint")Artwork shown in the exhibit “Zephyr.”

![An artwork shown in the exhibit "Zephyr."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190808.jpg "20241109_190808 - BluPrint")An artwork shown in the exhibit “Zephyr.”

![An artwork by Joshua Barrera for "Zephyr."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191443.jpg "20241109_191443 - BluPrint")An artwork by Joshua Barrera for “Zephyr.”

*Zephyr*, as an exhibit, exists in a plane of airiness that allows for a cultural osmosis. Barrera borrows heavily from other Asian cultures, linking them to the Philippines’ own to make a point about the interconnectedness of our region. From folk beliefs to the majesty of animals in nature, he creates a nostalgic tapestry that depicts a multicultural heritage.

## **Localized Variations**

Joshua Barrera utilizes pointillism for *Zephyr*, which uses tiny dots to form a larger image. For him, however, its roots come from his school days where classmates would make portraits from just dots. He also said that his works were influenced by ethnic art, which he was exposed to later on.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190844.jpg "20241109_190844 - BluPrint")“I was given this book called \[[Philippine Ethnic Patterns: A Design Sourcebook](https://www.dti.gov.ph/sdm_downloads/philippine-ethnic-pattern-a-design-sourcebook/ "Philippine Ethnic Patterns: A Design Sourcebook")\] by Jesus Peralta,” he said. “And from there, I also saw the ethnic patterns and motifs used by our tribes. Some of which are influenced by the Chinese and of course all of the ethnic groups around Southeast Asia. So I combined them all to do this.”

![Ships painted for "Zephyr."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190849.jpg "20241109_190849 - BluPrint")Ships painted for “Zephyr.”While color does appear in his works, they are generally bathed in a golden nostalgic glow. It contrasts well with the black background, creating a starry-sky atmosphere that makes them seem even more idealized.

![Galleon ships painted for "Zephyr."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_1909010.jpg "20241109_190901(0) - BluPrint")Galleon ships painted for “Zephyr.”There’s no irony to be found here: Barrera is sincere in his nostalgic depictions of these symbols and cultural signifiers. He wants to memorialize them, even as he understands that even the best efforts to be remembered can be all for naught.

“When I think of memories and legacies, I think of them as golden because they’re very precious. But then here, through my art style with the dots, it’s like I’m diminishing them at the same time. These are like precious memories and values \[that I hope we get\] to cherish and hopefully carry on \[to the next generation\]. And if not, it dissipates, it’s lost, like powder,” he said.

## **Depicting Vanishing Cultures**

The breadth of the cultural signifiers depicted in *Zephyr* can be overwhelming. The artist presents galleons and boats, indigenous groups, mountains, and butterflies, in an epic scope regardless of their actual size. Some of the cultures portrayed are dying or small, at risk of vanishing in humanity’s trudge towards industrialization.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190757.jpg "20241109_190757 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190804.jpg "20241109_190804 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190815.jpg "20241109_190815 - BluPrint")

“What I did here was I depicted folk cultures that are dying,” he said. “For example, the Cordillera culture in the Philippines. This piece, in particular, is inspired by their weaving traditions, their folktales, and the Banaue rice terraces itself, all which are in danger of being destroyed or forgotten. That’s why my characters look like this. I kinda want them to be ghostly, as if they’re trying to still be there. They’re trying to still exist, what they’re feeling.”

This feeling of impending loss echoes as a lament throughout the exhibit. His butterflies, for example, are possibly the most interesting work in the exhibit, both for the detail he gives them and for his reasoning behind adding them to the exhibit.

He said that he added the paintings of Queen Alexandra’s birdwing and the peacock butterfly as a way of telling the stories related to the cultures they belong to (Papua New Guinea and Singapore, respectively). The majestic portrayal is intentional: these winged insects can only be found in those countries, and they’re endangered parts of those cultures that could disappear at any time.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190734.jpg "20241109_190734 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190726.jpg "20241109_190726 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190739.jpg "20241109_190739 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190747.jpg "20241109_190747 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_190753.jpg "20241109_190753 - BluPrint")

“\[These cultural images\] could also be totally lost,” he said. “And it’s just like the wind. It could be strong at one point, it could be calm. And you can’t even see the element. How we depict wind is like a flying breeze or a tree that’s been blown down. So it’s an element that you cannot see, but you can feel. And it vanishes.”

## **The Collectivism of Culture**

Beyond that, Joshua Barrera works hard to find the connective tissues that link different Asian cultures to the Philippines’ own. He intermingles them within the exhibit easily, finding ways to deepen his discussion of heritage through his work.

“Part of what I consider heritage is the identities. And clearly the Philippines has been mixed, not only by Spain, the U.S., but by the Western world in general,” he said.

![Artworks featured in "Zephyr" by Joshua Barrera. Photo provided by Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_3677-1.jpg "IMG_3677 (1) - BluPrint")Artworks featured in “Zephyr” by Joshua Barrera. Photo provided by Altro Mondo Creative Space.“That’s also something I’d like to show here, that there’s an exchange. Actually, in terms of colonialism, it’s almost as if they’re all being blurred. Like this piece, it could be Japanese, but then the Philippines also has its own version of that cap called the salakot. We also have our own version of a traditional raincoat. \[This exchange of cultures is\] very common within the Asian region already.”

## **Heritage and Legacy**

*Zephyr* exists as an exploration of the similarities of folklore and heritage between cultures in a region. The permeability of humanity and its signifiers within tribes and countries leads to similarities that go beyond a singular identity. It brings them to life, putting them back in the conversation not just as something to preserve, but something that needs to thrive.

![Paintings featured in "Zephyr" by Joshua Barrera. Photo provided by Altro Mondo Creative Space.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_3673-1.jpg "IMG_3673 (1) - BluPrint")Paintings featured in “Zephyr” by Joshua Barrera. Photo provided by Altro Mondo Creative Space.“I’m combining those identities just to show that passing of legacies, like the element of wind,” he said. “It’s a meeting point of these winds, actually, where they meet and gather, and almost like a bit of a windstorm that you come up with all sorts of fragments of ideas and cultures coming out.”

*Zephyr* is showing in Altro Mondo Creative Space until November 29.

*Photos by Elle Yap unless otherwise stated.*

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Altro Mondo Creative Space, Art, Asian Culture, Joshua Barrera, Philippines

---

### [‘Echoes of Verdure’: Erikson Arcilla Magnifies the Minutiae of Trees](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/echoes-of-verdure-erikson-arcilla/)

**Published:** November 18, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Echoes of Verdure* by Erikson Arcilla captures the inherent poetry in the environment around us. Showing at Art Underground in San Juan, the exhibit attempts to capture the unique meditative feeling that such environmental images can give the audience. Arcilla aimed for tranquility, to give their audience time to reflect on the world around them.

“Through restrained backgrounds and a focus on organic forms,” the exhibit write-up said, “the works emanate a tranquil depth, urging viewers to engage with the subtle layers and tones. In this exhibition, nature’s whispers and gentle rhythms become an invitation to pause and reflect. It is a reminder of the timeless connection between life and decay, growth and stillness.”

![Erikson Arcilla in front of one of his paintings for "Echoes of Verdure."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_181401-1-scaled.jpg "20241106_181401 - BluPrint")Erikson Arcilla in front of one of his paintings for “Echoes of Verdure.”Arcilla’s works revolve around the environment and themes of ecology. For this one, he focused on tree branches, an aspect of nature that he sought to “delve in and magnify.”

“The show is about beauty with age, but how do I connect environmentalism to that?” he said. “That is why I focused on the branches, because branches are a perfect representation of how something ages, but at the same time it remains beautiful and even gets more beautiful as it ages.”

## **Techniques on Texture**

For the works in *Echoes of Verdure*, its most interesting aspect is how tactile the branches look from afar and up close. One looks at the paintings and sees the bumps and bruises, the seemingly-peeling bark.

![Far view of three paintings by Erikson Arcilla for "Echoes of Verdure."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175448.jpg "20241106_175448 - BluPrint")Far view of three paintings by Erikson Arcilla for “Echoes of Verdure.”

![Close-up of one of the paintings by Erikson Arcilla.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175816.jpg "20241106_175816 - BluPrint")Close-up of one of the paintings by Erikson Arcilla.

![Close-up of one of the paintings by Erikson Arcilla for "Echoes of Verdure."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175830.jpg "20241106_175830 - BluPrint")Close-up of one of the paintings by Erikson Arcilla for “Echoes of Verdure.”

Erikson Arcilla contrasts the realistic verisimilitude of the bark in the tree branches with a very welcoming pastel background. He also adds vines, offshoots, and flowers close to the branches as additional visual texture to the image. From an artistic standpoint, the works feel three-dimensional in how it plays with the senses.

![An "Echoes of Verdure" painting by Erikson Arcilla.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175435.jpg "20241106_175435 - BluPrint")

![An elephant-like branch.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175534.jpg "20241106_175534 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175457.jpg "20241106_175457 - BluPrint")

![An "Echoes of Verdure" painting by Erikson Arcilla.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175420.jpg "20241106_175420 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175410.jpg "20241106_175410 - BluPrint")

Arcilla said that he spent months developing a methodology to create realistic-looking branches with all the cracks in place without affecting the integrity of the painting. For *Echoes of Verdure*, he uses a combination of molding paste and plaster.

“It started with molding paste,” he said. “But molding paste will give you a rather flat \[look\], and it’s smooth. \[The end product\] is going to be a little too smooth. So, I discovered that if I use plaster of Paris in combination with molding paste, you actually end up with a bark-like texture that cracks without sacrificing durability.”

## **Uniqueness of Our Environment**

The exhibit sought to really capture the transformative feeling of nature, especially within the smaller perspective of humanity in comparison. Nature spans centuries, a seemingly-endless span of majesty, in comparison to humanity’s smaller physical and temporal plane. It exemplifies the unique way that nature relaxes people, amplifying the tininess of humanity in comparison to everything else.

Interestingly enough, despite this feeling of majesty, Erikson Arcilla said that bonsai trees inspired some of the design of the exhibit.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175401.jpg "20241106_175401 - BluPrint")Three paintings showing at “Echoes of Verdure.”“I grew up with my dad doing bonsai,” he said. “So you’d see branches that are sort of wriggling? They’re not very natural in a way because you’d normally see branches that are straight like that one.”

![Two paintings shown at "Echoes of Verdure."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175608.jpg "20241106_175608 - BluPrint")Two paintings shown at “Echoes of Verdure.”He connects these paintings like rivers, seemingly interconnected from one painting to another. From afar, it looks like they flow in and out of each other. He elaborated that while he did look up branches to follow for his work, his childhood memories and the specific technique and material of the plaster dictated the eventual look for each painting.

![Three paintings at "Echoes of Verdure."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241106_175507.jpg "20241106_175507 - BluPrint")Three paintings at “Echoes of Verdure.”“While you start with a very specific image in mind, even with a reference, I did not get references for these. The branch will ultimately crack and form a very unique structure because you just cannot control how everything will crack in place,” he said.

As a collection of works, *Echoes of Verdure* exemplifies the ingenuity of the artist in rendering the world around them. As a document of beauty and stillness, it showcases the unique characteristics that make trees—and specifically tree branches—so refreshing and relaxing to the human eye.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Tree House by The Lake: Revisiting a Past with Nature](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/tree-house-by-the-lake-revisiting-a-past-with-nature/ "Tree House by The Lake: Revisiting a Past with Nature")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Art Underground, Environmental Art, Erikson Arcilla, Philippines

---

### ['Portals': Exploring Pathways and Connections in Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/portals-ikang-gonzales-isaac-sion/)

**Published:** November 12, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Portals*, artists Ikang Gonzales and Isaac Sion give their own differing interpretations on pathways and how they connect us to larger realms and spaces. This Gravity Art Space exhibit mixes the two’s differing sensibilities into a united idea on the ways we build connections even within the walls that we create for ourselves.

“It is said that in order to control space, society builds walls,” the exhibit write-up said. “Perhaps one of the reasons why we are curious on what lies on the other side. Knowledge about the undiscovered are commonly introduced by what can be considered as gateways, physically and metaphorically known as portals.”

## **Illuminating Personal Spaces**

For Ikang Gonzales, her works for *Portals* convey a sense of peace found in the comfort of our own room. Her works use oil paint on fabric to create detailed images of different rooms in a home. These show off types of light and shadow and how that adds or detracts to the comfort of a space.

![Six lightboxes by Ikang Gonzales for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182910.jpg "20241025_182910 - BluPrint")Six lightboxes by Ikang Gonzales for “Portals.”The artist puts these fabric-painted scenes on top of a lightbox, creating an artificial glow that increases the contrasts between her interplay of light and shadow. It also adds this calming vibe, as if we really are seeing through walls and into the privacy of bedrooms.

![Lightbox of a bedroom at night by Ikang Gonzales for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182124.jpg "20241025_182124 - BluPrint")Lightbox of a bedroom at night by Ikang Gonzales for “Portals.”

![A lightbox of a bedroom by Ikang Gonzales.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182234.jpg "20241025_182234 - BluPrint")A lightbox of a bedroom by Ikang Gonzales.

![Lightbox of a bedroom at morning by Ikang Gonzales for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182240.jpg "20241025_182240 - BluPrint")Lightbox of a bedroom at morning by Ikang Gonzales for “Portals.”

![A lightbox of a bedroom by Ikang Gonzales.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182245.jpg "20241025_182245 - BluPrint")A lightbox of a bedroom by Ikang Gonzales.

“Gonzales paints the confines of her bedroom as light consumes darkness freely, little by little, through an opening, evoking the feeling of longing for her immediate space while having to accept the inevitable change from the outside,” the exhibit write-up said.

In the overall theme of the exhibit, Gonzales points toward the importance of gateways to form intimate connections. People exist in multiple realms, in personal and professional capacities. These windows and doorways allow for easier navigation between these realms that allow individuals to be able to protect or show themselves to others.

## **Guardians Between Worlds**

Isaac Sion’s section of the exhibit features paintings of cats in various scenes, frowning at viewers as they wander through settings like restaurants, art galleries, and open fields. In keeping with the show’s overall theme, these animal guardians often guide travelers through mystical gateways in myths and folklore.

!["Saki" by Isaac Sion.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182949.jpg "20241025_182949 - BluPrint")“Saki” by Isaac Sion. Sion’s style is colorful and vivid in a different way from Gonzales’s works. While Gonzales drifts more towards the realm of realism in her precise depiction of rooms, Sion’s work explodes with color in playful and comical ways. His cats bounce around, the universe seemingly seeping through their fur.

![A painting by Isaac Sion.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182916.jpg "20241025_182916 - BluPrint")A painting by Isaac Sion.

!["Pop Shove It" by Isaac Sion for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182207.jpg "20241025_182207 - BluPrint")“Pop Shove It” by Isaac Sion for “Portals.”

![Six painting by Isaac Sion for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182844.jpg "20241025_182844 - BluPrint")Six painting by Isaac Sion for “Portals.”

![Two paintings for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182847.jpg "20241025_182847 - BluPrint")Two paintings for “Portals.”

!["Strangers in the Sky" for "Portals."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182856.jpg "20241025_182856 - BluPrint")“Strangers in the Sky” for “Portals.”

!["Solo Gamer" by Isaac Sion.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182306.jpg "20241025_182306 - BluPrint")“Solo Gamer” by Isaac Sion.

“Scenes where cats seem to live human-like lives painted with random confetti-like shapes and colors suggest an alternate reality,” the write-up said. “Sion playfully presents an imagined landscape parallel to his consciousness with the assumption that cats would imitate his likeness through an open doorway.”

## **Combining Styles Through “Portals”**

Gonzales and Sion later combined their artistic styles in their wire mesh sculpture “Portals,” which depict a person apparently being taken through a closing gateway of colorful faces and symbols. The collaboration combines their dueling perspectives on the theme and finds an artistic middle-ground that lets both sides co-exist.

!["Portals" by Ikang Gonzales and Isaac Sion.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182136.jpg "20241025_182136 - BluPrint")“Portals” by Ikang Gonzales and Isaac Sion.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182141.jpg "20241025_182141 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182959.jpg "20241025_182959 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_183002.jpg "20241025_183002 - BluPrint")

Ikang Gonzales and Isaac Sion bring insight into the ways humanity connects with each other. Whether in the privacy of their room or through the guardianship of other entities, *Portals* allows for rumination on the openness of our own selves in society.

This exhibit is open to the public until November 30.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Portal of Experiences: A Gateway of Two Identities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/portal-of-experiences-a-gateway-of-two-identities/ "Portal of Experiences: A Gateway of Two Identities")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Gravity Art Space, Ikang Gonzales, Isaac Sion, Philippines

---

### [Alain Cuchas Llaguno Crafts a Tribute to B-Movies](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/alain-cuchas-llaguno-next-door-to-nirvana/)

**Published:** November 13, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*The Next Door to Nirvana and Back* by Alain Cuchas Llaguno relives the buried glory of our B-movie past. The new exhibit at Gravity Art Space mixes in different cultural signifiers to create this interesting collage of influences, with Llaguno finding the beauty in trashiness.

This exhibit finds itself at a particular moment of cultural cinema. The B-movie is a cheaply-made genre picture, something that got its name for its lack of resources or artistic ambitions. Studios make these movies as a way of gaining cash and audiences quickly. A range of genres count as B-movies: horror, action, kung-fu, wuxia, softcore porn, exploitation.

![An exhibit-goer enjoying "The Next Door to Nirvana and Back" by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Nirvana-exhibit-shot.jpg "Nirvana exhibit shot - BluPrint")An exhibit-goer enjoying “The Next Door to Nirvana and Back” by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.B-movies are deeply important in the history of cinema because they tend to push barriers and train future filmmakers. For this exhibit, Llaguno appears to take inspiration from the B-movies of the past. He mashes it together with other influences like advertisements and television shows from the 1970s and 1980s.

“In the artist’s memories, which he tells us could be the memories as well of other generations—his and those who care to remember—everything matters,” the exhibit write-up said. “And even if they do not, who really cares. The personal and the private, the secret and the inchoate, become part of the artist’s canvas.”

## **Recontextualizing The Past**

There is a lot of joy to be seen in the works by Alain Cuchas Llaguno featured here. The paintings recreate a specific aesthetic style of painted film posters that used to be seen in cinema houses at Cubao or Recto. For these posters, the cinemas tend to aim for similarity rather than accuracy. They give audiences grotesque approximations of movie stars localized for the theater’s needs.

![Three artworks for "Next Door to Nirvana and Back."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_181347.jpg "20241025_181347 - BluPrint")Three artworks for “Next Door to Nirvana and Back.”Llaguno mixes that rushed cinematic aesthetic with his own stylistic combination of abstract backgrounds, pop art-esque stylings, and floating product placements alongside the actors. It’s very vivid and grimy like it’s been exposed to the elements.. At times, Llaguno’s paintings resemble layers of torn posters stacked over each other, creating a collage-like effect that string different ideas together.

![Artworks by Alain Cuchas Llaguno for "Next Door to Nirvana and Back."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_183645.jpg "20241025_183645 - BluPrint")Artworks by Alain Cuchas Llaguno for “Next Door to Nirvana and Back.”The different pairings that Alain Cuchas Llaguno is as baffling as it is intriguing. One painting includes Fernando Poe, Jr. and a comedic sidekick of his (Dencio Padilla, maybe?) behind an abstract background of pinks and light blues. Another combines an old Jollibee receipt with sunglasses and a bottle of Pepsi-Cola with a similar background. Still another pairs an armed woman with a television set and Chiclets.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182733.jpg "20241025_182733 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_182748.jpg "20241025_182748 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_183850.jpg "20241025_183850 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_181404.jpg "20241025_181404 - BluPrint")

Most of these only make sense in conversation with each other and the broader goal of the exhibit. These strange combinations work towards what Llaguno tries to capture: a hazy recollection of images and memories attempting to tell the stories of the past.

“Remembering is akin to collecting things from the past,” the write-up said. “We gather them all and it does not matter what stories are formed, what narratives are told, so long as we do not forget.”

## **The Cinematic Wonders of Alain Cuchas Llaguno**

Others contain that kind of hyper-specific references that any movie lover could pinpoint easily. “Kung Fu Specials” feels like the centerpiece of the exhibit: a forty-four piece painting that mixes multiple kung-fu and wuxia films together.

!["Kung Fu Specials," a tribute to B-movie kung fu films by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_181245.jpg "20241025_181245 - BluPrint")“Kung Fu Specials,” a tribute to B-movie kung fu films by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_183809.jpg "20241025_183809 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_184420.jpg "20241025_184420 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_183800.jpg "20241025_183800 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_184428.jpg "20241025_184428 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_181332.jpg "20241025_181332 - BluPrint")

You can see poses from posters of Jet Li films from the 2000s, or the old master from *Kill Bill Volume 2*. Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan show up in a few of them in different fighting stances. One of them looks like Zhang Ziyi from *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*. It’s a genuine marvel to behold. More than that, there’s a lot of fun to see how many of the films you can identify.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_181253.jpg "20241025_181253 - BluPrint")

![Two paintings by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_184401.jpg "20241025_184401 - BluPrint")Two paintings by Alain Cuchas Llaguno.

![Two paintings for "Next Door to Nirvana and Back," including a tribute to B-movie star Weng Weng.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241025_184408.jpg "20241025_184408 - BluPrint")Two paintings for “Next Door to Nirvana and Back,” including a tribute to B-movie star Weng Weng.

One of the works centers around legendary B-movie star Weng Weng, the star of *For Y’ur Height Only* and *The Impossible Kid*. These movies aren’t great beacons of cinema, but they are fun and strange artifacts of a different era. That historical importance allowed Weng Weng to become a cult star even after his death at 34, including a whole documentary about him. That outsized importance influenced at least part of the works featured in the exhibit.

“In the cinematic universe of Alain Cuchas Llaguno, Weng Weng is alive,” the write-up said. “He stares from the canvas, serious and elfin. He carries a gun if only to live up to his status as an action star. Behind him is a device that plays music or video, a tribute to how a character like this ‘dwarf’ will resist being forgotten even as the technology for capturing sounds or images have been constantly changing.”

## **Tribute to the Past**

*The Next Door to Nirvana and Back* works well as a tribute to a bygone era. Alain Cuchas Llaguno taps into the same kind of entertaining mix-and-match that filmmaker Quentin Tarantino does with his own tributes to the past. The exhibit gives out an earnest, happy energy as it clings to preserving the memories of the past.

The exhibit is open to the public until November 30.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Sine Pop: A post-war home turned “Boutique Theatre” in Cubao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/sine-pop/ "Sine Pop: A post-war home turned “Boutique Theatre” in Cubao")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Gravity Art Space, Manila, Philippines, Pop Culture

---

### [Is This the Future of Affordable Sustainable Housing in the Philippines?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/phinma-cmg-build-with-union-2024-sustainable-housing/)

**Published:** November 6, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Build with Union 2024* is an advocacy event spearheaded by PHINMA Construction Materials Group (CMG), created as a way for young voices to participate in “meaningful discussions” about affordable sustainable [housing in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/social-housing-in-the-philippines-nha-government/).

Chosen students from top universities were given the opportunity to learn about the housing needs of marginalized families in the country. They then crafted potential design solutions in creating sustainable housing using the latest technologies in architecture and construction.

![The different sustainable housing projects submitted for Build with Union 2024. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Build-with-Union-2024-1-Featured-Image.jpg "Build with Union 2024 1 Featured Image - BluPrint")The different sustainable housing projects submitted for Build with Union 2024. Photo by Elle Yap.The hackathon finale happened on October 22 at TRYP by Wyndham Mall of Asia. Five universities participated in the hackathon for sustainable housing: the Technological Institute of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines, MAPUA University, the Technological University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

These universities submitted different proposals for affordable sustainable housing. These were presented to a panel of judges, with each group of students detailing the specifics of their design and the process that led to it.

## **Sustainable Housing for Poor Households**

*Build with Union 2024* Hackathon focused on the increasing needs of housing within the country. PHINMA CMG CEO and President Eduardo Sahagun contextualized the situation in his opening remarks. He said that the country had a housing backlog of 6.5 million, ever-increasing by the millions every year.

![PHINMA CMG CEO and President Eduardo Sahagun speaking during Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by the organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PHINMA-CMG-President-and-CEO-Eduardo-A.-Sahagun-1.jpg "PHINMA CMG President and CEO Eduardo A. Sahagun (1) - BluPrint")PHINMA CMG CEO and President Eduardo Sahagun speaking during Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by the organizers.“The need for innovative solutions but \[are still\] affordable to low income groups of society is more urgent than ever,” Sahagun said. He later added: “We need to rethink and reinvent how we build, embracing new methods and materials to make homes more affordable, sustainable, and accessible to those who need them most.”

The issue of climate underscored the whole proceeding, especially as natural disasters become more prevalent across the world.

![PHINMA CMG CEO and President Eduardo Sahagun discussing the housing problem in the Philippines. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_085829.jpg "20241022_085829 - BluPrint")PHINMA CMG CEO and President Eduardo Sahagun discussing the housing problem in the Philippines. Photo by Elle Yap.“We must also consider building homes that are resilient to climate change, leading to sustainable structures and communities,” he said. “We know that this is challenging, but we need to be bold and transformative, so we can address this very urgently to our fellow Filipinos, especially those in the bottom line of the pyramid.

## **Creative Solutions for Housing Problems**

Derik Tabunar, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for PHINMA CMG, emphasized the importance of *Build with Union 2024* and its advocacy for sustainable housing. The student perspective, he said, allows them to see the problem with a renewed viewpoint through the different proposals that the students can come up with.

![Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Derik Tabunar. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_090547.jpg "20241022_090547 - BluPrint")Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Derik Tabunar. Photo by Elle Yap.“I think it’s very important for us to also appreciate and acknowledge the fresh and innovative eyes that the youth can actually contribute,” he said. “The beauty of this type of event is it allows us to also propose solutions, propose new ideas that maybe even on the current status quo, no, it’s not being considered.”

Each of the student groups were given guided tours of social housing projects by Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity, and of PHINMA CMG’s factories for their construction materials. Mentors from the industry helped guide the students and their ideas into something feasible.

![Derik Tabunar discussing the criteria used by the judges to choose the winners. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_091313.jpg "20241022_091313 - BluPrint")Derik Tabunar discussing the criteria used by the judges to choose the winners. Photo by Elle Yap.Through this, the students saw the needs of the families firsthand and the technology currently available for use in each building. This influenced their design ideas in the end.

“In this case, they will also be guided in terms of the creativity of their design with a balance of the feasible and cost effectiveness of the designs that they are actually proposing,” Tabunar said.

## **Echoing Sustainability in Communal Spaces**

Each of the schools presented their designs in sustainable housing for *Build with Union 2024*. Many of them used a unique hook grounded in ideas of environmental-friendliness and affordability.

For the University of the Philippines Diliman, they presented Layon: Ang Bahay ng Masa. Their design uses Cement Bamboo Frame Technology for the building. More than that, however, they crafted a one-floor-and-mezzanine open house plan to allow the families to configure their homes themselves.

![UP Diliman's sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082435.jpg "20241022_082435 - BluPrint")UP Diliman’s sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.Mapua University’s project was named Banyuhay. This one made liberal use of solihiya patterns to create a sustainable home that’s both private and open to the community. They employ passive energy designs that utilize skylights and large windows to reduce electricity consumption.

![Mapua University's sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082511.jpg "20241022_082511 - BluPrint")Mapua University’s sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_083523.jpg "20241022_083523 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082515.jpg "20241022_082515 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082520.jpg "20241022_082520 - BluPrint")

Minimal concrete will be used for the house to let it cool easier. Materials such as Autoclaved Aerated Concrete blocks and Phenolic boards were used to minimize its environmental burden.

The University of Santo Tomas presented their project idea, Pabahay Tomasino. This project has a minimalist modern aesthetic arranged around the idea of a shared communal space. The house is adaptable and flexible in its use of lightweight roofing materials and cross-ventilation practices.

![University of Santo Tomas' sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_081506.jpg "20241022_081506 - BluPrint")University of Santo Tomas’ sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_081518.jpg "20241022_081518 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_110152.jpg "20241022_110152 - BluPrint")

## **Innovative Use of Materials**

The Technological Institute of the Philippines presented Project E-Cubo. The project’s central design hook is a series of interlocking-stackable concrete blocks called EQ Blocks that can reduce the time it takes to construct the house at scale.

![TIP's sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082452.jpg "20241022_082452 - BluPrint")TIP’s sustainable housing proposal. Photo by Elle Yap.The cube-shaped design takes cues from the Bahay Kubo, and utilizes different green design techniques like solar panels and an efficient rainwater harvesting system to ensure its sustainability for the families.

The Technological University of the Philippines showcased their building idea Kuwadrado. Likely the most dynamically-designed of the five, it uses modular housing ideas to an apartment building to a two-to-four-storey apartment in order to allow the easy expansion of a home to a family’s needs.

![TUP's winning sustainable housing proposal for Build with Union 2024. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082932.jpg "20241022_082932 - BluPrint")TUP’s winning sustainable housing proposal for Build with Union 2024. Photo by Elle Yap.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_082937.jpg "20241022_082937 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241022_081538.jpg "20241022_081538 - BluPrint")

This allowance for incremental growth is possible through some of their design ideas, like its use of an APS Composite wall panel to make it easy to expand. It uses a wire mesh panel system that can be used for gardening and laundry needs.

The building, like the others, applies sustainability engineering to the project: solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and even compost gardening. Its structure makes use of structural hollow steel, concrete louvers, and expanded polystyrene core panel system.

## **Awarding for Sustainable Housing Designs**

After the presentation and much deliberation, the judges for *Build with Union 2024* announced the winners. The Technological University of the Philippines won first place and the Most Sustainable Design Award for Kuwardrado. Mapua University won second place for Banyuhay. The Technological Institute of the Philippines’ Project E-Cubo got third place and the Union Astig award for utilizing PHINMA CMG’s construction materials best.

![PHINMA's Build with Union 2024 First Placer winner TUP. Photo provided by organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1-Grand-Champion-TUP-2.jpg "1 Grand Champion - TUP (2) - BluPrint")PHINMA’s Build with Union 2024 First Placer winner TUP. Photo provided by organizers.![Second Placers Mapua University for PHINMA's Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2-Second-Place-Mapua.jpg "2 Second Place - Mapua - BluPrint")Second Placers Mapua University for PHINMA’s Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by organizers.![Third Placers TIP for PHINMA's Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3-Third-Place-TIP.jpg "3 Third Place - TIP - BluPrint")Third Placers TIP for PHINMA’s Build with Union 2024. Photo provided by organizers.## **PHINMA Blazing the Future of Sustainable Construction**

Tabunar said that the benefit of the *Build with Union 2024* hackathon is PHINMA CMG’s ability to help operationalize the ideas presented. The event is not merely a creative exercise or a showcase of the company’s advocacies. It’s also a way to foster new ideas for the future of sustainable housing.

“This is not just an ordinary presentation of proposed design and event, no. It’s not just a simple advocacy event. In the end, we are prepared to actually help prove their concepts into reality, help validate the proposed design into actual reality as well,” Tabunar said.

Sahagun, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of concrete action to solve the housing crisis in the country. He said that now is the time for the industry to craft a legacy for future generations to have a life “filled with hope, dignity, and opportunity.”

“We can validate these innovations, scale them, and move closer to making dignified housing a reality for every Filipino family. Let’s collaborate, act decisively, and turn the dream of safe, affordable homes into lasting reality,” he said.

**Related reading:** [The Anatomy of A Sustainable Home: 5 Basic Principles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anatomy-sustainable-home/ "The Anatomy of A Sustainable Home: 5 Basic Principles")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, News, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, PHINMA CMG, Student Designs, Sustainable Architecture, Sustainable Housing

---

### ['Design x Pinyapel': Milo Naval Leads New Vision of Sustainable Materials](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/design-x-pinyapel-milo-naval/)

**Published:** October 28, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Design x [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/)*, recently launched Manila FAME, showcased the immense potential of a groundbreaking sustainable material made from discarded pineapple leaves. Spearheaded by renowned [Filipino furniture designer](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/from-new-collection-to-new-showroom-2-local-furniture-brands-champion-filipino-craftsmanship-and-creativity/) Milo Naval as Creative Director, the exhibit presents an innovative collection of furniture and works crafted from this eco-friendly material.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-57.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-57 - BluPrint")Naval collaborated with over 20 designers and brands, curating a range of products that highlights the versatility of [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/). The exhibit offers viewers a glimpse into the future of sustainable design. From functional pieces to artistic creations, [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) represents the future of eco-conscious craftsmanship in the Philippines.

## **Operationalizing Pinyapel**

The Design Center of the Philippines developed [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) as an “eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper products.” The textile comes from discarded pineapple leaves and processed to become a raw and sustainable material for different designs and products.

![Sample materials of Pinyapel fabric.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-49.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-49 - BluPrint")Sample materials of Pinyapel.The Design Center got the idea for [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) due to the country being a top exporter of pineapple. Over 2.8 million metric tons are harvested yearly, and yet “up to 50% of this crop is often wasted, primarily in the form of discarded leaves.” Thus, the project doesn’t just reduce plastic consumption in furniture making, but also ensures less environmental waste in the country overall.

“By providing a biodegradable solution that can replace nonbiodegradable materials, [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) aims to play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable practices,” the Design Center said in a statement.

![A tree art installation made of Pinyapel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-61.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-61 - BluPrint")A tree art installation made of Pinyapel.

![Pinyapel chair designed by OMO Furniture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-56.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-56 - BluPrint")Pinyapel chair designed by OMO Furniture.

![An art installation made of Pinyapel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-47.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-47 - BluPrint")An art installation made of Pinyapel.

![Light fixture with Pinyapel elements.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-51.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-51 - BluPrint")Light fixture with Pinyapel elements.

![Pinyapel lamp.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-58.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-58 - BluPrint")Pinyapel lamp.

Design Services Division Chief Carla Leonor said that the *Design x [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/)* exhibit brings the material to a broader audience, giving other designers and craftspeople a better idea of how to integrate sustainable materials into their works.

“It’s not just about learning what it is, but knowing how to translate it into products, even systems that they can use to build and grow their businesses,” Leonor said.

## **Milo Naval and Recyclable Materials**

With that in mind, Design Center brought in Milo Naval to curate an exhibit that displays its capabilities. Naval and his company [OMO Furniture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/omo-furniture-innovating-filipino-design-with-sustainability/) are forerunners of utilizing sustainable materials in their own designs and products.

“I started showing furniture that uses recycled furniture a long time ago. And I, up to this time, I feel it has come a long way already. That was like 20 years ago or more that we were already showing that we can do more. You know, help in restoring \[and\] helping in the climate change thing,” he said.

!["Design x Pinyapel" creative director Milo Naval.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-48.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-48 - BluPrint")“Design x Pinyapel” creative director Milo Naval.That history makes Milo Naval the perfect fit to introduce [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) to the general public.

“It is one of the advocacies of the Design Center to come up with a project that would use sustainable materials using pineapple. So, initially, the Design Center tried to use pineapple materials from paper cups and other uses, no? This time, we wanted to show that we can also use it for houseware and furniture. That’s why I was asked \[and\] tasked to do the project with other companies who produce furniture.”

## **Design x Pinyapel**

He came into the project with the objective of portraying the material as expansive, a creative tool flexible enough to serve the designer’s needs. He simplified the presentation to have the material as raw and white as possible, for example, as a way of giving designers their own ideas for where to push the product forward.

![A Milo Naval-designed chair made with Pinyapel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-50.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-50 - BluPrint")A Milo Naval-designed chair made with Pinyapel.“I wanted to present it as an experimental project,” he said. “You know, I tried to use it in a way that they will view it as an experience for them. I want to introduce the use of this material in a very simple way. I wanted people to think \[about\] how they can use it.”

Beyond his own company, OMO Furniture, brands like Triboa Bay, Calfurn, SouthSea Veneer, TADECO Home, and others participated in crafting a variety of designs with the material.

Some interesting design ideas include fish pendant lamps made of roped [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) designed by Lija by That One Piece. South Sea Veneer also contributed a Stonehenge-inspired table design called the Paperhenge Console Table. Triboa Bay created floor lamps, and ORO Handmade Innovations conceived of sconces from the material.

![Works at "Design x Pinyapel."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-55.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-55 - BluPrint")Works at “Design x Pinyapel.”

![Lighting fixture at "Design x Pinyapel."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-53.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-53 - BluPrint")Lighting fixture at “Design x Pinyapel.”

![Fish pendant lamps by Lija by That One Piece. Table by South Sea Veneer.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-60.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-60 - BluPrint")Fish pendant lamps by Lija by That One Piece. Table by South Sea Veneer.

Leonor said that it showcases just how versatile the use of [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) is for different purposes. Depending on its thickness, it can be combined with other materials like metal and wood to create something unique.

“Here you’ll notice there’s paper, pineapple-based paper. There’s pulp, there’s non-woven textile, there’s woven textile. There’s even rope, and we even have combined it with polypropylene para maging hard extruded material siya,” she said.

## **Sustainability, Circularity, and the Future of Design** 

Naval believes that sustainability is a necessary part of the future of design and manufacturing. In the context of [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) and of his own past designs, he said that a sense of circularity allows designers to use everything of the material, leaving no waste behind as an afterproduct. That concept is what attracted him to [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) in the first place.

“Sustainability also relates to circularity,” he said. “When you design something, you want to use something that, say, from the fruit to its waste down to using it again. That is circularity. So, we wanted something like that. The whole idea of it being sustainable from the plant down to using it again in furniture and other things.”

!["Design x Pinyapel" creative director Milo Naval.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-43.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-43 - BluPrint")“Design x Pinyapel” Creative Director Milo Naval.“The idea was to show something that you can still expand,” he said. “Now, people can think about expanding it.”

Leonor agreed with that assessment. She revealed that the Design Center is also working on other potential sustainable materials made from the bakong plant, seaweed, and other materials, though many of them are still in the studies phase to see their viability. It’s part of why they’re pushing [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/): the Design Center believes it’s passed its tests and is ready for broader use.

“[Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/) is ready to the market, *kasi nasa* staging *siya ng* industrialization,” Leonor said. “Meaning, they’re already looking for investors to be able to establish the production facilities. If you widen that capability, that also means… companies will be able to get the raw material at a lower price.”

## **Adapting to a Climate-Friendly Future**

With *Design x [Pinyapel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/pinyapel-dad-future-impact-awards-2019/)* lighting the torch for the future, it allows us to envision the Philippines as a leader in sustainable product development and design. More than any other country, the Philippines shows the potential for adapting to a changing, climate-friendly world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-52.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-52 - BluPrint")“There’s a lot of potential for the Philippines to become a good player in the green economy,” Leonor said. “\[That’s because\] there’s a lot of demand globally for sustainable products.”

“Remember, we are an agri-based country,” she continued. “That means \[we have many\] sources of these waste materials na doesn’t have that value \[when you\] look at it. But what we’re doing when we use it for furniture, we’re bringing it to high-value pieces. So, that really elevates everything that we’re doing and how we’re different across the world.”

*Photos by Kieran Punay.*

Related reading: [Filipino Design: The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/design-center-celebrates-filipino-design/ "Filipino Design: The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** Design, Interior Design, Milo Naval, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Manila FAME 2024: Displaying the Unique Qualities of Philippine Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/manila-fame-2024-philippine-design/)

**Published:** October 26, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Since its inception in 1983, Manila FAME has offered Filipino craftspeople and artisans a platform to advertise their products to an international audience. This year’s trade show happened at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay from October 17 to 19.

Centered on the theme “reimagination,” the fair highlighted Filipino ingenuity and the ability to reimagine raw local materials into something functional and beautiful. Hundreds of companies participated, many of them specializing in artisanal products. BluPrint was on ground for its opening day, and found a common running theme of hand-crafted sustainable products that push design forward.

## **New Progressions in Craft**

Major companies came to the event with their best foot forward, showcasing progressions of their designs that make them stand out locally and internationally. From genteelhome’s collaboration with Arch. [Royal Pineda](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/viewing-the-alchemy-of-growth-with-royal-pineda/) to Jed Yabut’s newest product innovations, the major brands let themselves known to be in the forefront of design.

![Pieces from genteelhome's exhibit at Manila Fame.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-25.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-25 - BluPrint")Pieces from genteelhome’s exhibit at Manila Fame.“\[The booth\] is mostly to showcase what we are capable of and what we are evolving \[to\] as a company. Because we have been known to do rattan furniture, now we’re working mostly on wooden furniture and chandeliers and wall art. So more variety in terms of the product mix. So that’s what we do now,” Yabut said about his Manila FAME exhibit.

![Jed Yabut's exhibit featuring pieces made for Pia Wurtzbach.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-07 - BluPrint")Jed Yabut’s exhibit featuring pieces made for Pia Wurtzbach.Many companies locked into the theme of “reimagination” in their presentations. Azcor Lighting Systems, for example, demonstrated a variety of designs to give viewers an idea of their broader talents.

![Lighting design by Azcor Lighting Systems.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-19 - BluPrint")Lighting design by Azcor Lighting Systems.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-20.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-21.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-21 - BluPrint")

“Actually, everything here is most likely experimental. We’re just showing what are the different designs that can be used. So, we’re just representing our designs that can be put on any type \[of material\]. *Pwede siya yung i-combo sa* wrought iron, *sa* rattan, *sa* machuca. So we’re just experimenting. We’re just kick starting our designs,” a representative from the company said.

This spirit of reimagination is best seen in the Design Commune Home in the center of the convention hall. Curated by Rita Nazareno and Gabby [Lichauco](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/structures-that-heal-dan-lichauco-on-designing-the-philippines-first-cancer-center/), the exhibit showcases “25 Philippine manufacturers and brands” with their most unique offerings, largely made from sustainably sourced materials.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-06.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-06 - BluPrint")All the products showcased are functional as well. Viewers get a glimpse of how designers reintegrate their cultural influences, including “[extinct animals and plants](https://fameplus.com/design_commune),” for practical purposes.

## **Regional Talents**

A majority of the companies in Manila FAME come from the provinces and different regions outside Metro Manila. Many places, such as Deco Central from Region III, are using their platform to promote different companies in their respective regions.

![DECO Central at Manila FAME.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-11.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-11 - BluPrint")DECO Central at Manila FAME.“Each company \[has\] their own specialties, so we’re trying to promote them \[as\] being proudly locally made, proudly Philippine made, and this is trying to market them not just locally, but internationally as well,” the company said.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-13.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-13 - BluPrint")One booth showcases the One Town One Product (OTOP) Program of DTI. This program focuses on micro, small, and medium enterprises and the unique products that cater both locally and abroad. They give different types of assistance to these businesses, from infrastructure to financing and marketing needs.

![Some of the exhibited materials from DECO Central.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-09 - BluPrint")Some of the exhibited materials from DECO Central.“OTOP empowers rural communities to be more competitive and market-driven,” their write-up said. “By collaborating with both private and public sectors, the program fosters innovation and creates opportunities for sustainable \[products\].”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-29.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-29 - BluPrint")

![Tadeco Home's exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-27.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-27 - BluPrint")Tadeco Home’s exhibit.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-26.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-26 - BluPrint")

Other booths hammer home the cultural variety that abound in each region. The Bohol region, for example, showed off their artisanal sea salt Asín tibuok. Their exhibit advertised the salt as rare and one-of-a-kind, with its long, traditional manufacturing process. Tarlac, meanwhile, had hand-crafted bags with strong materials and interesting designs.

“We all know that Tarlac is known as the melting pot of the Philippines,” a representative at the Tarlac booth said. “So therefore, it showcases not just the Tarlac products, but kind of a diverse \[roster of\] materials and ways on how to show their creativity. For instance, this Bayong Gracia, one of our products, showcases the Apo Whang-od Inspiration Bag that showcases the cultural heritage that we Filipinos are trying to preserve.”

## **Perspectives into Local Sustainability**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-31.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-31 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-32.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-32 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-30.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-30 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-04 - BluPrint")

Beyond the regional talents, a big highlight of Manila FAME was their focus on sustainability. With the climate crisis becoming a realer and darker scenario for the Philippines, many companies are now crafting their own products with sustainably-sourced materials.

Among the companies showcasing their sustainability bonafides is Indigenous, which claims to source their materials and practices from indigenous peoples and practices.

![Works by Indigenous at Manila FAME.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-05.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-05 - BluPrint")Works by Indigenous at Manila FAME.“We’re a sustainable company,” a representative said. “We don’t use any plastic in our products. If you notice, these are all natural materials. We use abaca paper,” she continued, pointing to the various products around her. “That’s abaca paper. And then that one there is the pineapple paper. And this one is the coconut husk. We also don’t use artificial adhesives. We use the cassava starch. And then we have our own plant based solutions. So, mostly, all our products are plant based.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-04 - BluPrint")Another company that puts sustainability in the forefront is Freden Export, a handicrafts company. “We \[have been\] manufacturing since 1970. We started with a bird carving, and hand painted \[products\]. Throughout the years, it evolved. And now, we focus on recycled materials,” their representative said.

Describing their products, they said that their method is “recycling nature, \[and\] turning it into a home decoration.”

## **KATHA Awards**

During the second day, the organizers announced the winners of the KATHA Awards. The organizers see the award as “a hallmark of Philippine product design excellence and innovation.”

![P&B Valises et Compagnie's KATHA-winning exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-37.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-37 - BluPrint")P&B Valises et Compagnie’s KATHA-winning exhibit.The following companies won accolades during the ceremony at Manila FAME.

- **Best Product Design for Furniture**: Zulu Bench, from FINALI
- **Best Product Design for Lamps and Lighting**: Fauna, from AZCOR LIGHTING SYSTEM
- **Best Product Design for Home Decor and Houseware**: Achite Chess Board Set, from BON ACE
- **Best Product Design for Fashion**: Pisa Handbag from BON ACE
- **Best Product Design for Holiday Decor and Gifts**: Nutcracker Ornaments, from P&B VALISES ET COMPAGNIE

- **Eco Design Award**: PAEA Table Runner, from BUTTONS ‘N THINGS

- **Best Booth Design**: P&B VALISES ET COMPAGNIE
- **Best Sustainable Booth Design**: ZARATE MANILA

## **Manila FAME: Spotlight on Filipino Craft**

As the three day trade fair drew to a close, Manila FAME really gave a great perspective into where Filipino design currently stands today. It doesn’t just display our progressive, front-facing view into the future, but also how we integrate our past practices into creating unique product designs that stand out from the rest of the world.

![Products from Machuca Tiles.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-16.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-16 - BluPrint")Products from Machuca Tiles.

![Work showcasing use of Klaypel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-17.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-17 - BluPrint")Work showcasing use of Klaypel. 

![Products from Machuca Tiles.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-15.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-15 - BluPrint")Products from Machuca Tiles.

![An exhibit piece at DECO Central.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-10.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-10 - BluPrint")An exhibit piece at DECO Central.

![One of the exhibits at Manila FAME.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-35.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-35 - BluPrint")One of the exhibits at Manila FAME.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Manila-FAME-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Manila-FAME)-12 - BluPrint")

The companies at Manila FAME expressed their hopes that this event will not just showcase our ingenuity, but the talent and creativity behind each and every design and product in that convention hall.

“I think this \[…\] is all about showcasing the talents of Pinoys,” the representative from Tarlac said. “And of course, they’re flourishing in their creativity. \[This allows us to\] be able to showcase worldwide so we could be able to show to the world that we Filipinos are capable of exporting products as well, that could be given not just for the local market, but for the international as well.”

*Photos by Kieran Punay.*

Related reading: [Global Pinoy: FAME+ Sets the World Stage for Local Artisans](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/global-pinoy-fame-sets-the-world-stage-for-local-artisans/ "Global Pinoy: FAME+ Sets the World Stage for Local Artisans")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [‘Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana’ Merges Two Eccentric Styles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/clarence-chun-x-luis-lorenzana-mono8-gallery/)

**Published:** October 30, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana*, Mono8 Gallery director Gwen Bautista envisioned a way for the two artists to reclaim their own selfhood after decades of different influences and pivots in their own line of work. She believes that the two artists, coming from a place of respect, could challenge each other on their art and how to move forward.

“I like the idea that both of them come from very different foundations in their practice,” Bautista said. “Clarence is heavily academically trained. And then Luis, on the other hand, is self-taught. But at the same time, they’re both now at the level of their practice where that doesn’t really matter anymore. And it’s really more now about trying to reclaim themselves away from all of those learnings.”

![Works by both artists displayed at "Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181152.jpg "20241016_181152 - BluPrint")Works by both artists displayed at “Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana.”The new exhibit is a celebration of both of these artists’ careers. But it also attempts to show us how a collaboration for the two makes sense. For the selected past works, it doesn’t just communicate their past achievements, but their stylistic similarities and differences that allow them to pop in the eyes of the viewer.

And once viewers see the collaborative works, they can easily understand the push-and-pull within the final product. It gives further context into the ideas of the actual collaborative paintings, and illuminates just *how* these two distinctive artists created these works.

## **Fractured Memories**

*Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana* could not have more different artistic styles. Chun specializes in abstraction; his paintings attempt to portray feelings and memories of the past.

It leads to works which have a glitchy, explosive look, constantly busy with colors and emotions. Chun himself said that this allows him to create paintings with strong emotional resonance, even if it’s not consistent with what actually happened. What matters is what stuck with him, and whatever digressions he can relate to it along the way.

![Early abstractions by Clarence Chun.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181010.jpg "20241016_181010 - BluPrint")Early abstractions by Clarence Chun.

![A work by Clarence Chun.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181129.jpg "20241016_181129 - BluPrint")A work by Clarence Chun.

![A work by Clarence Chun.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181022.jpg "20241016_181022 - BluPrint")A work by Clarence Chun.

![Two works displayed at Mono8 Gallery for Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181118.jpg "20241016_181118 - BluPrint")Two works displayed at Mono8 Gallery for Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana.

“Whenever you remember something, right, you don’t remember the whole thing, you just remember a certain part, a certain piece,” Chun said. “Like, if I tell you, like one day, when you were younger, when you were going out with your mom, you don’t remember the whole trip. You just remember a certain part, whether she got you ice cream or whatever.

“That’s where the fracturing comes from, where I can only remember parts of that memory and I will just paint that. That’s why it’s kind of fractured, because you’re only recounting the parts that you remember.”

![Clarence Chun and one of his works on display at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_183834.jpg "20241016_183834 - BluPrint")Clarence Chun and one of his works on display at Mono8 Gallery.## **Simplified Methods**

Lorenzana, meanwhile, had a varied history into finding his own art style. He started with fine art with a hint of graffiti, before becoming interested in traditional baroque portraiture. He received acclaim from that, but by 2016, he felt unchallenged by the paintings.

![An early portrait by Luis Lorenzana.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181514.jpg "20241016_181514 - BluPrint")An early portrait by Luis Lorenzana.“This one, I can say, with eyes closed, \[I can paint it easily\].”

![Baroque portraits by Luis Lorenzana displayed at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181521.jpg "20241016_181521 - BluPrint")Baroque portraits by Luis Lorenzana displayed at Mono8 Gallery.His most recent experimentations and paintings work to simplify the idea of portraiture. Moving away from the baroque style that made him famous, he crafts flatter, simpler paintings that reduces the amount of flourish and specificity without removing the feelings and emotions of a moment. It’s a very interesting stylistic choice, one as enamored with technique as his baroque portraits, but *less*.

“My normal process is, my eyes normally see things in 3D, but the more you learn, the more flatter your attempts to create those visual languages. Flatter. Simpler,” he said. “And then it came to a point wherein the most important thing for me is just the composition, the texture, and the color, and the surface.

![A work displayed for "Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana" at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181109.jpg "20241016_181109 - BluPrint")A work displayed for “Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana” at Mono8 Gallery.

![Five works displayed for "Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana" at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_180936.jpg "20241016_180936 - BluPrint")Five works displayed for “Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana” at Mono8 Gallery.

![A work displayed for "Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana" at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181202.jpg "20241016_181202 - BluPrint")A work displayed for “Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana” at Mono8 Gallery.

“And then, shapes and lines so that the shadow and the dramatic things that you add to your vein… Before, I was so fascinated with artworks that have narratives. But now it’s more on the technical aspect of painting.

“So, that’s it. My fascination now is ‘the simplest the form, the more interesting the texture.’”

![Luis Lorenzana and one of his works on display at Mono8 Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_191106.jpg "20241016_191106 - BluPrint")Luis Lorenzana and one of his works on display at Mono8 Gallery.## **Merging Techniques**

As both of them were searching for new challenges to conquer, something like *Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana* became inevitable. Both of them were familiar with each other’s works and both respected the other’s craft. Thus, they jumped at the opportunity to work together on their first collaborative exhibit.

![The two artists in front of a collaboration of theirs.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Clarence-and-Luis-together.jpg "Clarence and Luis together - BluPrint")The two artists in front of a collaboration of theirs.For the three collaborative paintings produced for the exhibit, Chun would work on the first layer first before Lorenzana would add another layer to the work, and so on. Chun said that both of them were overly-respectful of each other’s contributions.

“Both of us were so respectful that I didn’t want to—I actually covered, I cellophaned his abstractions so I wouldn’t get any of my paint on top. And then, he didn’t want to ruin the surface, because I guess he liked the surface that I painted for him. I wanted a clean surface so he has a nice surface to paint on, yeah. But he didn’t want to do that,” Chun said.

“He didn’t want to, like, destroy it. I wanted him to actually destroy it. But he’s so respectful that he didn’t want to do that.”

![A collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_180921.jpg "20241016_180921 - BluPrint")A collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.

![Another collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_181940.jpg "20241016_181940 - BluPrint")Another collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.

![A collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241016_180946.jpg "20241016_180946 - BluPrint")A collaboration between Clarence Chun and Luis Lorenzana.

The end product for the three paintings merges Chun’s fractured abstractions with Lorenzana’s simplified portrait-like faces in random parts of the canvas. Though their styles feel too neatly boxed in from each other to bring any sort of chaos to the work, it still feels like a true collaboration, as both of them contribute their own methods and ideas without overpowering each other.

## **New Challenges and Horizons**

*Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana* works for viewers as a primer to the past works of these illustrious artists, and as a perspective on how they merge ideas and work together for the new creation of art. But it possibly works best for Chun and Lorenzana as a great way to challenge themselves, allowing them new horizons to explore in their practice.

“It’s more of two artists allowing themselves to be placed in control and also bring a lot of respect to each other in making a collaboration piece,” Bautista said. “It’s very difficult because, especially for abstract artists, it’s really more of an expression, but for them to be able to hold certain pieces of the canvas for the other is something that is really what we want to see in this exhibition.

“That’s the point of us having to put two artists together to collaborate. It’s like the sharing of space. It’s like allowing themselves to feel what the other is feeling in their works.”

*Clarence Chun x Luis Lorenzana* is open till November 26.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Cabangis Family Joins Forces for Collaborative Exhibit in Modeka Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/cabangis-family-joins-forces-for-collaborative-exhibit-in-modeka-art/ "Cabangis Family Joins Forces for Collaborative Exhibit in Modeka Art")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Clarence Chun, Luis Lorenzana, Mono8 Gallery, Philippines

---

### [‘Places Within’ Reflect the Emotional Resonance of Our Environment](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/places-within-exhibit-vinyl-on-vinyl/)

**Published:** October 29, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

While discussions about community often center on people—our neighbors and social connections—Vinyl on Vinyl’s newest exhibit, *Places Within,* shifts the focus to the physical spaces that define our surroundings. This group show puts our communities’ setting at the forefront, with the artists looking to capture a sense of place. They highlight how buildings, greenery, and other factors contribute to our sense of belonging or alienation with the world around us.

![Four works displayed at Vinyl on Vinyl for "Places Within."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134033.jpg "20241011_134033 - BluPrint")Four works displayed at Vinyl on Vinyl for “Places Within.”“It is a visual exploration of the invisible threads that tie us to the spaces we occupy,” the exhibit write-up said. “\[This ranges\] from the comforting familiarity of home to the disorientating vastness of unfamiliar terrain.”

## **How Our World Affects Our Sense of Self**

*Places Within* emphasizes the importance and ephemerality of spaces through multiple mediums. A variety of paintings and mixed media artworks litter the exhibition space as the artists attempt to highlight the different important aspects of community.

While not necessarily melancholic, the works here dig down on the feeling of coziness and longing. It focuses on those feelings and how they feed the need to find our own place. These artists portray the world with different perspectives; some of it are city-centric, while others place nature at center.

Luwalhati Vergara-Yoder’s three works show a nature-centric approach to her work, illustrating forests, oceans, and townships from a godlike perspective. Other works, like Aina Valencia’s “And Everything in it,” dip into abstraction to depict nature’s wilder growths and sprouts.

![Two works by Luwalhati Vergara-Yoder.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_133909.jpg "20241011_133909 - BluPrint")Two works by Luwalhati Vergara-Yoder.

!["There's Richness in Scarcity" by Luwalhati Vergara-Yoder.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134146.jpg "20241011_134146 - BluPrint")“There’s Richness in Scarcity” by Luwalhati Vergara-Yoder.

![Regina Reyes’ “Thoughts and Musings” for "Places Within."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134100.jpg "20241011_134100 - BluPrint")Regina Reyes’ “Thoughts and Musings” for “Places Within.”

![Noelle Varela’s “Still and all.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134011.jpg "20241011_134011 - BluPrint")Noelle Varela’s “Still and all.”

![Aina Valencia’s “And Everything in it" for "Places Within."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134022.jpg "20241011_134022 - BluPrint")Aina Valencia’s “And Everything in it” for “Places Within.”

Meanwhile, Noelle Varela’s “Still and all” combines acrylic paint, sawdust, and a three-dimensional recreation of sprouting leaves to capture an early-morning feeling of openness. Regina Reyes’ “Thoughts and Musings” contrasts that openness with something more targeted, stitching a question about dreams into the very fabric of her jungle-themed canvas.

## **City Spaces and Longing**

In depicting cities, some of the artists featured in *Places Within* straddle the line between wistful and nostalgic. These paintings portray the interiors of a home, showcasing how our rooms contribute to the feeling of calm in ourselves.

At least one of the artists, Su Yenne, depicts the pandemic in their mixed media works, whether in the midst of doing chores or in a bedroom doing nothing. Bea Batungbacal’s works, meanwhile, illustrate the feeling of living in a cramped apartment, surrounded by buildings.

!["Emotional Hi-jack, Pandemic 2021-24" by Su Yenne.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134007.jpg "20241011_134007 - BluPrint")“Emotional Hi-jack, Pandemic 2021-24” by Su Yenne.

!["Matsuri: Wishes, Pandemic" by Su Yenne.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_134107.jpg "20241011_134107 - BluPrint")“Matsuri: Wishes, Pandemic” by Su Yenne.

![Bea Batungbacal's "Window" paintings.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_133959.jpg "20241011_133959 - BluPrint")Bea Batungbacal’s “Window” paintings.

!["I Was Here" by min for "Places Within" at Vinyl on Vinyl.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_133939.jpg "20241011_133939 - BluPrint")“I Was Here” by min for “Places Within” at Vinyl on Vinyl.

There’s a sense of claustrophobia in both artist’s contributions, but also the togetherness that coexists within the closeness of the space. It feels as though the works challenge viewers to redefine freedom in a space that doesn’t allow for much privacy. In an area that crams so many humans together, what does it mean to tether one’s self into a place?

“The works serve as a mirror, reflecting the emotional resonance of spaces and revealing the deep connections between place and person, showing how these bonds influence every facet of our lives,” the write-up said.

*Places Within* comes together as a collage of images and ideas of people seeking, finding, and defining themselves by the world they live around in. It portrays the complex feelings of melancholy, longing, and peace which situates people in their special spaces. Where we feel comfortable enough to show our emotions is what will shape us in the end.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Horror Vacui’: Two Artists Transform Personal Anxieties into Escapism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/horror-vacui-paolo-torres-ray-santiago/ "‘Horror Vacui’: Two Artists Transform Personal Anxieties into Escapism")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Community, Paintings, Philippines, Vinyl on Vinyl

---

### [‘Crossing Boundaries’ Creates Distinctive Pottery From Two Unique Artists](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/crossing-boundaries-exhibit-cartellino-art/)

**Published:** October 25, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Crossing Boundaries* is a collaborative exhibit by sculptors Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu. This is the second collaborative exhibition in a series by Cartellino Art in two months, after [last month’s exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/four-art-exhibits-this-september-reflecting-the-inner-self/) by CABNOV and Haraya Ocampo-Tejido.

![Different pottery works by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu at Cartellino Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130318.jpg "20241011_130318 - BluPrint")Different pottery works by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu at Cartellino Art.*Crossing Boundaries* gives us some distinctive pottery works from the two artists. They made it together in an elaborate give-and-take that allows them to experiment and integrate each other’s approach. According to the exhibit write-up, the works “emerge from a process hinged on trust, learning, and experimentation.”

“The objective for the artist-couple was to cross boundaries: to alter the other’s work, to impinge on their respective styles,” the write-up continued. “This exhibition thus marks the confluence of two distinct artistic styles onto a single sculptural form.”

## Individuality Shines in Collaboration

Lazaro and Yu’s different stylistic processes truly shine through in this exhibition. The exhibit itself describes the merging of the styles as a negotiation: while Yu favors fluidity and abstraction, Lazaro works towards “structured and representational forms.”

![A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu with progress photos in the background.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130339.jpg "20241011_130339 - BluPrint")A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu with progress photos in the background.[Cartellino](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/galerie-stephanie-x-cartellino-new-space/) Art’s write-up on the art process shows an interesting dynamic between the two. “Yu started off with the red clays and Lazaro with the off-whites,” the write-up said, “then passed it to the other once it was halfway finished.”

![One work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu with the in-progress photo.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130344.jpg "20241011_130344 - BluPrint")One work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu with the in-progress photo.Some of the works in the exhibit present pictures of the work at the halfway point. It reveals how the work evolved, highlighting each artist’s contribution to the final product.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130324.jpg "20241011_130324 - BluPrint")During the process, both artists expressed fear that one artistic voice would win over the other. They “hesitated to revise what the other had touched, and quarreled over the extent of their modifications.” In the end, however, that negotiation created pottery that was distinctly theirs, less a Frankenstein of their methods and more a melding of the two’s ideas.

## **Distinctive Pottery**

The pottery in *Crossing Boundaries* truly is unique. Much of it straddles the lines between abstraction and representation. The ceramics contain Lazaro’s Cactus Friend character in fantastical yet humanized forms, while others attempt a curving, flowing nature-like fixture. Some of the pots even merge the two somehow, using green, Earth-like colors on ceramic bodies that give it a Studio Ghibli-esque look.

![One work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130435.jpg "20241011_130435 - BluPrint")One work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.

![Two works at "Crossing Boundaries" for Cartellino Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130414.jpg "20241011_130414 - BluPrint")Two works at “Crossing Boundaries” for Cartellino Art.

![A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130448.jpg "20241011_130448 - BluPrint")A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.

![Two pottery works for "Crossing Boundaries."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130441.jpg "20241011_130441 - BluPrint")Two pottery works for “Crossing Boundaries.”

![A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130452.jpg "20241011_130452 - BluPrint")A work by Genavee Lazaro and JD Yu.

For Lazaro, attaining the aesthetic involved sensing how “each work wanted to be.” She worked with each piece to ensure that it could have a particular appearance unique to all the others. Yu, meanwhile, wanted Lazaro’s Cactus Friend character to exist in a watery context. “Yu added forms such as spirals and envisioned what pottery would look like in an underwater world,” the write-up said.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_130408.jpg "20241011_130408 - BluPrint")Both of them, regardless of their methods, ensured room for the other to work their ideas into each piece.

Cartellino Art’s *Crossing Boundaries* showcases the value of collaboration for artists. While trust may be hard to envision for people in general, it gives audiences a perspective on what it can do in the context of art. For Lazaro and Yu, it opens up new avenues for artistic expression while utilizing the forms and methods of other artists.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/terror-incognita-generative-ai-cartellino-art/ "‘Terror Incognita’ Shows How Generative AI Works Against Culture Creation")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Cartellino Art, Genavee Lazaro, JD Yu, Philippines, Pottery

---

### [Katrina Bello Crafts Landscapes of Absence in ‘Dark Between Flashes’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/katrina-bello-dark-between-flashes/)

**Published:** October 24, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Dark Between Flashes* crafts a world between the darkness and the light. For her new exhibition at Modeka Art, artist Katrina Bello created these quiet, alluring landscapes that hold peace within the infinite feelings of the image.

Bello’s artwork for this exhibit attempted to capture a sense of vastness that surrounds our environment. It situates people in a purgatory-like world that reveals our own fears and inadequacies, one that seems to come from her own personal relationship with the habitat.

![Katrina Bello's "Dark Between Flashes" exhibit at Modeka Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_140931.jpg "20241011_140931 - BluPrint")Katrina Bello’s “Dark Between Flashes” exhibit at Modeka Art.“Her landscapes and seascapes are manifestations of places that exist and used to exist as Bello traces her personal relationship with land while traversing between two totally different geographies: the Philippines and the US,” the exhibit write-up said.

## **Terrains of Gloom**

*Dark Between Flashes’* soft pastel and charcoal paintings utilize a grey monochrome color scheme to showcase the ideas in the project. Alongside the paintings are printed images of rock formations photographed by the artist, and a video project showing different areas of land.

!["Immensity (Smudge)." for "Dark Between Flashes."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141207.jpg "20241011_141207 - BluPrint")“Immensity (Smudge).” for “Dark Between Flashes.”At times, the way Katrina Bello portrays the landscapes and seascapes blurs the distinction between the two. Bello applies this dim greyness to some of the works as a way of abstracting our perspectives. The rock formations look like waves in the ocean; the sea looks like ridges on the side of the mountain.

![Two works by Katrina Bello for Modeka Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141124.jpg "20241011_141124 - BluPrint")Two works by Katrina Bello for Modeka Art.

![Three works for "Dark Between Flashes."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141133.jpg "20241011_141133 - BluPrint")Three works for “Dark Between Flashes.”

!["Terra Niobrara" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141151.jpg "20241011_141151 - BluPrint")“Terra Niobrara” by Katrina Bello.

!["Salix" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141118.jpg "20241011_141118 - BluPrint")“Salix” by Katrina Bello.

How does light affect the way we perceive things? This exhibit gives viewers a transformative experience, allowing them to question the compositions of the world around us. The ambiguity is the point; even with massive bodies like rocks and oceans, something connects them together in this world of ours.

“Her approach to massing light and dark values give her landscapes a certain depth and texture,” the write-up said. “The intensity of her composition makes her depiction of land and water formations a mystical scene — their vastness is captured and frozen in time, as if, in the artist’s own words, there’s ‘the sense that \[the viewers\] can hold it in the palm of their hand.’”

## **Personal Connection with our World**

Beyond the transformative qualities of the paintings, *Dark Between Flashes* also exudes this feeling of nebulousness to the world surrounding us. It works to defamiliarize its audience from the objectivity of recognizable scenery, allowing this feeling of openness as we traverse through shadows of landscapes instead of the landscapes themselves.

The video accompanying the exhibit, “Colliding,” puts that feeling forward bluntly for the audience. It shows off different nature-related photos across the globe, from mountains in islands to the cracked grounds of a desert. Alongside it are the thoughts of the writer, ruminating on our place in the universe.

!["Collide" by Katrina Bello for Modeka Art.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141111.jpg "20241011_141111 - BluPrint")“Collide” by Katrina Bello for Modeka Art.

![An image for "Collide" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_140957.jpg "20241011_140957 - BluPrint")An image for “Collide” by Katrina Bello.

![An image for "Collide" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141021.jpg "20241011_141021 - BluPrint")An image for “Collide” by Katrina Bello.

![An island in the middle of the ocean.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141239.jpg "20241011_141239 - BluPrint")An island in the middle of the ocean.

![Beachside rubble.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141310.jpg "20241011_141310 - BluPrint")Beachside rubble.

Katrina Bello really employs the ambiguity of lights and shadows in a way that makes room for probing questions of doubt about ourselves. Seeing the evolution of these spaces into something abstract and vague allows viewers the opportunity to play with their own sense of self. Surely, if the landscapes can change over time, the way we see ourselves can change, too?

!["Lupain (Volcanic Field)" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141049.jpg "20241011_141049 - BluPrint")“Lupain (Volcanic Field)” by Katrina Bello.

!["Lupain (Posoge 2)" by Katrina Bello.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141053.jpg "20241011_141053 - BluPrint")“Lupain (Posoge 2)” by Katrina Bello.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_141057.jpg "20241011_141057 - BluPrint")

“In this exhibition, Bello establishes a strong relation between time, space, and the self—the composition of her own landscape. At the core of her practice is the desire to belong to a place,” the write-up said.

*Dark Between Flashes* is all gloom and no doom. The works by Katrina Bello here thrive in a relaxing hazy uncertainty, a fearless stroll into the void. There’s still peace and harmony to be found even in the vagueness of this world the artist presents.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Binong Javier Depicts Cosmic-Scale Beauty in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/seat-of-power-binong-javier/ "Binong Javier Depicts Cosmic-Scale Beauty in New Exhibit")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Art, Katrina Bello, Modeka Art, Philippines

---

### ['Crossing Rivers' Centers on the Dumagat Tribe's Struggles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/crossing-rivers-dumagat-tribe-aarps/)

**Published:** October 18, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Crossing Rivers* centers its artistic narrative on the trials and tribulations of the Dumagat tribe in Aurora. Showing at UP Fine Arts Parola Gallery until October 18, the exhibit features different works from artist-residents from the [Aurora Artist Residency Program and Space](https://thebeachhouseproject.wordpress.com/ "Aurora Artist Residency Program and Space") (AARPS). Other collaborators for the exhibit include Creative Australia and Konseho ng Kulturang Dumagat.

AARPS as an organization exists in Aurora to serve as a way of empowering indigenous culture and communities through art. Their residencies allow artists to work directly with the Dumagat tribes on different projects that highlight the cultural heritage and current struggles of this local indigenous community.

![Attendees of the opening day of "Crossing Rivers."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183731.jpg "20241008_183731 - BluPrint")Attendees of the opening day of “Crossing Rivers.”“It brings together cross-border perspectives and fosters partnerships that address shared challenges,” the exhibit write-up said. “\[The project inspires\] cooperative solutions through creative means.

This showcase of AARPS’s artist-residency program involves the works of Cece Carpio, Cian Dayrit, Carel Mapanoo, Sam Baguhin, and Karilyo.

## **Struggles to Showcase the Works**

The name “Crossing Rivers” comes from the experiences of the Dumagat and their struggles to engage with the broader world. AARPS artistic director Roselle Pineda discussed the challenges of bringing over the art to Manila due to increasing militarization in the provinces.

![AARPS Artistic Director Roselle Pineda.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_172948.jpg "20241008_172948 - BluPrint")AARPS Artistic Director Roselle Pineda.“Unang beses namin literal na itinawid sa ilog ang Dumagat Day Festival itong taon na ito,” she said. “Napakadaming pinagdaanan upang magawan namin ng pagtawid sa ilog na iyon sapagkat sa kasagsagan ng aming paghahanda sa festival ay namilitarize ang aming venue. Kaya sa abot ng aming makakaya, sa pawis at luha at pagsasama-sama namin ay naitawid namin sa ilog ang festival.”

(This is the first year where we literally crossed rivers for the Dumagat Day Festival. We went through so much to show this art due to the sudden militarization of the venue we had. To the extent that we were able to, with our sweat and tears and help from our community, we were able to cross this art over to the festival.)

## **Cross-Cultural Collaboration**

Beyond that, *Crossing Rivers* exists as a proof of concept more than anything. It shows how indigenous culture can co-exist with today’s modernity without being relegated as something archaic or a curiosity. Instead, they’re as much of a part of the cultural fabric and modern art scene as anything else today.

![Two artworks being exhibited at "Crossing Rivers."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183324.jpg "20241008_183324 - BluPrint")Two artworks being exhibited at “Crossing Rivers.”“The exhibit serves as a meeting point,” the write-up said. “\[It’s\] a new iteration in this continuing invitation for cultural collaborations and community engagement for the advancement of indigenous struggles.”

An interesting anecdote that Pineda shared during the opening is how the original concept of the exhibit involved an indigenous river community from Riverina in New South Wales. She called it the first time two indigenous tribes or First Nations collaborated in an art project.

![One of the artworks shown about the Dumagat in "Crossing Rivers."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_185153.jpg "20241008_185153 - BluPrint")One of the artworks shown about the Dumagat in “Crossing Rivers.”However, the end exhibit only contains the works of AARPS and its past artist-residents. This is mainly due to the militarization of the Umiray in Aurora, and the danger this poses to both tribes. She hopes, however, that this openness of collaboration pervades in future projects.

## **Living, Breathing Culture** 

*Crossing Rivers* showcases the variety of artworks crafted during the artist-residency there. From posters of past radio broadcasts about the community to a massive embroidered work containing found objects, it shows off the broad spectrum of ideas being used by artists to discuss the plight of the Dumagat in the country.

![Catalogue by Carel Mapanoo as presented in "Crossing Rivers."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183253.jpg "20241008_183253 - BluPrint")Catalogue by Carel Mapanoo as presented in “Crossing Rivers.”

![An image from Dumaget Day Festival 2019 and the poster for a radio show about the tribe.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183242.jpg "20241008_183242 - BluPrint")An image from Dumaget Day Festival 2019 and the poster for a radio show about the tribe. 

![An image from Dumaget Day Festival 2018.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183248.jpg "20241008_183248 - BluPrint")An image from Dumaget Day Festival 2018. 

![The poster for a radio show about the tribe and an image from Dumaget Day Festival 2023.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183344.jpg "20241008_183344 - BluPrint")The poster for a radio show about the tribe and an image from Dumaget Day Festival 2023. 

![Actual footage from the Dumaget Day Festival.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183552.jpg "20241008_183552 - BluPrint")Actual footage from the Dumaget Day Festival.

![Actual footage from the Dumaget Day Festival.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183607.jpg "20241008_183607 - BluPrint")Actual footage from the Dumaget Day Festival.

Footage and photographs of past Dumagat Day Festivals also abound in the exhibit. As much as it celebrates the Dumagat culture, the exhibition lingers on the struggles of the community and their desire for autonomy and respect.

![Members of the Dumagat Tribe receiving a Certificate of Recognition for attending the event.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_180701.jpg "20241008_180701 - BluPrint")Members of the Dumagat Tribe receiving a Certificate of Recognition for attending the event.The exhibit opening had multiple members of the Dumagat tribe visiting to share a few words for their cause. Many of them reiterated their struggles to keep their culture alive, and the military and government interventions that prevent them from doing so. It situated this struggle as a fundamental fight. The works fight for the Dumagat’s growth as a culture, to be allowed to exist even as the country modernizes.

## **Art Made for the Community**

During the opening of the exhibition, Pineda emphasized the helpfulness and necessity of the program for the Dumagat tribe in Aurora. She highlighted a specific case of Cian Dayrit’s counter-mapping project being helpful in indigenous land claims for the group.

!["Counter-mapping" by Cian Dayrit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183628.jpg "20241008_183628 - BluPrint")“Counter-mapping” by Cian Dayrit. 

![Cian Dayrit's work cataloguing the land of the Dumagat.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183643.jpg "20241008_183643 - BluPrint")Cian Dayrit’s work cataloguing the land of the Dumagat.

![Portions of "Counter-mapping" by Cian Dayrit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183650.jpg "20241008_183650 - BluPrint")Portions of “Counter-mapping” by Cian Dayrit. 

![Portions of "Counter-mapping" by Cian Dayrit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183655.jpg "20241008_183655 - BluPrint")Portions of “Counter-mapping” by Cian Dayrit. 

!["Counter-mapping" by Cian Dayrit at the "Crossing Rivers" exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183709.jpg "20241008_183709 - BluPrint")“Counter-mapping” by Cian Dayrit at the “Crossing Rivers” exhibit.

“Pero ang pinaka-mahalaga sa ginawa ni Cian para sa aming collaboration sa Dumagetan ay yung counter-mapping o yung mga mapa na nabunsod ng aming workshop ay literal na nagamit ng aming mga Dumagat para sa laban sa pag-claim ng lupang ninuno. Dito natin makikita yung literal na ambag ng sining sa aming mga komunidad,” she said.

\[But we see the importance of Cian’s work for the Dumagetan people through the counter-mapping made through our workshop being used in the fight for their ancestral land. Here we see how art helps the local community.\]

![One of the works shown at the exhibition.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183408.jpg "20241008_183408 - BluPrint")One of the works shown at the exhibition.

![An emboridered work as shown in Crossing Rivers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183418.jpg "20241008_183418 - BluPrint")An emboridered work as shown in Crossing Rivers.

![An emboridered work as shown in Crossing Rivers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183427.jpg "20241008_183427 - BluPrint")An emboridered work as shown in Crossing Rivers.

![One of the works shown at the exhibition.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008_183440.jpg "20241008_183440 - BluPrint")One of the works shown at the exhibition.

*Crossing Rivers* as an exhibit gives viewers an opportunity to redefine their ideas of modern art. It allows us to see indigenous cultures up close, and makes a case towards its need to thrive and its necessity in the cultural fabric of the Philippines as a whole.

*Photos by Elle Yap*.

Related reading: [‘Piña, Why is the Sky Blue?’: How Do We Utilize Collective Memory?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/pina-why-is-the-sky-blue-silverlens/ "‘Piña, Why is the Sky Blue?’: How Do We Utilize Collective Memory?")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture, News

**Tags:** AARPS, Art, Indigenous Art, Philippines, UP Fine Arts Parola Gallery

---

### [Lorebert Maralita Explores Third World Labor in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/lorebert-maralita-sambingay-sa-ikatulo-nga-kaibutan/)

**Published:** September 27, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Labor rights continue to be a touchy issue in the Philippines, especially with [endo contractualization](https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/the-long-battle-to-end-contractualization-in-the-philippines "endo contractualization") being a continuing problem. With *Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan,* or *Parable of the Third World*, artist Lorebert Maralita examines the plight of the working class with excellent crafted artworks observing their current situation.

!["Maupay na Aga" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142909.jpg "20240912_142909 - BluPrint")“Maupay na Aga” by Lorebert Maralita.This exhibit, showing at Altro Mondo Creative Space until October 5, centers around laborers. Whether it’s construction workers, farmers, or minimum wage earners, Maralita portrays their constant struggle to make ends meet and their continued survival against exploitation by the ruling class.

“Economics, in Maralita’s world, is not an abstract concept but a brutal reality,” the exhibit write-up by Kaye Oyek said. “\[It’s\] etched into the very fabric of life, shaping destinies and dictating fates.”

## The Daily Grind of the Third World Worker

Lorebert Maralita’s exhibit is shaped by calendars, barriers, and bills that need to be paid. The different artworks utilize common pieces in the laborers’ daily grind, from face towels to construction tarpaulins to barbed wire.

!["Diskoneksyon" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142839.jpg "20240912_142839 - BluPrint")“Diskoneksyon” by Lorebert Maralita.One prominent work uses a calendar to indicate the cyclical nature of hard labor for the working class. The 15th and 30th are prominently encircled in red, the background showing a man crucified with the word “endo” above their head. A pile of Meralco bills are stored on one side of the calendar.

!["Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142926.jpg "20240912_142926 - BluPrint")“Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan” by Lorebert Maralita.

![Close up of "Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142931.jpg "20240912_142931 - BluPrint")Close up of “Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan.”

![Close up of "Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142944.jpg "20240912_142944 - BluPrint")Close up of “Inadlaw a Kinse a Trenta Binulan.”

Barbed wire appears prominently in Maralita’s works for exhibit. One elaborately collects smeared faces on towels hung on rows of barbed wire. Another crafts a ladder-like sculpture surrounded by orange construction tarpaulins. These peek through just enough on one side to show a painted crowd of people with black speech bubbles hovering above them.

!["Sa Imo Pagsaka" for "Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143037.jpg "20240912_143037 - BluPrint")“Sa Imo Pagsaka” for “Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan.”

![Side view of "Sa Imo Pagsaka."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143004.jpg "20240912_143004 - BluPrint")Side view of “Sa Imo Pagsaka.”

![Close-up view of "Sa Imo Pagsaka."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143019.jpg "20240912_143019 - BluPrint")Close-up view of “Sa Imo Pagsaka.”

It reflects the strange pieces of punishment and reprieve that define the day-to-day lives of laborers. Always, a push-and-pull of carrots and sticks exist to keep them in line with what their companies want from them.

“Birds and barbed wire weave through the compositions, symbols of freedom and confinement, hope, and despair. Laborers’ blood, sweat, and tears are not just metaphors; they are almost tangible, transferred onto a Good Morning towel like a modern-day Shroud of Turin,” Oyek wrote.

## Rediscovering The Dignity of Labor in Undignified Times

For much of *Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan*, Lorebert Maralita applies religious or Biblical imagery to highlight the sacrifice of the working class. According to Oyek, the artist does this as a way of emphasizing the laborers’ continued vulnerability in our systems. Instead of relying on systems rife with injustice, they rely on religion as a way of finding hope in their situations.

![Two works for "Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143206.jpg "20240912_143206 - BluPrint")Two works for “Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan.”

![Two works for "Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143220.jpg "20240912_143220 - BluPrint")Two works for “Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan.”

!["Kumpisal" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143235.jpg "20240912_143235 - BluPrint")“Kumpisal” by Lorebert Maralita.

Multiple paintings have workers and students posed as saints with halos above their heads. They hold various paraphernalia that remind viewers of their working class origins—dusters, student IDs, lotto balls. Their canvases are shaped to remind one of the colorful slitted windows in churches.

![The painting "Lutop."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143227.jpg "20240912_143227 - BluPrint")The painting “Lutop.”

!["Sambigay" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_143158.jpg "20240912_143158 - BluPrint")“Sambigay” by Lorebert Maralita.

!["Pagbayaw" by Lorebert Maralita.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142901.jpg "20240912_142901 - BluPrint")“Pagbayaw” by Lorebert Maralita.

!["Baligya" for "Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_142918.jpg "20240912_142918 - BluPrint")“Baligya” for “Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan.”

One painting, “Lutop,” has a person holding up a face towel look up in reverence as a crown of thorns appears behind them. Another painting, “Pagbayaw,” has a crowd of people looking up at a floating, Christ-like figure wearing an American-coded robe. “Sambigay,” meanwhile, finds us looking at a line of workers with covered faces and near-naked bodies walking in procession.

## Labor is Not Sacrifice

The contrast of religious imagery applied to people in dire straits creates a juxtaposition that probes the meaningfulness of the “sacrifice” these working class folks live through day-by-day. It reminds viewers that these are *people*, not symbols, with needs, rights, and desires that are overlooked by the system as a whole.

“Maralita enjoins us to confront the realities we often overlook,” Oyek wrote. “\[He’s\] using his art to remind us that behind every statistic, there is a story, a life, a parable waiting to be told…”

*Sambingay sa Ikatulo nga Kaibutan* empathizes with the plight of the working class, people who live paycheck to paycheck in a bid to survive an exploitative world. Lorebert Maralita implores viewers to see these workers as people, and help move us away from such exploitative systems that entrap these people today.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘Alburoto’: Recontextualizing Labor Rights as a Women’s Issue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/alburoto-recontextualizing-womens-rights-to-work/ "‘Alburoto’: Recontextualizing Labor Rights as a Women’s Issue")

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Altro Mondo Creative Space, Art, Labor Rights, Lorebert Maralita, Philippines

---

### [‘Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor’ Paints with Abstract Voids of Blue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/blue-plate-synthetic-savor-gabby-prado/)

**Published:** September 25, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor* puts viewers in a meditative state through its shrewd use of lines and colors that hint towards the artist’s mindset. Gabby Prado created these works as a way of self-reflection and meditation.

![One of the works by Gabby Prado for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164105.jpg "20240912_164105 - BluPrint")One of the works by Gabby Prado for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”“What color is the void? For Gabby Prado, it radiates blue,” the exhibit write-up said. “Blue is a moment of reflection. A pause in which she can meditate upon the past, the present, and the future.”

The exhibition, showing at Galerie Stephanie until September 27, gives us Prado’s blend of curving lines and elaborate waves of paint. These “dynamic abstractions” synthesize together to reflect the feelings of the void and the ways we attempt to fill it.

## **Blue is the Color**

Historically, the color blue has always been of interest to artists as a reflection of the self. Derek Jarman’s experimental film *Blue* even utilized nothing but a single frame of International Klein Blue throughout the film as he narrated his life story and experiences. Gabby Prado sees something similar in her usage of the color in *Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor*.

![A work by Gabby Prado depicting an abstract painting alongside a blue-white painting.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164035.jpg "20240912_164035 - BluPrint")A work by Gabby Prado depicting an abstract painting alongside a blue-white painting. 

![An abstract painting for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164057.jpg "20240912_164057 - BluPrint")An abstract painting for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

![An abstract painting for "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164146.jpg "20240912_164146 - BluPrint")An abstract painting for “Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor.”

![One of Gabby Prado's smaller works for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164121.jpg "20240912_164121 - BluPrint")One of Gabby Prado’s smaller works for the exhibit.

![One of Gabby Prado's smaller works for the exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164126.jpg "20240912_164126 - BluPrint")One of Gabby Prado’s smaller works for the exhibit.

“For Prado, the blue in her works represents a place in which to clear one’s thoughts and one’s worries,” a write-up by Mara Fabella said. “\[It’s\] a ‘pocket of time where one can reflect on memories,’ she muses. A space that allows her to refresh her senses and more deeply internalize her experiences with synesthesia.”

Less blue is used in this than in Derek Jarman’s film. Instead, the blue comes side by side with the creative abstract paintings that represent the emotional state of her being. In some paintings, a whole canvas explores the wholeness of blue; in others, the blue is merely a hint within the sprawling array of colors.

## **Finding Openness in the Void**

Her linework is varied and evocative of the concentrated feelings coming from the artist. The squiggly lines Prado uses has this hint of frustration that feels exciting to see. The lines feel both tossed-aside and deliberate as different sorts of emotionality burst through its use on the canvas.

*Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor* melds these lines with vibrantly textured shades of paint popping alongside it. Reds, oranges, and yellows abound, existing in a semi-transparent state that allows it to work best as background flavor to the paintings.

Fabella said that Gabby Prado’s work in the exhibit “takes inspiration from Korean monochrome abstraction, or Dansaekhwa.” And in these works, there does appear to be an integration of different emotional worlds through the use of linework and hues where a sense of calm emerges from the paintings as a whole.

![A smaller work by Gabby Prado.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164135.jpg "20240912_164135 - BluPrint")

![One of the bigger abstract works in "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164153.jpg "20240912_164153 - BluPrint")

![One of the bigger abstract works in "Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_164159.jpg "20240912_164159 - BluPrint")

The works play with your imagination in establishing these emotional ideas. At times, it personally appears to this author that these combinations of strokes create human-like figures in the midst of a physical or emotional struggle.

*Blue Plate, Synthetic Savor* reflects the search of calm and peace that affects the art of Gabby Prado. Her voids of blue provoke in us the question of how we define our sense of calm in the first place. Is calm really just existing in nothingness, or is it finding a part of that nothingness that exists away from the rush of time?

*Photos by Elle Yap*.

Related reading: [Binong Javier Depicts Cosmic-Scale Beauty in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/seat-of-power-binong-javier/ "Binong Javier Depicts Cosmic-Scale Beauty in New Exhibit")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Abstract Expressionism, Art, Galerie Stephanie, Philippines

---

### [‘The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean’: Turning Kalinga Textile into Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/irene-bawer-bimuyag-kalinga-textile-mono8-gallery/)

**Published:** September 23, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean* organizes an artistic avenue for woven Kalinga textile art by [Irene Bawer-Bimuyag](https://www.instagram.com/ibb108/). This exhibit at Mono8 Gallery, showing until October 5, features a collection of textiles, curated by Emerging Islands, that plays with the idea of oceans and mountains.

Bawer-Bimuyag grew up in the community of Lubuagan, Kalinga. From there, she has used the weaving techniques passed down to her as a way of adapting the flow of water into a different medium. Her works play with traditions of weaving in that specific community—and emerges with artwork that harkens towards the artist’s obsession with the ocean.

![Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134536.jpg "20240912_134536 - BluPrint")Two Kalinga textile artworks by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.“For the Kalinga, their sense of place is shaped by the flow of water,” Nicola Sebastian said in their write-up. “\[It’s\] unceasing chatter can be heard from the forest and the field to the village, even inside people’s homes. In their collective imagination, the entire cosmos is a watershed, bordered above by a chaya beyond their highest mountain spring, and below by a lagud vaster than any earthly lake.”

## **Creativity in Fabric Works**

The details in the works are extraordinary to behold. Bawer-Bimuyag puts different symbols in every work, from squids to flowers to crops. It layers the artworks so that they build on one another, crafting a wave-like progression that ties it all together.

Much of the works look tactile, with the woven details popping out from the base fabric below. The artist utilizes colorful pastel colors that allow different portions to stand out. From the bright oranges and yellows of the crops to the washed-out blue of the water, it feels grounded in artistry.

![Close-up of a work shown at "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134703.jpg "20240912_134703 - BluPrint")Close-up of a work shown at “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.” 

![Close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134552.jpg "20240912_134552 - BluPrint")Close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag. 

![A close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134556.jpg "20240912_134556 - BluPrint")A close-up of a work by Irene Bawer-Bimuyag. 

In their write-up, Sebastian talked about how the artworks explore the history of migration and tradition of the Kalinga. While they may reside in the Cordillera mountains, their ancestors crossed the sea to find that new home. With that, Bawer-Bimuyag finds the flow that exists between the two environments.

“\[Even\] beyond language, the mountains remember the ocean that holds them, still,” Sebastian wrote. “Every time the sun begins to rise, a sea of clouds flows through their valleys, and vanishes into thin air before noon.”

![A Kalinga textile work featured in "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134616.jpg "20240912_134616 - BluPrint")A Kalinga textile work featured in “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.”Overall, it gives viewers this progressive mash-up of land and sea elements. The works show how these different environments tend to meld together across the board. It showcases how integrated these elements truly are—the separation of the land and sea is more permeable than we believe.

## **Redefining Kalinga Textile for the Modern Age**

One of the most interesting things about this exhibition is how Bawer-Bimuyag utilizes and at the same time redefines fabric textiles from an indigenous perspective. There’s a lot of heart in the works, sweeping visitors with the almost-rhythmic repetition of colors and figures.

It makes the case of seeing these objects as *art*: something studied and appreciated for its beauty, not just its function. It has a place beyond one’s home: it belongs in museums and galleries, its pageantry and style shown to others.

![A Kalinga textile work featured in "The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240912_134607.jpg "20240912_134607 - BluPrint")A Kalinga textile work featured in “The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean.”“All too often, contemporary Indigenous creativity is labeled as ‘craft’ rather than ‘art,’” Sebastian wrote. “\[It’s\] fit for a trade fair, yet ‘out-of-place’ in a contemporary art gallery. In transforming the knowledge of her ancestors through her artistic response to the present, Bawer-Bimuyag asserts that, for culture to be alive, it must be reborn, again and again.”

*The Heart of Every Mountain is Ocean* shows the living artistry in indigenous stories and artworks. At times, the way we discuss indigenous art exoticizes it and relegates it as a curiosity. But Irene Bawer-Bimuyag reminds us that these cultures still exist today, and that they can adapt to the times as well as every other culture has. Tradition need not mean artistic stagnation.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Filipino Textiles: Magical Weaves of the Mindanao and Sulu People](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/filipino-textiles/)

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Kalinga, Mono8 Gallery, Philippines, Textile Art

---

### [Cabangis Family Joins Forces for Collaborative Exhibit in Modeka Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/cabangis-family-joins-forces-for-collaborative-exhibit-in-modeka-art/)

**Published:** September 17, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*Homemade* puts together four of the members of the Cabangis family in their first group exhibit. The Modeka Art show, open until September 28, gives the artists a great opportunity to display their art together as a way of exploring their present works in relation to each other.

The patriarch Benjie Cabangis, and his three children Aaron, Li, and Zean, were invited by one of the gallery’s owners, Arvin Viola, to mount a show in the space. The works came together over time, in the different locations they were based at, as they all agreed to mount the show together.

![The new Modeka Art exhibit "Homemade" by the Cabangis family. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181308.jpg "20240905_181308 - BluPrint")The new Modeka Art exhibit “Homemade” by the Cabangis family. Photo by Elle Yap.“It’s our first family show,” Benjie Cabangis explained. “And then we went here and looked at the space and found the space very interesting because of all the areas and even the pocket spaces.”

According to Aaron, “wala namang kaming ‘big idea’ na pinag-usapan, it’s more of like, ‘what are we all doing at the present?’” He later added, “the big collaboration theme, I guess, is we just put in what we have at the present moment.”

## **A Family Affair**

![Benjie Cabangis in front of his work. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Benjie-Cabangis.jpg "Benjie Cabangis - BluPrint")Benjie Cabangis in front of his work. Photo by Elle Yap.The patriarch of the Cabangis family, Benjie, said that he based the works he included on the floor plan of the gallery. His works include a gigantic abstract painting that covers the entire wall of the exhibit.

![Work by Benjie Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181437.jpg "20240905_181437 - BluPrint")Work by Benjie Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Work by Benjie Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181440.jpg "20240905_181440 - BluPrint")Work by Benjie Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the paintings displayed for Modeka Art's "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181224.jpg "20240905_181224 - BluPrint")One of the paintings displayed for Modeka Art’s “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Three paintings for the Cabangis family's "Homemade" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181229.jpg "20240905_181229 - BluPrint")Three paintings for the Cabangis family’s “Homemade” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Five paintings for the Cabangis family's "Homemade" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181236.jpg "20240905_181236 - BluPrint")Five paintings for the Cabangis family’s “Homemade” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

The plans for the exhibit evolved as each family member put forward their works. Li Cabangis called the exhibit and her involvement a “semi-spontaneous” affair.

Li said that it was only supposed to be only the three who were invited to the exhibit. This changed when her body of work started coming together and she was invited by her siblings to participate.

“As they created their own pieces and everything, I also created my own na kahit walang dahilan, gawa lang ako ng gawa everyday. Noong huling-huli, siguro nakita nila na ang dami na, ang dami ko nang gawa. And at the same time, yung word ng kapatid ko is ‘hinog na,’ hinog na yung idea ko. So sinama na rin nila ako,” she said.

## **Making Their Mark**

Visitors of all temperaments and tastes will have so much to chew on at *Homemade*. The Cabangis family’s individual artistic muses vary wildly from each other, and each member brings their own unique ideas to the table.

When one enters the exhibit, the most prominent thing to be seen are the tactile works of Zean Cabangis. He utilized the gallery’s spacious floor to mount an L-shaped installation.

![Work by Zean Cabangis displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181406.jpg "20240905_181406 - BluPrint")Work by Zean Cabangis displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Work by Zean Cabangis displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181412.jpg "20240905_181412 - BluPrint")Work by Zean Cabangis displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Close-up on Zean Cabangis' work for "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181415.jpg "20240905_181415 - BluPrint")Close-up on Zean Cabangis’ work for “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Concrete blocks were stacked in the corners, while wooden planks precariously held colored, broken stones. It comes together as almost apocalyptic in its unfinished nature, questioning society’s obsession with progress.

“His works emanate from the notion of sudden catastrophic events that would lead works to generate a life of its own,” the exhibit write-up said. “As something ‘quite unfinished,’ he points out that in the process nature will do the rest.”

## **Converging Nature and Progress**

While Zean’s work operates on a cynical perspective of society today, Aaron’s collection of work literally radiates optimism.

![Aaron Cabangis' portion of "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181629.jpg "20240905_181629 - BluPrint")Aaron Cabangis’ portion of “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works by Aaron Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181711.jpg "20240905_181711 - BluPrint")Two works by Aaron Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Aaron Cabangis for Modeka Art's "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181720.jpg "20240905_181720 - BluPrint")A work by Aaron Cabangis for Modeka Art’s “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Tree branches and light. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181727.jpg "20240905_181727 - BluPrint")Tree branches and light. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work by Aaron Cabangis for Modeka Art's "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181737.jpg "20240905_181737 - BluPrint")A work by Aaron Cabangis for Modeka Art’s “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Aaron Cabangis’ work attempts to merge found objects in nature with the manmade objects. Presented in the darker, more secluded parts of the gallery, he brings together a colorful light show that portrays how progress and nature coexist together.

![A piece of rock illuminated by light. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181703.jpg "20240905_181703 - BluPrint")A piece of rock illuminated by light. Photo by Elle Yap.“I have two mediums,” he said. “I have the found objects from nature. \[And\] I have man-made fixtures, which are the lights, which are all \[bound\] together by the energy of light. For me, it’s the co-existing between nature and man-made stuff. Ganon lang siya ka-simple. \[It’s that simple.\] When they co-exist, it creates harmony together.”

![Tree branches and light made by Aaron Cabangis'. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181644.jpg "20240905_181644 - BluPrint")Tree branches and light made by Aaron Cabangis’. Photo by Elle Yap.He said that the explorations of nature and society ties itself into the fabric of humanity itself. “As we grew, as we go along with life, parang natututunan lang namin \[we learned\] to respect yung boundaries ng lahat, ng nature and manmade,” he said. “Kailangan mo siya i-balance out together to live. \[You need to balance the two together to live.\]”

## **Encouraging a Sense of Play**

Li Cabangis’s work for the exhibit utilized foams meant for children’s playrooms to create sculptures that evoke a comforting feeling to viewers. It feels both grounded and unrestrained, using materials that ensure kids’ safety to allow the imagination of others to emerge.

![Artist Li Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Li-Cabangis.jpg "Li Cabangis - BluPrint")Artist Li Cabangis. Photo by Elle Yap.Her collection of works came from a sense of play. She said that she allowed her intuition to take control of how she created her works from the materials. One of her sculptures, yellow and shaped like the sun, she said she created from leftover materials that she put together in a circular way. That sense of intuition worked for everything she submitted for the exhibition.

“Para sa akin, pag nakikita ko siya, bumabalik yung excitement ko sa sarili ko, bumabalik yung sense of play,” she said. “So, yun yung finollow ko. And at the same time, all in all, there were no drawings or plans or anything, I really just followed my inner gut, inner feeling with it.”

## Connecting the Inner Child

Hopefully, she said, she wants to inspire people to connect with their inner child to find themselves better.

![A work from play foams displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181321.jpg "20240905_181321 - BluPrint")A work from play foams displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Chair made from play foams displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181816.jpg "20240905_181816 - BluPrint")Chair made from play foams displayed at Modeka Art. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Two works displayed at the Cabangis' family's "Homemade" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181847.jpg "20240905_181847 - BluPrint")Two works displayed at the Cabangis’ family’s “Homemade” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A work displayed at the Cabangis' family's "Homemade" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_182302.jpg "20240905_182302 - BluPrint")A work displayed at the Cabangis’ family’s “Homemade” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Foam works in front of a door that says "Homemade." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181547.jpg "20240905_181547 - BluPrint")Foam works in front of a door that says “Homemade.” Photo by Elle Yap.

“Gusto ko i-inspire na pwede kang bumalik sa sense of childhood mo, sense of being yourself talaga para mahanap mo din ang sarili mo. Kasi, parang pansin ko ngayon, pag naghahanap ng sarili, puro outside, pero actually, ang lahat naman ng sagot ay nasa sayo lang talaga,” she said.

\[I want to help inspire people to return to their sense of childhood, sense of being yourself to find yourself. I noticed that when people look for themselves, they look outside. But the answers are really deep inside you.\]

## **Cabangis Family Values**

![One of the works displayed on the floor of the gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240905_181500.jpg "20240905_181500 - BluPrint")One of the works displayed on the floor of the gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.*Homemade* shows the Cabangis family’s works in a way that allows us to see where they diverge and converge from each other. Even with the different places of work and mediums, their collaborative effort shines through, where one is left with the feeling of connectivity even with the variety of works shown in the exhibit.

Related reading: [‘Palapit Palapit Papangit’ Lets You See the Beauty in Ugliness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ppp-palapit-palapit-papangit-modeka-art/)

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Cabangis Family, Collaborative Exhibit, Modeka Art, Philippines

---

### [New Exhibit Recontextualizes Lamps and Light at Karrivin Plaza](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/recontextualizing-lamps-and-light-centers-new-exhibit-at-karrivin-plaza/)

**Published:** September 10, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*To Cast A Shadow, There Must First Be Light*, curated by The 5th House’s Brisa Amir and Jose Olarte, strives towards an atmosphere where audience members are invited to re-examine light’s role in art. This exhibit at Aphro in The Alley at Karrivin Plaza reinterprets our perception of lights, lamps, and the artistry within it.

How does one perceive light in regards to art? It is essential to most works of art, affecting the way we see and comprehend different works. From sculptures to paintings, light plays a pivotal role in defining artistry as a whole.

!["To Catch A Shadow, There Must First Be Light" exhibit. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5453-scaled.jpg "Karrivin-Plaza-lamp-show - BluPrint")“To Catch A Shadow, There Must First Be Light” exhibit. Photo by Ed Simon.With this exhibit, twenty-one artists play with light directly, as they design works that bend towards the light rather than bending the light towards the art. The curators said that many were chosen because of their lack of experience making lamp designs.

“Gumagawa kami ng mga makeshift lamps kapag may house party kami,” Amir said. “And then, na-realize namin, baka pwede tayo mag-invite ng mga artists na pwede rin na may potential. Pwede na may old work na sila na lamp; pwede rin yung work nila ay may potential na maging lamp. Yun na lang ang i-gather natin.”

(We make our own makeshift for our house parties. And then we realized that maybe we can invite artists with potential for lamp works. They can use their old works for the lamps, or works that have potential to become lamps. That’s who we gathered for the exhibit.)

## **Showcasing Personal Tastes**

The exhibit contains a large collection of lamps with varying degrees of brightness and interactivity. It traverses different designs and stylistic choices that shade and show light in different degrees, ranging from works harkening to Classical Grecian art to more nativist/indigenous influences.

![Ioannis Sicuya’s “Between the Cracks" lamp design. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5517-scaled.jpg "_DSF5517 - BluPrint")Ioannis Sicuya’s “Between the Cracks” lamp design. Photo by Ed Simon.![Goran Fernando’s “Illuminate. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5610-scaled.jpg "_DSF5610 - BluPrint")Goran Fernando’s “Illuminate. Photo by Ed Simon.Goran Fernando’s “Illuminate,” for example, repurposes a Nike box as a lamp shade. Ioannis Sicuya’s “Between the Cracks,” meanwhile, creates a city of ruins underneath what looks like a cave. Jan Sunday’s “Central Sun” uses acrylic and tapestry to make a head bust lamp shade that opens and closes at the front.

![Jan Sunday's "Central Sun." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5504-scaled.jpg "_DSF5504 - BluPrint")Jan Sunday’s “Central Sun.” Photo by Ed Simon.These works center around the Filipino experience, illustrating these different perspectives of light. The use of wooden twine, fabric, glass, resin, and other materials encompasses the artistic impulses and approaches of every individual working on the project.

!["Tangled Shadows" by Isola Tong. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5458-scaled.jpg "_DSF5458 - BluPrint")“Tangled Shadows” by Isola Tong. Photo by Ed Simon.

![Gino Javier's "Unacceptable Levels In Embracing Bullshit." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5470-scaled.jpg "_DSF5470 - BluPrint")Gino Javier’s “Unacceptable Levels In Embracing Bullshit.” Photo by Ed Simon.

![A light box and lamps design by Jed Gregorio. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5447-scaled.jpg "_DSF5447 - BluPrint")A light box and lamps design by Jed Gregorio. Photo by Ed Simon.

![Dex Fernadez's "Gara-Jelly Beans." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5474-scaled.jpg "_DSF5474 - BluPrint")Dex Fernadez’s “Gara-Jelly Beans.” Photo by Ed Simon.

![Jose Olarte's "This is for the Laborers." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5566-scaled.jpg "_DSF5566 - BluPrint")Jose Olarte’s “This is for the Laborers.” Photo by Ed Simon.

“With the light that transcends through the transparency of their layered exteriors, one is able to look inward to understand their essence, their identity, and their individuality,” Arvi Fetalvero said in their write-up.

## **Making Lamps Filipino**

Olarte said that the works mixed the typical lamp makers with people new to the craft. He saw the potential of creating a challenging yet integrated experience that speaks to the experiences of the everyday Filipino. On a curatorial note, he and Amir centered around the idea of the parol, and how to decolonize it from our troubled Spaniard past.

While the end product of the exhibit didn’t necessarily circle around the theme of decolonization, Olarte believes that the art of creation itself becomes its own form of reclamation. The personalization of each lamp, he said, works as a tool of making lamps more Filipino.

![Curators Jose Olarte [left] and Brisa Amir. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5675-scaled.jpg "Curators-Karrivin-Plaza-Exhibit - BluPrint")Curators Jose Olarte \[left\] and Brisa Amir. Photo by Ed Simon.“I think, in general, the fact that people make their own lamps is already a way of decolonizing. Not specifically the parol, but also lamps in general,” he said.

“Parang yung sinabi ko rin kanina na ni-re-reclaim din namin yung idea ng lamp, ng light. Kasi kino-colonize kasi yung light na sila ang pag-asa, yung mga colonizers ang pag-asa, tapos laging nasa shadows ang mag indigenous. In a way, ito yung way of reclaiming spaces,” Amir added.

(This is like what I said about reclaiming the idea of the lamp, of light. Because the symbol of light has been colonized to make the colonizers the hope of the people while the indigenous remains in shadows. In a way, this is a way of reclaiming spaces.)

## **Seeing Beyond the Shadows**

In the end, the exhibit works to reclaim not just lamps in general, but the symbolism of light itself. Fetalvero said that the works come together not as a way of decolonizing the past, but of representing light in the context of creating a community around us.

“Rather than decolonization, it’s more on darkness \[that subjugates or dominates or conquers\],” they said.

![Kelli Maeshiro's mixed-media lamps design for the exhibit. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5487-scaled.jpg "_DSF5487 - BluPrint")Kelli Maeshiro’s mixed-media lamps design for the exhibit. Photo by Ed Simon.

![Christal Chung's "Cutiepie." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5502-scaled.jpg "_DSF5502 - BluPrint")Christal Chung’s “Cutiepie.” Photo by Ed Simon.

![Alaga's "Arkipelagong Tanawin." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5506-scaled.jpg "_DSF5506 - BluPrint")Alaga’s “Arkipelagong Tanawin.” Photo by Ed Simon.

![Bjorn Calleja's collaboration lamps design with Solano. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5510-scaled.jpg "_DSF5510 - BluPrint")Bjorn Calleja’s collaboration lamps design with Solano. Photo by Ed Simon.

![A lamps work exhibited at "To Catch A Shadow, There Must First Be Light." Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5627-scaled.jpg "_DSF5627 - BluPrint")A lamps work exhibited at “To Catch A Shadow, There Must First Be Light.” Photo by Ed Simon.

!["The Future In the Time Of No Future" by Mano Gonzales. Photo by Ed Simon.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSF5465-scaled.jpg "_DSF5465 - BluPrint")“The Future In the Time Of No Future” by Mano Gonzales. Photo by Ed Simon.

“Sa panahon dati, kung saan may maliwanag doon na nag-ga-gather yung mga resistance, yung mga nakikibaka, mga ganon. Sabay ganon na lang din naging parallel na yung idea na, in a general sense, diba, kung saan may ilaw, doon mag-ga-gather yung mga tao.”

(In previous times, where the light can be found is where people gather for resistance or struggle. That’s the parallel of the idea in a general sense: where there’s light, the people will gather.)

*To Cast A Shadow, There Must First Be Light* harvests the ambition of redefining lamps and light for the Filipino. In gathering a collection of artists that personalize light to their perspective, it gives us a grand idea of how we choose how symbols represent us to the broader people. Filipino artists need not be shackled to colonizer tropes; they create new tropes that speak to their experiences instead.

Related reading: [Brisa Amir’s New Exhibit Showcases Her Explosive Collages](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/brisa-amir-a-body-draws-a-leaf-sprouts/)

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Art, Decolonializing Art, Interior Design, Philippines, The Alley at Karrivin Plaza

---

### [Erwin Teves Pascual's New Exhibit "Washing Machine" Debuts at Super Duper Gallery](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/erwin-teves-pascual-washing-machine-super-duper-gallery/)

**Published:** August 23, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

[Erwin Teves Pascual’s](https://www.instagram.com/erwin_teves_pascual/) newest collection *Washing Machine* provides us with works that vary in size, intensity, and focus. These abstract creations, exhibiting at Super Duper Gallery until August 28, use small works as references to larger works, recreating them in a bigger canvas for everyone to see. The artist attempts capturing intense chaos with precision and focus.

!["Maybe Merry Go Round" by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154021.jpg "20240806_154021 - BluPrint")“Maybe Merry Go Round” by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.Pascual named the exhibit *Washing Machine* due to the works being done “in between loads of laundry and school runs, around the ebb and flow of domestic life.” The frenzied, chaotic feel of many of the paintings reflect the similarly-turbulent day-to-day existence of many households.

“To view these works is to listen to a kind of beautiful noise,” the exhibit write-up said. “Languid and fuzzy, a hum, a whirr. A swirling chaos that keeps going and going, then, for whatever reason—a stroke of the brush, a shift in color—wrestles its way back to coherence, like a wink before mayhem takes over.”

## **A Rollercoaster of Swirls and Squiggles**

Erwin Teves Pascual’s exhibit opens with seventeen small acrylic artworks entitled “Rollercoaster.” These small pieces, barely a foot long in length, use a wild series of strokes and drippings to get its frenetic feel.

Its brush strokes are wriggly and aggressive, taking on circular curves that break as suddenly as they started. Some of the paintings let the paint drip downwards, embodying a feeling reminiscent of graffiti on the streets. Even as faces and figures emerge from the piece, Pascual lets them hover in the background, putting the focus on the chaos of these colors and shapes.

![Another four paintings under the "Rollercoaster" collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154038.jpg "20240806_154038 - BluPrint")Another four paintings under the “Rollercoaster” collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Four of the paintings under the "Rollercoaster" collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154031.jpg "20240806_154031 - BluPrint")Four of the paintings under the “Rollercoaster” collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Four "Rollercoaster" paintings as shown in the "Washing Machine" exhibit in Super Duper Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154042.jpg "20240806_154042 - BluPrint")Four “Rollercoaster” paintings as shown in the “Washing Machine” exhibit in Super Duper Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Four of the paintings under the "Rollercoaster" collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154048.jpg "20240806_154048 - BluPrint")Four of the paintings under the “Rollercoaster” collection by Erwin Teves Pascual. Photo by Elle Yap.

There’s a playfulness with what the artist attempts within the confines of these pieces, as well as a knowledgeability in how to execute the chaotic abstractness in a visually-interesting way. He varies the heaviness of his strokes and the mixture of colors in each area of the canvas.

Pascual uses a lot of contrast with the color usage for the smaller works. He pairs it with the atypical squiggles and shapes of the paintings. That methodology gives the eyes something to focus on when looking at the images.

## **Recreating the Chaos Wholesale**

The smaller paintings became the “blueprint,” so to speak, for many of the bigger works shown in Super Duper Gallery. Some of them, like “The Boy Who Waited,” adapts the ideas of “Rollercoaster” into a larger canvas to showcase more of the details of the piece. Works like “Maybe Merry Go Round” combine two of the abstract pieces into a larger whole.

!["The Boy Who Waited" for Super Duper Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_154001.jpg "20240806_154001 - BluPrint")“The Boy Who Waited” for Super Duper Gallery. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Imaginitis (Severe Anxiety Attack)" from Super Duper Gallery's exhibit "Washing Machine." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_153918.jpg "20240806_153918 - BluPrint")“Imaginitis (Severe Anxiety Attack)” from Super Duper Gallery’s exhibit “Washing Machine.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Writings on the Wall" from Super Duper Gallery's exhibit "Washing Machine." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_153947.jpg "20240806_153947 - BluPrint")“Writings on the Wall” from Super Duper Gallery’s exhibit “Washing Machine.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Finding Lady Rainycorn" from Super Duper Gallery's exhibit "Washing Machine." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806_153955.jpg "20240806_153955 - BluPrint")“Finding Lady Rainycorn” from Super Duper Gallery’s exhibit “Washing Machine.” Photo by Elle Yap.

The exhibit calls these works “a reflection of a reflection, a painting of a painting.” The brushstrokes in the larger paintings showcase Erwin Teves Pascual’s care for details as he manages, stroke by stroke, to recreate some of the paintings on a larger scale. He translates these ideas in ways that don’t betray his original intent for them, clarifying them to show the audience its purpose.

*Washing Machine* displays the artistry which can exist even in the mundanity of everyday life. Whether the smaller paintings or larger works, it represents the craft of the artist and the way that translates into precise ideas overall.

Related reading: [Abstracting the countryside: Andrew de Guzman depicts Filipino sensibilities in ‘Melange’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/andrew-de-guzman-melange/)

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts & Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Art, Erwin Teves Pascual, Philippines, Super Duper Gallery

---

### [How PXP Design Workshop Shapes Better Living Through Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-pxp-design-workshop-uses-the-power-of-place-to-shape-better-living/)

**Published:** April 16, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Architects Spencer Sy and Patrick Espiritu of [PXP Design Workshop](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/southeast-asia-building-series-the-final-update-on-the-countrys-diversified-budding-architecture/) believe it is their responsibility to create spaces that improve how people live. The studio is known for modern residences and nature-integrated homes that show how the built environment can shape human interaction.

## Building a Practice in the Philippines

As a child, Sy was drawn to architecture through scale models and how they were made. Espiritu was first interested in visual art, inspired by Caravaggio and the intricacy of his paintings. On his parents’ advice, he eventually pursued architecture.

Their early interests continue to shape their roles today. “Ever since the start, Pat has leaned toward design, while I’m more interested in the technical side. We have clear boundaries in the firm, which creates a great partnership,” Sy shares.

The two architects also shared a similar career path. Both were trained in the same design studio and later gained experience abroad in Singapore. Starting their own practice back home became the natural next step.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-2.webp "FI - 2 - BluPrint")Patrick Espiritu of PXP Design Workshop

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-4.webp "FI - 4 - BluPrint")Stephen Sy of PXP Design Workshop

“When I went to Singapore, my goal was to gain experience, learn from international designers, and eventually bring those learnings back home to my own practice,” Espiritu shares.

Sy adds, “After our experience abroad, we felt confident applying what we learned locally. We want to bring international standards in design and work ethics to the Philippines.”

## How Biophilic Design Connects Homes to Nature

Biophilic design sits at the core of the firm’s philosophy. PXP integrates architecture and interiors with nature and living systems to improve everyday well-being.

In practice, this often means blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors. The firm is intentional about how occupants experience the landscape. Material choices also shape mood through organic textures, warmth, and familiarity, helping create comfort and ease.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-6.webp "FI - 6 - BluPrint")A modern residence tucked within Antipolo, Rizal.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-5.webp "FI - 5 - BluPrint")Nature is an integral feature in PXP Design’s design language.

Engaging the senses is equally important. Beyond visual appeal, the firm considers touch through materials such as warm wood and cool stone, as well as sound through the presence of nature.

“The rustling of leaves, the movement of water, and the subtle ambient sounds of nature complete the experience,” Espiritu says.

Tropical architecture is another defining layer of their work. It informs passive cooling, shading systems, and the orientation of spaces. Each room is planned for natural ventilation through considered inlet and outlet airflows, improving comfort while reducing energy use.

**Related Reading:** [How to Nurture a Greener Urban Life in Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/nurture-a-greener-manila-urban-life-with-biophilic-design/)

Sustainability is embedded throughout the design process, from site study to spatial orientation. “Rather than treating sustainability as an afterthought, it is part of our design solution and deeply embedded in our process,” Espiritu explains.

## Designing for Better Living

[PXP’s mission is rooted in human-centered design. ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/modern-minimalist-young-family-condo/)The firm takes time to understand how people live and behave, then creates spaces tailored to real needs. Every project begins with a careful study of the site so each response remains grounded in context.

Their vision is to create timeless architecture that improves daily life and helps people find meaning in ordinary routines through thoughtful design. As Espiritu puts it, “Design and construction can be chaotic. It is easy to be swayed and lose sight of your ideas. Stick to your concept. It’s your compass.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-7.webp "FI - 7 - BluPrint")PXP Design Workshop is committed to creating spaces that positively impact the occupants.Beyond the client, PXP also considers the broader community. Each home carries a responsibility to its neighborhood through visual identity, gathering, and connection. Espiritu explains, “Ultimately, our responsibility is to create spaces that improve how people live: spaces that foster meaningful relationships, both within the community and with nature.”

**Related Reading:** [Why Natural Ventilation Still Matters in Philippine Architecture ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/why-natural-ventilation-still-matters-in-philippine-architecture/)

## Homes Built Around Everyday Life

A residential project in Antipolo, Rizal, shows how the firm’s philosophies translate into built form. Their process begins with listening. “We always start by understanding the fundamentals: the site and the client. We listen closely to our clients’ needs, and at the same time, we listen to what the site is telling us. That’s always the first step,” shares Espiritu.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-3.webp "FI - 3 - BluPrint")The structure seamlessly blends the indoors and outdoors.Across many of their home designs, visual connectivity is key. Living, dining, and kitchen spaces are planned as one continuous environment so family members can see and sense one another throughout the day. As Espiritu notes, “Our philosophy remains constant, but our design solutions continue to evolve. We’re always adapting and staying open to new technologies to better respond to the changing needs of people.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FI-1.webp "FI - 1 - BluPrint")In dense cities such as Metro Manila, the firm still finds ways to bring nature in through pocket gardens, setbacks, and inward-looking courtyards. These features soften the environment while improving daylight and passive cooling. By carefully framing how nature is experienced, PXP creates calm and intentional spaces that counter the pressure of urban life.

## Looking Forward: Localizing Global Design Ideas

Espiritu believes globalization has inevitably shaped architecture in the Philippines. Like many Filipino architects who worked overseas, Sy and Espiritu returned with new perspectives, systems, and ways of thinking.

![BluPrint Perspectives: PXP Design Workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PXP.webp "PXP - BluPrint")DA Residence by PXP WorkshopEspiritu shares, “At first, this may raise concerns about losing architectural identity. But identity isn’t lost through exposure. It’s lost when we stop responding to who we are.”

**Read More:** [DA Residence: Into the Woods](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/da-residence-into-the-woods/)

---

Photographer: Ed Simon

MMA: Rachel Oro

Videographer: Zoey Tapalgo

Production Associate: Myka Magcamit

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is PXP Design Workshop known for?

PXP Design Workshop is known for modern residences and nature-integrated homes that improve how people live. The firm combines architecture, interiors, and environmental thinking to create spaces shaped by comfort, connection, and everyday use.

### What does biophilic design mean in residential architecture?

Biophilic design is an approach that connects homes to nature through light, ventilation, greenery, materials, and sensory experience. It aims to improve well-being by strengthening the relationship between people and the natural environment.

### What is human-centered design in architecture?

Human-centered design focuses on how people live, move, behave, and interact within a space. It prioritizes real needs, comfort, usability, and emotional well-being.

### Why is tropical architecture important in the Philippines?

Tropical architecture responds to heat, humidity, rainfall, and sunlight. In the Philippines, it helps improve comfort through passive cooling, shade, airflow, and climate-responsive planning while reducing energy use.

### How do global influences affect Filipino architecture?

Global influences can introduce new systems, ideas, and technologies. When adapted to local climate, culture, and habits, they can help Filipino architecture evolve while preserving identity.

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 [![Life-Centric Architecture: Terence Yu Places the Human Experience First.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Feature-Cover_TERENCE-YU.webp "Feature Cover_TERENCE YU - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/life-centric-architecture-terence-yu-places-the-human-experience-first/) 

### [Life-Centric Architecture: Terence Yu Places the Human Experience First](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/life-centric-architecture-terence-yu-places-the-human-experience-first/)

At its core, architecture has always been about the human experience. While this fundamental purpose can sometimes be overlooked amid the complexities of modern life, a renewed focus on human-first principles is taking hold. This deliberate approach is articulated in the philosophy of Life-Centric Architecture, a mandate championed and put into practice by Terence Yu \[…\]

**Categories:** Bluprint Perspective

**Tags:** BluPrint Perspective, Profile

---

### [How to Choose the Perfect RLC Residences Development](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/how-to-choose-the-perfect-rlc-residences-development/)

**Published:** November 18, 2025
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

A person’s definition of “home” expands and transforms in lockstep with their ambitions—from a launchpad for independence to a sanctuary for a growing family, and finally, to a bastion of legacy. RLC Residences is building on this insight, curating a pre-selling portfolio designed as platforms for life’s most pivotal chapters.

This strategic approach moves beyond the singular transaction of buying a unit. Instead, it frames homeownership as a continuum, acknowledging that the space we need at 25 is not the space we require at 35 or 55.

By focusing on a pre-selling model, RLC Residences offers a trifecta of strategic advantages. First, choice: engaging early grants access to prime unit locations and layouts. Second, time: with flexible payment terms, some stretching up to 78 months, the approach decouples financial pressure from aspiration. This extended window provides crucial time to curate furnishings and plan interiors. Finally, confidence: each project is backed by a trusted track record, ensuring a future home is already in motion.

With a portfolio tailored to three distinct personas, each represents a key phase of personal and financial growth.

## **The Smart Move: Sierra Valley Gardens for the Rising Independent**

![RLC’s Sierra Valley Gardens Unveils the Second Phase of a Premier Suburban Sanctuary.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/KV1-Sierra-Valley-Gardens.jpg "KV[1] - Sierra Valley Gardens - BluPrint")For the young professional ready to claim their space, Sierra Valley Gardens is a declaration of independence. Located in Cainta, Rizal, along Ortigas Avenue Extension, it anchors an 18-hectare destination estate, creating a self-contained ecosystem for a dynamic, modern lifestyle.

![Sierra Valley Gardens in Cainta, Rizal by RLC.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sierra-Valley-Gardens-in-Cainta-Rizal-Artist_s-Perspective-scaled.webp "Sierra Valley Gardens in Cainta, Rizal (Artist_s Perspective) - BluPrint")The insight here is that independence thrives on efficiency and connection. The development functions as a future-ready hub, integrating smart-home devices—a first for a development in the East. It is a strategic sanctuary that answers the needs of millennial home seekers who value both personal and financial independence while remaining connected.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Condo-Living43.jpg "Condo Living43 - BluPrint")The design actively weaves in sustainability: solar panels power the common areas, a rainwater harvesting system handles irrigation. Integrated EV charging stations sit within the parking slots. The developers programmed the amenities for a balanced life: a three-story clubhouse features a fitness center and theater room, while the rooftop boasts a viewing deck and a hydroponics farm, allowing residents to purchase fresh produce. With a new phase offering studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, this design engineers Sierra Valley Gardens as an intelligent first move.

## **The Family Anchor: MIRA for Communal Growth**

![RLC Residences’ New Future-Ready MIRA Tower 2 Almost Sold Out.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mira-Photos.jpg "Mira Photos - BluPrint")As priorities shift from “me” to “we,” a home’s requirements fundamentally change. For those transitioning to family life, MIRA by RLC Residences in Quezon City provides the anchor. The design philosophy shifts from individual ambition to communal well-being, evidenced by the staggering 80% sales of its second tower just months after launch.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mira-1.jpg "Mira (1) - BluPrint")MIRA’s core innovation lies in its “convertible flexible units.” This system allows for the combination of two one-bedroom units or the division of a two-bedroom unit into a studio and a one-bedroom. It is a home that programmatically “grows with you,” adapting as the family’s needs evolve.

The development dedicates 73% of its over 8,000-sqm amenity space to the outdoors. This includes “The Playground,” a multi-purpose court with an indoor running track, and various wellness zones. Strategically located near Quezon City’s key transport hubs—including the upcoming Metro Manila Subway and Unified Grand Central Station—MIRA is designed for logistical ease, ensuring that family life is built on connection, not compromise.

## **The Legacy Project: Le Pont Residences for the Established**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02-Le-Pont-Residences-soon-to-rise-at-Bridgetowne-Destination-Estate-Artist_s-Perspective.webp "02 - Le Pont Residences, soon to rise at Bridgetowne Destination Estate (Artist_s Perspective) - BluPrint")Le Pont ResidencesAt the portfolio’s pinnacle is Le Pont Residences, a development crafted for the established and the wealth-builder. Its location within the 31-hectare Bridgetowne Destination Estate is its strategic core, offering bi-city access to Pasig and Quezon City and proximity to the Opus Mall and international-grade office towers.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04-Artist_s-Perspective-of-Le-Pont-Residences_-Executive-Function-Villas.webp "04 - Artist_s Perspective of Le Pont Residences_ Executive Function Villas - BluPrint")This is a home viewed as a tangible asset and a legacy. As the first and only EDGE-certified building in Bridgetowne, it fuses premium, sustainable design with proven investment value—Tower 1 units have already seen an 8% appreciation in just over a year.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Le-Pont-ph-2.jpg "Le Pont ph (2) - BluPrint")The primary bedroom of the penthouse unitsThe residences themselves are an exercise in scale and refinement. Units range from 46-sqm one-bedrooms to expansive 220-sqm four-bedroom homes. At the apex are the 390-sqm bi-level penthouses, each defined by an iconic curved staircase. Every unit features a private loggia, smart home integration, and premium inclusions. The amenities are “hyper-sized,” including a private theater, golf simulator, sky lounge, and executive function villas, all confirming Le Pont’s status as the portfolio’s crown jewel.

RLC Residences’ portfolio acts as a mirror for a life in motion. It presents a strategic vision where a home is not the end of a search, but a marker on a continuum. By designing for distinct chapters—from independence to stability and legacy—the developer is offering more than property; it is offering a platform for who you are yet to become. Begin your next chapter with RLC Residences by visiting [rlcresidences.com.](https://rlcresidences.com)

**Read more:** [RLC Residences Rises to the Top Among Residential Condo Developers](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/rlc-residences-rises-to-the-top-among-residential-condo-developers/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the “Continuum of Homeownership” and why does RLC Residences use a pre-selling model?

The continuum of homeownership acknowledges that a resident’s spatial and financial needs evolve through three distinct life stages: Independence, Family Stability, and Legacy. RLC Residences utilizes a pre-selling model to offer three strategic advantages:

Choice: Early access to prime unit layouts and locations.

Time: Flexible payment terms (up to 78 months) that decouple financial pressure from the aspiration of owning a home.

Growth: Securing an asset in a development “in motion,” allowing for capital appreciation before the building is even completed.

### How is Sierra Valley Gardens engineered as a “Smart Move” for rising independents?

Located in Cainta, Rizal, Sierra Valley Gardens is designed as a self-contained ecosystem for young professionals. It is the first development in the East to integrate smart-home devices as a standard feature. Technically, it blends modern efficiency with sustainability through solar-powered common areas, rainwater harvesting, and EV charging stations. Its unique “hydroponics farm” on the rooftop further bridges the gap between urban living and sustainable wellness.

### What makes MIRA’s “Convertible Flexible Units” a breakthrough for growing families?

MIRA addresses the shifting needs of family life through a “growing home” philosophy. Its convertible flexible units allow homeowners to combine two one-bedroom units or divide a larger two-bedroom unit into a studio and a one-bedroom. This programmatic flexibility ensures the home can adapt to life changes—such as the arrival of a child or the need for a home office—without requiring the resident to move to a new development.

### Why is Le Pont Residences considered the “Legacy Project” of the portfolio?

Le Pont Residences is positioned as a wealth-building asset within the Bridgetowne Destination Estate. It is the first and only EDGE-certified (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) building in the estate, signifying a global standard for green building and resource efficiency. With bi-level penthouses featuring iconic curved staircases and “hyper-sized” amenities like golf simulators and executive villas, it is designed to hold value as a multi-generational legacy.

### How does the “Destination Estate” concept influence property value?

All three developments are anchored within Destination Estates (like Sierra Valley or Bridgetowne). These are 18-to-31-hectare self-contained hubs that integrate residential towers with international-grade offices and premium malls (like Opus Mall). Strategically, this placement ensures logistical ease and proximity to transport hubs (like the Metro Manila Subway), which directly correlates to higher capital appreciation—evidenced by the 8% value increase seen at Le Pont Residences in just over a year.

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential, Sponsored

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential, RLC, RLC Residences

---

### [Welcoming A New Chapter: Crate and Barrel Opens New Store at the Podium](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/crate-and-barrel-opens-new-store-at-the-podium/)

**Published:** December 18, 2025
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

The new Crate and Barrel at The Podium—its first Philippine store in over a decade—signals the brand’s global shift toward a more design-driven, experiential retail model. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by the President of SM Retail, Jonathan Ng; the Vice President and Business Unit Head of Crate & Barrel, Steven Ticzon; and the Senior Director for International Operations of Crate & Barrel, Sarah Sullivan.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DSC00817-scaled.webp "DSC00817 - BluPrint")# **Quality Craftsmanship and Sustainability**

The store incorporates the brand’s refreshed global design, featuring an open, warm, and gallery-style layout. It emphasizes visual storytelling through thoughtfully styled vignettes designed to inspire modern living. Although more intimate in size, the store offers a highly curated selection of its best-selling furniture, homeware, and décor.

![Crate and Barrel at the Podium](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CB-Podium-43-scaled.webp "CB Podium-43 - BluPrint")Every piece is a testament to quality craftsmanship and is made with the finest materials. Crate & Barrel is also committed to more responsible materials and sustainable sourcing. For instance, the brand is using more sustainably sourced materials in their products, including FSC®-certified wood.

This ensures that the wood comes from forests that are cared for and managed in a way that provides holistic environmental, social, and economic benefits. This care extends to their textiles. Beddings & upholstery that are labeled OEKO-TEX® certified pass safety tests for the presence of harmful substances, so they are better for you and your home. As one of the most well-known furniture brands in the world, Crate & Barrel offers meticulous attention to detail in their craftsmanship—ensuring that every item is designed to last for generations.

![Crate and Barrel at the Podium](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CB-Podium-41-scaled.webp "CB Podium-41 - BluPrint")# **A Refreshing Retail Experience**

![Crate and Barrel at the Podium](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DSC00730-scaled.webp "DSC00730 - BluPrint")The new store embodies Crate and Barrel’s pivot to a highly experiential, design-driven retail model. Visitors are immediately drawn into curated dining areas upon entering the store, offering a fresh perspective on the traditional dining experience. With the holiday season upon us, each corner of the showroom is decorated with seasonally themed decor, such as faux botanicals and ceramic decor, that evokes warmth and a sense of familiarity.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CB-Podium-9-scaled.webp "CB Podium-9 - BluPrint")As you go further into the store, the visual story of the space is clear—from its living room to bedroom sets. Inside, Crate & Barrel’s showroom crafts a presentation on modern living made special. At the center of the showroom is the Design Deck, where specialists offer clients personalized advice on home styling and furniture planning.

![Crate and Barrel at the Podium](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CB-Podium-32-scaled.webp "CB Podium-32 - BluPrint")Furthermore, the showroom features a range of tools that allow for a seamless retail experience. This includes the integrated digital tools, which enhance this high-touch service. Interactive boards enable clients to browse the full product range beyond the physical display, while iPads help specialists share styling ideas, show alternate options, and facilitate home delivery orders. This blend of personal service and digital access fulfills the brand’s commitment to modern living, timeless design, and outstanding customer service.

# **The Future of Crate & Barrel**

This new chapter for Crate and Barrel, beginning with The Podium and continuing with next year’s SM Aura relocation, is a clear signal of its renewed commitment to the Philippine market. It is a powerful investment in the brand’s mission to elevate the everyday and make modern living special through timeless design and exceptional quality.

You can experience Crate & Barrel’s collections in their showroom! Alternatively, explore their full collection and bring inspired design to your home by visiting their website at [crateandbarrel.com.ph](https://crateandbarrel.com.ph).

**Read More:** [Crate and Barrel PH’s 10th Anniversary Continues with ‘Gather & Grateful’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/crate-and-barrel-phs-10th-anniversary-continues-with-gather-grateful/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What defines Crate and Barrel’s new “Experiential Retail Model” at The Podium?

The Podium store signals a shift from a traditional warehouse-style layout to a gallery-style, vignette-driven model. This approach uses curated “visual storytelling” to present furniture in realistic home settings (living, dining, and bedroom) immediately upon entry. By prioritizing “high-touch” service through the central Design Deck, the store functions as a consulting hub rather than a simple retail floor, allowing clients to engage in personalized spatial planning and home styling.

### How do FSC® and OEKO-TEX® certifications validate the brand’s quality?

These are the technical benchmarks for Crate and Barrel’s commitment to “designed to last” products. FSC®-certified wood ensures that furniture comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental and social benefits. Meanwhile, OEKO-TEX® certification on textiles and upholstery signifies that the materials have been tested for harmful substances and are safe for human use. These certifications bridge the gap between aesthetic luxury and ethical, long-term sustainability.

### What is the “Design Deck” and how does it integrate digital tools?

The Design Deck is a physical station located at the center of the showroom where styling specialists provide professional advice. It is supported by an integrated digital ecosystem comprising interactive boards that allow guests to browse the full global catalog beyond the store’s physical inventory and iPads used by specialists to visualize alternate fabric options and facilitate home delivery orders. This blend of personal consultation and digital accessibility ensures a seamless, modern retail experience.

### Why did Crate and Barrel transition from SM Megamall to The Podium?

The relocation was a strategic “same neighborhood” move to a more intimate and upscale environment. The Podium’s demographic aligns with the brand’s global pivot toward a “highly curated” selection. While the physical footprint is more compact than the previous Megamall branch, the store focuses on high-density best-sellers and premium service, optimizing the retail space for a more discerning, design-conscious clientele.

### What does “Timeless Design” mean for the brand’s long-term value?

In technical design terms, timelessness refers to the use of neutral palettes, clean architectural lines, and high-integrity materials like solid wood and premium textiles. Crate and Barrel engineers their pieces to transcend seasonal trends, focusing on durability and aesthetic longevity. This strategy positions their furniture not as a “fast fashion” home product, but as a generational investment that can adapt to evolving interior styles over decades.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [Here’s Everything You Need to Know About #ArtFairPH2018](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/everything-to-know-about-art-fair-ph-2018/)

**Published:** February 28, 2018
**Author:** Reanne Erilla

**Excerpt:** 
						

**Content:**

<!\[CDATA\[

It’s [art fair](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-fair-philippines-2025-announcement/) season again and we’re sure Art Fair PH is on your mind. This year’s #ArtFairPH will be the sixth edition of the art fair. “Last year, we welcomed more than 40,000 visitors, and we’ve seen how the interest in [Philippine contemporary art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/an-introduction-to-contemporary-arts-in-the-philippines/) has grown. Our move to secure a bigger space and oversee access to the fair will allow us to enhance the viewing experience of our visitors and help ensure that artwork can be properly appreciated,” says Trickie Lopa, fair co-founder.

Here’s Everything you need to know about Art Fair PH 2018.

## 1 It runs 4-days long

From March 1-4, 2018 (Thursday–Sunday), this year’s art fair is open from 10AM-9PM.

According to their official website, entry will be timed for the public. Namely: 10:00AM-1:30PM, 2:00PM-5:00PM, and 5:30PM-9:00PM.

## 2 It happens at The Link, Makati

Same location as it happened in before, Art Fair PH happens in The Link, Makati City. It occupies the carpark’s 4th-7th floor plus the roof deck. The total floor area of the floors cover up to 13,000-square meters of art.

## 3 Tickets 

An entrance-fee is required to enter the art fair.

P100.00 for Makati students, bring your valid school ID

P150.00 for students, bring your valid school ID

P350.00 Entrance fee for non-students

## 4 There’s Talks Held Daily

From the opening to the last day, there will be ArtFairpH talks held form morning to the evening. Speakers range from Kidlat Tahimik, Ambeth Ocampo, and many more.

Visit [artfairphilippines.com](https://artfairphilippines.com/) for schedules, speakers, and more details.

## 5 More than Half of the exhibitors are Local

A total of 51 galleries are presenting in this year’s art fair, 36 of those are Filipino presenters.

These include 1335MABINI, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea, Secret Fresh, Paseo Art Gallery, PINTÔ ART MUSEUM, Salcedo Private View, Silverlens, Galerie Stephanie, and YSOBEL ART GALLERY, among others.

## 6 ARTFAIR/PHOTO is New

Sponsored by Swiss private banker Julius Baer, ARTFAIR/PHOTO is a new section in the art fair. Among the featured artists in this section are [Neal Oshima](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-fair-ph-2018-photo/) and Eduardo Masferre, both uses their art to photograph Filipino tribes and indigenous traditions.

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** art fair, art fair ph, artfairph2018

---

### [BluPrint Unveils New Book, "Design Conversations"](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/bluprint-unveils-new-book-design-conversations/)

**Published:** June 8, 2025
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

BluPrint marked a significant milestone for the Philippine design community. The country’s leading authority in architecture and design officially launched its newest seminal publication, “Design Conversations.” Hosted at VCDC M Residences in Katipunan, the event was a vibrant gathering of the nation’s foremost architects, designers, industry leaders, and esteemed guests, all coming together to celebrate a new chapter in architectural dialogue.

“Design Conversations” commemorates BluPrint’s enduring commitment to capturing the evolving language of Philippine architecture and design, and a collective expression of the visionaries who shaped its pages. The stylish interiors of M Residences provided a fitting backdrop for an evening dedicated to architectural excellence. Guests were welcomed into an atmosphere brimming with anticipation and the promise of engaging discourse. Cocktails and canapés curated by the renowned Chef Chele (of Gallery by Chele, Asador Alfonso, and more) circulated, setting a convivial tone.

## Setting the Stage for Dialogue

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-18.webp "Design Conversations 18 - BluPrint")The formal program commenced with BluPrint’s Editor-in-Chief, Arch. Geewel Fuster, taking the stage. “Good evening to all of you,” she began, addressing the distinguished guests, “architects of vision and builders of dreams. We are here today not just to celebrate our craft, but to acknowledge the profound impact it has on shaping our world, our lives, and our future.” Fuster spoke passionately about how Philippine architecture and design continue to “plot an incredible mark on this new era.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-7.webp "Design Conversations 7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-12.webp "Design Conversations 12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-13.webp "Design Conversations 13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-11.webp "Design Conversations 11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-5.webp "Design Conversations 5 - BluPrint")

She elaborated on the book’s purpose: “Tonight is a celebration of a design conversation which brings together the work of experts, architects, designers, and editors… The aim of this effort is twofold: to push our limit and responsibility to embrace innovation while honoring the legacy of our predecessors and to strive harder to create buildings that are not only functional and beautiful—but also sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our communities.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-1.webp "Design Conversations 1 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-3.webp "Design Conversations 3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-6.webp "Design Conversations 6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-9-1.webp "Design Conversations 9 - BluPrint")

With evident pride, Fuster described the volume as “a special book with projects comprehending the intangible experience of past, exploring what is inspiring today and contemplating about the future.”

She then took a heartfelt moment to acknowledge the “catalyzing forces” behind the book, extending her gratitude to an esteemed roster of contributors and designers . These include:

[Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ed-calma-modern-minimalist-home/)

Anthony Nazareno

[Jorge Yulo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jorge-yulo-on-skillful-techniques-for-impactful-design/)

Bea Valdes, Marga Valdes-Trinidad, and Mike Aguas

Domini Galicia

Sudar Khadka

Anna Sy

Benjie Mendoza

Deo Alam

Don Lino

Antonio Legaspi

Pierre Briones

and Tina Fernandez.

A special mention was paid to former BluPrint EIC, Ms. Judith Torres, for her “impactful dedication to the industry leading to this glorious collaboration.”

The BluPrint editorial team, writers, creative and marketing teams, and One Mega Group management, including AGC PH CEO, Archie Carrasco, AGC PH Vice President for Business Growth & Strategic Partnerships, Randolf Palanca, One Mega Group Chief Operating Officer, Ramon Galicia, and One Mega Group Vice President for Lifestyle Media Brands, Apples Aberin, were also lauded for their unwavering support.

## A Partnership in Vision

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-2.webp "Design Conversations 2 - BluPrint")A key partner for the evening, [Victor Consunji](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/victor-consunji-vcdc-building-dream-homes-for-the-filipinos/) Development Corporation (VCDC), was warmly thanked. Fuster introduced VCDC’s Founder and CEO, Victor Consunji, as “an anchor in the real estate industry.” Consunji delivered his remarks, expressing VCDC’s gratitude to be part of BluPrint’s celebration and highlighting the alignment of VCDC’s values with BluPrint’s beliefs in championing creative and thoughtful design in the country.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-16.webp "Design Conversations 16 - BluPrint")The highlight of the evening, the official book launch, followed. An AVP played before BluPrint EIC Geweel Fuster, One Mega Group Vice President for Lifestyle Media Brands Apples Aberin, One Mega Group Chief Operating Officer Ramon Galicia, and VCDC Founder Victor Consunji, alongside Rachel Carrasco, took the stage for a celebratory toast. “Here’s to the architects, designers, editors, and the thinkers who continue to build the structures that celebrate our culture… And to conversations that challenge, inspire, and move design forward,” toasted Fuster. “Cheers to the next chapter in Philippine architecture and design!”

The excitement continued with a raffle segment where one fortunate guest took home a luxurious Herman Miller Aeron Chair, courtesy of CWC Interiors, adding an extra layer of delight to the festivities.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Design-Conversations-4.webp "Design Conversations 4 - BluPrint")As the formal program concluded, guests were invited to embark on a tour of the M Residences Model Units – Kiara, Elise, and Aerin – guided by VCDC representatives, while continuing to enjoy the culinary treats by Chef Chele. The invitation to explore these thoughtfully designed spaces perfectly complemented the evening’s theme, allowing the “design conversations” to continue in a tangible setting. Copies of “Design Conversations” were available for purchase, allowing attendees to take a piece of the evening’s inspiration home.

## Acknowledging Our Esteemed Partners

The successful launch of BluPrint’s “Design Conversations” was made possible through the generous support of our valued partners:

B&B Italia

Ethan Allen

Boffi

Siematic

Subzero and Wolf

Miele

ADL

Orama

Dornbracht

Villeroy & Boch

Kohler

Opulence

Ashton Technologies Corporation

And Victor Consunji Development Corporation.

The event was a vibrant affirmation of the Philippine design community’s dynamism, a tribute to its leading voices, and a promising look towards a future continuously shaped by inspiring and meaningful design conversations.

You can now order your copy of “Design Conversations” at [Sari Sari Shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/collections/bluprint-issues/products/bluprint-design-conversations).

Photos by Ed Simon and Excel Panlaque.

**Read more:** [BluPrint Celebrates 25 Years with “Design Conversations”](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/bluprint-celebrates-25-years-with-design-conversations/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core purpose of BluPrint’s new book, “Design Conversations”?

“Design Conversations” serves as a seminal publication that captures the evolving language of Philippine architecture and design by bridging the past, present, and future. The book aims to push the boundaries of innovation while honoring the legacy of predecessors, focusing on structures that are sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to community needs. It acts as a curated dialogue between experts and visionaries to plot the trajectory of the country’s design impact in a new era.

### Who are the key architectural figures featured in “Design Conversations”?

The publication brings together an esteemed roster of the Philippines’ most influential architects and designers, including Ed Calma, Anthony Nazareno, Jorge Yulo, and Sudar Khadka. Other notable contributors such as Anna Sy, Benjie Mendoza, and Domini Galicia lend their expertise to the volume’s narrative. This collective effort highlights a diverse range of perspectives, ensuring the book represents a broad spectrum of architectural excellence and creative thought leadership.

### How does the book address the balance between legacy and innovation?

According to Editor-in-Chief Arch. Geewel Fuster, the book is specifically designed to comprehend the intangible experiences of the past while exploring contemporary inspirations and contemplating future possibilities. By documenting the work of experts who honor traditional craftsmanship while embracing modern technology, the publication provides a roadmap for building a future that remains culturally rooted. This duality ensures that Philippine design moves forward without losing the historical context that defines its identity.

### What role did the partnership with VCDC play in the book’s launch event?

The Victor Consunji Development Corporation (VCDC) served as a primary partner, hosting the launch at the M Residences in Katipunan to provide a tangible setting for the “design conversations.” The event allowed guests to tour model units like the Kiara and Elise, which embody the values of thoughtful, high-end residential design championed by both VCDC and BluPrint. This collaboration underscored the synergy between architectural media and real estate developers in promoting functional yet beautiful Filipino living spaces.

### Where can the public access or purchase the “Design Conversations” book?

Following its official launch in June 2025, “Design Conversations” is available through BluPrint and its associated lifestyle media channels under the One Mega Group. The book is intended for architects, students, and design enthusiasts who wish to own a piece of Philippine architectural history and gain insight into the thinkers shaping the nation’s built environment. It serves as both a reference guide for professionals and an inspirational coffee table book for those interested in local creative dynamism.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, News

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential

---

### [BluPrint's "Ask the Experts" Partners with CSB School of Environment and Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/bluprints-ask-the-experts-partners-with-csb-school-of-environment-and-design/)

**Published:** October 2, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

BluPrint announces the next installment of its “Ask the Experts” series at College of St. Benilde (CSB) School of Environment and Design. This initiative connects architecture and design students with leading industry professionals in the Philippines. Aimed at fostering meaningful connections between future architects and seasoned professionals, this series provides [architecture students with practical](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/shifting-perspectives-cathy-saldana-on-leading-the-practice-toward-equitable-architecture/) knowledge and invaluable career insights from respected names in the field.

This event will be held on October 4, 2024, at the 5th Floor Theater, Design & Arts Campus. It offers students a rare opportunity to learn from three of the country’s top architects, Cathy Saldaña and Sudarshan Khadka Jr., and Joey Yupangco.

## **Featured Experts**

[**Cathy Saldaña**,](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/shifting-perspectives-cathy-saldana-on-leading-the-practice-toward-equitable-architecture/) President, CEO, and Founder of PDP Architects, is an award-winning architect. Renowned for her work in island and [resort development](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-crucial-role-of-environmental-compliance-certificates-in-resort-development/), her broad portfolio also includes commercial and mixed-use buildings. Her creative approach blends contemporary, modern-tropical, mid-century, and industrial styles. Influenced by her father, an engineer in public housing, Saldaña studied architecture at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Her distinct body of work emphasizes environmental conservation and storytelling in design.

![BP Cathy Saldaña PDP Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BP-Cathy-Saldana-header-1024x569.jpg "BP Cathy Saldana-header - BluPrint")Photographed by Ed Simon[**Sudarshan Khadka Jr.**,](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/designing-freedom-liberating-philippine-architectural-forms-on-the-global-stage/) partner at LVLP and Khadka + Eriksson Furunes, is known for his innovative work both locally and internationally. Khadka’s career took the global spotlight when LVLP won at the 2017 World Architectural Festival in Berlin. He also co-curated the *Structures of Mutual Support*, which gained global recognition at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale. The project fused the *bayanihan* spirit and the Filipino concept of maaliwalas. His work continues to push the boundaries of Filipino architecture.

![Sudar Khadka. Image by Ed Simon](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BP-Perspective-2023-In-Article_Architects-Portraits-additional-Portrait.jpg "BP Perspective 2023 - In Article_Architects Portraits - additional (Portrait) - BluPrint")Sudar Khadka, photo by Ed Simon.Joining them as a special guest is **[Joey Yupangco](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/joey-yupangco-a-journey-of-design-excellence-across-the-years/)**, the former Dean of CSB’s School of Environment and Design, whose extensive experience and expertise will further enrich the conversation. The session will be moderated by **Ferdinand Dela Paz**, ensuring a dynamic and informative discussion.

![Profile shot of Joey Yupangco with a scale model of a farmhouse.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Perspective-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Perspective)-2 - BluPrint")Joey Yupangco, photo by Kieran Punay.## **Don’t Miss Out!**

This event is open to all architecture students, offering a platform to learn about the latest trends, real-world applications of design, and career advice directly from the experts. Secure your spot by pre-registering through this [link](https://bit.ly/BluPrint_AsktheExperts_Pre-Reg).

Join us on **October 4, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM** at the **5th Floor Theater, Design & Arts Campus** for an inspiring afternoon of learning and connection.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ask-the-Experts-1.jpg "Ask the Experts 1 - BluPrint")**Read more:** [A Unique Opportunity to Ask the Experts at Enderun CAD](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/a-unique-opportunity-to-ask-the-experts-at-enderun-cad/)

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

---

### [Julieanne Ng Imprints Her Existential Crisis in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/julieanne-ng-glimpse-across-the-fleeting-light/)

**Published:** February 3, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light*, the new exhibit by Julieanne Ng at MO\_Space in BGC, envisions the personal existential journey of the artist through an ingenious use of candles and paint. The works portray a sense of the universe’s effusive nature, overflowing with meaning even in its most minimalist nature.

![A painting by Julieanne Ng for "A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173453.jpg "20250111_173453 - BluPrint")A painting by Julieanne Ng for “A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light.”For this exhibit, Julieanne Ng utilizes a single candle to imprint images on the canvas. The choice of the candle signals the intent of tackling a sort of deeper implication in the work, an attempt to connect to a higher, more ancient level of existence. It finds the universal in the atomized particular, a common theme emerging from Ng’s work.

“The entire show is about my attempt to visualize what goes beyond the physical form,” she said. “Culturally, candles are used as a connection, as a bridge, or as a link between our world and the next. We see this whenever we use \[it for\] doing offerings to the church, or even as simple as blowing a candle for every birthday. There’s that notion of wanting \[in the practice\].”

## **Candles and Painting**

For *A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light*, Julieanne Ng covered the candle with black paint to either stamp it straight or roll it across the canvas. She also uses white in certain paintings. Ng shared that she wanted to utilize white paint for the whole exhibit, but she didn’t like how it tended to disappear in certain angles.

![Candle tracks with white paint by Julieanne Ng.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173446.jpg "20250111_173446 - BluPrint")Candle tracks with white paint by Julieanne Ng.The process of imprinting the candle on the canvas eventually softened it due to its material nature. This forced Ng to be more careful with the latter paintings in the exhibit to be able to use the same candle for them all.

![A painting by Julieanne Ng for "A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173315.jpg "20250111_173315 - BluPrint")A painting by Julieanne Ng for “A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light.”“Actually, what’s more amazing here is that, if you see this,” she said, referencing her paintings, “you can see that \[the\] pattern \[here\], medyo nagpa-flatten na siya. And the thing is, the candle itself is very soft. I have to be very careful with how I apply pressure to it.

“So, \[in this work\] parang okay pa kasi matigas pa yung candle and everything. But like, as I continue with the entire process, nagiging flat na siya. It also says a lot about the process, even the time that was spent.”

![Another work for "A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Time."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173357.jpg "20250111_173357 - BluPrint")Another work for “A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Time.”## **Existential Dreams and Wanderings**

![Close-up look at the circular detail of one of the works in "A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173320.jpg "20250111_173320 - BluPrint")The combination creates a unique image akin to looking at plant cells under a microscope, or ancient hieroglyphic writing. The circles, especially with the layering, look like the symbols from 2016’s *Arrival*. At times, the layering of the black and white paints create an ephemeral sheen that adds to the existential notes that she desired to have.

![Detailed work at the white-and-black layering for "A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173520.jpg "20250111_173520 - BluPrint")Julieanne Ng said that she wanted to explore the angst that comes within the repetitive and often unfulfilling existence within our society. Eventually, she ended up creating a literal scroll with candle imprints that goes from the ceiling to the floor of one corner of the gallery. This led her to explore a deeper existential angst coming from the candle imprints, how ancient much of that exploration is.

![The scroll by Julieanne Ng filled with imprints from a candle.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173418.jpg "20250111_173418 - BluPrint")The scroll by Julieanne Ng filled with imprints from a candle.“I think one of the inquiries that I wanted to answer here is ‘what goes beyond the physical form?,’” she said. “Syempre, our life is filled with repetitions, routines. Even the process of making the artwork, it’s all repetition. So, I guess one of the things that I wanted to ask is, ‘Is it worth it? What goes beyond that? Are we just stuck in this series of cycles?’ But the thing is, the more I try to make sense of this, the more abstract it becomes.”

## **Provoking Question and Thought**

*A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light* doesn’t necessarily find the answers to the darkness that careens through our existence. But art isn’t really meant to answer any question, but to provoke thought. And Julieanne Ng’s representation of the cyclical systems we endure feels provocative, balancing self-reflection with a stark act of doing. It leaves behind an artistic statement that endures beyond one’s feelings of crisis.

![Upwards view of a painting by Julieanne Ng.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250111_173436.jpg "20250111_173436 - BluPrint")*A Glimpse Across The Fleeting Light* is open at MO\_Space in Bonifacio High Street until February 9.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [‘More|Less’: Portraying the Hecticness of the Information Age](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/more-less-the-hecticness-of-information-age/ "‘More|Less’: Portraying the Hecticness of the Information Age")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the significance of using a candle as a primary tool in this exhibit?

In this collection, the candle serves as a symbolic bridge between the physical world and the spiritual realm. Culturally associated with offerings and wishes, the candle allows Ng to explore what lies beyond physical form, using it to imprint rhythmic, repetitive patterns that suggest an ancient connection to existence.

### How does the artist apply paint using the candle for her artworks?

Julieanne Ng coats a single candle in black or white paint and either stamps it directly or rolls it across the canvas. This unconventional technique creates textures reminiscent of plant cells or ancient hieroglyphics, resulting in an ephemeral sheen that captures the artist’s ruminations on the universal and the microscopic.

### What challenges did the artist face with her materials during the process?

Because wax is a soft material, the candle began to flatten and lose its shape due to the repeated pressure of application. This physical degradation of the tool became a reflection of the time spent on the work, forcing Ng to adjust her pressure carefully to ensure the single candle lasted throughout the entire series.

### What is the meaning behind the large scroll installation in the gallery?

The floor-to-ceiling scroll represents the repetitive cycles and routines of daily life, questioning whether there is deeper meaning beyond these series of actions. By filling the long medium with candle imprints, Ng visualizes the “existential angst” of modern society and the abstract nature of seeking purpose within a cyclical existence.

### Where and when can the public view this exhibition?

The exhibit is hosted at MO\_Space, located in Bonifacio High Street, BGC. It is open for public viewing until February 9, offering visitors a chance to reflect on Ng’s provocative representations of self-reflection and the human place within the universe.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Expressionism, Art, Julieanne Ng, MO_Space, Philippines

---

### [‘Stakeholding’: Looking at the Praxis of Political Ideology in Gaming](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/stakeholding-looking-at-the-praxis-of-political-ideology-in-gaming/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *If Art is a Hammer 2025*, the [Concerned Artists of the Philippines](https://www.instagram.com/concernedartists_ph/ "Concerned Artists of the Philippines") diverged into a different form of artistry not typically discussed in mainstream circles: games, specifically board games. For their final talk, they invited artist Lyra Garcellano to discuss her board game *Stakeholding*, and why gaming is an inherently political artwork despite what online discourse would say.

## **The Inherent Permission Politics of Gaming**

Lyra Garcellano approaches gaming by seeing it as the inherently political vehicle that it is. She cites different games that she grew up with—*Old Maid*, *Monopoly*, *Small World*, *Trading Game: France—Colonies*—as examples of how games as an artform pushes a conservative agenda upon the world today.

Games like *Monopoly*, originally created as an anti-capitalist game that shows the folly of the system and the benefits of spreading wealth to others, becomes a rabid push of accumulation of resources that seeks to justify the capitalist mindset happening in our society today. *Small World* and *Trading Game*, she argues, justify colonization and territory expansion through a fun, zany atmosphere.

While attempting to seem neutral, they all push a conservative political agenda that seeks to maintain the status quo of the time.

![Lyra Garcellano, artist and creator of the board game "Stakeholding."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_152541.jpg "20250215_152541 - BluPrint")Lyra Garcellano, artist and creator of the board game “Stakeholding.”## **Creating Games Rooted in Togetherness**

Garcellano sees games of all sorts as a way of capital to create a permission structure around the ideas it wants to push, from the patriarchy to colonization to the different social statuses and how we interact with others through it. It trains us, she said, to see the world in that specific light and to engage with it with no alternatives in sight.

“\[It gives us\] the propulsion, it motivates us on how we strategize…and negotiate our daily existence,” she said.

In response to that, Garcellano posed a question to the audience related to how we create games: “What if you decide to make life-generating art and not value-losing genocide?”

She desired to create a game that returns to the roots of why we create art in the first place, one that acknowledges the world we live in without justifying the status quo that exists. “It’s really about forming cultures and forming communities with each other and trying to socialize in a way that we actually learn from each other.”

## **A Board Game Rooted in Inequality**

Garcellano introduced the audience to her game, *Stakeholding Chapter 1*. A four- to six-player tabletop game, *Stakeholding* lets the players design the game board and create their own player’s template.

For the rest of her time during the talk, she found six volunteers in the audience to demonstrate the gameplay of *Stakeholding*. The game can typically take hours to play, so she provided a truncated version that lasted around forty minutes, with her explaining the rules and the pieces of the game to both the players and those watching.

![The playing field for "Stakeholding," a game conceptualized by artist Lyra Garcellano.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_161517.jpg "20250215_161517 - BluPrint")The playing field for “Stakeholding,” a game conceptualized by artist Lyra Garcellano.There’s a hexagonal playing field, with different zones that players can place wherever they want. Then, one picks from a random bag of different personalities to see how much “capital” they have. She modelled it after our current perceptions of what makes a person today: gender/sexuality (men get two coins, women and queer people get one, and those who prefer not to say get zero), birthplace/passport strength, and even one’s past trauma.

The players also get to pick out two goals for their character: one that is revealed to everyone, and another that is kept secret until the end. From there, each character accumulates points based on how they respond to the challenges of every scenario.

![Players pinning their character tropes for the board game "Stakeholding."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_160521.jpg "20250215_160521 - BluPrint")Players pinning their character tropes for the board game “Stakeholding.”## **‘Stakeholding’ as a Reflection of Reality**

It’s a very dynamic game to watch and play because it centers around the complicated interactions we have between the environment we live in and the privileges that each character has.

Different playing cards introduce scenarios that add or remove privileges at random, and some of these scenarios force players to work together to help attain some of their goals. Beyond that, the construction of the zones in the playing field will likely cause headaches to the gamers as they attempt to navigate these zones for their benefit.

![Players as they participate in the board game.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_161439.jpg "20250215_161439 - BluPrint")Players as they participate in the board game.(Early in the game, Garcellano made a joke about *Stakeholding* being a good game to flirt with people because of the social aspect of it, how it allows players to draw from their own personal knowledge and experiences to add extra dimensions to their characters. Having seen the gameplay, this writer is inclined to agree with that assessment.)

*Stakeholding* really captures the randomness of life and how the struggles we face are mostly out of our control—sometimes people are really just born in a more privileged place that allows them to attain their goals faster than others. Even the game’s mechanics acknowledge that: the game sometimes ends in a “wild card” that disregards the points entirely to pick a winner at random.

That’s the appeal of the game: its refreshing openness to the unfairness of the world, and how it allows players to poke fun at this dynamic while ruminating on *why* we created such a system for our world today.

## **No Praxis in Community?**

As part of the program, game developer and writer Nissie Arcega came in to respond to the presentation of the game. She facilitated a discussion about the essential nature of politics in gaming, and how that can become a vehicle towards disseminating progressive ideas into the community.

Arcega linked *Stakeholding* to the broader paradigm of gaming communities as a whole. She points out that games today, in whatever medium, are seen as escapism from the world. Many gamers are just looking for people to hang out with to enjoy their time together.

![Game developer Nissie Arcega during a discussion about the game "Stakeholding."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_164537.jpg "20250215_164537 - BluPrint")Game developer Nissie Arcega during a discussion about the game “Stakeholding.”So what does it mean that the culture around a lot of games tend to be toxic? She cites how *Minecraft*, for example, encourages fascist networks within their players, or the general toxicity of different competitive games. And even popular wholesome, cozy games tend to wash away responsibility for the world we have today.

“These companies, they don’t care to regulate the communities that they build from the product that they’ve made because they think it’s not their responsibility,” she said.

“We always think that we escape through games. I can also include the wholesome, cozy game trends now,” she continued later. “That’s the complete opposite of what the male-centric games are, supposedly. But it’s also a form of escaping all sorts of reality. So they don’t like it, they don’t like any form of struggle which also, in a way, \[reinforces\] a racist reality—our social reality.”

## **Mirror to the Self**

Using that framing, Arcega discussed the emotions and playing experiences that bubbled up during *Stakeholding*. She acknowledged that many people were uncomfortable in how the game integrates our material reality into its mechanics, but that for others it made the game fun and engaging.

Many found the game illuminating in the way it held a mirror not just to the values that each player has, but to the values of our society as a whole. Some players said that they could see players from different backgrounds having different takeaways from the experience. In the group that attended the talk, they saw it as a refreshing direction, and offered suggestions on how to make it more realistic and tethered to our social milieu.

![Lyra Garcellano explaining the rules of "Stakeholding" as the players run through the board game.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250215_161958.jpg "20250215_161958 - BluPrint")Lyra Garcellano explaining the rules of “Stakeholding” as the players run through the board game.And from there, Arcega posited the question to the people who attended the talk: what does it mean to win? How do you create a game that brings a community together rather than letting the players fight? What does it take to win in a society where toxicity and passivity are encouraged, where the system works to reinforce itself through our art?

How do you win for yourself?

These questions are, of course, left largely unanswered; it’s a personal thing that varies from person to person. But *Stakeholding* as a game advocates for a society that’s built around personal reflection like that, and shines forward a potential world where games of any medium don’t just reinforce the status quo but work towards building a better, collectivist future together.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [How Inclusive Design Promotes Community and Social Integration](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/how-inclusive-design-promotes-community-and-social-integration/ "How Inclusive Design Promotes Community and Social Integration")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Lyra Garcellano’s board game ‘Stakeholding’ about?

‘Stakeholding’ is a tabletop game that serves as a sociopolitical critique by integrating real-world inequalities into its core mechanics. Players navigate a hexagonal field using character templates assigned “capital” based on factors like gender, passport strength, and past trauma. By mirroring the randomness and unfairness of systemic privilege, the game encourages players to reflect on how societal structures influence individual success and collective interaction.

### How does ‘Stakeholding’ challenge the political agendas found in traditional board games?

Unlike traditional games like Monopoly or Small World, which often reinforce capitalist accumulation or colonial expansion, ‘Stakeholding’ exposes the “permission structures” of the status quo. Artist Lyra Garcellano designed the game to be “life-generating art” that focuses on forming communities and learning from social reality rather than justifying resource hoarding. It highlights how seemingly neutral entertainment can subtly train players to accept conservative ideologies without considering progressive alternatives.

### What specific demographics or statistics are used to assign “capital” in the game?

The game uses a points system to reflect the real-world disparity in social capital, where identity markers directly impact starting resources. For example, men are assigned two coins, while women and queer individuals receive one, and those who prefer not to disclose their identity receive zero. These concrete numbers serve as a provocative tool to demonstrate how systemic biases—specifically regarding gender and sexuality—shape an individual’s ability to navigate societal challenges.

### Why does the exhibit ‘If Art is a Hammer 2025’ include board games?

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines included board games in their 2025 series to explore how games function as an often-overlooked but inherently political art form. By analyzing games as “hammers” that shape reality, the exhibit demonstrates that gaming is a powerful vehicle for either reinforcing or dismantling political ideologies. This focus shifts the perception of gaming from mere escapism to a critical space for community engagement and social praxis.

### Can gaming be a tool for building collectivist futures instead of toxic communities?

According to discussions by Garcellano and Nissie Arcega, gaming becomes a tool for a collectivist future when it prioritizes “we-creativity” and community-centric problem solving over competitive toxicity. While many modern games encourage fascist networks or passive escapism, ‘Stakeholding’ advocates for a gaming culture built on personal reflection and partnership. By challenging what it means to “win” in an unfair system, players can use the medium to foster empathy and collective growth.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Art, Board Games, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, If Art is a Hammer, Lyra Garcellano

---

### [Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn: Bridging the Multigenerational Spirit of Artistry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/jon-and-hanna-pettyjohn-reflections-in-situ/)

**Published:** April 16, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Silverlens Manila debuted the first collaborative exhibit between the father-daughter duo of Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn, [*Reflections, in situ*](https://silverlensgalleries.com/exhibitions/2025-03-20/reflections-in-situ), on March 20. A stunning, contemplative exhibit that uses the material ceramics reality of the Pettyjohn workshop to delve deeper into their family’s collective artistic history, it experiments with both ceramic and painting methods to tell its tale.

![Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn at the Pettyjohn workshop in Laguna.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC9973.webp "- BluPrint")To mark the occasion of their first exhibit, BluPrint interviewed the two artists, delving deeper into their individual practices as well as the process and inspiration behind the exhibition.

## **Jon Pettyjohn and Ceramic Arts**

For Jon Pettyjohn, the interest in pottery started at a young age when his mom would collect small porcelain jars that “registered” in his mind. He went to Barcelona, Spain to learn about pottery traditions and materials, where he found himself drawn towards the Asian aesthetic, specifically the wabi-sabi philosophy from Japan.

This brought him to the Philippines in the 1970s, where he settled and started honing his craft, exhibiting his works in the country and eventually the Southeast Asian region. His interest in traditional crafts only grew from there, especially as he studied the local artistic traditions in Philippine indigenous culture even more.

![Jon Pettyjohn looking contemplatively at a window.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC9942.webp "- BluPrint")“The ancient traditions that exist here of palayok-making and some of the ceremonial jars, the burial jars, these are incredible traditions,” Jon shared. “I mean, just to think that they go back thousands of years, right? \[…\] And luckily, I’ve had the experience to go to the province and meet them and see how they work and hear their stories. It’s just invaluable. There are certain elements of their forms I’ve always tried to incorporate.”

Jon’s works tend to center itself around local traditions, balancing it with a sense of modernity that has always existed in the craft. Knowledgeable of the history in ceramics, he ensures that there’s a sense of continuity between the past and the present, incorporating both processes to create something unfamiliar and new.

“I see it as a continuity thing,” he said. “One thing about ceramic arts is we have the ability to see the works of people who worked thousands of years before us. You can go to whatever museum—the National Museum, for example, or the Palace Museum in Taiwan—and you can see things that were made thousands of years ago that look brand new. And you can draw a lot of inspiration from that; I mean, we feel a direct connection to that.

“It’s like it was passed generation to generation, and to be part of that chain is important.”

## **The Evolution of His Art**

Jon Pettyjohn branched out from his philosophy in his younger days, which focused more on functionality, towards a more aesthetic direction where the ceramic’s existence isn’t necessarily for any specific purpose. He keeps an eye out for different ideas that he can incorporate towards his work. His foray towards non-functional ceramics has only grown since he started as he continues to explore more and more ideas on what pottery means as a whole.

![Portrait image of Jon Pettyjohn.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC9951.webp "- BluPrint")He hasn’t necessarily branched out towards newer materials and technologies. For example, he still prefers using a wood kiln because of the natural glaze that comes out from the minerals in the wood. But Jon still understands the importance of progressing forward in one’s methodology over time, and the need to adapt to meet the present technologies and philosophies.

“The history of crafts always continually absorbs what’s \[the\] new available techniques and materials,” he said. “That’s important. If you try to keep anything \[the same\], anytime you talk about purity, or keeping something, the traditional art, like, pure, that’s a very deadly thing because then it dies. If it cannot evolve, it’s finished.”

## **Pottery and The Pettyjohn Influence**

The Pettyjohn name has been an important fixture of the local Filipino ceramics art scene. Jon and his wife Tessy had been teaching and mentoring ceramics since the 1970s. He said that the two of them started as a way of fighting against stagnation of the craft in the country.

![Jon Pettyjohn at his and his wife Tessy's workshop.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0047.webp "_DSC0047 - BluPrint")Jon Pettyjohn at his and his wife Tessy’s workshop.“Here in the Philippines, in the ‘70s, there were only about six workshops,” he said. “We hardly ever saw each other; we were really, really isolated. And I found that nothing was happening… I mean, people were interested in what we were doing, but we decided we had to teach. And although I didn’t really want to teach, I guess we saw that if we didn’t teach, we would stagnate, you know; we needed to create a community.

“When we began teaching, immediately the Pottery School drew in a lot of people.” he continued. “And for a time, it became sort of a center of activity… And I guess that would be the best thing, I think, that we accomplished: that there started to be a community. Now we’re already seeing a second, a third generation of young potters. Can’t even count them anymore. There are people who appear all the time that I don’t even know, but maybe they know my students \[who\] taught other students.”

## **Where Ceramics Goes From Here**

These links to our modern-day ceramics art scene has allowed Jon to stay updated on where the craft has been going. He does not look at current trends with a judgmental mindset, but more curious as to how its evolution would happen and what it would look like in the future.

“This really seems to be a transition point and nobody’s really sure how these traditional arts and crafts will move into the future,” he said. “For example, high fire pottery, some people think we could be in the last generations of it. Who knows, right? Because of the cost of production materials \[and\] environmental issues.

“I think it’s important that it continues in one form or another, and that each generation has at least an understanding of what the previous generations were thinking about, \[and\] how they were using the material. But of course, the challenge is for every generation to add something new.”

## **Hanna Pettyjohn’s Eclectic Variety of Works**

In comparison to her father’s focus on ceramics, Hanna Pettyjohn utilizes a broader and more eclectic series of mediums in her practice. She calls herself a “painter, primarily,” having studied the medium during her stay in UP Diliman. Even now, she would say that this is what she feels most comfortable using. And yet, she utilizes a diverse set of materials to bring the topics she’s interested in to life. She chooses them specifically for the way that it can reveal new insights in the topics that she’s interested in.

![Artist Hanna Pettyjohn posing with her back behind a wall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC9899.webp "- BluPrint")Artist Hanna Pettyjohn posing with her back behind a wall.From paintings to porcelain, she capitalizes on the unique material conditions to highlight the aspects of her topics.

“I feel like a lot of artists now have the freedom to work with any material,” she explained. “I feel like I’m not constrained to one material. Maybe different mediums express different things. I guess it just depends on the concept of the exhibition or what I’m trying to say.”

Much of her topics take from having emigrated to Texas, where she is currently based and practices today. Her perspectives shift a lot as she worries about the practicalities of her art, as well as her placement in the scene as a whole.

“Logistics; I have to think of everything in terms of how I can bring it here and ship it here,” she said. “And, yeah, it’s different, it’s harder, the cost of production is higher. And then also being separate from what’s going on here. It makes me think about my identity more, like, how do I fit in here? Or do I fit in here? ‘What’s my identity?’ and finding my voice.”

## **The Migrant Experience**

That anxiety and practicality features a lot in the works she creates. Her shows talk about well-worn postmodern topics like migration and the global diaspora, but with a distinctive flair that comes with her experimentation on mediums and processes.

![Artist Hanna Pettyjohn looking contemplatively out a window.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0010.webp "- BluPrint")A notable past exhibit is 2022’s *Puting Lupa* at Underground Gallery in Makati, where she uses porcelain materials to imagine a Philippines where the items used to make the material are easily accessible.

“I was sort of imagining a hypothetical scenario where it’s like you live in a place and you use the material and then you use that as like your \[sources\],” she explained.

“I was just trying to imagine if the source of porcelain is local also, and how meaningful it would be if everything could come from the area that you live on, and the land you live on provides for you. And then in particular, \[if\] there’s a Filipino porcelain that comes from just around, over there. Because I mean, it is nice that we can use materials from everywhere. But then, there’s \[a\] romantic \[ideal\], the idea of, you can use materials from the land you grew up on.”

## **The Fragmentation of the Self in a Globalized Society**

It’s an interesting deconstruction of how art tends to be affected just as much by the economic realities of our world—to make porcelain art, one has to import raw materials from different places around the world. These ideas tie in together for her artwork in general, which comment on how migrants cope with existing away from their home in a new place.

“ I feel like what I’m interested in is exploring the connections that remain after a separation from a place, and how they’re maintained and transformed through the objects and images that we carry with us,” she said. “So a mundane item can sort of create a lot of feeling when it has a connection to a place or a person in time. And I feel like, especially with my earlier paintings, I was trying to do that. The fabric that I would paint were fabrics from home. And I was trying to bring that feeling to Texas.”

![Artist Hanna Pettyjohn smiling and looking at a distance.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC9914.webp "- BluPrint")Much of her work floats around themes of the fragmentation of self as an important part of the migrant experience. Hanna Pettyjohn’s paintings depict daily life in a strange, dreamlike way, harkening back to rotoscope-esque styles that create a separation of the subject from the environment they’re in. It captures the feeling of a place, but also the isolation that exists from being a stranger in a strange land.

“ I feel like it ties into like the overarching intention to capture my experience of a place,” she said. “Or it’s like \[a\] big part of the action of the daily process of my art. For me, the way I look at it is \[focused on\] the parts in progress. The fragmentation is like the stages in progress or after completion. Or like, the early state as just a material.

“To me it’s the different stages of creating work, a reflection of the process… Maybe I take the different parts of the process and separate them. Sometimes I’ll take elements from the middle of the process and then that’s what I show. It’s like I’m dividing the process into different parts and separating it.”

## **Multigenerational Collaboration** 

In the growing and dynamic art scene of the Philippines, it’s hard to create something that’s unique enough to stand out. But *Reflections, in situ* creates a fascinating collection of works borne out of a melding of two mediums. Hanna said that the idea of a collaboration started when she would return home to the Pettyjohn workshop in Laguna and see the environment in a different light.

![Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn posing in the ceramics workshop in Laguna.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0065.webp "- BluPrint")Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn posing in the ceramics workshop in Laguna.“I was just so interested in the workshop and the ceramics that he leaves in the environment around the studio,” she said. “So I started taking lots of photos. I have thousands of photos of this whole \[place\], of the house and the studio and everything. And I started painting those photos. And then it just made sense to us, or to me, that if I found a way to collaborate, \[that we would\] use that imagery with his ceramics.”

The Pettyjohn workshop was a familiar environment for Hanna growing up. She shared that her dad would give her a corner of the workshop to play in while he worked, and that she knew not to touch his work items as her parents used the space for their practice.

Since her childhood, the workshop has changed significantly. For example, it has a new kiln that Jon built during the pandemic with spare bricks that he had in the area. And yet, Hanna’s new perspective allowed her to conceptualize an exhibit that centers around dealing with the materiality of this familiar place she grew up with.

![The personal workshop of Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0059.webp "- BluPrint")The personal workshop of Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn.

![The personal workshop of Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0057.webp "_DSC0057 - BluPrint")

![Some of the detritus in the Pettyjohn ceramics workshop.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0021.webp "- BluPrint")

![A look at the Pettyjohn pottery workshop in Laguna.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0089.webp "_DSC0089 - BluPrint")A look at the Pettyjohn pottery workshop in Laguna.

From there, the two of them would have discussions about a possible installation that depicted “the scenes of the detritus on the new forms.” Jon credited his daughter for the idea of combining their two mediums together.

“That kind of blew my mind,” he said. “I mean, that’s really a funny idea. I thought about it then, I really was having a hard time imagining it. Slowly it came together; we had some discussions about what kind of forms to paint on.”

## **Introducing ‘Reflections, in situ’**

![Installation view of "Reflections, in Situ."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reflections-in-Situ-2025-11.webp "Reflections, in Situ, 2025 11 - BluPrint")Installation view of “Reflections, in Situ.”*Reflections, in situ* features a mix of paintings, pottery, and other ceramic artworks. The pottery and ceramics contain painted images of different materials found around the Pettyjohn workshop: bricks, wood, broken materials, works-in-progress, and other items around the area.

![Installation view of "Reflections, in Situ."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reflections-in-Situ-2025-12.webp "- BluPrint")Multiple oil paintings by Hanna of different items seen around the workshop were also added in the exhibition. There’s an ephemeral quality to the paintings that allow them to feel both fantastical and grounded. It looks like it exists in a halfway dreamlike state, these items floating in a background environment of stone and trees, threatening to fade away.

## **An Artistic Agreement**

Much negotiation happened over the ceramic works in the exhibit, from the forms that Jon would create to the actual process of painting itself. Hanna, for example, wanted traditional ceramic forms over more sculptural works that could be made for the installation.

“Because I wanted to refer to the work that I see around \[the workshop\],” she explained.

![Some of the ceramic pottery found in "Reflections, in situ."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reflections-in-Situ-2025-42.webp "- BluPrint")More than that, she wanted to paint these ceramic items with their glaze running over the paintings. This touch feels uniquely hers, as it feels like it fragments the process of ceramics-making, putting the audience midprocess as the works are created. The runny glaze was something that she fought to include in the final product, an aesthetic choice that she felt added to the detritus she was trying to depict.

“I feel like, even though he did the glazing, I influenced that as well because he was hesitant to have the glazes run over the paintings. But that’s what I wanted,” she explained.

![Close-up look of some of the ceramic art by Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn, with the glaze running through the work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reflections-in-Situ-2025-73.webp "- BluPrint")Close-up look of some of the ceramic art by Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn, with the glaze running through the work.## **Oribe and Seeking Atypical Aesthetics**

Jon found this aspect of the works interesting. He compared it to the Japanese tradition of oribe ware, which are richly-colored ceramic art used for tea ceremonies. This process eschews aesthetic perfection for the deformed shapes molded by the potter. Jon said that oribe ware would use a certain kind of glaze that would partly cover up the painting in the ceramic works.

“It’s kind of a strange thing,” he said. “Why would you cover the painting? Why would you put something over the painting? But it’s a traditional Japanese thing. It’s an aesthetic and it’s also interesting that within that tradition, innovation has always been the key issue. Every generation of potters that does that kind of work has always tried to extend it in a way, which means to say, painting things that weren’t painted before, using colors that weren’t used before, using forms that weren’t based before.

“So immediately when Hanna said that to me, it dawned on me that she wants to do something like that. And then it really struck me that \[it\] was a really interesting idea.”

![Close-up look of some of the ceramic art by Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn, with the glaze running through the work.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reflections-in-Situ-2025-27.webp "Reflections, in Situ, 2025 27 - BluPrint")Close-up look of some of the ceramic art by Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn, with the glaze running through the work.The glazes running on the ceramic became a complicated problem to solve, largely to ensure that it doesn’t cover up too much of the paintings. He and his wife Tessy tried to find the right formulation that would allow people to still see the paintings while letting the glaze run down.

“\[The process\] helped me really get an idea and understand how the ceramic making process is so unpredictable,” Hanna shared. “Like with painting, I know what it’s gonna look like when it’s done, but with ceramics, you do something, and you have to wait till it gets fired, and you don’t know how it’s gonna look.”

“Glaze is glass: when it melts, it flows like water,” Jon added. “It’s tricky to anticipate how much it will run. I don’t want it to run completely over the whole thing so that you can’t see it. Tessy was very concerned that I might just obliterate the paintings. We tried to find a way. If you see the exhibit, you’ll see I tried to get the glazes to sort of embrace her painting. And I think we were lucky, for the most part. They came out pretty well.”

## **A Future Beyond the Beaten Path**

In working together for *Reflections, in situ*, Jon expressed a deep admiration for his daughter’s instincts and skill, feeling like he was able to connect with her better in the process of creating this exhibit.

“We truly collaborated,” he said. “She would come over, \[and\] we would talk about \[the\] forms that I was making, which ones that she liked, which ones I liked, and then later on the glazes and things like that. So it’s a very satisfying thing, when you see your kids as adults, and it’s a great thing because you start to see them as people.

“Working as an artist or craftsman, working with your daughter in your field, that’s a very satisfying thing. I mean, that’s something that artists and craftsmen would dream about. Working with their children as equals, that’s a rare thing.”

![Jon and Hanna Pettyjohn at the Pettyjohn workshop in Laguna.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC0075.webp "- BluPrint")As the both of them continue on with their individual artistic practices, they hope that the exhibit will encourage more artists to experiment with ceramics. More than that, they hope that it leads people to expand their ideas beyond their chosen medium, searching instead for a way of broadening what they want to say with new forms that build on their ideas.

“This was just an interesting idea,” Jon said. “I honestly can’t think of an exhibition like this one. I’ve never seen—you know, in ceramics we always say, ‘well, someone must have done this before.’ But honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a collaboration like this, especially \[a\] father \[and\] daughter working together like that. So I hope people will see the limitless possibilities of working with clay.”

“I think I like the idea that someone like me as a painter could find this connection,” Hanna added. “And it would be nice if other people could also just not have an attitude of ‘I’m not a ceramicist, so I’m not gonna try it.’ There’s a lot you can do. And that would be nice if people feel like they want to explore also.”

*Photos by Kim Santos. Installation photos provided by Silverlens Manila.*

Related reading: [‘A Light in Everything’: Finding Harmony in the Seas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/a-light-in-everything-stillness-harmony-in-econsystems/ "‘A Light in Everything’: Finding Harmony in the Seas")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the central concept of the “Reflections, in situ” exhibition?

The exhibition is the first collaborative show between Jon Pettyjohn and his daughter, Hanna Pettyjohn, hosted at Silverlens Manila. It explores the “material reality” of the Pettyjohn workshop in Laguna by combining traditional ceramic forms with contemporary painting. The works feature oil-painted imagery of the workshop’s daily “detritus”—such as bricks, wood, and broken materials—on ceramic vessels, capturing a multigenerational dialogue between father and daughter.

### How does Jon Pettyjohn’s philosophy of “continuity” influence his craft?

Jon views ceramic arts as a chain that connects current artists to those who worked thousands of years ago. He draws inspiration from ancient Philippine traditions, such as palayok-making and burial jars, while emphasizing that traditional art must evolve to survive. He balances functionality with aesthetic exploration and continues to use a traditional wood kiln to achieve natural glazes, viewing each piece as part of a living history that absorbs new techniques.

### What specific themes does Hanna Pettyjohn explore in her individual practice?

Primarily a painter based in Texas, Hanna focuses on themes of migration, the global diaspora, and the “fragmentation of self.” Her work often deconstructs the migrant experience—the feeling of being a “stranger in a strange land”—and explores the emotional weight of carried objects. In past exhibits like Puting Lupa, she has also reflected on the economic and romantic ideals of using materials sourced directly from one’s homeland.

### What was the “Oribe” inspiration mentioned in their collaborative process?

Jon compared their collaboration to the Japanese Oribe ware tradition, where aesthetic perfection is eschewed in favor of deformed shapes and glazes that partially cover underlying paintings. In Reflections, in situ, Hanna insisted on letting the runny glazes flow over her paintings on the ceramic forms. This “atypical aesthetic” represents a mid-process moment, where the glaze and the painting “embrace” each other, emphasizing the unpredictable and physical nature of the medium.

### What impact has the Pettyjohn family had on the Philippine ceramics scene?

Since the 1970s, Jon and his wife Tessy have been instrumental in building a ceramics community in the Philippines to combat the stagnation of the craft. They founded a pottery school that served as a center of activity, mentoring generations of artists. Jon notes that the community has now grown to include a third generation of potters, ensuring that the understanding of materials and traditional philosophies is passed down while encouraging each new generation to innovate.

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Art, Artist Profile, Ceramic Art, Ceramics, Hanna Pettyjohn, Jon Pettyjohn, Philippines, Silverlens

---

### [International Design Conference 2024 Re-evaluates the Meaning of Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/international-design-conference-2024-design-beyond-desire/)

**Published:** September 30, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

The recent International Design Conference 2024 (IDC 2024), organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, focused on the idea of elevating design to become a transformative tool for industries and cultures. They wanted to discuss design as something that goes beyond economics and commerce; rather, they want to showcase design as something that serves the people.

The IDC 2024 opened on September 20 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in BGC with the theme “Design Beyond Desire.” What does it mean to look at design as a tool to build communities instead of tearing them down? How can we look at design beyond ideas of economic growth?

![Panel talk during the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_6236.jpg "IMG_6236 - BluPrint")Panel talk during the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.To tackle the theme, they assembled four speakers to tackle different aspects of the subject. This includes Lhatu from the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan, tech expert Ana Arriola-Kanada, writer Nicola Sebastian, and sustainability expert Leyla Acaroglu.

Together, they dissected and redefined the meaning of design during the day-long conference.

## **Designing For Happiness**

Much of the conference centered on the lack of sustainability of our world today. Sustainability in this regard points toward environmental and industrial factors like waste and reusability. But it also points towards the kind of unsustainable workplaces that leave people burnt out and tired despite advances in technology that makes our work supposedly easier.

Lhatu’s presence in the International Design Conference pressed this point forward. As a country, Bhutan advocates for an alternative measurement to progress than GDP: Gross National Happiness. That metric utilizes nine domains to measure the progress and outcome of different policies.

![Lhatu at the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_6078.jpg "IMG_6078 - BluPrint")Lhatu at the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.While not specifically advocating for the measurement, Lhatu discussed the need of a more “people-centric” approach in measuring our progress outside of money. He said that the way businesses think of growing their business needs to change to account for community and culture building in the world.

“One main thing that business leaders think is how to maximize profit,” he said. “How to maximize the usage of the employees, how much they want their employees to work harder. These things, I think, affect the well being and happiness of the employees.

“What we actually would emphasize is also thinking about the social well-being and the emotional well-being of the employees. In a very large world, how do you also balance conflict, I mean, the work life balance structure for the employees.

“Not really compromising on the growth of the organization, but then we can really take into account \[on\] how to create a creative atmosphere of promoting your employees welfare in your business operations.”

![One of the panel talks of the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_6102.jpg "IMG_6102 - BluPrint")One of the panel talks of the International Design Conference. Photo by Excel Panlaque.## **Designing for People**

Ana Arriola-Kanada, meanwhile, centered her talk towards the continuingly changing technology landscape of today. With her experience being on design teams for companies like Microsoft and Google, she’s the expert on user-facing technology.

The big topic of the room is artificial intelligence, and its two big products: large-language models and generative AI. She puts forward the idea of the need to democratize technology to serve the people and encourage a more collaborative environment going forward between humanity and machines.

Discussing artificial intelligence, she believes that there’s a “lack of education” in how people are approaching the technology today. She believes that AI is a tool that cannot replace different creatives in the field.

“It comes back to what I said out there, which is that it’s not gonna replace you, it’s not gonna replace a designer,” she said. “Your prose, your mind cannot be replicated. It’s the soul plus your lived experience plus what you’ve seen in your own eyes. AI can’t do that.”

Even as she spoke on the ideas of “bridging the digital divide” and “democratizing tech,” Arriola-Kanada acknowledged that a human-centric approach to design is not the top priority of many tech companies today. She said that tech companies need to invest in making their experience user-friendly.

“That design happens not accidentally, \[but\] intentionally,” she said. “Sometimes there’s a desktop design that’s not meant to be consumed in a laptop or a tablet or a monitor. If it was designed well, they would’ve sat down and done user testing to figure out where \[an individual is\] using it, where are the eyes looking, where are they clicking.

“That’s how you can make something really effective. How many steps does it take? If it takes seven steps to do something, can we get it done in three?”

## **Designing for the Planet**

Dr. Leyla Acaroglu promotes sustainability in her line of work. As the Chief Circular Designer for Circular Australia and CEO of Circular Futures, she works to ensure that companies craft efficient designs for their products. She believes that nothing should be wasted, from the factory floor to the end-of-life of the product.

For her talk at the International Design Conference, Dr. Acaroglu advocated for creative ways to make our different industries sustainable. “We live in an age of hyper consumption,” she said. “And therefore hyper destruction.”

![[From left] Lhatu, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Arch. Royal Pineda, Mylene Abiva, and Carmen Jimenez-Ong. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240918_114141.jpg "20240918_114141 - BluPrint")\[From left\] Lhatu, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Arch. Royal Pineda, Mylene Abiva, and Carmen Jimenez-Ong. Photo by Elle Yap.The way we design things today promotes waste, and she believes that a change of culture is necessary to shift us away from that mindset.

“Essentially, waste is a cost, right? When you are inefficient in production, if you have materials that are not being used efficiently, that is a cost to you, \[as well as\] a cost to society. You pay for bad design. You pay for a company not taking accountability for the packaging and the planned obsolescence of products.”

In her talk, she discussed the ways we can diverge our perspective towards sustainability. She spoke of biophilic designs in our cities and crafting public areas that encourage us to be cognitively aware of our surroundings. However one designs, she believes we need to change our mindset to ensure a more sustainable future for us all.

“It’s about considering human behaviors and practices,” she said. “\[We need to build\] into the beneficial parts of our humanity, which is that we are most likely not going to try and hurt somebody by intention. We can really create system changes through understanding the psychology, the sociology, and the culture of our communities.”

## **Moving Beyond Selfishness** 

The International Design Conference 2024 crafted a perspective of design that promotes an integrative approach. That means that instead of just looking at the numbers and profit, we look at the people and nature around us, and create a world that conforms to it. Sustainability and happiness becomes of paramount importance in the way we conceive our future.

![Lhatu and Dr. Leyla Acaroglu alongside members of the Design Center of the Philippines. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240918_100629.jpg "20240918_100629 - BluPrint")Lhatu and Dr. Leyla Acaroglu alongside members of the Design Center of the Philippines. Photo by Elle Yap.“Designing beyond desire is not only about redesigning our value system and our mindsets, which is very critical, but it’s also about design \[that redesigns\] our industry,” Dr. Acaroglu said. “What we will do in order to solve the climate crisis, our nature-decline crisis, our waste crisis, our social inequality crisis, will be critical to our industry because we have the power to create a better future together.”

Related reading: [Filipino Design: The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/design-center-celebrates-filipino-design/ "Filipino Design: The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability")

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Industrial, News

**Tags:** Art, Design, Design Center of the Philippines, International Design Conference, Philippines

---

### [‘an open hand, a cosmos’ Portrays Ever-evolving Microscopic Life in Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/an-open-hand-a-cosmos-katherine-nunez/)

**Published:** September 6, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

*an open hand, a cosmos* uses delicate fibers, beadwork, and embroidery to artistically recreate cellular life. Katherine Nuñez connects the materials to the representation, a way of ruminating the links of everyone in nature.

Exhibiting at [Gravity Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/gravity-art-space-artist-talks-may-2024/) Space until September 14, Nuñez wanted to reimagine our perspective on living beings. Microscopic organisms function in nature, existing as maintenance workers, important in different processes, whether parasitic or symbiotic. It exists every day, unseen, by the naked eye.

![The exhibition floor for Katherine Nuñez's "an open hand, a cosmos" at Gravity Art Space. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160855.jpg "20240822_160855 - BluPrint")The exhibition floor for Katherine Nuñez’s “an open hand, a cosmos” at Gravity Art Space. Photo by Elle Yap.“\[…\] we are taken by open hand as witnesses to a certain fluency in expressing maintenance and care,” Frankie Lalunio wrote for the exhibit. “Mending, pruning, feeding, maintaining, resting, fermenting, exhaling…rendered microscopic, invisible against the great narratives that run what has become our everyday life.”

## Line of Macroscopic Plant Life

*an open hand, a cosmos* greets viewers with a line of plants, fruits, and minerals running across the space. From rock salt to the skin of fruits like rambutan to small, colorful flowers, it illustrates the way nature coexists with our daily practices and rituals.

![Line of plants at "an open hand, a cosmos." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160913.jpg "20240822_160913 - BluPrint")Line of plants at “an open hand, a cosmos.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Rock salt and remnants of fruit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160920.jpg "20240822_160920 - BluPrint")Rock salt and remnants of fruit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Plant leaves in a basket. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161009.jpg "20240822_161009 - BluPrint")Plant leaves in a basket. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Flowers used for dye. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161015.jpg "20240822_161015 - BluPrint")Flowers used for dye. Photo by Elle Yap.

This portion exists separately from the artworks by Nuñez, seemingly unconnected from her cellular art. Its appearance in the exhibit appears to be more supplementary, adding to the eco-centric atmosphere of the exhibit.

The addition also gives a different perspective towards the materiality of art as a whole—these fabric weavings by Nuñez *are* made from objects derived from nature. It highlights their importance of the natural in the production of these pieces representing the microscopic.

## **Dynamic Portrayals of the Microscopic**

Katherine Nuñez’s works hang on the walls of the exhibit space. Four works depict cells with art materials that mimic their organic nature. “a composition to a forage collection 1-4” uses eco-dyed fabric to create the semi-transparent look of the cells that we see in our textbooks and microscopes.

![Two of the "a composition to a forage collection." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160943.jpg "20240822_160943 - BluPrint")Two of the “a composition to a forage collection.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the "a composition to a forage collection." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160934.jpg "20240822_160934 - BluPrint")One of the “a composition to a forage collection.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![One of the "a composition to a forage collection." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160938.jpg "20240822_160938 - BluPrint")One of the “a composition to a forage collection.” Photo by Elle Yap.

Then, she used beads and other fabrics to depict the organelles which float around a cell, and stitchwork for the membrane holding it together. Some of the fabrics are overlaid on top of each other to create a three-dimensional look for the cells. They seem to stack up like a unit, showing how different cells can coexist together in a singular space.

!["specimens from my neighbor’s garden." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160958.jpg "20240822_160958 - BluPrint")“specimens from my neighbor’s garden.” Photo by Elle Yap.This methodology applies to two other works in the exhibit, “specimens from my neighbor’s garden” and “assembling cosmos.” For the former, each piece of fabric appears to have been separated from each other to show the individual nature of these works.

!["assembling cosmos" by Katherine Nuñez. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_160951.jpg "20240822_160951 - BluPrint")“assembling cosmos” by Katherine Nuñez. Photo by Elle Yap.The latter, meanwhile, looks like it’s in the midst of decay. The eco dyes applied to the fabric establishes a look of escaping organelles leaking out of a cell as its membrane is breached. In the bottom of the work, seemingly-dead cells float around, largely empty of the interior structure to make them function.

## **Morphing Everyday Materials**

Beyond the depictions of cells, *an open hand, a cosmos* displays different fabrics with the eco dye applied on them. Each of the fabrics demonstrate how the organic nature of the materials affect its look and composition.

!["grown on soil, now fluttering lightly 1-2” by Katherine Nuñez. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161022.jpg "20240822_161022 - BluPrint")“grown on soil, now fluttering lightly 1-2” by Katherine Nuñez. Photo by Elle Yap.“soil samples” illustrates imprinted figures on the fabric. “grown on soil, now fluttering lightly 1-2” show blotches of paint dye evenly-distributed together, with each side separated by a white partition in the middle.

!["soil samples" and "test dye of a banana plant grown in a cold climate." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240822_161027.jpg "20240822_161027 - BluPrint")“soil samples” and “test dye of a banana plant grown in a cold climate.” Photo by Elle Yap.“The everyday becomes the material where toil morphs into apparition, leaving the traces of process in the surface,” Lalunio wrote. “It is probably the smear of translucent color one can only notice upon second glances.”

Katherine Nuñez’s *an open hand, a cosmos* finds the beauty and delicateness in the invisible nature around us. She produces a series of works that breathes itself into life, illuminating ideas and processes that tend to go unnoticed.

Related reading: [Julieanne Ng Portrays Humanity’s Decaying Ambition in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/julieanne-ng-from-ash-we-came-art-cube/ "Julieanne Ng Portrays Humanity’s Decaying Ambition in New Exhibit")

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### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Art, Gravity Art Space, Manila, Representational Art, Sustainability

---

### [‘In The Spirit of Things…’: Mia Herbosa Showcases Collection of Recent Works](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/in-the-spirit-of-things-mia-herbosa/)

**Published:** October 16, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For Mia Herbosa, her newest exhibit *In The Spirit of Things…* doesn’t need to revolve around a thematic idea. Instead, her show at ArtistSpace in Makati functions as a way of cataloging her life today, a summary of the great people she’s met since her last exhibit.

“My theme is actually that I don’t have a theme, except the days of my life, the people who are there at that time, and the flowers that I’m seeing. That’s the theme, it’s like a journal,” she said. “Every show, it’s like a journal of my life.”

![Mia Herbosa [center left] during the opening of "In The Spirit of Things..." at ArtistSpace Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_171518.jpg "20241011_171518 - BluPrint")Mia Herbosa \[center left\] during the opening of “In The Spirit of Things…” at ArtistSpace Gallery.*In The Spirit of Things…* collects different portraits made by the painter between 2022 and 2024. A few of the paintings date back as far as 2010, but most of these works—portraits, still lifes, and abstractions—were made recently by Herbosa.

## **Portraits**

Herbosa built a reputation over the decades for her lifelike portraits. That skill is in full display here as she showcases her subjects in different states of calm, evoking the various ways one can feel serene in our world today. Discussing these paintings, she said that while she doesn’t have a signature style, her personal touch is still all over the portraits.

![Portrait by Mia Herbosa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_171953.jpg "20241011_171953 - BluPrint")Portrait by Mia Herbosa.

![Four portraits by Mia Herbosa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_182346.jpg "20241011_182346 - BluPrint")Four portraits by Mia Herbosa.

![Two portraits shown at "In The Spirit of Things..."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172009.jpg "20241011_172009 - BluPrint")Two portraits shown at “In The Spirit of Things…”

![Three portraits shown at "In The Spirit of Things..."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_171909.jpg "20241011_171909 - BluPrint")Three portraits by Mia Herbosa.

![Three portraits by Mia Herbosa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172029.jpg "20241011_172029 - BluPrint")Three portraits by Mia Herbosa.

“We hardly had Asian models through my 20 years of studies \[in New York\],” she said. “In a way, I’m fulfilling that desire I had to share what I learned with that which is truly Filipino—my friends and clients who I paint today. I think people tend to know it’s my work right away. There is a specificity about how I light them and how they look. You know I’m also present in each of those paintings.”

## **Still Lifes**

More than her portraits, however, her still life paintings evoke a personal touch that makes it uniquely hers. The still life offers a provincial perspective regardless of the location of the objects being portrayed. She captures a sense of slowness that allows viewers to relish the image and its surroundings better.

!["L'Arc En Ciel" as seen in "In The Spirit of Things..."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172417.jpg "20241011_172417 - BluPrint")“L’Arc En Ciel” as seen in “In The Spirit of Things…”“My mood is changed with every place,” she said. “I seem almost a different person inside because the influence a certain place has on you is large. It is an osmosis of sorts. There is always learning involved and growing. A deeper understanding of life as you experience it.”

![Collection of still life paintings by Mia Herbosa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172324.jpg "20241011_172324 - BluPrint")Collection of still life paintings by Mia Herbosa.

![Collection of still life paintings by Mia Herbosa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172330.jpg "20241011_172330 - BluPrint")Collection of still life paintings by Mia Herbosa.

![Two still life paintings.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172412.jpg "20241011_172412 - BluPrint")Two still life paintings.

These still lifes depict different places, sometimes in drastically different ways from each other. She said that the lighting situation in the Philippines, the United States, and Europe differ significantly, and it affects the way her work comes out.

“Here, it is a harsh and blinding tropical light, which is also very dynamic. Everything looks different in this light. Many times sunspots and sun dappling dominate,” she said. “Over on the East Coast, the light is more constant.”

## **Expanding into New Horizons**

A unique thing for this exhibit is Mia Herbosa’s inclusion of abstract paintings. It’s something that’s always been a part of her shows, she said, but recently she’s been experimenting more with the genre to see how she can explore these ideas even further and branch out from portraits.

“Usually talaga, in these shows I’d have a small abstract \[painting displayed\] kasi inside me, I feel like I have abstract concepts,” she said. “I think now, in terms of progress, since I’m getting closer to my 60s, I feel like maybe the next shows I’ll have \[more\] playful abstraction.”

![Herbosa's collection of abstract work for this exhibit.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011_172310.jpg "20241011_172310 - BluPrint")Herbosa’s collection of abstract work for this exhibit.Some of these abstracts utilize the names of places in the Philippines and in the United States as their titles. Others appear to be vaguely connected to Herbosa’s mindset during different times. They capture this wild, frenetic energy uniquely different from the serene landscapes and portraits being shown here.

*In the Spirit of Things…* captures the interests and diversions of an artist still at the peak of their powers. The exhibit also suggests that Mia Herbosa may not be done with her growth and evolution; deep inside her are more artistic ideas to pursue, and more interesting artistic journeys ahead.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [A Portrait of an Artist: Mia Ongpin Herbosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/a-portrait-of-an-artist-mia-ongpin-herbosa/ "A Portrait of an Artist: Mia Ongpin Herbosa")

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Abstract Art, Art, ArtistSpace Gallery, Mia Ongpin Herbosa, Philippines, Portraiture

---

### [Portraying Womanhood in Art: Standout Exhibits in 2024](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/womanhood-in-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/)

**Published:** December 31, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

BluPrint’s *2024 in Art* yearend series seeks to highlight exhibits that deal with the complexities of womanhood and gender politics in society today. The fight for gender parity and equal rights for women rages on, whether it’s on issues on body autonomy, reproductive rights, or even transgender rights. Womanhood—the concept, its relations to the patriarchy, and its praxis—continue to be interrogated on an international scale.

For these exhibits, they explicitly discuss patriarchal attitudes and the way it affects women today. But more than that, they highlight the experiences of women, and let them define themselves in their own words and images. However one wants to approach the identity of womanhood, these artists find freedom in what artistry can provide.

## **‘Alburoto’**

A NO Community-run Space exhibition, the works showcased here created a narrative for the importance of women in labor rights. The patriarchy tends to degrade “women’s work” as a thing of lesser importance, but this exhibit emphasized not just the importance of women’s work, but the importance of women in the efforts of attaining stronger rights for all.

![A work exhibited in "Alburoto." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-ALBUROTO-4.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(ALBUROTO)-4 - BluPrint")A work exhibited in “Alburoto.” Photo by Elle Yap.Different images here depicted women on the frontlines of the labor rights effort. “Women’s work” are shown in their full importance, from mass food cooking for the needy to protest and community-building.

![Tel Delvo's photographs exhibited in "Alburoto." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-ALBUROTO-7.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(ALBUROTO)-7 - BluPrint")Tel Delvo’s photographs exhibited in “Alburoto.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Tel Delvo's photographs exhibited in "Alburoto." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-ALBUROTO-6.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(ALBUROTO)-6 - BluPrint")Tel Delvo’s photographs exhibited in “Alburoto.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Some of the works exhibited in "Alburoto." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-ALBUROTO-9.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(ALBUROTO)-9 - BluPrint")Some of the works exhibited in “Alburoto.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Mag-alburoto Yellow" by Saya Villacorta. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-ALBUROTO-5.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(ALBUROTO)-5 - BluPrint")“Mag-alburoto Yellow” by Saya Villacorta. Photo by Elle Yap. 

This exhibit was an explicit rebuttal of womanhood as weak: these women, on the frontline of the protests, activists and workers helping out laborers, *are important*. Regardless of their gender, they find their strength and bravery separate from the bravado of masculinity, and they get the job done.

Read more: [‘Alburoto’: Recontextualizing Labor Rights as a Women’s Issue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/alburoto-recontextualizing-womens-rights-to-work/)

## **‘Bliss: Khajuraho Sketches’**

Society can be a lot more prudish that we would like, especially with women’s bodies. The government, religion, and men in general attempt to censor and hide women’s bodies like they are something to be ashamed of.

![Some of the works as presented in the bookshelves. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-24.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-24 - BluPrint")Some of the works as presented in the bookshelves. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Some of the works as presented in the bookshelves for Agnes Arellano's exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-23.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-23 - BluPrint")Some of the works as presented in the bookshelves for Agnes Arellano’s exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Sculptures in the bottom of the wall exhibit depicting sex acts. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-15.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-15 - BluPrint")Sculptures in the bottom of the wall exhibit depicting sex acts. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Sculptures in the bottom of the wall exhibit depicting sex acts. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-16.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-16 - BluPrint")Sculptures in the bottom of the wall exhibit depicting sex acts. Photo by Elle Yap.

![A sculpture of a couple in the middle of a sex act. Photo by Elle F. Yap](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-01.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-01 - BluPrint")A sculpture of a couple in the middle of a sex act. Photo by Elle F. Yap

This exhibition by Agnes Arellano for Everything’s Fine Bookstore strikes against that. It instead produces an ethos of comfort for the self and for our sexuality, to explore who we are individually instead of conforming to the biases of the patriarchy.

![A close-up of one of the table sculptures. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BLISS-14.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BLISS)-14 - BluPrint")A close-up of one of the table sculptures. Photo by Elle Yap.It produced examples from different cultures that explore sexuality as a human trait, something to be proud of instead of something to be ashamed of. And in the end, it gave permission to our more conservative society to find freedom in our bodies, whether that be alone or shared with others.

Read more: [‘Bliss: Khajuraho Sketches’ and Finding Freedom in Sexuality](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/agnes-arellano-khajuraho-sketches/)

## **‘Enigma’**

In Christianity—as in most religions within the patriarchy—women’s bodies are policed and their accomplishments buried. But for this [group exhibition](https://modeka.space/exhibitions/enigma/ "group exhibition") at Modeka Art, a spotlight shined on the many important roles that women play in the Biblical lore.

!["Orandi" by Natalya Lagdameo. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-WOMEN-IN-ENIGMA-04.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(WOMEN IN ENIGMA)-04 - BluPrint")“Orandi” by Natalya Lagdameo. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Works of Natalya Lagdameo. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-WOMEN-IN-ENIGMA-05.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(WOMEN IN ENIGMA)-05 - BluPrint")Works of Natalya Lagdameo. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Staying with Trouble" by Jeona Zoleta. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-WOMEN-IN-ENIGMA-11.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(WOMEN IN ENIGMA)-11 - BluPrint")“Staying with Trouble” by Jeona Zoleta. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["A Cameo of Courage I to III" by Camille Ver. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-WOMEN-IN-ENIGMA-12.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(WOMEN IN ENIGMA)-12 - BluPrint")“A Cameo of Courage I to III” by Camille Ver. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Works by Corinne Dinglasan. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-WOMEN-IN-ENIGMA-06.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(WOMEN IN ENIGMA)-06 - BluPrint")Works by Corinne Dinglasan. Photo by Elle Yap.

From figures like Ruth and Naomi to Hannah, the prophet Samuel’s mother, to Mary Magdalane and Salome, the roles women play in the Bible showcase their independence and fearlessness even in the tide of patriarchal attitudes during the period.

Read more: [‘Enigma’: How Women’s Courage Moves Religious Belief and Progress](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/enigma-modeka-art-womens-fearlessness-religion/)

## **‘Counting the Tears that Water the Earth’**

How does womanhood exist in the spaces we have today? This Vantage Contemporary exhibit put together multiple women to ruminate on the need to cultivate spaces for creative expression and thinking.

!["Return to Sender 2" by Ally H. Publico. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162127.jpg "20240613_162127 - BluPrint")“Return to Sender 2” by Ally H. Publico. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Christine Chung's "We Must Take ANother Shape 1-4." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162403.jpg "20240613_162403 - BluPrint")Christine Chung’s “We Must Take ANother Shape 1-4.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Margaux Blas' "Little Miss Sunshine." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162257.jpg "20240613_162257 - BluPrint")Margaux Blas’ “Little Miss Sunshine.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Margaux Blas' "Eat, Pray, Thug." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162249.jpg "20240613_162249 - BluPrint")Margaux Blas’ “Eat, Pray, Thug.” Photo by Elle Yap.

![Katarina Estrada’s “An Unraveling I-II” and "Of Blossoming I-II." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162039.jpg "20240613_162039 - BluPrint")Katarina Estrada’s “An Unraveling I-II” and “Of Blossoming I-II.” Photo by Elle Yap.

The works here came from multiple female artists utilizing a smorgasbord of methods and mediums to express the need of private space made specifically for creativity. From pottery to crochet to paper cut-outs to mixed-media collages, it encompassed these styles to capture a specificity of need and experiences.

![Isha Naguiat’s “Parts of a Whole 1-4.” Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240613_162007.jpg "20240613_162007 - BluPrint")Isha Naguiat’s “Parts of a Whole 1-4.” Photo by Elle Yap.It tackled important issues related to mental health, and it really highlighted some of the unique isolation that women experience in a world apathetic to their pain. There’s a sense of fracturedness at times at how it depicts women in general—separated from society and crowded out by everything inside it.

Read more: [Five Noteworthy June Art Exhibits You May Have Missed](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/five-june-art-exhibits-you-may-have-missed-2024/)

## **‘Pasilip’**

For this Gravity Art Space exhibit by Maricar Tolentino, the perspective centered on how womanhood has no equal spaces or safety in the patriarchy. Women’s bodies, activities, and the like are heavily-controlled, even in spaces like the household that they should control.

!["Kulambo" by Maricar Tolentino when one enters the "Pasilip" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pasilip-Featured-Image.jpg "Pasilip Featured Image - BluPrint")“Kulambo” by Maricar Tolentino when one enters the “Pasilip” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Kulambo" from an angle as can be seen in the "Pasilip" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_182617.jpg "20240619_182617 - BluPrint")“Kulambo” from an angle as can be seen in the “Pasilip” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Kulambo" from an angle as can be seen in the "Pasilip" exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_182739.jpg "20240619_182739 - BluPrint")“Kulambo” from an angle as can be seen in the “Pasilip” exhibit. Photo by Elle Yap.

Are women *really* in control of the household? Tolentino’s exhibit represented the toxicity of these spaces in this exhibit, the safety of women here fragile and objectified by the system.

![The stitch artwork "Kwadra." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_182707.jpg "20240619_182707 - BluPrint")The stitch artwork “Kwadra.” Photo by Elle Yap.

!["Sundutan" by Maricar Tolentino. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_182726.jpg "20240619_182726 - BluPrint")“Sundutan” by Maricar Tolentino. Photo by Elle Yap.

![Perspective of "Kulambo" with a nude woman kneeling to the audience. Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240619_182628.jpg "20240619_182628 - BluPrint")Perspective of “Kulambo” with a nude woman kneeling to the audience. Photo by Elle Yap.

The works here really communicated the idea that power structures that subjugate are untenable for the safety of the subjugated in general. Even the women who bow to the power of the patriarchy find no safety there. In systems like these, power can only be taken, not given, and Tolentino captures that fragility well.

Read more: [‘Pasilip’: Maricar Tolentino Explores Femininity’s Fragility Under the Patriarchy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/pasilip-maricar-tolentino-gravity-art-space/)

## **Going Beyond Bodies and Gender**

Womanhood is complicated, especially as society’s regressive values prevent most people from ever interrogating their own perspective. Society seeks rigid binaries, referencing absolutism that narrowly defines gender with stereotypes and utilizes patriarchal values that don’t reflect the person’s lives.

But that’s why art exists, in this scenario: breathing room to probe, to seek what’s uncomfortable with the status quo. These exhibits don’t define men and women by their gendered roles, but by their personhood—and in the process, they create something new that reads true for their own individual lives as people.

*Photos by Elle Yap.*

Related reading: [Women Run Design: Being female is not an excuse nor a limitation—Cathy Saldaña](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/women-run-design-cathy-saldana-pdp-architects/ "Women Run Design: Being female is not an excuse nor a limitation—Cathy Saldaña")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** 2024 in Review, Art, Philippines, Women Artists, Women's Rights

---

### [‘Miragen’: Alvin Zafra Crafts a Vision of Darkness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/miragen-alvin-zafra-artinformal/)

**Published:** November 8, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

For *Miragen*, artist [Alvin Zafra](https://www.artinformal.com/artists/alvin-zafra "Alvin Zafra") aimed to create an urban landscape that reflected how he saw the world around him. The new [Artinformal](https://www.artinformal.com "Artinformal") exhibit plays with light and dimension, conceiving a vision of darkness filled with optical illusions of city life.

![Works by Alvin Zafra for  "Miragen" in Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164409.jpg "20241026_164409 - BluPrint")Works by Alvin Zafra for “Miragen” in Artinformal Gallery.Zafra’s work for *Miragen* was partially influenced by his own vision impairment. His need for glasses, and how he utilizes the camera, means that how he sees things can be far removed and diluted by these different devices he sees them through. Thus, the artworks presented here are influenced by this fuzzing of perspective.

!["Momentum" by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of "Miragen" for Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164519.jpg "20241026_164519 - BluPrint")“Momentum” by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of “Miragen” for Artinformal Gallery.“The resulting image: a synthesis of these optical structures,” Lk Rigor described in their write-up of the exhibit. “A byproduct of which are illusions and apparitions, dancing in the dark.”

## **Defamiliarizing the Urban Landscape**

Alvin Zafra uses pebblestones and etchings on sandpaper to recreate images that he took in different parts of our urban landscape. He retraces them, utilizing the stones to create an optical illusion of depth in its depiction of buildings, dark fields, and statues in the city.

Rigor noted in his write-up of how the camera flattens dimensions. It reduces places to a two-dimensional field of x- and y-axises and a color grid. They believe that Zafra adds a sense of physical dimension to the recreations featured in *Miragen*.

!["Crossfade" by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of "Miragen" for Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164430.jpg "20241026_164430 - BluPrint")“Crossfade” by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of “Miragen” for Artinformal Gallery.

!["Pointer" by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of "Miragen" for Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164423.jpg "20241026_164423 - BluPrint")“Pointer” by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of “Miragen” for Artinformal Gallery.

!["Daydreamer" by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of "Miragen" for Artinformal Gallery.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164454.jpg "20241026_164454 - BluPrint")“Daydreamer” by Alvin Zafra. Currently exhibiting as part of “Miragen” for Artinformal Gallery.

The resulting images toe the line between hyper-realistic and dreamlike. Something like “Crossfade” or “Daydreamer” studiously recreates these places while managing to input this eerie blackness around it through the fuzzy composition of the sandpaper that Zafra uses.

Rigor notes that the works generate a sense of uncanniness. Even if the images are relatively straightforward, they still make us question if the calmness is an illusion or not.

“The answer to these can also be ‘no,’ the images defying our mind’s tendency to look for patterns, as we also similarly fill the gaps,” they wrote.

## **Stillness of the Night**

A personal observation here is how these images really capture a noir-like quality to the darkness of the city. Noir is defined by mystery, and the empty landscapes proliferating Zafra’s *Miragen* with the film grain-like look of the sandpaper establishes a feeling of hidden dangers lurking in the darkness.

!["Omniscient" for "Miragen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164623.jpg "20241026_164623 - BluPrint")“Omniscient” for “Miragen.”

!["The Opening" by Alvin Zafra.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164440.jpg "20241026_164440 - BluPrint")“The Opening” by Alvin Zafra. 

!["Abode" for "Miragen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164447.jpg "20241026_164447 - BluPrint")“Abode” for “Miragen.”

The shadows on works like “Omniscient” or “The Opening” really work overtime to suggest something sinister in these ordinary buildings, as if the nothingness in the void can manufacture ghosts on their own. These artworks, overall, suggest this kind of primal fear of the unknown ingrained to us as children.

More than fear, however, what works with *Miragen* is this portrait of emptiness in the city. There’s nobody in these paintings, no humans to suggest any warmth for the concrete and metal landscapes around us.

!["Reflecting Pool" by Alvin Zafra.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164529.jpg "20241026_164529 - BluPrint")“Reflecting Pool” by Alvin Zafra. 

!["Lunatics" by Alvin Zafra.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164539.jpg "20241026_164539 - BluPrint")“Lunatics” by Alvin Zafra. 

!["Transfixia" for "Miragen."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026_164601.jpg "20241026_164601 - BluPrint")“Transfixia” for “Miragen.” 

For works like “Lunatics” or “Reflecting Pool,” it appears to suggest that this sort of emptiness is built into the city. Sure, in peak hours the city bustles with noise and activity. But Alvin Zafra captures the quiet that befalls the city every night, where it becomes a shadow of itself, everything stuck until the morning next day starts the whole process anew.

*Miragen* really puts its audience in a mode of uncertainty, unsure about what they’re seeing or feeling within the realm of the familiar. With this exhibit, Alvin Zafra invites us to a mundane, recognizable world, and twists it until our senses are flattened fully, nothing but fear to guide the way.

*Miragen* is open to the public until November 14.

Photos by Elle Yap.

**Read More:** [‘Eclipse: The Strange and the Familiar’ Offers a New Spin on a Retrospective](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/eclipse-strange-and-familiar-artinformal/ "'Eclipse: The Strange and the Familiar' Offers a New Spin on a Retrospective")

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

**Tags:** Alvin Zafra, Art, Artinformal, Manila, Philippines

---

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

**Published:** September 4, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, *Banuas Lawod*, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of the *Sama-Bajau*, locally known as *Badjao*.

The 23-year-old’s proposal was selected from more than 9,000 entries across 17 countries and regions. Its name combines *banuwa*, meaning “community,” and *lawod*, referring to the deeper part of the sea.

![Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ejhay-durias-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "ejhay-durias-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")Ejhay Durias, AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year 2026The project responds to the displacement of Sama-Bajau communities in Davao, many of whom have been separated from their traditional coastal environments and livelihoods. Durias envisions architecture as more than a housing intervention: Banuas Lawod seeks to provide dignified homes while helping restore livelihoods, strengthen cultural identity, and build greater resilience within the community.

The proposal is guided by five principles: marine cultural preservation, climate-adaptive architecture, aquaculture-based livelihoods, sustainable construction, and a closed-loop environmental system.

Related Reading: [What the UAP OBRA 2026 Winners Say About the Direction of Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/what-the-uap-obra-2026-winners-reveal-about-philippine-architecture/)

## A Coastal Settlement Rooted in Culture

Inspired by the layered structure of scallop shells, Banuas Lawod brings together homes, aquaculture facilities, communal spaces, and ecological infrastructure within a single coastal settlement.

For the housing, Durias draws from the traditional *lepa* houseboat and *bahay kubo*, combining their vernacular references with flood-resilient construction, passive cooling, rainwater harvesting, and gravity-fed water systems. These strategies respond to the challenges of the coastal environment while providing safer and more self-sufficient homes.

![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-3.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-3 - BluPrint")The Banuas Lawod’s lepa-inspired housingBeyond housing, the development includes aquaculture hubs for fish farming, seafood processing, and trading, alongside areas for seaweed and shellfish cultivation. Neighborhood gardens and bamboo nurseries support food production and the cultivation of sustainable building materials. Meanwhile, reef-inspired foundations are designed to restore marine ecosystems, while helping protect the settlement from storm surges.

![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-4-scaled.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-4 - BluPrint")The Banuas Lawod’s seaweed drying systemsTogether, these systems reflect Durias’ vision of Banuas Lawod as a regenerative coastal ecosystem—one where architecture is closely tied to the community’s relationship with the sea. Rather than treating the water as simply the setting for the development, the proposal positions it as an essential part of the community’s livelihood, environment, and cultural identity.

Related Reading: [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

## What It Means to Become a Global Designer of the Year

Durias’ recognition also underscores how locally grounded design can enter a broader international conversation. Formerly known as the Asia Young Designer Awards, the AYDA International Awards provides a platform for emerging architecture and interior design students to present responses to social and environmental challenges. Beyond recognizing design excellence, the program encourages young designers to approach architecture as a means of addressing issues within their communities.

![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-1.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-1 - BluPrint")The Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias For Durias, the award brings the experiences of the Sama-Bajau community into this international dialogue. His proposal demonstrates how traditional knowledge and cultural references can inform contemporary approaches to climate resilience, ecological restoration, and sustainable livelihoods.

As part of the award, Durias will receive a fully funded fellowship to the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Design Discovery Program, valued at up to $10,000. The opportunity offers the young designer a chance to further develop his design practice and engage with an international community of designers and educators.

Related Reading: [The Philippines at WAF: A Growing Presence in Global Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/)

## About the AYDA International Awards

The AYDA International Awards, formerly known as the Asia Young Designer Awards, is an international design competition organized by Nippon Paint that recognizes emerging architecture and interior design students for innovative responses to social, environmental, and cultural challenges. The program provides young designers with a platform to develop and present ideas that address real-world issues while connecting them with a wider international design community. Its Global Designer of the Year recognition honors outstanding student proposals across its participating countries and regions.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **Who is Ejhay L. Durias?**

Ejhay L. Durias is a 23-year-old architecture student from the University of Mindanao who became the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category in 2026.

### **What is Banuas Lawod?**

Banuas Lawod is an Aquaculture Community Hub designed by Ejhay Durias as a coastal settlement for the Sama-Bajau community. The proposal combines housing, aquaculture facilities, communal spaces, and ecological infrastructure to support cultural preservation, sustainable livelihoods, and coastal resilience.

### **How does Banuas Lawod support the Sama-Bajau community?**

The proposal addresses housing, livelihood, and environmental concerns through climate-resilient homes, aquaculture facilities, seafood processing and trading spaces, seaweed and shellfish cultivation, community gardens, and bamboo nurseries. It also incorporates ecological systems intended to restore marine environments and protect the settlement from storm surges.

### **What is the AYDA International Awards?**

The AYDA International Awards, formerly known as the Asia Young Designer Awards, is an international design competition that recognizes emerging architecture and interior design students. The program encourages young designers to develop solutions to social, environmental, and cultural challenges through design.

### **What did Ejhay Durias win at the AYDA International Awards 2026?**

Durias was named the Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category for Banuas Lawod. His proposal was selected from more than 9,000 submissions from architecture and interior design students across 17 countries and regions. As part of his recognition, Durias will receive a fully funded fellowship to the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Design Discovery Program, valued at up to $10,000.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, News, Philippine Architecture

---

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

**Published:** September 4, 2026
**Author:** Paulo Alcazaren

**Content:**

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in 1967 was located less than a hundred meters down the road. I loved the previous iteration, which was pure brutalist in its massing, and more intimate inside. It possessed a sequence of spaces that compressed and releases as you walked inside; a hallmark of the old maestro’s oeuvre in the 1960s and 1970s. The last time I saw Architect Locsin was at the museum in 1989, at an event marking the launch of a now defunct design magazine that featured him and his work. I wrote my first published article on design for that publication. BluPrint’s first issue would come a decade later.

Unfortunately, as we moved into the new millennium, the structure was demolished to make way for Greenbelt 4. We all shed a tear, but were told that the new structure would have more space for exhibits and serve as a portal to Greenbelt Park inside. The newer structure was completed in 2004, in time for the 170th anniversary of the Ayala Corporation. Compared to the older building, it Is lighter in feeling, and although it still has touches of brutalism, it is more contemporary modern in style.

## **How the Ayala Museum Connects to Greenbelt Park**

Being a gateway to the park beyond, its mass is broken into two, a glass tower and a short three-story granite-clad mass that houses its exhibit galleries and event spaces. The Filipinas Heritage Library, which houses 15,000 books and artifacts, occupies the sixth floor of the tower. The building also provides as link between Greenbelt 4 and Greenbelt 5 on the second level, providing passers-by with views of the park on one side and interior displays of the museum on the other. The ground floor holds the requisite museum shop and a café, which has an al fresco patio serving as pedestrian interface with Greenbelt Park behind.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/image_425_1.webp "image_425_1 - BluPrint")The original Ayala Museum was located where Greenbelt 4 now stands.
(Photo from omacnicole.wordpress.com)

I still miss the original, along with the old walk-in aviary (yes, there were birds and other fauna to be found inside). I also remember with fondness the old park landscape and its lagoon, designed by National Artist Ildefonso P. Santos, who was heavily influenced by the famous Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. But all this is just the persistence of architectural memory for me.

*Sketching Modernity is a series of analog illustrations and reflections on landmark buildings and sites by BluPrint Editor-in-Chief Paulo Alcazaren.*

 Who designed the Ayala Museum in Makati?- The present Ayala Museum was designed by Leandro V. Locsin and Partners (LVLP) and completed in 2004.

 Who designed the original Ayala Museum?- The original Ayala Museum was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in 1967.

 What happened to the original Ayala Museum?- The original building was demolished as the Greenbelt complex was redeveloped to make way for Greenbelt 4. A larger Ayala Museum was subsequently built nearby.

 What is the architectural style of the present Ayala Museum?- The present building is lighter in character than its Brutalist predecessor. It retains touches of Brutalism while taking on a more contemporary modern style.

 How does the Ayala Museum connect to Greenbelt Park?- The museum serves as a gateway to Greenbelt Park. Its second level provides a connection between Greenbelt 4 and Greenbelt 5, while the building offers views and pedestrian connections to the park.

**Categories:** Architecture, From the EIC

---

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali's Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

**Published:** August 20, 2026
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how people experienced Jia CURATED this year.

Jia CURATED co-founder Budiman Ong details how the beachfront venue was perfect for this year’s theme Nature Weave, “Visually, we wanted a lot of forests so that we can weave exhibitors amongst the trees. Coming here, we saw there were so many elements of nature that actually exist in this space that the exhibitor can respond to. Also, we can sense that for the visitors it’s sort of an adventure.”

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-11.webp "jia-curated-11 - BluPrint")Jia CURATED co-founders Budiman Ong, Rudi Winata and Yang Yang HartonoOng’s relationship to nature through his work as designer and founder of decorative lighting atelier Ong Cen Kuang was a strong influence on how he wanted design and craftsmanship to be viewed at Jia CURATED. Simultaneously, he also wanted the theme to resonate with a larger audience. “I’m a designer so I look at how I work. I’m always observing nature. We tried to think about how other people will respond to the theme so we try to open it up for interpretation,” he adds. “So with Nature Weave we already thought about weaving nature physically and aesthetically into the exhibition. It’s an invitation to slow down and it’s about looking at what’s there and responding to that instinctively.”

## Nature Weave in Practice: Ahti Interiors and CushCush

One exhibitor, Ahti Interiors worked with Bali-based architectural designer Alexis Dornier to design a booth inspired by the form of a traditional loom. Made of bamboo and handwoven jute fabric along the sandy beach, the installation provides a compartmentalized grid to exhibit the new collection of tapware designed by Dornier for the brand. The sophisticated collection features hand-hammered textured handles for faucets alongside stone sculptures by Maverick Lee.

“I embrace the creativity that people like Alexis bring to the table,” founder of Ahti Interiors Shalin Dewan says. “I think we need to be very open-minded as producers to break the boundaries and barriers that we are normally just used to. I’ve been in the industry for 15 years and I know what I know but I also know what I don’t know. So it’s always about embracing that aspect and trying to create something that is different.”

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-3-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-3-featured-image - BluPrint")Ahti Interiors pavilion resembles a loom made of bamboo and jute fabric![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-9.webp "jia-curated-9 - BluPrint")Bali-based Architectural Designer Alexis Dornier and Ahti Interiors founder Shalin Dewan

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-4-scaled.webp "jia-curated-4 - BluPrint")CushCush co-founders Jindee Chua and Suriawati Qiu

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-5-scaled.webp "jia-curated-5 - BluPrint")Products designed through CushCush’s artist residency program had French designers create objects while staying in Bali for the first timeBalinese design studio CushCush built a booth with billowing fabric and poles reminiscent of trees. The floor is lined with volcanic stone and rice husk and imitates the sound of walking through a forest. Co-founder Jindee Chua also sprays a scent that smells like petrichor and fresh cut grass to complete the experience. At the center of the “forest” are pieces that were designed by French designers through their residency program.

One of the pieces playfully called “Dress Me Up! The Balinese Way” designed by Studio Marcel Poulan is a lounge chair that was inspired by the traditional, portable Balinese back strap looms. The chair can be dressed up with naturally dyed textiles and becomes the seat and backrest.

Related Reading: [Anton V. Quisumbing Returns to Sculpture at the Yuchengco Museum with Pasulong](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/anton-v-quisumbing-pasulong-yuchengco-museum-makati/)

## Designer and Artisan Credit at Jia CURATED

Alvin Tjitrowirjo, founder and creative director of Indonesian furniture brand AlvinT, worked with interior designer Chelsey McPhedran of Somewhere Concepts for their booth among the pine trees. The existing trees were connected by using metal string to hang upcycled fabric in natural dyes. Hanging above the furniture are illustrations by A. Jasmine – one captures a scene from the forest and how people worked together to gather natural materials to live while another contrasting scene shows natural materials being used in furniture in a more modern setting.

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-6-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-6-featured-image - BluPrint")Material made of Banana Paper and Tyvek hangs and forms the the perimeter of AlvinT’s booth“We wanted to portray that in a modern setting, people can still have their community thriving and interacting and living together with, let’s say, furniture pieces that are still made by hand – made by nature,” Tjitrowirjo continues. “We want to portray this possibility that modernism is not only about technology, artificial intelligence, making things super fast, super seamless. Perhaps the future is more about being reconnected with nature.”

An s-shaped sofa curves inward and out providing plenty of seating while a three-tiered sideboard made of rattan were all made with close work with artisans and craftsmen. Tjitrowirjo passionately believes that the artisans are as important as the designers. “I think that this industry is built from the ways of thinking that come from Western teachings. In the Eastern part, we had different kinds of ways of looking at things, including who plays which role, who gets more credit, who gets celebrated and which are not, basically. And so I think sometimes we need to understand that we have this way of thinking, including why designers are the ones that get celebrated instead of the artisans. It’s simply because the industry was made in that way. But we understand that each of them, including even the farmer that takes the material from the forest, plays an important role as the designer.”

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-8-scaled.webp "jia-curated-8 - BluPrint")Jakarta-based Alvin Tjitrowirjo in front of an illustration by artist A. Jasmine

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jia-Curated-JAR-Adjusted-.webp "Jia Curated JAR Adjusted - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Sapin-Sapin: Julia Villamonte Brings Banig to the Global Stage at Milan Design Week 2026](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/sapin-sapin-julia-villamonte-brings-banig-to-the-global-stage-at-milan-design-week-2026/)

## The Balance of Designer and Maker

This relationship between designer and manufacturer was furthermore explored through the debut of the Philippine collective Newfolk at Jia CURATED. Curated by Gabriel Lichauco (who is also one half of design tandem Nazareno/Lichauco), Newfolk’s collection paired Filipino designers with different manufacturers and artisans.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jia-CURATED-Buddy-and-Gabby.webp "Jia CURATED Buddy and Gabby - BluPrint")Founder Budiman Ong and Philiippine collective Newfolk curator Gabby Lichauco

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jia-CURATED-Kabayan.webp "Jia CURATED Kabayan - BluPrint")

“I think that was the challenge. How can these designers come up with a work wherein they’re not in full control because you have craftsmen executing it? And of course, there are certain limitations on your imagination. How can you put them all together? I think I wanted them to experience that,” Lichauco continues. “Of course, that’s why I picked these manufacturers. I think we have to give credit to them. First of all, they were very supportive of the project. They were very welcoming to these designers. These designers have so many ideas. And these manufacturers need that to challenge themselves, challenge their craftsmen, right?”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JAR_6176a.webp "JAR_6176a - BluPrint")Hatch dining chair and Tulip floor lamp by Triboa Bay designed by Guia Viray

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JAR_6406a.webp "JAR_6406a - BluPrint")Seasons lamp collection by Venzon designed by Selena Placino

Included in the collection are some heritage brands such as 50-year-old manufacturer Calfurn. Its business development officer Paolo Feliciano worked with young designer Jasser Aguila. “We specialize in furniture and furnishings made of woven natural materials. The only brief I gave Jasser was that the product needed to be something that would represent our expertise in natural materials and also something that is portable.”

Aguila came up with the Vinta Stools – circular baskets topped with a seat and a carrying handle that doubles as a backrest. “It’s teamwork. The fact that we get to produce something out of nothing is in itself a reward,” adds Feliciano.

Guia Viray comes from the lineage of furniture makers and serves as the assistant design director of her father’s company Triboa Bay. “I’m in a unique position where I know both about designing and manufacturing. Design is very right brain while manufacturing is very left brain. You need both to make something possible.

For Jia CURATED, Viray showcases three products that she designed using veneer – the Hatch Dining Chair has layers of perforated veneer as its backrest while the Tulip Floor Lamp manipulates veneer into the shape of a tulip bulb. “I love how the veneer is so thin. You can make something so thin and elegant with it, yet it’s still real wood,” she adds.

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-7.webp "jia-curated-7 - BluPrint")The Philippine Pavilion designed by Gabriel LichaucoRelated Reading: [National Gallery Singapore examines art and architecture in Singapore, Bangkok, Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ngs-suddenly-turning-visible/)

## Gotong Royong

Lighting manufacturer Venzon collaborated with industrial designer Selena Placino to create a collection of lights made of metal with laser-cut leaves to resemble trees – a soft glow coming from the perforation. “Working with Selena felt like a dream come true,” Venzon’s brand manager Alexis Venzon recalls. “It all began when we started talking about how we really feel like a lack on both of our sides – as a manufacturer we’re searching for designers to work closely with, and as a designer she said it was hard to make her ideas because of limitations on operations or capital.”

The youngest maker at the Philippine Pavilion is Lamana, headed by Kay Concengco and has only began furniture making 7 years ago. Starting out as the exclusive manufacturer of Japanese furniture brand Ishinomaki Laboratory in the Philippines, Lamana is used to making designer pieces. For Jia CURATED, they debuted the Bato Bato Stick collection in collaboration with Nazareno/Lichauco. In contrast to the straight lines of Ishinomaki Laboratory, this collection has more organic shapes and incorporates woven details.

“The relationship of a designer and a workshop is very similar to the relationship of an architect and a contractor. The two work together toward achieving the product, and the workshop, with its experience from previous projects, is able to share its insights on the production viability of a design. The designer is the mind, the workshop is the hand. In the end, you are one body and your work is who you both become,” Concengco says.

The Indonesians have a phrase *gotong royong* which means “carry together”. It is one of the guiding principles of Jia CURATED that has seen an increase in the sheer number of exhibitors and visitors. The event’s growth this year is only proof of the sustained conversation about design, who makes our things and where do they come from. It is also a reminder that a product can only come to light when the designer and the maker have clear communication and are willing to “carry together”.

![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-2.webp "jia-curated-2 - BluPrint")A new and interesting location for Jia CURATED 2026 combining several natural features—sky, trees, stone, sand and seaPhotography by Jar Concengco

## About Jia CURATED

Jia CURATED is an annual design event in Bali that brings together furniture, craft, architecture, and collectible design through exhibitions, installations, talks, and performances. By connecting Indonesian, regional, and international creatives, the platform creates space for conversations around how design is made, who makes it, and the cultural and material contexts behind it. In its 2026 edition, held at Pengembak Beach in Sanur, Jia CURATED explored *Nature Weave*, highlighting collaboration between designers, manufacturers, artisans, and the natural environment.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is Jia CURATED?**

Jia CURATED is an annual design event in Bali bringing together furniture, craft, architecture, collectible design, installations, talks, performances, and other creative programming from Indonesia and beyond.

### **Where was Jia CURATED 2026 held?**

Jia CURATED 2026 was held at Pengembak Beach in Sanur, Bali, where the coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and stream became part of the exhibition setting.

### **What was the theme of Jia CURATED 2026?**

The 2026 theme was Nature Weave, inviting designers and exhibitors to respond to nature physically, aesthetically, and through the materials and experiences they created.

### **Which Philippine designers and manufacturers participated in Jia CURATED 2026?**

The Philippine collective Newfolk, curated by Gabriel Lichauco, brought together Filipino designers, manufacturers, and artisans. Participants featured in the exhibition included Calfurn with Jasser Aguila, Triboa Bay’s Guia Viray, Venzon with Selena Placino, and Lamana with Nazareno/Lichauco.

### **What is gotong royong and how does it relate to Jia CURATED?**

*Gotong royong* is an Indonesian phrase meaning “carry together.” At Jia CURATED, it reflects an emphasis on collaboration and the shared roles of designers, manufacturers, craftspeople, and others involved in bringing design into being.

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture, Featured

---

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

**Published:** September 1, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

The projects recognized by [Architizer](https://architizer.com/)’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries.

Winners are selected by a global jury of architects and industry leaders, while the Popular Choice awards are determined by public vote.

Among the 2026 winners, four projects offer a closer look at different approaches to environmentally responsive design.

AquaPraça, a Jury Winner for Pavilion, uses a floating ballast system to respond to changing water levels. The Yard | Dalian Cultural Center, a Popular Choice Winner for Architecture + Adaptive Reuse, reorganizes an existing industrial compound around a new cultural program. Limberlost Place, a Jury Winner for Sustainable Institutional Building, uses mass timber and passive ventilation, while Cloudhaus Hotel, a Jury Winner for Sustainable Interior Project, incorporates reclaimed materials and local fabrication into the reuse of an existing structure.

## AquaPraça | Jury Winner for Pavilion

### CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon

![Aquapraca Architizer A+ Award Winner 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/aquapraca-architizer-2-scaled.webp "aquapraca-architizer-2 - BluPrint")AquaPraça, designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon, is a 400-square-meter floating cultural plaza first unveiled at the Venice Biennale before being installed in Belém, Brazil, as permanent civic infrastructure for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The project responds to a condition that is constantly changing: the movement of water. Its buoyancy is managed through an active system of air and water ballasts, which allows the structure to continuously adjust its elevation in response to tidal shifts and sea-level variations. Visitors move along a sloped perimeter path that alternates above and below the waterline, leading to a central amphitheater organized around a water table that changes with sea levels.

In Belém, where tidal fluctuations can reach nearly four meters, AquaPraça became a venue for conferences, workshops, and public gatherings centered on climate change and sea-level rise. It is connected to the shore by a 25-meter gangway designed to accommodate significant changes in water levels. Water levels and tidal change thus become part of both the architecture and the public experience.

![Aquapraca Architizer A+ Award Winner 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/aquapraca-architizer-1-scaled.webp "aquapraca-architizer-1 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [The Top 8 Architecture Firms in the Philippines According to Architizer](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/top-8-architecture-firms-in-the-philippines/)

## The Yard (Dalian Cultural Center) | Popular Choice Winner for Architecture + Adaptive Reuse

### Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

![The Yard Dalian Cultural Center](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-theyard_dalian_cultural_center_1.webp "architizer-theyard_dalian_cultural_center_1 - BluPrint")The Yard transforms a 40-year-old compound of six buildings in Dalian, China, into a mixed-use cultural destination serving the surrounding community and student population. Originally occupied by offices, warehouses, and dormitories for a chemical research institute, the six existing buildings formed a U-shaped configuration around a large parking lot. Differing building heights and façades altered through previous renovations gave the compound a fragmented character.

Neri&Hu transformed the former parking lot into a contemplative central courtyard inspired by traditional Chinese gardens. A new spatial system of walls, screens, and canopies completes the U-shaped figure and links the existing buildings around the plaza. Corten steel was introduced as the primary exterior material, allowing the architecture to weather over time, while the interiors juxtapose new plaster finishes with exposed historic brickwork.

Today, the compound houses galleries, retail, hospitality, cinema, theater, and office spaces. Rather than erasing the site’s industrial past, the project retains its existing fabric while introducing a new cultural program**.**

![The Yard Dalian Cultural Center](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-theyard_dalian_cultural_center_2.webp "architizer-theyard_dalian_cultural_center_2 - BluPrint")## Limberlost Place | Jury Winner for Sustainable Institutional Building

### Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects

![Liberlost Place by MTA](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-mta-liberlost-place-1.webp "architizer-mta-liberlost-place-1 - BluPrint")

![Liberlost Place by MTA](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-mta-liberlost-place-2.webp "architizer-mta-liberlost-place-2 - BluPrint")

Across contemporary architecture, sustainability is no longer confined to environmental certifications or climate-responsive exteriors. It is also expressed through structural systems, construction methods, material selection, and the design of interior spaces.

An example of this is Limberlost Place, designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects for George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus in Toronto. The 10-storey building uses a mass timber structural system composed of glued-laminated timber columns and cross-laminated timber floor assemblies. Developed with structural engineers Fast + Epp, the shallow structural system combines glulam columns, CLT-concrete slab bands, and CLT infill panels to achieve column-free spans of up to nine meters across the building.

Passive ventilation is provided through two nine-storey solar chimneys that draw air up and through the building, together with operable windows. “Breathing rooms” distributed through the building provide social and collaborative spaces along its vertical expanse**.**

Related Reading: [Boutique Resort in Rizal Wins Architizer Awards Special Mention](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/boutique-resort-in-rizal-wins-architizer-awards-special-mention/)

## Cloudhaus Hotel | Popular Choice Winner for Sustainable Interior Project

### RooMoo Design Studio

![Cloudhaus Hotel by Roomoo Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-cloudhaus_hotel_roomoo_design_studio_1.webp "architizer-cloudhaus_hotel_roomoo_design_studio_1 - BluPrint")

![Cloudhaus Hotel by Roomoo Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/architizer-cloudhaus_hotel_roomoo_design_studio_2.webp "architizer-cloudhaus_hotel_roomoo_design_studio_2 - BluPrint")

A similar emphasis on material strategy appears in Cloudhaus Hotel, where sustainability is addressed through interior architecture.

Designed by RooMoo Design Studio, the 24-room boutique hotel reuses an existing five-level structure in Chongqing, China. The project incorporates reclaimed timber, bamboo scaffolding, recycled red brick, and locally sourced stone into ceilings, partitions, lighting, and built-in elements. In the lobby, reclaimed timber and bamboo are paired with terrazzo floors made from local mountain stone and gravel. Traditional weaving techniques were adapted for bamboo ceilings, partitions, and lighting, while recycled red brick and bamboo were used across the restaurant walls and ceilings.

More than 80 percent of the furniture was produced locally, reducing transportation requirements and integrating regional fabrication into the construction process. Discarded wood, bamboo scaffolding, and other leftover materials were also adapted for new uses throughout the interiors.

## Four Projects, One Environmental Context

Taken together, these projects highlight different approaches to environmentally responsive design, from water-responsive infrastructure and adaptive reuse to mass timber construction, passive environmental systems, and material reuse. Rather than sharing a common aesthetic, each responds to the particular environmental, structural, and material conditions of its site and program.

Related Reading: [The Battle for the Tallest Building in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-battle-for-the-tallest-building-in-the-philippines/)

## About Architizer

Architizer is a global online platform and database for architects and design professionals, connecting the architecture community with projects, firms, products, and industry resources. Founded in 2009, the platform also organizes the annual A+Awards, which recognizes architecture and design projects across a range of typologies and categories.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What are the Architizer A+Awards?**

The Architizer A+Awards is an annual international awards program organized by Architizer that recognizes outstanding projects across architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability.

### **Who selects the Architizer A+Awards winners?**

A+Awards winners are selected through two forms of recognition: Jury Winners are chosen by a jury of architects and industry leaders, while Popular Choice winners are determined through public voting.

### **What projects won at the Architizer A+Awards 2026?**

The 2026 winners include projects across different typologies and categories. This article looks at four: AquaPraça by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon, The Yard | Dalian Cultural Center by Neri&Hu, Limberlost Place by Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects, and Cloudhaus Hotel by RooMoo Design Studio.

### **What is AquaPraça?**

AquaPraça is a 400-square-meter floating cultural plaza designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon. Its floating structure uses air and water ballasts to adjust its elevation in response to changing water levels.

### **What is The Yard | Dalian Cultural Center?**

The Yard is an adaptive reuse project by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office that transforms a 40-year-old compound of six buildings in Dalian, China. The former chemical research institute has been converted into a mixed-use cultural destination with galleries, retail, hospitality, cinema, theater, and offices.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Commercial, Heritage

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

**Published:** August 26, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by [VBo Architects + Engineers](https://www.vboae.com/), the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape.

Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded setting in the fishing village of Agdangan, Quezon. “I remember when we were going around, the broker was hesitant to show us this property because normally people would want a flat lot, it’s easy to sell,” Bocalid shares.

![Agada Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agada-beach-villas-main-common-block-scaled.webp "agada-beach-villas-main-common-block - BluPrint")The site’s relative isolation, roughly four to five hours from Metro Manila, further appealed to Bocalid, who envisioned a retreat centered on privacy and a close experience of its natural surroundings.

“I think not everyone will be able to see it—it’s a bit of a cliff. I fell in love with the slope of the site: there’s a high part and then it suddenly drops to the beach area. So, it’s something challenging to design and I know that as an architect, \[the site\] will create the best quality of the architecture,” she adds.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DSCF4942.webp "DSCF4942 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DSCF4961.webp "DSCF4961 - BluPrint")DSCF4961

Related Reading: [What Interior Designers Consider Before Planning a Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/what-interior-designers-consider-before-planning-a-space/)

## Calathea and Talisay: Materiality and Block Layout

Agda Beach Villas is composed of two residences: Calathea, located near the entrance, and Talisay, located by the beachfront.

Near the entrance, Calathea is defined by a white facade with stone-clad accents. Originally envisioned as a staff house, the villa was later adapted to accommodate guests, with multiple bedrooms allowing for different group sizes. Inside, wooden furniture and a restrained palette of gray tones continue the material character of the exterior.

![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-11-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-11 - BluPrint")

![Agada Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-calathea-villa-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-calathea-villa - BluPrint")

At the heart of the estate is Talisay Villa, organized into three main areas, or “blocks,” as Bocalid describes them.

The first and largest block houses the shared spaces for gathering and entertaining. Its exterior concrete walls are intentionally left bare and unpainted, while the interior walls are clad in weathered, armored wood. At the center, an open dining area is anchored by a concrete counter that extends toward a custom dining table, bringing cooking, dining, and gathering into the same space. At the front, sunbeds and a pool extend the living area outdoors, with the beach and sand directly beyond.

![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-2-scaled.webp "agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-2 - BluPrint")Bocalid shares that the common block was arranged to open to its surroundings, but also built for experiences—a place where friends and family gather to socialize and enjoy their relaxing time together.

![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-5-scaled.webp "agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-5 - BluPrint")Talisay Villa’s main common block with a swimming pool.“When you’re thinking about third spaces, \[they’re essentially\] shared spaces that connect people. So when we use this space with our relatives, we create memories here. And I think this is the most photographed of some of our guests. This is their favorite spot,” she shares.

Beside the main common space, the second block contains a small living area and a bedroom dedicated to children. An uncovered wooden walkway connects the two blocks, exposing guests to the changing weather as they move between spaces.

![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-1-scaled.webp "agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-1 - BluPrint")A few meters from the shore, the main bedroom occupies the third block. Weathered timber walls continue the material treatment of the main structure, while a concrete roof provides protection against strong winds and storms. A large sliding glass door opens directly toward the beach. Oriented away from the other blocks, the bedroom offers greater privacy while retaining views of the coast.

![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-4-scaled.webp "agada-beach-villas-talisay-villa-4 - BluPrint")The main bedroom villa features beachfront views.Related Reading: [Bioclimatic Tropical Villa: Eco-Conscious Simple Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/bioclimatic-tropical-villa-working-with-climate/)

## How Does Agda Beach Villas’ Architecture Create a Rural Escape from City Life?

For Bocalid, Agda Beach Villas was designed not only as a vacation home, but also as a private rural retreat for those looking to step away from the pace of city life. Its open architecture and use of local materials were carefully considered to strengthen the connection between the interiors and the surrounding landscape.

From the uncovered walkways between blocks to shared spaces facing the coast, Agda Beach Villas keeps guests in close contact with the conditions of the site. Rather than separating them from the natural setting, the architecture allows the landscape, weather, and coastal environment to remain part of the experience.

Related Reading: [Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/balai-bai-nature-centered-resort-laguna/)

Photography by Ar. Mike Francis Garcia of VBO Architects + Engineers and [Sproos Creatives.](https://www.sprooscreatives.com/)

## About VBo Architects + Engineers

VBo Architects + Engineers is an architectural and engineering practice led by Architect Mary Neil Velasco Bocalid. The firm works across architecture, engineering, and design, with projects that respond to their specific sites, environments, and users. For Agda Beach Villas, VBo Architects + Engineers approached the sloping coastal property as an opportunity to shape spaces around the landscape, natural elements, and shared experiences.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **Where is the Agda Beach Villas located?**

Agda Beach Villas is located in Agdangan, Quezon Province, on a one-hectare hilly property overlooking Tayabas Bay. The site is approximately four to five hours from Metro Manila.

### **Who designed Agda Beach Villas?**

Agda Beach Villas was designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, led by Ar. Mary Neil Velasco Bocalid. The project was initially conceived as Bocalid’s personal vacation home before becoming a retreat that also accommodates other guests.

### **What are the main spaces in Agda Beach Villas?**

The property is composed of two residences: Calathea, located near the entrance, and Talisay, situated closer to the beachfront. Talisay is organized into three blocks containing shared spaces, a children’s bedroom and living area, and a main bedroom.

### **How does the design of Agda Beach Villas respond to its sloping site?**

Rather than leveling the property, the design responds to its existing terrain, which descends toward Tayabas Bay. The different blocks are positioned along the site to take advantage of the slope, coastal views, privacy, and relationship between the built spaces and the landscape.

### **What materials were used in the interiors of Agda Beach Villas?**

The interiors use materials such as weathered armored wood, concrete, and wood furniture, paired with a restrained palette of gray tones. These materials give the spaces a tactile quality while maintaining a visual connection to the surrounding landscape.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Homes, Interiors, Spaces

---

### [iPAMANA: SoFA Design Institute Students Reinterpret Filipino Heritage Through Furniture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/sofa-design-institute-ipamana-furniture-exhibition/)

**Published:** July 28, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

What happens when furniture becomes a medium for preserving culture? At [SoFA Design Institute](https://sofa.edu.ph/?srsltid=AfmBOopoiGwaChwzR8Z7T3NXb2XVGlrswYihE18Me1kvWVwLBbQadK5z)‘s iPAMANA: Honoring Filipino Stories Through Furniture exhibition, thirteen Furniture Design students explored how contemporary design can reinterpret Filipino heritage for a new generation.

Presented on July 5, 2026, the exhibition challenged its emerging designers to look beyond convention, developing furniture rooted in personal narratives and Filipino cultural identity through rigorous research, concept development, prototyping, and craftsmanship.

From lounge chairs and floor lamps to vanity sets and coffee tables, each piece transforms everyday furniture into a vessel for storytelling.

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Adarna Chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-adarna-chair.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-adarna-chair - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Layo Side Table and Siklo Chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/layo-side-table-siklo-chair-nicolas-galea.webp "layo-side-table-siklo-chair-nicolas-galea - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Mayari Chair and Apolaki Lamp](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-mayari-chair-apolaki-lamp.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-mayari-chair-apolaki-lamp - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [SoFA Design Institute Empowers Students to Design New Campus](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/sofa-design-institute-empowers-students-to-design-new-campus/)

## Filipino Mythology in Furniture: Four SoFA Student Designs

From the name of the exhibit itself, one can infer that most of the pieces were inspired by Filipino mythology and folktales.

For instance, the Mayari Lounge Chair and Apolaki Lamp, by student designer Kristine Drilon, draw inspiration from the myth of the siblings Apolaki (the sun) and Mayari (the moon), whose decision to share power gave rise to the cycle of day and night. The narrative is reflected in the collection’s design, with capiz shell accents evoking the moon’s phases and radiating details referencing the sun’s rays. Drilon also drew from her love of reading, reinterpreting the lounge chair with chevron-patterned cushions and a concealed ottoman, while incorporating an ambient lighting mode into the floor lamp.

Another piece that transforms storytelling into design is the Nao Bench by student designer Clara Tan. The bench draws inspiration from the Maranao folktale of the unlikely romance between a sparrow and a shrimp. The narrative is expressed through the woven rattan seat, where orange represents the sparrow and purple symbolizes the shrimp. Arranged in a crisscross pattern, the weave signifies the “intersection of two worlds becoming one,” reflecting not only the folktale but also Tan’s own background as an Indonesian who seeks to explore how Filipino heritage could inform her playful yet thoughtful design approach.

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Nao Bench](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-nao-bench-2.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-nao-bench-2 - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Mayumi chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-mayumi-lounge-chair.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-mayumi-lounge-chair - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Lunan Collection](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/lunan-collection-dee-lanoza.webp "lunan-collection-dee-lanoza - BluPrint")

Beyond Filipino mythologies and folktales, the exhibition also showcased furniture pieces drawn from the students’ own experiences.

The Punta 1735 Coffee Table, designed by student Faye David, draws inspiration from a bowl of Nilaga. David looked to childhood Sundays spent sharing meals with her family, transforming those memories of home and togetherness into the foundation of the design. The piece takes its name from her childhood home, “Punta 1735.” Made from walnut-stained solid timber, the coffee table features a movable base that can be reconfigured into different compositions. Topped with tempered glass, its layered form resembles a bowl of Nilaga when viewed from above, translating a cherished family ritual into a contemporary piece of furniture.

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Sakay Chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-sakay-chair.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-sakay-chair - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Sierra chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-sierra-lounge-chair.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-sierra-lounge-chair - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Salop Chair](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/salop-chair-sab-reynoso.webp "salop-chair-sab-reynoso - BluPrint")

Another notable piece is the Sakay Chair by Adrienne Balcueva. Its silhouette recalls a jeepney’s manibela (steering wheel) and gear shift, while the embroidered cushions reveal a more playful narrative. Depicted in a childlike style are a manananggal and other characters from Jessica Zafra’s Collected Stories, evoking the ghost tales and imagined worlds that often accompany childhood.

These are some of the notable pieces on view at iPamana. Each of the thirteen projects offers a distinct interpretation of Filipino identity through furniture and craftsmanship.

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Kubli Pedestal cabinet](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-kubli-pedestal.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-kubli-pedestal - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Punta 1735 Coffee Table](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-punta1735-coffee-table.webp "ipamana-sofa-design-institute-event-punta1735-coffee-table - BluPrint")

![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute event Mutya Mayari Vanity Set](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mutya-mayari-vanity-set-eunice-jen-esmenda.webp "mutya-mayari-vanity-set-eunice-jen-esmenda - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [New Year, New Home: 2026 Interior Design Trends for the Filipino Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/new-year-new-home-2026-interior-design-trends-for-the-filipino-home/)

## Honing Creativity Through Creative Spaces

For SoFA Design Institute, iPAMANA is more than a student exhibition—it reflects the school’s commitment to cultivating creativity through design education. By encouraging students to draw from Filipino heritage and their own lived experiences, the Furniture Design Program provides a space where emerging designers can experiment, refine their craft, and discover their creative voice.

Through furniture design and making, stories become tangible objects that carry meaning, which demonstrates that design is not only about function and aesthetics but also about expressing identity, and shaping the future of Filipino design.

Related Reading: [KaPAMANA: ARTEFINO 2024 Shares Philippine Heritage Through Craft and Artistry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/kapamana-artefino-2024-shares-philippine-heritage-through-craft-and-artistry/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About SoFA Institute

Founded in 2007, SoFA Design Institute is a multidisciplinary design school in the Philippines dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative professionals. Through programs in interior, furniture, fashion, graphic, and visual communication design, the institute emphasizes design thinking and craftsmanship, while encouraging students to develop socially and culturally relevant work.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is SoFA Design Institute’s iPAMANA exhibition?

iPAMANA: Honoring Filipino Stories Through Furniture is a student exhibition by SoFA Design Institute’s Furniture Design Program, presented July 5, 2026. Thirteen students created lounge chairs, floor lamps, coffee tables, and vanity sets reinterpreting Filipino mythology, folktales, and personal narratives through material, form, and craftsmanship.

### How do Filipino myths and folktales inform furniture design in the iPAMANA exhibition?

Several iPAMANA pieces draw directly from Filipino mythology and folktales. Kristine Drilon’s Mayari Lounge Chair and Apolaki Lamp reference the sun-and-moon myth of siblings Apolaki and Mayari, while Clara Tan’s Nao Bench reinterprets a Maranao folktale about a sparrow and a shrimp through a woven rattan seat pattern.

### What inspired Faye David’s Punta 1735 Coffee Table?

Faye David’s Punta 1735 Coffee Table draws on childhood memories of Sunday family meals, particularly a bowl of Nilaga. Named after her childhood home, the walnut-stained timber piece has a movable base and a tempered glass top whose layered form resembles the dish when viewed from above.

### What is the significance of Adrienne Balcueva’s Sakay Chair?

The Sakay Chair by Adrienne Balcueva takes its silhouette from a jeepney’s manibela and gear shift, referencing Filipino public transport culture. Its embroidered cushions depict a manananggal and other characters from Jessica Zafra’s Collected Stories, layering childhood ghost tales into the chair’s narrative.

### How does SoFA Design Institute’s Furniture Design Program approach Filipino identity in design education?

SoFA Design Institute’s Furniture Design Program encourages students to draw on Filipino heritage and personal lived experience through research, concept development, prototyping, and craftsmanship. The program treats furniture design as a vehicle for cultural storytelling, positioning identity expression alongside function and aesthetics in students’ creative development.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Heritage, Interiors, Objects

---

### [Atelier Almario and Scavolini Redefine the Home Through Precision Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/atelier-almario-and-scavolini-redefine-the-home-through-precision-design/)

**Published:** December 20, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

[Atelier Almario](https://www.atelieralmario.com/), led by powerhouse siblings Ivy and Cynthia Almario, have the vision of fully realizing the design of your dream home. Their dedication and expertise are seen with every decision they make, from the basic measurements that allow a space to be harnessed efficiently, to their use of trusted companies like the Italian design brand [Scavolini](https://www.scavolini.com/ww/) in plotting the interiors of a home.

“Interior design is both science and aesthetics,” Ivy Almario, the Design Director of Atelier Almario, said. “People think, ‘oh, it’s a relatively easy profession.’ We may make it look easy, but really, everybody who practices it seriously understands that you are building for longevity and durability and safety.”

![Ivy Almario stands in front of a kitchen designed by Scavolini. The design director of Atelier Almario believes that interior design is the confluence of science and aesthetics.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F5.webp "Scavolini - F5 - BluPrint")Ivy Almario in a Scavolini kitchen. The Design Director of Atelier Almario believes that interior design is the confluence of science and aesthetics.The sisters, through their unique “design alchemy,” serve as interpreters to the inner longings of every family, turning intent into lived actuality. Their use of brands like Scavolini ensures that every home is stable and comforting, tailored to each individual living there.

It is no wonder they remain among the most celebrated interior designers in the country; their work is unmatched across all sectors.

## **Flowing with What the Clients Want**

One of the advantages of Atelier Almario’s inviting interiors lies in their process: a true collaboration between the sisters and their clients that translates their needs and wants into reality. They merge professional expertise with personal preference, ensuring every design maximizes comfort, functionality, and aesthetics.

“They always say that Atelier Almario are design chameleons,” Cynthia Almario, the Creative Director, shared. “Because, really, what is important is the client: we give the very best version of their dream house. \[…\] Their personality still has to stay in place, because after all, they are the ones who \[are\] going to be enjoying the place for a very long time.”

“Please understand that, as much as possible, we’re in the service industry,” Ivy Almario added. “Our aim is to make sure that your dream home is delivered to you on time.”

Functioning as a singular unit, the sisters approach their work with genuine care. They prioritize alignment first, ensuring a shared design ethos, before diving into the nuances of the client’s specific needs and lifestyle. From there, they can then bring the family’s unique vision to life.

![Cynthia Almario, the Creative Director of Atelier Almario, believes that the quality of their work allows them to have multigenerational clients to come to them for their design needs.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F3.webp "Scavolini - F3 - BluPrint")Cynthia Almario, the Creative Director of Atelier Almario, believes that the quality of their work attracts a multigenerational clientele.“Not only are we hired for the project, but we also interview the clients before we actually say yes to the project,” Cynthia elaborated. “What does that mean? We want to find out how they live…what their aspirations are; and when everything is aligned, that’s when we are engaged.”

“For us, when we onboard a client, we already see the compatibility of tastes because it’s an uphill battle,” Ivy elaborated. “If our tastes are so diametrically opposed, then you wonder, did you just like my first name? But that rarely happens, truth be told, because they would’ve known \[our\] reputation before \[we\] onboard them.”

## **Merging the Art and the Science**

Knowing what their clients want is half the battle, of course, but the second half is actually figuring out how to manifest their clients’ desires. Ideas are a dime a dozen, and what makes Atelier Almario different is the rigor and care they put into every design choice.

“We think in centimeters, we think in yards, we think in inches,” Ivy said. “Everything is calibrated for comfort and also to not waste material. We all know that plywood is four by eight, 120 by 240; so you kind of design within that module so that nothing is wasted.

“You mine your talent so that the money of your clients goes a long way—aided by your dedication—to really make sure when you deliver a dream project, it delivers on all points: timeline, budget, and of course, the happiness factor.”

For the Almarios, good design extends far beyond comfort—it is defined by sustainability, efficiency, and longevity, achieved by seamlessly integrating science and technology.

## **The Scavolini Quality** 

This shared commitment to excellence is why the Almarios often specify or recommend Scavolini. With a portfolio that extends from the kitchen to the living area and bathroom, the brand offers a cohesive design language that the sisters can expertly tailor to the unique rhythms of each family’s life.

As an Italian design brand, Scavolini is one of the most prestigious companies for its innovative models within the interior design scene. Starting out as an artisan workshop in 1961, they have since expanded into the furnishings giant they are today.

The brand has updated itself for the times, moving towards a more modernist aesthetic while maintaining the strong quality that made it a name in the first place. They offer traditional designs that follow European norms, like the Favila or the Baltimora, for a classic, luxurious feel, and they have also adapted to the times, like the Poetica or the Caraterre, with minimalist styles that better reflect our current sensibilities.

![A Scavolini kitchen gives a couple a lot of options when it comes to making the kitchen that works for you best, including more shelf space and counter space, as well as the most technologically-current kitchen appliances made today.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F8.webp "Scavolini - F8 - BluPrint")With Scavolini, a kitchen is designed around how you live, with more storage, generous counter space, and high-performance appliances that blend seamlessly into the system.It showcases Scavolini’s ability to go where consumers have gone, becoming a collaborative effort to fit into any home, wherever it may be. Scavolini is flexible with its models, using a variety of materials like metal, stone, and wood to create the aesthetic they aim for, and offering a range of color palettes from sleek black-and-white to brighter pastel colors to light up a room.

## **What The Almarios Love About Scavolini**

With those kinds of choices in materials, it is no wonder that Scavolini is one of the preferred brands of the Almarios.

“For us interior designers, where we are always balancing so many balls in the air, a complete solution makes our job easier,” Ivy said. “The quality across the bar is the same, but the aesthetics are also the same.”

What they both find admirable about Scavolini is that, for them, many of the project’s non-negotiables have already been addressed. It makes it easier for them to focus on the smaller details when the products are reliably assembled with precision, assuring customers of their longevity.

![Together, the powerhouse sibling duo of Atelier Almario make the kitchen of your dreams an actual, concrete reality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F7.webp "Scavolini - F7 - BluPrint")Together, the powerhouse sibling duo of Atelier Almario makes the kitchen of your dreams a reality.“ Scavolini aligns with the way we design,” Cynthia said. “Its systems are rooted in precision and proportion, but they never feel rigid. Their attention to detail is extraordinary. The engineering of the hardware, the modularity, and the richness of finishes that are both luxurious as well as durable.”

“When you choose a kitchen like Scavolini, they have many entry points, so don’t get scared,” Ivy added. “You can have a starter kitchen and then progress as your life and prosperity progresses. Why am I saying that? Because from the get go, the fundamentals are already addressed, and that’s what’s not negotiable.”

## **Precision-Designing Kitchens**

Ivy and Cynthia believe in the importance of the kitchen in making a house a home. The kitchen functions as the central hub of the Filipino home and a social anchor to the residence. As the backdrop for everything from festive gatherings to quiet daily rituals, the Almarios treat its utility with paramount importance, crafting spaces that are as efficient as they are inviting.

“How do we design kitchens?” Ivy started. “First off, we ask our clients \[and\] we listen. How immersive is your relationship with the kitchen? Are you really going to use it or is it just a pretty thing? If it’s just a pretty thing, then we know where to put the big guns. And if they say, ‘no, I really use the kitchen,’ we also know how to address it.”

“ I always approach a kitchen as both a workforce and an emotional center of the home,” Cynthia continued. “Functionality is the foundation of any kitchen. There has to be flow, ergonomics, storage, and intuitive movement. I always study my client: the way she moves, cooks, and lives in a space.”

![Another kitchen made by Scavolini, done to allow more conversations between families while they cook and prepare food.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F4.webp "Scavolini - F4 - BluPrint")A Scavolini kitchen is conceived as a gathering space, where cooking becomes a shared experience, from everyday meals to celebratory occasions.The design duo confidently relies on Scavolini’s precise execution to address the complexities of the modern kitchen. The brand offers robust solutions to common design friction points, grounded in ergonomic principles and a cohesive material palette, ensuring harmony within the space.

## **How The Almarios Utilize Scavolini Designs**

Because Scavolini resolves these workflow issues effortlessly, the Almarios are free to focus on experimentation and high-level design, crafting bespoke environments that showcase the homeowner’s personality.

“ For the most part, I would think that Scavolini has done their homework so that all your non-negotiables are \[already negotiated\] with them: in that even before you think about it, they’ve already gone through the process of thinking about it for you.”

Scavolini’s extensive material library—spanning from veined marble to warm wood and industrial steel—allows for limitless expression. These textures coalesce into spacious, luxurious layouts designed to cultivate intimacy and conversation.

The sheer breadth of the portfolio invites deep personalization. Whether it is the Mira, with its elegant glass cabinetry that opens up a room, or the Moda, tailored with hyper-minimalist precision for compact spaces, the brand offers distinctive choices that stand apart in the market.

Crucially, Scavolini’s robust construction supports this customization without compromising the kitchen’s inherent ergonomics. The result is a space that facilitates genuine connection, where homeowners can focus on the people around them rather than on maintaining their surroundings.

![The sleek and modern design of Scavolini allows for easier access in the equipment and things that are needed in day-to-day life.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F6.webp "Scavolini - F6 - BluPrint")The sleek, modern design of Scavolini makes it easier to access the equipment and items needed in day-to-day life.The Almario siblings and Scavolini put in the work so you can focus on enjoying your time instead.

“ Poetry for me is expressed through materiality and atmosphere,” Cynthia added. “The interplay between warm wood and cool stone. The gentleness of a matte finish and the way the light plays in a beautifully grained panel. I love creating spaces that invite quiet rituals. I love preparing and brewing coffee. I love preparing meals and lingering at the counter. For me, a functional kitchen supports life and a poetic kitchen enriches it.”

## **Design Legacies that Last**

Atelier Almario’s influence has spanned decades, evolving into an intergenerational success story. Grounded in a methodology defined by beauty and precision, the firm cultivated a lasting trust, prompting families—generation after generation—to rely on the sisters’ instincts to breathe life into their homes.

“I’m excited because I’m realizing that it’s a full circle moment for Atelier Almario,” Cynthia shared. “Because we started with the mom, and the daughters start getting married, and then we do their homes.

![Scavolini is an easy brand for Atelier Almario to recommend, mainly because of the precise technology that goes into the design of every kitchen, ensuring the safety and utility of it for the whole family.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scavolini-F1.webp "Scavolini - F1 - BluPrint")Scavolini is a brand that Atelier Almario effortlessly recommends, with thoughtful engineering behind every kitchen, where precision technology supports safety, everyday use, and a design that works for the whole family.“What’s beautiful is you think that you’re only a designer for the parents, but we actually broke the generational gap, because we are designing for the daughter and the kids of the daughters. That makes us happy because it means that we’re very relevant and that interior design is here to stay if you really do the work, if your vision is there and your clients love you.”

Atelier Almario has earned this success through years of hard work, supported by partners like Scavolini that help them deliver well-made designs suited to Filipino homes. It also makes their work more seamless, with quality that lasts.

“I am so happy that not only with Scavolini’s technology, but also with aesthetics, that the uniformity and the ease for decision-making is considered,” Ivy said. “Because building a home is one of the most stressful undertakings \[one\] can go through. We thank Scavolini for making it very easy for the stakeholders to make informed and intelligent decisions.”

---

Photographer: Ed Simon.

Hair and Make Up: Pong Niu

Sittings Editors: Geewel Fuster, Maita de Jesus

Art Director: Raechel Oro

Associate Producer: Mae Talaid

Read more: [Fulfilling Aspirations: Cynthia and Ivy Almario on Luxury in Interior Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/fulfilling-aspirations-cynthia-and-ivy-almario-on-luxury-in-interior-design/ "Fulfilling Aspirations: Cynthia and Ivy Almario on Luxury in Interior Design")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does Ivy Almario mean when she says “Interior design is both science and aesthetics”?

This refers to the balance between visual appeal and ergonomics, engineering, and modularity. While the “aesthetics” involve material selection and atmosphere, the “science” involves rigorous calibration of measurements. Atelier Almario designs within specific modules—such as the standard 120 x 240 cm plywood sheet—to minimize material waste and ensure that every centimeter is optimized for safety, durability, and human movement.

### How does “Design Alchemy” and the “Chameleon” approach affect the project workflow?

The Almario sisters describe themselves as “design chameleons” because they prioritize the client’s personality over a fixed signature style. Technically, this starts with an alignment interview to ensure compatibility of tastes. Their process acts as an interpretive layer: they study how a client moves and cooks to translate abstract “inner longings” into a functional architectural layout that remains relevant across generations.

### Why is “Modularity” a critical technical feature of Scavolini systems?

Modularity allows for a cohesive design language that is highly flexible. Scavolini systems are engineered with precise hardware and standardized dimensions that can be scaled from a “starter kitchen” to a luxury estate. This allows designers to focus on high-level customization—like mixing veined marble with industrial steel—without worrying about the underlying ergonomics or structural integrity, as the “non-negotiables” of the engineering are already resolved by the brand.

### How is the kitchen redesigned as both a “Workforce” and an “Emotional Center”?

In Filipino culture, the kitchen is a social anchor. Technically, Atelier Almario addresses this by analyzing the “immersive relationship” the client has with the space.
As a Workforce: The focus is on flow and intuitive movement, high-performance appliances, and generous counter space for heavy usage.
As an Emotional Center: The focus shifts to materiality and atmosphere, using textures like warm wood and cool stone to create a space that supports shared experiences and quiet rituals.

### What technical solutions does Scavolini provide for “Common Design Friction Points”?

Friction points—such as insufficient storage, poor lighting, or difficult access to equipment—are resolved through precision engineering. This includes hyper-minimalist designs (like the Moda) for compact spaces and elegant glass cabinetry (like the Mira) to open up a room visually. The hardware is calibrated for smooth operation and longevity, ensuring that the “happiness factor” is supported by a system that works flawlessly under daily use.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture, Designers, Interiors, Profile, Top Story

**Tags:** Atelier Almario, Cynthia Almario, Cynthia and Ivy Almario, Design, Interior Design, Ivy Almario, Philippines, Scavolini

---

### [BluPrint Art: Exploring the Power of Synergy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/bluprint-art-exploring-the-power-of-synergy/)

**Published:** October 29, 2025
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

The foundational dialogue between architecture and art—a synergy that shapes our physical and cultural environments—is at the heart of our first ever BluPrint Art issue. This special edition celebrates the deep-rooted, evolving connection between the two disciplines. With the expert guidance of guest editor Miguel Rosales, the issue explores how this convergence produces spaces that are not just seen, but truly felt.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BP-Art-Trickie-Lopa.webp "BP Art Trickie Lopa - BluPrint")The issue looks back to move forward, revisiting the powerful work of seminal artist Joe Bautista, whose 1979 piece *Bubong* challenged notions of beauty at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It also champions the new, featuring a younger generation of artists with distinct points of view, including Celine Lee, Datu Arellano, Kristoffer Ardeña, Nice Buenaventura, and Nicole Coson.

Readers are taken on a comprehensive tour of the local art scene, from established galleries like Silverlens, Mo Space, and Artinformal to dynamic, artist-run initiatives like Gravity Art Space, Kalawakan Spacetime, and Mono8 Gallery. The journey continues into the private homes of passionate collectors, offering an intimate look at how art is integrated into daily life. The cover story provides an exclusive glimpse into the home of Art in the Park co-founder Trickie Lopa, revealing an ever-evolving portrait of a life immersed in Filipino contemporary art.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BP-Art-Ed-Calma.webp "BP Art Ed Calma - BluPrint")Venturing beyond conventional spaces, the issue also travels to Lubi Art Island to discover its unique collaborative art program.

As Rosales posits in his editor’s note, “We may not always understand it, but we can never deny its presence. Perhaps we can’t even fully articulate how an artwork affects us—but it does.” This inaugural art issue speaks to that power, beginning an ongoing conversation on the rich, creative landscape of Philippine art.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BP-Art-Cover-scaled.webp "BP Art Cover - BluPrint")Embark on a journey through these inspiring spaces by ordering your copy of BluPrint Art at[ Sari Sari Shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/products/the-design-sourcebook-bluprint-art),[ Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand?categoryId=100643&entryPoint=ShopByPDP&itemId=40800252445), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.2c133365lDGY3V&itemId=5078661845&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are also available for download [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) or through [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) to find out more.

**Read more:** [Architecture That Transports: Inside BluPrint Volume 2, 2025](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architecture-that-transports-inside-bluprint-volume-2-2025/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core philosophy of “Synergy” in BluPrint Art?

Synergy refers to the foundational dialogue between architecture and art, where the two disciplines work together to shape both physical and cultural environments. Rather than viewing art as mere decoration, this philosophy explores how the convergence of structural design and artistic expression produces spaces that are “truly felt.” It suggests that architecture provides the volume and light, while art provides the narrative and emotional resonance, creating a holistic sensory experience for the inhabitant.

### How does BluPrint Art bridge the gap between “Seminal” and “Contemporary” artists?

The issue creates a historical continuum by revisiting the works of established masters while championing emerging talent. A key example is the retrospective on Joe Bautista, whose 1979 piece Bubong challenged aesthetic norms at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. By placing this alongside the “distinct points of view” of a younger generation—such as Nicole Coson, Celine Lee, and Datu Arellano—the publication illustrates how modern Philippine art evolves from its modernist roots to address contemporary themes.

### What is the difference between “Established Galleries” and “Artist-Run Initiatives”?

The Philippine art scene is divided into two primary tiers of spaces:
Established Galleries: Institutions like Silverlens, Mo Space, and Artinformal provide a structured, professional platform for mid-career and senior artists, often focusing on global representation.
Artist-Run Initiatives: Dynamic spaces like Gravity Art Space, Kalawakan Spacetime, and Mono8 Gallery serve as experimental hubs. These are often more agile and focused on grassroots community building, providing a “laboratory” for younger artists to test unconventional ideas outside of traditional commercial constraints.

### Why does the publication feature “Private Collections” in an architectural context?

Featuring the homes of collectors, such as Art in the Park co-founder Trickie Lopa, serves to demonstrate how art is integrated into “daily life.” From an architectural perspective, this reveals how domestic spaces must be designed with flexibility to accommodate an “ever-evolving portrait” of a collection. It highlights the home as a private archive where the dialogue between the resident, the architecture, and the artwork becomes a living, functional narrative.

### What is the significance of “Lubi Art Island” in the local art landscape?

Lubi Art Island represents a shift toward “collaborative art programs” located outside of the traditional urban center of Metro Manila. It explores the concept of art as an immersive destination, blending environmental design with curated experiences. This reflects a growing trend in the Philippines toward decentralized art spaces that utilize the country’s natural geography as a unique canvas for large-scale, site-specific installations.

 [![Cynthia and Ivy Almario for the Scavolini x Atelier Almario shoot.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Feature-Cover-Option-2.webp "- BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/atelier-almario-and-scavolini-redefine-the-home-through-precision-design/) 

### [Atelier Almario and Scavolini Redefine the Home Through Precision Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/atelier-almario-and-scavolini-redefine-the-home-through-precision-design/)

Atelier Almario, led by powerhouse siblings Ivy and Cynthia Almario, have the vision of fully realizing the design of your dream home. Their dedication and expertise are seen with every decision they make, from the basic measurements that allow a space to be harnessed efficiently, to their use of trusted companies like the Italian design \[…\]

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### [Poetry in Spaces: Tina Periquet Grounds Luxury Design in Detail](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/poetry-in-spaces-tina-periquet-grounds-luxury-design-in-detail/)

At her core, Tina Periquet is a storyteller. Hers is a unique methodology that makes her stand out from the world of designers, both here and abroad. She posses a keen understanding of the intricate grammar of design; how the details of a space flow together to create a habitat for her clients that tells \[…\]

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### [Continental Shifts: Keat Ong Forges a New Creative Axis in Asia](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/continental-shifts-keat-ong-forges-a-new-creative-axis-in-asia/)

In the discourse of design, few figures manage to master both the creative and commercial realms with equal authority. For over a quarter-century, Professor Keat Ong has not just built a portfolio of award-winning projects; he has architected the very profession itself. As a creative director, a tireless advocate, and an educator, Ong has become \[…\]

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### [BluPrint Homes: A New Era of Conscious Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/bluprint-homes-a-new-era-of-conscious-living/)

A new vision for design and living makes its debut as BluPrint Homes launches its maiden issue, dedicated to exploring “The New Era of Conscious Living.” This magazine embraces a holistic approach to design, focusing on concepts that excel not only in function and beauty but also prioritize sustainability and ethical considerations. For its first \[…\]

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### [Vision to Vibe: Decoding the Spatial DNA of JJ Acuña](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/decoding-the-spatial-dna-of-jj-acuna/)

The career trajectory of JJ Acuña reads like a global odyssey—one that stretches from a quiet Texas suburb to the skylines of Hong Kong and, most recently, Manila. Across each locale, he honed an approach he calls “spatial DNA”. It’s a bespoke methodology that weaves client aspirations, cultural context, and intuitive materiality into environments that \[…\]

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### [Perfect Fit: Ling Ling King’s Spacious Home Suits Her Just Right](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/visits/perfect-fit-ling-ling-kings-spacious-home-suits-her-just-right/)

Banaba Residence, the home of Ling Ling King, is a renovated home that defies typical residential norms. This was no ordinary design project, as the house was already a standing structure, waiting for a revamp that would go with King’s changing needs. To take on the project, King tapped Anthony Nazareno, Principal Architect and Designer \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Beyond Exhibitions: How the Ateneo Art Gallery Became a Place of Discourse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/ateneo-art-gallery-arete-discourse/)

**Published:** July 15, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

For 66 years, the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) has been at the forefront of preserving modern and contemporary Philippine art. Today, its home at Areté reflects an expanded mission: to extend beyond exhibitions to cultivating education and creative exchange.

## Building a Home for Contemporary Art

The AAG was founded in 1960 after artist, collector, and philanthropist Fernando Zóbel donated his personal collection of more than 200 works of modern Philippine art to Ateneo de Manila University. Conceived as a teaching collection, the donation laid the foundation for what would become the country’s first museum of modern Philippine art.

The collection was initially housed at Ateneo’s Padre Faura campus in Ermita, Manila, where it served as a valuable resource for students studying the development of modern Philippine art.

As Ateneo de Manila University gradually transferred its campus to Loyola Heights, Quezon City, the gallery was likewise relocated. In 1967, it found a new home on the ground floor of the Rizal Library, where it continued to expand its collections and educational programs for the next five decades.

![Ateneo Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-3-1.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-3 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [‘A Synergy of Ventures’ Showcases Collection of Post-WWII Artwork](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/a-synergy-of-ventures-post-wwii-artwork/)

## Ateneo Art Gallery at Areté: Spatial Program and Public Engagement

In 2017, portions of the gallery began moving into the newly completed Areté Arts Wing, before fully opening in its purpose-built home in 2018. Today, AAG occupies all three floors of the wing, with dedicated spaces for permanent and rotating exhibitions, media arts, and learning.

More than expanding its physical footprint, the move marked a turning point in how the gallery engaged with its audiences.

![Ateneo Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-6-scaled.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-6 - BluPrint")For Ma. Victoria Herrera, AAG’s Director and Chief Curator, relocating to Areté created opportunities to broaden the institution’s role—not only by being able to present its growing collection, but also by strengthening its educational and community initiatives.

“We were very deliberate in developing our public engagement, not only through promotions, but through education programs. When I say education programs, *hindi lang* guided tours (not just guided tours), \[but also\] conversations, panel discussions, film screenings, and other public-related programs,” Herrera says.

![Ateneo Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-5-scaled.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-5 - BluPrint")While these conversations and learning initiatives have long been part of the gallery’s mission, Herrera explains that Areté enabled them to take place on a much larger scale. With purpose-built spaces designed for exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and interdisciplinary programming, the gallery is able to host these activities more frequently and reach a broader community beyond the traditional museum audience.

“The building itself has attracted guests—more from outside especially \[….\] There’s more room for planning programs. And then, we also recently added the moving image program—so, they’re not only just film screenings,” Herrera shares.

“We worked with a group of video and media-based artists \[….\] So, yung ganoon na parang we’re able to collaborate with a wider community of art practitioners,” she adds.

Within Areté, each floor contributes to a different way of experiencing art. The first floor primarily houses selections from the Ateneo Art Gallery’s collection, bringing together donated and loaned works by patrons, as well as established and emerging Filipino artists.

On the second floor, exhibitions often take on a more literary dimension, incorporating poetry, text-based installations, archival materials, and written narratives that invite visitors to engage with ideas beyond the visual.

Meanwhile, the third floor serves as a flexible space for guest exhibits by artists, collectives, and cultural initiatives. Together, these spaces allow the gallery to present a wide range of artistic practices, creating an environment where viewing an exhibition becomes an opportunity for dialogue and learning.

![Ateneo Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-1-scaled-e1784088740110.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-1 - BluPrint")

![Ateneo Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-4-scaled-e1784088687900.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-4 - BluPrint")

Related reading: [Drawing Room: A Complete Overview of a Historical Social Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/drawing-room-a-complete-overview-of-a-historical-social-space/)

## A Place of Creative and Social Discourse 

The gallery’s commitment to public engagement is reflected in the breadth of its programs, which extend well beyond its exhibition spaces.

Since 2004, it has organized the Ateneo Art Awards, an annual recognition that supports outstanding young Filipino visual artists that has grown into one of the country’s most respected recognitions for contemporary art.

Beyond the awards, AAG regularly collaborates with artists, scholars, cultural institutions, and independent initiatives to present exhibitions, research projects, lectures, and public programs that encourage critical engagement with modern and contemporary Philippine art.

![Ateneo Art Gallery Orion in Sight Exhibition](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-orion-in-sight-exhibition-1-scaled.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-orion-in-sight-exhibition-1 - BluPrint")One such example is Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work, curated by Lisa Ito-Tapang. The group show brings together seven artist-led initiatives that make up TalaAnyo. It is interesting to note that this move to work together shifts the focus from individual artistic practice to the collaborative networks that sustain creative communities. Through murals, archival materials, installations, and collective works, visitors are invited to consider not only the finished artworks but also the histories and shared processes behind their creation.

At the Orion in Sight exhibition, visitors are greeted by a seven-panel mural at the entrance that traces the country’s continuing struggles and collective resilience. The mural establishes the exhibition’s central theme of community—both as subject and method—which continues throughout the gallery in a series of large artworks and archival displays.

The gallery space is divided into three sections. The first displays murals and archival pieces by the two oldest initiatives, Orange Project and Project Space Pilipinas, both established in 2006. The second features works by initiatives founded a decade later: Linangan Art Residency and Eskinita Art Farm. Finally, the third section showcases works by the youngest initiatives, established from 2020 onwards, including Agos Studio, Pasilyo Press, and Tungtung Alon Art Foundation.

The Ateneo Art Gallery invites visitors to question, and participate, transforming the experience of viewing art into one of dialogue and discovery. In doing so, AAG reinforces the role of cultural institutions not only as stewards of artistic heritage, but also as places where communities can reflect on the past, engage with the present, and imagine new possibilities together.

![Ateneo Art Gallery Orion in Sight Exhibition](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ateneo-art-gallery-orion-insight-exhibition-2-scaled.webp "ateneo-art-gallery-orion-insight-exhibition-2 - BluPrint")Related reading: [‘Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute’ and the Legacy of Nena Saguil](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/lakbay-voyages-into-the-absolute-nena-saguil/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About the Ateneo Art Gallery

Founded in 1960 through the donation of Fernando Zóbel’s personal collection of modern Philippine art, the Ateneo Art Gallery is the country’s first museum of modern Philippine art. Located within the Areté Arts Wing of Ateneo de Manila University, the gallery houses significant modern and contemporary Philippine artworks while serving as a venue for exhibitions, research, education, and public programs that foster dialogue and engagement with the arts.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Ateneo Art Gallery and why is it significant to Philippine art?

The Ateneo Art Gallery is the Philippines’ first museum of modern Philippine art, established at Ateneo de Manila University in 1960. It preserves modern and contemporary Filipino works, operates as a teaching collection, and runs public programs including exhibitions, lectures, screenings, and the annual Ateneo Art Awards.

### Who founded the Ateneo Art Gallery and how did it begin?

The gallery was founded in 1960 after artist, collector, and philanthropist Fernando Zóbel donated more than 200 works of modern Philippine art to Ateneo de Manila University. Conceived as a teaching collection, the donation established the foundation for the country’s first museum of modern Philippine art.

### Where is the Ateneo Art Gallery located and how are its spaces organized?

The gallery occupies all three floors of the Areté Arts Wing at Ateneo de Manila University in Loyola Heights, Quezon City. The first floor houses the permanent collection, the second hosts text-based and literary exhibitions, and the third serves as a flexible space for guest exhibits and collectives.

### What is the Orion in Sight exhibition at the Ateneo Art Gallery?

Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work, curated by Lisa Ito-Tapang, gathers seven artist-led initiatives forming TalaAnyo — including Orange Project, Project Space Pilipinas, and Linangan Art Residency. Through murals, installations, and archival material, it shifts focus from individual practice to the collaborative networks sustaining creative communities.

### What are the Ateneo Art Awards and who do they recognize?

Organized by the Ateneo Art Gallery since 2004, the Ateneo Art Awards annually recognize outstanding young Filipino visual artists. The program has grown into one of the country’s most respected honors for contemporary art, supporting emerging practitioners and reinforcing the gallery’s role in cultivating Philippine contemporary art.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture

---

### [The Essence of Conscious Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/the-essence-of-conscious-living/)

**Published:** June 19, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

In a world where our attention is a precious commodity, conscious living emerges as a thoughtful response. It’s a path to greater awareness, intention, and alignment with our deepest values. Unlike fleeting trends, it is an evolving approach that profoundly extends into the spaces we inhabit.

To live with such intention means to cultivate a home into a true sanctuary: a place that nurtures our well-being, reflects our personal narrative, and supports a life lived with purpose and mindfulness. It involves intentional choices—from the way we craft our interiors and the atmospheres we invoke—prioritizing quality over clutter, sustainability over superficiality, and always, a deep connection to what truly matters.

To explore the multifaceted essence of conscious living through the lens of design, BluPrint Homes invited a distinguished group of Manila’s most insightful creative minds. We tasked them with styling unique vignettes using the timeless and thoughtfully crafted furniture of Ethan Allen, each to interpret this profound theme in their signature way.

We are thrilled to present the visions of BluPrint’s own editorial team led by Editor-in-Chief Geewel Fuster, with interior designers [Rossy Yabut Rojales](https://www.instagram.com/rossyrojales/?hl=en) of [Hurray Design](https://www.hurraydesign.com/), [Tet Tiu-Alano](https://www.instagram.com/tet_tiu_alano/?hl=en) of Tproperty + MATA Design, and Joliza Tan of [Twenty Four Builders](https://www.instagram.com/24builders/?hl=en).

Their interpretations, diverse yet united by a common thread of intentionality, reveal how our homes can become powerful conduits for a more mindful and fulfilling existence. Ethan Allen, with its longstanding commitment to quality craftsmanship, enduring style, and responsible practices, provides the perfect foundation for these explorations into purposeful created settings.

### Cultivating Connection 

For the heart of the home, BluPrint Editor-in-Chief Geewel Fuster, in a thoughtful collaboration with interior designer Jegs Santos and the editorial team, approached the living room vignette as a canvas to “represent the new era of Ethan Allen”—a style that is “still timeless and chic with new forms and materials creating modern stylish pieces.”

### A Sanctuary for Restorative Living

![BluPrint Homes: The Essence of Conscious Living in partnership with Ethan Allen.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Feature-Image-3-scaled.webp "Feature Image 3 - BluPrint")The bedroom serves as a vital cornerstone of a consciously lived life where rest and rejuvenation are paramount. For this vignette, Rossy Yabut Rojales’ primary goal was to manifest the bedroom as “a retreat—a place for comfort and relaxation,” especially “in a fast-paced urban environment.”

### Intentional Gatherings, Enduring Style

![BluPrint Homes: The Essence of Conscious Living in partnership with Ethan Allen.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Feature-Image-2-scaled.webp "Feature Image 2 - BluPrint")Tet Tiu-Alano’s approach is a “modern style with a strong architectural point of view,” favoring “proportion, texture, and pieces that feel sculptural and grounded.” Her dining room vignette is an exploration of conscious living through a space that felt “composed but comfortable, refined but not too formal.” It reflects a lifestyle that values “ease, comfort, and simple, intentional design.”

### A Study in Serenity

![BluPrint Homes: The Essence of Conscious Living in partnership with Ethan Allen.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Feature-Image-4-scaled.webp "Feature Image 4 - BluPrint")For Joliza Tan, the home office should be conducive to productivity, but also relaxation, inspiration, and overall well-being. Her vignette evokes a sense of calm upon first glance, and fosters a mood of sophisticated serenity. This considered approach transforms the workplace into a haven for mindful work.

## Weaving Purpose into Our Spaces

These vignettes are far more than exercises in style; they’re direct expressions of BluPrint Homes’ core mission. “As we launch the first issue BluPrint Homes,” Fuster states, “our narrative is to define the new era of conscious living, and in partnership with Ethan Allen, we hit the right direction to present our brand ethos.”

Born from such clear and collaborative visions, these spaces invite pause, connection, and a more intentional way of life. “Ethan Allen is an ideal brand in this generation’s willingness to become conscious about being sustainable,” the architect posits. “These principles are as fundamental to their definition of quality as the handcrafted details that make their products so exceptional.” Fuster affirms, “This is BluPrint Home’s vision in this very first issue.”

![BluPrint Homes: A New Era of Conscious Living.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes_FEATURE-COVER-.webp "BP Homes_FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")Explore all four spaces designed by these top designers by heading over to [sarisari shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/products/the-design-sourcebook-bluprint-homes), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand?categoryId=100643&entryPoint=ShopByPDP&itemId=40800252445), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.446320f7vaRgYT&itemId=5053511019&channelSource=pdp) to order your copy of BluPrint Homes today. E-magazines are also available for download [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) or through [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) to find out more.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [BluPrint Homes: A New Era of Conscious Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/bluprint-homes-a-new-era-of-conscious-living/)

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### What is the true essence of conscious living?

The essence of conscious living is about making intentional choices that align with your values. It’s living with awareness, prioritizing quality, sustainability, and meaning in everyday life.

### How does conscious living influence interior design?

Conscious living inspires interiors that nurture well-being. It’s about creating spaces that are functional, sustainable, and reflective of personal stories, not just trends.

### Why is conscious living important in today’s fast-paced world?

In a world full of distractions, conscious living helps us slow down, focus on what matters, and build spaces and lifestyles that bring peace, balance, and fulfillment.

### What are the core principles of conscious living at home?

Key principles include intentionality, sustainability, simplicity, and connection. It means curating a home that supports rest, creativity, and meaningful interactions.

### How can conscious living improve well-being and lifestyle?

By reducing clutter, valuing sustainability, and focusing on comfort, conscious living creates a healthier environment that supports mental clarity and emotional balance.

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

 [![MQ Residence by Arkisens facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-5.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-5 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/) 

### [MQ Residence: Arkisens’ Layered-Terrain Home for Three Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/)

Located in Paroc, Pampanga is MQ Residence—a tropical-modern private residential home designed by Marikina-based architecture firm Arkisens, spearheaded by principal architect and co-founder Ar. Edwin A. Rivera. The project sits on an 834-square-meter sloping site at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. Its design emphasizes the character of the landscape, from its horizontal cues to spaces \[…\]

 [![CAW House by Studio Tille](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/caw-house-studio-tille-hero.webp "caw-house-studio-tille-hero - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/caw-house-architecture-everyday-life/) 

### [CAW House: How Architecture Interprets Everyday Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/caw-house-architecture-everyday-life/)

Standing on a former 1,200-square-meter pineapple plantation is CAW House, a Mid-Century Modern-inspired loft located just on the border of Silang and Tagaytay, Cavite. Designed by Rizal-based architecture firm Studio Tille, at first glance, the structure seems like a typical Mid-Century home, featuring a facade adorned with wood and stone cladding, a flat roof, floor-to-ceiling \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover.webp "bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/) 

### [Micaela Benedicto on Designing Homes Built to Last](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/)

Since setting up her design firm, MB Architecture Studio, in 2007, Ar. Micaela Benedicto has built a diverse portfolio of architectural projects. Her works, whether residential or commercial, showcase a distinct spatial quality, “I like to create things that can go from something static to something that is alive and reactive,” Benedicto states. “In creating \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Featured-Image-26-2.webp "Featured Image '26 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/luscara-and-soliento-barchan-architecture-on-designing-a-clubhouse-that-responds-to-its-landscape/) 

### [Luscara and Soliento: Barchan + Architecture on Designing a Clubhouse that Responds to its Landscape](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/luscara-and-soliento-barchan-architecture-on-designing-a-clubhouse-that-responds-to-its-landscape/)

Situated in Laguna, south of Metro Manila, is a multi-thousand-hectare development created by Ayala Land Premier within the growth corridor of the CALABARZON Region. Barchan + Architecture was tasked with crafting a clubhouse for the subdivisions of Luscara and Soliento. Principal Architect of Barchan + Architecture, Jason Buensalido, explains the firm’s process in creating the \[…\]

 [![AP House façade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/AP-House-Featured.webp "AP House Featured - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/in-conversation-with-the-past-a-look-into-adaptive-reuse/) 

### [In Conversation with the Past: A Look Into Adaptive Reuse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/in-conversation-with-the-past-a-look-into-adaptive-reuse/)

Over the past decades, adaptive reuse has been utilized as a sustainable alternative for the built environment. It involves repurposing existing buildings for a new use, allowing the past to remain while serving a modern purpose. Here, structures facing potential demolition or no longer serviceable are seen as sources of raw materials for new projects. \[…\]

**Categories:** Bedroom, Designers, Dining Room, Homes, Interiors, Living Room, Office, Residential

**Tags:** Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Living in Parallel: A Private Sanctuary  in Tanauan, Batangas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/living-in-parallel-a-private-sanctuary-in-tanauan-batangas/)

**Published:** February 7, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

As you approach the property in Tanauan, Batangas, Parallel emerges as a minimalist monolith infused with the raw beauty of brutalist architecture against the landscape. This bespoke resort residence, conceptualized by seasoned entrepreneurs Geronimo and Pam Begre, is a private haven just a little over an hour away from Manila.

![An infinity pool at Parallel, with an open courtyard made of concrete in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_2-scaled.jpg "Parallel_2 - BluPrint")Parallel isn’t so much a place as it is an ethos. It’s a delicate balance between seemingly different yet complementary elements. There’s an interplay of contrasts between the minimalist brutalism and the warmth the structures offer. Manicured landscaping gives way to wild forestry. It caters to escape *and* connection; to disconnect in order to reconnect.

## An Incubator of Experience

![A lap pool overlooking a lake view in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_9-scaled.jpg "Parallel_9 - BluPrint")Parallel’s upper villa with panoramic views of Tanauan, Batangas.From its inception, Parallel started as a blank canvas that evolved from family getaway to creative incubator for kindred spirits. With a keen eye for hospitality, the Begres sought to cultivate an experience that transcends even the structure itself. Quietly going against convention, it offers an alternative to the usual chain hotels and vacation rentals. It’s a sanctuary where, as Geronimo likes to say, “the plan is no plan.”

Parallel’s design philosophy is an intimate reflection of its creators’ narrative. Simplicity interweaves with functionality. Concrete forms, expansive glass facades, and wooden accents communicate the owners’ personal aesthetic. It’s a space that is intensely personal, yet universally inviting.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_1-1-scaled.jpg "Parallel_1 (1) - BluPrint")

![art work hanging from the wall over a wooden table.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_10-1-scaled.jpg "Parallel_10 (1) - BluPrint")

![a spacious bedroom with light filtering in though large windows.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_14-scaled.jpg "Parallel_14 - BluPrint")

There’s restraint in the simplicity of its forms that respects the natural elements around it. Within the property, the couple’s relationship unfolds—in parallel—as equal partners; moving together in harmony, each with their own voice yet united in vision. Both infuse their discerning tastes and wealth of experience into the design.

They weave their life’s work into this place, choosing every piece of furniture and fixture with utmost care. This philosophy extends to every facet of design, redefining luxury as the quality of experience rather than mere extravagance. Needless to say, they took a very hands-on approach to building this retreat.

## Embracing the Essence of Tanauan, Batangas

![A 2 story concrete villa with wooden slats and a pool at Parallel in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_3-scaled.jpg "Parallel_3 - BluPrint")The wooden slats are a key architectural feature that softens the villas’ otherwise rigid geometry.The property’s commanding view of Taal Lake immediately greets guests upon arrival. “Tanauan,” rooted in the Tagalog word “tanaw,” means “to look through” or “to see from a distance.” This etymology organically connects to Parallel’s design language, which offers a clear perspective of both the external landscape and internal space.

Central to the Parallel experience is the concept of openness. Windows on both sides of the villas allow for natural lighting, ventilation, and passive cooling. The layouts thoughtfully frame the surrounding natural beauty, allowing guests to ‘look through’ and appreciate the blend of nature and structure from different vantages.

## Private Sanctuaries

![A view of the two villas at Parallel in Tanauan Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_14-1-scaled.jpg "Parallel_14 (1) - BluPrint")A view of the two Parallel villas in Tanauan, Batangas.The villas are thoughtfully designed three-bedroom sanctuaries, each a cocoon of comfort with cool sheets and inviting beds. Living areas eschew televisions for the allure of nature and the company of fellow guests.

The upper villa’s living room serves as its nucleus, separated from the bedrooms by a courtyard. It welcomes guests with its plush comfort and access to the kitchen, urging visitors to check in not just with the space, but with themselves.

The lower villa reveals a more elongated structure, offering expansive spaces that nurture intimacy without confinement. Here, the paradox of privacy and openness plays out, giving guests the luxury of choice. You can interact within the communal lanai or retreat to the quiet solitude of the private quarters.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_5.jpg "Parallel_5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_6.jpg "Parallel_6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_4.jpg "Parallel_4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_7.jpg "Parallel_7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_7-1.jpg "Parallel_7 (1) - BluPrint")

Each villa has fully equipped and well-appointed indoor *and* outdoor kitchens for gourmands. But for those who prefer *not* to cook while on vacation, there’s the option of indulging in delicacies prepared by Parallel’s skilled chefs. These culinary experiences, dubbed as “Feasts,” are diverse, curated, and deliberate, moving away from the usual fare and into more adventurous cuisines.

With strong internet connectivity for the modern nomad, they also offer projectors and screens for movie nights under the stars or intimate evenings indoors. And as if those amenities weren’t enough, both villas have a swimming pool with unobstructed views of the lake. And there’s a pond with arapaima.

## Parallel Life

Together, Pam and Geronimo scrutinized every single detail, from the structure itself, to the appliances in the kitchen, down to the beddings. Rooms exhibit the couple’s own personal art collection. Modern sectionals from [Reforma](https://www.reformaliving.com/) sit comfortably alongside traditional furnishing from [E. Murio](https://www.emurio.com/).

A key architectural feature are the wooded slats made from blue pine. These soften the villas’ otherwise rigid geometry, and their warmth contrasts nicely with the otherwise cold, hard concrete prevalent throughout. The slats also provide various levels of transparency and translucence that creates a play of shadows over the course of the day.

![wooden slats made from blue pine at Parallel.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_10-scaled.jpg "Parallel_10 - BluPrint")

![a dining and living room area with views of Taal Lake.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_18-scaled.jpg "Parallel_18 - BluPrint")

![shadows cast on modern sectionals in a living room.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_17-scaled.jpg "Parallel_17 - BluPrint")

![a spacious bedroom with light filtering in though large windows.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_14-scaled.jpg "Parallel_14 - BluPrint")

Parallel cherishes the art of gathering; of people, ideas, and experiences. It promises guests sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation, not to escape life but to enrich it. The essence of Tanauan, Batanags’ etymology—”to look through”—resonates profoundly. Amidst the architecture and landscape, sightlines and open spaces invite you to observe, reflect, and connect. As guests move through this careful orchestration of nature and design, they find themselves part of an experience that is, in every aspect, unparalleled.

Photos by Ed Simon

![A night shot of the two Parallel villas in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_16-scaled.jpg "Parallel_16 - BluPrint")![A night shot of the lower Parallel villa in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_11-scaled.jpg "Parallel_11 - BluPrint")![A night shot of the lower Parallel villa in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_15-scaled.jpg "Parallel_15 - BluPrint")Read more: [Introspective House: A Unique and Modern Bungalow House Design ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/introspective-house-modern-bungalow-house-design/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Parallel resort in Tanauan, Batangas?

Parallel is a private bespoke resort residence in Tanauan, Batangas, conceptualized by entrepreneurs Geronimo and Pam Begre. Located just over an hour from Manila, it features two brutalist minimalist villas with panoramic views of Taal Lake. Designed as a creative sanctuary, it offers an alternative to conventional hotels — a space for disconnection, reflection, and curated communal experiences.

### How many villas does Parallel have and what are they like?

Parallel has two private three-bedroom villas — an upper villa and a lower villa. The upper villa’s living room serves as its central nucleus, separated from the bedrooms by a courtyard. The lower villa offers a more elongated layout with a communal lanai and private quarters. Both villas feature indoor and outdoor kitchens, swimming pools with unobstructed Taal Lake views, and strong internet connectivity.

### What is the design concept behind Parallel in Tanauan?

Parallel’s design philosophy balances brutalist minimalism with warmth and openness. Concrete forms and expansive glass facades are softened by blue pine wooden slats that create shifting shadow plays throughout the day. Windows on both sides of each villa allow for natural ventilation and passive cooling. Every furniture piece and fixture was personally selected by the Begres, including works from Reforma and E. Murio.

### What are the “Feasts” offered at Parallel resort?

Feasts are Parallel’s curated culinary experiences prepared by resident chefs for guests who prefer not to cook during their stay. Described as diverse, deliberate, and adventurous, the Feasts move away from conventional vacation fare toward more exploratory cuisines. They reflect the same intentionality and curation applied to every other aspect of the Parallel experience, from architecture to art collection.

### How far is Parallel resort from Manila and where exactly is it located?

Parallel is located in Tanauan, Batangas, approximately one hour and a little more by car from Manila. The property sits on an elevated site with commanding views of Taal Lake. Tanauan’s name derives from the Tagalog word “tanaw,” meaning “to look through” or “to see from a distance” — an etymology that organically informs Parallel’s open sightlines, framed views, and transparent architectural language.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential, Resort

---

### [Micaela Benedicto on Designing Homes Built to Last](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/)

**Published:** June 1, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Since setting up her design firm, [MB Architecture Studio](https://www.micaelabenedicto.com), in 2007, Ar. Micaela Benedicto has built a diverse portfolio of architectural projects. Her works, whether residential or commercial, showcase a distinct spatial quality, “I like to create things that can go from something static to something that is alive and reactive,” Benedicto states. “In creating architecture, I think it’s good to leave some room so that spaces and the meaning of these spaces can transform over time. I think it’s important that the people using them have that agency to create \[those\] spaces as well, to be part of the making.”

## Addressing Site Conditions in a Tropical Country

Benedicto receives her design cues from the site and climate conditions, informing her plan and massing. Rooted in tropical design principles she learned as far back as design school, her approach directly shapes the form and plan of her structures. This includes cross-ventilation strategies, courtyards and shafts, sunshading and overhangs with effective water runoff.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/descending-house-side-exterior.webp "descending-house-side-exterior - BluPrint")Descending House

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/descending-house-backyard-exterior.webp "descending-house-backyard-exterior - BluPrint")Descending House

Built for her close college friends who got married and had a son in 2015, the [Descending House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/descending-house-by-micaela-benedicto/) is a home situated in a private subdivision in Quezon City. The site had an unusual, funnel-like shape, with a narrow opening that slopes downwards to the back of the lot.

For this residential project, she followed the terrain of the land to descend in the back—splitting the lot’s ground level in two. “I think that drop makes for a nice experience entering the house; things feel like they’re opening up,” Benedicto explains. 
In addition, Benedicto also believes that passive strategies are the foundation of sustainable tropical design. This reduces the need for costly active interventions that often exist to cancel out the effects of climate-insensitive construction. In [Z House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/micaela-benedicto-z-house-speaks-the-vernacular/), a home that she designed for a couple in the Laguna province, this thinking served as a decision framework.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/z-house-living-area.webp "z-house-living-area - BluPrint")Z HouseThe house was oriented away from the east-west axis to shield living spaces from the afternoon heat. At the same time, its inverted Z-shaped floor plan was designed to open every room to natural cross-ventilation.

On the exterior, Benedicto chose textured concrete over paint or cladding. The material offered a low-maintenance finish while reducing post-construction debris. A concealed parapet hides a gable roof designed for efficient water runoff, while the floor slab is slightly elevated from the ground. This provides the volume with a sense of lightness while protecting it from flooding.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/z-house-second-floor-balcony.webp "z-house-second-floor-balcony - BluPrint")Z House“I’m happy to work with a lot shape that isn’t the usual thing you get—it makes you come up with interesting solutions and come up with a unique form,” Benedicto expresses.

**Related Reading:** [Micaela Benedicto’s Z House speaks the vernacular like a native](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/micaela-benedicto-z-house-speaks-the-vernacular/)

## Centering the Clients’ Individual Stories

Across her projects, Benedicto’s process begins with listening. “A house doesn’t have to follow the mold of something that already exists. It helps to listen to the client and customize it to their individual needs and patterns, and how I imagine they’ll want to experience the space,” Benedicto stated in a [former interview with BluPrint](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/micaela-benedicto-kodama-house/).

This approach is evident in the Kodama House, a project she designed for a Japanese client. The compound is composed of two buildings on a 600-square-meter lot: a three-storey residential block and a separate two-storey recording studio.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/kodama-house-residential-block.webp "kodama-house-residential-block - BluPrint")Kodama House residential block

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/kodama-house-recording-studio.webp "kodama-house-recording-studio - BluPrint")Kodama House recording studio

This configuration was born directly from the client’s need to conduct recording sessions without disturbing his wife and son. The residential block was designed around the client’s requirement to implement a Japanese version of feng shui, in which a north orientation served as the basis for the grid. Meanwhile, areas with water were situated at the north corner of the house.

The recording studio, on the other hand, was handed over as an empty shell, giving the client full control over the interior planning and acoustic treatments. “He has very specific needs for these,” Benedicto previously explained to BluPrint, “It’s unlike a conventional studio, and he’s built his own recording studios in the past.”

**Related Reading**: [Micaela Benedicto’s Kodama House goes nude](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/micaela-benedicto-kodama-house/)

## A Visual Artist and Musician 

Beyond being an architect, Benedicto is also a visual artist and a musician. These roles bleed into her work as an architect. She shares, “As an artist and musician, I think a lot about spaces too. Sometimes, they’re physical, in the way sculptures are about spaces as well, how things are made up of both solid and void.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/punta-fuego-house-interior.webp "punta-fuego-house-interior - BluPrint")Lanai House

 “My work in art is a sustained inquiry into time, material, geometry, and the conditions of visibility in a way that bleeds into my architecture as well. I think about how we affect the spaces we’re in and how they, in turn, shape us,” Benedicto expresses.

**Related Reading:** [This black home by Micaela Benedicto packs versatility and style minus the excess](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/micaela-benedicto-simply-does-it/)

## Adaptability in Longevity

In the Descending House, the spaces are neutral. The second floor has a central space that could be enclosed and turned into another room. Flexible arrangements are placed into the home: the shape of the yard that could accommodate a future pool; the steps from the living room that could continue into the steps going into that pool; and a room downstairs that could be transformed into a guest room or an office.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/descending-house-exterior-wide.webp "descending-house-exterior-wide - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/descending-house-front-exterior.webp "descending-house-front-exterior - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/descending-house-second-floor-balcony.webp "descending-house-second-floor-balcony - BluPrint")

These features enable the home to grow alongside its owners. Ultimately, Benedicto’s design philosophy is one of openness and adaptability. “In creating architecture, I think it’s good to leave some room so that spaces and the meaning of these spaces can transform over time. I think it’s important that the people using them have that agency to create that space as well, to be part of the making.”

---

Photographer: Ed Simon

MMA: Raechel Oro

Videographer: Zoey Tapalgo

Production Associate: Myka Magcamit

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Micaela Benedicto?

Micaela Benedicto is a Filipino architect, visual artist, and musician who founded MB Architecture Studio in 2007. Her work is known for its sensitivity to climate, site conditions, and the evolving needs of its users.

### What defines Micaela Benedicto’s architectural approach?

Her architecture is grounded in tropical design principles, passive cooling strategies, adaptability, and a close reading of client narratives and site conditions.

### What are some notable projects by Micaela Benedicto?

Some of her notable residential projects include the Descending House, Z House, and Kodama House.

### How does Micaela Benedicto implement sustainable tropical design?

She uses passive cooling like cross-ventilation, sunshading, and smart orientation to block heat. This reduces energy use while low-maintenance materials like textured concrete lower long-term environmental impact.

### Why is adaptability central to Micaela Benedicto’s architecture?

She creates flexible, open layouts with convertible rooms that evolve with the owners. This allows the home to grow and change functions naturally over time.

**Categories:** Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Modern House Design, Philippine Architecture, Profile, Residential, Tropical Architecture

---

### [Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/balai-bai-nature-centered-resort-laguna/)

**Published:** May 7, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Designed by[ TAYO Architecture & Design](https://www.tayoarchitecture.ph/ " TAYO Architecture & Design"), Balai Ba’i is a 900-square-meter resort located in Los Baños, Laguna. The owners wanted to evoke the same calm and craftsmanship found in Bali, Indonesia, while celebrating the natural beauty of the Philippines. As advocates of a distinct tropical-modernist approach, TAYO designed a resort that responds to its local context, environment, and culture.

![Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna by TAYO Architecture & Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BALAI-BAI-1-scaled.webp "BALAI BAI (1) - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of TAYO Architecture & Design**Read More:** [Museo Pambata: A New Chapter of Creativity and Education](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/museo-pambata-a-new-chapter-of-creativity-and-education/)

## **How Did Nature Shape the Design of Balai Ba’i?**

The spatial layout of the resort is in dialogue with its natural environment. Oriented inward, the layout allows natural light and ventilation to permeate the interior. A sense of intimacy and privacy between the two villas is created through the pivoting façade screens. These screens also bring in additional daylight while casting dynamic patterns across the interiors.

**Read More:** [Why Natural Ventilation Still Matters in Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/why-natural-ventilation-still-matters-in-philippine-architecture/)

Nature shapes the entire spatial experience, including the materiality of the resort. Raw materials such as natural wood, adobe, and Sukabumi stone are highlighted throughout by the architecture. Each material was intentionally chosen to develop a patina over time. This allows the space to feel even more organic and immersive as it ages.

![Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna by TAYO Architecture & Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BALAI-BAI-5-scaled.webp "BALAI BAI (5) - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of TAYO Architecture & DesignThoughtfully placed greenery defines the space, including the focal kalachuchi tree that adds richness and calm to the entire resort. Crafting a seamless boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces also encourages guests to interact with the natural surroundings.

**Read More:** [Bihing Tahik Resort: A Toast to Local Culture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/bihing-tahik-resort-a-toast-to-local-culture/)

## **Balai Ba’i Designed for Gatherings and Community**

With an inward-facing planning approach, Balai Ba’i consists of two duplex-style houses that come together around two pool courtyards. These courtyards serve as the resort’s focal points. They can function independently or combine into one expansive shared area. Designed for connection and comfort, the resort can accommodate up to twenty guests.

![Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna by TAYO Architecture & Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BALAI-BAI-3-scaled.webp "BALAI BAI (3) - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of TAYO Architecture & Design

![Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna by TAYO Architecture & Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BALAI-BAI-4-scaled.webp "BALAI BAI (4) - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of TAYO Architecture & Design

The resort also includes four spacious bedrooms and three lounge areas, with each room featuring its own ensuite bathroom. More than just a villa, it facilitates gatherings, celebrations, and meaningful escapes through thoughtfully designed spaces.

**Read More:** [Nawa Wellness Resort: A Beautiful Sanctuary of Healing](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nawa-wellness-resort-a-beautiful-sanctuary-of-healing/)

## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)**

### **Where is Balai Ba’i located?**

Balai Ba’i is located in Los Baños, Laguna, a town known for its lush landscapes and proximity to Mount Makiling.

### **Who designed Balai Ba’i Resort?**

The resort was designed by TAYO Architecture & Design, a Philippine-based architecture and design studio known for its tropical-modernist approach.

### **What architectural style does Balai Ba’i follow?**

Balai Ba’i follows a tropical-modernist design approach that emphasizes natural ventilation, raw materials, greenery, and strong indoor-outdoor connections.

### **What materials were used in Balai Ba’i Resort?**

The resort features materials such as natural wood, adobe, and Sukabumi stone, chosen for their organic qualities and ability to age gracefully over time.

### **How many guests can Balai Ba’i accommodate?**

Balai Ba’i can accommodate up to twenty guests across its duplex-style villas, shared courtyards, lounge spaces, and bedrooms.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture

---

### [MQ Residence: Arkisens' Layered-Terrain Home for Three Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/)

**Published:** August 6, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Located in Paroc, Pampanga is MQ Residence—a tropical-modern private residential home designed by Marikina-based architecture firm Arkisens, spearheaded by principal architect and co-founder Ar. Edwin A. Rivera.

The project sits on an 834-square-meter sloping site at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. Its design emphasizes the character of the landscape, from its horizontal cues to spaces that naturally flow with the terrain and connect each living area seamlessly.

Completed in March 2026, MQ Residence received the Design Award of Merit in the Residential Category at the 2026 UAP OBRA Design Excellence Awards, recognizing its thoughtful integration of architecture and site.

![MQ Residence by Arkisens facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-7-scaled.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-7 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [What the UAP OBRA 2026 Winners Say About the Direction of Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/what-the-uap-obra-2026-winners-reveal-about-philippine-architecture/)

## A Residence that Quietly Blends Itself into the Landscape

Rather than treating the sloping site as a limitation, Arkisens used it as an opportunity to design a home that follows the natural terrain, facing Mount Pinatubo. A network of walkways connects the different areas of the home and extends into the landscape, making the outdoors feel like a natural extension of the living spaces.

That sense of continuity is reinforced by the home’s exterior design. Strong horizontal lines echo the layers of the surrounding landscape, allowing the architecture to feel visually grounded rather than imposing. This horizontal rhythm continues through the façade, expressed through jalousie windows, a feature rarely seen these days in contemporary homes. Here, they work naturally, recalling the character of Filipino Mid-century Modern houses with exposed concrete walls and windows with metal grills. The windows are framed by vertical fins and horizontal pressure-treated wooden louvres, which serve both as a distinctive design element and a protective screen.

![MQ Residence by Arkisens facade wooden louvres](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-3-scaled.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-3 - BluPrint")These horizontal openings continue across the façade and into the balcony, continuing the rhythm that draws the eye across the house rather than toward a single dominant feature. Clerestory windows and wide-span doors bring in natural light and strengthen the connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Although glass dominates much of the exterior, the lower level is clad in textured adobe tiles laid in an asymmetrical pattern that continues into the interiors. Wooden finishes add warmth and soften the rough texture of the adobe, while black window and door frames provide a crisp contrast that gives the house a strong and refined visual identity.

![MQ Residence by Arkisens hallway](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-11-scaled.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-11 - BluPrint")

![MQ Residence by Arkisens staircase adorned with adobe tiles](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-1-scaled.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-1 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [CAW House: How Architecture Interprets Everyday Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/caw-house-architecture-everyday-life/)

## A Home Designed for Three Generations

Arkisens did not simply create a tropical-modern home that is visually striking—it designed a residence intended to support three generations living together.

In keeping with the owners’ brief, MQ Residence was envisioned as a home for a multigenerational family. Rivera says this became the project’s key consideration.

“If there was a challenge, it was designing a home that would serve three generations under one roof, making sure the grandparents’ spaces would feel just as considered and dignified as everyone else’s without singling them out, which pushed us to rethink circulation early on and later evolved into the ramps that envelop the home,” he shares.

![MQ Residence by Arkisens main dining area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-10-scaled.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-10 - BluPrint")What began as a practical response to accessibility eventually became one of the home’s defining architectural features. The open-plan spaces, ramps, and double-volume walkways create a home that is both inclusive and functional, allowing movement to feel natural for every member of the household. Multiple living and lounging areas, together with easy access to outdoor spaces, provide places for gathering, rest, and everyday life.

In the end, MQ Residence is defined not only by how it sits within the landscape, but also by how it brings a family together. By allowing the terrain, circulation, and shared spaces to shape the architecture, Arkisens created a home that feels connected to both its surroundings and the generations it was designed to serve.

![MQ Residence site plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mq-residence-site-plan_1-scaled.webp "mq-residence-site-plan_1 - BluPrint")MQ Residence’s site plan

![MQ Residence Ground Floor Plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mq-residence-ground-floor-plan_2-scaled.webp "mq-residence-ground-floor-plan_2 - BluPrint")MQ Residence’s ground floor plan

![MQ Residence Second Floor Plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mq-residence-second-floor-plan_3-scaled.webp "mq-residence-second-floor-plan_3 - BluPrint")MQ Residence’s second floor plan

Related Reading: [Villa Tropicana: A Vacation State of Mind](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/villa-tropicana-a-vacation-state-of-mind-gaston-pastrano/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About Arkisens

Arkisens is a Marikina-based architecture firm led by principal architect and co-founder Ar. Edwin A. Rivera. The practice is known for designing context-responsive residential architecture that integrates the natural landscape with everyday living. Its award-winning project, MQ Residence in Paroc, Pampanga, reflects the firm’s approach of creating homes that are grounded in site, circulation, materiality, and the needs of multigenerational families.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is MQ Residence?**

MQ Residence is a tropical-modern private residential home designed by Marikina-based architecture firm Arkisens. It is located in Paroc, Pampanga and was completed in March 2026.

### **Where is MQ Residence located?**

MQ Residence is located in Paroc, Pampanga, on an 834-square-meter sloping site at the foot of Mount Pinatubo.

### **Why did MQ Residence receive a UAP OBRA award?**

The home received the Design Award of Merit in the Residential Category at the 2026 UAP OBRA Design Excellence Awards for its thoughtful integration of architecture and the natural landscape.

### **How did Arkisens approach the design of MQ Residence?**

Arkisens approached MQ Residence by working with the sloping terrain rather than altering it. The firm oriented the home toward Mount Pinatubo, emphasized horizontal architectural lines that echo the surrounding landscape, and used walkways, ramps, and connected living spaces to create a seamless relationship between the house and its site while supporting multigenerational living.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential, Submissions

---

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

**Published:** August 7, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. [M.CAL Architecture Design Studio](https://mcalarchitecture.com/ "M.CAL Architecture Design Studio"), headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens.

This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a private urban retreat that brings the outdoors inside and provides a peaceful and idyllic environment in a busy city.

![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-3-scaled.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-3 - BluPrint")

![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio balcony](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-7.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-7 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [CAW House: How Architecture Interprets Everyday Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/caw-house-architecture-everyday-life/)

## A Verdant Sanctuary in a Bustling City

While the designers first felt restricted by the size of the lot, they found that providing pockets of gardens on each floor combined with glass walls, could make the space feel more open and expansive.

For instance, instead of dividing the ground floor into separate rooms, M.CAL Architecture Design Studio created an open layout that combined the living, dining, and the kitchen. Ceilings are 3.9 meters high, surrounded by large glass-paned walls, which brings in natural light and provides a panoramic view of the garden outside. Despite the expansive windows, privacy is maintained using the large potted leaf figs that line the pristine white walls.

![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio open plan living and dining room](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-4.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-4 - BluPrint")The lower ground floor is also adorned with greenery which opens to the sky, bringing in natural light, ventilation, and a convenient view of the service area.

A lanai was integrated into the layout of the top floor, adjacent to the master bedroom. Offering views of the treetops and cityscape, the space is made to recall having a cup of coffee or tea in a treehouse, enjoying the fresh breeze and breathtaking views.

![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio master bedroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-10.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-10 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [MQ Residence: Arkisens’ Layered-Terrain Home for Three Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/)

## Minimalist Modern Interiors with a Playful Twist

Another challenge was that the homeowners wanted different interior styles based on their personalities. This meant blending a resort-like theme with a unique and playful living experience.

MCAL Architecture Design Studio’s solution was to integrate both of these styles into 171 by using the resort inspiration and coming up with a palette of warm browns, beige, grays, and creams that’s balanced with the pristine white walls, wood and stone cladding. Additional elements are seen at the entrance with African Blackwood steps framed by hanging Singaporean vines. Oversized pivot doors give the feeling of walking into a secret tropical garden.

![171 Residence by M.CAL Architecture Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-mcal-architecture-design-studio-scaled.webp "171-residence-mcal-architecture-design-studio - BluPrint")The warm resort palette continues inside and can be seen in the choice of furniture pieces. The dining table, made from a cantilevered 50-year-old vintage slab of marble and the Tulip armchairs designed by Eero Saarinen add a playful twist to the home. Above the dining table hangs Tom Dixon’s Melt lamps while Fabio Novembre’s Her Chair acts as a statement piece of the dining area.

In the living room, other playful statement pieces accentuate the space: the Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry, a white Eames Lounge Chair, and a Husk Chair by Patricia Urquiola.

In contrast, the master suite evokes a more quiet, restful sanctuary. It features the same white walls, accentuated with walnut details. The choice of a [Prizmic & Brill](https://prizmicbrill.com/) desk and chair paired with a cowhide rug evokes the feeling of camping outdoors.

171 was not designed as a typical modern, resort-like retreat. It is a verdant and tranquil escape with its playful elements and lush greenery, conveniently located near a vibrant city.

![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio al fresco](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-12.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-12 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Villa Tropicana: A Vacation State of Mind](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/luscara-and-soliento-barchan-architecture-on-designing-a-clubhouse-that-responds-to-its-landscape/)

Photographed by Jar Concengco.

## About M.CAL Architecture Design Studio

M.CAL Architecture Design Studio is a Manila-based architecture and boutique design practice led by principal architect Monique C. Albert-Lopez. The studio designs residential, commercial, and multi-storey projects with a focus on natural light, indoor-outdoor connections, and human-centered spaces that balance functionality with a strong architectural identity.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is 171 residence?**

171 Residence is a multi-storey private home located near Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Designed by M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, the house sits on a 302-square-meter lot and combines minimalist modern architecture with landscaped gardens and curated designer furniture.

### **Who designed 171 Residence?**

The 171 Residence was designed by M.CAL Architecture Design Studio under the direction of principal architect Monique C. Albert-Lopez.

### **What architectural style does 171 Residence feature?**

The residence combines minimalist modern architecture with tropical resort-inspired design. Open-plan interiors, large glass walls, landscaped gardens, and natural materials create a tranquil urban retreat that brings the outdoors into the home.

### **What materials were used in 171 Residence?**

Key materials include African Blackwood steps, stone cladding, wooden slats and louvers, glass walls, and extensive landscaped greenery, which together reinforce the home’s resort-like and nature-oriented atmosphere.

### **What are the standout interior features of 171 Residence?**

The interiors feature a warm palette of wood, stone, and neutral tones, complemented by iconic designer pieces such as the Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry, Eames Lounge Chair, Husk Chair by Patricia Urquiola, Tulip armchairs by Eero Saarinen, and Tom Dixon Melt lamps.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Philippine Architecture, Residential, Submissions

---

### [The Philippines at WAF: A Growing Presence in Global Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/)

**Published:** August 6, 2026
**Author:** Ene S. Lagunzad

**Content:**

The [World Architecture Festival (WAF)](https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/WAF2026/en/page/shortlist-2026) has announced its 2026 shortlist, with several Filipino practices earning recognition across a diverse range of categories. Across civic architecture, interiors, landscape, and future projects, this year’s selection reflects the breadth of work emerging from the Philippines and the continued participation of Philippine firms on one of the profession’s most respected international platforms.

Since its founding in 2008, WAF has distinguished itself through a live jury format, in which shortlisted architects present and defend their projects before an international panel. More than a design competition, the festival tests a practice’s ability to communicate its ideas before a live jury of architects and industry experts, making a shortlist placement a significant achievement in itself.

While the festival culminates in a series of awards, its significance extends beyond the winners, offering a forum where ideas, approaches, and built work are evaluated as part of a global architectural conversation.

Rather than viewing this year’s shortlist as a standalone achievement, it is worth considering what it represents within a broader trajectory. Over the past decade, Filipino practices have returned to WAF with increasing consistency, earning recognition across a growing range of project types and, in some cases, receiving top honors. The 2026 shortlist is the latest chapter in that story, reflecting how Philippine architecture continues to engage with an international audience while responding to local contexts.

## A Decade of Philippine Participation at WAF

The significance of the 2026 World Architecture Festival (WAF) shortlist extends beyond the projects selected this year. It reflects more than a decade of Philippine participation in one of architecture’s most respected international festivals. Over time, Filipino practices have returned to WAF with consistency, earning recognition across a diverse range of project types.

Philippine participation at WAF began with the country’s first shortlisted project by [Leandro V. Locsin Partners](https://www.locsinarchitecture.com/). More than marking a national first, it demonstrated that projects rooted in local climate, culture, and context could stand alongside those of leading international practices. It established a foothold that succeeding generations of Filipino architects would continue to build on.

That momentum became more evident as firms began returning with new projects rather than making one-off appearances. Among the most consistent has been [WTA Architecture and Design Studio](https://www.wtadesignstudio.com/), whose multiple shortlisted projects and award-winning work demonstrated that Philippine participation had become sustained rather than occasional. The firm’s recognition reached a milestone when *Horizon Manila* received the WAFX Project of the Year award, one of the country’s strongest performances at the festival to date.

Over time, Philippine representation at WAF also broadened. The 2026 shortlist demonstrates the maturity and diversity of contemporary architectural practice in the Philippines.

## Which Philippine projects and practices made the 2026 WAF shortlist?

The 2026 shortlist brings together first-time participants, established practices making new appearances, and firms returning to the festival after previous recognition. Taken together, the shortlisted projects reflect the changing landscape of Philippine

### Sangay Architects

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-EcoPark-Pavilion-2-scaled-e1784097968812.webp "Kawayan EcoPark Pavilion (2) - BluPrint")Kaway’an EcoPark
WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and Community and WAF Landscape

Kaway’an EcoPark by Sangay Architects, in collaboration with Ibuku Studio, was shortlisted in both the Civic and Community and Landscape categories at the 2026 World Architecture Festival, making it the only Philippine project recognized in multiple categories this year. Located in Bamban, Tarlac, the public destination explores the potential of bamboo architecture through a series of pavilions and open spaces integrated into the landscape. Marking Sangay Architects’ WAF debut, the project expands this year’s Philippine representation across both architecture and landscape categories.

Related Reading: [Christian Salandanan: Leveraging Bamboo’s Sustainability and Resilience](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/christian-salandanan-leveraging-bamboos-sustainability/)

### Add Arch

![Strata House by Add Arch](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/strata_house_add_arch_waf_future_project_1.webp "strata_house_add_arch_waf_future_project_1 - BluPrint")Strata House
WAF Future Projects: House

Strata House by Add Arch was designed for a steep cliffside site overlooking the West Philippine Sea. The proposal draws inspiration from the site’s layered rock formations, translating geological strata into its spatial organization and architectural form. The shortlist marks Add Arch’s WAF debut, expanding this year’s Philippine representation in the Future Projects programme while highlighting another emerging Filipino practice on the international stage.

Related Reading: [WAF has a Student Competition that the PH already Won](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/waf-student-competition-usc/)

### Dominic Galicia Architects

![The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel interiors](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-1.webp "the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-1 - BluPrint")

![The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-3.webp "the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-3 - BluPrint")

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and Community

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Evo City, Kawit, Cavite, was shortlisted in the Civic and Community category at the 2026 World Architecture Festival. Designed as a 1,000-seat Catholic church, the project draws on sacred geometry, light, and liturgical planning to shape spaces for worship and reflection.

The shortlist marks Dominic Galicia Architects’ return to WAF, bringing one of the Philippines’ most established architectural practices back to the festival and extending the country’s representation into contemporary ecclesiastical architecture.

Related Reading: [The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-good-in-tension-how-dominic-galicia-designs-beyond-time/)

### MLA at Home

![&Matcha Three Yards facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/matcha-three-yards-1-scaled.webp "matcha-three-yards-1 - BluPrint")

![&Matcha Three Yards interiors](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/matcha-three-yards-2-scaled.webp "matcha-three-yards-2 - BluPrint")

&Matcha Three Yards
WAF Interiors: Bars and Restaurants

&Matcha Three Yards by MLA at Home was shortlisted in the Bars and Restaurants category of the 2026 World Architecture Festival Interiors awards. Located on a compact corner site in Davao City, the tea house is organized around a central open void that preserves existing trees while shaping the spatial experience around light, air, and landscape.

The project marks MLA at Home’s latest appearance at WAF and extends this year’s Philippine representation into the festival’s Interiors programme.

### WTA Architecture and Design Studio 

![252 Ibuna Office facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/252-ibuna-office-1.webp "252-ibuna-office-1 - BluPrint")252 Ibuna
WAF Future Projects: Office

252 Ibuna by WTA Architecture and Design Studio was shortlisted in the Future Projects: Office category at the 2026 World Architecture Festival. Conceived as “A Place for Architecture,” the proposed building reimagines the architecture studio as a vertical ecosystem where design practice, research, collaboration, and community life intersect, with interconnected workspaces organized around openness and exchange.

The shortlist continues WTA Architecture and Design Studio’s longstanding presence at WAF while reinforcing the practice’s engagement with workplace design for the future on the international stage.

Related Reading: [Crafting Future Cities: William Ti Reimagines Philippine Architecture to Build Better Human Environments](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/crafting-future-cities-reimagining-philippine-architecture-to-build-better-human-environment-for-filipinos/)

## What the 2026 WAF Shortlist Says About Philippine Architecture

More than a list of finalists, the 2026 shortlist offers a snapshot of where Philippine architecture finds itself today. Across different scales, typologies, and approaches, the selected projects point to a profession confident in addressing local conditions while contributing to broader architectural discourse

Unlike many design awards, the World Architecture Festival asks architects to present and defend their work before a live international jury, making it as much a forum for dialogue as it is a competition. In that sense, recognition begins long before the winners are announced. Each shortlisted project contributes to how Philippine architecture is understood internationally, placing local ideas, materials, and ways of building into conversation with practices from around the world.

Whether or not this year’s projects receive further honors, their presence at WAF reflects something more enduring than a successful awards cycle. It speaks to the steady evolution of Philippine architectural practice and its continuing participation in the global exchange of ideas.

## About the World Architecture Festival

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) is an international architecture festival and awards program founded in 2008. It is known for its live jury format, where shortlisted architects present and defend their projects before an international panel of architects and industry experts. Covering categories across completed buildings, interiors, landscape, and future projects, WAF serves as a global platform for recognizing design excellence and advancing architectural dialogue across different contexts and cultures.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is the World Architecture Festival and how does its judging format work?**

The World Architecture Festival (WAF), founded in 2008, is a global architecture competition distinguished by its live jury format—shortlisted architects present and defend their projects before an international panel, making it as much a forum for critical dialogue as a design competition.

### **Which Philippine firms were shortlisted at the 2026 World Architecture Festival?**

Four Philippine practices were shortlisted: Sangay Architects (Kaway’an EcoPark), Dominic Galicia Architects (The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), MLA at Home (&Matcha Three Yards), and WTA Architecture and Design Studio (252 Ibuna), spanning civic, interiors, landscape, and future projects categories.

### **What is Kaway’an EcoPark and why was it shortlisted in two WAF categories?**

Kaway’an EcoPark, by Sangay Architects with Ibuku Studio in Bamban, Tarlac, is a bamboo-focused public destination of pavilions integrated into the landscape. It was shortlisted in both Civic and Community and Landscape categories, the only Philippine project recognized across two categories in 2026.

### **What has WTA Architecture and Design Studio’s track record at WAF been?**

WTA Architecture and Design Studio has built a sustained WAF presence through multiple shortlisted and award-winning projects, including Horizon Manila, which received the WAFX Project of the Year award—one of the Philippines’ strongest results at the festival to date.

### **Why does a WAF shortlist matter even before award winners are announced?**

A WAF shortlist places a project before a live international jury, requiring architects to defend their design decisions directly. Recognition therefore begins at the shortlist stage itself, positioning Philippine ideas, materials, and building approaches within a global architectural conversation regardless of the final award outcome.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Philippine Architecture

---

### [Benilde’s New Aseana Campus Interweaves Learning and Creativity ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/de-la-sallecollege-of-saint-benilde-aseana-city-campus/)

**Published:** August 5, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

[De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/benilde-open-design-art-2024-allows-you-to-embrace-the-curious-mindset/) will open its new campus in Aseana City, Parañaque. Occupying a 3,845-square-meter site, the new development signals a fresh chapter for the college, where architecture becomes an active part of how students learn, create, and connect.

The campus will be named after the late Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr., a real estate visionary and former president and chairman of D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Incorporated (DMWAI). Founded in 1965 by Delfin Wenceslao Sr., the company helped shape the reclaimed land that would become the 204-hectare Aseana City, linking the new campus to the district’s broader story of urban development and growth.

That legacy continues through the campus’s development, undertaken in collaboration with Delfin Angelo “Buds” Wenceslao, son of the late Delfin Jr., director of Wendel Holdings Co., Inc., and an alumnus of La Salle Green Hills.

![Benilde Aseana City Campus](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benilde-aseana-approach-perspective-1.webp "benilde-aseana-approach-perspective-1 - BluPrint")For Wenceslao, the project reflects a larger belief that cities are not simply built—they are cultivated. A thriving urban district, he argues, is shaped not only by infrastructures, but also by the people and institutions that give it life.

“As the developer of Aseana City, we are so focused on hard infrastructure buildings, churches, parks, and walkways, and for a great city to be alive, it needs more than just buildings—it needs people who question, who innovate,” he says.

In this context, Benilde’s Aseana campus becomes more than a new academic facility. It is envisioned as a place where students, artists, professionals, and the wider community can gather, exchange ideas, and develop the creative and critical skills that contribute to the city’s future.

![Benilde Aseana City Campus lobby](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benilde-aseana-lobby-1.webp "benilde-aseana-lobby-1 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Choosing the Right Architecture School in the Philippines: Top Institutions and Their Unique Offerings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architecture-school-in-the-philippines/)

## More Than a Campus, but an Institution of Creativity and Connection

The Aseana campus is designed by Ar. Ed Calma, the design principal of Lor Calma and Partners, who also designed the college’s iconic Design + Arts Campus along Pablo Ocampo Street in Malate, Manila.

From the outset, Calma’s design shows a campus that “interweaves creativity,” incorporating layered terraces, multiple green spaces, and a façade defined by clean lines and contemporary materials.

Spaces that connect horizontally and vertically will also occupy the campus, which includes open-air lounges, collaborative zones, multi-tiered lecture halls and classrooms, and light-filled studios.

Supporting these learning environments are laboratories, workshops, sewing and weaving rooms, and a theater, providing spaces for both academic instruction and extracurricular activities.

![Benilde Aseana City Campus theater](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benilde-aseana-theater.webp "benilde-aseana-theater - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Benilde Open Design + Art Announces Lineup of Public Programs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/benilde-open-design-art-announces-lineup-of-public-programs/)

## A Campus Designed to Cultivate Innovation

Benilde’s Aseana campus will be home to its design programs, specifically the School of Environment and Design (SED). This includes the Architecture, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Interior Design, and Industrial Design programs.

The campus will also house the School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT), particularly its Analytics, Computing, and Infotech (ACI) Cluster.

This includes the Cybersecurity, Game Design and Development, and Information Systems, as well as Business Administration majors in Business Intelligence and Analytics and Business Solutions and Applications programs.

![Benilde Aseana City Campus lecture room](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benilde-aseana-lecture-room-interior.webp "benilde-aseana-lecture-room-interior - BluPrint")Apart from education and learning, the campus plans to contribute to Aseana City’s sustainability efforts by installing wind turbines and solar panels in the future, helping reduce energy consumption. This move instills Benilde’s adherence to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)—a globally recognized green building rating system on efficiency, sustainability, and air quality for healthier and safer buildings.

As DLS-CSB President Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC notes, the campus will be more than just a learning environment. It will be “a living, breathing hub of creativity and connection.” “The new structure will articulate what Benilde stands for: boldness, imagination, and a commitment to nurturing talent, design, and innovation,” Fernandez says, “It will give us an opportunity to reimagine how we deliver learning experiences in both new and familiar environments—offering even more opportunities for creativity, inclusion, and excellence.”

![Benilde Aseana City Campus atrium](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/benilde-aseana-atrium-2.webp "benilde-aseana-atrium-2 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Lessons from Anthology: Future cities depend on the present](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/lessons-from-anthology-future-cities/)

## About De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) is a private Catholic institution in the Philippines known for its focus on design, arts, business, technology, hospitality, and inclusive education. Part of the De La Salle educational network, Benilde emphasizes industry-based learning, creative innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Its campuses, including the iconic Design + Arts Campus in Manila and the new Aseana campus in Parañaque, reflect the college’s commitment to architecture and spaces that support creativity, experimentation, and community engagement.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **Where is Benilde’s new Aseana campus located?**

Benilde’s new Aseana campus is located in Aseana City, Parañaque, on a 3,845-square-meter site within the 204-hectare mixed-use district developed by D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Incorporated.

### **Who designed the Benilde Aseana campus?**

The campus was designed by Ar. Ed Calma, design principal of Lor Calma and Partners. Calma also designed Benilde’s well-known Design + Arts Campus along Pablo Ocampo Street in Malate, Manila.

### **What programs will be housed in the Aseana campus?**

The campus will house the School of Environment and Design (SED), including Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, and Fashion Design and Merchandising. It will also accommodate the School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT) – Analytics, Computing, and Infotech (ACI) Cluster, which includes Cybersecurity, Game Design and Development, Information Systems, and analytics-focused business programs.

### **What makes the architecture of the Benilde Aseana campus significant?**

The campus is designed to connect spaces horizontally and vertically, integrating learning environments with gardens, open-air lounges, collaborative zones, terraces, and light-filled studios. The design encourages interaction, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning rather than separating academic and social spaces.

### **Will the Benilde Aseana campus include sustainable design features?**

Yes. Benilde plans to install wind turbines and solar panels to reduce energy consumption and align the campus with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles for sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthier indoor environments.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

---

### [Inside Atúa Midtown: Cebu's Creative Community for Artists and Entrepreneurs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/atua-midtown-cebu-city-a-creative-community-for-artists-and-entrepreneurs/)

**Published:** July 8, 2026
**Author:** Nina M. Santamaria

**Content:**

Within a two-building commercial complex organized around a central courtyard, an unexpected layout unfolds. The shops are small and quaint, uniformly sized, and directly face one another like apartment units.

This is Atúa.

![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city-5-scaled.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city-5 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Creative Placemaking: Designing Public Spaces that Reflect Shared Memory](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/creative-placemaking-designing-public-spaces/)

What used to be a functioning hotel in the early 1990s, known as the Beverly Boutique Hotel, was transformed into a quarantine space in response to the pandemic. When restrictions were lifted and other business owners started to get back on their feet, the hotel owners decided not to resume hotel operations anymore.

They had two choices: either spend on a massive renovation and invite another hotelier to resume operations or innovate and make something out of what was left. They consulted Allen Tan, himself a successful Cebuano entrepreneur with a heart for the arts. In his youth, he was the youngest president of the Cebu Arts Council. He initiated art fairs and promoted platforms that supported young artists who were incapable of launching big, six-figure shows. Considering Cebu’s 2019 distinction from UNESCO as a “Creative City of Design,” Tan realized that he could develop a creative hub that could fill a void in Cebu—a place where creative entrepreneurs could incubate, hone their craft, and flourish.

![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city-3-scaled.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city-3 - BluPrint")Kae Batiquin, Atúa’s Community Manager, shares, “We thought, since it used to be a hotel, and the floors are already sectioned into uniform occupant-ready rooms, why don’t we make this into a creative hub? The rooms are not big enough to be huge retail spaces but it’s big enough for independent studios.”

A movie phrase comes to mind: “If you build it, they will come.” As word started spreading, the place started to fill up with tenants. “The goal of the complex was to marry art and entrepreneurship. We wanted to build something that shows you could make art and actually make it sustainable…without having it too commercialized that the spirit of the place gets lost,” says Batiquin.

![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city-2-scaled.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city-2 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Art in Hand: Design Arena Offers a Comfortable Collaborative Space for Creators](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/design-arena-comfortable-collaborative-space-creators-designers/)

This is why creative expression is encouraged by Tan and his administration, from the interiors to the shopfronts, which playfully display different themes according to the nature of each business. Sometimes one will find windows dressed like a French château, street art on the glass, or a jungle façade with bamboo ladders.

The biggest game changer in this development is the creative grants that Tan gave to artist-tenants looking to start somewhere. By allowing them to pay only a percentage of the rental fee, they could focus their efforts on the creative aspect of their work. At Atúa, most of the shopkeepers are also the shop owners, so it’s not unusual to see signs on doors that say “Off to a bank errand, be back in an hour!”

There are about 34 shops in Atúa. Some of the popular ones include Studio Amping, a tattoo parlor run by an artist and a band frontman, Shepard Life Goods owned by a Design Awardee for brand visuals, Holicow owned by an Awardee for Systems Making in the Visayas, UMA carrying export accessories, FILLAKILLA which is a music shop focusing on the analog nature of indie music, and Happy Garaje whose artworks can be seen on Cebu Pacific airplanes. Even the old hotel guardhouse was converted into a bookshop called Dear Reader. On certain days, students from the music school upstairs can be heard vocalizing and harmonizing in the courtyard while waiting for class.

![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city-4-scaled.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city-4 - BluPrint")At the top floor is a boutique hotel called Maximo House (formerly The Maximillian Hotel), a respectful nod to the history of the place, with a total of 18 rooms that launched during Christmas of 2025. “We want to grow and evolve organically and still respect the history of the space. Architecturally we want to keep the courtyard as versatile as possible. In the past years it has served as a meeting place, a gathering point, a refuge from the city. When the earthquake and Typhoon Tinio hit Cebu, the courtyard became the repository for donations and repacking happened here,” shares Batiquin.

It is quite inspiring that this vibrant collective not only serves as a third place but is also a meaningful and supportive hub for creatives and entrepreneurs alike, as well as an active community member of Cebu, responding with whatever is needed, whenever it is needed.

![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city-6-scaled.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city-6 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [The Aranya Art Center: Filling The Need For A Creative Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/the-aranya-art-center-filling-the-need-for-a-creative-space/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.
Written by Nina M. Santamaria.

## **About ATUA Midtown**

ATUA Midtown is a mixed-use lifestyle destination in Cebu City that brings together retail, dining, wellness, and creative spaces within the city’s evolving Midtown district. Designed to foster community and urban vitality, it serves as a platform for local entrepreneurs, independent brands, and cultural initiatives, creating opportunities for people to connect, collaborate, and experience Cebu’s dynamic creative scene. As Midtown continues to reinvent itself beyond its nightlife legacy, ATUA Midtown reflects a new chapter for the neighborhood—one that embraces design, culture, and everyday city life.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### ****What is Atúa Midtown in Cebu?****

Atúa Midtown is a mixed-use creative hub in Cebu City that transformed a former boutique hotel into a community of independent studios, retail spaces, cafés, creative businesses, and cultural initiatives. It provides affordable spaces where artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and makers can grow their businesses while fostering collaboration within Cebu’s creative community.

### **Where is Atúa Midtown located?**

Atúa Midtown is located in Cebu City’s Midtown district, near Mango Square. The development is organized around a central courtyard and has become a destination for local design, art, independent retail, food, and creative events.

### **What makes Atúa different from other commercial spaces?**

Unlike conventional malls or retail centers, Atúa was designed specifically for independent creatives and small businesses. It offers compact studio spaces, flexible rental arrangements through creative grants, and encourages tenants to express their own identities through customized storefronts and interiors.

### **What businesses can visitors find at Atúa?**

Visitors can discover tattoo studios, design and branding agencies, music stores, artisan shops, cafés, bookstores, fashion retailers, lifestyle brands, and boutique accommodations. Many of the businesses are owned and operated by local artists, designers, and entrepreneurs.

### **Why is Atúa important to Cebu’s creative community?**

Atúa represents Cebu’s growing creative economy by providing an accessible platform for emerging artists and entrepreneurs. Beyond commerce, it serves as a community gathering place that hosts creative collaborations, cultural activities, and even disaster relief efforts, demonstrating how thoughtful adaptive reuse can strengthen both culture and community.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Commercial, Featured

---

### [The Galleon Shapes a New Chapter for Ortigas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/the-galleon-ortigas-land-ortigas-cbd/)

**Published:** August 3, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

As one of Metro Manila’s established central business districts, Ortigas has grown into a vibrant center for business, commerce, and urban living, strategically spanning Pasig, Quezon, and Mandaluyong City.

At the core of the district lies the Ortigas CBD, home to some of the country’s leading corporations and institutions. Adding a new dimension to this dynamic landscape is The Galleon, Ortigas Land’s latest mixed-use development that brings together residences, offices, and curated lifestyle offerings within a single integrated development.

For nearly 95 years, Ortigas Land has played a role in shaping communities and urban spaces, contributing to the continued growth and transformation of the district. The Galleon builds on this legacy, introducing a contemporary mixed-use destination within one of Metro Manila’s most established business addresses.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-02_pool-amenity_aerial_no-people-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-02_pool amenity_aerial_no people - BluPrint")Related Reading: [History Reimagined: Ortigas Land’s The Galleon in the Eyes of an Architect](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-galleon-by-ortigas-land-as-described-by-architect-bill-higgins/)

## An Integrated Development Designed for Contemporary Urban Living

As cities become increasingly interconnected, developments that bring together living, working, and leisure within a single address have become highly sought after. More than a collection of individual spaces, these environments are designed to support the rhythms of contemporary urban life, where convenience and connectivity are woven into the everyday experience.

Occupying nearly 7,000 square meters in the heart of the Ortigas CBD, The Galleon by Ortigas Land is conceived as an integrated mixed-use development anchored by two distinct towers.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-residential-lounge-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-residential-lounge - BluPrint")Residences at The Galleon respond to contemporary living through spaces designed around comfort, flow, and balance, creating a quieter rhythm within the energy of the city. Rather than simply functioning as places to live, the residences are planned to support the experience of everyday life—where spatial layouts encourage ease of movement and natural transitions between living areas. Shared amenities, including green open spaces, a theater, game room, swimming pool, and smart technologies, further create opportunities for moments of rest, connection, and recreation within the development itself.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-kitchen-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-kitchen - BluPrint")

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-living-room-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-living-room - BluPrint")

Alongside it rises Offices at The Galleon, a dedicated office tower with 31 floors of modern workspaces and private parking provisions. Designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals, it presents a rare opportunity to own a commercial address within one of Metro Manila’s most established business districts.

Connecting both towers is a two-level retail podium that introduces a curated selection of dining, shopping, and lifestyle experiences. The result is a master-planned environment where residential, commercial, and retail functions operate in harmony—creating a destination that remains active throughout the day while offering the convenience of having essential experiences within easy reach.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-office-lobby-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-office-lobby - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Nurture a Greener Manila Urban Life with Biophilic Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/nurture-a-greener-manila-urban-life-with-biophilic-design/)

## A Strategic Address in the Heart of the Ortigas CBD

Positioned along ADB Avenue, one of the district’s most prominent thoroughfares, The Galleon occupies a prime address within Ortigas Center. Its location places residents and businesses at the center of one of Metro Manila’s most established business districts, where corporate headquarters, institutions, hotels, and lifestyle destinations converge.

Beyond its immediate surroundings, The Galleon benefits from Ortigas’ strategic position at the crossroads of Metro Manila’s key urban centers, including Makati City, Bonifacio Global City, and Quezon City.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-04_pool-amenity-back_wo-people-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-04_pool amenity back_wo people - BluPrint")The development also enjoys seamless access to major transportation networks. Located approximately 14 kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), it offers convenient access for both domestic and international travel. Major thoroughfares and nearby MRT-3 stations further connect residents and professionals to business districts and lifestyle destinations across the metropolis.

Adding to its appeal is the area’s walkability, with major shopping destinations, restaurants, and entertainment hubs located within easy reach, making everyday errands and leisure activities more convenient.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-retail-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-retail - BluPrint")## A Heritage-inspired Design

In addition to its strategic location and integrated mixed-use concept, The Galleon is distinguished by an architectural vision that draws from history.

Drawing on the architectural vision of William “Bill” Higgins, former founding principal of Architecture International Ltd., The Galleon takes inspiration from the galleons that traversed Philippine waters during the 16th century, serving as vessels of trade and cultural exchange.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-residence-full-dining-room-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-residence-full-dining-room - BluPrint")This influence is reflected throughout the development’s architecture. The tower spires evoke the ship’s mast, while the sculpted crowns reference billowing sails, creating a dynamic presence on the Ortigas skyline. At the base, the podium recalls the form of a ship’s hull, articulated through flowing, wave-like patterns that suggest movement and continuity.

Within Residences at The Galleon, the same attention to detail extends to the interiors. Open-plan living spaces are finished with porcelain tile flooring, while kitchens and bathrooms feature carefully selected fixtures from Hansgrohe and Kohler. Smart home features and advanced building management systems further support a seamless residential experience, balancing comfort with functionality.

Together, these elements give The Galleon a distinct architectural identity—one that honors a significant chapter in Philippine history while contributing a contemporary presence to the evolving Ortigas skyline.

![The Galleon by Ortigas Land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-galleon-ortigas-land-garden-aerial-view-scaled.webp "the-galleon-ortigas-land-garden-aerial-view - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Why Design-Led Resi-Resort Living Is Redefining the Second Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/design-led-resi-resort-living-costa-calatagan/)

## Shaping the Next Chapter of Ortigas

More than adding another landmark to the district, The Galleon reflects how urban communities continue to evolve—bringing together spaces for living, working, and everyday experiences within a thoughtfully integrated environment.

As Ortigas continues to grow and adapt to the changing rhythms of city life, The Galleon represents a new chapter in how people engage with the district and experience contemporary urban living.

## About Ortigas Land

Established in 1931, Ortigas Land is a Philippine real estate developer with a portfolio spanning residential, office, commercial, and mixed-use developments. The company has been involved in the growth of Ortigas Center and has developed projects across Metro Manila, including Greenhills Center, Capitol Commons, Circulo Verde, and Ortigas East. Through its developments, Ortigas Land continues to undertake projects that respond to evolving urban, residential, and business needs.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is The Galleon by Ortigas Land?**

The Galleon is a mixed-use development by Ortigas Land occupying nearly 7,000 square meters in Ortigas CBD. It comprises Residences at The Galleon, a 31-floor office tower, and a two-level retail podium connecting both towers with dining, shopping, and lifestyle spaces.

### **Who designed The Galleon’s architecture?**

The Galleon was designed by William “Bill” Higgins, former founding principal of Architecture International Ltd., in collaboration with Architect of Record GF & Partners Architects. The design draws from 16th-century Philippine galleons, referencing masts, sails, and hull forms in the towers and podium.

### **Where is The Galleon located within Ortigas CBD?**

The Galleon is positioned along ADB Avenue within Ortigas Center, roughly 14 kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The address sits near MRT-3 stations and provides access to Makati City, Bonifacio Global City, and Quezon City.

### **What amenities do Residences at The Galleon offer?**

Residences at The Galleon includes green open spaces, a theater, a game room, a swimming pool, and smart home technologies. Interiors feature porcelain tile flooring and fixtures from Hansgrohe and Kohler, supported by advanced building management systems.

### **How does The Galleon’s design reference Philippine maritime heritage?**

The Galleon’s architecture draws from 16th-century Philippine galleons that carried trade and cultural exchange across Philippine waters. Tower spires evoke ship masts, sculpted crowns reference billowing sails, and the podium’s wave-like patterns recall a ship’s hull form.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

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**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [White Brick Studio: From a Nostalgic Landmark to a Creative Playground](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/white-brick-studio-cebu-creative-playground/)

**Published:** July 31, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

In the heart of Midtown Cebu lies White Brick Studio, a creative hub where visual professionals gather to collaborate and elevate design standards across Visayas and Mindanao.

Midtown, more known as a vibrant entertainment district, owes much of its growing network of creative spaces mainly to Mango Square Mall where White Brick is located, Atúa Midtown, and Robinsons Fuente. For co-founder Jude Stanley Crisostomo, the choice of location reflected a personal connection to the place.

The move to Mango Square in 2023 was motivated by a need for a bigger space and driven by nostalgia.

![White Brick Studio Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/white-brick-studio-2-scaled.webp "white-brick-studio-2 - BluPrint")“\[The move\] was a really personal thing because growing up in Cebu, I used to skate and then Mango Square Mall is actually the only place that we go to because there was no Ayala and SM before. So we grew up there basically and it kind of died along the way,” Crisostomo shares. “After the pandemic, we were deciding to move to a new place, a new studio—maybe in the center of Cebu. And I immediately proposed to the board, like, ‘it would be nice to be in this old, but not abandoned old mall.’”

Today, White Brick Studio is one of many spaces contributing to the neighborhood’s growing creative ecosystem, serving as a playground for artists, designers, students, and professionals alike.

![White Brick Studio Cebu City Jude Crisostomo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/white-brick-studio-jude-crisostomo-scaled.webp "white-brick-studio-jude-crisostomo - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Inside Atúa Midtown: Cebu’s Creative Community for Artists and Entrepreneurs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/atua-midtown-cebu-city-a-creative-community-for-artists-and-entrepreneurs/)

## More than just a Studio

Founded in 2017 by Jude Stanley Crisostomo, his wife Alexa Crisostomo, and creative partners Angel Tudtud, Stephanie Tudtud, and Carla Adlawan, White Brick Studio was established as more than just a company. With backgrounds in design and the arts, the founders envisioned a design studio where ideas could be developed and brought to life.

While that ambition was not initially deliberate, the relocation expanded White Brick’s role beyond a conventional studio.

The larger space created opportunities not only for the team’s own design practice, but also for making and exhibiting ideas. It became more deeply involved in Cebu’s local art and design scene, establishing Making Space, a co-making space equipped with a makerspace, craft room, and gallery.

![White Brick Studio Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/white-brick-studio-5-scaled.webp "white-brick-studio-5 - BluPrint")In doing so, the studio evolved into a place where designers, artists, and makers could share both space and process, extending design beyond commissioned work and into collective learning and experimentation.

It also co-founded Makers of Midtown, a non-profit organization that brings together crafters, artists, and creative businesses to help cultivate a vibrant creative district.

“We didn’t really think, ‘okay, let’s create something for the community.’ But since we’re doing this, we might as well open it to everyone so everyone can use the space \[….\] So it’s not a response to what’s lacking, it’s more of something that we needed. And then we realized that, ‘okay, maybe we have this sort of purpose to help the community,” Crisostomo shares.

![White Brick Studio Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/white-brick-studio-6-scaled.webp "white-brick-studio-6 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Creative Placemaking: Designing Public Spaces that Reflect Shared Memory](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/creative-placemaking-designing-public-spaces/)

## A Collaborative Effort Between Artists, Professionals, and the Community

The studio’s evolving sense of purpose is also rooted in Crisostomo’s background as an educator. For him, creativity is not something people are simply born with, but something that can be cultivated by giving them the right opportunities and environment.

“I’m always a believer that creativity is not just a talent, but it’s also developed. And as an educator and a person holding such a degree, I think it’s kind of my purpose to help the young ones—because the young ones are the future of the creative world,” he muses.

This belief also shapes how White Brick operates. Crisostomo emphasizes that the studio is not built solely by him and the board, but by a team of visual professionals working toward the same vision.

That collaborative approach extends to the projects they undertake, where they work with clients and translate their brands through content production, graphic design, visual identity, publication, and more.

The same philosophy extends beyond the studio’s own team. White Brick regularly commissions creatives from different disciplines to help produce specific deliverables, strengthening relationships across Cebu’s creative community while enriching its own practice and identity.

In many ways, White Brick Studio’s journey mirrors that of Midtown Cebu itself. What began as a move born out of necessity and nostalgia has grown into a place where designers, artists, students, and communities continue to learn from one another—proving that sometimes, the most meaningful creative spaces are built not just through design, but through the people who gather within them.

![White Brick Studio Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/white-brick-studio-4-scaled.webp "white-brick-studio-4 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Shared Spaces in Hiramoto Design Studio’s Hopscotch House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/shared-spaces-hiramoto-design-studios-hopscotch-house/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About White Brick Studio

White Brick Studio is a Cebu-based design studio founded in 2017 by Jude Stanley Crisostomo, Alexa Crisostomo, Angel Tudtud, Stephanie Danielle Tudtud, and Carla Adlawan. Working across branding, graphic design, visual identity, publication, and content production, the studio has grown beyond a conventional practice by creating spaces for making, collaboration, and creative exchange. Through initiatives such as Making Space and the Makers of Midtown collective, White Brick continues to contribute to Cebu’s evolving design landscape.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is White Brick Studio?**

White Brick Studio is a Cebu-based design studio founded in 2017 by Jude Stanley Crisostomo and Stephanie Danielle Tudtud. It specializes in visual communication while also serving as a collaborative space for designers, artists, students, and creative professionals.

### **Why did White Brick Studio move to Mango Square Mall?**

The studio relocated to Mango Square Mall to accommodate a larger workspace. The move was also deeply personal for co-founder Jude Stanley Crisostomo, who spent much of his childhood at the mall skateboarding and spending time with friends.

### **What is Making Space?**

Making Space is a co-making space established by White Brick Studio. It includes a makerspace, craft room, and gallery designed to support making, learning, experimentation, and the exchange of ideas among creatives.

### **What is Makers of Midtown?**

Makers of Midtown is a non-profit organization co-founded by White Brick Studio that brings together crafters, artists, and creative businesses to help cultivate a vibrant creative district in Midtown Cebu.

### **What services does White Brick Studio offer?**

White Brick Studio works with clients on content production, graphic design, visual identity, publication design, and other visual communication projects while collaborating with professionals from different creative disciplines.

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

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**Categories:** Cafes

---

### [CAW House: How Architecture Interprets Everyday Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/caw-house-architecture-everyday-life/)

**Published:** July 28, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Standing on a former 1,200-square-meter pineapple plantation is CAW House, a Mid-Century Modern-inspired loft located just on the border of Silang and Tagaytay, Cavite.

Designed by Rizal-based architecture firm Studio Tille, at first glance, the structure seems like a typical Mid-Century home, featuring a facade adorned with wood and stone cladding, a flat roof, floor-to-ceiling windows, and indoor-outdoor spaces. The difference is Studio Tille wanted the home to value function just as it values form.

Before discussing floor plans, Studio Tille sat down with CAW House’s owners to get a better understanding of their expectations, concerns, and the level of trust they hope to place on the designers.

“Those conversations told us far more than a typical design brief ever could \[….\] Understanding those experiences allowed us to shape not only the design process, but also how we would manage the project from beginning to end,” says Ar. Rainier Perez Tiletile, co-founder of Studio Tille.

The conversation with the owners also revealed their interests, including an appreciation for art, music, travel, and collecting authentic mid-century furniture and objects. It also gave the design team a deeper insight into their values: freedom over restrictions and conformity.

![CAW House by Studio Tille](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/caw-house-by-studio-tille-2-scaled.webp "caw-house-by-studio-tille-2 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Luscara and Soliento: Barchan + Architecture on Designing a Clubhouse that Responds to its Landscape](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/luscara-and-soliento-barchan-architecture-on-designing-a-clubhouse-that-responds-to-its-landscape/)

## Designing a Home for Longevity and Everyday Life

The owners disclosed that the house was intended to be their retirement home. Studio Tille responded with a vision for CAW House to become a house that tells its own story as it aged. “Because the home was conceived as a place they would inhabit for many years, we wanted its materials to mature alongside them,” he shares.

This philosophy shaped the home’s material choices: from the use of Corten steel—a high-strength, low-alloy steel designed to develop a stable, rust-like protective layer (patina) when exposed to the elements—to wood and stone cladding, as well as exposed concrete.

![CAW House by Studio Tille](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/caw-house-by-studio-tille-7-scaled.webp "caw-house-by-studio-tille-7 - BluPrint")“Rather than resisting the effects of time, we embraced them. Weathering, texture, and patina were seen not as imperfections, but as qualities that allow architecture to become richer through occupation,” Tiletile adds.

Of course, Studio Tille also designed the home around the owners’ interests and habits. For instance, the owners collected vinyls through their travels over the years. Rather than treating the records as collectibles to be displayed, Studio Tille created a listening nook, where the owners could relax and enjoy the music using a console that becomes part of the architecture when not in use.

The owners also wanted a close relationship with nature and having cultivated fruit-bearing trees and edible gardens in their previous home. As a result, the designers created spaces that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor areas, including an open-plan living and dining area, a lanai—accessible via glass sliding doors—and skylights, spread throughout the home. Hallways remained open and are covered with artworks, while lush landscaping, especially the agave plant, were carefully positioned to subtly recreate the land’s history.

![CAW House by Studio Tille](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/caw-house-by-studio-tille-5-scaled.webp "caw-house-by-studio-tille-5 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Villa Tropicana: A Vacation State of Mind](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/villa-tropicana-a-vacation-state-of-mind-gaston-pastrano/)

## When Architecture Begins with Interpretation

Studio Tille shares that while the homeowners were naturally drawn to the timeless principles of Mid-Century Modern architecture, they were careful not to let the project become an exercise in stylistic imitation. Instead, CAW House emerged as a product of the land’s history, accommodation of the owners’ passions and way of life, and anticipating how they would live years into retirement.

“When we begin with people instead of precedent, the resulting architecture becomes more than a reflection of a style. It becomes a reflection of a life,” he says.

For Tiletile, the designer’s responsibility is to understand people deeply enough that the architecture feels inevitable.

![CAW House by Studio Tille](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/caw-house-by-studio-tille-12-scaled.webp "caw-house-by-studio-tille-12 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Ed Calma and the Layered Gaze](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/ed-calma-and-the-layered-gaze/)

## About Studio Tille

Studio Tille is a Rizal-based architecture firm co-founded by Ar. Rainier Perez Tiletile. The practice designs architecture that responds to the people who inhabit it, emphasizing context, everyday living, and thoughtful spatial experiences. Through a collaborative design process, Studio Tille creates projects that balance functionality, material honesty, and a strong sense of place.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is CAW House?**

CAW House is a Mid-Century Modern-inspired loft residence located on the border of Silang and Tagaytay, Cavite. Designed by Studio Tille, the home prioritizes the owners’ lifestyle, personal stories, and long-term living rather than simply replicating a design style.

### **Who designed CAW House?**

CAW House was designed by Rizal-based architecture firm Studio Tille, co-founded by architect Rainier Perez Tiletile.

### **What architectural style inspired CAW House?**

The home draws inspiration from Mid-Century Modern architecture, incorporating elements such as clean lines, expansive glazing, flat roofs, and a strong indoor-outdoor relationship. However, Studio Tille adapted these principles to suit the homeowners rather than strictly following the style.

### **What materials were used in CAW House?**

CAW House features Corten steel, wood, stone cladding, and exposed concrete. These materials were selected for their ability to age gracefully, allowing the home to develop character over time.

### **How did the homeowners’ hobbies influence the design?**

The owners’ appreciation for music, art, travel, and collecting mid-century furniture inspired features such as a dedicated listening nook for their vinyl collection and gallery-like circulation spaces for displaying artwork.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Modern House Design, Residential

---

### [The Banwag: A Beacon of Malasakit in Filipino Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/the-banwag-good-design-award-malasakit-gran-prix-winner-2026/)

**Published:** July 27, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

In Parang, Maguindanao, a simple community pavilion is helping create space for dialogue, connection, and coexistence among Muslim, Christian, and Lumad communities. Known as The Banwag, the project by Studio Impossible Projects Inc. recently received the Gran Prix Malasakit Award, the highest honor at the 2026 Good Design Award Philippines, recognizing its embodiment of malasakit through design excellence and positive social impact.

Built by a team of only seven people, including Impossible Projects founders Jasper Niens and Rick Atienza, the structure was designed to achieve these goals: utilize local materials and reduce dependence on imported resources; minimize labor by using an engineering system that requires less machinery, and create an original, design that is as sustainable as it is innovative.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Malasakit Gran Prix winner](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-banwag-2-scaled.webp "good-design-award-banwag-2 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [When Malasakit Is Placed at the Heart of Filipino Design: Good Design Award Philippines 2026](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/good-design-award-philippines-2026-malasakit/)

## Creating Unique Solutions for the Philippines

When the Studio Impossible founders envisioned The Banwag, they wanted to come up with something that could easily be identified as “Made in the Philippines.” Atienza emphasized that they wanted a structure that stood apart from the buildings of Dubai, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Because sourcing traditional wood posed a challenge, the team decided on using bamboo, an abundant local resource. However, the material presented a challenge: no two poles were exactly alike and there were very few experts on using it as a building material.

Their solution was to build a system that utilized shorter lengths of bamboo joined with stainless steel. Each pair of bamboo and steel joinery were marked and joined together, making the process simple enough that The Banwag was assembled without the use of heavy machinery. It took only seven people and six months to complete and that included planning, fabrication of the bamboo components, and construction.

“If you notice the bamboo poles, the reason why they are short is, one, structurally. But two is kasi yung labor naman yung without using a crane, without using big, big technology. If you look at the technology that went into building the Jewel in Singapore, it’s the same for this. Exactly the same, except that we’re using local materials,” Atienza says.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Banwag](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-banwag-4-scaled.webp "good-design-award-banwag-4 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Revitalized First United Building Bags Malasakit Gran Prix Award at 2024 Good Design Award PH](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/revitalized-first-united-building-bags-malasakit-gran-prix-award-at-2024-good-design-award-ph/)

## Thinking Outside the Box and Placing Malasakit at the Heart of Design

For Atienza, creating innovative yet sustainable design begins with understanding the materials they are working with.

“If you’re a designer, know what the material wants to do. There’s this architect that said, ‘what does the brick want to be?’ For us, the question is, ‘what does bamboo want to be?’ So do that and then stop—stop going to Instagram and looking at what other people are doing,” he says.

This philosophy also serves as a springboard for Studio Impossible Projects’ future initiatives, as the team continues to explore new possibilities for bamboo construction.

“We want to build bigger, better \[structures\]. We want to go towards engineered bamboo,” Atienza continues, “You know, for us, this just showcases what you can do with raw power because it’s raw material. So imagine what you can do with engineered bamboo—possibilities are endless, right?”

More than an architectural structure, The Banwag demonstrates how Filipino design can respond to local realities through ingenuity, resourcefulness, and malasakit. By rethinking the potential of materials already within reach, Studio Impossible Projects shows that innovation does not always require looking outward.

“Everything is produced in the Philippines—the fabric, the steel, the bamboo—it’s all done locally. And it shows you that you can do parametric computational design in a Philippine setting with local solutions,” he says.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Banwag](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-banwag-3-scaled.webp "good-design-award-banwag-3 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls: A New Showcase for Filipino Creativity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/likhang-filipino-exhibition-halls-a-new-era-for-philippine-design-and-craftsmanship/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About the Good Design Award Philippines

The Good Design Award Philippines (GDA) is a biennial design recognition program organized by the Design Center of the Philippines that celebrates outstanding Filipino innovations rooted in malasakit (caring). Launched in 2019, the awards recognize designs across multiple disciplines that improve quality of life, address real-world challenges, and promote Philippine design on the global stage through innovation, sustainability, and meaningful social impact.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is The Banwag?

The Banwag is a community pavilion in Parang, Maguindanao, designed by Studio Impossible Projects Inc. Named after the Visayan word for “beacon,” it serves as a shared gathering space for Muslim, Christian, and Lumad communities.

### Why did The Banwag win the Good Design Award Philippines 2026?

The Banwag received the Gran Prix Malasakit Award, the highest recognition at the 2026 Good Design Award Philippines, for demonstrating design excellence while embodying the Filipino value of malasakit through sustainability, innovation, and positive social impact.

### Why was bamboo chosen as the main building material for The Banwag?

The team selected Philippine bamboo because it is an abundant local resource that reduces dependence on imported materials. Bamboo also aligned with the project’s goal of creating a distinctly Filipino and sustainable building approach.

### How was The Banwag constructed with only seven people?

Studio Impossible Projects developed a modular system using shorter bamboo poles connected with custom stainless steel joinery. Each bamboo piece and steel connector was coded, allowing the structure to be assembled efficiently without heavy machinery.

### Who designed The Banwag?

The Banwag was designed by Studio Impossible Projects Inc., led by founders Jasper Niens and Rick Atienza, together with a seven-person team that handled the planning, fabrication, and construction of the project.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Philippine Architecture

---

### [Espejo ni Pinggoy: Where a Home Became a Gallery](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/espejo-ni-pinggoy-home-turned-art-gallery-in-marikina/)

**Published:** July 28, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

In Malanday, Marikina, a simple home’s garage has been transformed into a studio-gallery called Espejo ni Pinggoy. Once considered by Pinggoy Generoso as a waste of space, it now serves as his favorite spot in the house, “When I renovated this part of the house, my main goal was to make it a very relaxing space. Before, I was imagining having coffee, and I would see plants. I would see anything Filipino.The architectural details are very Filipino. So I incorporated that. So that after a stressful work, or before a stressful work, while having coffee, I have a moment of peace, tranquility.”

After some of his relatives migrated to the United States, Generoso saw an opportunity to reimagine the space. He brightened the former garage by removing its frontage and installing vintage window panes, which he had acquired himself. Their stained glass produces a warm glow that fills the gallery.

To reinforce the sense of openness and tranquility, Generoso also added a garden-like area inside, featuring an open roof that allows natural sunlight and even rain to flow through. Complementing the greenery is a wooden bench, carved by Generoso himself, with domino-like structures for feet.

“I think that this type of space is beautiful because I get to see the pieces I made, and I appreciate it more. Then after that, I built up the inspiration to make another piece. So it’s a continuous thing,” he says.

While the gallery showcases the breadth of his work today, each piece traces back to how Generoso first discovered his passion for wood carving.

![Pinggoy Generoso of Espejo ni Pinggoy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pinggoy-generoso-scaled.webp "pinggoy-generoso - BluPrint")

![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-2-scaled.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-2 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Filipino Contemporary Artist Ronald Ventura on Reinvention and Layered Identity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/filipino-contemporary-artist-ronald-ventura-on-reinvention-and-layered-identity/)

## How Did Pinggoy Generoso Move From Television Directing to Wood Carving?

For Generoso, wood carving began as a personal hobby before gradually evolving into a second creative pursuit. During his years as a television director, he crafted wooden pieces as gifts for celebrity friends.

Over time, those same friends began requesting handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces for their own homes. What started as a thoughtful gesture soon grew into a steady creative practice, and when Generoso retired from television directing, he found a new creative outlet in wood carving.

Although he has stepped away from television, Generoso’s passion for storytelling lives on. Only now, his stories are told through grain, texture, and sculpted wood, with Espejo ni Pinggoy serving as the space where they continue to unfold.

![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-4-scaled.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-4 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [‘Dialogo’: Two Artists Collaborative and Find Middle Ground in New Exhibit](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/dialogo-two-artists-collaborative-and-find-middle-ground-in-new-exhibit/)

## Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery

Upon entering the gallery, guests are immediately greeted by two sculptural wooden floor lamps that blur the line between lighting and art. The first lamp features different geometric patterns, including small triangular motifs reminiscent of house roofs. The second, meanwhile, is composed of four stacked rectangular modules punctuated by circular cutouts, evoking the phases of the moon while casting a warm glow through its openings.

Going further into the open layout, more of Generoso’s works come into view, from objets d’art and mirrors with sculpted wooden frames to benches and a credenza. Positioned between the two lamps is a carved wooden bench, echoing their handcrafted character, all set against vintage textured glass windows from Vigan—which Generoso acquired himself—that bathe the space in soft, amber-tinted light.

![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-3-scaled.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-3 - BluPrint")Beyond this vignette, a round dining table that seats four people can be found at the center of the room, and just across from it is a handcrafted wooden media console with open display shelves. Above it hangs the signage, “Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery,” while the shelves display other handcrafted wooden pieces, including trophies, picture frames, and sculptural home accessories, further highlighting the gallery’s celebration of craftsmanship.

Beyond serving as a source of inspiration for his own practice, the gallery is also designed to inspire its visitors. Generoso shares that he displays each piece throughout the space to provide clients with ideas on how his handcrafted wooden works can be incorporated into their own homes.

![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-details-scaled.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-details - BluPrint")

![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-details-1-scaled.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-details-1 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Tramp Art: The Beauty of Unique Upcycled Folk Decor](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/tramp-art-the-beauty-of-unique-upcycled-folk-decor/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About Espejo ni Pinggoy

Espejo ni Pinggoy is a studio-gallery in Malanday, Marikina City founded by former lifestyle television director and wood sculptor Pinggoy Generoso. Housed in a former family garage, the space showcases Generoso’s handcrafted wooden sculptures, furniture, lighting, and decorative objects while serving as both his creative workspace and gallery.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Espejo ni Pinggoy?

Espejo ni Pinggoy is a studio-gallery in Malanday, Marikina City created by former television director and wood sculptor Pinggoy Generoso. It showcases his handcrafted functional wooden sculptures, furniture, lighting, and decorative objects within a space that was once part of his family home.

### Who is Pinggoy Generoso?

Pinggoy Generoso is a former lifestyle television director who later pursued wood carving as a second creative career. What began as making handcrafted wooden gifts for friends eventually evolved into a full-time artistic practice centered on sculptural furniture and home pieces.

### Why did Pinggoy Generoso transform his garage into an art gallery?

Generoso wanted to create a peaceful environment where he could relax, find inspiration, and display his handcrafted works. By converting the former garage into Espejo ni Pinggoy, he created both a personal retreat and a gallery that allows visitors to experience his work in a home-like setting.

### What kinds of artworks are displayed at Espejo ni Pinggoy?

The gallery features handcrafted wooden floor lamps, mirrors with sculpted frames, benches, credenzas, furniture, trophies, picture frames, decorative objects, and other functional wood sculptures designed by Pinggoy Generoso.

### Where is Espejo ni Pinggoy located?

Espejo ni Pinggoy is located in Malanday, Marikina City, Philippines. The gallery occupies what was once the garage of Pinggoy Generoso’s family home.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Designers, Profile

---

### [What the UAP OBRA 2026 Winners Say About the Direction of Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/what-the-uap-obra-2026-winners-reveal-about-philippine-architecture/)

**Published:** July 15, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Architecture awards often document more than just individual achievements. They also recognize the work, effort, and vision behind any architecture project, revealing the priorities, values, and trajectories of a profession at a given moment. The United Architects of the Philippines’ (UAP) OBRA continues to serve as one such marker, recognizing practitioners whose contributions help shape the built environment and influence architectural discourse in the country.

Awarded every two years, the program invites entries from UAP members in good standing with projects that were completed from 2020 onward, whether in the Philippines or abroad.

![UAP OBRA Award Winners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-awards-scaled.webp "uap-obra-awards - BluPrint")

![UAP OBRA Award Design Award of Distinction](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-award.webp "uap-obra-award - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [OBRA 2026: UAP Launches the Design Excellence Awards](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/obra-2026-uap-launches-the-design-excellence-awards/)

## Beyond Categories: How Excellence is Measured

From the word obra, which means “work of art,” the award highlights projects that exemplify Filipino design excellence across hospitality, residential, institutional or complex-type of architecture. Each should be culturally significant, shaping the identity and improving the lives of communities, as well as demonstrating the three authoritative pillars that UAP established.

The first pillar is Vision, which acknowledges forward-looking design that anticipates change, integrates innovation in materials, construction and technology, and responds to environmental imperatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The second pillar is Artistry, where projects demonstrate cultural depth and formal strength. It honors the mastery of space, form, proportion, light, and detail, and recognizes architecture that interprets Filipino identity and context with clarity and resonance.

The final pillar is Universality, which highlights the project’s impact and inclusivity. It values architecture that expresses shared cultural values, reflects lived traditions, strengthens communities, and upholds accessibility, equity, and human dignity.

Beyond these guiding principles, the awards are divided into four categories that recognize varying levels of architectural achievement.

The People’s Choice Award recognizes projects that resonate strongly with both the public and design peers, while still meeting UAP standards. The Design Award of Merit is given to highly commendable projects that demonstrate exceptional execution, clarity of purpose, and professional excellence. The Design Award of Distinction represents top-tier recognition for projects that exemplify innovation and cultural significance across architectural typologies. At the highest level is the Maestro de Obra, awarded to architects and design firms whose work not only fulfills but exceeds the three pillars and serves as a benchmark for contemporary Filipino architecture.

![UAP OBRA Award Winner Casa Nuan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-winner-casa-nuan.webp "uap-obra-winner-casa-nuan - BluPrint")Related Reading: [The UAP Celebrates 100 years of Architecture in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/the-uap-celebrates-100-years-of-architecture-in-the-philippines/)

## The People and Practices Behind This Year’s Awards

This year’s recipients demonstrate how the UAP’s criteria translate into built work, with projects ranging from adaptive reuse developments and hospitality spaces to eco-tourism destinations and cultural landmarks.

Representing the People’s Choice Award is architect John Derick R. Dasugo for his RA\[W\] Stilt House residential project. More than a contemporary interpretation of Filipino elements such as the *silong*, the project reimagines provincial, specifically *Bicolano*, architecture for present-day living while maintaining a connection to traditional spatial practices.

![UAP OBRA Award Winner Raw Stilt House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/urap-obra-award-winner-stilt-house.webp "urap-obra-award-winner-stilt-house - BluPrint")

![UAP OBRA Award Winner](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-award-winner-1-scaled.webp "uap-obra-award-winner-1 - BluPrint")

Under the Design Award of Merit category, this year’s recipients include Ar. Edwin A. Rivera, Ar. Jason S. Co, Ar. Kim Jaffna H. Pineda, Ar. Clyde Louie B. De Guzman, Ar. Jefte D. Madlansacay, Ar. Noriel M. Estipular, Ar. Daniel Vicente A. Lichauco, and Ar. Royal Christopher L. Pineda.

Among the notable projects is architect Clyde Louie B. De Guzman’s 1898 Casa and Restaurante, an adaptive reuse project that transformed a historical ancestral house into a contemporary destination while preserving its cultural value. Recognized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the project demonstrates how architecture can create renewed relevance for heritage structures.

![UAP OBRA Award Winner Casa Restaurante](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-winner-casa-restuarante.webp "uap-obra-winner-casa-restuarante - BluPrint")Another recipient under the same category is Casa Nuan by architect Kim Jaffna H. Pineda in Bacolor, Pampanga. The villa incorporates local materials throughout its architecture and interiors, utilizing Narra wood, Adobe stones, Mactan marble, and Araal stone alongside locally produced furnishings crafted by Filipino artisans.

Recipients of the Design Award of Distinction include Ar. Buck Richnold Sia, T+A Design Studio, Ar. Ronnie Yumang, Ar. Gian Paolo R. Priela, and Ar. Charina Amanda Buscaino-Javier. Among them is T+A Design Studio’s Kalaiyaan Coast in San Juan, Batangas, a 4.4-hectare nature and camping resort designed to work with the site’s existing forest conditions rather than reshape them, creating an environmentally responsive hospitality experience.

![UAP OBRA Award Winner Kalaiyaan Coast](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-winner-kalaiyaan-coast.webp "uap-obra-winner-kalaiyaan-coast - BluPrint")At the highest level, this year’s Maestro de Obra recipients include architect Richard Garcia of GALA Architecture for the Sadik Grand Mosque in Zamboanga City, and architect Christian Salandanan of Sangay Architects for Kaway’an EcoPark in General Trias, Cavite.

Set to become the largest mosque in the Philippines and one of Southeast Asia’s largest, the Sadik Grand Mosque incorporates Islamic architectural elements including domes, minarets, Arabic calligraphy, and expansive courtyards to create a space rooted in spirituality and cultural expression.

Meanwhile, Kaway’an EcoPark transformed a three-hectare site originally intended for housing into an eco-tourism destination built primarily with bamboo and locally sourced materials, reflecting a design approach grounded in Filipino craftsmanship and heritage.

![UAP OBRA Award Winner Sadik Grand Mosque](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/uap-obra-winner-sadik-grand-mosque.webp "uap-obra-winner-sadik-grand-mosque - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Revitalized First United Building Bags Malasakit Gran Prix Award at 2024 Good Design Award PH](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/revitalized-first-united-building-bags-malasakit-gran-prix-award-at-2024-good-design-award-ph/)

## Emerging Patterns in Philippine Architecture

While the OBRA awards recognized individual architects and design firms, one thing is common between these projects and practices—each one illustrates that Philippine architecture has evolved beyond just absorbing international and contemporary design trends. It has moved to appreciating local materials and traditional craftsmanship, integrating them into modern living. These projects also value Filipino heritage, from partnering and supporting local artisans, to preserving historical landmarks and providing them with a renewed purpose.

One thing remains clear, the significance of the UAP OBRA Awards extends beyond recognition itself. More than highlighting individual achievements, it reflects the values shaping contemporary Philippine architecture today—one that increasingly balances innovation with local context, honors craftsmanship and heritage, and demonstrates how Filipino design continues to contribute to a broader architectural discourse.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-EcoPark-Pavilion-Aerial-scaled.webp "Kawayan EcoPark Pavilion Aerial - BluPrint")## About UAP OBRA 

The UAP OBRA is the flagship biennial awards program, recognizing outstanding architectural projects by UAP members in good standing. Derived from the Filipino word obra, meaning “work of art,” the awards honor projects that exemplify design excellence, innovation, cultural significance, and community impact through the UAP’s three guiding pillars: Vision, Artistry, and Universality.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the UAP OBRA Awards?

The UAP OBRA is a biennial awards program by the United Architects of the Philippines that recognizes outstanding architectural projects and practitioners.

### Who can join the UAP OBRA Awards?

Practicing architects and design firms with projects completed from 2020 onward, designed by UAP members in good standing, may submit entries.

### What are the main categories in the UAP OBRA Awards?

The awards include the People’s Choice Award, Design Award of Merit, Design Award of Distinction, and Maestro de Obra.

### What qualities do the UAP OBRA Awards evaluate?

Projects are assessed through UAP’s three pillars: Vision, Artistry, and Universality, which cover innovation, design excellence, cultural significance, and community impact.

### What trends emerged from the UAP OBRA 2026 winners?

The winners reflect a growing emphasis on local materials, traditional craftsmanship, adaptive reuse, sustainability, and architecture rooted in Filipino context and heritage.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage, Philippine Architecture

---

### [When Malasakit Is Placed at the Heart of Filipino Design: Good Design Award Philippines 2026](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/good-design-award-philippines-2026-malasakit/)

**Published:** July 21, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Organized biennially by the Design Center of the Philippines, the Good Design Award Philippines (GDA) champions a distinctly Filipino approach to design rooted in malasakit (caring). It posits that good design goes beyond balancing form, function, and innovation—it creates meaningful solutions that respond to society’s most pressing challenges. The awards also advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning Philippine design within a broader global conversation.

Executive Director of the Design Center of the Philippines, Rhea Matute, shares that the GDA’s ambition is to promote a humanity-centered approach to design. “With this core design philosophy, we hope that through those that are being awarded today and as well as the past awardees, \[other\] people will really see the character of their designs in their execution, but more importantly, their design processes,” Matute said in her closing remarks.

“We are part of a global movement that seeks to shift the conversation and contextual design, from products and communications, through systems, services and strategic solutions, and mobilize designers in the Philippines—to make their presence felt far beyond our borders and far beyond the borders of corporate design departments, \[as well as\] to tackle ‘wicked problems’ that traditional bureaucracies have been unable to resolve,” she adds.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-9-scaled.webp "good-design-award-9 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Revitalized First United Building Bags Malasakit Gran Prix Award at 2024 Good Design Award PH](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/revitalized-first-united-building-bags-malasakit-gran-prix-award-at-2024-good-design-award-ph/)

## Design Distinctions that Place Malasakit at the Heart of Design

GDA 2026 showcased more than 20 projects across six categories. Looking across this year’s awardees, a common thread emerges: each project demonstrates a different way of putting *malasakit* into practice.

The Malasakit Gran Prix, the GDA’s highest recognition, was awarded to Gold Award recipient Studio Impossible Projects Inc. for “The Banwag,” a 15-meter bamboo dome in Parang, Maguindanao, designed as a neutral gathering space for local communities.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Malasakit Gran Prix winner](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-banwag-1-scaled.webp "good-design-award-banwag-1 - BluPrint")The Banwag is constructed from locally sourced bamboo connected by custom stainless steel nodes. Each component was meticulously mapped and pre-cut to exact specifications. This precision-engineered system enables the structure to be assembled without heavy machinery, demonstrating how bamboo can transcend its traditional applications to become a durable, high-performance building material.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Banwag](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-banwag-4-scaled.webp "good-design-award-banwag-4 - BluPrint")Design’s impact, however, extends beyond the built environment. Under the Image Making category, students from the CIIT College of Arts and Technology received the Red and Gold Awards for “DING! Zine Para sa Bading,” a three-volume editorial publication and living archive that documents the histories, voices, and lived experiences of the Filipino drag and queer community. The zine shows how design can amplify underrepresented narratives and foster greater social understanding.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Ding! Zine Para Sa Bading](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-ding-zine-para-sa-bading-scaled.webp "good-design-award-ding-zine-para-sa-bading - BluPrint")This year, the awards also broadened its scope with the introduction of the Material Innovation (White Award) and Governance & Civic Design (Blue Award), recognizing that design solutions today go beyond products and spaces. Among the first recipients of the White Award was the Kadlit Firestarter Kit by students from Bohol Island State University. This citation was given for transforming locally available raw materials into a reliable, eco-friendly product for outdoor and environmental use. The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s iRISE-UP system received the Blue Award for demonstrating how design can improve public services. The multi-hazard early warning and climate monitoring system enables local governments to anticipate potential disasters, helping communities prepare for and respond to climate-related risks more effectively.

The importance of designing with communities in mind is best exemplified by the Place-Making category. The Mamanwa Community Center—developed through a collaboration between Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, the Mamanwa community, Kawayan Collective, and project partners—received both the Red and Green Awards. Located in Mindanao, the center was conceived in response to displacement caused by mining activities and the devastation of Typhoon Rai in 2021. Today, it serves as a multifunctional hub for community gatherings, education, and healthcare, demonstrating how thoughtful design can foster resilience and support long-term recovery.

![Good Design Award 2026 PH Green citation awardee](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/good-design-award-green-citation-scaled.webp "good-design-award-green-citation - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls: A New Showcase for Filipino Creativity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/likhang-filipino-exhibition-halls-a-new-era-for-philippine-design-and-craftsmanship/)

## Embodying Filipino-ness in Design Making

For Matute, design thinking should be a core capability of every Filipino. Through GDA, the Design Center hopes not only to recognize outstanding work but also to strengthen the country’s design culture by building awareness, developing creative capabilities, and encouraging designers to respond to real-world challenges with empathy and purpose.

More than recognizing exceptional projects, GDA presents a vision for the future of Philippine design—one where “Made in the Philippines” is not simply a mark of origin, but a mark of thoughtful innovation and meaningful impact. In this vision, Filipino-ness is expressed not only through what is made, but through how, and more importantly, why, it is designed.

Related Reading: [How “Malasakit” is Future-Proofing Philippine Design Culture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/how-malasakit-is-future-proofing-philippine-design-culture/)

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## About the Good Design Award Philippines

The Good Design Award Philippines (GDA) is a biennial design recognition program organized by the Design Center of the Philippines that celebrates outstanding Filipino innovations rooted in malasakit (caring). Launched in 2019, the awards recognize designs across multiple disciplines that improve quality of life, address real-world challenges, and promote Philippine design on the global stage through innovation, sustainability, and meaningful social impact.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Good Design Award Philippines and who organizes it?

The Good Design Award Philippines (GDA) is a biennial design recognition program organized by the Design Center of the Philippines. It champions a Filipino approach to design rooted in malasakit—caring—and aligns awarded work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, spanning products, communications, systems, services, and strategic solutions.

### What won the Malasakit Gran Prix at the Good Design Award Philippines 2026?

The Malasakit Gran Prix, GDA’s highest recognition, went to Studio Impossible Projects Inc. for The Banwag — a 15-meter bamboo dome in Parang, Maguindanao. Locally sourced bamboo joined by custom stainless steel nodes forms a precision-engineered structure assembled without heavy machinery, serving as a neutral community gathering space.

### What does malasakit mean in Filipino design practice?

Malasakit translates to caring or compassionate concern, and in Filipino design practice it frames good design as more than form, function, and innovation — it demands meaningful solutions to pressing social challenges. GDA 2026’s awardees applied it through community architecture, civic systems, material innovation, and publications amplifying underrepresented voices.

### What new categories were introduced at the Good Design Award Philippines 2026?

GDA 2026 introduced two categories: Material Innovation (White Award) and Governance & Civic Design (Blue Award). Early recipients include the Kadlit Firestarter Kit by Bohol Island State University students and the Quezon City DRRMO’s iRISE-UP, a multi-hazard early warning and climate monitoring system for local government disaster response.

### What is the Mamanwa Community Center and why did it receive GDA 2026 awards?

The Mamanwa Community Center in Mindanao received both the Red and Green Awards under Place-Making. Developed by Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences with the Mamanwa community, Kawayan Collective, and project partners, it responds to mining-related displacement and Typhoon Rai’s devastation, functioning as a hub for gatherings, education, and healthcare.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Philippine Architecture

---

### [Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls: A New Showcase for Filipino Creativity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/likhang-filipino-exhibition-halls-a-new-era-for-philippine-design-and-craftsmanship/)

**Published:** July 9, 2026
**Author:** Annie Asistio

**Content:**

Likhang Filipino stands on the former site of the PhilTrade Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, a landmark that once symbolized the Philippines’ export ambitions and introduced Filipino craftsmanship to international audiences. Originally inaugurated in 1979, the PhilTrade Center was conceived as a national showcase for Philippine exports, with its longitudinal form and sloping roofs drawing from the traditional bahay kubo.

On January 15, 2026—coinciding with the Philippines’ chairship of the 2026 ASEAN summit—the site was reopened as the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls. It brought together more than 200 enterprises and over 2,000 locally made products under one roof.

Formalized through Executive Order No. 75, the initiative reactivates the landmark for a new generation, adapting its original mission to support today’s creative and export industries.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5499-scaled.webp "_DSF5499 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5325-scaled.webp "_DSF5325 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5332-scaled.webp "_DSF5332 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5424-scaled.webp "_DSF5424 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5376-scaled.webp "_DSF5376 - BluPrint")

# ****A Platform for Filipino Craft and Design****

From handwoven textiles and intricate wood carvings to home décor pieces and artisanal food products, every item on display tells a story of heritage, skill, and innovation—offering visitors a deeper understanding of the country’s creative traditions while giving local producers a wider audience.

DTI Assistant Secretary Al Valenciano shares that Likhang Filipino encourages visitors to discover the stories behind each product while creating a platform for designers and artisans to express their craft.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5383-scaled.webp "_DSF5383 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5357-scaled.webp "_DSF5357 - BluPrint")

“\[Likhang Filipino\] serves as a creative space where designers, artisans, students, researchers, and Filipino communities can engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, and collaborate in developing new approaches to Filipino design and forms.” he says.

Visitors can explore six curated galleries, each highlighting a different aspect of Philippine creativity. The first, the Special Exhibits and Design Library, offers an immersive experience through its “Black Box,” tracing five decades of Philippine design evolution. Traditional Arts and Crafts, the second gallery, celebrates indigenous craftsmanship and traditional art forms. Fashion, Textile, and Accessories, the third, presents heritage traditions reimagined for contemporary audiences. The fourth gallery, Furniture and Lighting, showcases furnishings that blend local materials with contemporary aesthetics. Home Décor, Gifts, and Holiday Décor, the fifth, features pieces rooted in storytelling and everyday living. Finally, Food, Health, and Wellness, the sixth gallery, highlights Philippine tropical ingredients, artisanal food products, and holistic living, from artisanal chocolate and coffee to organic skincare products.

# ****Beyond a Design Exhibit****

More than an exhibition venue, Likhang Filipino serves as an enterprise development platform for Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), connecting businesses with mentorship, product development support, market linkages, and institutional assistance to help them scale locally and internationally.

Designed as a year-round showroom, it will also host trade fairs, industry events, and creative exchanges that encourage collaboration across the country’s creative and manufacturing sectors.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5349-scaled.webp "_DSF5349 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/DSF5421-scaled.webp "_DSF5421 - BluPrint")

Valenciano also envisions Likhang Filipino becoming a venue for Filipino communities to explore local materials, techniques, and raise their appreciation for locally made products. “Instead of being a place where people only view finished products, it becomes a place where they can see the process behind design—the research, experimentation, collaboration, and refinement that happen before a product reaches the market,” he says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/L1380056-scaled.webp "L1380056 - BluPrint")Valenciano adds: “Likhang Filipino goes beyond being a space for display and retail. It’s a place where creativity is actively practiced, where communities can access resources, exchange knowledge, experiment with materials, and improve their craft. The goal is not to freeze Filipino design in time, but to create the conditions for it to keep developing.”

Photographed by Ed Simon and co-authored by Caryll Ong.

**Read More:** [Alignment in the Boardroom: The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) Introduces Its New Board of Trustees](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-philippine-institute-of-interior-designers-piid-introduces-its-new-board-of-trustees/ "Alignment in the Boardroom: The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) Introduces Its New Board of Trustees")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the historical significance of the Likhang Filipino site?

The exhibition halls represent a rebirth of the PhilTrade Center, originally inaugurated in 1979 as the country’s premier export showcase. The original structure was famous for being completed in just 12 days using prefabricated components and featured a vernacular design language inspired by the bahay kubo. The 2026 restoration, championed by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, fulfills Executive Order No. 75, which aims to revitalize the country’s export promotion and position the Philippines as a premier global sourcing destination.

### How are the six distinct galleries organized within the facility?

The 8,000-square-meter space is divided into specialized sectors to provide a streamlined one-stop shop experience for buyers and visitors. Gallery 1 houses special exhibits and a design library, while Gallery 2 is dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. Gallery 3 focuses on fashion, textiles, and accessories, followed by Gallery 4 for furniture and lighting. Gallery 5 features home decor, gifts, and holiday items, and Gallery 6 rounds out the experience with food, health, and wellness products.

### Who were the key design consultants involved in the curation?

The project involved a “who’s who” of Philippine design to ensure a world-class aesthetic across the vast complex. Tony Gonzales transformed Gallery 1 using natural materials and handwoven fabrics, while Ito Kish applied an editorial resort-living approach to the furniture and home decor galleries. Al Caronan of the influential Movement 8 collective reimagined the traditional Filipino tablescape in the food and wellness gallery, and the Design Center of the Philippines curated the fashion gallery using a unifying theme of 71 handcrafted saranggola (kites).

### What is the “New Buri” showcase in Gallery 1?

Gallery 1 features a special inaugural exhibit centered on Arturo Luz, the founding director of the Design Center of the Philippines. The exhibit showcases innovative art chair pieces inspired by Luz’s “New Buri” designs. This serves a technical purpose by tracing 50 years of Philippine design evolution, demonstrating how traditional materials like buri palm can be elevated into high-end, experimental furniture that functions as both an artifact and a modern provocation.

### How can the public and international buyers access the products?

Likhang Filipino is designed for both physical and digital accessibility, serving as a permanent address for over 2,000 products from nearly 200 enterprises. The halls are open to the public for free from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. While it currently functions as a physical sourcing destination for tourists and ASEAN delegations, CITEM is developing a dedicated e-commerce website to allow these heritage-rich brands to reach the global market through online orders.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture, Featured

**Tags:** Furniture, Indigenous, Interior, Likhang Filipino, Local Products, Sustainability, Sustainable, Textile

---

### [UAP Announces the 49th UAP National Convention 2024](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/uap-announces-the-49th-uap-national-convention-2024/)

**Published:** March 4, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The United Architects of the Philippines is the premier professional organization of architects in the country, dedicated to advancing the architectural profession and fostering excellence within the industry. UAP revealed its initial lineup of speakers for the highly anticipated 49th National Convention under the dynamic theme “Amplify.” Scheduled to take place from April 18-21, 2024, at the SMX Convention Center Manila, it promises an assembly of influential minds and industry leaders.

## Speakers and Firms at UAP NATCON 49

![Photo of the UAP 2023 National Convention plenary session at PICC.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/362914427_1128661354757912_1379943030393587847_n.jpg "362914427_1128661354757912_1379943030393587847_n - BluPrint")From the 2023 UAP NATCON.The convention will showcase an impressive roster of speakers from prestigious local and international firms and organizations including Foster + Partners, Norr Group, Unreal Engine, Tim Fu Studio, and M Moser Associates. Notable personalities from [Royal Pineda](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/viewing-the-alchemy-of-growth-with-royal-pineda/) +, Palafox Associates, and LLG Architects Design Studio will also grace the event, ensuring a diverse and enriching experience for all attendees.

## What Does “Amplify” Mean for UAP NATCON 49?

![Photo of the UAP 2023 National Convention plenary session at PICC.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/362915955_670634524944495_1819268798489759721_n.jpg "362915955_670634524944495_1819268798489759721_n - BluPrint")From the 2023 UAP NATCON.“Amplify” stands as the central theme, emphasizing the enhancement and expansion of ideas and discussions within the architectural realm. The convention aims to elevate these discussions, ensuring they have a significant impact both locally and globally. Manila is set to be the epicenter of these transformative conversations, serving as a beacon of innovation and inspiration in architecture.

## Event Highlights

Kickstart [NATCON](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/uap-announces-the-49th-uap-national-convention-2024/)49 with a bang on Wednesday evening at the opening welcome VIP reception. This exclusive event offers limited tickets, so grab yours quickly to mingle with peers over drinks and entertainment.

### Day 1 – Amplify the Opportunity of the Future

Embark on a futuristic journey with Day 1’s focus on AI, Blockchain, the Metaverse, and more. This day is a deep dive into how cutting-edge technologies are merging with architectural brilliance, offering a glimpse into the innovative future of design.

### Day 2 – Amplify Knowledge and Information

Dive deep into architectural excellence on Day 2, where industry leaders share case studies and insights. It’s a day to challenge conventional wisdom, learn from the construction of iconic structures, and draw inspiration from the entrepreneurial spirit of leading architects.

### Day 3 – Amplify the Voice and Rights of Filipino Architects

Day 3 is dedicated to championing the rights and roles of Filipino architects. It’s a powerful call to action, spotlighting their vital contributions and advocating for their professional rights.

Each day concludes with a themed social gathering, building up to the grand UAP at 50 Pre-Party with Parokya ni Edgar live in concert.

### Day 4 – Architecture Tours Across UAP Chapters

Immerse yourself in the local culture and architecture with four distinct tours led by UAP chapters. THese include The New Clark City Tour and explorations of historical and modern architectural gems.

Check out the full schedule below:

![Schedule of Day 0 & 1 for the United Architects of the Philippines' (UAP) National Convention.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/schedule-1.jpg "schedule 1 - BluPrint")

![Schedule of Day 2 for the United Architects of the Philippines' (UAP) National Convention.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/schedule-2.jpg "schedule 2 - BluPrint")

![Schedule of Day 3 for the United Architects of the Philippines' (UAP) National Convention.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/schedule-3.jpg "schedule 3 - BluPrint")

## Registration and Details for UAP NATCON 49

UAP NATCON 49 ignites the movement to amplify architecture’s role in shaping our world. It’s an opportunity to engage with groundbreaking ideas, network with professionals, and contribute to the global architectural dialogue.

Register now to secure your place at the 49th UAP National Convention 2024. For registration and more details, visit their [website](https://natcon49.unitedarchitects.ph/](https://natcon49.unitedarchitects.ph/). Join the United Architects of the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center Manila. Be part of a global conversation that aims to reshape the future of architecture.

*Photos provided by UAP.*

**Read more:** [The Battle for the Tallest Building in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-battle-for-the-tallest-building-in-the-philippines/)

**Categories:** Architecture, News

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, SMX Convention Center, UAP, United Architects of the Philippines

---

### [Buensalido + Architects Transforms into Barchan + Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/architects/buensalido-architects-transforms-into-barchan-architecture/)

**Published:** April 26, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the realm of architectural innovation, a new horizon emerges as [Buensalido + Architects](https://www.buensalidoarchitects.com/) transforms into Barchan + Architecture. Embracing the name ‘Barchan,’ inspired by the graceful crescent-shaped dunes found in deserts, the firm signals a profound shift towards designs deeply rooted in their surroundings.

![Buensalido + Architects is now Barchan + Architecture](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-BARCHAN-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(BARCHAN)-1 - BluPrint")**Barchan + Architecture** emphasizes that collaboration is a cornerstone of the firm’s values, with each team member having an important role in the pursuit of unique and creative design.

## **Harmonizing with Context**

Since its inception in 2006 under the leadership of Architect [Jason Buensalido](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jason-buensalido/), the firm has been a trailblazer, pushing the boundaries of conventional architecture with originality and ingenuity. Now, as Barchan + Architecture, they embark on a journey to redefine the relationship between built environments and nature.

![Buensalido + Architects is now Barchan + Architecture](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-BARCHAN-2.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(BARCHAN)-2 - BluPrint")(L-R) Associate Architect for Culture and Lead Project Architect **Arch. Cholo Ramirez**, Associate Architect for Design and Lead Project Architect **Arch. Jerome Bautista**, VP of Admin, Finance, and Culture **Arch. Nikki Boncan-Buensalido**, and Chief Design Ambassador and Founder **Arch. Jason Buensalido**, and VP of Operations & Associate Architect **Arch. Ems Eliseo** spearhead **Barchan + Architecture** as it makes a collective step into a new era of architectural design. 

The choice of ‘Barchan’ as the new identity speaks volumes about the firm’s philosophy. Like these natural formations, Barchan + Architecture seeks to create designs that seamlessly blend with their context, embodying a holistic approach to architecture. It’s not just about constructing buildings; it’s about crafting experiences that resonate with the environment and the people who inhabit it.

“The barchan symbolizes our belief in architecture shaped by context. Like barchans, our designs tell stories of nature and human aspiration, preserving memories and enabling new legacies,” Buensalido explains.

## **Shifting Sands: A Narrative of Evolution**

The unveiling of their latest endeavor, the coffee table book “Shifting Sands”, serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a manifesto for the future. Authored by Edson Cabalfin and designed by Design for Tomorrow, the book offers a glimpse into Barchan + Architecture’s journey, showcasing their commitment to authenticity, altruism, aspiration, and advancement.

![Shifting Sands by Barchan + Architecture](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-BARCHAN-5.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(BARCHAN)-5 - BluPrint")The new **Barchan + Architecture** book, ***Shifting Sands***, is a reflection on the architecture firm’s past achievements and challenges, as it continues to celebrate Filipino identity in architecture. 

“Shifting Sands” is more than just a collection of photographs and projects; it’s a narrative of evolution—a testament to Barchan + Architecture’s transformative journey. Each page tells a story of innovation, creativity, and a deep-seated respect for nature. From the vibrant CIIT Philippines campus to the visionary Project Smarthome, every project is a reflection of the firm’s unwavering dedication to pushing boundaries and challenging norms.

But “Shifting Sands” is not just about looking back; it’s about looking forward. As Barchan + Architecture embraces this new identity, they invite us all to join them on a journey of exploration and discovery. Their vision extends beyond mere buildings; it encompasses a vision of a world where architecture serves as a bridge between humanity and the natural world—a world where design is not just functional but poetic, evoking emotions and inspiring change.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-BARCHAN-4.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(BARCHAN)-4 - BluPrint")![Shifting Sands by Barchan + Architecture](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-BARCHAN-3.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(BARCHAN)-3 - BluPrint")At the heart of Barchan + Architecture’s philosophy is a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. They understand that the built environment has a profound impact on the world around us. They strive to minimize that impact through thoughtful design and innovative solutions. Whether it’s integrating green spaces into urban landscapes or utilizing renewable materials, sustainability is at the core of everything they do.

## Barchan + Architecture’s Leadership Team

This new chapter showcases how the firm’s design practices have evolved into a team effort. Together with Barchan’s key management VP of Admin, Finance, and Culture ArchitectNikki Boncan-Buensalido, VP of Operations & Associate Architect Ems Eliseo, Associate Architect for Design and Lead Project Architect Jerome Bautista, and Associate Architect for Culture and Lead Project Architect Cholo Ramirez, the firm shares it has adopted a more mature design practice that will explore new ways to express culture in architecture and improve lives through design.

Barchan + Architecture is more than just a name change. It’s a statement of intent—a declaration of their commitment to creating a better, more sustainable world through design. As we turn the pages of “Shifting Sands” and embark on this journey with them, we can’t help but feel inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead.

READ MORE: [Notes from The Architect Episode 2: Weaving Ideas Into A Coherent Learning Space with Jason Buensalido](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jason-buensalido/)

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, News, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Philippines, Sustainability

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### [A New Attitude: Jim Caumeron's Fresh Minimalist Perspectives](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/a-new-attitude-jim-caumeron-creates-minimalist-yet-fresh-perspectives-for-modern-spaces/)

**Published:** January 14, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

“Less is more” is a common mantra for people who practice minimalism. It focuses on the things that are essential rather than having too many superfluous things. Hence, the term essentialism. In his book “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” Greg McKeown describes essentialism as doing less, but better, so one can make the highest possible contribution. He highlights that the Way of an Essentialist is about getting only the right things done and regaining control of our choices about where to spend our time and energies.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-Perspective-2023-Jim-Caumeron-cover-scaled.jpg "BP Perspective 2023 Jim Caumeron cover - BluPrint")In architecture, such a principle is also often applied. For many architects, form always follows function. They focus their design solely based on what the client needs and what is essential for the building. One of these architects is Architect Jim Caumeron, Principal of [Jim Caumeron Design](https://www.instagram.com/jimcaumerondesign/). He received global attention after his projects [“Viewpoint House”](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/maximizing-the-use-of-windows-jim-caumeron-design-shows-how-in-this-residence-in-quezon-city/) and “Panorama House” were published internationally. Both houses are characterized by their solid white facade and recognizable forms. Being one of the generation’s creative stake holders, the young architect has often been associated with minimalist architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron6.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron6 - BluPrint")## **A Closer Look at Jim Caumeron’s Architecture Style**

“Undiluted, abstract, concept or idea-based.”

These are how Caumeron describes his style as an architect. He explains that he wants his ideas to be clearly and explicitly expressed. But it’s always associated with minimalism. Although he uses fewer materials, his designs are a product of an exploration process with the methodology we find in architecture school.

![Front facade of Jim Caumeron's all white modernist home, Panorama House.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron35.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron35 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron33.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron33 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron3.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron313.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron313 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron34.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron34 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron314.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron314 - BluPrint")Panorama House Exterior
Photos Courtesy of Architect Jim Caumeron

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron32.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron32 - BluPrint")

![A white 2 storey modernist concrete home with angular roof.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron3-1.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron33.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron33 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron34.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron34 - BluPrint")

When it comes to his minimalist designs, they are not intentional but the outcome of his design process. Caumeron shares that he asks his clients what they truly want and incorporates their desires in his design process. Along with site conditions and other factors affecting the design outcome, what the client wants becomes the parameter in the generation of his design. “I still explore expressionist tendencies but always ask if it is necessary,” Caumeron says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron37.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron37 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron312.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron312 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron311.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron311 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron310.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron310 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron39.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron39 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron38.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron38 - BluPrint")Panorama House Interior
Photos Courtesy of Architect Jim Caumeron

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron311.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron311 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron310.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron310 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron39.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron39 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron38.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron38 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron36.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron36 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron35.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron35 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron312.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron312 - BluPrint")

He believes that it is his quest to create beautiful structures whose form is a reaction to conditions with accurate mathematical or scientific operations. Caumeron shares that this is something he does in school if he cannot do it in practice. He pushes his design laboratory to bridge the gap between form and knowledge.

This is Caumeron’s guiding methodology. In practice, however, he emphasizes that the standards need to be adjusted due to realistic factors, including the client’s needs, wants, and budget. For real projects, he thinks that the purity of an idea is diluted. “It is important for me to always shoot for the stars to give justice to the trust given to me by the client,” says Caumeron.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron2.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Landscape-Jim-Caumeron.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Landscape) - Jim Caumeron - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron8.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron8 - BluPrint")**Aquae Sulis**
Status: Construction Documentation
Location: Palayan City, Nueva Ecija 
General Contractor and A project by Marblecare Philippines

Project by Jim Caumeron Design
Special Rendering: Lance SyMoreover, Caumeron is a modernist. For him, however, not all modernist designs aim for attention. Some are too functional bordering on dull. He targets the sweet spot of ascetic-clinical spatial quality and an expression of the performance of an idea where he intends to achieve clarity and purity in his designs.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron - BluPrint")Unlike most architects, Caumeron steers away from naming his projects after his clients’ initials. Instead, he names them after the concept behind each project. “The Treehouse Inside,” for example, is an interactive architecture inserted in the cramped stair-atrium that houses the living, dining, and play programs. Meanwhile, “Panorama” comes from the ribbon windows that wrap the geometry of the house introducing horizontal views and objects. “I am not good with words, but my design principle, for now, is better pictured with the previous ideas I envisioned giving us clues on the governing principle of my design generation process,” Caumeron explains.

## What Is Jim Caumeron’s Vision for Philippine Architecture?

Innovation plays an important role in moving Philippine Architecture forward. Caumeron shares that to innovate in the industry, it is vital to rethink and revise one or more building systems that inform an architecture composition for a certain purpose or goal, such as reducing material consumption, limit carbon footprint, minimize construction cost, optimizing materiality, enhancing spatial experience, free space from obstructions, design with proper ventilation, and having shield from harmful elements, among others. The effect on architecture may be noticeable or radical.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron4.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron7.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron7 - BluPrint")

Additionally, Caumeron points out that many of the architectural styles deal with form-spatial system explorations. “This is my take as I use the physicality of the architecture to do something. The high-tech architecture involved the spectacle of structural, even strategizing the arrangement of the plumbing and mechanical systems. We also witnessed experimentation on the structural system that alluded to organic forms,” he shares. He hopes these systems will evolve through advanced technology that will mimic the natural systems and symbolically perform with the environment.

If there is something that concerns the architect in the industry, they are ego and pride. “I am guilty of it and still try to keep it in check. When you strongly believe in something, whether philosophy or methodology, you tend to be defensive and protective of your existing ways. Opposing ideas do not mean shunning your voice. In my case, it even affirmed and strengthened what I want to do as a designer. Recognizing diversity in design, especially those that challenge your own, actually strengthens your position in the culture of our profession and most importantly in the market.” Caumeron says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron2.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron2 - BluPrint")Architect Jim Caumeron broadens the scale of the industry’s position to minimalism and essentialism. His rigorous style in architecture brings an astounding vision in today’s generation.He further explains that the profession in the country dwells too much on the territory of professional services. To him, while it is okay to be protective of our rights, the energy placed on these issues greatly outweighs the efforts to elevate design intelligence and creative literacy in the country.

In the topic of uplifting Philippine Architecture, Caumeron dreams that the country will have a strong urban character with a strong architectural fabric like well-known cities around the world, such as Santorini, Miami, or even fictional cities like Wakanda or Tlālōcān in Black Panther. “I want the Philippines to develop its urban character because that will set up a backdrop for good individualistic expressive architecture. I believe that strong architecture goes hand in hand with a strong urban character. I know that the Philippines will need to be better to set up that kind of urban condition. And who knows, Escolta can be a good candidate for it,” he shares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron3.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron3 - BluPrint")Looking ahead, Caumeron views a futuristic city as having real public parks, being environmentally effortless and kind to animals, being mobility-efficient and pedestrian, and being architecturally diverse.

**An Abundance of Public Parks**

Caumeron believes that we need real public parks and green spaces, not just those initiated by the private sector. While it is commendable and we encourage park or garden concepts within mixed-use developments, the motivation behind this concept is still commerce. According to him, it alienates the general public, especially those who have limited buying power. He also highlights that the opening of the dolomite beach in Manila Bay, despite the criticisms, shows us how many Filipinos crave free public spaces.

**Environmentally Effortless Cities**

Being environmentally sustainable should be the design’s automatic response today. He encourages us to dream better with a utopian city that has buildings that are part of the natural ecosystems. Buildings that harness the resources around them, process waste into something useful, wherein the design aesthetic responds to the different stimuli in the environment–sun, wind, and rain, among others. He also imagines a city that ethically treats animals with kindness. To him, if a city has this kind of culture, that would have meant that our civilization has reached a certain level of intelligence that is sentient, mindful, and responsible, as well.

**Charmingly Mobile-Efficient**

Caumeron explains that a city can be truly productive if it allows the fluid transport of people, goods, and services. But it seems too frigid for him. He poses the question: “What if you can do all these in experience-rich surroundings?” Introducing more pedestrianized development in the city may allow us to see glimpses of these ideas, Caumeron suggests.

**Architecturally Diverse**

“My designs won’t thrive in a homogenous architectural fabric and without reference to existing conditions or history. It also makes architects irrelevant If we are all the same,” Caumeron says. He also adds that what makes design passionate is its artistic side. Architects have explored different ideologies and stylistic movements and each has its value. He emphasizes that each architect has different practices, including the practical side, the individualistic, and the expressionist. He explains that a city can be a celebration of design talents curated with hierarchy and appropriate dominating urban fabric. This can greatly contribute to the creation of the city’s unique sense of place.

**What Does Jim Caumeron Do Outside Architecture?**

Outside his practice, Caumeron also pursues other venturers. He is a passionate educator at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde Architecture Program who aims to bring positive change in the academe. “Changing education will be a challenging task and I hate paper works and red tape,” he remarks. But he fights for diversity in the academy where he teaches and believes that the collective soul of Filipino students is about being unique.

As a practicing architect, Caumeron also promotes the design exploration process in the classroom. He explains that no matter what the design aesthetic sensibilities of the students, he ensures to be inclusive by allowing them to find their creative voice and develop their design process.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BP-2023-Perspective-In-Article-Portrait-Jim-Caumeron5.jpg "BP 2023 Perspective - In Article (Portrait) -Jim Caumeron5 - BluPrint")Furthermore, Caumeron also wants to design public buildings in the future. Procuring local products in the Philippines, however, can be challenging. But the dream is still there, he assures. That is why he decided to teach so that the idea can be passed on to the next generations. “I try to influence within my capacity and my circle,” he adds.

Apart from teaching, Caumeron also keeps himself busy traveling the world and vlogging.

Given the recognition Caumeron has been receiving, he wants to keep his practice small. He wants to retain the quality of the ideation process of his office, which is bringing the creative rigor of the school to his studio. This is why he still makes physical models and also provides quality documentation. It allows him to ensure that his design ideas will be translated into the construction faithfully.

Expanding his practice will take a long process. Doing such will pressure him to get more projects. “I enjoy my situation now wherein all of my clients understand my design voice as a result of the international publications of Viewpoint house and panorama house,” shares Caumeron.

The architect still plans to make more projects in the coming years. Enough projects that would still allow him to travel, vlog, improve his surfing, and drink mojito at the beach.

---

**PROJECT CREDITS:**

*Text RICK FORMALEJO
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER
Photography KIERAN PUNAY*

*Videographer JOSE RAMIREZ
Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO
Video Producer MIGUEL LIM*

*Grooming CATS DEL ROSARIO*

 *Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID and MJ ALMERO*

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile, Residential, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, essentialism, Jim Caumeron, Jim Caumeron Design, Minimalism

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### [Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/alfred-wieneke-the-ethos-of-building-with-quality/)

**Published:** April 11, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

There are those who design to be seen and those who design to endure. Architect Alfred Wieneke belongs to the latter. For decades, he has quietly cultivated a practice centered on discretion, craftsmanship, and clarity of intent—where timelessness is the aspiration, and build quality is non-negotiable.

Wieneke’s firm, A.V. Wieneke III & Associates, remains largely under the radar. Its portfolio is rarely broadcast, its projects seldom published. Yet among those who seek homes of quiet luxury and enduring elegance, his name carries weight. He is known not for spectacle, but for substance—for homes that are finely tuned to the lives and values of those who inhabit them.

![Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF6545-scaled.webp "_DSF6545 - BluPrint")He has no online presence. No press kit. No curated feed. What he has is trust—earned through years of precision, patience, and personal investment. And for his clients, that makes all the difference.

BluPrint sat down with Wieneke in his Makati residence, a space that distills everything he believes good architecture should be: refined, efficient, and deeply personal. “Every home,” he says, “has to have that personal touch that the client identifies with.” The house itself is a testament to that philosophy—where even the smallest detail is purposeful, and the overall feeling is one of calm, composed clarity.

## How Does Alfred Wieneke Approach Residential Design?

Wieneke’s father was a real estate developer in the 1970s. And one of his most notable projects was the Avalon Building along Apartment Ridge, designed by the renowned William V. Coscollluela & Associates. From a young age, Wieneke grew up surrounded by architectural plans. “I knew what I wanted since I was in grade school,” he recalls, pointing to those formative years as the beginning of his architectural calling.

He would go on to study at the University of the Philippines (UP) before embarking on his professional journey with a couple of years of apprenticeship under [Bobby Manosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/bobby-manosa-lasting-significance/). In time, Alfred founded his own practice, with a dedicated focus on creating timeless homes—a passion that has remained the core of his work ever since.

![Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF6351-scaled.webp "_DSF6351 - BluPrint")Wieneke’s approach to design is rooted in the principles of longevity and functionality. “I always tell people the best way to build anything is build it once and build it right,” he asserts, emphasizing his commitment to high-quality craftsmanship. For him, architecture is about creating homes that endure, age gracefully, and develop character over time. He avoids being swayed by fleeting trends or the latest design fads. “Fashion fades,” he posits. His work, instead, leans on the strength of classical elements infused with contemporary sensibilities.

“I don’t really have one look,” he shares. “It’s boring to be doing the same thing all the time… You always strive to do something new, something different,” pointing to his ever-evolving design language. What he insists on is a rigorous balance of aesthetics and integrity—homes that age gracefully, reflect their owners, and stand the test of time. The home must resonate on a personal level with its inhabitants, reflecting not just his vision but theirs as well.

## What Is the Role of Malasakit in Alfred Wieneke’s Architecture?

At the heart of his work is *malasakit*—a distinctly Filipino sense of care and responsibility. It’s a word that threads through his process, from the first meeting with a client to the final installation on site. This balance between the personal and the professional is evident in his process. Designing a home is a collaborative effort, one that requires deep interaction with the client.

“It takes time to design a home,” he notes. “You get to know your client, understand what they like, understand their lifestyle, and then that’s how you move forward.” Over time, he has cultivated a keen ability to listen, to understand the subtleties of his clients’ desires and needs. For Wieneke, the result is a home that feels uniquely theirs—a sanctuary in every sense of the word.

![Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF6498-scaled.webp "_DSF6498 - BluPrint")His commitment to detail and quality extends beyond the architectural form. It permeates the entire building process, from planning to execution. “We don’t just design on paper,” he says. “Somebody has to build it for you.” This awareness of the importance of quality construction and the role of skilled craftsmen in achieving it drives his approach to each project.

In fact, he attributes much of his success to the team around him: “I have a great contractor, great suppliers, great subcontractors. It’s a team effort, and that includes the client.” Building a home, for Wieneke, is never a solitary endeavor. It’s a shared vision, realized through collaboration and mutual respect.

## What Does Alfred Wieneke Say About Philippine Building Quality?

While the architect acknowledges the abundance of talent within the Philippine design scene, there is, of course, still room for improvement. “I mean, we have a lot of great designers out there,” he asserts, citing notable names like [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mission-revival-bungalow-calma/), the [Almario sisters](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/chinoiserie-home-almario-sisters-definition-of-luxury/), and [Conrad Onglao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/conrad-onglaos-pursuit-of-subdued-splendor-in-design/). “And we’ve been very, very competitive in the WAF \[World Architecture Festival\]. I don’t think we are lacking in terms of good architects.”

![Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF6575-scaled.webp "_DSF6575 - BluPrint")However, he expresses a critical concern regarding the execution of these designs. “It’s really just that we just have to get our act together, especially when it comes to our building quality as a whole… We have to up the game.”

He contrasts the Philippine standard with international benchmarks: “You see the way that Japanese build, it’s a different level of quality. When you see how Germany builds, even Italy, even Singapore, the quality is much, much higher.

“If there’s any frustration for me, that’s it,” he admits, underscoring the crucial link between design and construction. “It’s really just a matter of, if we’re going to design something, let’s build it well… Part of that is education. You have to educate the craftsman. You have to educate the people \[and\] the clients who are building it. So you want to make sure that you build things well. And that takes a lot of time, training, discipline, and focus to bring up the game for us as a whole.”

## How Does Alfred Wieneke Define Sustainability in Architecture?

This respect for craftsmanship and attention to detail is one of the tenets of his practice. “I’m an old-fashioned person when it comes to sustainability,” Wieneke says. “If your house lasts for 30 years, that’s very sustainable.” For him, true sustainability isn’t about relying solely on alternative energy sources or cutting-edge eco-technologies—though these elements certainly have their place. Instead, it’s about building homes that are efficient and enduring, homes that don’t need to be torn down or renovated every few years.

![Alfred Wieneke: The Ethos of Building with Quality.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF6401-scaled.webp "_DSF6401 - BluPrint")“There’s nothing more sustainable than a product that lasts,” Wieneke asserts. His design philosophy places efficiency at its core, ensuring that homes are beautiful *and* practical. A well-built home, one that is durable and thoughtfully constructed, ages with its owners, growing more beautiful and full of character with each passing year.

“You want a home that will age with you, that your children will really feel like it’s their home,” he explains. This is the kind of home Wieneke strives to create—a home that becomes part of the family, not just in the moment, but for generations to come.

## How Does Alfred Wieneke Balance Filipino and International Influences?

His love for quality extends to the materials he uses, embracing both the local and the global in equal measure. While he values the rich tradition of Filipino craftsmanship, Wieneke is also discerning when it comes to sourcing materials from abroad. He is quick to point out that embracing foreign-made products doesn’t equate to disregarding local talent.

“We’re very good with our handicrafts,” he notes, mentioning local materials like solihiya (woven rattan) and abaca. Similarly, he takes an equally discerning approach to sourcing from those who demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and expertise; furniture from Italy, fixtures from Germany and Japan, and so on. This eclectic approach allows him to create homes that are both grounded in Filipino identity and enriched by international influences.

Wieneke’s deep sense of pride in his heritage informs much of his design philosophy. “I don’t consider myself German or European or American. I consider myself Filipino,” he says firmly. Despite his mixed heritage, his identity is shaped by his life in the Philippines. And this, in turn, influences his work. “We like Filipino stuff,” he adds. “Doesn’t mean we should not like other things, right? We kind of have to mix things. That’s part of who we are.” It is this blend of influences—both local and foreign—that defines the eclecticism seen in his homes.

## What Defines Alfred Wieneke’s Practice and Clientele?

In an industry where many architects and designers seek recognition and public acclaim, Wieneke’s approach remains refreshingly modest. “We don’t really do things on what is fashionable at the time,” he admits. “We focus on timelessness, elegance, quality of work.” His clients, too, are not driven by the pursuit of fame or status; rather, they seek a home that will serve as a lasting sanctuary for their families.

Despite his reluctance for self-promotion, Wieneke’s work speaks volumes. His projects embody the principles he holds dear. The fact that his practice continues to grow and thrive without the need for publicity or fanfare speaks to his skill and reputation in the field.

He believes in working closely with his clients, taking the time to understand their needs and preferences. His firm remains deliberately low-key, thriving largely on reputation and word of mouth. This preference for discretion is mirrored by his clients, who also seek a more private, understated way of living.

“My clientele prefers the one-on-one. They want a personal touch,” Wieneke explains. “They want me attending to them personally.” This focus on intimate, bespoke service has earned him a loyal following—individuals who value quality over quantity and privacy over fame.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FINAL_BluPrint-2025-APRIL-Cover-Perspective-scaled.webp "FINAL_BluPrint 2025 APRIL Cover (Perspective) - BluPrint")Ultimately, Wieneke’s work is defined by the relationships he fosters with his clients, which in turn, give rise to the physical spaces he creates. A home must be a reflection of the people who inhabit it. It’s a place where lives unfold, where memories are made, and where families find sanctuary. And this, Wieneke believes, is the true measure of success in architecture.

---

Photographer: Ed Simon

Hair and Make Up: Cats del Rosario

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Managing Editor: Katherine Lopez

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

**Read more:** [Quiet Luxury: The Understated Elegance of Old Money](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/quiet-luxury-the-understated-elegance-of-old-money/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Alfred Wieneke and what is the focus of his architectural firm?

Alfred Wieneke is the principal of A.V. Wieneke III & Associates, a firm renowned for its commitment to discretion, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance. He avoids fleeting trends and self-promotion, choosing instead to focus on building high-quality, enduring homes that reflect the personal values of his clients. His practice thrives on a reputation for quiet luxury and a meticulous, substance-over-spectacle approach to modern residential design.

### How does Alfred Wieneke define his “evolving design language” in architecture?

Wieneke rejects the idea of having a single signature “look,” stating that he strives to do something new and different with every project to avoid stagnation. While his work leans on classical elements for strength, it is infused with contemporary sensibilities to ensure longevity and functionality. This rigorous balance of aesthetics and integrity creates homes that age gracefully and develop unique character over time.

### What does the term “malasakit” mean within Wieneke’s design process?

Malasakit is a Filipino sense of care and responsibility that threads through Wieneke’s entire collaborative process with his clients. He believes that designing a home requires deep empathy and a thorough understanding of a client’s lifestyle and personal desires. This commitment ensures that the final structure is not just an architectural feat, but a personal sanctuary that the inhabitants can truly identify with.

### What are Alfred Wieneke’s views on building quality and international standards?

Wieneke expresses a frustration with local execution and emphasizes the need to “up the game” by benchmarking against the high building standards of Japan, Germany, and Italy. He believes that achieving world-class quality requires a combined effort of education, discipline, and focus among craftsmen, architects, and clients. For him, the integrity of the actual construction is just as vital as the initial design on paper.

### How does Wieneke approach sustainability and the use of materials?

Wieneke practices an “old-school” form of sustainability, arguing that a product is only truly sustainable if it is built to last for generations. He prioritizes durability and efficiency over short-lived eco-trends, creating homes that don’t need frequent renovation or demolition. In his material selection, he blends local Filipino craftsmanship, like solihiya and abaca, with high-end international fixtures to create an eclectic yet grounded aesthetic.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Tackling the Filipino Diaspora in Today’s Art Scene](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/tackling-the-filipino-diaspora-in-todays-art-scene/)

**Published:** February 28, 2025
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

The Filipino Diaspora and the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) experience continues to be fertile ground for art exploration. In general, migration and diaspora are pertinent topics in pop culture; literally two recent Pixar movies, *Turning Red* and *Elemental*, explicitly harness that cultural divide.

And yet the discussion of the Philippines’ unique experiences with this phenomenon remains interesting. More than any other country in Asia, migration is an ongoing government policy rather than one rooted in political and economical instability.

The Philippine economy is *fine*; 5.6% growth of our GDP are good steady numbers, especially considering how a lot of countries faltered in their economic recovery post-COVID. And yet, there is also a question of how much of that money is due to internal economic growth and how much of it comes from overseas Filipino workers.

![Arrivals area at Bangkok International Airport. Photo by Terence Ong. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1024px-Bangkok_International_Airport_Arrival_Hall.jpeg "1024px-Bangkok_International_Airport,_Arrival_Hall - BluPrint")Over [2.3 million Filipino workers](https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1237996) are currently deployed overseas, with many more having migrated out of the country and towards greener pastures in the West. Remittances increased to [$37.2 billion dollars last year](https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages/MediaAndResearch/MediaDisp.aspx?ItemId=7005), representing 8.5% of our GDP.

It’s a literal billion-dollar income generator for the government that endangers workers and fractures families in ways that *harm* the cultural spirit of the country in ways we’re still seeking to understand.

There’s a reason why the two biggest Filipino movies of 2024, *Hello, Love, Again* and *And The Breadwinner Is…* centered around the stories of OFWs, and it’s because it’s an active injury that Filipinos are still trying to navigate.

## Why Do Diaspora Artists in Lakbay Seek to Reconnect With Filipino Culture?

Beyond popular entertainment, it seems like something of interest to our local artists, too. One of the more interesting exhibitions happening this February is [*Lakbay: Voyages into the Absolute*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/lakbay-voyages-into-the-absolute-nena-saguil/). It’s partially a tribute exhibit to Nena Saguil and a showcase of never-before-seen work. What’s interesting about it is how it assembled different Filipino artists based around the world to contribute to the exhibit.

![Works by Kulay Laibitigan for "Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute." Photo by Elle Yap.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250127_151349.jpg "20250127_151349 - BluPrint")Works by Kulay Laibitigan for “Lakbay: Voyages Into the Absolute.” Photo by Elle Yap.The exhibit’s curator Marika Constantino and Art House founder Carlo Pineda talked about how *excited* all of the contributors were, at the opportunity to reconnect with the local art scene and to create new associations in the country as a whole. Pineda, especially, discussed the need to create a community with these artists to link them firmly into the local scene.

!["Stillness II" by Kim Cruz. Photo provided by the organizers.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Stillness-II-Sumi-Ink-Acrylic-and-Charcoal-on-Canvas.jpg "Stillness II, Sumi Ink, Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas - BluPrint")“Stillness II” by Kim Cruz. Photo provided by the organizers.What struck the hardest about the exhibit was the *desire* of these artists to reconnect with their cultural heritage. Even in the land of opportunity, these artists need that connection to their roots as a way of understanding themselves in the grand tapestry of life.

“The mere fact that a number of Filipinos need to go abroad for greener pastures, that in itself is an important topic,” Constantino said. “And unless we’re able to make these Filipinos stay at home and give them the opportunities that everyone has a right to have, then that will be a forever topic.”

## Migration Narratives: Mother/land and Project Belonging

Some recent exhibitions in Manila dealt with such topics of migration and the Filipino diaspora; none of them have reflected on it positively.

[*Mother/land*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/mother-land-philippine-diaspora-nicolei-buendia-gupit/) by Nicolei Gupit, for example, saw mostly drawbacks in the way that our society valorizes leaving to America for better opportunities. The exhibit’s artworks show her lack of connection with her heritage and family; crumpled papers, images, and documents being her only solid connection to the past.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191120.jpg "20241109_191120 - BluPrint")That lack of connection in pursuit of the “American dream” largely left a stranger in both lands, so to speak, with no solid roots in either the United States or the Philippines because of this fragmented nature of her life.

![Close-up of the empty dinner table mixed media artwork for "Mother/land."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241109_191225.jpg "20241109_191225 - BluPrint")Close-up of the empty dinner table mixed media artwork for “Mother/land.”“The loss is something that people don’t talk about,” she had said. “The loss is like, for example, in my family, we don’t eat together. We don’t have reunions in person. We’re not able to spend time together in a meaningful way. And so, that’s something that I think Filipinos in the Philippines often overlook.”

[*Project Belonging: From There to Here*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/project-belonging-pt-2-alfredo-isabel-aquilizan/) also tackles the lack of roots that many Filipinos who migrated to other countries contend with. Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan’s works very literally boxes up the furniture and personal effects of a person as a metaphor for the feeling of displacement that OFWs feel.

![The Aquilizans' "Nothing to Declare" for "Project Belonging."](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241109_155304.jpg "20241109_155304 - BluPrint")The Aquilizans’ “Nothing to Declare” for “Project Belonging.”It all circles around such complicated ideas of selfhood and citizenship, about what matters more to us: the culture in which we grew up in and the people we share experiences with, or the possibility of a better life in a country that alienates and others you in the grand scheme of things.

## How Do US Anti-Immigration Policies Affect Filipino Migrants?

Talking about the Filipino diaspora and OFW experience now feels necessary especially as the larger headwinds of our society veer against migration as a whole. “Finding better opportunities by living in Western countries” rings hollow due to the continued attacks of racial minorities in both Europe and the United States.

The US is most egregious with their rhetoric, of course, as they explicitly push a white supremacist narrative that aims to arrest and deport migrants regardless of their legal citizenship status in the country. At first glance, it’s likely to only affect so-called *tago-ng-tago* Filipinos who don’t have green cards or visas.

![An airport terminal arrival gate. Photo by Chihaya Sta. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1024px-Narita_International_Airport_Terminal2_Arrival_Gate.jpg "1024px-Narita_International_Airport_Terminal2_Arrival_Gate - BluPrint")However, the fundamental crisis at hand comes from their explicit attacks on even naturalized citizens, with their immigration police [indiscriminately arresting](https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/02/california-deportations-hit-people-with-deep-roots/) anyone they deem illegal. Currently, in fact, they are even [aiming to remove birthright citizenship](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983g6zpz28o), putting at risk many Filipinos who were born and raised in the United States to be deported to a country they barely know.

It’s become an impending time bomb for our government, as the Philippine economy relies heavily on remittances. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. [even announced](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-president-plans-meet-trump-discuss-immigration-policy-2025-01-30/) an attempt to try to influence the Trump administration on its policies. That attempt will likely fail in the [current American bloodlust](https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/trump-anger-ice-arrests-source/) against migrants, legal or illegal.

## Why the Mary Jane Veloso Case Reflects Ongoing OFW Mistreatment Abroad

Added to that is the continual abuse of OFWs abroad. There’s all the murders in the host countries—as recently as [January of this year](https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/12/31/2411112/missing-ofw-found-decomposing-kuwait). There’s also the cases of human trafficking, currently exemplified by the [Mary Jane Veloso case](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/18/mary-jane-veloso-filipina-nearly-executed-in-indonesia-arrives-home) which only found a questionable resolution this year.

![Mary Jane Veloso in her return to the Philippines. Photo by Bureau of Corrections Public Information Office. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1024px-Mary_Jane_Veloso_reunites_with_her_sons_in_Manila_Philippines.jpg "1024px-Mary_Jane_Veloso_reunites_with_her_sons_in_Manila,_Philippines - BluPrint")Mary Jane Veloso in her return to the Philippines. Photo by Bureau of Corrections Public Information Office. Source: Wikimedia Commons.[Thousands of cases](https://hir.harvard.edu/overseas-filipino-workers-the-modern-day-heroes-of-the-philippines/) of abuse and maltreatment of OFWs are filed on a yearly basis, for decades now. And yet the government policy remains lacking, giving many Filipinos little reprieve or safety in their work places, and continuing to endanger them today in host countries that have shown little regard for the safety of migrant workers.

Suddenly, even greener pastures of tolerance don’t look tolerable at all.

## Government Policy and Diaspora Art: What’s Next

At the end of the day, the unjust treatment of Philippine migrants is an ongoing problem with no future solution in sight. Our government is more focused on infrastructure rather than industrialization, and its anti-worker stances, from the minimum wage to its anti-union lean, ensures that Filipinos will look for better opportunities abroad for as long as they can.

Thus, especially with the increasingly racist immigration sentiment in the West, the Philippine art scene will likely see more and more artworks catered to the feelings of the Filipino diaspora, artists seeking community in a world that feels targeted against them.

Related reading: [Postcolonial Art in 2024 and Expressing Discontent Today](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/postcolonial-art-bluprint-year-end-2024/ "Postcolonial Art in 2024 and Expressing Discontent Today")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does the Filipino diaspora influence contemporary art themes?

The Filipino diaspora serves as fertile ground for artistic exploration, focusing on the cultural divide and the unique experience of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Modern exhibitions use art as a bridge to discuss complex topics like migration, income inequality, and the “active injury” of fractured families. This creative movement helps Filipinos navigate the emotional toll of a government policy that prioritizes labor export over internal industrialization.

### What are the common themes in Filipino migrant art exhibitions?

Recent exhibitions like Lakbay and Mother/land highlight themes of displacement, the loss of cultural heritage, and the fragmented nature of the “American Dream.” Artists often use metaphors like boxed furniture or crumpled documents to represent a lack of solid roots and the alienation felt in foreign lands. These works critique the societal valorization of migration by exposing the hidden emotional costs, such as the breakdown of traditional family structures and communal rituals.

### Why is the reconnection to cultural roots important for Filipino artists abroad?

For Filipino artists living in the West, reconnecting with their cultural heritage is a vital way of understanding their identity within the global tapestry of life. Curators note that these artists possess a deep desire to link back to the local scene to overcome the “stranger in both lands” phenomenon. Establishing these creative communities helps mitigate the isolation caused by migration and provides a sense of belonging amidst rising anti-immigrant sentiments worldwide.

### How do global anti-immigration policies impact the Filipino art scene?

Increasingly hostile immigration rhetoric and racial attacks in Western countries have made the diaspora experience an urgent “time bomb” for artistic reflection. As birthright citizenship and legal status come under threat, artists are responding to the anxiety of potential deportation and systemic xenophobia. The Philippine art scene is seeing a rise in works that cater to these feelings of vulnerability, seeking community in a world that feels increasingly targeted against migrants.

### What role does the Philippine government play in the diaspora narrative?

The Philippine government treats migration as a core economic policy, with remittances from over 2.3 million workers accounting for roughly 8.5% of the national GDP. However, critics and artists point out that this reliance on export labor often leaves workers vulnerable to abuse and human trafficking with little state protection. Because the current administration focuses more on infrastructure than local industrialization or worker rights, the diaspora remains a “forever topic” in art due to the lack of opportunities at home.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture, News

**Tags:** Art, Migration, Philippine Diaspora, Philippines, Subversive Artworks

---

### [Push to Declare Pasig River a National Cultural Treasure Gains Momentum](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/push-to-declare-pasig-river-a-national-cultural-treasure-gains-momentum/)

**Published:** April 23, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

A growing coalition of heritage conservationists and cultural advocates is calling for the urgent call to declare the Pasig River a National Cultural Treasure (NCT). They cite the river’s irreplaceable historical, cultural, and ecological significance. The move comes amid renewed concerns over the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), a controversial 19.37 kilometer, 6-lane expressway that critics warn could irreversibly alter the river’s identity and legacy.

In a recent online meeting convened by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), members of the joint technical working group composed of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines and the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) discussed the proposed flowchart and guidelines that would support the petition to recognize the Pasig River as an NCT.

According to Architect Dominic Galicia, past President of ICOMOS Philippines, the initiative gained significant traction thanks to a robust *Statement of Significance* released by ICOMOS in March 2023. The document outlines the river’s centuries-old role in the country’s social, cultural, and environmental fabric.

“You cannot tell the story of the Philippines without the Pasig River,” Galicia remarked, underscoring institutional support for the initiative.

## Legal Foundations in R.A. 10066

Advocates point to the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (R.A. 10066), whose core objectives are to protect, preserve, conserve, and promote the nation’s cultural heritage—including its physical sites, intangible traditions, and the identities of local communities. The law mandates that:

- The State foster a balanced atmosphere in which historic legacies coexist in harmony with modern society.
- Conservation be approached in an integrated, multidisciplinary manner, cutting across all relevant fields and technologies.
- Heritage resources be managed in a spirit of stewardship, for the benefit and inspiration of present and future generations.

Under R.A. 10066, the Pasig River itself—together with the [heritage buildings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mementos-from-the-past-the-importance-of-heritage-buildings/) lining its banks and the few remaining open spaces—qualifies as a single “cultural property.” The Act defines cultural property broadly, encompassing everything from churches and historic structures to natural sites and movable artifacts. ICOMOS Philippines therefore recommends that this combined river–site complex be formally declared both a Heritage Zone by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and a National Cultural Treasure by the NCCA, in recognition of its outstanding historical, social, and aesthetic value.

## NHCP Resolution No. 19: Precedent for the Pasig River Heritage Zone

![Push to Declare Pasig River a National Cultural Treasure Gains Momentum.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Pasig-River-Aerial-View-2-scaled.webp "Pasig River Aerial View 2 - BluPrint")ICOMOS Philippines also cites NHCP Resolution No. 19, s. 2012. This declared the Manila Bay waterfront (from Del Pan Bridge to the Cultural Center of the Philippines) a National Historical Landmark. It’s a clear precedent for protecting a continuous stretch of interconnected heritage. A similar declaration for the Pasig River corridor safeguards the river, structures, open spaces holistically rather than treated in isolation.

## Why Is the Pasig River Culturally and Historically Significant to Metro Manila?

Stretching 27 kilometers from Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay, the Pasig River has been a character-defining feature of Metro Manila since at least 900 AD. It served as the primary transportation, trade, and communication artery for Tagalog settlements, and later under Spanish and American colonial administrations. Today, it remains an alternative mode of public transport, a flood-management channel, and an urban heat sink that mitigates the effects of climate change.

Culturally, the river has inspired generations of Filipino artists, writers, and composers—from José Honorato Lozano and José Rizal to Fernando Amorsolo and modern filmmakers—earning it a place alongside the Seine, Thames, and Chao Phraya as a living emblem of national identity.

## PAREX: A Threat to Holistic Conservation

The proposed expressway is a 19.37-kilometer elevated toll road that will run along the banks of the historic Pasig River, from R-10 in Manila to C-6 in Taguig. While pitched as a solution to traffic congestion, the project draws significant criticism for its potential destructive impact on the river’s ecological, cultural, and social value.

Its construction threatens to alter the river’s natural character, undermining its historic role as Manila’s lifeline and eroding its identity as a vital cultural and environmental resource. By introducing a massive elevated structure along its banks, the expressway would disrupt the aesthetic and historical views of heritage buildings—many of which date back centuries and are key elements of the nation’s architectural patrimony.

In addition, the project risks worsening pollution and ecological degradation. Elevated expressways, known to generate significant noise, air, and water pollution, potentially inflict further harm on an already fragile waterway. [PAREX](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/parex-is-canceled-everything-you-need-to-know/) would also undermine current and future efforts to rehabilitate the river as a shared public space that promotes ecological balance, recreation, and well-being across generations.

Most importantly, the project directly contradicts the principles of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which emphasizes holistic stewardship of cultural properties like the Pasig River and its surrounding heritage zone.

Critics argue that rather than resolving traffic, PAREX will concretize a critical urban waterway, turning it into an eyesore and choking off the chance for sustainable development along one of Metro Manila’s most historically significant and environmentally crucial corridors.

![Push to Declare Pasig River a National Cultural Treasure Gains Momentum.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Pasig-River-Aerial-View-3-scaled.webp "Pasig River Aerial View 3 - BluPrint")Conservationists warn that without the legal shield of an NCT designation, piecemeal protections will fall short—allowing one element (for example, an open-space park or a historic warehouse) to be imperiled if decision-makers treat them as discrete assets.

“A National Cultural Treasure designation is not just symbolic,” Galicia emphasizes. “It is a lifeline—for the river, for our heritage, and for the generations who will inherit both.”

As the NCCA continues deliberations on the petition, heritage and environmental groups urge swift action to enshrine the Pasig River corridor under the strongest possible legal framework—an integrated, holistic safeguard befitting one of the Philippines’ most storied and essential cultural landscapes.

The joint ICOMOS-HCS petition marks a significant moment in the country’s cultural preservation efforts, signaling a broader movement to center heritage in the face of rapid urban development.

For updates on the Pasig River NCT campaign and related developments, follow ICOMOS Philippines at [philippines.icomos.org](https://philippines.icomos.org).

Photos by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [Revitalizing the Pasig River to Transform Manila’s Social Fabric](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/pasig-river-urban-development-by-wta-and-pgaa/)

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### What is the significance of Pasig River?

Pasig River is a vital waterway in Metro Manila, serving as a historical trade route and cultural landmark. It reflects the city’s heritage, connecting communities while symbolizing efforts to restore urban waterways.

### What is the Pasig River rehabilitation program?

The rehabilitation program aims to clean, restore, and revitalize the Pasig River through waste removal, eco-friendly engineering, and heritage conservation. It combines environmental sustainability with cultural preservation for future generations.

### Is Pasig River a dead river?

While once considered biologically dead due to pollution, restoration initiatives have improved water quality and revived aquatic life. Ongoing projects aim to fully restore its ecological and cultural value.

### What benefits would heritage-marker status bring to rivers like Pasig?

Heritage-marker status would protect the river’s historic significance, attract tourism, and secure funding for conservation. It reinforces its role as a cultural landmark while supporting sustainable urban development.

### Could the Pasig River’s historic lighthouse or riverside houses be included in its heritage zone?

Yes, the lighthouse and preserved riverside houses could be part of a designated heritage zone. Including these structures highlights their cultural value and strengthens efforts to protect the river’s historical identity.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, News

**Tags:** Architecture, Heritage, Manila, PAREX, Philippines

---

### [OBRA 2026: UAP Launches the Design Excellence Awards](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/obra-2026-uap-launches-the-design-excellence-awards/)

**Published:** December 7, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) has officially launched OBRA: UAP Design Excellence Awards (DEA) 2026, marking a new, globally-inclusive era for the organization’s highest honor. Underpinned by a renewed partnership with Davies Paints, the awards cycle invites licensed Filipino Architects-of-Record worldwide to submit their best completed projects for recognition based on three rigorous pillars: Vision, Artistry, and Universality.

The official Media Launch and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing, attended by UAP leaders, Davies Paints executives, media partners, and architecture content creators, signaled a strong, unified front dedicated to elevating the discourse and recognition of outstanding Filipino architecture.

## What Are OBRA 2026’s Three Judging Pillars: Vision, Artistry, and Universality?

![DEA Convenor, architect Jowee Tatad](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/UAP-OBRA_11.26.25_2-1.webp "UAP-OBRA_11.26.25_2 - BluPrint")The program began with DEA Convenor, architect Jowee Tatad, setting an ambitious tone for a more deliberate and inclusive framework, moving beyond mere project recognition to a deeper appreciation of a design’s impact.

DEA Program Director, architect Gerard Dy, presented the refined Program Overview, detailing the strengthened nomination process designed to ensure that OBRA remains the organization’s most authoritative honor. The judging criteria are structured around three authoritative pillars designed to assess not only formal quality but also professional responsibility and cultural resonance:

Vision: Acknowledges forward-looking design that anticipates change, integrates innovation in materials, construction and technology, and responds to environmental imperatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Artistry: Celebrates cultural depth and formal strength. It honors mastery of space, form, proportion, light, and detail, and recognizes architecture that interprets Filipino identity and context with clarity and resonance.

Universality: Highlights impact and inclusivity. It values architecture that expresses shared cultural values, lived traditions, strengthens communities, and upholds accessibility, equity, and human dignity.

## What Filipino Architects Need to Know Before Submitting to OBRA 2026

A key component of the revitalized OBRA 2026 is its rigorous adherence to professional standards and inclusivity. The program emphasizes its commitment to recognizing the Filipino architectural spirit, wherever it may manifest, while ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.

The DEA Registration period is from December 1, 2025 to February 27, 2026, with the shortlist to be announced at the UAP National Convention in April, 2026, and the gala awarding slated for May.

#### **Eligibility and Submission Rules:**

- **Who Can Submit?** Only the Architect-of-Record (AOR) can submit entries. The AOR must be a licensed Filipino architect and a UAP member in good standing. Crucially, submissions are open to AORs practicing anywhere in the world**.**
- **Eligible Projects:** Actual, physically-built projects worldwide, designed by the UAP member.
- **Project Timeline:** Entries must be projects completed and built within the period covering 2020 to the present, which are currently occupied and in use. Renovated projects are allowed only if they involve a minimum of 85% renovation, with “before” and “after” documentation required**.**
- **Submission Limit:** Architects may submit a maximum of two projects across all categories, with only one project allowed per category. An architect may only win one award per DEA batch.
- **Anonymity Rule:** Submissions must completely conceal all references to the architecture firm or designer. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification.

There is no entry fee required for submission. To uphold the integrity of the judging process, a clear exclusion list is enforced, covering relatives up to the third degree, current professional partners of the jury, UAP-DEA committee members, UAP National Board/Executive Directors, and UAP College of Fellows Officers for the current fiscal year

## UAP and Davies Paints: Renewed Partnership

The significance of the partnership was underscored by messages from UAP National President, Joey Manalad and Executive Director of Davies Paints, John Lee Garcia. Their addresses highlighted the powerful synergy between the largest organization of architects and a key industry partner. The formal signing between the two entities marks a renewed commitment to honoring outstanding works by Filipino architects.

This renewed commitment to OBRA demonstrates a shared belief in the value of outstanding Filipino design, creating robust avenues for professional growth and national recognition. The partnership provides the professional and financial heft needed to elevate the UAP’s highest honor to national significance.

## BluPrint and UAP-Affiliated Creators at the OBRA 2026 Launch

![Amplifying the Design Discourse](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/UAP-OBRA_11.26.25_1.webp "UAP-OBRA_11.26.25_1 - BluPrint")The event’s media attendance was notable for its diversity and commitment. BluPrint, as a leading voice, was joined by other established media partners. More crucially, the launch was strongly supported by a vibrant cohort of UAP-affiliated architect content creators.

Architects such as Dax, RK Thicc, Ronald Buenaflor, Saira Margarita, Palacio Architects, Architect JM de Jesus, AP Antolin, Archi Levi, and Architects Dannie and Dianne Florendo were present. Their collective presence brings crucial visibility and momentum, effectively launching the #OBRA2026 journey across the dynamic digital space and translating complex design ideas into engaging public conversation.

OBRA 2026 is now officially open for nominations, with the registration period running from December 1, 2025, to February 27, 2026. Following the selection process, the anticipation will build as the shortlist is announced at the UAP National Convention in April 2026, culminating in the highly anticipated Gala Awarding slated for May 2026. Filipino architects are invited to present their most significant and impactful work for consideration against the pillars of Vision, Artistry, and Universality.

For more details, visit [uapdea.com](https://uapdea.com).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the three authoritative pillars used to judge OBRA 2026 submissions?

The judging criteria are structured around Vision, Artistry, and Universality. Vision assesses forward-looking innovation, technology integration, and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Artistry evaluates the mastery of form, light, and proportion, specifically how it interprets Filipino identity. Universality measures the project’s impact on inclusivity, accessibility, and its ability to strengthen communities through shared cultural values.

### Who is eligible to submit entries for the Design Excellence Awards?

Only a licensed Filipino Architect-of-Record (AOR) who is a UAP member in good standing is eligible to submit. A significant update for the 2026 cycle is global inclusivity, allowing Filipino AORs practicing anywhere in the world to enter their built projects. To maintain the integrity of the selection, a strict exclusion list applies to UAP National Board members, DEA committee members, and close relatives or professional partners of the jury.

### What are the technical requirements regarding the project timeline and status?

Eligible projects must be physically built, occupied, and in use, with completion dates falling between 2020 and the present. While the awards focus on new builds, renovated projects are permitted only if they involve a minimum of 85% renovation. In such cases, the architect must provide comprehensive “before” and “after” documentation to verify the extent of the structural and aesthetic transformation.

### What is the “Anonymity Rule” and how does it affect the submission process?

The Anonymity Rule is a critical transparency measure requiring that all submission materials—including photos, plans, and descriptions—completely conceal any reference to the architecture firm or the identity of the designer. This ensures that the jury evaluates projects solely on their architectural merit. Failure to comply with this rule results in immediate disqualification.

### What is the timeline for the OBRA 2026 awards cycle?

The registration and submission period runs from December 1, 2025, to February 27, 2026. There is no entry fee required for submission. The shortlist of finalists will be announced during the UAP National Convention in April 2026, with the cycle culminating in a formal Gala Awarding ceremony scheduled for May 2026.

 [![Architect Pierre Briones](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Pierre-Briones.webp "Pierre Briones - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/on-breakthroughs-architect-pierre-briones-on-establishing-his-name-in-architecture/) 

### [On Breakthroughs: Architect Pierre Briones on Establishing His Name in Architecture ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/on-breakthroughs-architect-pierre-briones-on-establishing-his-name-in-architecture/)

Breaking through in their respective careers is a daunting task for any young professional. For Architect Pierre Briones, architecture has always been an intentional pursuit. Having spent much of his childhood around construction sites, Briones’s environment shaped his interest in architecture, including his fascination with how structures and buildings are built. “Choosing architecture was never \[…\]

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### [Architecting Ambiance: Larawan Ink and the Power of Invisible Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/architecting-ambiance-larawan-ink/)

The genius of a well-designed space is often invisible, yet its presence is deeply felt. It’s there in the warmth of light that encourages you to linger, the balance of texture and materials, and in the intuitive layout that guides you effortlessly through the room. This translation of an idea into a tangible, atmospheric reality \[…\]

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### [Life-Centric Architecture: Terence Yu Places the Human Experience First](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/life-centric-architecture-terence-yu-places-the-human-experience-first/)

At its core, architecture has always been about the human experience. While this fundamental purpose can sometimes be overlooked amid the complexities of modern life, a renewed focus on human-first principles is taking hold. This deliberate approach is articulated in the philosophy of Life-Centric Architecture, a mandate championed and put into practice by Terence Yu \[…\]

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### [The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-good-in-tension-how-dominic-galicia-designs-beyond-time/)

Dominic Galicia operates on a different timeline. For him, the distinction between a structure built today and one erected centuries ago dissolves if it possesses a “special quality of moving the spirit.” This core belief is the foundation of a career that elegantly sidesteps the false dichotomy of heritage versus modernity. Instead, Galicia, the principal \[…\]

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### [The Pragmatic Visionary: Don Lino Finds Soul in the Solution](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-pragmatic-visionary-don-lino-finds-soul-in-the-solution/)

What is the soul of a building? For many, the answer lies in history, aesthetics, or some intangible poetry of space. For architect Don Lino, the answer is far more concrete: the soul is found in the solution. This is the guiding principle of his firm, LINO Architecture, a practice built on the conviction that \[…\]

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### [Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/serene-geometries-ed-calma-finds-clarity-through-quietude/)

“I always consider a house as having two lives,” Ed Calma states. “One is the architect’s vision for the house, and the other is how the clients live in it.” The first is the one imagined by its creator—a vision of light, form, and intention. The second, more complex life begins the moment someone walks \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, News

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Obra, Philippines, UAP

---

### [MUJI Philippines Unveils Its Largest Flagship Store at Glorietta](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/muji-philippines-unveils-its-largest-flagship-store-at-glorietta/)

**Published:** April 28, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

MUJI Philippines has reached a new milestone with the opening of its first and largest flagship store at Glorietta 3, introducing an expanded experience centered around thoughtful living and everyday essentials. Covering over 2,600 square meters across three floors, MUJI Glorietta now stands as the brand’s largest location in the country, redefining what it means to shop for simplicity, function, and timeless design.

## What Defines MUJI Glorietta’s Minimalist Interior and Material Palette?

![MUJI Philippines Unveils Its Largest Flagship Store at Glorietta.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MUJI-Glorietta-3-Largest-and-First-Flagship-Store-in-the-Philippines-1-scaled.webp "MUJI Glorietta 3 - Largest and First Flagship Store in the Philippines (1) - BluPrint")True to its ethos of “no-brand quality goods,” MUJI Glorietta offers an impressive selection of over 2,500 products, designed to effortlessly fit into daily life. While MUJI has long been loved for its apparel, the flagship store places a renewed emphasis on home living—highlighting furniture, storage solutions, kitchen tools, decor, and even indoor greenery curated specifically for the Philippine lifestyle.

The store’s design is as much part of the experience as the products themselves. High ceilings, abundant natural light, and interiors featuring Philippine reclaimed wood create an inviting, relaxing environment that encourages mindful shopping. The use of local materials and sustainable elements reflect MUJI’s global commitment to eco-conscious living.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MUJI-Glorietta_Household_Bed-Room_1-scaled.webp "MUJI Glorietta_Household_Bed Room_1 - BluPrint")Shoppers will find an extensive array of MUJI’s beloved home items—from modular storage systems and minimalist furniture to kitchenware and organizational tools—each crafted with the brand’s signature focus on simplicity, durability, and user-centered design. MUJI’s understated aesthetics and practical functionality continue to make it a go-to destination for those looking to create a harmonious living space.

![MUJI Philippines Unveils Its Largest Flagship Store at Glorietta.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MUJI-Glorietta-3-Largest-and-First-Flagship-Store-in-the-Philippines-14.webp "MUJI Glorietta 3 - Largest and First Flagship Store in the Philippines (14) - BluPrint")Expanding beyond traditional retail, MUJI Glorietta also introduces several services designed to enhance the shopping experience. Highlights include an In-House Alteration service for clothing, a Water Refill Station promoting sustainability, and the popular Stamp Table for personalized stationery. The Service Counter also provides personalized consultations, home delivery options, and assistance with larger orders, making it easier than ever to incorporate MUJI’s philosophy into daily living.

## Inside MUJI Glorietta’s First Philippine Bakery and Benguet Coffee Counter

In a bid to foster deeper connections between people and nature, MUJI Glorietta offers a curated collection of green plants, selected for their resilience in tropical climates. These easy-to-maintain plants serve as simple, effective ways to bring tranquility and life into urban homes.

Additionally, the store will host a series of workshops and events ranging from Compact Living seminars to Aroma and Scent Blending sessions. These experiences align with MUJI’s goal of helping customers discover practical lifestyle solutions while building a community rooted in shared values.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MUJI-Glorietta-3-Largest-and-First-Flagship-Store-in-the-Philippines-5.webp "MUJI Glorietta 3 - Largest and First Flagship Store in the Philippines (5) - BluPrint")Further enhancing the flagship experience is the introduction of the MUJI Bakery, a first in the Philippines. Freshly baked daily, the bakery offers a range of breads inspired by both Japanese and Filipino flavors—think pandesal, croissants, and ensaymada—all crafted in-house. Complementing the bakery is MUJI’s largest Coffee Counter to date, featuring coffee made with beans sourced from Benguet farmers, house-made curry rice meals, and indulgent Hokkaido milk soft serve ice cream.

## Visiting MUJI Glorietta 3: What to Know Before You Go

MUJI Glorietta is more than just a retail space; it’s a community hub built around sustainable practices, mindful shopping, and thoughtful design. Through its expanded product range, personalized services, and commitment to quality, MUJI continues to provide simple yet meaningful solutions for modern living.

The flagship store officially opened its doors on April 25, 2025, located at Glorietta 3 (Levels 1, 2, and 3) in Makati City. It operates Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

For more information, visit [mujiph.com](https://mujiph.com/), or follow MUJI Philippines on Facebook and Instagram (@muji\_ph).

Images courtesy of Muji Philippines.

**Read more:** [Burt Select Shop: Surftown La Union’s Minimalist Concept Store](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/burt-select-shop-surftown-la-unions-minimalist-concept-store/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes the MUJI Glorietta flagship store unique compared to other locations?

As the largest MUJI store in the Philippines, the Glorietta 3 flagship spans over 2,600 square meters across three floors and offers an expanded selection of over 2,500 products. It features exclusive amenities such as the country’s first MUJI Bakery, a large coffee counter sourcing local Benguet beans, and a dedicated water refill station. The store’s design also integrates local Philippine reclaimed wood, blending the brand’s minimalist Japanese aesthetic with sustainable, regional elements.

### What types of personalized services are available at the MUJI Glorietta store?

The flagship store offers several lifestyle services including an in-house clothing alteration service and a Service Counter for personalized consultations and home delivery. Customers can also enjoy the Stamp Table for customizing stationery and participate in specialized workshops covering topics like compact living and aroma blending. These services are designed to help shoppers integrate MUJI’s philosophy of functional, simple living into their specific household needs and personal styles.

### Does MUJI Glorietta offer any food and beverage options for shoppers?

Yes, the store features the first MUJI Bakery in the Philippines, serving fresh breads that blend Japanese and Filipino flavors, such as pandesal and ensaymada. Adjacent to the bakery is a coffee counter offering beverages made from local Benguet coffee beans, house-made curry rice meals, and Hokkaido milk soft serve ice cream. These culinary offerings provide a space for everyday comfort and a deeper connection to local community flavors within the retail environment.

### How does the flagship store promote sustainability and eco-conscious living?

Sustainability is integrated into the store through the use of reclaimed Philippine wood in its interior design and the provision of a public Water Refill Station to reduce plastic waste. MUJI also focuses on durability and user-centered design in its products, encouraging a “less is more” approach to consumption. Additionally, the store offers a curated collection of resilient indoor plants to help urban dwellers bring nature into their homes in a sustainable, low-maintenance way.

### What are the operating hours and location details for MUJI Glorietta?

The MUJI flagship store is located across Levels 1, 2, and 3 of Glorietta 3 in Makati City. It is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with extended weekend hours from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This central location serves as a community hub for mindful shopping and lifestyle workshops, making it easily accessible for residents and commuters in the metro area.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** News, Retail

**Tags:** Design, Manila, Muji, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Anthony Nazareno and Rita Nazareno Reinvent The Future of Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/anthony-nazareno-and-rita-nazareno-reinvent-the-future-of-design/)

**Published:** April 15, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Siblings have a unique bond that can last a lifetime and often become people’s longest relationships. Siblings can have a significant influence on each other, from what they do to their perspectives in life. Two of the most influential and respected creatives in the Philippines today are siblings Architect Anthony Nazareno and Designer Rita Nazareno who share the same values and vision for the future of design.

The design-oriented siblings are not afraid to experiment in using different techniques and materials to come up with new concepts. Their mastery of their crafts let them integrate each other’s design concepts into one cohesive design narrative without losing their individual identities.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno2.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno2 - BluPrint")BluPrint has worked with both siblings individually but having them in one room exudes a fun, positive energy. The bond they share allows them to collaborate seamlessly despite being in different fields. One of their latest projects together is the *“Bahay Huni”* in a gated community in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

## Who Is Anthony Nazareno and What Is His Architecture Firm?

Antony Nazareno is one of the sought architects in the industry who graduated from the California College of the Arts. He started his design career in San Francisco with modernist architect Jim Jennings who was also his professor in school. Anthony admired his architecture when he was in school. Although he enjoyed working for Jennings for a couple of years, he found himself yearning for a little bit more than just modern architecture. He moved to New York to work for Li-Saltzman, an architecture firm specializing in the preservation and conservation of landmark architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno6.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno6 - BluPrint")In the late 1990’s, Anthony came back to the Philippines. For him, it was an ideal time to start his own firm. He founded [The Nazareno + Guerrero Design Consultancy](https://www.ngdc.design/about) in 1998 together with Architect Christian Guerrero. Over the years, the firm had designed a wide range of projects, from [residential](https://bluprint-onemega.com/e-mag/the-bauhinia-residence-what-it-has-it-maximizes/) to institutional buildings, which includes *“Bahay Huni.”*

## Who Is Rita Nazareno and What Is ZACARIAS1925?

Before doing what she does now, [Rita Nazareno](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/must-see-nazareno-lichauco-showcase-at-jj-acuna-bespoke-studio/) was on television. She was a Senior Producer of Fox 11 in Los Angeles from the Promotions and Creative Department. Then she became a Creative Services Director for the NBC station in Houston, which was the Top 10 market at the time. She came home after their mother called her asking if she could work for S.C. Viscarra, a business started by their grandmother in 1925.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno5.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno5 - BluPrint")Prior to coming home, Rita took a year off and decided to take up her second Master’s at London College of Fashion for Design Management. She then started [ZACARIAS1925](https://www.zacarias1925.com/), an offshoot of S.C. Viscarra and her thesis. As the brand’s Creative Director, Rita wanted to create something unique for the market.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8466-scaled-1.jpg "IMG_8466 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8467-scaled-1.jpg "IMG_8467 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8464-scaled-1.jpg "IMG_8464 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8468-scaled-1.jpg "IMG_8468 - BluPrint")

ZACARIAS1925 pieces displayed during the Art Fair Philippines 2023

“I came back home not wanting to do what’s already out there. I want something I am more passionate about that I haven’t seen out there and I want to reference things that interest me, whether it’s contemporary art, architecture, culture, and even cinema. That’s how I started,” Rita explains.

Rita is now making and designing more than just bags. She also does home accessories beyond using woven wicker, leather, or chair cane. She likes to make and design pieces using different techniques and materials. She is part of Nazareno/Lichauco where she works with fellow designer Gabriel Lichauco curating collections, mentoring designers, and developing new product designs, and concepts for numerous brands. They have been collaborating is numerous projects since 2016.

## How Did Anthony and Rita Nazareno’s Shared Passion for Design Begin?

Growing up, the siblings have plenty of memories that bring them closer together. Their shared passion and interest in arts and design have influenced each other’s crafts. It is also inspiring to learn how they supported each other’s endeavors throughout the years. There were times when Anthony would ask her sister to stay up with him as he worked on his plates and models in the wee hours while he was an architecture student.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno7.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno7 - BluPrint")

Like many siblings, Anthony and Rita had a lot of fun and unforgettable experiences together. Rita, for instance, would always hang out with his brother to keep him company as he worked on his models. She shared that there was a time when Anthony left a model, which is due the next day for critique, on a chair and Rita accidentally sat on it. Rita remembered the devastating look on his brother’s face as he looked at the deformed model he just finished making.

“It was not earthquake proof,” Rita remembered telling his brother after the unfortunate incident. Anthony then bantered, “it is earthquake proof, not giant proof.”

Anthony still presented his work to his professor despite its condition. He explained what transpired that led to that situation. The professor believed Anthony worked on his project but it was only unfortunate that it was damaged before he was able to submit it.

## How Do Anthony and Rita Nazareno Influence Each Other’s Creative Work?

With their impressive body of work, both Anthony and Rita have surely carved their names in the industry. Despite having individual careers, they always find each other in certain events without planning for it.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno - BluPrint")“I love the fact that we can go around, we’ll find each other wherever I am in the world. We’ll go and look at things, then talk about things. Then again, I always find myself staying at his place and they totally take care of me. That’s part of how I look up to him in everything,” Rita shares.

Throughout the course of their careers, they have influenced each other’s work in one way or another. Rita learned several techniques from Anthony when they were young that until now she still applies in her works.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno3.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno3 - BluPrint")Anthony, meanwhile, appreciates the time he spends with Rita, saying: “Now in my career, I always find myself inviting Rita over and then exchanging ideas \[about\] anything. She has a lot of ideas, from architecture and interior design to fashion.”

The time the siblings spend exchanging ideas affects the way they collaborate. “I always show her what I’m working on, she always shows me what she’s working on. It’s a great way of critiquing each other’s works,” says Anthony. “I’ve always enjoyed working with Rita because a lot of her stuff really goes well with what I do. I found ourselves really being able to seamlessly integrate accessories that she has done, they have designed. It’s seen in a lot of architecture and interior design that we’ve done throughout the years,” he adds.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno - BluPrint")Anthony, together with his team, learns from Rita’s craft, especially when working with different materials he doesn’t normally use in his projects. The siblings bounce ideas off of each other when it comes to materiality. This helps Anthony understand the materials Rita uses in her pieces and how he can incorporate those in his designs and vice versa.

“It’s fun having Rita around and being motivated by what she does and what she continues to do and how well she researches materiality in her own creative field,” says Anthony.

## What Projects Have Anthony and Rita Nazareno Collaborated On?

Anthony and Rita have have always leaned into each other when it come to creativity. The siblings told BluPrint that their first collaboration project was a simple Christmas tree that they have designed together. It was for an event where several creatives were invited to design a tree to be auctioned. After a couple of years, Anthony met the person who bought their tree. The owner told the architect that the Christmas tree is still displayed in his office and admired by many.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno5.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno5 - BluPrint")*Bahay Huni is a project Architect Anthony Nazareno and Rita Nazareno* worked on together.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno19.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno19 - BluPrint")Anthony and Rita have worked together on several projects after that, having *“Bahay Huni”* as one of the latest. The house was designed by Architects Anthony and Christian Guerrero of NGDC together with their project team consisting of Katrina Sicat and Interior Designer CJ Marquez. It is adorned with custom pieces from ZACARIAS1925, including oversized woven baskets, stools, and bird nest lamps. The overall design and theme of the house is inspired by the bird sanctuary across the street. The sounds of the birds can reach the house, hence the name *“Bahay Huni”*. The understanding of the designer siblings of each other’s crafts has tied up the whole place together. Rita’s contemporary pieces are tailored to seamlessly complement Anthony’s design.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PHOTO-2023-04-15-17-04-40-4.jpg "PHOTO-2023-04-15-17-04-40 4 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PHOTO-2023-04-15-17-09-15.jpg "PHOTO-2023-04-15-17-09-15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno22.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno22 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno23.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno23 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno24.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno24 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno18.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno17.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno16.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno16 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno9.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno9.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno15.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno13.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Landscape-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno19.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Landscape) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno19 - BluPrint")

When asked about their dream projects together, Anthony shared that he wants to design an art museum. He said that museums are close to both his and Rita’s heart.

Rita, on the other hand, has always wanted to have a cabin designed by his brother. She wants it to be simple, concrete, and affordable. But Anthony assures her that he will have something for her that both of them, together with the rest of the family, can use and enjoy.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-Anthony-Rita-Nazareno4.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - Anthony & Rita Nazareno4 - BluPrint")“It’s fun when you’re always able to do things you’ve always wanted,” says Anthony.

“Everything I get to spend time with my brother or with my family, that’s always special,” shares Rita.

As siblings, Anthony and Rita have an admirable relationship. With their skills and shared passion in architecture and design, Anthony Nazareno and Rita Nazareno are set to continue delivering fresh and innovative ideas–individually and as a creative duo.

---

CREDITS

Text RICK FORMALEJO

Photography KIERAN PUNAY

Videographer JOSE RAMIREZ

Art Direction DIANNE FERNANDO

Video Producer MIGUEL LIM

Grooming CATS DEL ROSARIO

Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Project Photos Courtesy of NAZARENO + GUERRERO DESIGN CONSULTANCY

Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID and MJ ALMERO

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Bluprint Perspective, Designers, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Design, Filipino Designers, Furniture, Interior Design, Philippines

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### [Artist Files Lawsuit After Denied Copyright for AI-Generated Artwork](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/lawsuit-copyright-refusal-for-ai-generated-artwork/)

**Published:** October 8, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Jason M. Allen, the “artist” infamously known for winning an art contest with AI-generated artwork, sued the U.S. copyright office over their decision to reject his petition for copyright protection for the award-winning artwork.

![A work submitted by Jason M. Allen for the Colorado State Fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1024px-Space_opera_2__Midjourney__Jason_M_Allen__Colorado_State_Fair_Fine_Arts_Competition_entrant.jpg "1024px-Space_opera_2__Midjourney__Jason_M_Allen__Colorado_State_Fair_Fine_Arts_Competition_entrant - BluPrint")A work submitted by Jason M. Allen for the Colorado State Fair.The artwork, “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial,” became controversial after it won the Colorado State Fair’s art competition in 2022. Allen created the artwork with the generative-AI image creator Midjourney.

## **Are Prompts Human Authorship?**

Allen [claimed](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ai-generated-artwork-colorado-state-fair-copyright-decision-reversal-appeal-1234719694/) that the rejection of the artwork’s copyright protection gave him “no recourse against others who are blatantly and repeatedly stealing” the AI-generated artwork. He claimed that he lost millions of dollars over the lack of credit.

Allen pushed the idea that he has authorship over the image due to the concept being his idea. The artist reiterated that he used Midjounrey only as “a tool” to create the work. [The lawsuit claims](https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/gdvzkrrmapw/AI%20COPYRIGHT%20REGISTRATION%20appeal.pdf) that the AI-generated artwork underwent 624 iterations, with hundreds of different prompts. He estimated that he did over 110 hours fine-tuning the prompt to generate what he wanted.

![The earlier AI-generated version of “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial" with no edits from Jason M. Allen.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/512px-Theatre_Dopera_Spatial__earlier_revision.jpg "512px-Théâtre_Dopéra_Spatial__earlier_revision - BluPrint")The earlier AI-generated version of “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial” with no edits from Jason M. Allen. 

“Through 624 iterations, he noted the results produced by each word and its placement within the prompt,” the lawsuit claimed. “By studying the AI’s behavior, he learned when Midjourney focused on specific parts of his instructions and when it ignored them altogether.”

## **No Copyright for Machine-Made Portions of AI Art**

The Copyright Review Board, in [their decision](https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/byprrqkqxpe/AI%20COPYRIGHT%20REGISTRATION%20decision.pdf) to reject Allen’s copyright claim, said that he refused to disclaim the portions of the work generated by AI. While they recognized his contributions and edits to the piece, he tried to claim the portions of the AI-generated artwork made by Midjourney, and rejected the request and his multiple appeals.

“The Office accepted Mr. Allen’s claim that human-authored ‘visual edits’ made with Adobe Photoshop contained a sufficient amount of original authorship to be registered,” the Board said. “However, the Office explained that the features generated by Midjourney and Gigapixel AI must be excluded as non-human authorship. Because Mr. Allen sought to register the entire work and refused to disclaim the portions attributable to AI, the Office could not register the claim.”

![Front facade of the US Supreme Court Building. Photo by Kjetil Ree. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1024px-US_Supreme_Court.jpeg "1024px-US_Supreme_Court - BluPrint")Front facade of the US Supreme Court Building. Photo by Kjetil Ree. Source: Wikimedia Commons.The United States government remains consistent in refusing to grant copyright for AI-generated artwork. Their [official AI policy](https://www.copyright.gov/ai/ai_policy_guidance.pdf) requires humans to be the author of the piece. They do not consider crafting a prompt for a machine to create the output “authorship.”

“For example, when an AI technology receives solely a prompt from a human and produces complex written, visual, or musical works in response, the ‘traditional elements of authorship’ are determined and executed by the technology—not the human user,” the guide said.

“\[Users do not exercise ultimate creative control over how such systems interpret prompts and generate material,” they continued. “Instead, these prompts function more like instructions to a commissioned artist—they identify what the prompter wishes to have depicted, but the machine determines how those instructions are implemented in its output.”

## Why Jason Allen’s Colorado State Fair Win Still Divides Artists and AI Critics

Allen’s win at the time was [controversial](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/technology/ai-artificial-intelligence-artists.html). Many recoiled at the win, largely due to the unethical way generative AI trains their apps on scrapped images from other people’s work.

Allen submitted “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial” in the “digital art/digitally manipulated photography” category. He also submitted two other space-themed works. He disclosed to the fair the involvement of AI to the work. The fair found that Midjourney fit into the rules of digital technology used to craft artworks. The judges did not know the work was AI-generated, but said it would have won regardless.

![A work submitted by Jason M. Allen for the Colorado State Fair.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1024px-Space_opera_1__Midjourney__Jason_M_Allen__Colorado_State_Fair_Fine_Arts_Competition_entrant.jpg "1024px-Space_opera_1__Midjourney__Jason_M_Allen__Colorado_State_Fair_Fine_Arts_Competition_entrant - BluPrint")A work submitted by Jason M. Allen for the Colorado State Fair.Artists and online users found the win distasteful, especially while many artists sue AI companies for lost income and copyright violations in scrapping their works and styles. At the time, Allen was unapologetic about his win, or concerns over the unethicalness of the technology. “Art is dead, dude. It’s over. A.I. won. Humans lost,” he said at the time.

*AI-generated images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under public domain.*

Related reading: [Artists Pivot to Cara as Anti-AI Sentiment Grows Among Artists](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/artists-pivot-to-cara-over-anti-ai-policies/ "Artists Pivot to Cara as Anti-AI Sentiment Grows Among Artists")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why did the U.S. Copyright Office reject Jason Allen’s claim for “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial”?

The Copyright Review Board rejected the claim because Allen refused to disclaim the portions of the artwork generated by Midjourney and Gigapixel AI, seeking to register the entire work rather than only his human-authored Photoshop edits.

### What is the U.S. government’s official policy on copyright for AI-generated art?

U.S. copyright policy requires a human author and does not recognize prompting an AI system as authorship, reasoning that the AI — not the human — determines and executes the traditional creative elements of the resulting work.

### How did Jason Allen argue that his prompts constituted authorship?

Allen argued that his creative control came from 624 iterations and roughly 110 hours of prompt refinement with Midjourney, claiming he learned how specific words and their placement influenced the AI’s output.

### What was “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial” and how did it win the Colorado State Fair?

“Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial” was a Midjourney-generated image Allen submitted in the fair’s digital art category in 2022; he disclosed AI involvement beforehand, and judges said it would have won the category regardless.

### Why was Jason Allen’s Colorado State Fair win controversial?

The win drew criticism from artists and online users partly because generative AI tools like Midjourney are trained on scraped images from other artists’ work without consent, raising broader concerns about AI and copyright.

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**Tags:** ai art, AI-generated art, Art, Artificial Intelligence, United States

---

### [Bea Valdes and Marga Valdes Trinidad: Space for Art and Style](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/bea-and-marga-valdes-making-space-for-art-and-style/)

**Published:** March 12, 2022
**Author:** Joy Celine Asto

**Content:**

For Bea and Marga, the creative sisters behind the [BEAVALDES](https://www.beavaldes.com/) brand, their ethos has always been guided by their vision to create modern heirlooms. Each bespoke piece is designed to be meaningful both to them as designers and their discerning clients. Inspired by their artistry and dedication to their craft, one can’t help but wonder what goes on in their creative life.

How exactly do their days begin and flow? How do they cultivate a fulfilling creative enterprise? What habits have allowed them to thrive and build their own brand of success? The creative life entails different aspects specific to each artist. With this in mind and in celebration of National Women’s Month, this BluPrint Perspective is dedicated to the details that drive the craftsmanship of Filipina creatives like the Valdes sisters.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-Feature-Cover-photo-Bea-and-Marga-Valdes-Cover-option-square-3.jpg "BP 2022 - Feature Cover photo (Bea and Marga Valdes Cover option square) (3) - BluPrint")## How Did Bea and Marga Valdes’ Diverse Backgrounds Shape BEAVALDES?

Through the years, BEAVALDES has been mostly associated with the fashion industry through their embroidery and bead work. However, long-time clients and admirers of their designs may be surprised to find out that their professional and educational backgrounds are tangentially related to fashion design. Still, this didn’t stop them from working together seamlessly to establish a creative brand.

“My background is in Creative Writing, Industrial Design, and Interior Design. My sister had her Master’s Degree in Economics, Political Science, and Gender Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Therefore, she has always been deeply conscious about sustainability and its sociological impacts in our developing country,” Bea shared.

However, it’s this patchwork of influences and different experiences that brought to life the brand story that has been guiding Bea and Marga’s design. These varied backgrounds also encouraged them to collaborate with different manufacturers and furniture designers who provided them with tremendous learning experiences. As Bea noted, “these distinct perspectives have allowed us to frame a unique design narrative.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (14) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-17.jpeg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (17) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (1) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (3) - BluPrint")> *“We try to lead by example and with empathy. Everyone has personal, social, political and emotional influences. So, we need to acknowledge those layers of our collective humanity in a manner that honors that.”*

Furthermore, these varied backgrounds and experiences also seeped into their style of leadership towards the people working under their brand. For the sisters, it’s important that they lead by example and with empathy. It allows them to both align their team with their goals and provide the necessary support system during the pandemic.

“To provide our team with continued work within a safe environment, we remained as flexible and as safe as we could be by moving our entire production in-house. We also made sure that our staff had access to a team of trained human resource professionals who could guide us safely, physically, and emotionally while we navigated the pandemic together.”

## What Is the Origin Story of the BEAVALDES Brand?

“We often say that perhaps this journey began with a lament over a tablecloth,” said Bea on how the creative partnership with her sister began. This tablecloth was an elaborate piña mantel that belonged to their grandmother, made for a 14-seater table.

“The mantel was filled with hand-embroidered motifs. At the time, my mother had said that it would take the hands of so many women, seated side by side, at a single table, months to render this one piece,” she recalled.

This “kinship of craft” — of women coming together to create something in unison — Bea said, became the foundation of their brand and creative vision. The brand has come a long way since the launch of the first couture handbag collection in November 2004. But this origin story remains an enduring reminder of the heart and soul of the BEAVALDES brand.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-15.jpeg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (15) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (13) - BluPrint")> *“We want to ensure that the work of our hands remains alive, dynamic and relevant. Our vision has always been to create modern heirlooms – pieces that are meaningful and can cross seasons and generations. We hope our legacy is that we express our personal values through our work. What we do is just as important as how we do it.”*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (10) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-11.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (11) - BluPrint")“It sparked a fascination for our own heritage of artisanship, and a healthy curiosity to learn about our sister communities that create through this matrilineal skill.”

Marga also noted that through their visions as Filipino designers, they also want to celebrate the country’s deep artisanal traditions in a modern, fresh, and contemporary way. They envision each piece not as a commodity, but timeless artworks that carry their heritage as designers and Filipinos.

“We want to ensure that the work of our hands remains alive, dynamic and relevant. Our vision has always been to create modern heirlooms – pieces that are meaningful and can cross seasons and generations. We hope our legacy is that we express our personal values through our work. What we do is just as important as how we do it,” she added.

## What Does a Typical Day Look Like for the BEAVALDES Sisters?

Even creative work needs to have some effort put in. To transform all the ideas, inspiration, and motivation into works of art and style, a routine of some sort is necessary. For Bea and Marga, it’s a flexible one, tailored around their creative lifestyle.

As the Chief Executive Officer of BEAVALDES, Marga spends most of the morning responding to emails and communicating with clients. Bea, on the other hand, is usually fully engaged with the production team and tackling the most technically difficult tasks once she sets foot in the workshop.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-21.jpeg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (21) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-4.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-19.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (19) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-20.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (20) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (10) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (14) - BluPrint")

***Above:*** *According to Bea and Marga, their ideal creative space had to be open, fluid, and surrounded by nature as a “constant reminder that things of value do take time.”*

“Our days begin early, so we can enjoy some quiet time and the sunrise. These days, our routine remains flexible. We both head out to the office together and have our coffee in the showroom. We use that time to catch up on anything personal like kids and family matters or personal projects,” Marga shared.

“We do a quick run down of any updates that are work-related to set the agenda for the day or the week ahead. We both come from very different backgrounds and our particular interest always informs the kinds of discussions we have on current projects or those we are considering taking on. These casual conversations are part of our creative strategy and professional alignment and they happen often, spontaneously and throughout the day.”

## How Is the BEAVALDES Workshop Designed to Support Creative Work?

As with any artist, a dedicated space to create is where the magic happens. For Bea and Marga, it had to be a workshop that “honored the time-intensive work of the people within it.” Also, it had to be defined by clean, open spaces to reflect a calm mind. “It should be ideally devoid of clutter so ideas literally have room to be to be seeded, cultivated and expressed,” Marga stressed. Finally, it should be quiet, well-lit, conducive to creativity, and surrounded by nature as a constant reminder that things of value do take time.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (7) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes-Marga-Trinidad_Portrait-12.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes Marga Trinidad_Portrait) (12) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop_portrait-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop_portrait) (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-26.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (26) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-25.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (25) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-24.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (24) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-17.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (17) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-22.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (22) - BluPrint")

**A*bove:*** *The open* *plan* *design of the BEAVALDES workshop not only ensures that all areas are organized, but also opens up the entire space to different creative possibilities.*

All this translated beautifully in their open plan Manila workshop, which was initially designed and started by [DEQA Design Collaborative](https://ddc.studio) and completed by Architect Arturo Grau. The layout required easy access to their materials, as well as visibility for their past pieces. The openness of the space also allowed the sisters to move through the tables where various pieces are at different stages of creation. It was actually their mother’s vision to have the workshop built this way, Bea shared.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-23.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (23) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-4.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_workshop-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_workshop) (16) - BluPrint")

“The crafting of items are not in fixed areas, but dependent on the artisan who is at that table, and what she may currently be working on. It’s an organic environment, a space for experimentation and exploration.”

## How Has BEAVALDES Collaborated with Other Philippine Designers?

Before the pandemic began, Bea and Marga took part in a collaboration for a private gallery, that aimed to showcase the variety of expertise in Philippine Design. However, they also saw it as experimental learning encounters for all the participants which included Industria, Jinggoy Buensuseco, Wataru Sakuma, and Mejore.

“We think of design as a common language, and being able to work with the various furniture designers and manufacturers felt more like a homecoming than a new venture,” Marga recalled. ”Working with these collaborators, bringing both our perspectives together, creating new pieces, through their skilled hands was truly a privilege.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects-5-640x453.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects) (5) - BluPrint")Balai Desk by Jinggoy Buensuceso

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects_portrait-3-453x640.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects_portrait) (3) - BluPrint")Balai Desk by Jinggoy Buensuceso, showing handmade paper by Wataru Sakuma

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects_portrait-1-453x640.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects_portrait) (1) - BluPrint")Detail to Balai Desk

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects-3-640x453.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects) (3) - BluPrint")Detail to accent wall and book case by Mejore 

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects-2-640x453.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects) (2) - BluPrint")Metal Chairs by Industria/Jude Teotico

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects-1-640x453.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects) (1) - BluPrint")Metal Chairs by Industria/Jude Teotico

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bea-Valdes_objects_portrait-2-453x640.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bea Valdes_objects_portrait) (2) - BluPrint")Detail to Metal Chairs by Industria/Jude Teotico

On this project, Bea also shared:

> *“What we hoped to create was a contemporary view on Philippine Design, through championing the work of a variety of artists and designers. It is not a new brief, but one that we hoped to satisfy through fresh answers. For me, as a consultant for this project, that meant working with established craftsmen and deeply exploring the edges of their skill. The relationships were at different levels of involvement, depending on what the pieces needed. More than collaborations, we would like to think of them as learning encounters that were very experimental. The challenges that we may have had were always tempered by the client’s progressive views, and their commitment to bringing these creative pieces to life.*
> 
> *This meant that for the metalsmith works of Industria, we tried to see if we could make metal feel light and luxe. His pieces took inspiration from linen and abaca and other open-weave, tropical fabric. For the table piece with [Jinggoy Buensuceso](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/folded-landscape/), who is recognized for his metal sculptures, he rendered this in handmade paper by Wataru Sakuma — a piece that looks as if it is floating, made of layer upon layer of paper. Mejore carved out decorative walls, in patterns that have the impression of our Philippine Tattoos. The whole gallery is a collection of textures, in linen, in leather, carved and pristine wood, in paper and abaca, in stone, in shell and in sculpted fabric. These were all expressions of Philippine Islands, through tactile stories.”*

This spirit of collaboration echoes the brand’s devotion to craft and its many faces and voices. As such, Bea and Marga hope to continue this vital and exciting collaboration with different designers and manufacturers. Of course, while they expect their space to evolve along with the requirements of the brand, they also envision it as a platform for new, artisanal-focused relationships.

“Nothing is fixed and our spaces remain fluid depending on what is required of them,” Marga said on the future of their space and their design process. “It’s a good rule of thumb for us as well to have – to keep an open mind and welcome challenges and change as part of the learning process.”

**Text** JOY CELINE ASTO

**Photography** ED SIMON

**Art Direction** JANN PASCUA

**Sittings Editor** GEEWEL FUSTER

**Video Producer** FERRENA ENRIQUEZ

**Shoot Coordination** ERICA LUNA, MAE TALAID, and MJ ALMERO

**Makeup RIA AQUINO**

**Hair** PATTY INOJALES

Special thanks to JEANGER NAVARRO OF LOUIS VUITTON

**Shot on location** BEAVALDES Workshop, Paranaque City.

**Categories:** Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Commercial, Designers, Interiors, Offices, Profile

**Tags:** Bea and Marga Valdes, BEAVALDES, Design, Philippines

---

### [Designer Jor-El Espina Opens New Studio, Shop in Makati](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/jor-el-espina-opens-makati-atelier/)

**Published:** December 16, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Esteemed Filipino designer [Jor-El Espina](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/jor-el-espina-ballet-philippines-ang-panaginip/) opened their new design studio and their first permanent shop in the country, located in Makati. The Jor-El Espina Atelier, on the 7th floor of One Corporate Plaza, gives the celebrated brand a convenient and accessible place for its clients to congregate towards.

![Clothing being sold at Jor-El Espina Atelier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1224-scaled.jpg "DSCF1224 - BluPrint")Clothing being sold at Jor-El Espina Atelier. The atelier and design shop contains many of the latest collections from Espina, from modern interpretations of traditional bridal dresses to his newly-launched 2025 collection to the retail, ready-to-wear versions of his modern takes on the Filipiniana.

![Clients looking through the clothing line at the atelier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1319.jpg "DSCF1319 - BluPrint")Clients looking through the clothing line at the atelier.“This is a part of our growth as a brand to open a design house; our first design house in Manila. For the past years, most of our stores are in the mall and it’s all pop up, so it’s nice to open a store in time for the holidays,” Espina said about the store.

## Atelier Interior: Minimalist Design and Piña Fabric Display

For Jor-El Espina, the atelier serves more than a place that sells his designs. Rather, it functions as a creative space where clients can participate in the crafting of his innovative modern designs.

“The atelier allows us to engage more personally with all our patrons–offering a deeper connection with our craft, story, and commitment to contemporary Filipino design,” he said in a statement. “We wanted it to feel intimate yet aspirational, a reflection of the women who wear our pieces.”

![Racks of clothes by Jor-El Espina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1198-scaled.jpg "DSCF1198 - BluPrint")Racks of clothes by Jor-El Espina.

![Close-up of colorful clothing by the designer.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1203-scaled.jpg "DSCF1203 - BluPrint")Close-up of colorful clothing by the designer.

![Pina fiber fabric showcased at the Jor-El Espina Atelier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1364-scaled.jpg "DSCF1364 - BluPrint")Pina fiber fabric showcased at the Jor-El Espina Atelier.

![Racks of clothes by Jor-El Espina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1221.jpg "DSCF1221 - BluPrint")Racks of clothes by Jor-El Espina.

![A row of bridal clothing.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1273.jpg "DSCF1273 - BluPrint")A row of bridal clothing.

The space is designed with a sparse minimalist aesthetic. Shelves of piña fabric showcase the intricate embroidered designs within the clothes. Small touches like vases of flowers compliment the largely-white design and add a more open, lived-in feeling conductive for creative work.

“I’d like to think of our atelier as a sanctuary for local creativity and elegance,” Espina said.

## How Silk Ribbon and Bobbin Lace Techniques Modernize Traditional Piña Craft

Espina’s collections give viewers a perspective of how modern fashion integrates the traditional designs of the past. Some of his dresses, for example, utilize a banig basket design for the torsos, using handmade silk ribbons and bobbin lace to create a softer interpretation of the past.

![The dress with a banig-like design made with silk ribbons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1283-scaled.jpg "DSCF1283 - BluPrint")The dress with a banig-like design made with silk ribbons.Others, of course, use locally-sourced piña fabric, dyed naturally to give an authentic Filipino look whilst adapting it to the needs of our time. The piña serves as one of the central fabrics in Jor-El Espina’s works, populating his latest collection as well as designs like a layered bridal ball skirt.

![Wedding dress by Jor-El Espina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1270-scaled.jpg "DSCF1270 - BluPrint")Wedding dress by Jor-El Espina.

![Wedding dress by Jor-El Espina.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1272-scaled.jpg "DSCF1272 - BluPrint")Wedding dress by Jor-El Espina.

![Intricate flower-like design done with pina fabric.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1238-scaled.jpg "DSCF1238 - BluPrint")Intricate flower-like design done with pina fabric.

![Intricate carabao farm design done with pina fabric.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1448-scaled.jpg "DSCF1448 - BluPrint")Intricate carabao farm design done with pina fabric.

“As you can see, the piña fabric is very traditional. Well, as you can see, the silhouette is really modern itself. That’s—the material itself can be—you can specify it as a Filipiniana, but this is a modern take on it,” he said.

## Design Adaptability: Modern Filipiniana for Every Occasion

That adaptability is key to the appeal of Jor-El Espina and his designs. He crafts a modern take on the dress that wouldn’t look out of place in formal events, allowing a melding of today’s comforts without sacrificing fidelity to the past.

![A dress showcased at Jor-El Espina Atelier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSCF1247-scaled.jpg "DSCF1247 - BluPrint")A dress showcased at Jor-El Espina Atelier.“Nowadays, you can wear this as a modern Filipiniana. Right now, \[people\] require a lot of modern Filipiniana outfits. So here’s my share of it,” he said. “Yeah, it’s very modern that you can use it for formal events and casual events.

“We’re very true to our aesthetic. It’s always a contemporary Filipiniana.”

Jor-El Espina Atelier is open from 10am to 8pm. Customers can book appointments for the store through contacting this number: 0931-127-2802.

*Photos by Ed Simon.*

Related reading: [Suit It Up Manila Gives You Another Reason To Dress Your Best](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/suit-it-up-manila-gives-you-another-reason-to-dress-your-best/ "Suit It Up Manila Gives You Another Reason To Dress Your Best")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is Jor-El Espina’s new atelier located?

Jor-El Espina Atelier is located on the 7th floor of One Corporate Plaza in Makati, marking the designer’s first permanent design house and retail space in the country after years of operating primarily through mall pop-ups.

### What design approach defines the atelier’s interior space?

The atelier uses a sparse, largely white minimalist interior, with shelving that displays piña fabric and embroidered detailing, intended to create an intimate yet aspirational environment for clients engaging directly with the design process.

### What is piña fabric and how is it used in Jor-El Espina’s designs?

Piña fabric is a traditional Philippine textile woven from pineapple leaf fibers; Espina uses it, often naturally dyed, as a central material across his collection, including layered bridal ball skirts and modern Filipiniana silhouettes.

### How does Jor-El Espina combine traditional and modern design elements?

Espina pairs traditional references — such as banig basket-inspired torso construction and piña fabric — with modern techniques like silk ribbon and bobbin lace, producing contemporary Filipiniana silhouettes suited to both formal and casual wear.

### What can clients do at Jor-El Espina Atelier?

Clients can view and purchase Espina’s collections, including bridal and ready-to-wear Filipiniana pieces, in a space designed for closer engagement with the brand’s craft; the atelier operates 10am–8pm by appointment.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

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**Categories:** Art + Design, Arts &amp; Culture, News

**Tags:** Design, Fashion, Jor-El Espina, Jor-El Espina Atelier, Philippines

---

### [Andy Locsin on Leandro Locsin's Legacy, the PICC, and Philippine Architectural Heritage](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/brut-force-and-sustained-resonance/)

**Published:** November 9, 2022
**Author:** Pipo Gonzales

**Content:**

*In honor of BluPrint’s 23rd Anniversary, we highlight one of architecture’s dignified luminaries and the monumental heritage of one of the most iconic structures in the country, Along with four other historic artworks (National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz’s Anito and Grid, National Artist for Visual Arts Jose Joya’s Pagdiriwang, and National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva’s carved wooden benches), the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, was recently declared a national cultural treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. One of many brutalist structures built during the time, the PICC proudly carries the prestige of being Asia’s first convention center, hosting the 1976 IMF-World Bank Meeting. It is a premier venue that hosts hundreds of MICE activities yearly, a perfect setting to conduct an interview with its architect’s son, Leandro V. Locsin Partners’ (LVLP) Andy Locsin.*

![Andy Locsin BluPrint Cover](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-Perspective-Andy-Locsin-cover-scaled.jpg "BP Perspective - Andy Locsin cover - BluPrint")“The structure holds together,” Andy Locsin remarks as I usher him along the concrete bridge that connects the Delegation Building to the Plenary Hall. At the stairs by [Arturo Luz’s metal sculpture Grid](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-picc-and-its-four-historic-artworks-have-been-declared-as-national-cultural-treasures/), he notices a particular detail along the integrated rails. Our group stops to listen with rapt attention. No detail escapes his eye. He is insightful and well-spoken. Within industry circles, he is known for his impeccable taste for design and detail and his profound philosophy in architecture. But while his instinct, competence, and surname can be intimidating for some, he also shares his father Lindy’s modesty and reserved nature, with very little to say about himself and more about his thoughts on the practice and where it’s headed.

“It’s important to make the distinction between *good design* and *cultural significance*,” Andy says when I ask him about architectural brilliance and its links to establishing a nation’s cultural identity. His father’s legacy of [brutalist buildings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/brutalism-this-architectural-prodigy-is-far-from-gone/), inspired by the post-war Modernist movement reflected not only an era of artistic prosperity in the field of architecture but also its adjunct correlation to other creative disciplines, which played a role in the development of our country’s cultural identity.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PICC.jpg "PICC - BluPrint")The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) by Leandro Locsin> “Either can be mutually exclusive from the other. In general, good design speaks to objects, spaces, buildings, graphics, performances, literary work, computer code, etcetera that have some aspect of utility and aesthetics attached to them that have an almost universal appeal regardless of the culture in which they arise. These are important in their own right. Something of cultural significance, on the other hand, may not be agnostic to the context in which it was produced. There are myriad examples of creative work that have meaning only to the specific culture and society that spawned it, and therein lie their importance. The key principle is *having meaning* in a particular context.”
> 
> Andy Locsin

![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin 3 - BluPrint")Practice and Permanence: Andy Locsin discusses the prevailing spirit of his father’s legacy and how it continues to inspire people today.“That said, the best and most important works of architecture often marry aspects of the two qualities in such a manner that the work retains some recognized universal utility and aesthetic appeal, as well as continuing to have relevance and cultural meaning as a repository of valued memory that may go beyond the particular context in which it was created.” Architecture, after all, is all about people, Andy stresses. In the arc of time and space, what is essential is how these fascinating structures can transcend their form and function and carry their relevance to the next generation.

## How Did Leandro Locsin’s Modernist Legacy Evolve into LVLP’s Current Practice?

The renewed interest of online communities and design enthusiasts on brutalism has attracted the study of Leandro Locsin’s portfolio. Just a year ago, Swiss architect and scholar Jean-Claude Girard published the National Artist’s second monograph in Basel, extensively studying his oeuvre and publishing archival images and in-depth interviews, which Andy supported generously. Andy kindly offers a quick run-through of his father’s Modernist roots, recounting the expression’s origins and how the movement discovered the versatility of concrete and executed the simplicity of its designs, making its indelible mark in history.

![Andy Locsin Sitting](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin - BluPrint")![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin4 - BluPrint")Remnants of these traditions have since seeped into the blueprints of [LVLP’s portfolio](https://www.locsinarchitecture.com/). But in no way has this reverence halted artistic innovation and the exploration of emerging materials. Andy explains, “Through the years we have worked on several projects that featured and incorporated elements of the brutalist language – this affinity for the material and aesthetic has never withered – but the expansion of the available building palette, technology, and client aspirations have had an undeniable influence on the way we design and choices we make. This is our time and place. The language of reinforced concrete and *béton-brut* now represents an ‘option’ given the parameters of a specific project rather than a philosophical and practical ‘essential’, as it were, in the Philippines of the 50’s through the 80’s.”

![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin 6 - BluPrint")Recognition of his father’s works in local and international shores was marked by various distinctions throughout his career, including his designation as a National Artist in 1990 by then President, Corazon Aquino. Professional peers and the Filipino public hold his body of work in high regard even until today. But while several of his works continue to be preserved and renovated by its proprietors, with the PICC one of the most well taken care of, other buildings have not been as fortunate – such as The Benguet Center and the BDO Corporate Center. Just a few months ago, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) issued a cease-and-desist order against the demolition of another set of Locsin buildings, the BDO Corporate Towers in Makati City.

Many observers would argue that historic artifacts, including buildings of significant cultural importance, deserve a voice if they are to survive another century. Within the architectural community, there has been a reasonable level of consciousness, Andy says. But the general public may have a different position, if we are to consider commercial value and earning potential over memory, form, and heritage. Does Andy grapple with the idea of having to pursue an active role in preserving his father’s legacy?

![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin3 - BluPrint")For LVLP, Andy ultimately verbalizes a humble stance regarding the issue, mirroring the family’s inherent modesty and upholding ethical standards his father bestowed on him. He explains, “This has been the subject of long, thoughtful discussions within the firm. LVLP takes the position that as the successor firm to my father’s – and one in which his surviving Partners and son are involved – the only tenable position is for the firm to remain officially neutral for or against the determination of cultural value and de-listing under the Heritage Preservation Law for self-evident reasons. The mandate by Congress to ultimately determine cultural value lies ultimately with the NCCA. As professionals, we must leave that determination to them and the Filipino people – we live with the verdicts, free of arbitrary lobbying or self-interest.”

“Our responsibility for any of the surviving works is to provide summary information as we may have in our archives, memories, and external published works regarding design intent, technical issues, background, history, circumstance, and place of the work in the firm’s design lineage when inquiries come from the advocates, opposition, or the Commission. We will obviously have our own personal opinions on any case that comes up – any individual in the firm is free to express this as their own private view as a citizen – but in general we hold these close to the chest and will never represent this as the firm’s official view on the matter.”

He asserts, “Along similar ethical lines, LVLP will never lobby to take part in whatever structure replaces his work unless we are specifically asked to do so. In recent years however, we have been fortunate and grateful to be on the receiving end of such for three major projects, from a longstanding repeat client of over 60 years with a shared history. That said, there have been many other fine examples of his work that have been summarily torn down without notice, inquiry, or proper process.”

## How Does Andy Locsin Navigate His Father’s Legacy and His Own Role at LVLP?

His father’s success, with that of the firm’s founding partners, have laid ground to decades’ worth of remarkable projects and premier clients, solidifying the continuity of the business even after Locsin’s passing in 1994. Andy, for his part, has carved a path of his own, taking a different role from his father’s. “In many ways, I think my father saved me from the insecurity of ‘being compared’ by warning me about it,” he shares. “As it turns out, while there seem to be genuine parallels, our careers developed in radically different ways. I am so grateful that he was a far more successful architect than I could ever have been in the industry by force of circumstance – he laid down a terrific and lasting foundation for the firm’s practice. I remain merely (and squarely) a design consultant to the firm, but have been able to do many other fulfilling things that, perhaps mercifully too, he never had to deal with.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Ayala-Museum-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Ayala Museum) (6) - BluPrint")After more than two years in renovation, the Ayala Museum reopened in December 2021. The design team, Leandro V. Locsin Partners spearheaded by Andy Locsin, was tasked to reimagine the original building.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Ayala-Museum_portrait-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Ayala Museum_portrait) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Ayala-Museum_portrait-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Ayala Museum_portrait) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Ayala-Museum-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Ayala Museum) (5) - BluPrint")After more than two years in renovation, the Ayala Museum reopened in December 2021. The design team, led by Leandro V. Locsin Partners, was tasked to reimagine the original building.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Ayala-Museum_portrait-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Ayala Museum_portrait) (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ayala-Tower-One-1-.jpg "Ayala Tower One 1 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Ayala-Tower-One-2-copy.jpeg "Ayala Tower One 2 copy - BluPrint")The Tower One in Ayala was one of the last projects Andy and his father worked on collaboratively with Skidmore Owings & Merrill in the early to mid 90’s.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Tower-Two-New-Mandarin-Oriental-1-photo-Tom-Epperson-copy.jpeg "Tower Two & New Mandarin Oriental 1 (photo Tom Epperson) copy - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of Tom Epperson![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Tower-Two-New-Mandarin-Oriental-2-copy.jpeg "Tower Two & New Mandarin Oriental 2 copy - BluPrint")The Tower Two and the New Mandarin Oriental Hotel formally completed earlier this year 2022 is once again a collaboration between LVLP and Skidmore Owings & Merrill.![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin2 - BluPrint")*Andy’s* *body of work embodies his father’s rich artistic traditions enriched by his and LVLP’s updated blend of design aesthetic and innovation. Among structures that demonstrate key elements of brutalism is Tower One, one of the tallest [skyscrapers in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-battle-for-the-tallest-building-in-the-philippines/) and among the last properties the father-and-son duo worked on. LVLP continues to exhibit these modernist features on other projects as well, as in the case of Ayala Museum, which they designed in the early aughts and have completed renovations in 2021. Other buildings such as the Nuvali Visitor’s Center, Tower Two, and the New Mandarin Oriental Hotel evidently subscribe to the same idea, of integrating the buildings from the ground plane* *in rendered concrete or natural stone to the progression into a language of steel and glass sought by clients in their flagship projects. The sensibility is alive and well, Andy affirms, and Lindy’s influences remain intact.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Nuvali-Visitors-Center-2.1.jpg "Nuvali Visitor's Center 2.1 - BluPrint") Integrated with modern distinctive form LVLP designs Nuvali Visitor’s Center in the first decade of the 2000’s with a new design perspective.New collaborative and multi-disciplinary approaches have since converged with their existing design principles. Andy, who has observed the trend, expresses how this has thankfully progressed throughout the years. “In many admirable firms overseas, the incorporation of other creative, environmental, tech, and quantitative professionals into architecture firms has a reasonably long and solid history. A few Philippine firms have begun doing this, but it still comes down to the volume of work and fee structures to be able to justify doing so. What I am truly encouraged by, however, is a spirit of collaboration that seems to have taken off between many architects and design professionals.” He enumerates occupational values that have paved the way for the industry’s victories, “Generosity, articulation, gumption, openness, and (some) humility. I hope it continues, and I am encouraged.”

![Lindy mentoring his staff | Photo courtesy of LVLP](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Locsin3.jpg "Locsin3 - BluPrint")Architect Leandro Locsin mentoring his staff | Photo courtesy of LVLPIn LVLP, this culture he speaks of is alive and well. One example is the production of a 315-slide presentation Andy developed with one of their promising young architects back in 2017, formulated by a deep study of their accumulated experiences. “It was essentially a wet-lather-rinse-repeat diagram that concerned deeply digesting a project program, distilling a ‘Big Idea’, refining and reinforcing it, bringing to bear collective knowledge, restraint, abstraction, and trusting the public to bring their experience to the design.” This concept of the ‘Big Idea’ has since been internalized by their employees and presented to various audiences, encouraging a sense of community within the realms of design, architecture, and its study.

![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin 5 - BluPrint")Nurturing young blood is vital in upholding standards of excellence within the industry. Andy hopes that the next generation of design practitioners, with the robust development of homegrown values within healthy working environments, will find a comfortable place in the growing industry. “Personally, I look forward to the energy of youth and their idealism…. And after so many difficult years and our generation’s own shortcomings, our younger professionals’ ability to know better, demand more from their leaders, move the bar, and get it done right.”

Before I end the interview, I ask Andy about his first encounter with the PICC. It was back in the 70’s, he says, when Lindy brought him and his brother to the complex right after its completion. He fervently recalls being in awe of its massive space, as if standing face to face with an otherworldly creature. Until now, even after working on its renovations twice (in 1998 and 2004), Andy says that feeling of awe is still present within him, him being continually amused by how the structure has held up throughout the years.

![Andy Locsin Architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin 4 - BluPrint")What then, would be his approach on the idea of working on something already iconic and bringing it to modernity while retaining its identity? Andy answers thoughtfully, “As a bespoke firm, we always like to think that we *always* start with a blank canvass… But a canvass is never truly blank. There are always informing features, forces, geometries, landscape views, or layered socio-cultural contexts on any site that influence how one conceives a structure. Ultimately, if a site or project involves an already iconic structure, then it simply becomes a feature to deal with and inform a designer’s strategy and intent.”

“In architecture, the way is *always* forward…,” Andy advises. “With a keen awareness and sensitivity to what has come or been there before on every possible level.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-BP-Perspective_Andy-Locsin-7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - BP Perspective_Andy Locsin 7 - BluPrint")> **LESSONS FROM LEANDRO LOCSIN’S BRAND OF LEADERSHIP**
> 
> Andy shares his father’s wisdom in five bullet points:
> 
> It’s very difficult – and maybe not entirely proper – to judge one’s worth as a mentor to others. That call is certainly better left to the affected others! But if there are a few summary life lessons even from a relatively short time spent working with my dad, who was a truly remarkable father and person, it may be these that I do try to pass onto the professionals in the firm. While sounding like clichés, they are probably the best indicators of a life with him:
> 
> • Notwithstanding that the idea that design talent is everything, success is actually a combination of talent and luck + circumstance in equal parts. Reasonable success comes only when one happens to exist and operate in a society that understands and appreciates what one is trying to do.
> 
> • Make every effort to practice with integrity, ethics, and generosity. In the end, the only one you have to live with is yourself.
> 
> • Recognize that we are all imperfect and that we will fail despite best efforts. Acknowledge the failure and make it right. Learn from the experience.
> 
> • Be able to laugh at one’s own personal failures and foibles – get a grip — never lose a sense of humor and an appreciation for the absurd.
> 
> • Leave your corner of the world a better place than the way you found it. Efforts count too because “Upstairs” knows.

---

**Project Credits**:

Text PIPO GONZALES

Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Photographer ED SIMON

Videographer JOSE RAMIREZ

Video Producer MIGUEL LIM

Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO

Grooming: CATS DEL ROSARIO

Shoot Coordination: MAE TALAID & MJ ALMERO

Shot on location: PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER

Special thanks to Ms. Portia Purita Cabiad.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile

**Tags:** Andy Locsin, Architecture, Brutalism, Brutalist architecture, Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Philippines

---

### [GRASS launches the first biodiverse reforestation in Pasig City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/grass-launches-first-biodiverse-reforestation-green-city/)

**Published:** October 10, 2019
**Author:** Gabrielle De La Cruz

**Excerpt:** What once was a vast territory of mountainous and grass field trek, “the green city” is devoted to reviving its biodiversity. 



**Content:**

Initiated by Green Restorative Actions and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) in partnership with the City of Pasig through Mayor Vico Sotto, a tree planting took place at Pasig Rainforest Adventure Experience (RAVE) Park on October 8, 2019. This event marks the beginning of GRASS’ initiative program to integrate sustainable and resilient strategies to assist the green city in addressing environmental issues.

Contemporaneous with his 100th day in office, the tree planting was headed by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto along with GRASS Action Chairman ASEAN Architect Lui Daya-Garcia, and Pasig City Congressman Roman Romulo, each planting a tree in three different areas of the space to symbolize Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Participating are different sectors of the community from the local government of Pasig, volunteer colleges and universities, NGOs, public and private associations, and selected Pasig City residents. Architect Lui emphasized that the tree planting event is only one of their steps in reviving Pasig City’s biodiversity. “Reforestation is more than just tree planting, it’s like building a city… a biodiverse city,” she says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-News-treeplanting-1.jpg "BluPrint-News-treeplanting-1 - BluPrint")GRASS Action Leader ASEAN Architect Lui Daya-Garcia welcoming everyone to the Pasig Healing Forest Tree Planting 2019. Photo from Leizel Fuentes![Vico Sotto - green city](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-News-treeplanting-2.jpg "BluPrint-News-treeplanting-2 - BluPrint")Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto planting a Narra, the national tree of the Philippines. Photo from Leizel Fuentes## RAVE Park: Healing Forest Strategy and Native Species Plan

RAVE Park is tagged as “Pasig City’s last lung”, occupying half of the 0.48 percent green space left in the city. “That’s 8 hectares of green space, it’s the last big green space in Pasig, so we really need to take care of it,” Mayor Sotto says.

Consisted of architects, environmental planners, urban planners, water engineers, energy engineers, scientists, and academicians, GRASS’ goal to make RAVE Park a “healing” forest involves careful and concrete planning that integrates strategies such as carbon sequestration, rainwater catchment system, and acoustic insulation. The reforestation also includes experiential education to inform, involve, and instruct the community on retaining and nurturing what was started.

“We calculated the number of trees based on the given site, the size of the canopies once trees have grown, and how much water we are retaining in this particular area,” Daya-Garcia shares. Targetting 15 out of 17 sustainable developmental goals from the United Nations, the entire GRASS team estimated a target of  188,000 trees to be planted all over the green city. Along with this is an aim to develop a Biodiverse Reforestation series that will be applicable and replicable to municipalities and other areas, including coastlines, riverbanks, and other agricultural developments. GRASS studied the goals and believe that through time, they can push further and achieve all 17.

Architect Lui explains that in terms of plant species specifications, the team is promoting all native trees. “They can thrive in our tropical environment and they require less maintenance as compared to exotic trees,” she says. The action leader also shares that they calculated the growth of trees in such a way that while some may be faster and some may be slower, design and aesthetics would not be sacrificed as there will be some ornamental pathways ready.

GRASS team mentioned that they will also be reporting architectural improvements needed for both the interior and exterior of RAVE park.

![planting - green city](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-News-treeplanting-3.jpg "BluPrint-News-treeplanting-3 - BluPrint")A view of RAVE Park during the tree planting event. Photo from Roselle Hernandez## Pasig River Rehabilitation: East Manggahan Stretch and the 2018 Asia RiverPrize

In line with the saying, “Sa Pasig, umaagos ang pag-asa”, the green city rehabilitation moves to continue the cleaning of Pasig River.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-News-treeplanting-4.jpg "BluPrint-News-treeplanting-4 - BluPrint")An upstream view of Pasig River near the business districts of Makati City and Mandaluyong City. Photo from Pasig River Rehabilitation CommissionPart of the rehabilitation plan of GRASS and the local government of Pasig is the East Manggahan stretch, a small portion that will contribute to the overall study and plan of pursuing the entire river’s rehabilitation.

After the tree planting, Mayor Sotto mentioned the anti-corruption program in his State of the City Address. He elaborated on making sure that each drainage system contains a sewage treatment plant (STP), narrating that they recently ordered the closing of an insubordinate meat processing factory. He emphasized how important it is to treat wastewater as ultimately, whether treated or not, water directly goes to the river. “The Anti-Corruption \[effort\], it will directly affect the environment and the Pasig River,” the Mayor stated.

Through the years, changes were seen with regards to Pasig City’s biodiversity, with it bagging the Inaugural 2018 Asia RiverPrize award given by the International River Foundation (IRF) last October 10, 2018. The award is Asia’s first-ever, with the hopes of seeing more improvements on Pasig River’s biodiversity and even its ferry system.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-News-treeplanting-5.jpg "BluPrint-News-treeplanting-5 - BluPrint")Members of the Pasig Rehabilitation Commission receiving the Asia Riverprize Award in Sydney, Australia. Photo from Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission## GRASS’s Three-Year Reforestation Program and Multi-Sectoral Expansion Plan

Architect Lui revealed that this movement of GRASS is not a one-time thing, but an effort that they aim to push through. “This is going to be a 3-year program. GRASS team will still be here to visit and we have seen a lot of space opportunities for reforestation in Pasig City,” she says. GRASS is also targeting rooftops, sidewalks, and even private areas for biodiversity rehabilitation.

Leading the initiative, GRASS revealed that this plan is something that they aim to do to other cities as well. They shared that it was timely that Mayor Vico is implementing his programs and things were much aligned that’s why they started in Pasig, but they have already talked to other interested and open sectors as well. Architect Lui shared that they will develop as they go along, improving biodiversity one city at a time.

*RAVE Park is located at Francisco Legaspi, Barangay Maybunga, Pasig City.*

*Images courtesy of The FREEHAND PUP-CAFA*

**READ MORE:** [Using mahogany in our reforestation programs may be ecological suicide](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mahogany-national-greening-program/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is GRASS and what is its role in Pasig City’s reforestation program?

GRASS (Green Restorative Actions and Sustainable Solutions) is a multi-sectoral group of architects, urban planners, and engineers that partnered with the Pasig City government on a three-year biodiverse reforestation program centered on RAVE Park and expanding to citywide green spaces.

### How many trees does GRASS aim to plant across Pasig City?

GRASS set a target of 188,000 trees citywide, calculated from site size, projected canopy growth, and water retention needs, prioritizing native species for their tropical resilience and lower maintenance requirements compared to exotic species.

### What design strategies define RAVE Park’s transformation into a “healing forest”?

GRASS applies carbon sequestration, a rainwater catchment system, and acoustic insulation at RAVE Park, paired with native tree planting and experiential education meant to help the community sustain the reforestation effort after the initial planting.

### What is the Asia RiverPrize and how does it relate to Pasig River’s rehabilitation?

The Asia RiverPrize is awarded by the International River Foundation; Pasig City received the inaugural 2018 edition for river rehabilitation progress — recognition that GRASS’s current work, including the East Manggahan stretch, aims to build on.

### How many UN Sustainable Development Goals does GRASS’s reforestation program target?

GRASS designed its Pasig City program to address 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with the team stating an intention to eventually work toward all 17 as the multi-year initiative expands to other cities.

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** Biodiversity, GRASS, Pasig, Reforestation, Rehabilitation, Tree Planting

---

### [The Art of Meaningful Connection: CoKoro Haus by Estudio Arkipelago](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/the-art-of-meaningful-connection-cokoro-haus-by-estudio-arkipelago/)

**Published:** December 1, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the tapestry of family life, the home stands as the sacred space where connections are woven, and the ties that bind are strengthened. More than just walls and a roof, a home becomes the nurturing ground for bonds that last a lifetime. Recently, power couple [Joni Koro](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/curio-cavern-nordik-concept-camille-co-joni-koro/) and Camille Co-Koro finally moved into their dream home they call “CoKoro Haus” which they have carefully designed in collaboration with [Estudio Arkipelago](https://www.estudioarkipelago.com/) headed by Architects Felipe de Miranda and Endika Ampudia.

![CoKoro Haus by Estudio Arkipelago](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-FEATURE-COVER-WEBZINE-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-COVER-(WEBZINE) - BluPrint")Designing your dream home is a transformative journey that goes beyond creating a shelter. It is about crafting a personal haven that resonates with your aspirations, lifestyle, and individuality. This endeavor extends far beyond aesthetics, delving into the very fabric of your daily life and well-being.

![Camille Co-Koro and Joni Koro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-30.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-30 - BluPrint")![Camille Co-Koro and Joni Koro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-62.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-62 - BluPrint")*Camille Co-Koro and Joni Koro want their house to have an open layout with a beautiful view of the outdoor spaces.*

The couple were deeply involved during the design and construction of the CoKoro Haus. When it comes to the design, they wanted a symphony of Scandinavian design, modern architecture, and minimalism. Ultimately, Camille highlighted that they had to consider all the people who will live here, present and future since it is a family home. She shares that even during the conceptualization stage, they were already thinking of it as their forever home.

## How Does Estudio Arkipelago Translate a Sloping Corner Lot Into CoKoro Haus’s L-Shaped Layout?

When designing a family home (or any project), it is vital for [Estudio Arkipelago](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/the-art-of-meaningful-connection-cokoro-haus-by-estudio-arkipelago/) to create practical, livable, and quality spaces that suit the client’s needs. Ampudia explains that they interview their clients first to know their needs for their spaces and come up with a variety of solutions. “It’s always a collaboration between the architect and the client. You don’t stop until you create the right solution for the client,” he pointed out.

![Felipe de Miranda and Endika Ampudia of Estudio Arkipelago](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-33.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-33 - BluPrint")*Architects Felipe de Miranda and Endika Ampudia of Estudio Arkipelago*

Camile and Joni didn’t want a house that is grand with unnecessary spaces and instead focused on the essentials. They also wanted the common area to be the focal point of the house where they can spend time together. The shared spaces become arenas for laughter, conversations, and the simple joy of being in each other’s company. From the bustling kitchen to the comforting living room, every nook holds the potential for connection.

![CoKoro Haus living area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-59.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-59 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus interior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-25-edited-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-25 - BluPrint")

![Camille Co-Koro portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-44.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-44 - BluPrint")

The design team came up with an L-shape layout where the main house consists of the living area and a floating volume for the private spaces. A secondary wing houses the guest bedroom and a small office that connects to the main house. It is also where the pool deck is where they can relax and enjoy the surrounding environment. This layout allowed them to maximize the location of the house, which is in a corner lot.

![CoKoro Haus facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-49.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-49 - BluPrint")*Estudio Arkipelago aimed to create a layout that seamlessly connect the indoors and the outdoors.*

![CoKoro Haus facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-67.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-67 - BluPrint")As public figures, a part of the Koros’ life is open to their followers but they still keep certain aspects private. This somehow reflects the overall layout of the CoKoro Haus where the common areas are open while keeping their private spaces on the second floor. Upstairs has three bedrooms: the master bedroom, their daughter’s, and a spare room. In the master bedroom, the highlight is Camille’s walk-in closet–a non-negotiable for the style icon.

![CoKoro Haus interior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-55.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-55 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-RETOUCHED-6.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-RETOUCHED-6 - BluPrint")*The master bedroom has a view of the pool and the garden.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-RETOUCHED-4.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-RETOUCHED-4 - BluPrint")The Nordic influences of the designs extends to the master bathroom, creating a serene space for shower.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-RETOUCHED-5.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-RETOUCHED-5 - BluPrint")*A view from the Master Bedroom’s walk-in closet.*

The team came up with an open ground floor wherein indoor and outdoor are all connected. The living area has floor to ceiling glass doors that can be completely opened to allow the space to breathe. There is also a wood amoeba cladding the main walls in the ground floor which flawlessly separates the stairs, kitchen, and pantry to create a sleek and clean look.

![CoKoro Haus interior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-53.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-53 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-35.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-35 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus kitchen and dining](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-52.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-52 - BluPrint")*To maintain the sleek look of the interiors, Estudio Arkipelago created an amoeba clad in wood panels to smoothly separate the stairs, pantry, and the kitchen.*

![interior details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-29.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-29 - BluPrint")Estudio Arkipelago had to consider the condition of the lot, as well. Ampudia explains that the property is a sloping lot going towards the creek. “We try to open the whole house into this feature of the terrain into the unobstructed view of the creek,” he says.

Taking advantage of the terrain, the architects created a basement to place the gym which has access to the garden and the service quarters.

## CoKoro Haus: Microcement Finishes and Passive Cooling Strategy

Joni wanted to have a modern Scandinavian home while Camille wanted soft, homey space with a touch of Art Deco. The entire house features a monochromatic neutral color palette, from the wall texture to furniture pieces, showcasing the Nordic influences of the design.

![stairs details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-40.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-40 - BluPrint")*Microcement finish from Pieni Surfaces is the main material used for the CoKoro Haus which creates a clean, Scandinavian look.*

![CoKoro Haus interior details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-22.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-22 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus interior details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-RETOUCHED-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-RETOUCHED-3 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus stairs](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-04.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-04 - BluPrint")When it comes to the materials, de Miranda shares that Camille made it clear she wanted to achieve the microcement finish from floor to ceiling seamlessly. The microcement was from Pieni Surfaces, a company co-owned by Joni and Pierre Briones of Brio Build. The couple were meticulous in choosing the right materials; they had to bring in the microcement in the Philippines and officially supply it because they can’t find the quality they wanted here. Wood details, meanwhile, add a pop color to the minimalist interior.

![CoKoro Haus interior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-32.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-32 - BluPrint")

![Camille Co-Koro portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-41.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-41 - BluPrint")

*The afternoon sun comes through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, naturally illuminating the spaces.*

To add special details, the architects incorporated arches and soft edges both inside and outside of the house. These help create a calm ambiance throughout the house, making it homey.

![CoKoro Haus hallway](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-20.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-20 - BluPrint")*A short hallway connects the main house to the secondary wing.* 

With the sleek design of the house, Estudio Arkipelago ensures it also blends smoothly with the surroundings. The house is surrounded with vast green spaces that the residents get to appreciate because of the open layout. It is a perfect backdrop for the CoKoro Haus.

![CoKoro Haus pool](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-66.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-66 - BluPrint")*The vast greenery makes the CoKoro Haus pop up.*

![CoKoro Haus pool deck](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-27.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-27 - BluPrint")![CoKoro Haus interior details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-19.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-19 - BluPrint")“Everything that functions well has beauty and you can do something beautiful with the right proportions, right materials, right finishes, right environment, and right openings. That’s how you do something beautiful,” de Miranda shares on creating something functional without sacrificing beauty. He mentioned that the surrounding environment influences the shape of the house.

Estudio Arkipelago also incorporated passive elements when designing CoKoro Haus. With its layout, the wind flows through the house which keeps the house cool, minimizing the use of air conditioning units. Large glass windows and doors also allow natural light to come in which also helps save on energy.

![Camille Co-Koro and Joni Koro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-CAMILLE-CO-RETOUCHED-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-(CAMILLE CO)-RETOUCHED-1 - BluPrint")A home is the heartbeat of familial connections. It’s where love is felt, memories are made, and the intricate dance of relationships unfolds. Beyond the physical structure, a home becomes a living entity, pulsating with the energy of shared experiences, laughter, and the silent language of love.

Estudio Arkipelago believes that every house should be able to grow with the client. It should be flexible in a way where spaces can be easily converted, that could have multiple uses, can adapt and grow with the users. For the Koros’ home, de Miranda concludes: “CoKoro Haus is made for them, their lifestyle, and the place.”

RELATED READ: [New Realm of Possibilities: The Grotto Retreat Xiyaotou by A()VOID](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/new-realm-of-possibilities-the-grotto-retreat-xiyaotou-by-avoid/)

---

Credits

Photographer: Ed Simon of Kliq Inc.

Videographer: Jose Ramirez of of Kliq Inc.

Video Editor: Grant Babia

Sittings Editor: Arch. Geewel Fuster

Hairstylist: Patty Inojales

Makeup artist: Thea Dionisio

Shoot coordination: Mae Talaid & Toni Mendoza

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed CoKoro Haus and where is it located?

CoKoro Haus was designed by Felipe de Miranda and Endika Ampudia of Estudio Arkipelago for homeowners Joni Koro and Camille Co-Koro. The family home sits on a sloping corner lot beside a creek, informing its L-shaped layout and basement placement.

### What design style defines CoKoro Haus?

CoKoro Haus blends Scandinavian minimalism with subtle Art Deco touches, using a monochromatic neutral palette, microcement finishes, and wood detailing throughout, responding to both homeowners’ differing preferences for modern Nordic style and a softer, homey atmosphere.

### What passive design strategies does CoKoro Haus use?

CoKoro Haus incorporates passive design through its open, L-shaped layout, which channels cross ventilation to reduce reliance on air conditioning, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that maximize natural daylight, both developed in response to the property’s sloping, creek-facing terrain.

### What material is used for CoKoro Haus’s finishes?

CoKoro Haus’s floor-to-ceiling finishes use microcement supplied by Pieni Surfaces, a company co-owned by homeowner Joni Koro and Pierre Briones of Brio Build, imported into the Philippines to achieve the seamless matte texture the clients specified.

### How is CoKoro Haus laid out?

CoKoro Haus follows an L-shaped plan with a main house containing the living area and a floating private volume, plus a secondary wing for a guest bedroom, office, and pool deck; the second floor holds three bedrooms, including a master suite with a walk-in closet.

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture, Interiors, Offices, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [Off-White Celebrates Its Third Store Opening in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/off-white-celebrates-its-third-store-opening-in-the-philippines/)

**Published:** March 21, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Off-White announced the highly anticipated opening of its third store in the Philippines, further solidifying Virgil Abloh’s remarkable legacy in the fashion landscape. Located within NUSTAR Resort and Casino, the new Off-White Cebu opened its doors to the public on February 18, 2024. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the brand hosted a vibrant evening filled with fashion, music, and a celebration of Cebu’s stylish community.

## How Off-White’s NUSTAR Cebu Store Translates Virgil Abloh’s Design Philosophy Into Retail Space

![Interior of minimalist store with high end designer fashion items.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/off-white-3-scaled.jpg "off white 3 - BluPrint")The new store embodies a contemporary and minimalist aesthetic, characterized by a neutral color palette. The entrance features a dark-toned storefront that contrasts the bright Off-White signage. Stepping inside, you’re greeted by light-colored walls that provide a clean canvas for the meticulously curated merchandise.

Sleek shelving and clothing racks, crafted from light wood and metal, house the brand’s diverse selection of bags, shoes, and apparel. Carefully positioned items emphasize their exceptional design and quality. The polished marble flooring reflects the soft, ambient lighting, further contributing to the store’s luxurious ambiance.

![Interior Off White store with minimalist off white interiors and high end designer fashion items.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/off-white-1-scaled.jpg "off white 1 - BluPrint")

![Off White store with minimalist off white interiors and high end designer fashion items.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/off-white-2-scaled.jpg "off white 2 - BluPrint")

![A store with minimalist interiors and high end designer fashion items.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/off-white-3-scaled.jpg "off white 3 - BluPrint")

Potted plants introduce a touch of nature in the center of the store. This adds a welcome organic element to the space. The overall design exudes an air of exclusivity, reflecting the essence of high-end fashion retail.

Strategic use of lighting throughout the store further reflects his understanding of spotlighting key pieces and creating a stage-like atmosphere. Overall, the store’s design embodies a sense of luxury and exclusivity while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic. This reflects Abloh’s ability to bridge the gap between the refined and the accessible, a cornerstone of his design philosophy.

## Off-White: Virgil Abloh’s Founding Vision and Design Philosophy

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/off-white-6-scaled.jpg "off white 6 - BluPrint")Established in 2013 by the visionary designer Virgil Abloh, Off-White became synonymous with blurring the lines between streetwear and high fashion. The brand encompasses a unique perspective on contemporary culture. It offers seasonal collections for both men and women that include clothing, objects, furniture, and publications.

Driven by a distinct creative voice, Off-White’s collections are unified by a central narrative. Its focus is on crafting garments that possess an inherent identity. The design studio, situated in Milan, Italy, draws inspiration from the country’s rich heritage and craftsmanship. Simultaneously, it offers a global viewpoint on design trends.

Through his distinct creative lens, Abloh masterfully bridged the gap between the practicalities of everyday clothing and the artistic expression of high fashion. His designs consistently explored themes relevant to youth culture within the contemporary context.

Learn more about Off-White in the Philippines [here](https://www.off---white.com/en-ph).

*Photos courtesy of Off-White.*

**Read more:** [UNIVERS NUSTAR’ Is a Bold New Take on Retail Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/univers-nustar-is-a-bold-new-take-on-retail-design/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### When did Off-White open its third store in the Philippines?

Off-White opened its third Philippine store on February 18, 2024, at NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu City, marking the brand’s expansion beyond its existing Manila locations into the Visayas region.

### What defines the interior design of the Off-White Cebu store?

The Off-White Cebu store features a minimalist interior with a dark storefront, light-colored walls, polished marble flooring, and light wood and metal fixtures, using directional lighting to spotlight merchandise within a neutral, gallery-like retail space.

### Who founded Off-White and when was the brand established?

Off-White was founded in 2013 by designer Virgil Abloh, who built the label around blurring the boundaries between streetwear and high fashion. The brand’s design studio is based in Milan, Italy, drawing on Italian craftsmanship alongside a global design perspective.

### Where is the Off-White Cebu store located?

The Off-White Cebu store is located within NUSTAR Resort and Casino, a mixed-use retail and entertainment complex in Cebu City, positioning the brand alongside other luxury retail tenants in the development.

### What design philosophy shaped Off-White’s retail spaces?

Off-White’s retail spaces reflect Virgil Abloh’s design philosophy of bridging refined and accessible aesthetics, using restrained material palettes, spotlighted displays, and stage-like lighting to translate the brand’s streetwear-meets-high-fashion identity into physical retail environments.

**Categories:** Interiors, News, Retail

**Tags:** Architecture, Cebu, Design, Interior Design, Retail, retail architecture, retail design

---

### [Molo Mansion adapted into a cultural souvenir and gift shop](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/molo-mansion-iloilo-adaptive-reuse/)

**Published:** April 2, 2018
**Author:** Adrian Tumang with Michelle Bracero Ting

**Excerpt:** Repurposing an ornate ancestral house in Iloilo into a commercial center, the developer skips a crucial step in adaptive reuse.

**Content:**

Heritage conservation advocates in Iloilo were alarmed when news came out the 91-year-old Lacson-Yusay Mansion or Molo Mansion in Jaro was bought by the SM Group. Five years ago, the corporate retail giant knocked down Leandro Locsin’s Benguet Center in Mandaluyong City for a high-rise office tower. Fears were assuaged when an architectural rendering of a fully restored Molo Mansion surfaced online. It showed the grand two-storey villa at the center of an expansive lawn, standing beside an understated two-storey retail building that complements, not imitates, the mansion’s florid architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-1 - BluPrint")Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a capiz shell chandelier that hangs on the wooden coffered high ceiling. The use of large polished hardwood planks for the floors gives the space a sense of warmth and grandeur.Within a year, SM indeed restored the abandoned and dilapidated house to its pristine condition. Following the plan of conservation architects Augusto Villalon of the Cultural Heritage Resource Associates and Melvin Patawaran of Tropiks Design Studio, the developer rehabilitated the deteriorating walls, replaced all broken architectural details, and repainted the structure. A garden was planted outside, the interiors were refurbished, and the building retrofitted with new electrical and sanitary systems. Except for the proposed adjacent retail structure yet to be completed, the result was exactly as shown in the widely-circulated drawing.

**READ MORE: [Oboza Heritage House in Davao finds new life as a restaurant](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/davao-oboza-heritage-house/)**

## Molo Mansion’s Adaptive Reuse as Kultura Filipino Cultural Shop

Repurposed as [Kultura Filipino](https://www.kulturafilipino.com/Kultura/index.php), a cultural souvenir and gift shop, the newly-renovated Molo Mansion opened in time to welcome the delegates of the [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit](https://www.apec.org/) who met for sideline meetings at different locations in Iloilo in September 2015. As part of their city tour itinerary, the delegates explored the cultural boutique including the small restaurant and art gallery at the back. When BluPrint visited the place in July 2016, the upper levels were closed “for further renovation.”

## Lacson-Yusay Mansion: 1926 Construction and the Yusay-Consing Family History

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-2 - BluPrint")The main wooden staircase located on the left side of the house.

Built in 1926, the Molo Mansion is defined by its American Colonial architecture with Neoclassical and subtle Art Deco features. From the gate, visitors are dropped off at the roundabout with a fountain at the center, and led up to the semi-circular arcaded portico with a terraced veranda on the ground floor and a balcony on the second floor.

A molded stringcourse supported by a series of ancones, a scroll-shaped corbel, runs around the second-floor line of the building envelope. The house is surmounted by a hip and valley terracotta-tiled roof with stylized floral-patterned roof vents supported by wooden brackets. Above the central semi-circular bay, there is a *mirador*, a common feature of Mission Revivalist architecture in the Philippines, which affords extensive views of the surrounding gardens.

The Lacson-Yusay Mansion originally belonged to the family of Estanislao Yulo Yusay, a prominent lawyaer and judge from Molo, and his wife Petra Lacson-Yusay. They had been living on the property before the mansion was built in 1925, fifteen years after Estanislao died. Of the couple’s ten children, Rosario Yusay inherited the house where she lived with her husband, Timoteo Consing Sr., governor of Iloilo from 1934 to 1937.

Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña were said to have stayed in the mansion on official trips to the city. The property was handed down to the governor’s son, Timoteo “Nene” Consing Jr., spouse of Nieva Ramirez-Consing, and one of the owners of the sugar mill company [Passi Sugar Central](https://urcsugar.com/blog/) (acquired by the Universal Robina Corporation in 2007). The Consing family sold the property to SM in 2014.

## What Architect Melvin Patawaran Found When the Molo Mansion’s Second Floor Needed Retrofitting

Despite the admirable restoration of the mansion, the adaptive reuse proved a failure. Its conversion from residential to commercial use called for structural retrofitting, something the developer apparently skipped. When the mansion formally opened to host the APEC delegates, ironically meeting in Iloilo to discuss risk management, Patawaran noticed the second floor was shaking due to heavy foot traffic. He later learned the developer did not fully implement their recommendation to strengthen the building’s structure to accommodate the influx of customers.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-adaptive-reuse-molo-mansion-iloilo-4 - BluPrint")Visitors of the mansion can dine at the local coffee shop Cafe Panay and sample traditional Ilonggo dishes like pancit molo and tsokolateng tablea. A quaint food stall under an old balete tree, Table Matters, serves healthy snacks and ternate flower-flavored ice cream made from Clitoria ternetea, a blue flower that grows in the mansion’s gardens. Starting August 2016, the Molo Mansion has been the venue of the Weekend Market Iloilo held monthly by the Department of Tourism and the SM Group.In his article in the Inquirer, Villalon explained the structural safety standards for commercial buildings are higher than those of houses because of the increased live load weight (moving load) on the upper floors. According to Villalon, a retrofit of the Molo Mansion, built almost a century ago, required the reinforcement of its structural framework, particularly the columns and foundation, to serve its new purpose and satisfy the requirements of the National Building Code. The process would be considerably more expensive than demolishing the historic structure and constructing a new building from the ground up. Perhaps this was the reason the retrofit was skipped and the building only enjoyed a facelift and interior renovation.

**READ MORE: [Bacolod’s Gaston Ancestral House is glorious in reel and real life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/gaston-ancestral-house-bacolod/)**

## Heritage Conservation Incentives: Molo Mansion as a Case Study

In conserving heritage properties, the developer often incurs opportunity costs by reducing the scale of development, which in turn compromises the property’s revenue-generating potential. As Villalon recommends, the government should offer assistance or incentives—something the present Cultural Heritage Law does not provide—to encourage developers to conserve the country’s historic assets without hurting their businesses.

SM deserves credit for giving a dilapidated ancestral house a new lease in life. Unfortunately, the incomplete effort has left them with a lovely building they can only use in part. That is, until they can determine a profitable use for the second floor that does not place the public and their business at risk. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 1 2017. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Molo Mansion (Lacson-Yusay Mansion) in Iloilo and when was it built?

The Molo Mansion, also called the Lacson-Yusay Mansion, is a 1926 American Colonial villa in Jaro, Iloilo, built for judge Estanislao Yulo Yusay and his wife Petra Lacson-Yusay. Its Neoclassical and Art Deco detailing later hosted Philippine presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña.

### Why did SM Group acquire and restore the Molo Mansion?

SM Group purchased the Molo Mansion from the Consing family in 2014 and restored it within a year, following plans by conservation architects Augusto Villalon and Melvin Patawaran. The mansion reopened in 2015 as Kultura Filipino, a cultural gift shop, ahead of the APEC Summit.

### What is adaptive reuse and how was it applied to the Molo Mansion?

Adaptive reuse repurposes an existing structure for a new function while retaining its historic fabric. At the Molo Mansion, this meant converting a residential villa into retail and dining space while preserving its coffered ceilings, capiz shell chandelier, and original hardwood flooring.

### Why does the Molo Mansion’s second floor remain closed to the public?

The Molo Mansion’s second floor remains closed because converting it to commercial use required retrofitting its columns and foundation to meet National Building Code live-load standards — a recommendation architect Melvin Patawaran said the developer did not fully implement.

### What architectural style defines the Molo Mansion?

The Molo Mansion is built in American Colonial style with Neoclassical and Art Deco details, featuring a semi-circular arcaded portico, ancone-supported stringcourses, a hip-and-valley terracotta-tiled roof, and a central mirador overlooking its gardens.

**Categories:** Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Heritage, Heritage House, Iloilo, Jaro, Lacson-Yusay Mansion, Molo Mansion, Retail, SM Group

---

### [UNIVERS NUSTAR' Is a Bold New Take on Retail Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/univers-nustar-is-a-bold-new-take-on-retail-design/)

**Published:** December 22, 2023
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Cebu City recently welcomed the grand opening of UNIVERS at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino on December 17. This latest addition to the city’s luxury landscape is UNIVERS’ fourth store in the Philippines. It’s also its first venture in Cebu, marking a significant milestone for the high-end fashion retailer.

At the heart of this project lies a collaboration between two of the Philippines’ internationally acclaimed talents – Renowned [architect Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/unrestrained-modernism-advancing-the-contemporary-architecture-and-design-dialogue/) and industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue. Their partnership birthed an immersive retail experience in high-end design and aesthetics.

![The inside of UNVERS NUSTAR, with fashion items from the world's premier designers on display.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-UNIVERSNUSTAR_STORE-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(UNIVERSNUSTAR_STORE)-3 - BluPrint")## UNIVERS NUSTAR: Rattan Installation and Material Contrast

UNIVERS’ decision to entrust Calma with the design of all four stores reflects the brand’s dedication to distinguished design. This collaboration highlights their commitment to blending fashion with artful architecture, where Calma’s nuanced and thoughtful approach harmonizes with UNIVERS’ vision.

Visually striking from the storefront, the interior design subverts expectations of the retail experience. The store’s focal point is the undulating, woven rattan installation. Its graceful curves elegantly drape across the walls and ceiling, imbuing the place with warmth and organic movement. Enveloping the entire 283-square-meter space, the feature softens the modernity of the space. It subtly delineates different sections of the store, while fostering a sense of intimacy within the open setting.

## How Lighting and Glass at UNIVERS NUSTAR Draw Focus to Calma and Cobonpue’s Rattan Feature

The use of glass as transparent barriers enhances the openness of the area, allowing the intricate rattan work to be appreciated from multiple angles. This thoughtful use of materials, texture, and neutral palette creates a backdrop that draws focus to the products on this display. Lighting also plays a subtle yet critical role. Pinpoint lights dot the ceiling and cast a soft glow that accentuates the rattan’s curves.

This fusion of elements perfectly embodies the radical yet harmonious blend of Calma’s signature pragmatic style and the organic feel of Cobonpue’s innovative use of local materials creating a juxtaposition between striking design elements.

![Detail of the laminated rattan installation that envelopes the retail store.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR)-1 - BluPrint")

![Detail of the laminated rattan installation that envelopes the retail store.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR-2.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR)-2 - BluPrint")

![Detail of the laminated rattan installation that envelopes the retail store.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(UNIVERSNUSTAR_INTERIOR)-3 - BluPrint")

## The Fashion and Lifestyle Labels Housed Inside UNIVERS NUSTAR’s Cebu Store

The store features a discerning collection of ready-to-wear items from brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Common Projects, Fiorucci, and Fred Perry. Other labels on display are Helmut Lang, Maison Kitsune, Moreau Paris, Off-White, PLAY by Commes des Garcons, Thom Browne, VEJA, Victoria Beckham, and Y-3.

![A top view of UNIVERS NUSTAR's retail space showcasing fashion items on sale.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-UNIVERSNUSTAR_STORE-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(UNIVERSNUSTAR_STORE)-1 - BluPrint")Additionally, they offer a curated selection of market goods. These include Astier de Villate candles and colognes, Heeley perfumes, Trudon candles, and Monocle books.

The opening of UNIVERS NUSTAR further cements Cebu’s, and the brand’s, rising stature in high fashion and design. It’s a place that’s as much about the ambiance as it is about the exquisite collections it houses.

Learn more about what UNIVERS has to offer on their [website](https://univers.ph/).

Read more: [Omotesando Koffee Taps Studio Adjective For Manila’s Second Outpost](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/omotesando-koffee-taps-studio-adjective-for-manilas-second-outpost/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is UNIVERS NUSTAR located and when did it open?

UNIVERS NUSTAR opened on December 17 at NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu City, marking UNIVERS’ fourth store in the Philippines and its first location outside Metro Manila, expanding the high-end fashion retailer’s presence into the Visayas region.

### Who designed UNIVERS NUSTAR?

Architect Ed Calma, who has designed all four UNIVERS stores in the Philippines, collaborated with industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue on UNIVERS NUSTAR, pairing Calma’s architectural approach with Cobonpue’s use of local materials like rattan.

### What is the design concept behind UNIVERS NUSTAR’s interior?

UNIVERS NUSTAR’s interior centers on an undulating woven rattan installation that drapes across the walls and ceiling of the 283-square-meter store, softening the space’s industrial modernity while subtly dividing it into distinct sections.

### What materials and lighting define UNIVERS NUSTAR’s retail space?

UNIVERS NUSTAR uses glass as a transparent barrier to open up sightlines to its rattan installation, paired with a neutral material palette and pinpoint ceiling lighting that casts a soft glow accentuating the rattan’s curves and the displayed merchandise.

### What brands and products does UNIVERS NUSTAR carry?

UNIVERS NUSTAR stocks ready-to-wear labels including 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Off-White, Thom Browne, and Y-3, alongside curated market goods such as Astier de Villatte candles, Heeley perfumes, Trudon candles, and Monocle books.

**Categories:** Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Architecture, Cebu, Design, Interior Design, retail design

---

### [Uma Nota Manila: The Odd Duck Studio's Nipo-Brasileiro Interior](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/uma-nota-manila-a-symphony-of-brazilian-and-japanese-design/)

**Published:** June 17, 2024
**Author:** Albert Aycardo

**Content:**

Designed by [The Odd Duck Studio](https://www.oddduckdesign.com), Uma Nota Manila offers its patrons a captivating space filled with different cultures. The restaurant is the third of its franchise, with branches in Hong Kong and Paris, as its owners bring a world class dining experience to Shangri-La at the Fort. It pays homage to the vibrant Nipo-Brasileiro subculture that emerged in São Paulo’s Liberdade district.

## How Does The Odd Duck Studio Blend Japanese, Brazilian, and Filipino Design at Uma Nota Manila?

Asmaa Said, founder of the Odd Duck, shared how they brought Uma Nota’s vision to life. The firm reaches beyond design as they also bring a full package that harmoniously presents Uma Nota’s brand. From its large arches filled with elegant drapes to the refined cutlery, the firm clearly paid careful attention to captivating the senses in an enticing and engaging manner.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6688-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6688 Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6651-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6651 Large - BluPrint")Cultural nuances are clearly established as elements from Japanese, Brazilian, and Filipino culture are deeply intertwined with each other. The result is a truly unique atmosphere that brings together the liveliness and flavors that these countries have to offer. What truly stands out is the designer’s effort to bring this international brand closer to home with notes of local design.

The primary theme of the interior is a special blend of vintage Brazilian charm with Japanese elegance. The soul of old-school Brazilian jazz clubs meld into the spirited zen of Sino-tastes. The cuisine, Nipo-Brasileiro infusion, was born from the widespread Japanese community based in brazil. In that regard, Uma Nota Manila resoundingly manages to tell that story within its spaces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6603-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6603 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6618_V2-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6618_V2 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6734-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6734 Large - BluPrint")

Every element, from the floor-to-ceiling drapery and ambient lights to the pops of color and vintage accents, has been carefully considered to contribute to the overall narrative. A selection of local artwork, furniture, and decor seamlessly blends Brazilian and Japanese influences in a fashion legible to Filipino sensibilities.

## Uma Nota Manila’s Interior Layout: Four Distinct Dining Areas

Four distinct areas define the layout of Uma Nota Manila, each with its own unique character and purpose. As guests navigate through these spaces, they embark on a journey that showcases the rich tapestry of Brazilian and Japanese cultures.

### Living Room

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6612-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6612 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6564-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6564 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6594-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6594 Large - BluPrint")

A major focal point of the Living Room is the “Hanging Tree” installation. If you’re wondering if it’s real, the answer is yes. Made from petrified wood and imported from Dubai, its artificial leaves retain the appearance of liveliness. This additional installation fills the room with a sense of awe. The space transforms throughout the day as it transitions between an upscale dining area, an intimate and seductive evening space, and a place for festive celebration.

### The Bar

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6590-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6590 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6627-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6627 Large - BluPrint")

Underneath the local hanging artwork, curated by The Empty Scholar, is the restaurant’s bar. It’s designed to encourage interaction and conversation while enjoying their selection of expertly crafted cocktails. The use of marble accents and gold art deco railings evoke a touch of sophistication. Homey accents bring a sense of comfort and familiarity with tasteful contrast.

### Tropicalia

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6648_Light-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6648_Light Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6636-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6636 Large - BluPrint")

The Tropicalia room takes its inspiration from Brazilian arts, fashion, and music from the turn of the century. Vibrant terracotta hues and vinyl records reflect this influence as it establishes both nostalgia mixed in with contemporary charm. The space itself functions as a venue for celebrations as it captures the essence of movement and a suave groove. The furniture notably pops in color while artisanal artifacts fill the rows of shelving.

### The Meiji Room

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6682-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6682 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6697-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6697 Large - BluPrint")

The Meiji Room refers to the first wave of Japanese migration to São Paulo during the Meiji era. A stunning Japanese mural seamlessly blends into the wall and ceiling in a compelling arrangement with the central dining table. It’s a more traditional area that values serenity with a more relaxed and seated design intention.

## What Uma Nota Manila’s Lighting Design Reveals About Crafting a Multi-Sensory Dining Experience

Uma Nota Manila captivates the senses in a slew of ways. The Odd Duck enthralls the eyes with a resplendent use of light within. Baseline Lighting Design Studio curated the combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting dictates the atmosphere as it shifts throughout the day.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6594-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6594 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6773-copy-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6773 copy Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6767-copy-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6767 copy Large - BluPrint")

The dimly lit entryway, reminiscent of traditional Japanese ryokans, features dramatic lighting and electric lanterns that complement the deep brown hues. As guests move into the main dining area, they are greeted by a contrasting lively scene filled with colors and lights that draws the sight in all directions.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uma-Nota-1R9A6791-Large.jpeg "Uma Nota 1R9A6791 Large - BluPrint")Aside from its beautiful appeal, the designer made sure that the space is functional in serving its guests and managing staff. Each area is carefully laid out as they flow in respect to their assigned use. Whether it be for intimate gatherings, large groups, or for a round of drinks, it’s all organized so that its users can truly enjoy the space they find themselves in.

## The Odd Duck Studio’s International Design Portfolio and Uma Nota’s Global Expansion

More than just a restaurant, Uma Nota Manila brings diverse cultures and tastes that made its other franchises a resounding success in the first place. Through their dedicated process and experience in international design, The Odd Duck studio has managed to create a space that masterfully captures the imagination of its patrons. One cannot help but feel immersed in the sophisticated vibrancy of taste the restaurant has to offer.

*Photographed by Sergei Nekrasov.*

**Read more:** [Izakaya Geronimo: A Unique Twist on Japanese Dining](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/izakaya-geronimo-a-unique-twist-on-japanese-dining/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Nipo-Brasileiro cuisine and how does it relate to Uma Nota Manila’s design?

Nipo-Brasileiro cuisine describes the fusion born from Japan’s historic immigrant community in São Paulo, Brazil, particularly the Liberdade district. At Uma Nota Manila, The Odd Duck Studio translates this cultural blend spatially, layering vintage Brazilian charm with Japanese elegance across drapery, artwork, and furniture selections informed by Filipino sensibilities.

### Who designed Uma Nota Manila’s interior?

The Odd Duck Studio, led by founder Asmaa Said, designed Uma Nota Manila’s interior at Shangri-La at the Fort. The firm delivered a full brand package spanning architecture, furniture, and cutlery, marking the restaurant’s third global location after Hong Kong and Paris.

### What are the four themed areas inside Uma Nota Manila?

Uma Nota Manila is organized into four zones: the Living Room, anchored by a petrified wood Hanging Tree installation; the Bar, featuring marble and gold art deco details; Tropicalia, referencing Brazilian arts and music; and the Meiji Room, honoring Japanese migration history.

### What is the “Hanging Tree” installation at Uma Nota Manila?

The Hanging Tree is a Living Room installation made from petrified wood imported from Dubai, fitted with artificial leaves that retain a lifelike appearance. It anchors a space that shifts throughout the day between upscale dining, an intimate evening lounge, and a celebration venue.

### Where is Uma Nota Manila located, and how many branches does the restaurant have?

Uma Nota Manila is located at Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Manila. It is the third branch of the Uma Nota franchise, following earlier locations in Hong Kong and Paris, and was designed by The Odd Duck Studio.

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**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

---

### [BluPrint Homes: A New Era of Conscious Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/bluprint-homes-a-new-era-of-conscious-living/)

**Published:** June 15, 2025
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

A new vision for design and living makes its debut as BluPrint Homes launches its maiden issue, dedicated to exploring “The New Era of Conscious Living.” This magazine embraces a holistic approach to design, focusing on concepts that excel not only in function and beauty but also prioritize sustainability and ethical considerations.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes-In-Article-5-scaled.webp "BP Homes In-Article 5 - BluPrint")For its first issue, BluPrint Homes presents two distinct covers. The first features “Stillness by the Sea,” a stunning family beach house in Batangas, designed to be a tranquil sanctuary. The home intentionally uses repurposed pieces and local Filipino materials like cogon grass and runo reeds, reflecting the owners’ desire for a space that feels lived-in and “grows old gracefully”.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes-In-Article-3-scaled.webp "BP Homes In-Article 3 - BluPrint")The second cover showcases the magazine’s banner story, “The Essence of Conscious Living,” a unique vision born from a landmark collaboration between renowned furniture brand Ethan Allen and three of Manila’s top interior designers: IDr. Rossy Rojales, IDr. Tet Tiu-Alano, and IDr. Joliza Tan. Moving against the tide of fast trends, this partnership set out to create exceptional vignettes that connect to Ethan Allen’s core ethos of impeccable quality and craftsmanship.

## Debut Issue Contents: Casa Elena, Condo Living, Art Collecting

Beyond its covers, the magazine offers a rich and immersive experience, delving into spaces that tell profound stories. In “A House Built with Grace,” readers are welcomed into Casa Elena, an architect’s heartfelt tribute to his late wife in Quezon City. What began as a plan for a retirement home evolved into a legacy of love, where nature-integrated design, sustainable features, and honest materiality converge with deeply personal memories.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes-In-Article-1-scaled.webp "BP Homes In-Article 1 - BluPrint")The **CONDO LIVING** section features “Intentional Maximalism,” a tour of creative director Vince Uy’s ever-evolving Makati apartment. His home is a living narrative, a curated abundance of stories, colors, and textures that shift in step with his life’s journey. It’s a space filled with cultural mementos from travels, an art collection supporting young local artists, and rooms that transform to suit a more relaxed pace of life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes-In-Article-2-scaled.webp "BP Homes In-Article 2 - BluPrint")In **ARTS & CULTURE**, “A Collection That Speaks to the Soul” introduces a passionate cake designer and art collector who has transformed his four-story Quezon City apartment into a personal gallery. Driven by a love for monochrome works that he finds “nostalgic, beautiful, dramatic; you know, very serene,” the home was designed around the art itself. The story explores his philosophy of collecting: to buy what you love, regardless of trends, because you have to enjoy what you live with every day.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BP-Homes-In-Article-4-scaled.webp "BP Homes In-Article 4 - BluPrint")The **FEATURE** section offers “Archival Sensations,” an exploration of how timeless design is reinterpreted for modern interiors. The article delves into the concept of “restrained opulence,” showing how mixing pieces from different eras—blending the contemporary with the traditional—can create a home that feels both timeless and deeply personal through the art of storytelling.

This premier volume marks an evolution for the brand, introducing a larger framework that encompasses interior design, arts, and culture. As Fuster notes, the magazine’s mission is to present visual beauty backed by substance, celebrating the joy found in thoughtful design, entertaining, and styling.

With a clear emphasis on individuality, good taste, and soulful living, BluPrint Homes embarks on its journey to celebrate the art of a beautiful life.

Head over to [sarisari shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/products/the-design-sourcebook-bluprint-homes), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand?categoryId=100643&entryPoint=ShopByPDP&itemId=40800252445), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.446320f7vaRgYT&itemId=5053511019&channelSource=pdp) to order your copy today. E-magazines are also available for download [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) or through [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) to find out more.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the core philosophy of the “New Era of Conscious Living”?

The “New Era of Conscious Living” represents a holistic shift in design that prioritizes individuality, sustainability, and ethical considerations over fast-moving trends. It focuses on creating spaces that are not only functional and beautiful but also soulful and “lived-in,” allowing a home to grow old gracefully. This philosophy encourages homeowners to select materials and pieces that reflect their personal stories and support local craftsmanship, ensuring the home remains a meaningful sanctuary.

### How does the magazine illustrate the use of sustainable and local materials?

BluPrint Homes highlights the use of repurposed pieces and indigenous Filipino materials like cogon grass and runo reeds, as seen in the “Stillness by the Sea” beach house. These choices reduce environmental impact while rooting the architecture in its local context. By using materials that age naturally, the design embraces “honest materiality,” where the physical substance of the home contributes to a sense of tranquility and permanence.

### What is “Intentional Maximalism” in the context of condo living?

As showcased in the feature on Vince Uy’s Makati apartment, “Intentional Maximalism” is the curated abundance of stories, textures, and colors that reflect a resident’s personal journey. Unlike cluttered spaces, this approach focuses on a meaningful collection of cultural mementos and art that supports local creators. It demonstrates how a small urban space can be transformed into a living narrative that evolves alongside the owner’s changing pace of life.

### How can homeowners balance traditional and contemporary design?

The magazine introduces the concept of “Archival Sensations” and “restrained opulence” to guide homeowners in blending different eras. This involves mixing timeless, traditional pieces with modern elements to create a space that feels personal rather than showroom-perfect. The key is the art of storytelling—using furniture and decor from various periods to create a cohesive interior that feels both sophisticated and deeply connected to the owner’s history.

### What is the recommended approach for starting an art collection for the home?

According to the featured collector in the Arts & Culture section, the best approach is to buy what you love regardless of market trends. Collecting should be a soulful pursuit focused on works that evoke personal emotions—such as nostalgia or serenity—rather than investment potential. By designing rooms around the art itself, the collection becomes a “monochrome narrative” that speaks to the soul, ensuring the homeowner enjoys their surroundings every day.

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### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

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**Categories:** Architecture, Interiors, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Sangay Architects offers bamboo, ‘a poor man’s timber,’ for royalty](https://bluprint-onemega.com/submissions/sangay-architects-bamboo-mlr-polo-pavilion/)

**Published:** September 4, 2020
**Author:** Sangay Architects

**Excerpt:** Sangay Architects utilized bamboo as a primary material in MLR Polo Pavilion for the 2019 South East Asian Games Polo event

**Content:**

From a third world country’s perspective, there is a stigma attached to bamboo being commonly perceived as a “poor man’s timber.” Bamboo, an indigenous material in the Philippines, has long been ingrained in our culture, from being the primary material of vernacular houses to being carved to make household tools, and even as part of folklore stories of how the first inhabitants emerged from a splitting bamboo culm. But as modernization and development becomes inevitable, contemporary materials have been introduced, developed, and used to define the progress of the city—one of the effects of that process is the fast fading utilization of indigenous materials, one of which is bamboo.

![BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-5.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-5 - BluPrint")The contemporary use of bamboo for construction in the Philippines is limited in temporary structures such as huts because 1.) bamboo and other indigenous materials classify as temporary structures due to the lack of material standardization; 2.) the lack of awareness of professionals on the right process of treatment and material utilization; 3.) the lack of knowledge of local workers on how to do innovative bamboo connections to make it more permanent; and 4.) the lack of an example of an innovative bamboo building in the country, which can inspire others and serve as a proof that bamboo can be a contemporary material. Sangay Architects envisions an abundance in the use of this material in the years to come. The firm has committed to elevating the value of this material through innovation and good design, making this project as an example of a permanent structure using bamboo as the main structural members, keeping in mind the Philippine sensibilities and context in the design.

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [Earl Forlales explores the potential of bamboo in this ‘CUBO’](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/earl-forlales-bamboo-cubo/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-7.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-7 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-8.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-8 - BluPrint")## Bamboo in the Philippines: From Vernacular Material to Contemporary Structure

The MLR Polo Pavilion is a bamboo structure built to host the royal guests and VVIPs from neighboring countries for the 2019 South East Asian Games Polo event. Luxury is often associated with reflective materials such as glass, gold, and marble. Ironically, this pavilion, intended for the royal guests, uses bamboo poles for structural framing members, bamboo mat for the ceiling, thatch roof, and stucco for the pedestal finish. The sense of grandeur was maintained in scale to create a feeling of awe, and the clean repetitive, and intricate patterns of the bamboo A-frames harmoniously serve as both structural and aesthetic. The curves of the edges of the roof juxtapose the sharp edge of the triangular shape of the building. Subtle warm lights embellish the poles to create warmth and the golden glow, visibly attracting the users in the duration of their stay.

**READ MORE: [Roots and Shoots: VTN Architects on bamboo as a primary material](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/vtn-architects-bamboo-architecture/)**

![BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-6.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-6 - BluPrint")![BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-4.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-4 - BluPrint")---

**Project Information**

**Project Name:** MLR Polo Pavilion

**Completion Year:** 2019

**Lot Area:** 1000m²+

**Gross Built Area:** 700m²

**Project Location:** Calatagan, Batangas City, Philippines

**Approximate Project Cost (In local currency/US$, optional):** Php 25,000,000

---

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects-3-900x500.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects-3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Project-Submission-MLR-Polo-Pavilion-Sangay-Architects2-505x500.jpg "BluPrint Project Submission MLR Polo Pavilion Sangay Architects2 - BluPrint")---

**Project Credits**

**Architecture Firm:** Sangay Architects

**Firm Address:** Unit 1801 OMM Citra Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

**Website:** [www.sangayarchitects.com](https://www.sangayarchitects.com)

**Contact email:** 09176821992

**Lead Architect:** Christian S. Salandanan & Kathleen S. Sapungay

**Lead Architect’s email:** 

**Design Team:** Arvin Diamzon, Kathleen Sapungay, Christian Salandanan, Celine Lansangan

**Engineering:** P-Delta Design Consultancy

**Contractor:** Bambusa Construction Corporation

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is bamboo considered “a poor man’s timber” in the Philippines despite being an indigenous material?

Bamboo carries a stigma in the Philippines due to a lack of material standardization, limited professional knowledge of proper treatment, and few examples of permanent bamboo buildings. This confines its contemporary use largely to temporary structures, despite its long history in vernacular houses and Filipino folklore.

### What makes the MLR Polo Pavilion by Sangay Architects an example of permanent bamboo architecture?

The MLR Polo Pavilion uses bamboo poles as primary structural framing members rather than temporary supports, paired with bamboo-mat ceilings, thatch roofing, and stucco pedestal finishes — demonstrating that bamboo can achieve the scale and permanence associated with contemporary construction materials.

### What was the MLR Polo Pavilion built for and where is it located?

The MLR Polo Pavilion was built in Calatagan, Batangas, to host royal guests and VVIPs from neighboring countries during the 2019 South East Asian Games Polo event. It spans a lot area of over 1,000 square meters with a gross built area exceeding 700 square meters.

### Who designed and built the MLR Polo Pavilion?

The MLR Polo Pavilion was designed by Sangay Architects, led by Christian S. Salandanan and Kathleen S. Sapungay, with engineering by P-Delta Design Consultancy and construction by Bambusa Construction Corporation. The project was completed in 2019 at an approximate cost of Php 25,000,000.

### How does bamboo function as both a structural and aesthetic material in Philippine architecture?

In the MLR Polo Pavilion, bamboo A-frames serve a dual role — carrying structural loads while forming repetitive, intricate patterns that define the building’s visual character. Combined with warm embedded lighting, the material achieves a sense of grandeur typically associated with reflective luxury finishes like glass or marble.

**Categories:** Architecture, Submissions

**Tags:** 2019 SEA Games, 2019 South East Asian Games Polo, Bamboo, MLR Polo Pavilion, Pavilion, Philippines, Project Submission, Sangay Architects

---

### [The Village Bar: A New Speakeasy in Salcedo, Makati](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/the-village-bar-a-new-speakeasy-in-salcedo-makati/)

**Published:** July 31, 2024
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

The Wildflour Hospitality Group has seen a major expansion throughout their 12 years in the industry. With 5 restaurant brands and over 16 outposts all over the metro, they’re really sticking to their tagline “Rising like flour”. Their latest is a hybrid setup in Salcedo featuring Pink’s Hotdogs and Pizza Sisters and is so much more than meets the eye.

## Village Bar: Ladrilyo’s Hidden Speakeasy Behind Pink’s and Pizza Sisters

![The Village Bar: A New Speakeasy in Salcedo, Makati.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-41.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-41 - BluPrint")A hidden gem lies behind the facade of Pink’s and Pizza Sisters.It’s all regular programming in the front. The facade in a muted blue hides an al fresco seating area with plants and hanging ferns. Terracotta floor tiles lead you towards a glass wall ushering you inside what feels like a modern tavern. Dim lights, dark grey walls, black leather banquette seating, a brick counter and checkered flooring define the space. An archway opens up to a room equipped with large screen televisions where patrons can enjoy watching their favorite sports.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-40.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-40 - BluPrint")The magic of this place lies behind the thick black curtain at the end of the hallway where the speakeasy called Village Bar lies. Design studio Ladrilyo wanted the space to feel welcoming yet distinct from each other. They incorporated Persian rugs, a mix of cushioned seating, and vintage pieces all throughout.

Ladrilyo’s founder [Carol Karthe](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/icanserve-foundation-opens-the-pink-room-gallery-for-good/) says, “The interiors were made rustic and cozy by using vintage furniture and featuring dim lighting, old dark woods, dark ceiling and walls, and charming compact bars. This fully meets the requisites for comfort and familiarity.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-14-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-11-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-16-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-16 - BluPrint")

The building’s low ceilings were a challenge for this space. To address this, Karthe chose to elevate some seating spaces to create depth. The ceiling, adorned in decorative tile painted black creates an illusion that the ceiling is higher than it really is. A white hexagon tile pattern on the floor defines the spaces, subtly compartmentalizing the different seating areas.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-17-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-18.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-19 - BluPrint")

Brick walls or walls clad in distressed and weathered wood planks combine with furniture sourced from second-hand vintage stores. “Waste is something I’ve always avoided. What’s left over is always reused and repurposed,” Karthe explains.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-07-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-07 - BluPrint")Ladrilyo founder, Carol Karthe showcases her curated rustic design.## Village Bar’s Creekside Patio and Wood-Coffered Lounge Design

Situated beside a creek, Karthe took advantage of the property’s location by adding a long patio area that lined with windows and verdant plants. Black and white checkered flooring bring a brightness to the space. It’s a refreshing space to enjoy a cocktail. “It’s in this semi-outdoor terrace that is quite soothing because it has an open view of the back creek area. A lot of natural light and lights from the street lamps come through in this space. It has a feel of a greenhouse and offers an immersive and unconventional experience,” she adds.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-27.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-27 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-29.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-29 - BluPrint")At the far end of the Village Bar, wooden coffered ceilings paired with wooden wainscoting on the walls create an elegant and cozy atmosphere. Framed black and white photos of rock stars such as Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley line the walls. A pair of Savonarola chairs sit in the corner by the window. Village Bar does a good job in making you forget you’re in the middle of Salcedo village in Makati. Every sitting area has its own personality. “Each space has different characteristics and purposes, and I believe all of them are very identifiable,” she says.

## How Does Village Bar’s Interior Design Stay On-Brand with Wildflour Hospitality Group?

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-15-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-15 - BluPrint")Karthe made sure that her design didn’t depart from the Wildflour brand’s existing look and feel. This 345 square meter outpost still feels very much part of the family of brands by Wildflour Hospitality Group with elegant, masculine touches. “The rustic Wildflour design has been preserved but I made sure that the modern needs and elevated sense of aesthetics were not overlooked,” she continues. “The clients are the heart of every project. If we designers listen to them carefully, we can create a space for enriching exchange.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-26.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-26 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-09-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-09 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-05-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-05 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Pinks-Hotdogs-Pizza-Sisters-31.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Pinks Hotdogs Pizza Sisters)-31 - BluPrint")Village Bar in Salcedo offers an engaging space for a good time, whether you enjoy your drinks with premium hotdogs from Pink’s or an assortment of pies from Pizza Sisters.

Photographed by Jar Concengco.

**Read more:** [Ito Kish Design Food is a Feast for the Senses](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/ito-kish-design-food-is-a-feast-for-the-senses/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a speakeasy-style interior and how is it applied in Village Bar’s design?

A speakeasy-style interior conceals a secondary space behind an unassuming or coded entrance, referencing Prohibition-era bars. Village Bar sits behind a curtain within Pink’s Hotdogs and Pizza Sisters in Salcedo, Makati, designed by Ladrilyo with dim lighting, vintage furniture, and compartmentalized seating to create a distinct, discreet drinking space.

### How did design studio Ladrilyo address the low ceiling in Village Bar’s interior?

Ladrilyo elevated select seating areas to add spatial depth and used decorative black-painted tile on the ceiling to create the illusion of greater height. A white hexagon floor pattern further compartmentalizes seating zones, together countering the constraints of the building’s original low ceiling.

### What materials and furnishings define Village Bar’s rustic aesthetic?

Village Bar combines brick walls, distressed and weathered wood planks, and vintage furniture sourced from second-hand stores. Design studio Ladrilyo prioritized reuse and repurposing over new materials, layering Persian rugs, cushioned seating, and wooden coffered ceilings with wainscoting to create a cozy, collected interior atmosphere.

### How does Village Bar’s design stay consistent with the Wildflour Hospitality Group brand?

Designer Carol Karthe preserved Wildflour’s established rustic design language across the 345-square-meter Salcedo outpost while introducing elevated, masculine touches suited to a speakeasy concept. The result maintains brand continuity across Wildflour’s restaurant portfolio while meeting the modern spatial and aesthetic needs of Village Bar.

### What outdoor or semi-outdoor spaces are part of Village Bar’s layout?

Village Bar includes a long, window-lined patio beside a creek, finished with black-and-white checkered flooring. Natural light and street lamp illumination give the space a greenhouse-like quality, offering a semi-outdoor seating option distinct from the enclosed, dimly lit interior lounge areas.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

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The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

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### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

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**Categories:** Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Salcedo, Speakeasy

---

### [Oak & Smoke: Andrew Trinidad Designs a Restaurant Around Fire](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/oak-smoke-a-culinary-fusion-of-fire-and-flavor/)

**Published:** January 31, 2025
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Nestled in the bustling heart of Salcedo Village, Oak & Smoke (O/S) is a restaurant where contemporary design meets the primal allure of open-flame cooking. Located on the ground floor of Pacquiao Mansion, this dynamic dining space is the brainchild of culinary power duo Chef Anna Bautista and Chef Sean Jorgensen. With its origins rooted in smoked meats, Oak & Smoke has evolved into something much more sophisticated—a fusion of Southern U.S. flair and Northern Californian finesse, offering a unique blend of flavors that is both exciting and approachable.

## Oak & Smoke: Design Vision by Andrew Trinidad and Headroom CDV Co.

![Oak & Smoke: A Culinary Fusion of Fire and Flavor. The glass ceiling allows natural light to come in during the day.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-13.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-13 - BluPrint")The glass ceiling allows natural light to come in during the day.The dining experience at Oak & Smoke extends beyond the food, seamlessly integrating with the restaurant’s interior design. For this, the chefs turned to Andrew Trinidad of Headroom CDV Co., who helped craft a space that mirrors the culinary philosophy of the restaurant—strong, bold, and balanced.

Trinidad recalls the brief he received from the chefs. “They wanted a sharp, contemporary restaurant that complemented their cuisine,” he says. “Sean’s cooking style is rugged, while Anna’s is more refined. The design had to reflect both these personalities, creating a balance between masculine and feminine elements.” This duality is evident in every aspect of the restaurant’s interior, from the dark hues of blue, gray, and wood that dominate the color palette to the floral patterns subtly woven into the menu and floor tiles.

The focal point of the restaurant’s design is a striking nine-meter-long chandelier that runs through the middle of the dining room, pulling the eye upward and lending the space a sense of grandeur. “The chandelier’s shape mimics the flow of smoke, tying the design back to the restaurant’s concept,” explains Trinidad. The inclusion of visible firewood in the open kitchen’s gallery walls further emphasizes the central role of fire in Oak & Smoke’s culinary identity.

## Why Oak & Smoke’s Bar Moved to the Back of the Dining Room

One of the most unique aspects of Oak & Smoke’s design is how it enhances the dining experience, rather than simply complementing it. “We designed the menu first, then thought about how the space should look,” explains Jorgensen. “The design is really a reflection of the food. It’s approachable, but there’s still a level of sophistication.”

![Oak & Smoke: A Culinary Fusion of Fire and Flavor. Warm lighting and sleek furnishings make the interior an inviting space, blending modern design with comfort.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-04 - BluPrint")Warm lighting and sleek furnishings make the interior an inviting space, blending modern design with comfort.This approach is particularly evident in the restaurant’s layout. The open kitchen gives guests a glimpse of the culinary action, while the bar—strategically placed at the far end of the dining room—allows patrons to take in the entire space as they enjoy a cocktail. “The original plan was to have the bar near the entrance,” says Jorgensen, “but we quickly realized that it would be too cramped. Moving it to the other end made the space feel more open and inviting.”

## Inside Oak & Smoke’s Warm, Wood-Filled Dining Environment

From the moment guests step into Oak & Smoke, they are met with a sensory experience that goes beyond food. The warm, wood-filled interiors, the open kitchen showcasing live cooking, and the thoughtfully curated design elements all work together to create a dining environment that feels both intimate and grand.

![Oak & Smoke: A Culinary Fusion of Fire and Flavor. Every inch of the restaurant's interior was thoughtfully designed to maximize space and comfort without compromising its aesthetic appeal.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-07 - BluPrint")Every inch of the restaurant’s interior was thoughtfully designed to maximize space and comfort without compromising its aesthetic appeal.With its evolving menu, carefully crafted interiors, and commitment to creating an approachable yet sophisticated dining experience, Oak & Smoke is set to become one of Salcedo Village’s most beloved dining destinations. Whether you’re stopping by for a casual weeknight dinner or celebrating a special occasion, Oak & Smoke offers a unique fusion of flavors and design that leaves a lasting impression.

Read more about Oak & Smoke by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, available via the [sarisari.shopping website](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-volume-2), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.42905f53oYtyra&itemId=4456214334&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are available for download via [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Photography by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [CC House: A Modern Filipino Family Haven by LiDU](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/cc-house-a-modern-filipino-family-haven-by-lidu/)

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### What is the Oak & Smoke restaurant known for?

Oak & Smoke is known for its open-flame cooking, blending Southern U.S. flavors with Northern Californian finesse to create bold yet approachable dishes.

### Where is Oak & Smoke located?

The restaurant is located in the vibrant Salcedo Village, on the ground floor of Pacquiao Mansion in Makati City.

### Who are the chefs behind Oak & Smoke?

Oak & Smoke is led by culinary duo Chef Anna Bautista and Chef Sean Jorgensen, who bring creativity and expertise to every dish.

### What type of cuisine does Oak & Smoke serve?

The menu offers a fusion of smoked meats, contemporary comfort food, and refined flavors inspired by Southern and Californian cooking traditions.

### Does Oak & Smoke specialize in smoked meats?

Yes, Oak & Smoke started with smoked meats as its foundation and has since expanded into a more diverse and sophisticated dining experience.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Restaurant

---

### [Reinterpreting Philippine Architecture: Manny Miñana on Abstracting Filipino Design in Contemporary Setting](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/reinterpreting-philippine-architecture-manny-minana-on-abstracting-filipino-design-in-contemporary-setting/)

**Published:** October 16, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Tropical, Indigenous, and Aspirational—three qualities that represent Filipino Architecture today according to Emmanuel “Manny” A. Miñana, Principal Architect of [EAMiñana Architects (EAMA)](https://eaminanaarchitects.com/). Miñana is one of the leading advocates of contemporary Philippine Architecture who has a deep affection for Filipino culture.

![Manny Miñana on the cover of BluPrint Perspective](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Emmanuel-Minana-2.jpg "Emmanuel Miñana-2 - BluPrint")Miñana’s residential projects are distinctly modern tropical with a touch of familiarity. His approach to Filipino architecture is not quite literal nor nostalgic. He is more interested in abstracting familiar forms from the vernacular which aim to reinvent our past with modern translations of simplicity, context, elegance, and comfort.

## Reinterpreting Philippine Architecture: Tropical, Indigenous, Aspirational

Connecting with nature is a vital aspect of Miñana’s designs. “I feel privileged to be able to design where one valued partner is nature and the other, my valued clients,” shares Miñana. To him, understanding the natural environment of the site allows architects to come up with a design that is comfortable and grounded, addressing the users’ needs regardless of the project’s size.

In the Philippine setting, climate plays a huge role when designing a Filipino home. “Philippine architecture is tropical. It can’t be Filipino if it is not tropical,” Miñana emphasizes.

![Manny Miñana poses at one of his residential projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7575.jpg "_DSF7575 - BluPrint")One should understand the wind flow, the path of light, cross ventilation, and passive cooling of the site to know how nature can assist and interplay with architecture. This analysis gives the architect an idea where and when to open up the house, and how its users can connect with nature. Opening up these spaces to nature help to cultivate spirit, *chi*, within the home environment.

Moreover, Miñana believes that Filipino Architecture should have indigenous qualities which he references from the past and collectively reinterprets in a contemporary manner in his work. He encourages our culture to be referenced to make our roots come alive and stay relevant in our everyday lives.

![Manny Miñana poses at one of his residential projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7348.jpg "_DSF7348 - BluPrint")

![Manny Miñana poses at one of his residential projects.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7582.jpg "_DSF7582 - BluPrint")

Respect for local crafts and artisanship is also vital in reimagining Philippine architecture. We should be championing our locally-produced materials to help open up opportunities for new material research as well as uphold and develop indigenous crafts locally and globally.

The third quality of Philippine Architecture for Miñana is that it is aspirational. He asks: “Who are we as Filipinos and what are our aspirations?” We aspire to establish our own identity and create architecture and design that is unique, that people can remember and associate as Filipino.

But what really makes an architecture memorable?

## Creating Remarkable Architecture: Self, Place, and Being

Over the years, Miñana has established his name in the industry with projects across the country and abroad. As a master of architectural poetry, it is hard not to recognize his outstanding designs. For an architecture to be unforgettable, Miñana explains it should have a sense of self, place, and being. “You know, this sense of BEING is a very conceptual phrase. Yet, it is really about a sense of identity. It knows what it is, it knows who it is, and it knows what it wants to become,” he expounds.

![Manny Miñana at one of his residential projects in Makati.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7413.jpg "_DSF7413 - BluPrint")Ultimately, the character and voice of the architecture needs to be clear to be remarkable. According to Miñana, it should be able to present its intentions, be it to wow, invigorate, or nurture. Through architectural design and other design vehicles, placemakers can explore identity.

In addition, offering a unique point of view does make a structure memorable. Miñana’s works, for example, present something familiar and yet bring fresh perspective to what is Filipino through his architectural silhouettes, sunscreens, open verandas, patios, *balconajes* and use of local materials as stone and wood.

“It is important to have a clear, audible voice or point of view to help make architecture memorable,” Miñana points out. Innovation is a key driver in his work.

![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - Facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7260.jpg "_DSF7260 - BluPrint")![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - Garden](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7252.jpg "_DSF7252 - BluPrint")*The owner of the house didn’t want to have a well-manicured garden but instead she wants the plants to look as natural as possible.*

![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - exterior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7249.jpg "_DSF7249 - BluPrint")*The lush garden softens the exterior of the house which is cladded with stones.*

![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - outdoor space](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7231.jpg "_DSF7231 - BluPrint")*Miñana intends to surround the house with tall trees not only to incorporate more natural elements to the architecture but they also serve as a barrier between the outside and the inside.* 

Minana’s projects transformed into masterpieces, depending on the client’s perspective, created architectural poetry with sensible planning. In one of his projects in Makati, Miñana shares how he created an elevated bridge with glass railing above a covered walkway on the ground floor. The cubist-inspired home looks modern yet timeless: two floating cubes or masses are linked by a suspended glass bridge held up by stone-cladded stilts below it.

In another residence, Miñana makes subtle reference to tribal village houses with tapered Mindoro stone-cladded stilts or legs. The rest of the home is modernist and linear, giving the facade organic character and architectural presence. The architectural massing is softened with lush gardens surrounded by fifteen tall Narra trees that help obscure the interior of the residence, providing its residents a measure of privacy.

## Sustainable Philippine Architecture: Materials and Technology

Sustainability is more popular among new projects today. It has become a priority for both architects and clients. Miñana thinks Philippine Architecture can lead to more sustainable projects in the future by having respect for nature and our human ecology. Respect for climate change and the weather are essential factors when designing architecture for Filipinos. Houses in the country should not only look pleasing and beautiful, it should also be comfortable. As Miñana mentioned, architects should understand the natural environment and each project site to come up with architecture that has context and a sense of place.

![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - landscape details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7236.jpg "_DSF7236 - BluPrint")Additionally, sustainable practices and initiatives should address how we can coalesce to create architecture that is ethical, responsible, comfortable, and innovative. Miñana emphasizes that while nothing succeeds like comfort, the thoughtful use of technology and materials research can help reduce carbon footprint. The use of largely, locally-produced materials, solar panels on roofs, heat pumps, gas-fired water heaters, rainwater cisterns, cooling and heating inverters, among others, will certainly assist the reduction of carbon footprint.

![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - pool area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7209.jpg "_DSF7209 - BluPrint")![Manny Miñana's residential project in Makati - stonework details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSF7267.jpg "_DSF7267 - BluPrint")The architect does his best to merge materiality and technology to address sustainability. “Sustainability is design performance over time. Design performance is now also measured through practicality, utility, materiality, and relevance. Does the architecture we create help cultivate well-being and joy with the users of these spaces?”, Miñana explains. “How can we coalesce in architecture and design to help create happier, healthier human beings over time? How can architecture help to create real human comfort?

Manny Miñana has shown us how Philippine Architecture can integrate and uphold practicality and function, cultural identity, tropical design, innovation, indigenous materiality and sustainability. Miñana’s visions to continuously create a design narrative that is unique and beautiful, practical and suitable, comfortable and relevant for today’s contemporary homeowner.

The future looks bright for Filipino architecture.

RELATED READ: [Reviving Tradition: Ramon Antonio on Designing Harmony Between Old and New](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/reviving-tradition-ramon-antonio-on-designing-harmony-between-old-and-new/)

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Heritage, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Heritage, Interior Design, Manny Miñana, Philippine architecture, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/kiwami-moa-a-new-kind-of-food-hall/)

**Published:** June 26, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The term ‘food hall’ often evokes a symphony of chaos: the clatter of trays, a cacophony of voices, and a hurried sense of movement. It’s a trope designers and diners have come to expect—a space of utility over atmosphere. But what if a food hall could be an escape *from* the noise, rather than a contributor to it? Within the sprawling expanse of the SM Mall of Asia, Kiwami MOA boldly subverts this convention. It leverages thoughtful design to transform the very idea of communal dining, offering a serene and immersive escape from the energy of its surroundings.

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-12-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 12 - BluPrint")The latest and largest venture from the Standard Hospitality Group (SHG), diverse Japanese culinary experiences converge within a cohesive and tranquil atmosphere. Kiwami MOA is a compelling case study in creating intimacy and a distinct sense of place within a high-traffic commercial setting.

SHG Creative Director Mike Concepcion spearheaded the vision for this flagship location, aiming to strike a delicate balance with the help of their architecture team [C+Y Design Studio](https://www.instagram.com/cy_designstudio/?hl=en). “This is our third location in just under 16 months since we reworked the brand, so we were conscious about how to approach a larger flagship, especially in a supermall like MOA,” Concepcion explains. “We wanted the space to feel inviting and comfortable, but also like a break from the chaos outside. MOA has a lot of energy, so the goal was to find balance.”

## Kiwami MOA: Intimacy Through Wood, Acoustics, and Skylights

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-6-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 6 - BluPrint")The challenge of translating the intimate feel of previous Kiwami locations to the vast scale of MOA was central to the design process. “MOA is massive. High volume, high pace. But we didn’t want to go louder,” Concepcion emphasizes. The solution lay in thoughtful spatial planning and a commitment to sensory details that promote calm. Warm wood finishes dominate the interior, creating a sense of natural comfort, while carefully considered acoustics help to mitigate the noise from the mall.

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-1-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 1 - BluPrint")Upon entering Kiwami MOA, guests are immediately drawn to the strategically placed Japanese maple trees. These arboreal accents act as visual anchors, guiding the eye and injecting organic form to heighten the overall sense of tranquility. Concepcion refers to these as key elements in their “signature moment areas.” “The orange tree in the center has become a marker for the brand. It slows everything down,” he notes.

Adding to the carefully curated ambiance are the artificial skylights above each tree integrated into the ceiling design. These diffused light sources mimic natural daylight, creating a brighter and more airy feel within the expansive space. This is particularly effective in counteracting the often enclosed feeling of a large indoor mall environment. The soft, even illumination enhances the warmth of the wood and the subtle textures throughout the food hall, contributing to a more relaxed and inviting mood.

## How Does Kiwami MOA Maintain a Cohesive Design Language Across Six Japanese Concepts?

Kiwami MOA houses all of Standard Hospitality Group’s beloved Japanese concepts: Ippudo, Yabu: House of Katsu, Koyo Handroll Bar, Hokkaido Soft Cream, Hannosuke, and Hachibei. Despite the diversity of culinary offerings, the design ensures a cohesive experience. “Each kitchen has its own feel. Different layouts, different energy,” Concepcion acknowledges. “But there’s a shared language across the space. Same palette, same tone. You can move through it all without losing the thread.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-13-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-8-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-9-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-14-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 14 - BluPrint")

The transitions between these distinct culinary zones are intentionally fluid. “We treated them like chapters. Clean shifts, no hard stops. It should feel natural. You don’t need to be told where to go. The space just guides you,” Concepcion explains. This seamless flow is achieved through consistent material choices, subtle changes in lighting, and carefully considered sightlines that invite exploration.

## Kiwami MOA’s Layout: Theatrical Kitchens and Entry Pause Areas

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-11-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 11 - BluPrint")The layout of Kiwami MOA encourages interaction and discovery. “The space opens up gradually. You don’t see everything right away,” Concepcion describes. The unfolding experience is enhanced by the “theatrical kitchens”—openly designed spaces where guests can observe the skilled chefs at work. This fosters a sense of connection to the food preparation process and provides a bit of entertainment.

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-10-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 10 - BluPrint")Upon entry, designated areas encourage guests to pause and appreciate the environment before proceeding to their chosen dining experience. “They give people a pause. They help you enter the experience without diving straight into the transaction,” he says. These thoughtfully designed zones contribute to the overall sense of calm and sophistication. Soft textures, layered tones, and directional lighting further enhance the ambiance, creating a grounded and welcoming atmosphere throughout.

## Kiwami MOA’s Circulation Strategy: Guided but Unscripted Movement

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-3-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 3 - BluPrint")The intuitive layout of Kiwami MOA prioritizes natural guest movement. “We followed how people naturally move. The zones help guide things, but nothing feels rigid,” Concepcion notes. This carefully considered flow allows patrons to easily navigate the various food stations and seating areas, enhancing the overall dining experience. The design encourages exploration, inviting guests to discover the full spectrum of culinary offerings within the hall.

For Standard Hospitality Group, Kiwami MOA represents the most complete realization of their vision for a multi-concept Japanese dining experience. “This is the most complete version of Kiwami we’ve done,” Concepcion affirms. “We finally had space to stretch. We added a bar, improved transitions, and let the concept breathe more.”

This flagship location provides a comprehensive showcase of SHG’s diverse brands and sets a high standard for future expansions. It demonstrates the potential for creating refined yet accessible dining destinations within dynamic commercial environments. Kiwami MOA successfully carves out a moment of tranquility and culinary delight in the heart of one of Southeast Asia’s largest malls.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/the-design-story-behind-ippudo-ramen-bar/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does Kiwami MOA redefine the traditional “food hall” concept?

Kiwami MOA subverts the typical food hall trope of chaotic, utility-driven spaces by creating a serene and intimate “oasis of calm.” Instead of contributing to the noise of the SM Mall of Asia, the design focuses on atmospheric balance and tranquility. By leveraging natural materials and strategic spatial planning, it transforms communal dining into a sensory escape that encourages guests to slow down.

### How did the design team address the challenge of creating intimacy within the massive scale of the Mall of Asia?

Creative Director Mike Concepcion and C+Y Design Studio avoided “going louder” to match the mall’s high energy. Instead, they utilized warm wood finishes to provide natural comfort and implemented carefully considered acoustics to mitigate external noise. To break down the vastness, they integrated “signature moment areas,” such as the orange Japanese maple trees, which act as visual anchors and markers that slow down the guest’s pace.

### What role do the Japanese maple trees and artificial skylights play in the ambiance?

The Japanese maple trees serve as organic focal points that inject a sense of nature into the commercial setting. Above these trees, artificial skylights are integrated into the ceiling to mimic natural daylight. This diffused light source counteracts the enclosed feeling of a mega-mall, making the expansive space feel brighter, airier, and more inviting while highlighting the subtle textures of the interior.

### How is a cohesive identity maintained despite housing multiple different Japanese culinary brands?

While Kiwami MOA includes diverse concepts like Ippudo, Yabu, and Hachibei, the design maintains a “shared language” through a consistent color palette and material tone. Transitions between the kitchens are treated like chapters in a book—fluid and natural with no “hard stops.” This ensures that guests can navigate different culinary zones without losing the conceptual thread of the flagship experience.

### How does the layout encourage guest discovery and connection to the food?

The space is designed to open up gradually rather than revealing everything at once, promoting a sense of exploration. Open “theatrical kitchens” allow diners to observe chefs at work, fostering a connection to the culinary process. Additionally, the entry features designated pause areas that allow guests to decompress and appreciate the environment before transitioning into the transaction of ordering food.

 [![restaurant interiors](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/restaurant-interiors-feature.webp "restaurant interiors feature - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurant-interiors-in-manila-that-show-the-power-of-design/) 

### [Restaurant Interiors in Manila That Show the Power of Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurant-interiors-in-manila-that-show-the-power-of-design/)

From the moment a diner steps through the door, each detail shapes how a meal is experienced. Restaurant design has evolved, with architects and culinary professionals collaborating to create built spaces that are as intentional as the menu itself. The spatial atmosphere acts as an additional ingredient that can define the culinary experience. Taupe and \[…\]

 [![Helm Restaurant by Josh Boutwood. Designed by Kevin Nieves](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/helm-feature.webp "helm-feature - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/helm-restaurant/) 

### [Helm Restaurant: A Culinary Performance](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/helm-restaurant/)

At Helm, dining unfolds as choreography. An open kitchen anchors the room, allowing guests to witness the precision behind its Michelin-starred fine dining menu. Designed by Kevin Nieves of Headroom, the 24-seat restaurant reflects that same discipline in its interior design. Tucked within Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Helm brings together culinary recognition and architectural \[…\]

 [![Flow Restaurant](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Flow-Featured-Image.webp "Flow Featured Image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/flow-where-filipino-craftsmanship-meets-culinary-artistry/) 

### [Flow: Where Filipino Craftsmanship Meets Culinary Artistry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/flow-where-filipino-craftsmanship-meets-culinary-artistry/)

“I would like Flow to hopefully turn into a place where artists can come together, collaborate and create an overall experience,” says chef Kevin Uy. This desire of his is manifested in different ways throughout FLOW— a sleek, new restaurant he opened with his childhood friend, chef Gabriel Ong. Uy is full of ideas, fairly \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/45.webp "45 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/zero-the-restaurant-the-future-of-waste-free-dining/) 

### [Zero The Restaurant: The Future of Waste-Free Dining](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/zero-the-restaurant-the-future-of-waste-free-dining/)

Faced with the crisis of rapid human consumption, Studio A+S conceived Zero The Restaurant as a deliberate counter-narrative, built around a comprehensive zero-waste philosophy. This ethos, rooted in sustainability, eliminates food waste and utilizes reusable materials. It actively minimizes the establishment’s ecological footprint, demonstrating how architecture can coexist with the environment. Old Materials, New Designs \[…\]

 [![Incanta: An Enchanting Cave Dining Experience Within the City.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF0529-scaled.webp "_DSF0529 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/incanta-an-enchanting-cave-dining-experience-within-the-city/) 

### [Incanta: An Enchanting Cave Dining Experience Within the City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/incanta-an-enchanting-cave-dining-experience-within-the-city/)

Deep within the lively avenue of Tomas Morato, Quezon City is a unique enclave that defies its urban surroundings. Incanta, a bar and restaurant characterized by its enticing hand-sculpted cave-like interior, offers a new dimension of dining, vibrant nightlife, and meaningful connections. It is a transformative place that brings guests closer to the ambiance of \[…\]

 [![The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ippudo-Ramen-Bar-Mar-20256788.webp "Ippudo Ramen Bar Mar 20256788 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/the-design-story-behind-ippudo-ramen-bar/) 

### [The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/the-design-story-behind-ippudo-ramen-bar/)

Ippudo has long been synonymous with ramen-making mastery, but with the debut of its first-ever Ramen Bar concept, the brand ventures into a bold new direction. Here, heritage and innovation converge in a strikingly modern space. Hong Kong-based architecture firm DEFT translated the brand’s storied identity into a fresh, contemporary experience. The result is a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

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### [Reviving Tradition: Ramon Antonio on Designing Harmony Between Old and New](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/reviving-tradition-ramon-antonio-on-designing-harmony-between-old-and-new/)

**Published:** September 15, 2023
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

“I’m a gardener and I love gardening. It’s relaxing. I pick up the leaves and I have scissors to prune. I cultivate and I have fertilizer. It’s a joy when you see the plants grow and get bigger,” says an enthusiastic Ramon Antonio. Of course, Ramon is much more than a gardener. He’s a choice architect for neoclassical homes for almost 4 decades now. To know him is to know that gardens, trees and plants hold a big and special part of not only his architectural practice but his everyday life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BP-Perspective-2023-Ramon-Antonio.jpg "BP Perspective 2023 - Ramon Antonio - BluPrint")## A Lifelong Love of Gardens and Landscape

His love for gardens is rooted in the memories of growing up in Pasay. “We lived in Pasay in a big house with a lot of trees. We had old fashioned plants like begonias and doña auroras. We grew up in that atmosphere,” he recounts fondly. “The art of gracious living is the way we grew up. My mother was always entertaining because my father was an architect. That was a different generation. I’m glad young people are going back to that gracious living and quiet elegance.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3829a.jpg "JAR_3829a - BluPrint")*Ramon Antonio portrays gracious living and quiet elegance with a timeless simplicity evident in the interior design elements surrounding him.*

This setting was an important factor in fostering the values he protects today as an architect. He’s a stalwart advocate of the environment and this is clearly reflected in his home and the homes he designs for his clients. When his neighbor sold him their lot, he tore down the structure, kept all the existing trees and built a garden around it. Native fruit trees such as chico, santol, macopa and bignay tower over the fanned leaves of licualas and red palms. “Normally people have a big lawn. I wanted to create a lot of layers. You see the illusion of the space – of the depth. I always don’t want to feel like I’m in Makati. I want to feel like I’m living in the countryside. To me it’s very important – landscaping, the greenery and the environment.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3611a.jpg "JAR_3611a - BluPrint")*The floor-to-ceiling windows allow for more natural light to pour in and add to the gentle liveliness already presented by the dominantly neutral-hued furnishes.*

## Tropical Modern Classical: Style and a Holistic Practice

The style of his homes are timeless – modern classical tweaked to perform in the tropical climate. “A perfect Filipino home is very tropical. It’s very open and well cross-ventilated. It’s not dependent on air conditioning with lots of open windows and doors. Preferably with a courtyard and furnishings that are accumulated – a mixture of old and new but blended and mixed and matched properly,” he advises. “I always like a house that is timeless and not very trendy.”

His penchant for sleek Italian furniture brands such as Cassina, Henge and Baleri are often juxtaposed with an eclectic mix of Asian artifacts, statues and vessels. Ramon takes a holistic approach when designing someone’s home. The structure of the home is just the beginning of what he draws up for his clients. “For me, architecture, interior design, landscaping and lighting come hand in hand. I include these from the very start of a project.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3597a.jpg "JAR_3597a - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3631a.jpg "JAR_3631a - BluPrint")*Inside are modern furnishings and artwork that quietly blend with the elegance of the home.*

## Growing Up in the Office of National Artist Pablo Antonio

Growing up with his father, National Artist Pablo Antonio, exposed him to architecture early on. “We would go to his office in Taft avenue – Taft Ave was so very nice back then. We would look through all his architectural books. And we would look at all his stuff, and how his draftsmen they rendered all in pencil. Staedtler HB pencils, I remember. We would go to the hardware stores to Go Soc and Sons. You learn the process by seeing,” Ramon shares. “I learned by seeing my father at work and going to the site.”

To this day, Ramon manually sketches the plans of the homes he designs while sitting in the den of his home. The room is brimming with books on design (the likes of Italian architect and interior designer Michele Bönan), artwork by Roberto Chabet and Emmanuel Cordova, and a mix of furniture by Knoll, Le Corbusier, and Fritz Hansen. Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors frame his verdant garden of giant ferns and palms while calm classical music plays in the background. He makes sure that he is surrounded by inspiration as he designs for his clients.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3905a.jpg "JAR_3905a - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3865a.jpg "JAR_3865a - BluPrint")

“I’m very old school,” he quips. “I like everything written down. I work on a plan and do it all manually. You have to learn to visually put yourself in that plan and walk inside. If you’re designing for a senior citizen, you need to think about giving space for a caregiver, a larger shower, wider corridors, things like this. I design everything manually and I bring it over to the office where they transfer it to CAD.” His leather-bound black notebook is full of hand-drawn colored sketches of homes, reminders, and schedules.

## The Art of Gracious Living

His architecture revolves around what he calls “the art of gracious living”. He wants his clients to see their home as a place of joy and one that can enable them to live their best life all the way down to the smallest of details. “The art of gracious living means to be able to live nicely. You have a beautiful table setting, your staff are well-trained and all of these things. It’s very important. Living graciously, living elegantly – it’s like having a gracious state of mind. Everything that you present – even simple things – present it nicely. My homes are really made for gracious entertaining,” he says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3959a.jpg "JAR_3959a - BluPrint")He embodies this philosophy even with the way he presents himself. The architect is always in a neatly tucked button down shirt and slacks. There’s a vivacity with the way he moves and talks. He’s proud that he walks for kilometers in his favorite cities such as Bangkok, Stockholm and Milan.

Lighting of a project is a main element in all of Ramon’s designs. As he already has the interior design in mind from the beginning, he can manipulate the lighting in the most optimal way to showcase art or the furniture. “Lighting is very important because that creates the mood of the house. I like a lot of soft lighting that’s why I like a lot of lamps, a lot of wall washers and up lighters.”

His design style is mainly inspired by his travels to Europe. For the past 20 years, he’s attended Salone del Mobile in Milan where he gets a first peek at new innovations and technology in design. “I think now modern technology has helped a lot with the design of houses, with all the types of materials available. Now we have a lot of glass with different textures, and tiles that look like stone. You don’t have to destroy nature for it anymore. For me, it’s a joy.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3773a.jpg "JAR_3773a - BluPrint")Classical movies also are a source of inspiration for the architect. “When I was young, my father designed a lot of movie houses. One of his movie houses was Galaxy Theater – I don’t think it’s there anymore – on Rizal Avenue. There were movies like South Pacific and movies with William Holden in tropical settings. I always love the feeling of the tropics. On YouTube there are movies such as Tamarind Seed set in the Caribbean and the houses are beautiful,” Ramon reminisces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JAR_3950a.jpg "JAR_3950a - BluPrint")*Ramon Antonio’s design style explores simple elegance in a modern time where trends dominate the world.*

Ramon’s passion for beautifully tended gardens, correct lighting, timeless interiors and gracious living all trace back to nostalgia and tradition. Those who are fortunate enough to live in a home he designed knows very well that he is reviving the lost art of living elegantly and graciously. He takes the time to advise his clients on the different types of utensils and their uses, floral arrangements that go well with the occasion, and even the proper uniform for the household help. His adept hand at placing an ancient Tibetan statue with a Metropolitan chair from B&B Italia is proof that there can be harmony between old and new. One just has to have the right guidance.

When asked what his advice is to young architects, he says, “I think young architects these days focus on making a house too trendy or adding too many elements. By the time they get to the interiors, it becomes too busy. Design houses that are practical and easy to maintain.”

READ MORE: [Shifting Perspectives: Cathy Saldaña on Leading The Practice Toward Equitable Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/shifting-perspectives-cathy-saldana-on-leading-the-practice-toward-equitable-architecture/)

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Text and Photography Jar Concengco

Videographer Omar Villanueva

Video Editor Grant Babi

Art Direction Patricia Oliveros

Sittings Editor Geewel Fuster

Grooming Cats Del Rosario

Shoot Coordination Mae Talaid

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Ramon Antonio and what type of architecture is he known for?

Ramon Antonio is a Philippine architect with nearly four decades of practice, known for neoclassical and tropical modern classical homes. He is the son of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio, and his work integrates architecture, interior design, landscaping, and lighting from the start of each project.

### What does “the art of gracious living” mean as a design philosophy?

For Ramon Antonio, “the art of gracious living” describes designing homes for elegant, comfortable entertaining — attentive table settings, trained household staff, and a calm state of mind expressed through space. It draws on his upbringing in a Pasay household defined by frequent entertaining and old-fashioned gardens.

### What defines a tropical modern classical Filipino home?

A tropical modern classical Filipino home is open and cross-ventilated, minimizing reliance on air conditioning through wide windows and doors, often centered on a courtyard. Furnishings mix old and new pieces, blended rather than trend-driven, prioritizing timeless proportions suited to the Philippine climate.

### How does Ramon Antonio approach landscaping in his residential projects?

Ramon Antonio builds gardens around existing native trees — such as chico, santol, macopa, and bignay — rather than open lawns, layering foliage like licualas and red palms to create depth and the illusion of countryside seclusion within urban lots.

### Who was National Artist Pablo Antonio and how did he influence Ramon Antonio?

Pablo Antonio was a National Artist for Architecture and Ramon Antonio’s father, whose Taft Avenue office and hand-drafted architectural drawings shaped Ramon’s early exposure to the profession. Ramon credits observing his father’s process, including movie house designs like the Galaxy Theater, as formative.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile, Residential, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Interior Design, Philippines, Ramon Antonio, Residential

---

### [Nikolai Go and Pino Places Design Izakaya Geronimo in BGC](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/izakaya-geronimo-a-unique-twist-on-japanese-dining/)

**Published:** May 24, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is known for its vibrant dining scene, and it takes a special place to truly stand out. Among these exceptional establishments is Izakaya Geronimo. This modern Japanese restaurant is now the largest of its kind in the Philippines. And it accomplishes perhaps a bigger ask by crafting a contemporary space that still resonates with the cultural essence of Japan without resorting to conventional elements. The creative force behind this project is architect Nikolai Go and his team at Pino Places, a multidisciplinary design firm.

## How Does Pino Places Merge Japanese Tradition and Modern Design at Izakaya Geronimo?

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-21.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-21 - BluPrint")The design team at Pino Places approached this challenge by simplifying and reinterpreting classic Japanese aesthetics. They employed curved edges and rounded forms as a central theme, creating a space that feels modern yet still unmistakably Japanese.

The material palette chosen by the designers contributes to a specific mood, utilizing elements in unexpected ways to achieve a harmonious balance between tradition and modernity. The overall lighting design highlights the rich, natural tones of the wood, giving the space a warm, intimate feel.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-36.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-36 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-12.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-11.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-11 - BluPrint")

Izakaya Geronimo features two distinct dining areas: the light dining area and the dark dining area. These spaces cater to different dining experiences and times of day. The former serves the lunch and early dinner crowd with a bright and airy atmosphere. On the other hand, the latter transitions seamlessly into a more intimate, lounging space for bar goers.

## Kitchen Design: Fab Tech’s 7-Meter Cooking Block

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-19.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-19 - BluPrint")The design of Izakaya Geronimo prioritizes a “kitchen-first” approach. This philosophy begins with a deep understanding of the kitchen’s function, the menu’s requirements, and the chef’s needs. By designing the restaurant around these parameters, Pino Places created a highly efficient, low-maintenance space that adheres to strict food safety standards.

“The design of the kitchen has been very integral from the very beginning of the project,” Go shares. This attention to the kitchen’s role is evident in the partnership with Fab Tech, the company behind the Grand Hyatt’s show kitchen. Together, they built a 7-meter-long cooking block, eliminating the need for a back kitchen. The transparency of the kitchen design allows diners to see exactly where their food comes from, adding an element of trust and excitement to the dining experience.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-08.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-08 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-21.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-21 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-20.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-20 - BluPrint")

Sitting at the bar provides a front-row seat to the culinary action. Here, diners can watch chefs work their magic and prepare meals right before their eyes. The restaurant offers a variety of seating options, including booths, dining tables, and bar seating, ensuring every guest finds their perfect spot.

The counter itself is illuminated from below, creating a warm and inviting glow. The wooden barstools feature clean, straight lines and a minimalist design, crafted from the same wood as the bar, providing a cohesive look.

## How Do Izakaya Geronimo’s Gold Aluminum Panels Expand the Space?

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-03.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-03 - BluPrint")One of the most striking features of Izakaya Geronimo is the use of reflective gold painted aluminum panels, prominently displayed throughout. They greet you as you step in, providing visual interest to the refrigerators stocked with sake.

There’s also a long golden archway that effectively divides the entire space. It’s a striking architectural feature that creates a visually captivating tunnel effect. Its arched ceiling and walls, clad in the polished, reflective gold material, mirrors the surroundings and creates an illusion of expanded space. The large windows that look into the street filters natural light during the day enhances the reflections and adding depth to the golden hues.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-14.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-14 - BluPrint")Additionally, in the lounge area, another feature wall spans from floor to ceiling, creating a visual focal point that elevates the overall aesthetic. The overall effect is luxurious and modern, combining contemporary design elements with a dramatic sense of space and light.

## The Dark Dining Bar: Black Countertop and Semi-Circular Booths

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-02.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-02 - BluPrint")Past the golden archway is the dark dining area equipped with a full bar which sports a sleek, black countertop and subtly illuminated vertically ridged front panel. Black open shelving extends to the ceiling, further adding to the aesthetic.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-23.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-23 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-26.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-26 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-24.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-24 - BluPrint")The surrounding space uses warm lighting and wooden flooring that contrasts nicely with the bar’s darker tones. This area offers a mix of seating options, including high tables with barstools. Green upholstered booths arranged in a semi-circular configuration provide a cozy and private dining experience.

On the far side of the space, the mirrored golden feature wall emanates a soft glow and enhances the luxurious ambiance. The mirrors and lighting work together to expand the visual space and add depth. And for those seeking a more private dining experience, there is a function room available.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-15.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-15 - BluPrint")## Pino Places: Multidisciplinary Design Firm Since 2019

Established in 2019, Pino Places has quickly grown to become one of the largest design firms in the Philippines. As a multidisciplinary design studio, they offer a wide range of services. These include graphic design, branding, website design, integrated marketing services, social media management, interior design, and architecture. This comprehensive approach allows Pino Places to create cohesive branded experiences for their clients.

Collaboration and teamwork are at the heart of Pino Places’ design philosophy. This ensures that all aspects of a project, from concept to completion, align seamlessly. This collaborative environment fosters the exchange of ideas and ensures that every detail contributes to the overall brand identity.

Izakaya Geronimo showcases Pino Places’ innovative design philosophy. It is a space that celebrates Japanese culture through a contemporary lens, offering diners a unique and memorable experience. The modern design elements inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics creates a dining environment that is both familiar and refreshingly new.

![Pino Places Principal Architect Nikolai Go.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-05.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-05 - BluPrint")Pino Places Principal Architect Nikolai Go.As Bonifacio Global City continues to grow as a culinary destination, Izakaya Geronimo sets a high standard. Its thoughtful design and efficient layout make it a standout choice for diners. It’s a celebration of design, culture, and culinary excellence. Pino Places’ vision and architect Nikolai Go’s innovative approach have made Izakaya Geronimo a must-visit destination in Bonifacio Global City. Whether you’re enjoying a casual lunch or an intimate dinner, Izakaya Geronimo promises a dining experience that is both visually stunning and delicious.

Izakaya Geronimo is located at the Ground Floor, Asian Century Center, 27th Street &, 3rd Ave, Taguig.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-31.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-31 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-34.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-34 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-25.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-25 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-Izakaya-Geronimo-04.jpg "BluPrint-2024-May-IN-ARTICLE-(Izakaya-Geronimo)-04 - BluPrint")*Photographed by Ed Simon*

**Read more:** [Cafe Bobs: Casting a New Light on Interior Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/cafe-bobs-casting-a-new-light-on-interior-design/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed Izakaya Geronimo and where is it located?

Izakaya Geronimo was designed by architect Nikolai Go and his firm Pino Places. It is located on the Ground Floor of Asian Century Center, 27th Street and 3rd Avenue, in Taguig’s Bonifacio Global City.

### What makes Izakaya Geronimo the largest of its kind in the Philippines?

Izakaya Geronimo is the country’s largest modern Japanese izakaya, featuring two distinct dining areas — a bright light dining area and a more intimate dark dining area — designed to serve different times of day.

### What is the “kitchen-first” design approach used at Izakaya Geronimo?

The kitchen-first approach designs the restaurant around the kitchen’s function, menu requirements, and chef’s needs first. Pino Places partnered with Fab Tech, the firm behind the Grand Hyatt’s show kitchen, to build a 7-meter open cooking block.

### What materials define Izakaya Geronimo’s interior design?

The interior uses curved wood forms, warm layered lighting, and reflective gold painted aluminum panels, most prominently in a long golden archway that creates a tunnel effect and an illusion of expanded space.

### What is Pino Places and when was it founded?

Pino Places is a multidisciplinary design firm founded in 2019, offering graphic design, branding, interior design, and architecture services. It has grown into one of the largest design studios in the Philippines.

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 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Restaurant

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### [Shifting Perspectives: Cathy Saldaña on Leading The Practice Toward Equitable Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/shifting-perspectives-cathy-saldana-on-leading-the-practice-toward-equitable-architecture/)

**Published:** August 15, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

The core roles of architects involve designing and planning the buildings and spaces that surround us. Beyond these, however, architects also have bigger roles in shaping society. Their designs can affect how we live as individuals or as a community. It is crucial for architects to understand the needs of every user to create built environments that can improve the quality of life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BP-Perspective-2023-Cathy-Fina.jpg "BP Perspective 2023 - Cathy Fina - BluPrint")*For Cathy Saldaña, the element of inclusivity is key to creating empowering environments.*

Architect Cathy Saldaña, President, CEO, and Founder of [PDP Architects](https://pdparch.com/) and Project Design Plus Architecture Management Corporation, believes that it is her calling to be an architect. Since she was a student, she has always been inclined in creative activities, from sketching to decorating their family home. “There was just a lot of boundless creativity that it all seemed architecture was the next formal poetry I would pursue,” Saldaña shares as BluPrint interviews her in one of her projects–the Puey Quiñones Atelier.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cathyy.jpg "cathyy - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cathyy4.jpg "cathyy4 - BluPrint")*From a younger age up to now, Saldaña’s life is one that evolves around creation.*

Since she started her firm, Saldaña has become one of the most well-recognized architects in the Philippines and abroad. Her firm’s portfolio ranges from residential and high-rise projects to master planning. Each project aims to provide well-designed spaces that elevate the way of living of everyone in the community.

Inclusivity is a vital factor for Saldaña when designing spaces and structures. Equitable architecture is a concept where built environments cater to every type of user while still recognizing their differences. Her commitment to inclusivity also goes beyond the spaces she designs. She also makes sure to create an inclusive working environment.

## How Is Cathy Saldaña Empowering Women in Philippine Architecture?

Establishing a name as a woman in an industry traditionally ruled by a patriarch system can pose extra challenges. Although in recent years more women are challenging the norm and rising to balance the scale, the journey is not always smooth sailing.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSF0786-copy.jpg "_DSF0786 copy - BluPrint")*Cathy Saldaña at Puey Quiñones Atelier which she also designed.*

“I paved my way through a lot of hard work and a lot of proving as well as learning. Before you get better, you have to learn. You have to see through lessons. You have to make mistakes. And sadly, you need to face them and be brave afterwards. The lessons learned are the most important parts of your track record of work experience,” Saldaña narrates.

The architect acknowledges that being female in the practice is a challenge. She emphasizes that doors are opening up right now and having worked through a couple of decades in this profession. She’s taking the lead and encouraging more women to break barriers and overcome gender stereotypes, particularly in areas that remain untapped by many women architects and designers.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj13.jpg "CathyPrj13 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj14.jpg "CathyPrj14 - BluPrint")*One Tolentino East by Project Design Plus Architecture Management Corporation was among the International Property Awards recipients during the Asia Pacific Property Awards Ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand.*

“You need to widen the doors for women or yourself for others to get in. It’s very easy to see women in leadership positions in interiors, or in residential design. But public infrastructures, public buildings, large high-rises, and townships, we need more women in these fields,” shares Saldaña.

## Cathy Saldaña’s Leadership Roles at AIA, EAROPH, and UPI

In her years of experience, Saldaña has taken multiple roles not only as a designer. She is also a leader, not only of her firm, but also of various organizations that push equity in architecture. She is the Country Representative for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and currently the President of East Asian Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), a group of planners and architects involved in human settlements and public housing. They work with the UN Habitat on their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSF0967-copy.jpg "_DSF0967 copy - BluPrint")*Cathy Saldaña is a veteran who’s gained various credentials, making her one of the leading architects in the field.*

Saldaña also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Urban Planning Institute (UPI). This exposes not just her but her entire team to excellent professionals, consultants, development for grants, lectures, and information campaigns all around the world that help them with their practice of architecture and master planning.

What motivates her to be active in different organizations is her passion to lead and mentor people. It is important to her to find the best in people and learn to spot, identify, and cultivate new leaders. As a leader and a mentor, she ensures everyone receives the same opportunities regardless of gender.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj12.jpg "CathyPrj12 - BluPrint")*Orca is one of PDP Architects’ logistics and cold storage projects.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj11.jpg "CathyPrj11 - BluPrint")“I look at leadership and the capability of mentoring as a big responsibility. Not just because I’m a woman and I need to lift everyone up, both the male and the [female architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mercedes-raffinan-the-first-filipina-architect/), and be inclusive as well with all gender types.” She adds: “You see, we are so used to the technical side. And yet we need to further hone our communication skills and our coordination methods. That way, whether we’re using digital or technology to be able to produce good work and great collaboration, we must also harness our strong interpersonal skills, and use all of that to create not just better architects and technical professionals, but also good mentors and great leaders.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSF0988-2.jpg "_DSF0988-2 - BluPrint")*As someone in a leadership role, Architect Saldaña is one who continues to strive for providing great mentorship for her team.*

Moreover, Saldaña is an active speaker who educates other architects and stakeholders to address various issues in the industry. To her, there is a need for women architects to specialize and there is so much room now to do so.

“Women are now breaking barriers. The glass ceilings have been broken.”

Saldaña is one of the trailblazers that helped open doors for more female architects. She aims to continue this path alongside with other industry stakeholders. The architect believes that unlike other countries, we are fortunate that in the Philippines, women have a place in society as CEOs, as presidents, as respected leaders, and captains of the industry.

“We should harness it and can take it to the next level,” Saldaña says. “This is the place where the man opens the door. We will just have to keep widening it.”

## PDP Architects: Sustainable Materials and EDGE Certification

The three main aspects that drive Saldaña’s firm are People, Design, and Places. As the firm evolved over the years, however, these drivers expanded. Saldaña is a huge advocate of sustainable architecture. From residential to high-rise buildings, the firm carefully designs each project with user experience and environmental impact in mind.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj8.jpg "CathyPrj8 - BluPrint")*The Damosa Diamond Tower in Davao is a 16-story Grade A tower which receives an Excellence in Design for Better Efficiencies (EDGE) Final Certification, making it the first high-end office building in Mindanao.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj7.jpg "CathyPrj7 - BluPrint")*This green building is also among the shortlisted projects for the World Architecture Festival 2023.*

“As a licensed building professional, I want to encourage my team members to be accredited and licensed for various accreditation programs. With this, you not only have the theories in place, from what you’ve read and learned, but we also understand the value of the benchmarks and the global standards,” Saldaña explains. “It is everything from thermal comfort to ecology to land use and management, to waste management to the conservation of power and water and to be able to step forward and focus on materiality and understand that indeed, low emissivity glass really, truly works.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cathy7.jpg "cathy7 - BluPrint")*Project 1C is one of PDP Architects’ low and high-rise projects and is located in Cebu*.

She also emphasizes that all their projects will have rainwater catchment. For high-rises, everything is low-emission glass. The architect is also meticulous when choosing building materials, facades, fields, and claddings. She ensures to procure materials manufactured responsibly and in environmentally managed facilities. To her, this is crucial as she is carried through not just as a designer but also because she has the right partners who know what to do and share the same commitment to the planet.

To Saldaña, sustainability should be a standard in the practice. Not all clients, however, easily get on board to making the design of their buildings sustainable, especially with the misconceptions surrounding sustainable architecture. With communication and information campaigns, she elaborates that architects should be able to compute and show to clients the variables and the benefits of working sustainably, selecting the right materials, how they will save their energy bills in the future, and how easy it is to maintain these technologies.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cathy2.jpg "cathy2 - BluPrint")*Bayani Hall Dormitory is most distinguished for its colorful and playful facade.* 

In line with this, technology also plays an important role in achieving a more sustainable built environment. Saldaña shares that professionals should not be afraid of technology like artificial intelligence (AI). She believes it can help enhance their work.

In contrast, Saldaña points out that professionals should focus on the delivery, the process, the interpersonal relationships, and the human organization that will allow technology to function properly.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj5.jpg "CathyPrj5 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj3.jpg "CathyPrj3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj2.jpg "CathyPrj2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CathyPrj.jpg "CathyPrj - BluPrint")*VRP Medical Center in Mandaluyong City is one of PDP Architects’ healthcare projects and stands as one of Mandaluyong’s dignified structures.*

Collaboration between different professionals is crucial in creating a holistic and sustainable design. “The training of an architect is one of the most well-rounded. I believe that our architectural education is among the most holistic when it comes to the technical fields. Therefore, the architect should take the position of leadership and be strong in it. They should have a firmer voice so that everyone else will follow,” she says.

Saldaña explains that without proper communication and coordination between the architects and other stakeholders, it can lead to project failure. She also believes that cadence is essential in the practice. “Cadence is about skill, method, and timing,” she explains. Architects should know how to find the right solution and deliver it at the right time.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSF1246-1-copy.jpg "_DSF1246 (1) copy - BluPrint")*Collaboration, inclusivity, patience. For Saldaña, these are just some of the tenets of good growth.*

Architecture is for everyone. For architects like Saldaña, user experience should be a priority when designing built environments regardless of the size of the project. This is alongside considering the structure’s impact to the environment from the construction through its lifetime.

As a female architect, Saldaña has overcome many challenges before she got where she is now. She doesn’t gatekeep the opportunities she has but helps widen and open new doors so more women can rise.

Saldaña reminds younger architects and designers: “There is no substitute for hardwork. Beyond talent, what is absolutely necessary now is grit. And beyond passion, it is also necessary to research not only technology but also collaboration.”

---

PROJECT CREDITS

Words RICK FORMALEJO
Photography ED SIMON
Videography JOSE RAMIREZ
Multimedia Artist PATRICIA OLIVEROS
Video Editor GRANT BABIA
Hair & Makeup: CATS DEL ROSARIO
Stylist: SIYA DARYANI
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FOSTER

Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID

Shot on location PUEY QUIÑONES ATELIER
Project Photos Courtesy of PDP Architects

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Cathy Saldaña and what firm does she lead?

Cathy Saldaña is the President, CEO, and Founder of PDP Architects and Project Design Plus Architecture Management Corporation in the Philippines. Her firm’s portfolio spans residential, high-rise, and master planning projects, with a design philosophy centered on inclusivity, sustainability, and user-centered built environments.

### What is equitable architecture and how does Cathy Saldaña apply it to her practice?

Equitable architecture refers to built environments designed to serve every type of user while recognizing their differences. Saldaña applies this principle across PDP Architects’ residential, high-rise, and master planning projects, and extends it internally by building an inclusive working environment for her team.

### What leadership roles does Cathy Saldaña hold in architecture organizations?

Saldaña serves as Country Representative for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and President of the East Asian Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), which works with UN Habitat on Sustainable Development Goals. She also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Urban Planning Institute.

### What sustainable design certification did PDP Architects’ Damosa Diamond Tower receive?

The Damosa Diamond Tower in Davao, a 16-story Grade A office building, received an Excellence in Design for Better Efficiencies (EDGE) Final Certification — making it the first high-end office building in Mindanao to achieve this and a World Architecture Festival 2023 shortlisted project.

### How is Cathy Saldaña advancing women in Philippine architecture?

Saldaña encourages women to move into architecture specialties where they remain underrepresented, particularly public infrastructure, large high-rises, and townships, rather than only interiors or residential design. She frames her leadership role as widening access for both women and men entering the profession.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile

**Tags:** Architect, Architecture, BluPrint Perspective, Cathy Saldana, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-good-in-tension-how-dominic-galicia-designs-beyond-time/)

**Published:** August 10, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

[Dominic Galicia ](https://www.instagram.com/domgalicia/?hl=en)operates on a different timeline. For him, the distinction between a structure built today and one erected centuries ago dissolves if it possesses a “special quality of moving the spirit.” This core belief is the foundation of a career that elegantly sidesteps the false dichotomy of heritage versus modernity. Instead, Galicia, the principal of his eponymous firm, treats them as a single, continuous narrative.

“Structures of the past or of the present, if they have a special significance, they’re all architecture,” he states, not as a provocative claim, but as a fundamental truth. Through celebrated works like the National Museum of Natural History and the Kilyawan Farm Resort, Galicia proves that the most profound innovation comes from a deep, insightful dialogue with what already exists.

![The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BP-PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC-GALICIA-1-scaled.webp "BP PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC GALICIA-1 - BluPrint")This is not the work of a preservationist who freezes the past, nor a modernist who erases it. It’s the work of a constant architect, one who understands that the grammar of good design—light, context, and human experience—is timeless.

## How Did Dominic Galicia’s Studies in Rome Shape His Architectural Philosophy of Light?

Every philosophy has an origin story. For Galicia, it began in Rome. As a Notre Dame Scholar in the mid-1980s, his third year of architectural studies unfolded in a studio nestled between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. It was a daily immersion in architectural greatness, with the Pantheon, in particular, becoming a formative teacher.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BluPrint-Dominic-Galicia-8.jpg "BluPrint Dominic Galicia-8 - BluPrint")St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish Church.“To experience the sublime role that light plays in space, how light enters in space… I realize now, many decades after the fact, that the way that light enters space has always played a central role in how I design,” Galicia recalls. The oculus, that single, perfect opening to the sky illuminating the magnificent interior, offered a lesson in epistemology. “Light entering space becomes emblematic of that essential experience of humanity,” he explains, seeing it as a metaphor for how we come to learn and understand the world.

This lesson, absorbed as a student, became the guiding principle of his practice. After earning his degree in 1988, he spent a decade working in New York before returning to Manila to establish Dominic Galicia Architects in 2001. In every project, regardless of scale or function, the manipulation of natural light is paramount. It is the first and most important material he works with, shaping the soul of a space before the first wall is even conceived.

Over the years, his firm’s work has naturally coalesced around three distinct, yet deeply interconnected, areas: heritage conservation, liturgical architecture, and sustainable design. These are not separate silos but three facets of a single investigation into meaningful space. The focus on sustainability is the most direct extension of his Roman education.

![The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BP-PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC-GALICIA-2-scaled.webp "BP PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC GALICIA-2 - BluPrint")“That response to climate, I would say, is the central core of our endeavor,” Galicia states, noting how a building responds to daylight and sun forms “the grammar of the architecture.” His work in conservation stems from a desire to understand these timeless principles in structures that have mastered them. His celebrated liturgical projects, in turn, leverage that same sublime quality of light he first experienced in the Pantheon to create spaces of spiritual resonance. For Galicia, it all comes together.

## How Dominic Galicia Reconciles Heritage Conservation with Contemporary Design

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-national-museum-header.jpg "bluprint-national-museum-header - BluPrint")View of the central courtyard from the fifth floor | Photographed by Lawrence CarlosGalicia’s interest in conservation grew organically from this foundation. To understand the essence of architecture, he argues, one must inevitably study the masterpieces of the past. This exploration led him to a conclusion that would define his career: that the tension between old and new is a good one.

“I don’t really make a distinction between a building built today and a building built hundreds of years ago,” he asserts. “If they had a special quality of moving the Spirit, they are all architecture.”

This philosophy is best understood through his work as a leader in heritage advocacy. Serving as the former president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines and as an adviser to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Galicia has been at the forefront of the nation’s most critical conservation battles. And he sees this as an integral part of his architectural practice. For him, designing a new church and adaptively reusing a historic landmark are not different disciplines. They are both about listening to a story and continuing its narrative.

“How do you put those stories together so they all become part of the same narrative?” he asks. “I really don’t see them as conflicting. I see them all as extensions of each other.” This viewpoint found its most powerful expression in the heart of Manila, in a project that would become a national icon.

## The National Museum of Natural History

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-national-museum-image-1.jpg "bluprint-national-museum-image-1 - BluPrint")Photographed by Patrick KasingsingWhen Dominic Galicia Architects was tasked with transforming the neoclassical Department of Agriculture building into the [National Museum of Natural History](https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/our-museums/national-museum-of-natural-history/), the challenge was immense. How could one insert a modern museum into a historic structure without compromising its integrity? For Galicia, the answer lay in listening to the “building whispers”—understanding its soul.

The 1939 structure, designed by Antonio Toledo, had its own powerful story. Galicia’s and his collaborator interior designer Tina Periquet’s intervention did not seek to overwrite it. Instead, it initiated a conversation. The most dramatic feature, the magnificent “Tree of Life” canopy, is a singular example. A stunning glass and steel dome covers the central courtyard, creating a new, light-filled focal point for the museum.

![The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BP-PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC-GALICIA-3-scaled.webp "BP PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC GALICIA-3 - BluPrint")It is a distinctly modern piece of engineering, yet it respectfully defers to the original building. The dome, a nod to the iconic oculus, protects the historic courtyard facades, allowing them to remain as the primary visual elements, while providing a breathtaking public space that embodies the museum’s purpose. The design honors the history, culture, and context of the site, making the past present and functional. It is a built manifestation of his belief that old and new are part of the same continuum, a single, compelling narrative.

## Kilyawan Farm Resort

![Kilyawan Farm Resort cabins made from converted chicken coops](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BP-Webzine-2023-Landscape-Kilyawan-Resort31.jpg "BP Webzine 2023 (Landscape) - Kilyawan Resort31 - BluPrint")If the National Museum was a dialogue with civic history, the [Kilyawan Farm Resort](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nostalgia-and-sustainability-combined-the-kilyawan-farm-resort-by-dominic-galicia-architects/) in Batangas is a conversation with the landscape and local craft. Completed in 2024, the project transformed an 8.5-hectare chicken farm into a serene, bamboo-based rural resort. It is a tour de force of sustainable and sensitive adaptive reuse.

Rather than razing the old structures, Galicia’s team found new life in them by retaining and repurposing the old chicken coops and trusses. The project is also a showcase of indigenous materials: bamboo serves as the primary structural and architectural element, complemented by recycled *narra* wood and eco-bricks made from the farm’s own plastic waste. The handwoven ceilings, crafted by local women weavers, embed the project with a deep sense of place and community.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BP-Webzine-2023-Portrait-Kilyawan-Resort36.jpg "BP Webzine 2023 (Portrait) - Kilyawan Resort36 - BluPrint")

![corridors featuring highlights and hand made bricks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BP-Webzine-2023-Portrait-Kilyawan-Resort5.jpg "BP Webzine 2023 (Portrait) - Kilyawan Resort5 - BluPrint")A skylight lit corridor lined with handmade brick

![view of the dining area from the courtyard](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BP-Webzine-2023-Portrait-Kilyawan-Resort3.jpg "BP Webzine 2023 (Portrait) - Kilyawan Resort3 - BluPrint")Dining area

Celebrated for its environmental harmony,Kilyawan was highly commended at the 2023 World Architecture Festival. The design meticulously considers natural cooling and ventilation, a direct response to the tropical climate. Sustainability makes up the very language of the design, proving that a deep respect for the environment and for vernacular traditions can produce world-class contemporary architecture.

## Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church: Vesica Piscis and Light

Galicia’s latest major project, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Evo City, Cavite, is poised to become a new landmark of contemporary sacred architecture. Scheduled for completion in late 2025, the 1,000-seat church demonstrates how his core principles of light, symbolism, and context can create a space of profound spiritual resonance.

The design is built around the *vesica piscis*, an ancient Christian symbol formed by two overlapping circles. This geometry shapes the entire structure, from the floor plan and entrance canopies to the sweeping interior arches. It is a powerful symbol of the convergence of the spiritual and earthly realms. Advanced construction techniques, including a double-curved space truss roof and bespoke precast concrete, are used to realize this symbolic form.

True to his philosophy, the church is oriented on a west-to-east axis, a traditional liturgical layout where the sanctuary grows brighter with the rising sun. Once again, the lesson of the Pantheon is reborn in a new context: light as a sacred, space-defining element. The Evo City Church is the culmination of Galicia’s decades-long exploration, a synthesis of theological depth, environmental responsiveness, and structural innovation.

## Design as a Four-Dimensional Process

For Dominic Galicia, the architectural process is a dimensional shift, a journey that begins on paper but only finds its true form in the lived reality of a space. He rejects the notion that a building is complete once the construction documents are signed. Instead, he embraces a fluid, on-site creative process that he finds is uniquely possible within the Philippine context. This practice is built on a profound understanding that architecture is experienced over time.

![BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-3.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia-3 - BluPrint")Worm’s eye view of the lightwell/wind tower, around which the house is organized. The bands of glass cubes around the illuminated core allow light to softly suffuse the stairs that spiral around it.

![BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-1.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia-1 - BluPrint")The dining area, unseen from the foyer, but visible from the living area and to people on the stairs, demonstrates architect Dom Galicia’s supremely logical program.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-2.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia-2 - BluPrint")Windows on all four sides at the top of the tower ensure that no matter what direction the air outside is moving, it will efficiently suck the hot air out of the wind tower.

The process begins with a move from the second to the third dimension. “You don’t fully realize the architecture of something just in the drawings,” Galicia explains. While drawings, models, and renderings are essential explorations, they are only a starting point. “Beyond that, when you’re in the actual process of building, you’re now going to another dimension,” he says, “from the two-dimensional… to the three dimensions of an evolving, three-dimensional reality, and that has its own infinity of richness that you cannot just close your eyes to.”

This evolving 3D reality, however, gives way to a fourth dimension: time. Galicia’s constant presence on-site is about choreographing the temporal journey of a person moving through the building. The goal is to perfect how a view unfolds, how light enters at a specific moment, how a space feels as we move through it. This can only be fine-tuned in the real world. A subtle change, like “moving a window in one direction,” can fundamentally alter the experience. It’s a cost-neutral decision that has immense experiential value, creating a “particular framing of a view, a particular entrance of light.” It is in these moments that a structure transcends being a mere object and becomes a vessel for experience.

![BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-6.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia--6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-9.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia--9 - BluPrint")

![BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Shabestan-House-Dominic-Galicia-8.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Shabestan House Dominic Galicia-8 - BluPrint")

This philosophy necessitates a radical departure from the myth of the solitary genius. “When you start out, you think you’re very much a Howard Roark… everything is yours and yours alone,” Galicia reflects. “But I came to learn that architecture at its best… is really the product of dialogue and collaboration and teamwork.” This approach transforms the relationship with colleagues, consultants, contractors and clients into a partnership. By being on-site and working collaboratively, the entire team becomes invested in realizing the unfolding potential of the project. The process becomes a live and shared sculpting of a four-dimensional experience, a “continuing act” that begins long before the keys are handed over.

## A Legacy Across Heritage and Modern Practice

Dominic Galicia’s contribution to Philippine architecture is not a particular style, but a way of seeing. In his work, a modern glass dome can speak to a neoclassical facade, and repurposed bamboo trusses can tell a story of sustainability and heritage. He has dissolved the boundaries that so often constrain architects, proving that a structure’s true value lies not in its age, but in its ability to move the human spirit.

![The Good in Tension: How Dominic Galicia Designs Beyond Time.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BP-PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC-GALICIA-Cover-scaled.webp "BP PERSPECTIVE_DOMINIC GALICIA-Cover - BluPrint")By championing a Filipino architecture rooted in quality, sincerity, and a deep understanding of context, he has built more than just buildings. He has built a compelling argument that the most meaningful future is one that is in constant, creative dialogue with its past. It is all, in the end, simply architecture.

**Read more:** [The DNA of the National Museum of Natural History](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/dna-national-museum-natural-history/)

---

Photographer: Ed Simon

Hair and Make Up: Cats del Rosario

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Managing Editor: Chad Rialp

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How did Dominic Galicia’s education in Rome influence his architectural philosophy?

During his studies in Rome in the mid-1980s, Galicia found a formative teacher in the Pantheon, where he observed the sublime role that light plays in defining a space. He became fascinated by the oculus, realizing that the way light enters a structure is emblematic of the human experience of learning and understanding. This lesson transformed light into his primary “material,” leading him to prioritize environmental response and climate—specifically how a building reacts to the sun—as the central grammar of his architectural practice.

### What is Galicia’s perspective on the relationship between heritage and modernity?

Galicia views heritage and modernity as a single, continuous narrative rather than a conflicting dichotomy, asserting that any structure that moves the human spirit is “architecture” regardless of its age. He believes the tension between the old and the new is productive, leading him to treat heritage conservation and new design as the same discipline of listening to “building whispers.” This philosophy allows him to adaptively reuse historic landmarks while extending their stories into the future through contemporary innovation.

### How is the “Tree of Life” at the National Museum of Natural History a manifestation of his design principles?

The “Tree of Life” is a magnificent glass and steel dome that transforms the central courtyard of a 1939 neoclassical building into a light-filled focal point. Inspired by the iconic oculus, the structure serves as a modern engineering marvel that protects the original courtyard facades while providing a breathtaking public space. It represents Galicia’s ability to respect historical context and culture while integrating functional modernity, effectively making the past present.

### How does the Kilyawan Farm Resort showcase Galicia’s approach to sustainability and adaptive reuse?

In the Kilyawan Farm Resort project, Galicia transformed a former chicken farm by repurposing old coops and trusses instead of razing them. The design relies on indigenous and recycled materials, including bamboo as the primary structural element, recycled narra wood, and eco-bricks made from the farm’s own plastic waste. By incorporating handwoven ceilings by local women and prioritizing natural ventilation, the resort demonstrates how contemporary architecture can achieve environmental harmony through a deep dialogue with the landscape and local craft.

### What is the symbolic significance of the vesica piscis in Galicia’s church designs?

The vesica piscis is an ancient Christian symbol formed by two overlapping circles, which Galicia used as the geometric foundation for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Cavite. This shape dictates the entire structure, from the floor plan to the sweeping interior arches, symbolizing the convergence of the spiritual and earthly realms. By orienting the church on a traditional west-to-east axis, Galicia ensures the sanctuary is illuminated by the rising sun, reconnecting the space with his core principle of using light as a sacred, space-defining element.

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover.webp "bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/) 

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Since setting up her design firm, MB Architecture Studio, in 2007, Ar. Micaela Benedicto has built a diverse portfolio of architectural projects. Her works, whether residential or commercial, showcase a distinct spatial quality, “I like to create things that can go from something static to something that is alive and reactive,” Benedicto states. “In creating \[…\]

 [![BluPrint Perspectives April 2026: PXP Design Workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FEATURE-COVER.webp "FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-pxp-design-workshop-uses-the-power-of-place-to-shape-better-living/) 

### [How PXP Design Workshop Shapes Better Living Through Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-pxp-design-workshop-uses-the-power-of-place-to-shape-better-living/)

Architects Spencer Sy and Patrick Espiritu of PXP Design Workshop believe it is their responsibility to create spaces that improve how people live. The studio is known for modern residences and nature-integrated homes that show how the built environment can shape human interaction. Building a Practice in the Philippines As a child, Sy was drawn \[…\]

 [![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1-FEATURE-COVER.webp "1 FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/equitable-design-in-architecture-creating-inclusive-spaces-in-practice/) 

### [Denise de Castro on Designing Equity Into Manila Central University’s Campus](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/equitable-design-in-architecture-creating-inclusive-spaces-in-practice/)

Denise de Castro, Principal Architect of DEQA Design Collaborative, believes that designing with equity in mind means starting at the workplace. Values and practices that your studio or office espouse inevitably filter down to the work that you do. Equitable design ensures that people with different needs and different backgrounds are supported through fair access, \[…\]

 [![BluPrint Perspective February 2026 cover featuring architect Jose Siao Ling in a modern glass building, highlighting architectural integrity.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Jose-Siao-Ling-FEATURE-COVER.webp "Jose Siao Ling - FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jose-siao-ling-an-architectural-legacy-founded-on-integrity/) 

### [Jose Siao Ling: An Architectural Legacy Founded on Integrity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jose-siao-ling-an-architectural-legacy-founded-on-integrity/)

As the built environment evolves, the role of the architect demands reconsideration. For Jose Siao Ling, Co-Founder and Principal Architect of Jose Siao Ling & Associates (JSLA Architects), the role extends far beyond being a licensed professional who designs and oversees construction. By championing ethical practice, ISO-certified systems, and mentorship-driven leadership, he built a firm \[…\]

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Architecture extends beyond mere structures. It has the power to hold stories that reflect our current social milieu, while also presenting itself as a solution to societal challenges. As time progresses, Barchan + Architecture continues to evolve along with the changing landscape. Standing at the forefront of progressive architecture are the firm’s Principal Architect, Jason \[…\]

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**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Heritage, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

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### [Carlo Calma and His Pursuit of Architectural Happiness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/carlo-calma-and-his-pursuit-of-architectural-happiness/)

**Published:** January 15, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Beautifully designed spaces have the power to transcend their function. They evoke emotion, spark joy, and create meaningful connections through design. These choreographed experiences engage the senses, giving rise to a distinct sense of place infused with surprise, delight, and a sense of wonder. It’s what celebrated designer Carlo Calma, Creative Director of Carlo Calma Consultancy likes to call “architectural happiness.”

For him, material innovation and sustainability go hand in hand with comfort and laughter as key components of happiness. His approach celebrates cultural identity and storytelling, transforming spaces into vessels of emotion and narrative. And by respecting the natural environment, thoughtful design infused with playful elements create architecture that inspires, uplifts, and fosters a deeper connection between people and their surroundings.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Perspective-1.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Perspective)-1 - BluPrint")Today, the designer stands at the forefront of [contemporary Filipino architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/reinterpreting-philippine-architecture-manny-minana-on-abstracting-filipino-design-in-contemporary-setting/), always pushing the envelope in how we perceive and interact with spaces. Known for his multidisciplinary approach and penchant for storytelling, he integrates art, culture, and innovation into his projects.

Whether working on exuberant residences, cultural landmarks, or the immersive Philippine Pavilion for the Osaka World Expo, his work celebrates form and function, often infused with unexpected details that spark curiosity and delight. His ability to transform traditional concepts into extraordinary experiences position him as a visionary who crafts architectural narratives that resonate deeply with their environment and the people who inhabit them.

## How Does Carlo Calma’s Design Philosophy Come to Life in Asador Alfonso?

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Asador-Alfonso.jpg "Asador Alfonso - BluPrint")Photo by Ed Simon.[Asador Alfonso ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/asador-alfonso-a-spanish-culinary-haven-in-cavite/)neatly embodies Carlo Calma’s approach to architecture. It reflects his deep respect for site, nature, and the interplay of surprise and experience. It rises with the weight and rawness of its form. The structure’s concrete folds mirror the rugged forms of nearby Taal Volcano, grounding the structure in its environment which make it feel more like a sculpture than a building. Here, architecture transforms into narrative. Every element contributes to a sensory journey that blurs the line between design and nature.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Perspective-5.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Perspective)-5 - BluPrint")Set against this evocative backdrop, Calma sat down with BluPrint for an exclusive interview, sharing his bold insights on design, sustainability, and the art of storytelling through architecture.

Asador, like Calma’s other projects, is a story of connection—between the built and the natural, the past and the present, the tangible and the experiential. Here, every element speaks to a journey that transcends mere function, inviting you to linger, reflect, and feel. And this embodies his philosophy of sustainability, material innovation, and emotional design. Every design choice is intentional, celebrating both the site’s natural beauty and its potential for discovery.

### How Did the Natural Environment Shape the Design of Asador Alfonso?

The project is deeply personal, intricately tied to his father’s vision. And he infused this collaboration with whimsy and creativity, resulting in unique moments that elevate the ordinary.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Asador-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Asador)-4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Asador-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Asador)-1 - BluPrint")

“When I start a project, I’m always inspired by the place… I look at the site and \[see\] how I want to celebrate it,” Calma shares. “This is all of my dad’s vision, who is 95 years old and who’s also a dreamer.

“We didn’t destroy any trees. We worked with the landscape. It responds to nature. It opens up to views. It also shades from the sun. So all of these folds \[are\] actually intentional depending on the position… From the outside, this feels like a two-story space, but \[visitors\] don’t know that there’s a lot of nooks and surprise moments.

“My favorite space here is on the top floor, where you see a vantage point of the whole landscape. It’s like unpacking a Russian doll, and there’s mini Easter eggs that you have to go inside. And then there’s those elements of surprise.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Asador-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Asador)-5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Asador-3.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Asador)-3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Asador-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Asador)-2 - BluPrint")

These surprises also manifest in the pavilions and hidden spaces that populate the property. Even the smallest details contribute to the sense of exploration. But one of the standout features is the lagoon.

“The lagoon, which is about to be completed, is actually a sunken amphitheater. So you go inside the gallery space, and it’s a sunken amphitheater. So your experience watching theater would be underwater,” he describes.

With plenty of space to spare, the property that Asador Alfonso sits on brims with potential. And Calma has much more planned for the future. This makes it an evolving dialogue between architecture, nature, and human experience. From its sculptural design to its playful details, the space encapsulates Calma’s ethos of crafting environments that surprise, delight, and resonate with those who encounter them.

## How Did Carlo Calma’s Background Shape His Multidisciplinary Design Approach?

“My interest in art and architecture really started because we’re a family of architects,” Calma shares. “My dad is in construction and engineering, and my mom is in the terracotta business… So I’ve always been surrounded by art.”

He recalls waking up to a home that constantly transformed, reflecting his parents’ dynamic interests. Many of his family members are involved in fashion, architecture, and various artistic mediums. As a child, he often accompanied his mother to her ceramic factory and trade shows. His father took him to construction sites, exposing him early to both design and craftsmanship.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Perspective-4.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Perspective)-4 - BluPrint")This creative environment helped inform his multidisciplinary approach, developing a design philosophy that blurs the boundaries between art and design. Reflecting on his academic journey, he shares how his education in San Francisco and London influenced his creative lens.

“I studied at California College of Arts and Crafts, and then I moved to Architectural Association. The education there is like a unit system, so you pick a theme that you want to explore,” he explains. This flexibility allowed him to tailor his studies, fostering a curiosity-driven approach that would later define his career.

“The training has always been multidisciplinary,” he adds. “Architecture encompasses a lot of spaces and scales: scale of interior, scale of furniture, scale of space. What’s nice is that you really see architecture as being an expression, and through that you begin to kind of understand and create your niche on how you want to express that language. It’s not always the built environment. It’s about networks and systems and how the environment plays in.”

## What Does Carlo Calma Mean by Choreographed and Cinematic Architecture?

Calma’s work reflects a philosophy that architecture should engage the senses and evoke delight. The essence of his designs lie in tailoring each project to its unique context, crafting environments that resonate with their surroundings. This allows spaces to transcend their functionality, imbuing them with emotion, surprise, and a sense of discovery.

“I always say that my work has a little cinematography; a kind of choreography of spaces,” he shares. “It’s the idea of choreographing the audience and creating delights in architecture. So in the spaces that I like to create, I want to inject a kind of emotion. It always has this surprise element.” It’s a concept he dubs as “architectural happiness”.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Perspective-3.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Perspective)-3 - BluPrint")“I’m trying to create a more daring architecture, but also a daring experience overall. And actually that ignites happiness. When you bring in nature and that kind of quirkiness, too, I think all of these aspects are a part of me,” he reflects. “And I always try to challenge myself with materials, experience, spaces, form, all of these things. What can I do to make it new?”

Ultimately, his work is a constant exploration of what’s possible; how spatial transitions, scale, and nature evoke joy and wonder. But his designs are not so much about challenging conventions as they are about inspiring awe, crafting spaces that linger in memory long after they’ve been experienced.

## What Makes the Loop House a Signature Carlo Calma Project?

![The Loop House by Carlo Calma Consultancy. (Artist's Perspective).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Loop-House.jpg "Loop House - BluPrint")The Loop House by Carlo Calma Consultancy. (Artist’s Perspective)Loop House is a prime example of the architect’s signature approach to design. The home is deeply experiential, highly imaginative, and attuned to the individuality of his clients.

“The Loop House is very interesting because the husband is a bike enthusiast, and the wife is an artist. So she gave me a free hand in terms of the concept. Sometimes the clients drive you into making something unique,” Calma explains. This creative freedom, paired with the couple’s distinct passions, led to a design that is both personal and playful.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Loop-House-2.jpg "Loop House (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Loop-House-3.jpg "Loop House (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Loop-House-4.jpg "Loop House (4) - BluPrint")

“The experience is that there’s a bicycle path going up, and on top, it’s actually a roofscape,” Calma shares. “As you go up, it feels as if you’re going up into a mountain, because we created these terrariums that go in and out of the space. There’s a terrarium that is double-height, going from the ground level up to their toilet space, \[one\] in the middle of a living room, \[and\] a terrarium near the artist studio. So the level of their experience is really very choreographed and very unique, creating a different kind of forest landscape with different altitudes.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Loop-House-1.jpg "Loop House (1) - BluPrint")This layering of spaces allows the residents and their visitors to feel immersed in a lush, otherworldly environment. Again, the carefully choreographed layout creates a dynamic interplay between architecture and nature.

“I always add these kinds of art elements, these whimsical elements,” he shares. “It’s like a museum, actually, that can change through time, because the owner’s an artist as well.”

Calma incorporated a nearly 12-meter-tall inhabitable sculpture, matching the scale of the building itself. Despite its imposing size, he successfully persuaded the village association to approve it, thanks to its placement within the property’s setback. The sculpture’s context, positioned across the garden, results in an artistic, architectural element that reflects his drive for pushing boundaries.

“All of these things that I’m thinking of in terms of future projects are things that ignite senses, create happiness, create emotions… We have to create architectural delights. We have to create new experiences.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wellness-Project-1.jpg "Wellness Project (1) - BluPrint")Calma’s upcoming wellness project takes inspiration from the natural drama of its site: an existing waterfall. Reflecting on his first impression of the location, he recalls, “I was surprised at the amount of drama when you experience a waterfall. I wanted to celebrate that.”

The design centers on two circular buildings that appear to “kiss” at a pivotal connection point. “When the two circles kiss, we recreated and celebrated the drama of the waterfall, which drops exactly at the same place of the existing stream and waterfall, highlighting this natural wonder and its sounds,” Calma explains. This deliberate alignment emphasizes the waterfall’s presence, enhancing its impact.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wellness-Project-2.jpg "Wellness Project (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wellness-Project-3.jpg "Wellness Project (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wellness-Project-4.jpg "Wellness Project (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wellness-Project.jpg "Wellness Project - BluPrint")

“It’s about blurring the lines between nature and architecture; art and architecture,” he says. Acting as a bridge between two points, the buildings embody his vision of architecture working in tandem with nature, creating a poetic interplay between built form and the environment. The design exemplifies Calma’s philosophy, with the structure becoming part of the landscape itself.

## What Is Carlo Calma’s Design for the Philippine Pavilion at Osaka World Expo
2025?

Throughout his career, Calma consistently explores the overlap between nature and architecture, art and space. He crafts environments that evoke wonder and sensorial stimulation. All these principles, as seen in his residential projects and institutional designs, find their ultimate expression in the Philippine Pavilion for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

![Carlo Calma Consultancy's design for the Philippine Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo. (Artist's Perspective).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Philippine-Pavilion-Osaka-World-Expo-2025-1.jpg "Philippine Pavilion Osaka World Expo 2025 (1) - BluPrint")Carlo Calma Consultancy’s design for the Philippine Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo. (Artist’s Perspective)An ambitious global showcase, the pavilion is a harmonious convergence of sustainability, material innovation, and cultural storytelling. The project intricately weaves tradition, sustainability, and innovation—both literally and figuratively. Scheduled to open on April 13, 2025, and running for six months, the pavilion will bring together the essence of Filipino culture through its immersive design narrative. Its concept, “woven”, reflects both cultural heritage and sustainable practices.

Positioned at the forefront of the Expo grounds, the pavilion’s facade features a tapestry of hundreds of textiles crafted by over 2,000 weavers across 200 communities. These weavers, empowered by traditions passed down for generations, recount the stories of their everyday lives.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Philippine-Pavilion-Osaka-World-Expo-2025.jpg "Philippine Pavilion Osaka World Expo 2025 - BluPrint")“The Philippine Pavilion sits beside the United States and France, and when you enter, we’re the first ones there… The master plan is designed by Sou Fujimoto, \[whom\] I collaborated with before for our building in Nuvali, which is also about to open next year. Our building there will have a museum for architecture and design.

“So the master plan of Sou is there’s a wooden ring, which is made of cross laminate timber. So we’re promoting these lightweight structures that is wood, and it’s a more sustainable way of construction. The whole building is made of rattan and woven in Cebu by all these master weavers,” he explains. “All these 1,000 pieces of armature kind of open up and weave, showing the strength of rattan and being a sustainable material.

### How Does the Philippine Pavilion Celebrate Filipino Craft and Heritage?

“We went around the Philippines and immersed ourselves in these sustainable communities,” Calma shares. “We’ll be weaving stories of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao… The fabric actually tells the story from birth to death… With all these patterns, it has a lot of symbolism and cultural stories that are empowering and interesting.”

The integration of natural materials, dynamic forms, and immersive storytelling reflects Calma’s ability to create spaces that are both forward-thinking and rooted in heritage.

“We are showing the kind of stories and cultures in our heritage into the weaves. And the facade actually is a live art performance… That will happen in the matinee and in the evening. As you enter the space, there’ll be three parts exploring nature, culture, and community. So it will show our regions, and these scrims will actually show the beauty and the love of the Philippines. But it also will show our craft. And so it’s actually going to be a lot of smart textiles and projections.”

Calma also highlights an AI-generated element featuring a vibrant fiesta, created in collaboration with Tellart, an Amsterdam-based experience design firm. He describes the concept as one of woven stories, celebrating the labor of love, the dedication of artists, and the creative spirit of the Philippines.

While the pavilion’s design celebrates the Philippines’ rich cultural tapestry, it also serves as a platform to explore the future of sustainability and design. It weaves together past, present, and future into an experiential narrative.

Here, Calma’s vision of architecture as a catalyst for emotion, surprise, and connection comes alive on an international stage. It demonstrates how design can transcend boundaries and inspire a shared appreciation for the human spirit.

## How Does Carlo Calma Redefine Sustainability in Architecture?

For Carlo Calma, sustainability extends beyond standard practices like solar panels and energy-efficient systems. It is a concept as diverse as the projects he undertakes.

“Sustainability is very diverse now,” he posits. While these baseline elements have become expected in architecture, his focus lies in innovative materials and empowering communities.

“I’m looking at sustainability more in terms of materiality,” he says, emphasizing the need to rethink traditional building practices. “There are materials that are made from mushrooms or hemp for concrete or other things… All of this interests me, of how we can put this in our spaces.”

His experimentation includes cross-laminated timber (CLT), which he hopes to introduce more broadly in local construction. His use of rattan plays a central role in his design of the Philippine Pavilion.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Perspective-2.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Perspective)-2 - BluPrint")Furthermore, he works closely with artisanal communities across the Philippines, integrating their craftsmanship into his projects. Across all his work—whether designing furniture, constructing buildings, or conceptualizing entire environments—Calma is driven by a commitment to innovation and locality.

He believes designers have a responsibility to make conscious decisions about sourcing. “My interests are always really pushing the boundaries of architecture in terms of concepts, in terms of experience, and then, of course, injecting material innovation,” he says. “As much as possible now, \[I want to\] work with local suppliers, local sources. I think that’s very important for us designers—to make a very conscious decision to work where we are, with what we have here, and elevate it into a standard of unique, new, or global.”

In this context, sustainability is not just a goal; it is a continuous process of discovery and elevation.

## What Is Carlo Calma’s Vision for the Future of Philippine Architecture?

Beyond aesthetics, Carlo Calma’s designs are about building emotions. He transforms spaces into extraordinary experiences, sparking wonder, joy, and connection. His design narratives that celebrate identity, culture, and innovation. The work consistently seeks to inspire, whether through whimsical details or carefully choreographed interactions between architecture and its users. A building shouldn’t just be a structure; it’s an experience that engages all senses and leaves a lasting impression.

Many of his projects are an ode to the Philippines’ rich heritage, blending art, nature, and functionality in a way that redefines modern architecture. By infusing cultural symbolism and local craftsmanship into his structures, he creates spaces that tell compelling stories.

Looking toward the future, Calma remains committed to challenging norms and pushing the boundaries of design. His vision is one of bold experimentation, embracing sustainability, not as a trend, but as a responsibility.

“How do we inspire and how do we create this kind of architectural happiness?” he asks. “How do we ignite emotions, or how do we make your living more delightful and inspirational?”

From integrating innovative materials to collaborating with local communities, he marries culture with environmental stewardship. In doing so, his legacy becomes more than just a collection of striking designs—it’s a blueprint for a more creative, sustainable, and culturally resonant future.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Cover-Perspective.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article Cover (Perspective) - BluPrint")**Read more:** [Tampipi House: Designing Outside the Box](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/tampipi-house-designing-outside-the-box/)

---

Photographer: Ed Simon

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Art Director: Jehd Francisco

Managing Editor: Katherine Lopez

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

Images of Loop House, Wellness Project, and the Philippine Pavilion courtesy of Carlo Calma Consultancy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does Carlo Calma mean by the term “architectural happiness”?

Architectural happiness is a design philosophy where spaces transcend functional utility to evoke joy, surprise, and emotional connection. Calma achieves this through “choreographed” experiences and cinematic transitions, ensuring that every structure inspires wonder and leaves a lasting impression on its inhabitants.

### How is the Asador Alfonso project a reflection of Calma’s design ethos?

Asador Alfonso serves as a sculptural narrative that mirrors the rugged folds of the nearby Taal Volcano using raw concrete forms. The project prioritizes the natural environment by working around existing trees and incorporating “Easter egg” surprise moments, such as a gallery space that doubles as an underwater amphitheater.

### What are the unique features of the Loop House design?

Designed for a bike enthusiast and an artist, the Loop House features a functional bicycle path that leads to a terraced roofscape. The residence is highly choreographed with double-height terrariums that move through various altitudes, blurring the lines between a private home, a lush forest, and a contemporary art museum.

### What is the significance of the Philippine Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025?

The pavilion, themed “Woven,” serves as a global showcase of Filipino heritage, featuring a facade crafted by over 2,000 weavers from 200 communities. It utilizes sustainable materials like rattan and cross-laminated timber (CLT) to tell a cultural story from birth to death through intricate patterns and smart textiles.

### How does Carlo Calma redefine sustainability in contemporary architecture?

Calma views sustainability through the lens of material innovation and community empowerment rather than just energy-efficient systems. He advocates for the use of local, sustainable materials—such as rattan, hemp-based concrete, and mushrooms—while making conscious decisions to elevate Filipino craftsmanship to a global standard.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Designers, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Jun Palafox: The Time Of Human-Centric Architecture Is Now](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-time-of-human-centric-architecture-is-now/)

**Published:** May 20, 2022
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

Looking back on these historical moments is the first step to recovering our humanity through architecture. In this exclusive with Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., he highlights that it’s important that current designers go back to the basics which also means studying the actions and projects going as far back as the Grecian times.

There is a famous saying that perhaps many people have been hearing at the back of their minds for some time now. Maybe it’s been a silent echo since the pandemic started.

“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

After persistent problems and the loss of lives brought on by COVID-19, a ray of hope is a dire need to refresh tired minds. In large-scale crises that involve many people, it’s inevitable to experience what you’d call a rebirth or a regeneration after a long age of misfortune and heart-numbing problems. A ray of sun after a sudden downpour, if you will. This type of renaissance trickles into human progress and evolution. It doesn’t mean that global crises like pandemics, wars, or depressions are good and should be viewed as silver linings in the history of mankind. Instead, these are the times when humans can open cracks and holes for hope and innovation to slither through. In times when people are forced to gather enough creativity and backbone to open new doors that show better lives for them and their families, humanity or altruism is also likely to sprout.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-PALAFOX-FINAL-COVER-STUDY.jpg "BP 2022 PALAFOX FINAL COVER STUDY - BluPrint")Human evolution isn’t possible with just a few people. In American primatologist and biological anthropologist [Augustín Fuentes](https://anthropology.princeton.edu/people/faculty/agustin-fuentes)’s book [The Creative Spark: How Imagination Made Humans Exceptional](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31626670-the-creative-spark), he connects creativity and cooperation as the two great drivers of human progress. Regardless of ethnicity, gender, or whatever social barrier people have put around each other nowadays, it is these two that can make humans greater and are still the root of our abilities to create better communities that revolve around bettering each other’s lives, not just fueling our egos and pride.

Some examples of human evolution in architecture can be seen in the creation of hospitals during pandemics. In the ghastly time of the bubonic plague, hospitals created split wards, separating patients who weren’t infected with the plague from those who were already suffering from the symptoms of the bubonic plague.

Further down human history, we see the creation of sanatoriums which topped popularity in Europe during the mid-19th century. Soon enough, we saw Alvar Aalto’s [Paimio Sanatorium](https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/revisit-aaltos-paimio-sanatorium-continues-to-radiate-a-profound-sense-of-human-empathy) in Paimio, Southwest Finland. Here, tuberculosis patients experienced architecture that includes open-air areas like Paimio Sanatorium’s wide roof terrace.

When sickness dominates, spaces were created specifically for the people who needed them most. At this point, architecture not only encouraged the waterfall of ideas for new and better spaces, but it also made people kinder, and more sensitive to the problems other people have experienced and could experience in the future.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-33.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (33) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-32.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (32) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (16) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-Feature-Cover-photo-PALAFOX-Cover-option-3.jpg "BP 2022 - Feature Cover photo (PALAFOX Cover option) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (9) - BluPrint")

“Learning from as long ago as 400 B.C., learning from Hippocrates and creating healthy places, healthy buildings. Learnings from Florence Nightingale, a famous nurse in the 1800s who says that the patients in hospitals that have natural lighting and ventilation healed faster. In the past centuries, one of the top architects, Le Corbusier too. We should design buildings like healthcare facilities. The challenge to us architects is to make them more aesthetically pleasing.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-24.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (24) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-32.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (32) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-27.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (27) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-27.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (27) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-38.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (38) - BluPrint")Ar. Jun Palafox of Palafox Associates## Jun Palafox: Dubai and the Case for Open Space

Ar. [Jun Palafox](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/succeeding-success-jun-karmi-palafox/) of [Palafox Associates](https://www.facebook.com/palafoxofficial/) is famous for being the youngest Filipino on the team that built Dubai. He spent more than a decade on this project as its architect and urban planner, creating architectural design guidelines alongside the progressive city’s building code. On this project alone, Palafox created one of the most future-ready cities from merely dirt and sand, giving him a peek into what makes up a city that thrives in the future. Now, Palafox clamors, as his firm has been doing so for several years now, for the creation and abundance of more open and eco-friendly spaces in our cities.

> “Parks, open spaces are the lungs of the city. They improve not just our physical health and mental health but they are also used for social interaction. We should look a lot now at building complete communities. We shouldn’t just focus on building roads and hard infrastructure, we should look at the sewer systems and public health. Clean water supplies, management, and efficient garbage collection.”

In other parts of the world, recycling and basically being eco-friendly has become a staple practice for the architectural industry. From individual actions that help strangers and intrapersonal conversations to environmental shifts that can birth better communities. These changes can be seen everywhere, constantly, and more conspicuously than before the pandemic started.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-09.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-09 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-03.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-03 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-07.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-07 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-02.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-02 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-06.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-06 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-05.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-05 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-04.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-04 - BluPrint")

![PROPOSESD MEGA VACCINATION SITE PERSPECTIVE](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mega-Vaccination-Site-Rendered-Perspectives-01.jpg "Mega Vaccination Site Rendered Perspectives-01 - BluPrint")

**PROPOSED MEGA VACCINATION SITE PERSPECTIVE**

## Mega Vaccination Centers and Ligtas COVID Centers

In the age of COVID-19, several architects from abroad created [mobile COVID-19 facilities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/a-look-at-some-of-the-covid-19-facilities-overseas/) that are easily and quickly assembled. These architects include the German art group [Plastique Fantastique](https://plastique-fantastique.de/Selected) which created the Mobile PPS (Personal Protective Space) for Doctors, [Jupe Health](https://jupe.com/) with their Mobile Recovery Units, and [Weston Williamson + Partners](https://www.westonwilliamson.com/?utm_medium=website&utm_source=archdaily.com) which built Hospital ships–inventions that are as resourceful as they sound to be. In the Philippines, [Palafox Associates](https://www.palafoxassociates.com) donated their own architectural designs for COVID Centers, staying in line with their philanthropic and patriotic architecture advocacies. Mega Vaccination Centers at [Nayong Pilipino](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/old-nayong-pilipino-a-park-of-cultural-representation/), Parañaque, which can serve 12,000 vaccines a day, highlighted drive-thru vaccination courts, and Ligtas COVID centers or community-based isolation units that can accommodate 32 patients in each center.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-04.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-04 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-03.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-03 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-05.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-05 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-06.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-06 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-07.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-07 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-02.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-02 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LIGTAS-COVID-CENTER-01.jpg "LIGTAS COVID CENTER-01 - BluPrint")

**PROPOSED LIGTAS COVID CENTER PERSPECTIVE**

This Ligtas COVID center was designed by a multi-specialty team that combines architects, engineers, planners, and interior designers from Palafox Associates from the MS Innovation and Business Program of the Asian Institue of Management (AIM), and emergency and disaster experts. Field hospital managers, health systems professionals from the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP), and the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO) were also included.

## How can we regain our humanity through architecture?

Call it however you like. Rebirth, a renaissance, a new age. Reconstructing life as we know it, from the smallest way to the biggest, has become the main mission of all Filipinos. And it has become a more conspicuous act ever since the pandemic revealed two things: One, planning problems that now plague the current society, and two, loopholes that past and current administrations escaped through to hide these problems.

One of these problems is traffic, the Filipino’s age-old enemy that has devoured up so much time that could’ve been used to either making money or learning more than what you already know. It has even restrained some people from job opportunities that they truly like or even from simply having more time to spend with their loved ones. Throughout the pandemic, the majority of Filipinos have experienced the draining effects traffic can bring.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (10) - BluPrint")## Traffic and Urban Planning: The Philippines vs. Paris

In this day and age, after all, cars shouldn’t be the only mode of transportation to spotlight. Parisians for one would probably agree with this. The city after all is currently (and with great progress) pushing to become [a 100% bikeable city by 2026](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-22/how-paris-will-become-100-cyclable). If the city continues to push for these plans, it could become one of the most bike-friendly major cities in the world, a model city where both environmental health and people’s physical health would be prioritized. This kind of plan however wouldn’t be so easily completed. As stated in the plan proposals, the city would put pedestrian safety first while increasing police control of riders and publicizing road rules.

Comparing this to the Philippines’ current state is in some ways, slightly unfair considering that it is still wobbling towards progress. Even now, the country struggles with poor decisions in urban planning. According to the Palafox team, having more cities in the future can help the country progress into the first-world country many people dream of.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (1) - BluPrint")“The Philippines is in a strategic location being part of the so-called Asia-Pacific hub, which is the fastest growing region in the world. Proven by the 300-year colonial subjugation of the Spanish rule, 50 years by the Americans, four years by the Japanese, and two years by the British, superpower countries will always be interested in our beautiful islands. To sustain taking this global interest to our advantage, in addition to addressing the numerous problems our emerging 3rd world country faces, Ar. Palafox reckons we need 100 new cities by 2050. If we implement the necessary design and infrastructure to support the Filipino’s needs and the current demand, driven by good governance and political will, the Philippines can be a first world in 2040 and one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2050.”

“We can bring the Philippines well into the first world in 15 years.” Ar. Palafox adds, expressing his strong belief and hopes for the country if sustainable and modern plans are done right. “We did that in Dubai-the vision of the Ruler in 1977. We can do it. Strategic plan in the first 100 days then we implement plans into programs, policies, and projects, in the remaining 2,000 days. Immediate action, short term, medium term, long term, visionary plans. We can do it. First world by 2040, Top 20 Economies of the World by 2050.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (10) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-11.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (11) - BluPrint")

Currently, there’s the “[Build, Build, Build (BBB)” program](https://scad.gov.ph/) by the Duterte administration–a project aiming to usher in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure”. Though seemingly a project that has yet to be completely sustainable, it’s a program that, according to Palafox, cuts up incremental infrastructure which are the types of projects that have been too active in the country for several years. In [the recent presidential debates](https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1570700/7-presidential-candidates-vow-to-continue-build-build-build), seven of the candidates have confirmed and promised the continuation of the Duterte administration’s BBB program.

“…That’s one reason why we are behind our Asian neighbors.” Palafox states, “Our proposals have always had pedestrian bridges, elevated walkways, bike lanes, bike bridges, and highways present. I hope this will be included in the BBB…Architecture at Palafox isn’t just for business and commerce, and the government. We also do architecture for transportation, infrastructure, architectural activism, democratic architecture, architecture for the urban poor, architecture of faith, patriotic architecture, philanthropic architecture, and several others. It’s not just commercial architecture. We also do for advocacies.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-26.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (26) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-29.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (29) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-23.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (23) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-33.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (33) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (13) - BluPrint")

According to Ar. Jun, Palafox Associates has been submitting more than 3,000 plans, drawings, perspectives, and planning reports to interconnect Laguna Lake, Pasig river, and Manila Bay with riverwalks that have sewage interceptors and sewage treatment plants underneath those promenades.

“We also considered river transport from Laguna lake, Pasig river and for the communities along Manila Bay. Nothing happened. It was volunteer work from 1992 to 1998 and from 1998 until 2010, we were partly paid for this project, in advocacy.”

In Ar. Palafox’s eyes, architecture has advanced impressively. “Before, it’s just the art and science of buildings. Now, it’s also about technology, the economy, social aspects, and even the political aspects. It should address climate change too. There’s technology helping us now.” Despite this advancement, the profession should improve itself in terms of education too, in order to keep up with the times.

> “I think all of us want to live in master planned and well-designed buildings that are smart, sustainable, resilient, walkable, bikeable, liveable, better lighted, and safer. Mixed-income neighborhoods that are integrated places to live, workshop and dine, learn and worship with healthcare and wellness centers with some 24-hour cycle activity centers. It should be complete. Our advocacy at Palafox states that roads should be walkable and bikeable with public transit.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-12.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (12) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-11.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (11) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (7) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-4.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (1) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-ADDITIONAL-IMAGES-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX ADDITIONAL IMAGES) (2) - BluPrint")

**BULACAN AEROTROPOLIS PERSPECTIVE**

For Ar. Palafox, the proposed Bulacan Aerotropolis can be one of these master-planned cities.

## Bulacan Aerotropolis: Connectivity, Greenery, and Waterfront Design

“Bulacan Aerotropolis is a proposed airport-driven city in the province of Bulacan highlighting accessibility, connectivity, and mobility. It will feature wide boulevards filled with landscaping, greenery, and dedicated lanes for mass transportation, biking, active frontages, and pedestrian walkways. It will also feature buildings interconnected by skywalks, and ideally would generate more access and connectivity between buildings and increase floor area for safe and comfortable urban-designed public spaces. These skywalks can also potentially become micro-solar farms, using renewable energy to power street lights and other urban design fixtures that contribute to pedestrian comfort and safety. Among other concepts around green architecture and green urbanism, the plan also introduces waterfront development as a way to protect the site from storm surge but at the same time functions as an environmental sanctuary and a submersible green space, and increase more frontages that utilize the coastline. It would also help in the plan that greenspaces are always within 15 min. walking distance at any point in the city.”

The solution to traffic and urban planning in the Philippines isn’t just pouring concrete over the ground to create more poorly designed roads. This is (obviously) far from a good solution. The problem still lies in poor urban planning, land use, and transportation and that discipline also needs to be better practiced within ourselves–the people who use these roads. A better community involves having core values centered on selflessness, altruism constantly spotlighted from one generation to the next, and good education that supports these values.

“I think we should improve our education. Even the conduct of board exams. Include more design rather than multiple-choice questions. I also wish there was more integrity in the practice of the profession. Honesty, integrity, and professionalism.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-PALAFOX-20.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (PALAFOX) (20) - BluPrint")**In Jun Palafox’s words, here are some bits of wisdom for the next generation who can help create communities that are both sustainable and human-centered.**

“Work hard, study hard, pray hard. Never compromise your principles. I’ve given up billions worth of projects when they violated our principles at Palafox. We at Palafox believe in what we call the Integral Ecology: People first or social equity, followed by thoughts for planet earth and the environment. Then we can talk about prosperity, profit, and economic goals without forgetting culture, history and heritage, and interfaith spirituality. *Pro Deo, Patria, Et Terra*. For God, Country, and Planet Earth. After all, we architects are just instruments of the Chief Designer up there. We’re just instruments for His greater glory. Start the day with a prayer and end it with a word with God. Everything we do, if we do a good job, think of the beneficiaries. If we do a lousy job, think of the sufferers. It’s continuous learning. Even at more than 50 years old, I went back to Harvard…Keep on learning! Always get out of the box of architecture. It is planning communities and cities. Not just planning and designing buildings. And again, stick to your principles. Our core values at Palafox are instilled in all my colleagues. They are like lighthouses that even in stormy weather, they’ll always be there guiding us.”

*Photography ED SIMON
Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER
Video Producer ANDREW WAYNE
Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA, MAE TALAID, and MJ ALMERO
Shot on location PALAFOX ASSOCIATES OFFICE*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does “human-centric architecture” mean in Jun Palafox’s framework?

For Ar. Jun Palafox, human-centric architecture prioritizes social equity, environment, and community wellbeing before profit — a philosophy he calls Integral Ecology. It draws on precedents like Hippocrates, Florence Nightingale, and Le Corbusier, favoring healthy, naturally lit, walkable, and mixed-income spaces over purely commercial design.

### What is the Bulacan Aerotropolis proposed by Palafox Associates?

The Bulacan Aerotropolis is a proposed airport-driven city in Bulacan featuring wide boulevards, dedicated bike and transit lanes, skywalks with micro-solar potential, and waterfront development for storm-surge protection. It is designed so greenspaces remain within a 15-minute walk from any point in the city.

### What were Palafox Associates’ contributions to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response?

Palafox Associates donated architectural designs for Mega Vaccination Centers, including a Nayong Pilipino, Parañaque site capable of serving 12,000 vaccines daily with drive-thru courts, and Ligtas COVID Centers — community-based isolation units accommodating 32 patients each, developed with public health and disaster-response specialists.

### Why does Jun Palafox believe the Philippines needs 100 new cities by 2050?

Palafox argues incremental infrastructure has left the Philippines behind its Asian neighbors. He proposes 100 new master-planned cities by 2050, paired with strategic governance and phased implementation, as the path to first-world status by 2040 and a top-20 global economy by 2050.

### How did Palafox’s work on Dubai inform his urban planning philosophy?

As the youngest Filipino architect on Dubai’s planning team, Palafox spent over a decade shaping the city’s design guidelines and building code. That experience informs his current advocacy for open, eco-friendly, master-planned Philippine cities built around walkability, mixed-income housing, and public transit.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Commercial, Concept, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Jun Palafox, Manila, Palafox Architecture Group, Palafox Associates, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Crafting Future Cities: William Ti Reimagines Philippine Architecture to Build Better Human Environments](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/crafting-future-cities-reimagining-philippine-architecture-to-build-better-human-environment-for-filipinos/)

**Published:** December 15, 2022
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Architects play an important role in our society. More than designing structures, architects create a complete experience for people and the generations to come. Significantly, Architecture have an impact on the way we live and strive in our communities. As the Principal Architect of [WTA Architecture and Design Studio](https://wtadesignstudio.com/), William Ti aims to leave a mark in the industry by creating innovative, inclusive, and sustainable architecture to improve the lives of every Filipino.

“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.”

A statement by American designer, architect, and filmmaker Charles Eames highlights a significant factor to consider when designing and creating solutions to existing problems.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-Perspective-William-Ti-cover-.jpg "BP Perspective - William Ti cover - BluPrint")## WTA Architecture’s International Recognition at the World Architecture Festival

As a designer, one of Ti’s goals is to build a better human environment. “In our generation, we have been tasked to fix the world’s problems, especially in regard to the natural environment, sustainability, and nature. But I believe that as we keep building up our cities, even our towns and suburban areas, we have to be mindful architects,” he shares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti_BP-Perspective2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti_BP Perspective2 - BluPrint")Beyond designing structures, Ti believes that architects are primarily the caretakers of our built and human environments. His design firm strives to reimagine human environments and make them more purposeful and sustainable for everyone. “We are living in this human ecosystem that we have built for ourselves through the years. What we really need to do is to figure out how this becomes better and much more sustainable than what we currently have around us,” he explains.

WTA Architecture and Design Studio is known for its innovative designs that break barriers. Over the years, the firm has received multiple recognitions both locally and internationally. In 2022, two of its projects were among the [finalists at the World Architecture Festival (WAF)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/icymi-10-filipino-projects-made-the-waf-2022-shortlist/) held in Lisbon. First is the BSP Security Plant Complex, a unique public building that forms the foreground of New Clark City’s skyline. The second project is the Batangas Forest City which establishes a link between the mountain and the river. WTA explains that the project serves as a connecting element that completes this tropical ecosystem.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective3 - BluPrint")Batangas Forest City

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective2 - BluPrint")Batangas Forest City

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective - BluPrint")Batangas Forest City

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective9 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective8 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective7 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective6 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective5 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective4 - BluPrint")BSP Security Plant Complex

This wasn’t the first time the studio has been selected to compete at the prestigious architecture event participated by architects and designers around the world. In 2021, WTA was hailed as the overall winner of the 2021 WAFX Awards during last year’s WAF after first winning the WAFX Water Category.

Ti enjoys his experience participating in WAF. “It’s always a joy to meet and talk to people who have the same passion for architecture.” Winning a global competition or being one of the finalists truly brings honor to the filipino architects and it allows them to gain exposure from the global market. For Ti, such recognition also motivates him and his team to push themselves. “Being part of WAF helps remind us that we constantly have to search for new ideas and that we need to strive for excellence in every opportunity. It fires our passions and challenges us to be the best we can be.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti_BP-Perspective4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti_BP Perspective4 - BluPrint")> “For the Philippines to have a voice, we must be part of this global dialogue in architecture. We have to constantly recreate, reimagine how things are.”
> 
> William Ti

Moreover, innovation is at the core of WTA’s designs. Ti believes that architecture must always keep moving forward. Being an innovator in architecture is about creating new ideas, and contributing to the global pool of knowledge that helps move architecture forward. But how can the Philippines contribute?

Ti explains that architects should be able to project what the future is, imagine how life could be for everyone, and how the cities would develop. These are significant matters architects should think about because we can’t remain in place. “Doing architecture means innovating, coming up with new ideas, new paradigms, and new solutions, especially with the number of problems that are besetting globally right now.”

## What Is Social Architecture, and How Does William Ti Apply It?

Social architecture is a design concept of an environment that encourages a desired range of social behaviors leading toward a set of goals. When done right, it can provide sustainable solutions to relatively dense communities to improve quality of life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti_BP-Perspective3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti_BP Perspective3 - BluPrint")WTA believes that people should be at the heart of every architectural project. As an advocate of social architecture, Ti shares that it allows them to change our cities to better accommodate our immense population and density by providing social infrastructure that eases the urban grind. He emphasizes that it provides urban amenities that are convenient and accessible to all and better connect our communities.

The studio prides itself on developing studio culture. “It is a culture that tries to be the best, to do the best work we can, to always think about how to make our cities better, our surroundings better, the built environment better for every human being,” Ti explains.

In the last eight years, WTA have been developing ideas about social architecture. The team is trying to reimagine what the living conditions would be in the future. Ti highlights that given the size of the Asian cities compared to the western ones, they are grossly bigger. There have to be new ways of figuring out how our cities could work.

“What social architecture does is it tries to reimagine more hyper-local and convenient communities or architecture,” says Ti. With this concept, the architects bring architecture to the people instead of them going to places like museums or libraries. “So what we have actually done is reimagined how to recreate barangays in modern settings, more compact communities, it’s based on the difference of having a desktop computer or mobile phone. There’s this big jump in terms of how we engage in architecture,” he adds.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective11.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective11 - BluPrint")FEM Memorial Stadium

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective12.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective12 - BluPrint")FEM Memorial Stadium

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective13.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective13 - BluPrint")FEM Memorial Stadium

The Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium, also known as the [Marcos Stadium](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/fem-stadium-by-wta-architecture-and-design-studio/), in Ilocos Norte is a strong example of social architecture designed by the studio. It shows how stadiums can be more open, can be public spaces, and can become inviting. “We change this idea of a stadium that sometimes becomes almost like a white elephant being closed off to the public into an open space and becomes a stadium park. It becomes an integral part of the city, especially for the wellbeing, for the health and fitness of everyone in the city,” Ti explains.

The public will have access to the stadium grounds. It’s a safe space for them to engage in running and various track activities. The stadium can also host events as it provides accessible seating for everyone.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti-projects-_BP-Perspective4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti projects _BP Perspective4 - BluPrint")

Apart from Social Architecture, WTA also focuses on the idea of freedom of movement. The studio tries to remove barriers regardless of the typologies they deal with. “We’re trying to make architecture accessible for all, to make sure that architecture does not discriminate because a lot of our architecture discriminates against people who don’t have the proper clothes, people who don’t have a proper identity or even people who are too busy to take time off to go to one of these institutions.” To him, these are the people who need the institutions the most. He further emphasizes that they are the ones who need lives uplifted, who need access to more information and creativity.

Furthermore, Ti talks about social scale in architecture. He shares that as an architect, he wants his projects to take on another aspect or purpose. The studio aims to design structures that also serve to connect communities. In his example, he explains that a bridge can not only serve as means of crossing. It can also serve as a hub to connect the communities.

> “When architecture takes on this added purpose then what you have is the lubricants of society. That’s how social infrastructure is developed and why we think this is the agenda we move with. Every project we take on, we try to reimagine this typology, we try to reimagine how it can fit this social architecture agenda or idea, and try to say ‘this is the future.’ That’s what we want our architecture to become and that’s how to make our cities better.”
> 
> William Ti on social architecture

## What Are William Ti’s Most Significant Architectural Contributions?

WTA has been a key player in master planning and urban planning for 15 years with social architecture at the forefront. Among their projects over the years, Ti shares that in terms of impact, the most significant project he wants to be remembered as part of the industry’s heritage is Horizon Manila which they have recently finished the masterplan. This is the largest reclamation project in Manila right now. “This will have a profound impact on everyone, not just in Manila but the whole country,” says Ti.

Through the Horizon Manila project, WTA tries to do smaller communities, instead of a top-down command and control masterplan. The team is developing this new way of doing master plans where they plan smaller communities and try to bring them together in an ecosystem that allows them to help grow each other.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti_BP-Perspective6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti_BP Perspective6 - BluPrint")On a personal level, however, one of the projects he is proud of is when they did the quarantine facilities during the height of the pandemic. Trying to build for the community, this project made him feel like an architect. “We kind of realized that an architect’s role in society is to be the builders, the primary builders, thinkers, and innovators. When something new comes up, how do we deal with these problems? That is what the pandemic presented to us. We could not go to our old solutions because it was something totally new. That is when you really felt that architects are much needed in our society and how we can galvanize so many people, how we could bring together many sectors of our community.”

Ti proudly shares that WTA is one of the few, if not the only, private sector-driven responses to COVID on that scale throughout the world. The project has been lauded as an example of how we can respond to emergency architecture not only in the Philippines but also in different countries. In fact, the project is still on exhibit at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen. It was also on exhibit in Denver where they are building a 1:1 scale of this facility, showing that this is how architecture can respond. “That project was really something because it taught me so much about what architecture can be and how much we can do as architects if we try not to think about anything but just doing.”

## **More Open Spaces in 2023**

As the year comes to an end, William Ti looks ahead to 2023 with positivity and excitement. He looks forward to community projects they have been conceptualizing despite the fact that it will take years before they become fully turn over.

WTA has a number of projects being built all over. They will be starting on several residential towers in the first or second quarter of next year. “It’s an exciting year because we’re finally coming back after three years. We’re all getting our feet wet again. We had so many pent-up ideas in the last three years because we can’t do this, we can’t do that. Things have been changing,” shares Ti.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-William-Ti_BP-Perspective5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) -William Ti_BP Perspective5 - BluPrint")When it comes to architectural trends, Ti thinks there is a massive shift in architecture, especially since the pandemic. “What’s happening now is that we’re developing more open spaces, we’re realizing the value of space. More and more people are staying, realizing it’s actually nice to stay at home.”

With this, he expects to see bigger spaces at home, more garden spaces for fresh air, and open spaces within communities. This will largely lead to the development of more pocket gardens and piazzas. “I think there will be an increase in suburban or secondary cities where you have this viable and more natural alternative to Metro Manila. I think that’s something we have to look forward to, that architecture will change pretty much, especially since we’re dealing now with different settings, with different places. The different context will allow us to create much more different and more progressive architecture,” he says.

WTA will continue to design master plans that address the pressing needs of the country led by William Ti. Expect to see changes in terms of our built environment. Ti is excited to be part of innovators who move architecture forward and make our cities better.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Concept, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Sustainability

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### [Unrestrained Modernism: Advancing the Contemporary Architecture and Design Dialogue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/unrestrained-modernism-advancing-the-contemporary-architecture-and-design-dialogue/)

**Published:** September 20, 2022
**Author:** Carisa Magno

**Content:**

Modernism is always regarded as rebellious, if not revolutionary. The most difficult barrier for innovators is society’s cautious acceptance of new ideas and concepts. Progress will be made only if the community is open to and accepting of new norms. This is where perseverance and strength come into play for those who introduce new ideals. This holds even in the field of architecture and design.

Modernism in architecture, a flourishing 20th-century movement, commenced a shift in which designers embraced technology, innovation, and unrestricted experimentation. The utilitarian and straightforward nature of modernist structures was inspired by Louis Sullivan’s maxim, “form follows function.” These structures incorporate industrial materials and are characterized by geometric forms, open floor plans, and a minimalist aesthetic. World-renowned architects such as Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier were the forerunners of modernist architecture, and its guiding principles are still prevalent today.

---

> *Contemporary architecture is a critique of the past and current architectural culture and modernism is a result of that dialogue.*
> 
> Ed Calma

---

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-Ed-Calma-September-Digital-Cover-scaled.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - Ed Calma September Digital Cover - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/edgar-saavedras-fearless-pursuit-of-progress-for-the-first-world-philippines/)---

## Spearheading Filipino Modernism

In the Philippines, modernism is helmed by [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lee-residence-elevated-perspectives-by-ed-calma/), the Principal Architect and Managing Partner at [LOR Calma & Partners](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lor-calma-partners-composition/). With numerous awards and collaborations with distinguished designers like Carlos Zapata and Peter Pran, Ed Calma is at the forefront of Philippine modernist designs, on a mission to create a variety of spatial typologies. His talent for designing structures with distinct modern setting made him a sought-after architect and designer in the local industry. His father, Lorenzo Calma, founded the Philippine Institute of Interior Design and ran an interior design and furniture manufacturing company for 75 years before Ed took over in 1995 and established a full-service architectural firm.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma20.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma20 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma18.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma18 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma19.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma19 - BluPrint")**The New Modernist: Ed Calma, Principal Architect of LOR Calma & Partners**

Sharing how he started to appreciate architecture, [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/architects/succeeding-success-ed-lor-calma/) explains, “I grew up in spaces that my dad designed, but I didn’t understand what the spaces meant or how they related to the surrounding context. I merely appreciated how different the spaces were from the typical homes I went to. I felt \[like\] we lived in a strange home.” It wasn’t until Calma attended the PRATT Institute in New York that he comprehended architecture, and how global industry leaders gentrified cities and transformed societies. In addition, he stated that following in his father’s footsteps pushed him to be original while remaining dynamic in designing.

## Ed Calma’s Design Process: The Cliff House

Each of Ed Calma’s work is distinct, indicating a brilliant articulation and careful preparation went into planning the design. When asked about his design process, he stated that determining and comprehending the site’s composition comes first. He endeavors to capture the spirit and feel of the location before moving on to designing a concept that blends in without dominating. His design process prioritizes the preservation and incorporation of the site’s authentic character into the building. Ed Calma’s signature modern spatial typology imbues a powerful appeal to the human mind and bring about a moment of self-reflection.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma1.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma1 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma2.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma3.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma3 - BluPrint")---

One project completed by LOR Calma & Partners that best exemplifies Ed Calma’s design process is the Cliff House, located on a hilly terrain in White Plains, Quezon City. It is a small lot with a steep incline, but it is accessible through a road at the top and bottom of the property. The design layout utilized the steep terrain to create both a high-rise experience and a traditional house with a courtyard. To take advantage of the views and the surrounding mountain, Calma chose to place the main floor where the pool, living, dining, and kitchen space are on the level with the top of the cliff. The Cliff House features a roof deck with a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The elevated pool has a sense of seclusion because it is surrounded by lush trees and has a view of the city, giving it the feel of a sky pool. Through his design, the hilly and natural characteristics of the site were incorporated into the house’s built environment.

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![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma22.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma22 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma21.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma21 - BluPrint")## Mind Museum: Aesthetic Appeal and Spatial Layers

Making a project stand out is always a given when designed by Ed Calma. To him, the most important aspect of constructing a remarkable structure is its aesthetic appeal. The building must pique the viewer’s interest in how the building was designed and constructed. Second, comes the need for the built structure to resonate with the user. He also suggests incorporating layers that the user can uncover as they move through the building’s spaces to make an impression and make their experience memorable. Expounding more on making a building unforgettable, he says, “You should learn from the building through the years, it should not be a one-time appreciation. You have to discover more things as you go through the layers behind the building.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma13.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma2.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma12.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma11.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma10.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma10 - BluPrint")modernism

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma6.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma5.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma3.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma9.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma8.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma7.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma4.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma9.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma27.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma27 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma26.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma26 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma25.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma25 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma24.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma24 - BluPrint")modernist

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma23.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma23 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma28.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma28 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma29.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma29 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma22.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma22 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma21.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma21 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma20.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma19.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma19 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma18.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma17.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma16.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma16 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma15.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma14-1.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma13-1.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma12-1.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma14.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma13.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma12.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma12 - BluPrint")

The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City is an example of Ed Calma’s unparalleled architecture nurtured through his signature modernist ideals. The form is derived from the site’s curves that flow into the area, celebrating the street’s termination into an outdoor science exhibit space. The built structure is unique and very much in line with the building’s core purpose. Although the museum has a futuristic appearance, the overall design was able to make it blend in with the surroundings. It also adds a visual premium to the area. He shares that through design growth and learning from their past experiences in creating complex forms and exhibition designs, they were able to accomplish the museum’s architecture and interior design requirements.

## The Design Manifesto: Aguda Residence

Ed Calma’s extensive work experience and commitment to design excellence are evident in all of his projects. Each of those displays a rare individuality that only he can create. He shared that he must go back to the real basics of design. Every process requires a thorough understanding of the environment and a design tailored to that environment. He refuses to categorize it as a particular design manifesto. However, his method will always include a specific design intent, individuality, and uniqueness while adhering to the fundamentals and the materials.

*“Our designs are always flexible. It has no distinguishing process because I read from the site and develop something out of it instead of having a theory of urban design and imposing it on the place. I take a lot of time designing something and the process itself is not definite. It goes on and doesn’t stop even when the structure is built.”*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma15.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma15 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma14.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma14 - BluPrint")**The Aguda Residence exudes a tropical contemporary architecture with clever integration of local materials. The project is a signature Ed Calma creation with its straightforward modernist charm. It brings a new design perspective that sits in contrast to its neighbors yet feels completely of place.(Photos courtesy of LOR Calma & Partners)**

As a modernist, he envisions our country accepting, rather than resisting, good urban design. He desires our urban landscape to capitalize on and realize the untapped potential of the Philippines as an archipelago. Understanding the advantages of a multi-island country may inspire more development along our coastal edges. This could potentially be a way for the Philippines to distinguish itself from other countries, which could boost our national morale.

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> *I’m excited to be able to change how people live, through the experience of spaces that were completely invented by imagination. I’m also amazed at how architectural design solutions can improve the urban environment and people’s well-being. It’s frustrating a lot of times when our society does not establish design policies that would allow good architecture to happen, but I’m optimistic and excited that we are getting there.*
> 
> Ed Calma

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## On Innovation and Sustainability

“*Design innovation is to challenge existing norms, inventing new building typologies that address current concerns and the needs of society and culture.*“

One of his definitions of design innovation is inventing new ways of construction using conventional building technology to achieve a particular building effect. When comparing old methods to today’s design scene, he stated that acceptance of innovative modern architecture was slow at first because no one knew what it was until he completed a few houses. There were many strange preconceptions, as well as limitations. But now more clients are willing to try new things, but we still have a long way to go.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma10.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma10 - BluPrint")“*Architects should take every opportunity to push design whenever possible by involving other disciplines outside of architecture that would help move it forward. It is not enough to rely on past historical examples or case studies. There is a need to critique past and current models to determine if they are still relevant to our times.” – Ed Calma*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma11.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma11 - BluPrint")**The proposed** **Miriam College Alviera in Porac aims to be a benchmark for creative campuses. Learning is not limited to classrooms but is extended to all open areas where students can engage and interact. All classrooms and facilities have the option to be naturally ventilated in order to take full advantage of the site’s elevation. (Photos courtesy of LOR Calma & Partners)**

Pushing forward means innovating, and sustainability should also be considered. He believes that sustainability must be implemented on a larger scale because a single sustainable structure cannot have a significant impact. For the nation as a whole to achieve a lasting ecological balance, sustainability must be aggressively implemented as a national policy. Cities must be resilient and sustainable despite natural disasters. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend the natural phenomena occurring in the region. He puts Barcelona, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden as model cities and countries. To him, these places are not only sustainable and conscious about energy consumption, but they are also disaster ready because they were well-designed to adapt to their respective environments.

## The Calma Composition and Narrative on Philippine Architecture

Ed Calma, staying true to his unrestricted modernist core, believes that there should be no fixed character or elements distinguishing Philippine architecture. It should be left up to the architects to define, but it must take into account our tropical climate, the subtleties of our contemporary local culture, and building technologies. As the leading modernist architect and designer in the country, he places a premium on presenting a fresh and broader perspective. He emphasizes the importance of accepting new approaches without limitations.

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> “*We have to keep moving forward with modernism. Modernism in the 1920s and 1900s differs from Modernism today due to technological advancements, changes in the environment, and how the city and its people behave.*“

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![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma8.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma7.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma6.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma6 - BluPrint")

**The proposed Davao Civic Center is an effort to develop a cultural hub with a powerful architectural expression motivated by the national flower of Davao, the Waling-Waling. Ed Calma’s design was inspired by the quality and experience of the space between overlapping petals and how these petals can be used as a language to express the spatial character of the various functions of the interior. (Photos courtesy of LOR Calma & Partners)**

In composing a design, he considers the site’s specifics, the client profile, and the available technology before incorporating his perspective. Every structure that [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mission-revival-bungalow-calma/) designs is an exemplary work of art. According to him, for a project to be successful, both the client and the city must be receptive to novel ideas. Budgetary restrictions might exist, but they have little impact on him because he knows that even basic materials can be elevated. For the project to be deemed successful, all of these criteria must be met. However, Ed Calma can still produce something substantial even if one of these factors is weak. The most crucial factor, according to him, is “being relevant,” along with how the design will be viewed as a contribution to the architectural culture not only in the Philippines but around the world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma5.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma5 - BluPrint")**Proposed** **Baler Airport. The roof’s undulating shape serves as a recognizable entrance to the city and resembles the mountain ranges where Aurora is located as well as the surfing waves that made Baler a popular tourist destination. (Photo courtesy of LOR Calma & Partners)**

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![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Ed-Calma17.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Ed Calma17 - BluPrint")---

He preaches by way of his creations and contributions to the field of architecture and design, demonstrating why he is at the fore of the modernist movement in our nation. In a generally conservative environment, it takes guts, experience, skill, and courage to be able to make a name for yourself. He will continue to be an inspiration for the industry to break the mold and create without boundaries because of his vision for a better urban landscape that garners global recognition and an uplifted society through modern architecture.

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**PROJECT CREDITS:**

*Text CARISA MAGNO
Interview RICK FORMALEJO
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER
Photography KIERAN PUNAY
Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO
Video MIGUEL LIM
Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA and MAE TALAID
Shot on location LOR CALMA & PARTNERS OFFICE*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Ed Calma and what is his role at LOR Calma & Partners?

Ed Calma is the Principal Architect and Managing Partner at LOR Calma & Partners, a Philippine architectural firm he expanded into full-service practice in 1995. He is regarded as a leading figure in Filipino modernist architecture, known for projects including the Cliff House and the Mind Museum.

### What is modernist architecture and how did it influence Philippine design?

Modernist architecture, following Louis Sullivan’s principle “form follows function,” emphasizes geometric forms, open floor plans, industrial materials, and minimalism. In the Philippines, architects like Ed Calma have adapted these principles to local climate, culture, and terrain, producing site-responsive contemporary work distinct from earlier decorative traditions.

### What design approach did Ed Calma use for the Cliff House in Quezon City?

Calma used the site’s steep hilly terrain in White Plains to combine a high-rise experience with a traditional courtyard house. The main living level sits at the top of the cliff, with an elevated pool and roof deck offering panoramic views while preserving the site’s natural character.

### How was the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City designed to fit its site?

The Mind Museum’s form was derived from the curves of its site, extending the street into an outdoor science exhibit space. Despite its futuristic appearance, the design was shaped to blend with its surroundings while adding visual distinction to the Bonifacio Global City streetscape.

### What does Ed Calma believe about sustainability in Philippine urban design?

Ed Calma argues sustainability must be implemented as national policy rather than through isolated sustainable buildings, since a single structure cannot meaningfully shift outcomes. He cites Barcelona, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden as models for cities designed to be both energy-conscious and disaster-resilient.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Commercial, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Ed Calma, Interior Design, Lor Calma &amp; Partners, Modernism, Philippines

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### [Elevating the Narrative: Filipina Architects at the Forefront of Progress and Possibility](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/elevating-the-narrative-filipina-architects-at-the-forefront-of-progress-and-possibility/)

**Published:** March 10, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Philippine architecture has long been a male-dominated field, but a new generation of Filipina architects is redefining the industry with their vision, resilience, and dedication to their craft. Architects Anna Garcia, Charisse Ong, and Pearl Robles-Alfonso each bring a unique perspective to design—whether through historical preservation, bold material experimentation, or innovative spatial solutions.

Their journeys reflect a shift in the profession, where women are not just participating, but leading. They shape spaces that honor culture, challenge conventions, and push creative boundaries. In this feature, we explore their experiences, insights, and the impact they continue to make in their chosen field.

By breaking barriers and leading with both vision and grit, these architects exemplify the evolving role of women. They bring their own brand of strength and mastery alongside their unique perspectives and purpose.

## Three Firms, Three Filipina Architects

Through their respective firms, these three women helm projects that respond to function and aesthetics. And by doing so, they challenge conventional norms through design. Their work reflects a keen sensitivity to context, culture, and community. This is evident in their approach to designing human-centric spaces, fostering mentorship within the profession, and integrating sustainability and local craftsmanship into contemporary architecture.

### Anna Garcia: Sculptural Spaces, Gaga Design House

Anna Garcia co-founded [Gaga Design House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/in-the-works-the-camber-house-in-batangas-by-gaga-design-house/) with her partner, Miguel Garcia. As one of two principal architects, her work is characterized by a strong sculptural identity. Her structures subvert conventional shapes and embrace fluidity, contrast, and movement.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-07.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-07 - BluPrint")She’s responsible for bold architectural expressions, where form, materiality, and spatial relationships come together to create immersive and dynamic environments. A recurring theme in Gaga’s work is the interplay of organic and geometric elements.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Feature-Cover-Photo-Camber-house.jpg "BP 2022 - Feature Cover Photo (Camber house) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-Camber-House-.jpeg "BP 2022 (Camber House) - BluPrint")

You see it in projects like Bo House, where smooth, flowing curves define the structure. Camber House, which experiments with angles and volumes, evokes a sense of balance and motion. In contrast, the Brick House in Pampanga takes a more structured approach, using strong material contrasts and industrial textures to create a striking presence in its landscape.

Gaga emphasizes experiential architecture that encourages interaction, discovery, and engagement with the environment. Features like sunken lanais, catwalks, and expansive openings blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, reinforcing a connection to nature.

### Charisse Ong: Heritage and Materiality, Studio Ong

Charisse Ong is the principal architect of Studio Ong, a firm she leads alongside her sister, IDr. Coleen Ong. Their thoughtful and innovative approach to design seamlessly blends local cultural heritage with contemporary sensibilities. Their projects reflect a deep respect for local materials, craftsmanship, and storytelling, resulting in spaces that feel both rooted and forward-thinking.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-09.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-09 - BluPrint")A defining characteristic of their work is the careful integration of Filipino identity and artisanal techniques—whether in the Filipinas Heritage Library, where Art Deco elements meet modern functionality, or in Inatô, where natural textures like banana peel walls and oyster-shell floors create an immersive dining experience. Their attention to materiality is also evident in Iai, a restaurant that embodies the philosophy of precision and mindfulness through a subdued palette and locally woven accents.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-INATO-67.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (INATO)-67 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-INATO-32.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (INATO)-32 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-INATO-25.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (INATO)-25 - BluPrint")

Studio Ong’s designs foster community and engagement, transforming spaces into experiences. Their work elevates local narratives, proving that innovation and tradition can coexist harmoniously in architecture and interiors.

### Pearl Robles-Alfonso: Modern Living, 8×8 Design Studio

As co-founder and Principal Architect of 8×8 Design Studio Co., Pearl Robles-Alfonso brings her expertise in design and project management to ensure that each project aligns with the studio’s vision. Her leadership helps shape the firm’s creative direction while fostering collaboration within the team and with clients.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-10.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-10 - BluPrint")Together with her partner and spouse, Adrian Alfonso, 8×8 creates spaces that seamlessly integrate modern living with local context. Their work consistently demonstrates a deep sensitivity to natural landscapes and cultural heritage, balancing contemporary aesthetics with timeless design principles.

![COI PH by 8x8 Design Studio, featured in BluPrint's book, Architecture of Silence.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-February-IN-ARTICLE-AOS-CHAPTERS-18.jpg "BluPrint-2024-February-IN ARTICLE-(AOS CHAPTERS)-18 - BluPrint")COI PH by 8×8 Design

![BluPrint 8x8 Design Studio Co Pearl Robles Adrian Alfonso](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/MV_MG_8002.jpg "BluPrint 8x8 Design Studio Co Pearl Robles Adrian Alfonso 1 - BluPrint")8×8 Design Studio Co’s MV House became an exercise in exploring vertical configurations, and how to take advantage of its dream setting, with its views of majestic Mt. Makiling, a city skyline and a lake from afar.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pk-house-8x8-design-studio-co_14-Large.jpeg "pk-house-8x8-design-studio-co_14 Large - BluPrint")

Across their residential and commercial projects, they employ a thoughtful approach to space-making, prioritizing openness, fluidity, and harmony with the environment. They often embrace elevated structures that take advantage of natural topography, frame scenic views, and foster a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

## Challenging Gender Norms in Philippine Architecture

For Filipina architects, breaking into the industry comes with its own set of challenges that men simply don’t contend with; from earning respect in project negotiations to navigating biases about their capabilities. Pearl Robles-Alfonso shared her perspective on being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/7-Harmony-In-Curves-_BoHouse-copy.tif.crdownload-Large.jpeg "7-Harmony-In-Curves-_BoHouse-copy.tif.crdownload-Large - BluPrint")“Filipinos, by culture and by religion, we’re actually quite conservative,” she observes. “And we’re traditionally a patriarchal society. So Filipinas in the industry… we have to be assertive in a way, so that we can be present and visible. But most of the time, it’s being mistaken as being aggressive rather than being assertive.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-IAI-Restaurant-4.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (IAI Restaurant)-4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-IAI-Restaurant-3.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (IAI Restaurant)-3 - BluPrint")

Similarly, Anna Garcia started her career in a construction firm, where she often found herself having to prove her worth. “I learned a lot from that construction firm,” she shares. “And I was able to apply all the learnings in our firm, but it was really hard for me to adjust in the beginning. It was hard for me to fit in in that male-dominated industry.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-PK-HOUSE-059.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(PK HOUSE)-059 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-PK-HOUSE-054.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(PK HOUSE)-054 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-PK-HOUSE-051.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLE-(PK HOUSE)-051 - BluPrint")

“I had to learn their language and evolve from a shy girl to a very relentless, compelling, and confident architect,” Garcia recalls. “I had to back it up with research and all the knowledge so I can really get their respect.”

“You doubt yourself, you doubt your capabilities,” adds Robles-Alfonso. “And then you feel like any achievement relates to luck or because you’re being helped by others. And it became a roadblock.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Brick-house-pampanga-4.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Brick house pampanga) (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Brick-house-pampanga-7.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Brick house pampanga) (7) - BluPrint")

![View of the kitchen with patterned tile backsplash, bar stools by the kitchen island, and brass accents](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Brick-house-pampanga-1.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Brick house pampanga) (1) - BluPrint")

She also pointed out how traditional gender norms continue to shape perceptions. “Whenever we meet new clients, they initially assume that my partner and husband, Adrian, he’s the architect and I’m an interior designer. So there’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but it’s an automatic impression that I am not the architect, but I’m the interior designer.”

Even in professional settings, she noticed how biases subtly play out. “When we go to conferences or meetings and we have to bring our children, they somehow see me first as a mom rather than as an architect.”

### Shifting Perceptions of Women in Architecture

However, the Philippines has made significant strides in embracing Filipina architects. In recent years, more women have been taking on leadership roles in firms and academia.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-06.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-06 - BluPrint")Charisee Ong, for instance, considers herself fortunate to have entered architecture at a time when women are more widely accepted in the field. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I realized that growing up, I never felt like it was inferior to be a woman… I entered the industry that way and with that mindset… I just did my own thing, and day by day, just do your work, improve on your craft…”

Her upbringing played a crucial role in shaping her confidence and approach to her career. “I realized that growing up with three sisters, our dad never made us feel like ‘*babae ka’*… Things have changed now, and the reality also means that everybody has to do their part, both male and female. So I guess I was lucky to be brought up that way, and it was really never in my head growing up that women couldn’t do what men could.”

The differing experiences of Garcia, Robles-Alfonso, and Ong highlight the evolving landscape of the Philippine architecture industry for women. While challenges such as gender biases, societal expectations, and the need to prove one’s expertise still persist, their journeys also reveal meaningful progress.

### Practice Makes Progress: Women in Architecture, By the Numbers

Garcia’s hands-on approach to construction, Robles-Alfonso’s navigation of workplace perceptions and motherhood, and Ong’s confidence in an increasingly diverse industry illustrate the shifting dynamics in architecture. Although obstacles remain, these Filipina architects demonstrate that more women are breaking barriers, gaining leadership roles, and reshaping the profession, proving that progress—while gradual—is undeniably taking place.

Having been part of the academe, Ong has observed a significant shift in gender representation within architecture schools. “I believe we have 70% women in school now… but society does have to change how they think. If there is something to change, it’s really just actually taking out that stigma about women just staying at home. I think we’ve reached a point where we’ve proven ourselves.”

Likewise, Garcia finds herself in a position to become a mentor to the next generation of [female architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mercedes-raffinan-the-first-filipina-architect/). “We’re almost 80% girls in the firm,” she notes about [Gaga Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/in-the-works-the-camber-house-in-batangas-by-gaga-design-house/) House. Recognizing the importance of representation, she embraces the responsibility of guiding and empowering young women in architecture.

## A Filipina’s Touch: Culture, Function, and Warmth

While biases still exist, there is growing recognition of the unique perspectives that women bring to design, particularly in creating spaces that balance functionality with human-centric and cultural sensitivity.

“By default, men have this image that they do the functional side of things,” Robles-Alfonso notes. “And then the female only contributes to the warmth and aesthetic. But I can say that female architects can do both. We can do functional, we can do structural, and we can also bring warmth and aesthetics.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-08.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-08 - BluPrint")Garcia credits her upbringing and Filipino heritage for influencing her design approach. “As a Filipina architect who grew up with a Kapampangan mother, she taught me different ways of doing a recipe—so all the ingredients are there, different ingredients trying to do just one dish. In a way, I was able to apply that mindset to design, and it was easier for me to really mix and match different architectural styles.”

In addition, Ong’s deep appreciation for Filipino culture and materiality is prominent in her work. “So being a Filipino first and foremost, and living in this beautiful country, we offer a lot of beautiful and unique things, like materiality, the local culture that we have. Also living abroad, I saw how much they appreciated what we have that we also just take for granted.

“We have to take pride in that,” Ong states. “But as a Filipina architect, \[we bring\] even more an added value, because we think of things holistically. So we just don’t think of the design that looks aesthetically pleasing. We think of the functionality down to the upkeep in the end. So all these things we juggle, even in the early phases of the design. And this is what I believe our clients appreciate from us.”

“Filipino culture is deeply rooted in community,” Robles-Alfonso observes. “We tend to do family-centric spaces that are open and inclusive. Since we’re family-oriented and we’re community-oriented, we tend to do spaces that would invite more gatherings.”

She also reflected on the Philippines’ unique cultural influences. “We are a multicultural society. We’ve been colonized by both the East and the West, and I feel like, as a Filipino, it’s quite unique because we’ve been influenced richly by different kinds of cultures… I think that’s our edge as compared to architects in other countries, because we can bring different perspectives to the table.”

## Visibility and Mentorship for Women in Architecture

While the number of women in architecture is steadily increasing, the industry still has room to grow in fostering an environment where women can thrive. Creating opportunities for mentorship, visibility, and professional growth is essential in paving the way for future generations.

“Architecture on its own is very masculine,” Robles-Alfonso states. “So being a mom and being an architect at the same time… there’s always this guilt that I cannot perform 100% to either. The best way is to surround myself with people who truly support and uplift and empower me. And that brings me so much confidence in what I do and in the craft that I chose. It takes a village.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Perspective-05.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article (Perspective)-05 - BluPrint")“I think we should feature more [Filipino architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/architects/5-promising-newph-architects/),” Garcia posits. “So that the younger ones can be more aware that, oh, there are so many Filipina architects out there trying to change the perspective of Filipino architecture. I think this is the best way to really encourage other women to become architects— putting their names out there, showcasing them more, and just changing that mindset that architecture is all about male architects.”

“Of course, barriers still exist,” Robles-Alfonso notes. “We cannot deny that. But I guess having exposure in features such as this is actually a big contribution in terms of exposing what a female architect can achieve in this industry.”

“Nowadays, I feel like there’s so much social pressure with social media and just how fast the world is moving,” Ong acknowledges. “But one thing I reflected on is that we never really made that affect us. You just have to stay true to yourself, trust the process of evolving yourself as well, and really enjoy it. Because being an architect is still the best job in the world for me.”

## Elevating the Narrative

For these three Filipina architects, architecture is their vocation. It extends beyond designing spaces to shaping communities, preserving cultural identity, and challenging industry norms. At its core, their work is about creating meaningful, human-centered environments that honor both innovation and heritage. Their unique perspectives give rise to fresh ideas, broadening the scope of architectural practice to inspire the next generation of women in architecture to forge their own paths.

“Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy,’” shares Robles-Alfonso. “So don’t compare or measure your success to others’ success… It will only rob you of happiness and joy and your passion for what you do. You have to create your own parameters. You have to create your own measure of success. And I think if you start that, you’ll truly see your own goals and you’ll enjoy your journey.”

“I know it’s a cliché, but you have to love the sacrifice,” Garcia asserts. “Speaking as a mother, of course, sometimes it’s hard to balance things. Sometimes you have to choose between taking care of your child or finishing up a project. You have to love the sacrifice, or at least get used to it, because I feel like success feels like a week, but getting there—the sacrifice, the journey—feels like a year.”

“We’re so lucky to be able to choose to do what we do every day, and to be able to help a lot of people,” Ong declares. “So first is really to commit and to choose this profession, not as a job, but as a vocation. Once you do that and you’re sure about that, just focus on the craft and just go all the way. It’s hard, but it’ll be harder if you don’t like what you do.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BluPrint-2025-March-In-Article-Cover-Perspective.jpg "BluPrint 2025 March In-Article Cover (Perspective) - BluPrint")**Read more:** [Women Leading the Way in Architecture through Education and Innovation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/women-leading-the-way-in-architecture-through-education-and-innovation/)

---

Photographer: Excel Panlaque

Hair and Make Up: Cats del Rosario

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Managing Editor: Katherine Lopez

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who are the three Filipina architects featured and what are their design styles?

The feature highlights Anna Garcia of Gaga Design House, known for her sculptural, fluid, and experiential architecture; Charisse Ong of Studio Ong, who specializes in weaving Filipino heritage and artisanal craftsmanship into contemporary spaces; and Pearl Robles-Alfonso of 8×8 Design Studio Co., who focuses on modern, open, and family-centric spaces that harmonize with the local natural landscape.

### What specific challenges do women face in the Philippine architecture industry?

Filipina architects often navigate a traditionally patriarchal and conservative society. Common challenges include being mistaken for interior designers rather than architects, being viewed primarily as mothers in professional settings, and needing to adopt a relentless, research-backed “assertiveness” to earn respect on construction sites and in negotiations—an effort often mislabeled as “aggressiveness.”

### How does motherhood intersect with their architectural practice?

Architect Pearl Robles-Alfonso describes the “guilt” of balancing professional excellence with being a mother, noting that the industry remains fundamentally masculine. She emphasizes that success in this dual role requires “a village”—a strong support system that empowers women to perform without sacrificing their craft or their family duties. Similarly, Anna Garcia highlights the “sacrifice” of balancing project deadlines with childcare, viewing the journey as a necessary part of her vocation.

### How is the landscape of architecture schools changing in the Philippines?

According to Charisse Ong, there has been a massive shift in representation within the academe, with women now making up approximately 70% to 80% of architecture students. This surge in female enrollment is gradually removing the stigma that women should remain in domestic roles, signaling a future where the profession will be significantly more gender-diverse.

### What unique perspectives do these architects believe women bring to design?

The architects argue that women bring a “holistic touch” to projects, juggling structural and functional requirements while prioritizing warmth, upkeep, and human-centric aesthetics. They also lean into their cultural heritage—such as using a “Kapampangan recipe” mindset to mix architectural styles or creating inclusive, family-oriented spaces that invite communal gatherings, a core value of Filipino culture.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

---

### [Viewing the Alchemy of Growth with Royal Pineda](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/viewing-the-alchemy-of-growth-with-royal-pineda/)

**Published:** May 15, 2023
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

The Philippines as an underdog–it’s not a new idea. For some minds, local abilities and talents being labeled as superior in different industries such as the film, music, and architecture industry still seems to be a difficult idea to grasp despite the talents and new ideas rearing their heads during recent times. For the longest time, Philippine architecture has been seen by some as something weak and inferior considering that the oldest traditional bahay kubo would be based on materials like wood, bamboo, nipa or cogon grass. At some point in history, local architecture became a mixture of cultures–the Malay, Spanish, American, and even Chinese and Arab cultures have turned local architecture into styles and designs that adapted foreign influences and overpowered what was traditionally the simple buhay kubo made of wood. Considering these influences (some of which have taken hold of locals for centuries), it’s unsurprising that some minds can’t help but say that traditional architecture has lost its place in the modern world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BP-Perspective-2023-Royal-Pineda-Final-cover.jpg "BP Perspective 2023 - Royal Pineda Final cover - BluPrint")But just like in every other industry, there are those who stand as the voice of growth and optimism against people who still see local talent and materials as inferior or unworkable as compared to materials from abroad. Architect Royal Pineda of [Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design](https://web.facebook.com/royalpinedaplus/?_rdc=1&_rdr) for one, has been a long-time advocate of the modern Philippine sensibilities in architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Royal-Pineda2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Royal Pineda2 - BluPrint")“I strongly say that we *thought* it was inferior.” says architect Pineda, “And I don’t agree with that. That’s why I’m trying to seek and push the effort of defining Modern Filipino architecture and design.”

## Overcoming Colonial Mentality in Design

Architect Pineda has always been bothered by the fact that Philippine architecture has been seen as something so inferior that even some locals would call it ‘baduy’. This type of thinking, which he believes to be the influence of a strong colonial mentality, ends up becoming the crutch supporting the idea of Philippine architecture being a temporary thing that wouldn’t survive the modern age because of the seemingly fragile materials used for traditional spaces combined with the thought that Filipino architecture lacks its own identity without being dominated by bahay-kubo-like features.

“I feel that those things–that strong colonial mentality–brings us to an idea that Philippine architecture will never last, that it will always be temporary because the foundation and the concept of it being related to a *bahay kubo* is made of wood. And then there came the [bahay na bato](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-bahay-na-bato-architecture-300-years-in-the-making/) which was an adaptation when the Spaniards came. They still put together the bahay kubo and they were still on stilts but they fortified the *silong* with stone–the *bato*, which is very European architecture. We were never used to doing that but in the end, the very concept of Philippine architecture–it’s temporary, it’s not to last.”

Architect Royal Pineda isn’t one who easily gets discouraged by the idea of working with local materials that some people deem to be inferior. The thought that current Philippine architecture lacks its own identity doesn’t come to his mind either. In fact, this kind of mentality has motivated him to create more spaces that are impactful not just aesthetic-wise but concept-wise too.

“I don’t need it to be a *bahay kubo* to say that it’s Filipino. It is Filipino when you see it, when you feel it, when you try to dissect it, it’s Filipino.”

## The Architecture of New Clark City

The New Clark City Athletics Stadium and Aquatics Center are great examples of local architecture that reaches the expectations of what [Modern Filipino architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/9-modern-filipino-homes-that-stole-the-spotlight-in-2024/) and design is in the eyes of Royal Pineda.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RP-49.jpg "RP 49 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RP-44.jpg "RP 44 - BluPrint")Related Read: [Frameworks for Development: Creating investable cities through LIFE and Authenticity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/frameworks-for-development/)

“When we collaborated with BCDA, with the government on this project, we said “This cannot be just another smart or green city. This needs to be the Modern Filipino city. Which is the new face and the glimpse of the future of the Philippines.” and that’s why we were able to create a very comprehensive plan, at least in the first phase of this project. Everything we did, the materials, the lahar that we really just picked up from the rivers, it made the fiber of this new city. It became the element of this city and the identity of the modern Philippines of this area.”

Created to be the crowning glory for the smart and sustainable New Clark City’s new Sports Complex, the Athletics Stadium was made to seat 20,000 people during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and was inspired by the nearby Mt. Pinatubo, highlighting new beginnings and unlocking new potential–a message that Pineda has long since been an advocate of. When Architect Pineda and the team were tapped by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to create the stadium, the moment became one of the team’s most memorable moments where they were able to finally showcase what Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design has been doing for almost 15 years–flaunting the Modern Filipino sensibility to everyone, including neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RP-45.jpg "RP 45 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RP-46.jpg "RP 46 - BluPrint")“We’ve been doing that, sharing with other neighboring countries.’ architect Pineda says, “But the platform to be able to showcase the Modern Filipino in a Southeast Asian event was a very beautiful opportunity because we were able to express our skill, our own interpretation of the Olympic standard facilities.”

Aside from carrying the message of rebirth and resiliency, the stadium’s design aesthetically echoes Mt. Pinatubo through its graphite caldera of a continuous roof, the energetic active orange and gray pixel-looking seating and playing field, and the use of lahar as another ingredient to its concrete mix and even its finishing. As the first IAAF-certified world-class facility in the country, the New Clark City Athletics Stadium can withstand 8.9 magnitude earthquakes and also works as an evacuation center. Meanwhile, the New Clark City Aquatics Center which can hold 2,000 spectators, is a space that dominantly highlights the concept of openness or on local terms, *‘maaliwalas’*. During the conceptualizing process, Pineda and his team based the Aquatics’ concept on the Filipino characteristic of being open and pleasant towards everyone. With the sense that each local space shouldn’t be so closed in a tropical country, the Aquatics Center has a distinguishable triangulated roof that soars to a height of 27 meters and spans 56 meters and is made with interchanging uPVC and insulated sandwich panels that pull in as much natural light as possible without baking the venue and its spectators in the tropical heat.

“I think *maaliwalas*, in our efforts to constantly achieve what’s Filipino, has been our guiding principle. It’s always been that desire ‘is it already *maaliwalas*? Open, pleasant?’ and that’s what you feel now in the height, in the openness that you see.”

Prior to starting Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design, Pineda worked for the late Philippine National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin who’s famous for crafting iconic structures that are modern but still carry climatic features fit for the Philippines’ humid and tropical climate. Like every other material, local materials also have their own strengths. Bamboo’s strength and flexibility offer superior earthquake resistance, coconut timber has the same, if not, better quality than hardwood but is comparably cheaper. Nipa and cogon are great insulators for island homes, and lahar works as a great barrier against termites. For architect Royal Pineda, combining these local elements with elements from foreign pieces and having the capacity to pull them all together to make something new but still reminiscent of what’s traditional already holds the principle of building Filipino architecture.

“We Filipinos can start creating, not just new architecture of what’s Modern Filipino architecture and design. We can create a new culture, we can create our new behaviors, our better versions of who we are as people and who we are as architects and designers. We don’t need to be limited by the past. Don’t get me wrong. I respect the past. But what I’m saying is, if I see that the past isn’t working anymore and in fact, is not bettering me as a person, as a human being, or even as a nation, why will I keep it? I will respect it, and look at it as my history but I will not bring it to my future. Why? Because I believe that there’s a better way of living. That’s my dream for every Filipino. To experience better architecture, and better design in everything that they do. There’s always a better way and I hope we can all be creative in doing that.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Royal-Pineda2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Royal Pineda2 - BluPrint")## The Future of Practical Luxury

Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design is a team of big dreamers and will continue being so in the mission to inspire and find other creatives like them. Currently, the team is chasing down three major goals. The first, to amplify each city’s micro identity in order to encourage more tourism from both international and local visitors.

“Imagine if every place had a distinct identity of its community. Imagine the domestic tourism. I would want to see Laoag being Laoag, Bicol being Bicol, Bohol being Bohol. And I would love to go to all these places because there’s a specific micro identity. And we’re doing that now with our projects.”

The second and third goals meanwhile involve pursuing the definition of Modern Filipino island living and Modern Filipino highland living.

“We want every Filipino to see that you can live in the farmland, in the mountains, you can live as a fisherman but you can live in luxury by design.” architect Pineda says, “Design will equalize and give us equality. Our country will be better with Practical Luxury and this doesn’t need to be expensive. There’s no excuse. We can’t keep telling ourselves, ‘No, we’re not a first-world country that’s why we need to live in poverty or we need to live this way, compromise ourselves, and only live to a certain standard.’ No. Design *our* ways. Design *our* lifestyle. Then we can all live in luxury by design.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Royal-Pineda.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Royal Pineda - BluPrint")In Royal Pineda’s eyes, the Philippines is a treasure trove of talent, materials, and ideas that, when put together, can turn into something as grand and impressive as the foreign items or buildings that some locals practically worship. The creation of this grand, brand-new piece of art however can only be possible if the country opens itself to collaboration with other great minds while opening itself to the possibility of failure as well. The mere fact that there are Philippine talents who are able to absorb influences and transform them into something of their own should be known as the underrated skill of a monster–a skill that Royal Pineda and his team possess.

“We are dreaming of something and we know we cannot achieve it alone. It’s a dream we’d like to share with not just architects but with every creative person, not just architects. Let’s do Modern Bayanihan. Let’s all collaborate. Let us all live better in a Modern Philippines. Royal Pineda+ is a plus because we’re open and waiting for somebody to collaborate with.”

---

**CREDITS**

Text SHAN ARCEGA

Photography ED SIMON

Videography JOSE RAMIREZ

Art Direction DIANNE FERNANDO

Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID and MJ ALMERO

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is architect Royal Pineda and what does Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design advocate for?

Royal Pineda is a Filipino architect and founder of Royal Pineda+ Architecture•Design, a firm that has spent nearly 15 years defining Modern Filipino architecture. He previously worked under National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin before establishing his own practice focused on Filipino design identity.

### What is Modern Filipino architecture according to Royal Pineda?

Modern Filipino architecture, per Pineda, does not require literal bahay kubo forms to read as Filipino — it is defined by feel and concept rather than form. It combines local materials and cultural values, such as “maaliwalas” (openness), with contemporary design and engineering standards.

### What design features define the New Clark City Athletics Stadium and Aquatics Center?

Designed by Royal Pineda+ for BCDA, the stadium seats 20,000, is IAAF-certified, and withstands 8.9-magnitude earthquakes while doubling as an evacuation center. Its roof and finishes reference Mt. Pinatubo, incorporating lahar into the concrete mix as both a structural and identity-driven material.

### What advantages do local materials like bamboo, lahar, and coconut timber offer in Philippine architecture?

Bamboo offers earthquake resistance through flexibility; coconut timber matches or exceeds hardwood strength at lower cost; nipa and cogon provide natural insulation for island homes; and lahar acts as a termite barrier. Pineda uses these properties as design assets rather than limitations.

### What is “Modern Bayanihan” as described by Royal Pineda?

Modern Bayanihan is Pineda’s term for cross-disciplinary collaboration among architects, designers, and other creatives to advance Filipino design collectively. It reflects his broader goal of achieving “Practical Luxury” — dignified, well-designed living accessible across income levels and geographies in the Philippines.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Profile, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Royal Pineda

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### [Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/serene-geometries-ed-calma-finds-clarity-through-quietude/)

**Published:** July 10, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

“I always consider a house as having two lives,” Ed Calma states. “One is the architect’s vision for the house, and the other is how the clients live in it.” The first is the one imagined by its creator—a vision of light, form, and intention. The second, more complex life begins the moment someone walks through the door. It is the life of habitation, of memories collected and objects accrued, of daily routines that trace paths across a floor. It is a life that is fluid, unpredictable, and often at odds with the purity of the original design.

![Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BP-Interiors-Ed-Calma-1-scaled.webp "BP Interiors Ed Calma 1 - BluPrint")Few understand this duality better than Calma, a figure who stands as a quiet titan in the landscape of Philippine architecture and interior design. For him, the genius lies not in resisting this second life, but in creating a vision so clear and a structure so profound that it can gracefully contain all the beautiful chaos that living entails.

This acknowledgment stems from profound understanding. It is the foundational principle for a body of work that spans private sanctuaries and institutional buildings. In navigating this tension, Calma forged a signature style and shaped a philosophy of space that continues the pioneering legacy of his family while casting a long, unwavering light toward the future of Filipino design.

## Lor Calma and Partners: A Design Legacy in Two Generations

![Lee Residence by Ed Calma BluPrint Volume 1 2025.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lee-Residence_Ed-Calma-1-scaled.webp "Lee Residence_Ed Calma 1 - BluPrint")Lee ResidenceTo understand the work of Ed Calma is to first understand the ground upon which he builds. He is the design principal of [Lor Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/cwc-interiors-x-lor-calma-partners-an-iconic-collaboration-between-exemplary-filipino-design-advocates/) and Partners, the firm founded by his father, [Lor Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/cwc-interiors-x-lor-calma-partners-an-iconic-collaboration-between-exemplary-filipino-design-advocates/), a trailblazer widely regarded as one of the fathers of Philippine interior design and modernism. The elder Calma was a master of integrating minimalist forms with a distinct Filipino cultural context, creating furniture and interiors that were both internationally sophisticated and locally resonant. His work was about a certain kind of perception, a quality that Ed would inherit and evolve.

“My father’s work has never been able to be photographed really well,” Calma explains, offering a crucial insight into his own inherited perspective. “Because you need to see things as he moves through the space. You need to see what he sees.” This was a lesson in phenomenology—the idea that space is a kinetic, sequential experience. This foundational lesson in seeing was coupled with an equally important lesson in freedom. “He never really pinned you down to a certain style or a certain design approach,” Calma recalls of his father. “He wanted you to be completely open, free to be able to go beyond what he knew or what I know currently. He was very open.”

![Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BP-Interiors-Ed-Calma-2-scaled.webp "BP Interiors Ed Calma 2 - BluPrint")This encouragement to go beyond is precisely what defines Ed Calma’s practice. While he undoubtedly took up the mantle, he also expanded its reach, building upon his father’s mastery of the interior to command the entire architectural envelope. Where [Lor Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/cwc-interiors-x-lor-calma-partners-an-iconic-collaboration-between-exemplary-filipino-design-advocates/) pioneered modern interiors, Ed Calma extended that language to the structure itself, creating a holistic vision where the line between outside and inside dissolves into a single, powerful statement. He introduced a new scale of thinking, most notably in the realm of environmental sustainability, that would come to redefine what a modern Filipino building could be.

## Élan by the Bay: Contextual Modernism Along the Shoreline

BluPrint spoke with Calma in one of his most recent projects, Élan by the Bay, a social space along the city’s shoreline. It is also home to Ed Calma’s first attempt at sculpture, *Steel Cloud*; the bright yellow is a clear nod to the objet d’art found in his [father’s home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lor-calma-modernist-house/).

Élan aptly serves as a clear synthesis of his design philosophies; an exercise in his brand of contextual modernism. Its placement and form are a direct response to the location, with clean architectural lines and an artful restraint that defers to the vast, serene horizon. The building engages in a quiet dialogue with the environment, using panoramic views to turn the bay’s cinematic light into a defining feature of the interior experience.

![bluprint architecture lor calma house image 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-lor-calma-house-image-2.jpg "bluprint architecture lor calma house image 2 - BluPrint")Lor Calma House.The concept of architecture as a journey is central to the design. The interior—choreographed to guide movement from the main hall’s transition to an intimate garden or the upper floor that opens onto a balcony—embodies Calma’s belief in a kinetic spatial experience. This orchestrated flow through the building is a narrative tool that shapes how the space is perceived and inhabited during a gathering.

Designed with inherent flexibility as a versatile canvas, the structure provides a pristine architectural vision intended to host a wide array of functions. In this, Élan is a compelling case study of the Calma approach, where an enduring structure is built to gracefully embrace the many vibrant second lives curated within it.

## Tropical Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Design

If modernism is the foundation of Ed Calma’s work, his practice is a continuous conversation with its principles. “Architecture will always have its foundations—in my case, the modern movement,” he affirms. “It’s a dialogue between what was done before and how architecture responds to current conditions \[and\] the program.” For Calma, true modernism transcends any rigid set of stylistic rules imported from the West. It is a flexible, problem-solving methodology, a way of thinking that must, above all, respond to its specific context.

![Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BP-Interiors-Ed-Calma-3-scaled.webp "BP Interiors Ed Calma 3 - BluPrint")This philosophy is most evident in his masterful adaptation of modernist principles to the unique challenges and opportunities of the tropical climate. In a country defined by intense heat and light, his extensive use of glass walls might seem counterintuitive. His designs, however, exercise environmental sensitivity. His residential projects feature thoughtfully designed facades that balance a desire for openness with the critical need for privacy and heat mitigation. He orients his buildings to minimize solar gain. Roofs and exteriors are often solar-reflective, and the layouts promote natural ventilation. This is a breathing, responsive architecture intrinsically tied to its place.

His influence extends far beyond the residential. The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, a landmark project, is a clear example of his vision of a sustainable future. Earning a LEED Gold Award for its environmentally conscious design, the museum incorporates features like grass roofing, rainwater harvesting, and passive cooling strategies, setting a new benchmark for public architecture in the Philippines. Similarly, his designs for the College of St. Benilde’s School of Design and Arts building and the Chapel of St. Benilde showcase a contemporary approach to institutional and even sacred spaces, stripping them down to their essential forms to create environments conducive to learning, creativity, and contemplation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma18.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma18 - BluPrint")His modernism also responds to a shift in how people live. “The way people live in houses now or go to work is different,” he observes. “Now, it’s more open, not compartmentalized. Before it was very formal; now it’s not.” This understanding fuels his frequent use of open-plan living spaces, where living, dining, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly into one another and often extend into the outdoors, breaking down the rigid formalities of the past to embrace a more fluid and connected way of life.

## Spatial Journey and Kinetic Experience

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BluPrint-Breathing-hill-8.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-Eduardo-Calma-interior - BluPrint")Upon entry, the first impression is that of vast space. Calma is glad that clients agreed to an open plan as a cellular one would have made the house feel cramped. Central to the experience of a Calma space is the concept he inherited from his father: the journey. His buildings are designed to be experienced sequentially, as a narrative that unfolds through movement. “I always see space as one travels right through it,” he insists. “I never look at it like a single area that should be ‘here,’ but the whole. You just have to really travel through it.”

![Lee Residence by Ed Calma in BluPrint Volume 1 2025.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lee-Residence_Ed-Calma-2-scaled.webp "Lee Residence_Ed Calma 2 - BluPrint")This philosophy explains why his interiors, though often minimalist, are never sterile. They are stages for life, designed to create dynamic spatial experiences. In projects like the Cliff House, he utilized the steep terrain as an opportunity to orchestrate a dramatic journey through the home, with shifting volumes and carefully framed panoramic views that reveal themselves as one moves through the space. His sculptural staircases, sometimes featuring uneven steps to create a subtle rhythm. They are choreographic elements that guide the simple act of moving from one floor to another.

This emphasis on the kinetic experience creates a visual continuity that is a hallmark of his style. Unified flooring materials often run from inside to out, large sliding glass doors erase the boundary between a living room and a garden, and double-height ceilings create dramatic volumes of light and air that are meant to be felt as much as seen. The architecture itself becomes a form of storytelling, guiding the inhabitant through moments of compression and expansion, creating what he calls “moments of self-reflection.” It is architecture designed for the body in motion, not for the stillness of a photograph.

## Continuing the Architectural Language Within

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma18.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma18 - BluPrint")While his architectural vision is grand, his command of the interior is equally precise. Here, his philosophy of clarity and purpose translates to a language of material restraint and sophisticated composition. His approach is often described as creating a “total work of art,” where the interior is a continuation of the architectural thought process. Ed Calma designs the space to be a pristine, minimalist vessel, a quiet stage upon which light, material, and life can perform.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-Perspective-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Ed-Calma19.jpg "BP Perspective 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Ed Calma19 - BluPrint")Intentionally restrained palettes focus on natural materials that speak for themselves. Rich wood paneling, tile surfaces in muted tones, and subtle metal accents create a calm, cohesive environment. This material sophistication serves a distinct purpose. He sees the interior as a refined backdrop for art and furniture, a principle that allows him to create spaces that feel curated rather than merely decorated. This philosophy allows his clients, who are often collectors, to bring their own narrative into the space without disrupting its core identity. He provides the “good bones”—the thoughtfully composed canvas—and the client provides the final layer of personality.

This is where the second life of the house comes into sharp focus. “All the clients who come to me now know my work and what to expect,” he says, acknowledging the trust he has built. “Yet, there are still others who populate spaces with what they already have.” The challenge, then, a central tenet of his interior practice, is to create a vision so cohesive that it can gracefully absorb these personal elements. This often comes down to a negotiation, an understanding of what must remain pure and what can be flexible. “Maybe you won’t get 100%,” he admits with a refreshing honesty. “Maybe you’ll get 80% of what you like, but I can live with that.”

Far from diluting his vision, this pragmatism strengthens it, allowing his work to be both aspirational and deeply livable. He meticulously designs joinery, cabinetry, and lighting to align with the architectural grid, ensuring a seamless integration between the building’s structure and its interior details. Even functional elements are imbued with sculptural quality. There is no excess; every element has a reason for being. This approach, rooted in a deep respect for form and function, has profoundly influenced Filipino interior design, moving the conversation away from decorative excess and towards a more meaningful, sustainable, and spatially intelligent modernism.

## A Modernist Legacy for Philippine Architecture

Ed Calma operates at the confluence of legacy and innovation, of architectural form and the intimate details of living. He continues a dialogue with modernism as a living language capable of responding to the urgent questions of our time—of climate, culture, and community. His work champions a quietude that feels radical in a world of noise, proposing that the greatest luxury is not what we can add to a space, but the quality of the space itself.

![Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BP-INT_ED-CALMA-scaled.webp "BP INT_ED CALMA - BluPrint")By embracing the two lives of a house—the enduring vision of the designer and the ever-changing story of its inhabitants—Ed Calma created a body of work that is both monumental and deeply human. The clean lines, the pristine surfaces, and the dramatic volumes of light make up the grammar of a powerful design language, creating a soul in the structure so clear and resonant that it elevates the very act of living. And long after the residents have changed, the architecture itself will remain.

**Read more:** [Unrestrained Modernism: Advancing the Contemporary Architecture and Design Dialogue](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/unrestrained-modernism-advancing-the-contemporary-architecture-and-design-dialogue/)

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Photographer: Excel Panlaque

Hair and Make Up: Cats del Rosario

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Managing Editor: Katherine Lopez

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Ed Calma, and what is his contribution to Philippine architecture?

Ed Calma is a design principal at Lor Calma and Partners and a leading figure in Philippine modernism. Building upon the legacy of his father, Lor Calma, he expanded the family’s influence from interior design to holistic architecture. His work is characterized by a “total work of art” approach, where the architectural envelope and interior spaces dissolve into a single, cohesive statement that emphasizes environmental sustainability and tropical adaptation.

### What does Ed Calma mean by the “two lives” of a house?

Calma believes a house has two distinct existences: the architect’s original vision of form and light, and the “life of habitation” where clients fill the space with memories and objects. His philosophy focuses on creating a structure so profound and clear that it can gracefully contain the “beautiful chaos” of daily living. This pragmatic approach ensures that his minimalist designs remain deeply livable and adaptable to the fluid routines of his clients.

### How does Ed Calma adapt modernist principles to the Philippine tropical climate?

Rather than importing rigid Western styles, Calma uses modernism as a problem-solving methodology for the tropics. He orients buildings to minimize solar gain, uses solar-reflective materials, and incorporates passive cooling through vent stacks and natural ventilation. Even his signature use of glass walls is balanced with strategic facades that mitigate heat while maintaining a connection to nature, resulting in a “breathing” architecture intrinsically tied to its location.

### What is the concept of “architecture as a journey” in Calma’s designs?

Inspired by his father’s work, Ed Calma views space as a kinetic, sequential experience rather than a static photograph. His buildings are choreographed to guide inhabitants through a narrative of movement, featuring sculptural staircases, unified indoor-outdoor flooring, and shifting volumes of light. This orchestrated flow—seen in projects like Élan by the Bay—creates “moments of self-reflection” and shapes how a space is perceived during daily use or social gatherings.

### Which landmark public projects showcase Ed Calma’s vision for sustainable design?

Calma’s commitment to a sustainable future is best exemplified by The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, which earned a LEED Gold Award for its green roofing and rainwater harvesting. Other notable institutional works include the College of St. Benilde’s School of Design and Arts and the Chapel of St. Benilde. These projects demonstrate his ability to strip structures down to their essential forms to create environments that foster creativity, learning, and contemplation.

 [![Espejo ni Pinggoy Art Gallery](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-1-1.webp "espejo-ni-pinggoy-art-gallery-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/espejo-ni-pinggoy-home-turned-art-gallery-in-marikina/) 

### [Espejo ni Pinggoy: Where a Home Became a Gallery](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/espejo-ni-pinggoy-home-turned-art-gallery-in-marikina/)

In Malanday, Marikina, a simple home’s garage has been transformed into a studio-gallery called Espejo ni Pinggoy. Once considered by Pinggoy Generoso as a waste of space, it now serves as his favorite spot in the house, “When I renovated this part of the house, my main goal was to make it a very relaxing \[…\]

 [![Cynthia and Ivy Almario for the Scavolini x Atelier Almario shoot.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Feature-Cover-Option-2.webp "- BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/atelier-almario-and-scavolini-redefine-the-home-through-precision-design/) 

### [Atelier Almario and Scavolini Redefine the Home Through Precision Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/atelier-almario-and-scavolini-redefine-the-home-through-precision-design/)

Atelier Almario, led by powerhouse siblings Ivy and Cynthia Almario, have the vision of fully realizing the design of your dream home. Their dedication and expertise are seen with every decision they make, from the basic measurements that allow a space to be harnessed efficiently, to their use of trusted companies like the Italian design \[…\]

 [![Poetry in Spaces: Tina Periquet Grounds Luxury Design in Detail.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/BP-INT-Tina-Periquet-FEATURE-COVER.webp "BP INT - Tina Periquet FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/poetry-in-spaces-tina-periquet-grounds-luxury-design-in-detail/) 

### [Poetry in Spaces: Tina Periquet Grounds Luxury Design in Detail](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/poetry-in-spaces-tina-periquet-grounds-luxury-design-in-detail/)

At her core, Tina Periquet is a storyteller. Hers is a unique methodology that makes her stand out from the world of designers, both here and abroad. She posses a keen understanding of the intricate grammar of design; how the details of a space flow together to create a habitat for her clients that tells \[…\]

 [![Orchestrating the Senses: Maja Olivares-Co Goes Beyond the Visual.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FEATURE-COVER.webp "FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/orchestrating-the-senses-maja-olivares-co-goes-beyond-the-visual/) 

### [Orchestrating the Senses: Maja Olivares-Co Goes Beyond the Visual](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/orchestrating-the-senses-maja-olivares-co-goes-beyond-the-visual/)

Few figures navigate the space between legacy and innovation with the same fluidity as Maja Olivares-Co. Her career holds seeming contradictions in perfect balance: historical reverence and modern invention, commercial success and profound social conscience. As the Creative Director and Principal Designer of the pioneering firm Sonia Santiago Olivares and Associates (SSOa), she has evolved \[…\]

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### [Continental Shifts: Keat Ong Forges a New Creative Axis in Asia](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/continental-shifts-keat-ong-forges-a-new-creative-axis-in-asia/)

In the discourse of design, few figures manage to master both the creative and commercial realms with equal authority. For over a quarter-century, Professor Keat Ong has not just built a portfolio of award-winning projects; he has architected the very profession itself. As a creative director, a tireless advocate, and an educator, Ong has become \[…\]

 [![Spatial Eloquence: A Fluency in Narrative and Nuance by Jonathan Matti.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BP-Interiors-Jonathan-Matti-FEATURE-COVER.webp "BP Interiors Jonathan Matti FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/spatial-eloquence-a-fluency-in-narrative-and-nuance-by-jonathan-matti/) 

### [Spatial Eloquence: A Fluency in Narrative and Nuance by Jonathan Matti](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/spatial-eloquence-a-fluency-in-narrative-and-nuance-by-jonathan-matti/)

Within the inner circles of Philippine design, one name is spoken with a particular reverence. His is a world of quiet elegance, of interiors that whisper stories of a rich heritage, and of a luxury that is felt rather than flaunted. An architect by training, Jonathan Matti has carved a singular niche for himself as \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Designers, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Ed Calma, Heritage, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [Filipino Architect Michael Vincent Uy Redefines Luxury from Milan to Manila ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/michael-vincent-uy-shapes-a-new-era-of-luxury-in-design/)

**Published:** November 14, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Architecture often falls into the trap of conforming to tradition, bound by predictable norms that leave little room for surprise. Yet, in this landscape of convention, Michael Vincent Uy emerges as a quiet disruptor. As an architect unafraid to reimagine, transform, and breathe new life into spaces, his designs move beyond the expected. And by thriving and exceling on the global stage, he normalizes Filipino excellence as a powerful force in international design.

Michael’s approach is anything but conventional. Based in Milan, he discovered a city that mirrors his own approach to design: respectful of history yet unafraid to push boundaries. His masterful artistry found inspiration that would steer his legacy toward an innovative, forward-thinking design philosophy. A visionary who has a knack for subverting tradition, taking historical spaces and coaxing them into a new, contemporary life. This commitment to nuance and detail, nurtured during his years working in high fashion, sets him apart. Each project, infused with layers of refinement, feels tailored, bespoke, and yet, somehow familiar.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective) - BluPrint")His journey spans continents and industries, from transforming historical spaces in Italy to designing luxury towers along Tel Aviv’s coast. And with each endeavor, he continues to challenge and reshape expectations, leaving behind a rigorous footprint that feels deeply personal and endlessly inspiring.

## Michael Vincent Uy: From UST to Politecnico di Milano

An exceptional education that merged creativity and technical knowledge shaped Michael’s experiences at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He describes the training as “a very creative formation.” It encouraged him “to create \[and\] imagine things—almost to the point that sometimes we don’t really think it is buildable.” This freedom allowed him to explore ambitious ideas without limitations, a foundation that would become invaluable in his future projects.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective)-2 - BluPrint")Michael Vincent Uy finished top of his class and was named by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. His stellar achievements earned him a full scholarship to Politecnico di Milano where he pursued his Master’s Degree in Architecture. The program further sharpened his creative concepts with a structured approach to the design process.

“Taking my master’s in Politecnico di Milano somehow strengthened my way of thinking, thought process, and at the same time the design concept of how you do things,” he explains. His studies introduced him to the formal methodologies and technical rigor necessary to bring imaginative designs to life.

“Immediately after my graduation in Milan, I was offered a job in Dubai,” he recalls. There, he worked on high-profile projects, including the Formula One hotel. It was just one of several fast-paced undertakings requiring meticulous attention to both detail and deadline. But just after two years, he made a conscious decision to return to Europe, prioritizing experience over a high salary. “In the long run, it’s really more important to gain a solid experience—a European experience with a heavily design-focused background,” he says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective)-1 - BluPrint")His journey took him back to Milan, where he joined a prestigious studio, further refining his skills in materials and finishes, custom details and the intricacies of millwork production. “This experience taught me a lot about the different stages of design, which would serve as a foundation to excel in the highly competitive Italian market,” he reflects.

He was soon scouted by one of Italy’s most prestigious fashion houses, Dolce & Gabbana, to join their team as an in-house architect. This five-year tenure profoundly influenced a special approach to detail and luxury design.

## Dolce & Gabbana Years: Retail Design and Attention to Detail

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-07 - BluPrint")Michael hit the ground running. He went in knowing the company’s reputation for its “cutthroat, fast, and very demanding schedules”. By his third year, he was head of the Middle East and the Caribbean for all the projects. His time at Dolce & Gabbana deepened his knowledge in retail design, geo and visual merchandising, selling ceremonies, and all the related skills to making a “design that sells.” And it’s where he honed his “maniacal attention to detail.”

One of the most significant insights he gained is that products sell better if the architecture interacts with it. “In retail, it’s not the product being tailored to the architecture; it’s the architecture being tailored to the product,” he explained.

This approach to customization was crucial in the fashion industry, where each item must shine within its setting. Among his stand out projects at Dolce & Gabbana is the brand’s boutique in Tel Aviv. Known for its fast-paced and demanding market, Israel posed unique challenges.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-02.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-02 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-04 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-12 - BluPrint")

“One of the key features of this project was the continuous book-matching of the marble,” he conveys. Unlike typical book-matching, this was “infinite”—a design where the marble folds, opens, and flows seamlessly from floor to wall and up the stairs, creating a unified look.

He worked directly with quarries, cutting and numbering several blocks of marble for exact alignment. “It’s a very costly approach and very risky. If one piece breaks, you can’t just redo that piece. You’d have to redo the whole project.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-09 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DG-TEL-AVIV-MVUY-10.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DG TEL AVIV-MVUY)-10 - BluPrint")

The success of this project showcased not only his attention to detail but also effectively managing the construction itself and fine tuning all the details that are usually overlooked. “I believe in a holistic approach to design, there is no back of the house for me. It is always front of the house.”

In a relatively short period of time, he rose to the role of Regional Manager, placing him on the path for the worldwide directorship. “I really love the brand and the designers themselves who I had the pleasure of working with directly,” he recalls.

Caught between staying or accepting offers from various luxury groups, he found himself at a crossroads, deeply reflecting on his next move. His inner voice strongly urged him to take a leap—to write new narratives and take his journey as a Filipino architect abroad to the next level.

His bold drive stems from his upbringing, shaped by supportive parents who instilled in him an unwavering belief in his potential. With resilience and purpose, he took the leap and founded his design firm, [MVUY](https://www.instagram.com/michaelvincentuy/), marking an inspiring new chapter.

## Teatro alla Scala: A Bold Debut

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-11.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-11 - BluPrint")MVUY’s first project was no ordinary commission, tasked to renovate the Teatro alla Scala’s restaurant, [Il Foyer](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/mvuys-il-foyer-ala-scala-restaurant-promotes-global-designs-bearing-authenticity-and-balance/). “This was really my first project—not bad for breaking into the Milan scene,” he muses. But as a Filipino architect taking on an iconic Italian site, he also faced resistance.

“For most people in Italy, this project was something they felt should be exclusively handled by a native-born Italian,” he recalls.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-09 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-03.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-03 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-08 - BluPrint")

The theater awarded the Il Foyer project in January, with a tight deadline to open by Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April. With only a few months to complete permits and design, Michael leveraged his experience in fashion, where strict timelines are common. Beginning demolition even before finalizing the design, urgency drove innovative solutions to meet the pressing deadline.

The Teatro alla Scala Foundation requested that the restaurant design incorporate themes from the theater itself. “There has to be a connection,” he asserts. “When we talk about the theater, what do you think of? Red curtains, velvet seats, brass embellishments. This is something we tried to bring to the restaurant, to give it a feeling of an extension of the theater, but with a contemporary spin.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-04 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-14.jpg "Luca Di Meo per Caffè alla Scala - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-07 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-17.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-IL FOYER-MVUY)-17 - BluPrint")

Blending the rich red velvet hues with intricate detailing, MVUY maintained the heritage of Milan’s famed theater while bringing a contemporary, balanced aesthetic. The approach emphasized material integrity and a restrained eclecticism. This captured the theater’s grandeur through detailed design, retaining original architectural elements while adding contemporary touches like movable lighting and a hidden VIP entrance.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-IL-FOYER-MVUY-15.jpg "Luca Di Meo per Caffè alla Scala - BluPrint")Luca Di Meo per Caffè alla Scala.By innovating within tradition, the space remains historically resonant, preserving the character and charm of La Scala. At the same time, it embodies a distinctly modern sensibility, balancing classic elements with contemporary design to create a unique experience.

Although they faced initial skepticism, MVUY completed the project in time. His success at La Scala proved his ability to meet and exceed expectations. Moreover, this opened many new opportunities, especially private residence projects in VIP hotspots like Forte Dei Marmi, Milano, Luxembourg, and Munich. This included a client who, impressed by the restaurant, asked him to work on Villa *Due Pesci* in Lake Como.

## Lake Como Villa: Framing the Beauty of Nature

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-02.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-02 - BluPrint")By law, the historical villa’s facade was to remain untouched, and only the interior could be modified.

Inside, the focus was on framing views without overwhelming the space. Careful attention to details, finishes, and lighting were taken to accentuate the surrounding greens and blues outside. Bringing the exterior to the interior was central to the concept of a project like Due Pesci.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-10.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-10 - BluPrint")Architectural elements like the doors, windows, and the layout highlight the landscape’s details. Integrating local Beola stone added a subtle sparkle to the design. Each room offered an unobstructed, carefully composed view of Lake Como and its surroundings. Rather than competing with the natural beauty outside, the design allowed the scenery to become the focal point.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-04 - BluPrint")“The most important thing is not to over-clutter the design,” he explained, “but to frame everything properly and give it justice.” This principle captured the essence of the location and elevated the villa into a space that feels harmoniously integrated with its environment.

The villa’s standout feature, however, is the overhanging infinity pool that extends toward the lake. “Even George Clooney doesn’t have this!” he jokes. Inspired by the escapism of James Bond, this design element enhances the home’s iconic appeal. The design team also carefully calibrated the pool’s color to match Lake Como’s grayish-blue hue. This creates an optical illusion that makes the lake look intensely blue. The unique pool design doubles as a cover for the pier below, allowing access to the villa from the lake.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-09 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-06.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-06 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-05.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-05 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-DUE-PESCI-MVUY-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-DUE PESCI-MVUY)-07 - BluPrint")

MVUY balanced history with the contemporary. “More than just historical decoration, we actively seek the curation of new details in our projects,” Michael notes.

By this time, the firm had earned a reputation for crafting highly luxurious spaces. And all of Michael Vincent Uy’s undertakings thus far culminated into his most ambitious venture yet: a commission for a 25-storey Mandarin Oriental beachfront residential tower in Tel Aviv.

## Mandarin Oriental Residences: An Ambitious Undertaking

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-2 - BluPrint")Established in Hong Kong, the Mandarin Oriental brand naturally merges Eastern and Western influences. MVUY understood that grounding the design in the brand’s founding heritage was essential to adding bespoke details.

Being Filipino Chinese, this naturally felt familiar to him. He applied this blend thoughtfully to avoid common, overused motifs. Having a local eye gave him a competitive edge to navigate details and choose appropriately what fits best to the intent. The approach took root from a cultural understanding, rather than tokenism, which is common for those whose knowledge of the culture is lifted off from Pinterest.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-6.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-8.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-9.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-9 - BluPrint")

The firm set about designing 230 luxury apartments featuring private pools and gardens, a specialized gym, spa, cinema, and a full suite of high-end amenities. Inspired by the works of Italian masters Gio Ponti, Piero Portaluppi and Carlo Scarpa, Michael’s undeniable Italian approach to his details coupled with hints of his eastern roots informed his fresh and own authentic interpretation of the brand. “Finding balance is essential always to design,” he states.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-3.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-3 - BluPrint")

MVUY drew on mid-century design principles, inspired by elegant, non-bulky furniture. He used materials like brass, cement, and wood in balanced measures, giving the space a refined, jewel-like quality. The incorporation of subtle hints of the Orient, vertical paneling, rhythmic textures, and a light beige color palette complemented the seaside setting.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-MANDARIN-MVUY)-1 - BluPrint")Now, with the residences nearing completion, Uy reflects, “I believe we did our best to represent the developer and the brand.” Demonstrating a clear ability to handle high pressure and exceed expectations, MVUY is now working on the project’s second tower, scheduled for completion in a few years.

## A Holistic Approach: Custom Finishes and Unified Detail at MVUY

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-GESSI-MVUY-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-GESSI-MVUY)-5 - BluPrint")MVUY further demonstrates its exceptional expertise in product design, crafting pieces that embody artistry, precision, and functional beauty. For Michael Vincent Uy, creating a coherent space is about considering every element. Lighting, flooring, and furniture are all part of a unified whole.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-GESSI-MVUY-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-GESSI-MVUY)-4 - BluPrint")For the Mandarin Oriental project, he designed several details in the residences. The idea is to curate the most frequently touched elements of the interior: doors, knobs, sockets and switches, shower doors, bathroom fixtures all the way to the touch lamps. “We touch them all the time, and I want them to be perfect and beautiful,” Michael shares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-BUZZI-MVUY-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-BUZZI-MVUY)-2 - BluPrint")“If you want to really represent something luxurious, you want to demonstrate control of your finishes, and at times, that means thoroughly matching them,” he asserts. “Not because everything is the same, but because it achieves a harmonious look.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY-6.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY)-6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY)-5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-EKINEX-MVUY)-4 - BluPrint")

For example, the team developed a custom warm bronze tone specifically for the project. It was a fresh, timeless hue, bridging a gap in available tones. MVUY collaborated closely with five different luxury manufacturers like Olivari, Ekinex, Gessi, and Buzzi to achieve this consistency, ensuring that all metals matched across various elements. Getting the brands to agree on and approve his designs was an enormous challenge in itself. Such a level of customization and exacting attention to detail is rare in a usually mass-market driven residential tower project.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-03.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-03 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-02.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-02 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-01.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-01 - BluPrint")

In addition, creating this finish uniformity wasn’t easy. Different metals like brass and aluminum require distinct coloring processes. It involves galvanizing, metal paint, and PVD, which made achieving a single color tone challenging. But Michael insists, “Nothing is so difficult if you really want it.”

The result is an unparalleled level of craftsmanship, which he believes gives buyers something really special; a unique touch created specifically for them. “This is something that really inspires us,” he says, proud of the project’s meticulous and distinctly MVUY aesthetic.

## Not an Anomaly: Filipino Excellence on the Global Stage

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-3.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-3 - BluPrint")Michael often encounters a train of thought that angles his success as a Filipino architect as an anomaly. He consistently pushes back on this, saying, “I don’t want it to look like it’s not normal for a Filipino to do this.” He explains, “I don’t want to come across as an anomaly. If anything, I want all my achievements to be a point of inspiration and to normalize Filipino excellence in the international community. I think we have come very far and it’s time to turn the pages of “proving” and “seeking validation” and pivot ourselves to a new narrative of Filipino Design.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-6.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-4 - BluPrint")

When he took on the Mandarin Oriental project at 34 years old, relatively young compared to the industry’s leaders, he faced questions about whether he could manage such high-stakes projects. While he understands these doubts, he also sees them as an invitation to prove himself. “Sometimes people’s doubt should be taken as an invite to really perform and show what you can do.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-1 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-2 - BluPrint")Emphasizing that he is “just at the start” of his career, he expresses his excitement for future projects. “If I start my career with the Mandarin Oriental, imagine where I’ll be in my 50s, 60s, and 70s,” he remarks.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-8.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-PRIVATE-PROJECTS-MVUY-7.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-PRIVATE PROJECTS-MVUY)-7 - BluPrint")

Looking forward, MVUY has ambitious plans, including a vision to establish a presence in Asia. Uy believes in Filipino craftsmanship and envisions blending its artistry with design sensibilities he developed in Milan. Design is more than just an idea; it is a merging of culture and technology. To fuse Eastern and Western design approaches is an extension of heritage alongside a global perspective. “I would like more international brands to dig deeper into local Filipino talents, as someone working closely with the suppliers and decision makers in design, I am happy to promote wider cross-cultural collaborations.”

## Milano to Manila: Homecoming and a New Design Language

Michael Vincent Uy’s homecoming to the Philippines last month was years in the making. In 2023, BluPrint’s Editor-in-Chief, Geewel Fuster had the pleasure of connecting with Michael in Hong Kong, where they discussed potential collaborations. The two became fast friends. And, recognizing his exceptional talent, the magazine followed his rise to prominence.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-06.jpg "_095802 - BluPrint")BluPrint had the honor of being the first media platform to welcome him back to Manila. His return was made possible with the support of the [Tile Gallery](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-tile-gallery-opens-its-new-showroom-with-a-celebration-of-design-excellence/ "Tile Gallery") and the Hing family, who share his vision of elevating Filipino talent on the world stage. This BluPrint Perspective is also the first of its kind; no other publication has had the privilege to cover Michael’s career in depth. It underscores his admiration for the magazine as a platform that promotes Filipino architects and designers like himself.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-04 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-08 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BluPrint-2024-November-In-Article-Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 November In-Article (Perspective-OLIVARI-MVUY)-09 - BluPrint")

The celebrated architect sees today’s architectural landscape as a vibrant mix of eclectic styles and maximalist tendencies. “Social media has really impacted architecture,” he observes, noting that people’s tastes have become “so much more demanding and varied.” This interconnectedness informs an era where architecture is about creating a distinctive, personal brand.

Michael views this shift positively, though he cautions that “everything must be done in moderation; it cannot be too excessive.” What excites him is the revival of historical styles and the emergence of cross-cultural influences. “I see a lot of Eastern motifs being borrowed in European projects,” he says. This merging of styles reflects an international mindset, with designers incorporating global inspirations into their work.

“We need to move forward and create our own \[architectural\] language for today,” he insists. With the resurgence of mid-century, Brutalist, Bauhaus, and modernist elements, he sees a “tasteful, nostalgic reinterpretation” of the past fused into contemporary design.

This philosophy positions MVUY as a forward-thinking studio, prepared to adapt to the evolving tastes and demands of a globalized world. Michael Vincent Uy’s own journey from Manila to Milan and beyond showcases a visionary who continually elevates his craft, inviting others to experience the spaces he so meticulously brings to life.

**Read more:** [The Tile Gallery Opens Its New Showroom with a Celebration of Design Excellence](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-tile-gallery-opens-its-new-showroom-with-a-celebration-of-design-excellence/)

---

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster
Creative Direction: Jehd Francisco
Photographer: Excel Panlaque
Videographer: Jose Ramirez
Video Editor: Brylle Sarmiento Coniega
Hair & Makeup: Cats Del Rosario
Stylist: Gee Jocson Gumatay
Shoot coordination: Mae Talaid

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Designers, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Milan, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/making-sustainability-mainstream-liza-morales-commitment-to-eco-architecture/)

**Published:** September 15, 2024
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

“Sustainability is my passion and it’s tied to my design practice,” architect Liza Morales says. “When I went to school in Columbia in New York, I knew from day one I was going to move back to the Philippines. My heart was set on doing something sustainable. Fifteen to 20 years ago, sustainability was unheard of in the Philippines.”

Morales started her journey in sustainability during her time in the United States. One of her first projects abroad was chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant Per Se in New York. “I got exposed to all different opportunities and different specializations. With regards to architecture, it was an exciting time to be in New York. I learned a little bit about sustainability and how it affects architecture. So that was something that I wanted to bring back home,” she recalls.

To further her knowledge in green building and sustainability, Morales attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation. LEED is the benchmark in green building and the world’s most recognized system in building sustainably issued by the U.S. Green Building Council.

When Morales moved back to the Philippines in 2009, sustainability was still at its infancy in the country. “There were a lot of things that we didn’t know as architects and \[sustainability\] was a growing industry at that time. So for me to get the LEED accreditation was very important so that I had some credibility as far as sustainability is concerned.”

## How Does Liza Morales Practice Eco-Conscious Architecture at the PSSLAI Headquarters?

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Liza-Morales-4.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article (Liza Morales)-4 - BluPrint")Her work at her firm [Ecotecture Design Studio](https://www.ecotecturedesign.com/) is imbued with the values, techniques and holistic approach that comes with having LEED credentials. The 12-story Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Incorporated (PSSLAI) Headquarters along EDSA features on its facade one of the very first vertical gardens in the country. Double glazed Low E windows control and reduce solar heat. The building also has a rainwater harvesting system and a green roof, which were pioneering technology at the time.

“So that was a landmark project as far as our design firm is concerned because that was one of the first few projects we worked on when I started my practice here in the Philippines having moved from New York. What made it interesting was that the clients wanted something that the Philippines has not seen,” Morales describes. “It was going to be the first green building on EDSA. It was a challenge because a lot of the materials, the finishes or a lot of the technologies were not yet readily available as sustainability was still kind of like in its early stages.”

## Ramen Yushoken, Hapag, and AYÀ: Materiality and Detail

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Liza-Morales-3.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article (Liza Morales)-3 - BluPrint")Ecotecture Design Studio is also adept in designing restaurants and applying a detailed approach. The [Ramen Yushoken](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/yushoken-crafting-atmosphere-through-architectural-narrative/) branch along Panay Avenue in Quezon City is a fine example. It takes into account the brand’s identity as a younger, bolder sibling of its sister brands. It also reflects Japanese sensibilities in its materialities—organic forms in the stone gabion and the orderly vertical wooden slats found on its facade.

Liza Morales also designed the new home of [Hapag and AYÀ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/hapag-and-aya-a-haven-for-filipino-craftsmanship-and-reimagined-fine-dining/), a restaurant and a bar, respectively, in a bi-level space at The Balmori Suites in Makati City. “We haven’t really done a full on modern take on a Filipino restaurant yet. So it really pushed our boundaries to really think outside the box,” she says.

![A lit shelf housing different jars.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-HAPAG-55.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (HAPAG)-55 - BluPrint")Jars made by potter Mia Casal are displayed on a lit shelf in the anteroom. 

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-HAPAG-46.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (HAPAG)-46 - BluPrint")

![Interior of Hapag restaurant on Makati.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-HAPAG-44.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (HAPAG)-44 - BluPrint")Photo by Ed Simon

The clients, who are chefs and partners of Hapag and AYÀ, didn’t want a typical Filipino restaurant look. They wanted the interiors to reflect the same creativity they push out on their plates. “We explored a little bit with the materials. We would make references to Philippine ancestral homes like adobe. We used wood–parquet plank–flooring. We also used a little bit of the Machuca tiles which you would normally see in ancestral homes. What we did here was we put kind of like a creative spin to it. In the bar of AYÀ upstairs, we reinterpreted the *solihiya* pattern using bronze metal patchwork to wrap around the bar.”

## Personalized Residential Design: The Client Interview

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Liza-Morales-2.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article (Liza Morales)-2 - BluPrint")Residential projects follow the same design process as commercial projects. She sits down with her clients and goes through a meticulous and lengthy interview with them to really understand who she’s designing for.

With residential projects, however, things are more personal. Morales wants to know the first thing the clients do when they wake up, for instance, or how often they entertain, or even check on their mental health. “We really listen to the client to make sure that we understand how they use the space and how they envision using \[it\],” she adds. “Residential projects are very emotional for the owner.”

## G House, Cavite: Renovation and Upcycled Materials

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Liza-Morales-5.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article (Liza Morales)-5 - BluPrint")Before the pandemic, doing residential projects was not a focus of Ecotecture Design Studio. “It was always challenging having to work with couples. I ended up being a marriage counselor, I would always joke. When the pandemic came about, we had to pivot because the restaurant projects, office projects, and the commercial projects were put on hold.”

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Liza-Morales-1.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article (Liza Morales)-1 - BluPrint")One of her most notable residential projects is the [G House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/g-house-renovating-an-old-clubhouse-into-a-private-villa/) in Alfonso, Cavite. It was a renovation project meant to serve as a second home in the province for a couple. “It was an abandoned shell that we made more current and really upgraded. What makes a project memorable is that you can make something from something that was, like, dilapidated,” she says of the home that uses upcycled materials.

Another home located in Taytay, Rizal is also memorable, as it is one of the very first residential projects Morales designed from the ground up. “It’s \[always easier\] to build on a clean slate where it’s just raw land that’s big. But what made this project interesting was its small footprint and all the requirements for a growing family.”

## Sustainability as Practice, Not a Selling Point

The designs of Liza Morales do not follow a specific singular style. They can go from a building covered in plants along Metro Manila’s busiest highway or to completely Japanese with waves of slatted wood hovering over booths in a restaurant. She can also find delightful twists to classic Filipino design elements or have spaces uniquely dedicated to the family that will live in them.

But at the core of these designs is sustainability. It isn’t simply a gimmick for her nor a selling point. It’s what guides her design practice and what keeps her ahead of the rest.

![Making Sustainability Mainstream: Liza Morales’ Commitment to Eco-Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-Cover-Liza-Morales.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article Cover (Liza Morales) - BluPrint")Photographer: Kieran Punay (portraits), Ed Simon (Hapag and AYÀ)
Creative Direction: Jehd Francisco
Stylist: Siya Daryani

**Read more:** [Hapag and AYÀ: A Haven for Filipino Craftsmanship and Reimagined Fine Dining](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/hapag-and-aya-a-haven-for-filipino-craftsmanship-and-reimagined-fine-dining/)

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Lambat: How Three Filipino Designers Created a Public Art Tribute to Fisherfolk in Bridgetowne](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/lambat-jude-tiotuico-vito-selma-and-miguel-aguas-on-cultivating-creativity-through-purposeful-collaboration/)

**Published:** December 15, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the heart of Filipino coastal communities, where the rhythm of the sea dictates the pace of life, a simple yet profound tradition thrives: the art of “pagla-lambat.” This traditional method of fishing, using *lambat* or handwoven nets, goes beyond the act of catching fish. It is deeply intertwined with Filipino values and a way of life that has endured for generations.

![Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Mike Selma for BluPrint Perspective](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-COVER-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-COVER-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-1 - BluPrint")The weaving of the lambat embodies the value of hard work and perseverance. Skilled hands neatly intertwine fibers, creating a net that serves not only as a tool for livelihood, but as a testament to the craftsmanship passed down generations. Each knot and weave tells a story, linking the present to the wisdom of the past.

![Public art installation "Lambat" by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-88.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-88 - BluPrint")*Public art installation “Lambat” by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas.* | Photography by Ed Simon

![Public art installation "Lambat" by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-93.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-93 - BluPrint")![Public art installation Detail of"Lambat" depicting fishing net by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-85.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-85 - BluPrint")In a testament to the enduring spirit of Filipino heritage, three distinguished industrial designers, Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel “Mike” Aguas, collaborated to create Lambat, a public art installation situated in Bridgetowne, Pasig City. This sculpture is far more than an aesthetic addition to the urban landscape. It is the embodiment of the working class representing Filipino resilience.

## **Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas: The Designers Behind Lambat**

The Lambat project emerged when Jude Tiotuico, founder and Creative Head of Industria Edition, was invited to propose an installation for the estate. Renowned for his talent in creating furniture and decor using metal, Tiotuico’s collections exude modernity while maintaining the rawness and organic look of the materials. Thoughtfully designed and beautifully crafted, each piece of Tiouico’s works blurs the line between art and furniture.

He saw the project as an opportunity to foster collaborations. Tiotuico brought in Vito Selma, a Cebuano designer known for his raw and unrestricted modern furniture design, and Miguel Aguas, Head Designer of Vulcan Resources/MCCA Industrial Corporation.

![Jude Tiotuico](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-58.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-58 - BluPrint")Jude Tiotuico, Founder and Creative Head of Industria Edition. 

Selma, the award-winning Director of Vito Selma Design Studio, Casa Selma, and Archipelago Design Ventures, took on the challenge, ensuring that the sculpture captures the essence of being Filipino. Miguel Aguas, the self-taught Head Designer of Vulcan Resources/MCCA Industrial Corporation, completed the trio of designers who created the sculpture.

![Vito Selma](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-63.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-63 - BluPrint")Vito Selma, Director of Vito Selma Design Studio, Casa Selma, and Archipelago Design Ventures.

The resulting piece depicts a fisherman and a fisherwoman casting a net mid-air. The collaboration embodies the grit, resilience, and penchant for sacrifice inherent in the Filipino people. Aguas’ harnessed his expertise in forging metal to create fabric-like forms that seemingly dance in motion, echoing the graceful yet arduous act of weaving a lambat. You can see the three designers’ distinct styles blend seamlessly together. Combined, they emphasize their shared passion for creating meaningful designs that uplift the spirits of the community.

![Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-68.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-68 - BluPrint")Miguel Aguas, Head Designer of Vulcan Resources/MCCA Industrial Corporation. ## How Did Tiotuico, Selma, and Aguas Make Metal Look Like Woven Fabric in Lambat?

“To achieve something more of a fabric-like feel, something like in motion,” Tiotuico explains, “it’s more about how we can manipulate metal to make it look like fabric.” Despite their differences in style, the trio’s shared vision and passion allowed them to transcend individual identities. And together, they create a piece that speaks to the essence of being Filipino.

In crafting Lambat, the designers paid meticulous attention to the interactive and experiential nature of the installation. Aguas highlighted how the design invites people to enter. He wanted to foster engagement and interaction, particularly among children who can play within and around the sculpture. He emphasized its airy and free-flowing design, showcasing not only artistic prowess but also promoting functionality.

## Lambat: Community, Family, and Filipino Resilience

Public art installations serve as catalysts for community engagement. They act as visual expressions that resonate with people on a deeper level. Creations like Lambat, Tiotuico explains, enhances the experience of sensibility, allowing positive messages to be subtly conveyed to the audience. As part of the natural world, Lambat invites people to interact with it, fostering a sense of connection and shared experience.

For these designers, art installations provide a vehicle to express their creativity and convey meaningful messages. Through Lambat, the designers attempt to represent the grit of Filipino workers and the importance of family. Tiotuico draws parallels between the sculpture and the Filipino family. He underscores the notion of how they come together to navigate life’s challenges. The piece represents how families collaborate to achieve their dreams and aspirations, symbolizing the resilience embedded in Filipino culture.

![Public art installation Close up of public art "Lambat" depicting a woman spreading a fishing net by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-92.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-92 - BluPrint")![Close up of art installation "Lambat" depicting a woman spreading a fishing net by Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-87.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-87 - BluPrint")## Lambat: A Tribute to Filipino Fisherfolk

Reflecting on the significance of Lambat, Selma hopes the installation reminds people to be grateful for those who toil to bring food to our tables. “These fishermen and women work all day to catch fish to provide for the family and the people who need it. I think this just represents them as well and how grateful we are.” The sculpture becomes a visual ode to the unsung heroes of coastal communities, whose tireless efforts sustain families and communities.

In the urban landscape of Bridgetowne, Lambat stands not just as an art installation but as a profound symbol. It’s a visual poem that encapsulates the spirit of “pagla-lambat.” It weaves together the threads of Filipino heritage, resilience, and the enduring strength found in collaborative endeavors. Through the combined vision and craftsmanship of Tiotuico, Selma, and Aguas, Lambat transcends its physical form. The sculpture celebrates Filipino identity and the timeless values woven into the fabric of our culture.

![Bluprint Perspective featuring Jude Tiotuico, Vito Selma, and Miguel Aguas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-37.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-37 - BluPrint")As the sun sets over Bridgetowne, Lambat casts its shadows, not only on the physical landscape, but also on the collective consciousness of those who encounter it. It becomes a focal point for reflection, a reminder of the intricate tapestry of Filipino life. It’s an acknowledgment of the enduring spirit that thrives in the face of challenges. In every weave, in every knot, Lambat whispers the stories of the sea, the stories of the people, and the indomitable spirit that unites them—a visual symphony echoing the timeless melody of Filipino resilience.

Read more: [Filipino Design: The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/design-center-celebrates-filipino-design/)

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Designers, Profile

**Tags:** Art, Design, Philippines

---

### [Setting New Standards: A Conversation with PIID’s Outgoing President Ivy Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/setting-new-standards-a-conversation-with-piids-outgoing-president-ivy-almario/)

**Published:** November 22, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In 2024, the [Philippine Institute of Interior Design](https://piid.org.ph/) (PIID) marks a significant milestone, celebrating 60 years as the sole recognized professional organization for interior designers in the country. Established with the goal of strengthening interior design as a distinct profession, the PIID plays a pivotal role in advocating for the recognition of interior design separate from architecture.

## PIID’s 60th Anniversary and Interior Design in the Philippines

During the PIID’s six-decade journey, one of the organization’s pivotal achievements was to legalize the interior design profession through the Republic Act No. 8534 in 1998 and Republic Act No. 10350 in 2012. It regulates the practice of the interior design profession and establishes the Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design under the supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). As the first organization in Asia recognized by the government as a professional service, the PIID paves the way for the industry’s growth and recognition in the region.

The PIID operates within a tripartite structure, collaborating with the PRC for legislative matters, the Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE) for education-related initiatives, and maintaining a member-centric focus within the PIID itself. Newly licensed interior designers automatically become members, fostering a sense of community and professional support.

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-25.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 25 - BluPrint")*PIID National President Interior Designer[ Ivy Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/visits/an-exclusive-look-inside-the-chic-condo-of-ivy-almario/)*

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-22.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 22 - BluPrint")For the past two years, the PIID has been led by one of the country’s sought after Interior Designer [Ivy Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/fulfilling-aspirations-cynthia-and-ivy-almario-on-luxury-in-interior-design/) as the National President. During her term, she has set new standards and truly elevated the experience of the members with the help and support of the rest of the board.

##  Inside the New PIID Headquarters

The recent achievements of the organization includes the acquisition of the new PIID Headquarters, a significant endeavor led by Interior Designer Marcelo Alonzo during the pandemic. The headquarters, which the fitting out completed during the 59th year (2023), symbolizes the organization’s commitment to its members.

![PIID Headquarters decors](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-4.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 4 - BluPrint")*Ivy Almario donated a few of her renderings and are displayed in the new headquarters of the PIID.*

![PIID HQ living area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 3 - BluPrint")The furniture pieces in the PIID’s office came from different local designers and global brands, including Milo Naval, Industria Edition, and CWC Interiors, among others.

![Ideation Room of PIID HQ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 1 - BluPrint")*Instead of having her own office, Almario opted to have the “Ideation Room” where PIID members can use when they need a space for client meetings.*

![Hallway in the PIID HQ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-2.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 2 - BluPrint")![PIID HQ details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-11.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 11 - BluPrint")![PIID HQ Furniture](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-9.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 9 - BluPrint")![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-5.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 5 - BluPrint")Reflecting on the design of the new headquarters, Almario highlighted the collaboration with local suppliers and the incorporation of Filipino-made furniture. The thoughtful design, including a glass-intensive approach for natural lighting and a room named in honor of the late Marcelo Alonzo, signifies a commitment to excellence in both function and aesthetics. The office also has the “Ideation room” that members can use if they need a space to meet and present to clients.

Another achievement of the current board was the successful hosting of the first Manila Interior Design Summit (MIDS), a platform that brings together regional and international design leaders to engage in a meaningful dialogue, elevating the standards of professional organizations.

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-21.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 21 - BluPrint")

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-20.jpg "BluPrint 2023 November IN ARTICLE (IVY ALMARIO FEATURE) 20 - BluPrint")

Under Almario’s leadership, the PIID has also enhanced its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, ensuring that members engage in meaningful learning experiences rather than mere compliance.

Moreover, Almario emphasized the importance of immersion in interior spaces, highlighting the role of interior designers in placemaking. With a focus on upgrading the CPD program and promoting collaboration among members, the PIID aims to ensure that interior designers are not only compliant but continuously developing their skills.

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-4.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 4 - BluPrint")

![Ivy Almario portrait](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-7.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED 7 - BluPrint")

In response to the evolving digital landscape, the PIID introduced an app that connects members, allowing them to share portfolios, check dues, and stay updated on events. This platform also promotes collaboration and networking among members, fostering a sense of community.

## PIID’s Regional Recognition Across ASEAN

The organization’s achievements extend beyond national boundaries. By proving to the Asia-Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA) that Manila is a metropolis destination when the organization hosted the launch party of the APSDA Design Competition, the PIID invests in positive public relations and reinforces the appreciation of Filipino designers on a global scale. Additionally, collaborations with Indonesia through Mutual Recognition Understanding (MRU) and Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) contribute to the vision of borderless practice within ASEAN.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-FINAL.jpg "BluPrint-2023-November-IN-ARTICLE-IVY-ALMARIO-FEATURE-REVISED-FINAL - BluPrint")As the PIID looks toward the future, there is an expectation for the next board to follow the best practices of the current leadership. A call for selfless service to members, dedication to assigned tasks, and a focus on the organization’s agenda rather than personal interests sets the standard for future endeavors.

The PIID’s 60th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past but a testament to its continued commitment to advancing the interior design profession, fostering a supportive community, and shaping the future of design in the Philippines and beyond.

RELATED READ: [Fulfilling Aspirations: Cynthia and Ivy Almario on Luxury in Interior Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/fulfilling-aspirations-cynthia-and-ivy-almario-on-luxury-in-interior-design/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How did interior design become a licensed profession in the Philippines?

Interior design was legalized as a distinct profession through Republic Act No. 8534 (1998) and Republic Act No. 10350 (2012), which regulate the practice and established the Professional Regulatory Board of Interior Design under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), making PIID the first such organization recognized in Asia.

### What is the Philippine Institute of Interior Design (PIID)?

PIID is the sole recognized professional organization for interior designers in the Philippines, marking 60 years in 2024. It operates in a tripartite structure with the PRC on legislative matters and the Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE) on education, while newly licensed designers automatically become members.

### What is the Manila Interior Design Summit (MIDS)?

The Manila Interior Design Summit is PIID’s first regional platform bringing together design leaders from the Philippines and abroad for dialogue on professional standards. Hosted under Ivy Almario’s presidency, it marked one of the board’s key achievements in elevating the organization’s international profile.

### What furniture and design choices define PIID’s new headquarters?

PIID’s new headquarters, completed in 2023, features Filipino-made furniture from suppliers including Milo Naval, Industria Edition, and CWC Interiors, a glass-intensive design for natural lighting, and an “Ideation Room” members can use for client meetings in place of a private presidential office.

### How does PIID collaborate with other countries in the ASEAN region?

PIID collaborates with Indonesia through a Mutual Recognition Understanding (MRU) and Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), supporting borderless interior design practice within ASEAN. It has also engaged the Asia-Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA) by hosting the launch of its regional design competition in Manila.

**Categories:** Architecture, Designers, Interiors, Offices, Profile, Residential, Top Story

**Tags:** Atelier Almario, Design, Interior Design, Ivy Almario, Manila, Philippines

---

### [Jorge Yulo: Rational Chaos, Sustainability, and the Reincarnated Villa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jorge-yulo-on-skillful-techniques-for-impactful-design/)

**Published:** April 15, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Jorge Yulo, Principal Architect of [Jorge Yulo Architects & Associates](https://www.jorgeyulo.com/), stands as a beacon of architectural excellence, his career spanning decades marked by innovation, sustainability, and a profound respect for cultural identity. From his early fascination with drawing to his renowned projects celebrated both locally and abroad, Yulo’s journey encapsulates the essence of architectural mastery.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-APRIL-COVERBPPERSPECTIVE-1-scaled.jpg "BluPrint-2024-APRIL-COVER(BPPERSPECTIVE) - BluPrint")## **What Inspired Jorge Yulo to Pursue a Career in Architecture?**

Born and raised in the Philippines, Yulo’s affinity for drawing emerged during his formative years, becoming not only a means of expression but also a gateway to social acceptance. “In my family, I was the kid who liked to draw,” he recalls fondly. This childhood passion cultivated a habit of keen observation and analytical thinking, laying the groundwork for his future endeavors in architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-099.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-099 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-117.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-117 - BluPrint")

Upon reaching a pivotal juncture in his academic journey, Yulo faced a crucial decision between pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a major in Painting or Architecture. Opting for the former as a strategic pathway to financing his graduate studies in Architecture, Yulo embarked on a trajectory that would redefine the architectural landscape in the Philippines.

## **Design Philosophy: Rational Chaos and User Experience**

Rejecting the notion of a signature style, Yulo embraces what he terms as “rational chaos” in his design approach. His aesthetic is rooted in user experience rather than conforming to predefined stylistic norms. “I am anti-style,” he asserts. “My Design is based on user experience rather than style or typology.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-74.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-74 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-73.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-73 - BluPrint")

Yulo draws inspiration from a myriad of sources, including nature, organic sciences, human behavior, and the principles of gestalt. This interdisciplinary approach infuses his work with a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal, transcending conventional boundaries.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-66.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-66 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-03.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-03 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-06.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-06 - BluPrint")

One of Yulo’s recent projects, the “Reincarnated Villa,” serves as a testament to his innovative spirit and reverence for architectural heritage. Situated within a 200-year-old compound, the villa underwent a meticulous reconstruction process after succumbing to wood rot and termite infestation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-11.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-11 - BluPrint")Rather than erasing the past, Yulo chose to preserve the villa’s footprint and essence while integrating modern materials and design elements. The result is a harmonious blend of old and new, where salvaged timber coexists with steel columns, and antique floor pavers meet contemporary architectural forms.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-191.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-191 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-1 - BluPrint")The Reincarnated Villa project involved the reconstruction of a 70-year-old villa within a 200-year-old compound. The original structure had undergone several renovations over a 35-year period before succumbing to wood rot caused by the predominantly wet weather and termite infestation. Yulo’s approach to the project was not to start afresh but to preserve the villa’s footprint and essence while integrating modern materials and design elements.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-108.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-108 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-097.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-097 - BluPrint")Steel columns were erected alongside the old structure’s perimeter, and a large roof was built above the entire house before it was carefully dismantled underneath. The original Narra floorboards, antique granite floor pavers, and vintage bathroom tiles from the 70s were collected and cataloged to be reinstalled in their original locations in the new structure. All salvageable timber from the walls and rafters of the old house were reused as ceiling material. The large singular roof unified the generations of partial renovations and expansion.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-127.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-127 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-85.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-85 - BluPrint")One significant modification from the old floor plan was the conversion of a vineless trellis into a bridge connecting the bedrooms on the northern side of the house. This created a canopy walk that brings the user level with the crowns of the 300-year-old Narra trees. The pool, located next to the Pool House, served as a guesthouse for overnight guests and was situated within a large garden with several fish ponds and centuries-old trees. After years of underuse and neglect, the entire wooden structure likewise succumbed to wood rot and termite infestation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-157.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-157 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEJORGE-YULO-CANLUBANG-130.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(JORGE YULO CANLUBANG)-130 - BluPrint")The reconstruction for both the main villa and the guest cottage occupied their original sites and footprints, as they were erected more than a half-century ago. For reasons of cost, environment, and pest control, the new structure was made of steel instead of wood, left unpainted to blend in with the mature vegetation of the compound. All elevations of the cottage, except for the bathroom, are without walls, a tropical version of Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House sans glass.

## **How Does Jorge Yulo Balance Sustainability with Filipino Cultural Identity?**

Sustainability lies at the core of Yulo’s practice, as he harnesses primitive methods utilizing passive elements such as the sun, wind, and water. Moreover, he advocates for the development of locally accessible and affordable green technologies, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between architecture and the environment.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-34.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-34 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-32.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-32 - BluPrint")In balancing modern design elements with preserving Filipino cultural identity, Yulo prioritizes elements rooted in climatic or ecological considerations. Rather than superficially mimicking cultural objects, he integrates elements that enhance utility and spatial dynamics, fostering a deeper connection to the local context.

## Jorge Yulo: Recognition and Pedagogical Legacy

Throughout his illustrious career, Yulo has garnered recognition both domestically and abroad for his contributions to the architectural landscape. His projects have been celebrated for their innovative designs, sustainable practices, and unwavering commitment to cultural stewardship.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-52.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-52 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-60.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-60 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-39.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-39 - BluPrint")

Reflecting on his career, Yulo finds immense gratification in the success of his former students who have established their own architectural firms. For him, the true reward lies in passing on knowledge and witnessing the generational advancement of architectural pedagogy.

## **Jorge Yulo’s Outlook on the Future of Philippine Architecture**

Looking ahead, Yulo envisions a more internationalized architectural landscape in the Philippines, driven by the rapid exchange of ideas and expertise. However, he remains steadfast in his commitment to preserving Filipino cultural heritage, advocating for a balance between modern innovation and traditional values.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-12.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-12 - BluPrint")While maintaining confidentiality due to his unspoken non-disclosure agreements with clients, Yulo expresses excitement for upcoming residential projects that promise to showcase his unwavering dedication to architectural excellence. Each of Yulo’s creations serves as a testament to his enduring legacy, blending tradition with innovation in a symphony of design brilliance.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BluPrint-2024-April-IN-ARTICLEBPPERSPECTIVE-23.jpg "BluPrint-2024-April-IN ARTICLE(BPPERSPECTIVE)-23 - BluPrint")Jorge Yulo’s architectural journey embodies the fusion of creativity, sustainability, and cultural preservation, leaving an indelible mark on the built environment and inspiring generations to come. As he continues to push the boundaries of architectural expression, Yulo remains a guiding light for aspiring architects, reminding them of the transformative power of design to shape our world.

Related Read: [Preserving Heritage, Embracing Hospitality: The Renaissance of The Laperal Mansion in Malacañang](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/preserving-heritage-embracing-hospitality-the-renaissance-of-the-laperal-mansion-in-malacanang/)

---

Project Credits

Text: Rick Formalejo
Photographer: Kim Santos of Kliq Inc. (Portrait) and Ed Simon (Reincarnated Villa)
Videographer: JR Ramirez
Video Editor: Brylle Sarmiento
Sittings Editor: Arch. Geewel Fuster
Art Director: Marc Yellow
Creative Direction: Jehd Francisco
Grooming: Cats Del Rosario
Shoot Coordination: Mae Talaid

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Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Heritage, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [How to Achieve a Goal: Challenging Architecture Then and Now with Arch. Gelo Mañosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-to-achieve-a-goal-challenging-architecture-then-and-now-with-arch-gelo-manosa/)

**Published:** February 15, 2022
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

In 2005, Apple CEO and chairman Steve Jobs stood tall before a Stanford graduating class to impart this little bit of wisdom:

**“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-Gelo-Manosa-Visual-boards-01-scaled.jpg "Print - BluPrint")Anyone who has preferred English class over Math class or vice versa can probably understand how true this phrase is. In another light, you can’t expect a business major with zero writing experience or a passion for writing to make a series of complex yet enjoyable movies that all echo different stories. Conversely, you can’t expect a writer who hisses at numbers to love an accounting job.

According to [an article from the University of Southern California](https://appliedpsychologydegree.usc.edu/blog/how-liking-your-job-will-help-you-succeed/), working a job you like and being happy in it can actually boost overall production and make you perform better at your job. People who successfully find jobs that they perfectly fit into are more likely to be optimistic, they learn faster and make fewer mistakes, are highly motivated, and make better business decisions.

In college, we were always told to keep chasing our dreams. Or that, our batch was something special. Adults would tell us that we were kids who would someday leave scuff marks on the world, its people, and their future generations. These marks won’t be removed, just improved maybe still by us, maybe by the next generations inspired by what we leave behind.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Gelo-Manosa-Webzine-cover-study_Feb-15-16.jpg "Gelo Manosa Webzine cover study_Feb 15 (16) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-Gelo-Manosa-Visual-boards-03-scaled.jpg "Print - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-Gelo-Manosa-Visual-boards-02-scaled.jpg "Print - BluPrint")These overwhelmingly optimistic expectations and unbreakable faith from Filipino and English teachers who made school more entertaining and less painful made looking for a fulfilling job one of the priorities. Certainly, reaching your dreams is holding onto that recipe of perseverance sprinkled with endurance. But it’s also important to have that intrinsic hunger for the dream that has the power to transform your thoughts. If that hunger is strong enough, it can probably transform most difficulties into enjoyable challenges.

An interview with architect Angelo “Gelo” Mañosa of Mañosa & Company certainly gave me assurance that this hunger is a strong force to be reckoned with. In this sit-down at his newly-built residence in Calatagan, Batangas, I found out more about his creative process, both for his own home and client projects.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-29.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (29) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (13) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (7) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (16) - BluPrint")

## Gelo Mañosa’s Calatagan Residence: Passive Cooling Design

The residence, which sits on a one-hectare lot, is divided into simple components. These include the living pavilion, the owner’s casita, the guest pods, a middle pool, and the pergola on the one side.

“We wanted to create a very unique roof as the main pavilion so if you look at building hierarchies, the living pavilion would be the most prominent building and I wanted some volume of space on that to allow hot air to dissipate from the roof so we created vaulted ceilings so that you get cool air, breezes coming in from the bottom, pushing the hot air up and out of the living pavilion.”

This living pavilion’s simple design includes one area for the living room, another for the dining, and the kitchen. There’s also a mezzanine level for the gaming area where kids are free to play. The guest pods, which use earth mass to help cool the rooms, flank this pavilion.

Among the home’s many notable features is the use of earth mounds throughout the house. The bedroom’s bathroom in particular, uses an earth mound design as well. But it also makes use of a wind tunnel to take effect at the back of the space. A roughly 12×13 meter stretch, it’s a part of the area where wind captured passively through the wall goes down the corridor. The earth mass also cools the wind and flows into the owner’s casita.

“The beautiful thing about earth mass is that it keeps the rooms cool better than any insulation material. It’s the best insulation material you can have. So the rooms stay cool throughout the day and it’s also a design that I wanted which would kind of typhoon-proof the structure so winds do not affect it directly.”

“…I have this little sliver of a window…I get air pushed into this window and it comes out quite cool cause I’m using the soil and the earth mass to cool the wind temperature. In theory, I thought it was something that would work. Fundamentally, I thought it would work, but I never really knew if it worked or not until I finally built the structure…There’s one time I was quite surprised. When I took the indoor air temp, it was actually quite cooler by about two degrees which is quite significant. I was quite happy with it. Again, playing with earth mass was something I wanted to experiment for myself so when I talk to my clients, I can tell them I’ve done it. It works.”

This Batangas home is not just an epitome of sustainability, but also carries a refreshing Pinoy design.

“We used local stone which was readily available and made the carbon footprints low. We used local indigenous materials as much as we can. Landscapes that we used were also endemic to the area so that kept a lot of the flora and fauna happy…A lot of the birds in the area are actually local and feed on the same grains and fruits that are found in the area. We do have a lot of bees too and they’re happy ‘cause all we did was propagate the natural flora which is available in the area. There are acacia trees, mango trees, and a lot of the local wildflower. We just propagated that. We are enhancing the environment in that way.”

Many of the home’s furnishings are reused Amanpulo’s old furnishings.

“Much of this furniture was actually going out of the island. We were gonna put in new furnishings and some new adjustments. So, I purchased some of the old furniture and kept them in storage, hoping one day, we’d get to it. Again, it’s part of just prolonging the life of these pieces. So we refurbished and reused it, for a lower carbon footprint and greener outlook.”

“As expected, projects like these are the result of passion and requirements to chasing dreams being met.

When making projects that resonate, there are just a few things to remember.”

## **Gelo Mañosa: Loving the Practice of Architecture**

By the time a person has graduated, he or she has probably heard this phrase once or twice. Once you figure out what you like and work in it, difficulties will transform into challenges you’d be more than willing to break through. For Arch. Gelo Mañosa who practically grew up in the temple of architecture where giants like his own father and National Artist for Architecture, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa wandered, it was probably quite easy to find enough inspiration to fuel his love for the practice.

When asked about his most difficult days as a young architect, Arch. Mañosa revealed how strong his passion for architecture truly is.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-28.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (28) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (14) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (13) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-12.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (12) - BluPrint")

“…Anything related to work, it was more of a challenge.” says Arch. Mañosa, “As a young junior architect, you’re drawing details and stuff. If you did not know how to draw detail or if you’re stuck being able to design detail…I didn’t look at it as a difficulty. It was more of a challenge, so it was actually fun. Dealing with clients as well. I’d occasionally be allowed to deal with clientele, and coordinate with them. That actually, I found fun to do. So **the difficulties for me in architecture had nothing to do with architecture. All the difficulties were really all the indirect environments that architects had to be in**. Even tight deadlines and hyperactive projects were really more of a challenge and I really did enjoy immersing and doing the long hours…the no sleeps in the office. I really did not find them difficult, it was really fun.”

Arch. Angelo Mañosa got his degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in 1997. By 2000, he moved on to get a Masters in Design Science, Concentration on Design Computing from the University of Sydney, New South Wales. Even as a student, Gelo Mañosa was already working back in 1991 as an Apprentice Architect for Francisco Mañosa and Partners. For Mañosa, finding a job he loved was already a step he’d passed with flying colors. By entering a job that accommodate his passions, he also stepped into a world where people who shared the same passion were willing to meet him more than halfway.

## **Why Collaboration Defines Gelo Mañosa’s Most Fulfilling Projects**

“**The best days for me working in the office of course was pretty much working with my team.** Designing, collaborating, innovating…and after a good day’s work, being able to turn over the project to a happy client…that really made the daily commute worth the trouble, I guess (laughs). It was really immersing in the creative environment with different facets of people contributing, coming up with different solutions.”

In an environment lit by equally passionate and exhilarated minds comes the possible birth of a breathtaking project.

> “At some point, you end up having that “A-ha!” moment where you know you found the right solution and you were convinced that that was the right way to go. You just had to put it on paper and convince your client about it. That for me was the exhilarating thing about being an architect.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-25.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (25) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-24.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (24) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-22.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (22) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-20.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (20) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-43.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (43) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-42.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (42) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-40.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (40) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-19.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (19) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-26.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (26) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-22.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (22) - BluPrint")

“And once you come up with an idea, you draw it on paper, and then you see it actually built? **As a jr. architect, even if you’re having a just table built, a wall panel, a ceiling design, a sunshade detail…and then you see something you’ve drawn actually built, it really has this overwhelming happy feeling**…Seeing that fulfillment happen? I think that really is the most satisfying pleasure an architect has even more than the compliments you get from people who’ve actually experienced it.”

By the time one has gained a job they’re passionate about and combined it with people who share the same goals, projects that require constant inspiration start to come in. Even if these projects don’t necessarily involve daily work, they still require constant inspiration. It’s especially the case in a creative field like architecture.

## **What Inspires Gelo Mañosa’s Architecture, From the Bahay Kubo to Modernist Icons?**

The world is vast and humanity is only a small variable in it. Finding one’s inspiration might not be such a far reach. For Arch. Mañosa, inspiration comes from all around them.

“If we’re designing local, it could be a region, an indigenous people…it could be indigenous materials, the natural environment…really almost everything. Our local culture, tradition, the *bahay kubo*. **But what is important is you got to have that singular idea, that one good idea that binds your whole thinking and solution of your project brief, and is the driving force of what makes your project unique**. Sometimes, having too many unique ideas or solutions makes the project quite complicated…Many times, I find simplicity is even harder than a complex idea ‘cause finding one singular idea that binds everything together is much harder to do than coming up with facets of many different solutions.”

This view on simplicity trickles deeper down into Arch. Mañosa’s life motto. To him, it was simple enough that it almost never took up any space in his mind and went straight to manifest in his work.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-46.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (46) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-44.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (44) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-38.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (38) - BluPrint")

> “**Keep things simple. Life is complicated enough, your environment is complicated enough, keep things simple**.”

“That’s kind of what we try to do our work. We don’t design based on our ego. We design based on just the simplicity of what needs to be addressed and how we can push the envelope in promoting a singular idea. A singularity that actually promotes our core value which is to design Filipino. And that’s really not that easy to do. But when you do nail it, it’s so fulfilling. So, keep your life simple and design simple, but with a lot of elegance and a lot of class.”

Inspiration also comes in the form of a person or people who share thought processes that are so unabashedly powerful that they become legends in their respective fields. In the field of architecture, the usual legendary names are Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Niemeyer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, and many others that Arch. Gelo Mañosa also looks up to. More recent names include Zaha Hadid, Guz Wilkinson, and Santiago Calatrava. Mañosa mentioned many other names, who he looks up to for their unique way of thinking.

“**I think the way they think and the manner of their thinking is unique and absolutely fantastic.** I actually had the luxury of being able to work with some of them in some collaborations…Many of them are actually modernists which did speak to me as a young architect. The bold steps they took, the design rationals, again the singular idea which made the project great.”

These names shared one common denominator for Arch. Mañosa.

They weren’t pretentious designers.

“…The past design language just seems so unpretentious, so I like looking at it. The buildings and the functions they served just worked kind of harmoniously with the overall architecture and urban planning. These architects, they kind of flexed their design ideas and not really their egos.”

Looking into the simplicity of their designs, these architects were able to create design forms that, more than 70 years later are still relevant today.

## **Gelo Mañosa on Metro Manila Traffic and Its Toll on Architects**

Being in the wrong environment is truly a hurdle in achieving dreams. Looking beyond the office, it’s still important that humans work and live in healthy places that don’t box them in. Even for Arch. Mañosa, environmental problems like traffic was enough of a hindrance.

**“**Back in the day, our workplace was in the Ortigas area. And we lived in Alabang. Despite having my own vehicle, it’d take me an hour and a half to go to the office. On a daily basis. So that’s one and a half going to and from the office. That was an average of three hours a day, 15 hours a week, 60 hours a month. Divide that 60 by an eight-hour workday, that’d be seven and a half days of a month. I would just be in the car in traffic. And I felt that was actually the most difficult part. You’d spend long hours in the office and then you’d have to do that commute. It really takes a toll on you. And that’s honestly speaking what I found most difficult…”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-20.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (20) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-23.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (23) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-21.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (21) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-28.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (28) - BluPrint")

> “**The difficulties for me in architecture had nothing to do with architecture. All the difficulties were really all the indirect environments that architects had to be in**.”

*You may also like:* [Gelo Mañosa Revives the 1960s Corner House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/manosa-revives-corner-house/)

According to a Business World Online article, Philippine traffic is the 4th worst in the world.

On another hand, the architect also reminds the importance of supporting acts towards sustainability.

“When we design our buildings we try to do this all the time. **We look at the environment, we protect it. Even if it’s just a tree, we protect that tree. Don’t cut the tree**. We try to make that balance between the natural and built environment and infuse our local culture and what makes it *Pinoy*. That way you have a very climate-conscious, sustainable building. Which is good for the environment, the people in the building, for the earth, and good for the country because it makes the country richer with a cultural building which eventually becomes a part of our cultural heritage…

> “**One thing a lot of the LGUs have always neglected are parks.** **I think outdoor spaces where people can congregate without having to enter a mall for socializing will be a trend. Again, suitability in design is gonna prosper.**”

“I think it’s been prospering even before the pandemic. I think it will prosper even more now post-pandemic because indoor air quality is key. So if you can have a building that actually breathes, these are the types of buildings people would prefer to stay in and it’s good for the environment.”

For Mañosa & Company, promoting this is just instinct.

“We eat, sleep, drink it. It’s part of our core value. We wake up every day to showcase the best of Philippine design to the world. We don’t say ‘Philippine architecture’ but say ‘Philippine design’ because it doesn’t matter what we’re designing. The question always runs, how do you make the Philippines better by designing that particular item? How does it tie into your local culture? And that’s what keeps us going and what makes me wake up every day. It’s really showcasing the best of the Philippines to the world…”

## **Francisco Mañosa’s ‘Design Pinoy’ Legacy and Its Influence on Gelo Mañosa**

When asked how architecture has changed in his eyes, Arch. Mañosa happily talked of rising Filipino pride and how people have started to enjoy local goods after years of Francisco Mañosa’s trying to persuade other architects.

“…He was so frustrated trying to convince architects to design Pinoy. He kind of started shifting and focusing on the students and telling them, ‘**Design Pinoy, love your country, know who you are, look at the fundamentals of what makes our architecture unique. Innovate on it, change it, and design and create something that is uniquely Filipino.’** I think that the industry has changed for the good. Much better today than before. Before, we were very colonial-minded. We had very “what’s west is best” kind of thinking, and I think that’s changed quite significantly today.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-36.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (36) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-Portrait-41.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa Portrait) (41) - BluPrint")## **What Advice Does Gelo Mañosa Give to Future Architects?**

Arch. Angelo Mañosa has been in the industry for decades. Here are just a few things he’d like future architects to remember,

“Use this time to improve yourself. Study and learn new things. The great thing about being an undergrad now, we now have the Internet which we didn’t have before. It connects you to everyone around the world. Going online meeting new people, being able to attend and gain all this knowledge without having to be physically present. But this virtual world we live in right now I think is a fantastic blessing for the undergrads so take advantage of it.”

> “These times will never be difficult forever. **Like all difficult things, they do pass. Eventually, greener pastures and better times will come.** The question is, when they do come, will you be ready for them? Are you prepared?”

“Did you prepare yourself during the pandemic? What did you do to enrich and make your life a little better in the architectural world? That’s kind of what you need to focus on. Because by the time you graduate and start working, maybe the times would normalize and you’ll have this added knowledge and gain that will give you a leap up from the rest.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-27.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (27) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-32.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (32) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-33.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (33) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-31.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (31) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Gelo-Manosa-landscape-29.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Gelo Manosa landscape) (29) - BluPrint")

## **Gelo Mañosa’s Zoning and Infrastructure Recommendations for the Philippines**

When asked how he thinks the future president should help in terms of infrastructure and architecture, Arch. Mañosa shared interesting suggestions of injecting Filipino designs into every government building. He also talked about disaster-proofing the nation, and having proper zoning ordinances for cities in the central business district (CBD) to lessen traffic.

“If I was given the chance to kind of put my two cents worth on how future infrastructure should be built, one thing I think, and this will be very controversial call. One of the key problems I personally think is their zoning ordinances. When you take the population of the CBD, the larger population during the day are the blue collared workers (secretaries, bank clerks, cashiers in shopping centers, sales, delivery guys), rank and file. That’s the majority of the population. There’s no way these guys will be able to live so close to the CBD and they’re the larger population of the CBD. So what happens is they end up having to live on the outskirts of Makati. The outer fringes of the CBD and on a daily basis these guys have to commute in and out of the city. This is why there’s so much traffic.”

When you live in the Philippines, practicality, financial stress, and environmental stress are three monsters that easily crumble efforts towards a dream life. At some point, help from more powerful people (the governments, that is) who can make bigger changes that can benefit everyone is crucial. The latter is definitely the most preferred type of help.

Photography ED SIMON

Art Direction MARC YELLOW

Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA and MAE TALAID

Shot on location CALATAGAN, BATANGAS

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Profile, Residential

**Tags:** Architect, Filipino Architect, Gelo Mañosa, Philippine architecture

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### [Jagnus Design Studio: How Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria's Productive Tension Shapes Their Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/form-and-function-jagnus-design-studio-on-decoding-the-nuances-of-modern-architecture/)

**Published:** November 15, 2023
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

Humans function properly using both sides of the brain. While the left half of your brain is attributed to processing speech, the right half is busy processing context and tone. The two sides complement each other. In the world of architecture, there’s always a constant tug of war between form and function – left and right side of the brain. Design duo Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria, founders of [Jagnus Design Studio](https://www.jagnusdesignstudio.com/), exercise this tension to produce well-vetted structures that exhibit a signature form.

![BluPrint Perspective November Cover with Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Jagnus-BP-Perpsective.jpg "Jagnus BP Perpsective - BluPrint")## How Do Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria’s Differences Strengthen Their Design Process?

“We have our own likes and dislikes but 99% of the time we’re still agreeable. We’re still different in a way – we’re individuals,” says Sunga. “The productive tension is important. That helps the project. We debate here in the office so when we present it to the client, it’s already processed.” The adage “two heads are better than one” applies here as the two architects spar with ideas and challenge each other to propose the better solution for a project. Their similarities create the chemistry to work smoothly together, but it’s in their differences that really test and forge ideas.

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4963a.jpg "JAR_4963a - BluPrint")“Arnold is an avid collector while I’m a de-clutterer. Arnold is very extroverted while I’m not. I’m focused on the big picture, while he’s detail oriented. These differences of personality are integrated in how we run the office and materializes in our body of work,” shares Sunga.

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_5174a.jpg "JAR_5174a - BluPrint")*Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria used to compete against each other early in college but then started joining competitions together until they started their own firm.*

## From University of Santo Tomas to the J.VAZ.CO. HQ: Jagnus Design Studio’s 29->Year Partnership

The two have worked together for 29 years now since college (both are proud graduates of University of Santo Tomas and fondly reminisce days with professor and architect Manuel Noche) and have since designed some of the most progressive buildings in the metro. The J.VAZ.CO. HQ along EDSA is composed of stacked container vans clad in ribbed or polished concrete is a striking example of their rebellion to the norm. No other structure along the almost 29 kilometer stretch of EDSA can compare to the curiosity it sparks in passersby.

![J.Vaz.Co HQ facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4722a.jpg "JAR_4722a - BluPrint")![J.Vaz.Co HQ facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4723a.jpg "JAR_4723a - BluPrint")![J.Vaz.Co HQ courtyard](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4708a.jpg "JAR_4708a - BluPrint")![J.Vaz.Co HQ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4713a.jpg "JAR_4713a - BluPrint")*J.VAZ.CO HQ designed by Jagnus Design Studio stands out among the building along the EDSA.*

“Since college we’ve been into the early modernist period of architecture,” Austria says.

“But because we’re interested and curious about a lot of things, our style branches out,” Sunga adds. “Our different interests merge and create something new. We also have to be conscious of the zeitgeist. We keep in touch with the trends and avoid it 100%. It’s good to know – at least you know what *not* to do. If we’re becoming trendy, we shift.”

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga at J.Vaz.Co HQ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_5065a.jpg "JAR_5065a - BluPrint")## How Does the Jagnus Design Studio Office at Ronac Art Center Foster Creativity?

A look around the [Jagnus Design Studio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/design-playground-jagnus-design-studio-office/) located in the basement level of their very first project – the Ronac Art Center in San Juan – reveals an amalgamation of their personalities. The office is filled with designer furniture, objets d’art, toys, plants and books. “We draw inspiration from different things. I’m a collector and the staff appreciate my collection,” says Austria.

![Jagnus Design Studio office](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_1448a.jpg "JAR_1448a - BluPrint")![Jagnus Design Studio office](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_1447a.jpg "JAR_1447a - BluPrint")*Jagnus Design Studio’s headquarters in Ronac Art Center is a sanctuary for creatives like Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga together with their relatively young team.*

“A spark can be from anywhere,” continues Sunga. “Lately it’s from futurism, sci fi movies like Gattaca, Her, Ex Machina, and Homo Deus. Also autobiographies of fascinating people like Jobs.”

This sheds some light on why their office has a laid back feel – no real enclosures you find in a traditional office but instead something that resembles a home. A kitchen is found in the center (Arnold cooks for the staff at times when they stay in the office after hours) with a long stainless steel table with wooden legs that staff can lay out prints on and get to work. There’s a space that feels like a living room with a set of sofas and plants where staff can converse about current events. Music plays in the background and Austria believes these are all essential. “Creativity breeds creativity,” he quips. The world of architecture is made even bigger with the introduction of other worlds such as fashion (the structured denim wear they sport is by local designer brand Viktor). They even design furniture such as the Langgam chair – a minimalist chair made of bent steel.

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_5098a.jpg "JAR_5098a - BluPrint")Sunga believes the architecture of the office plays an integral role in how the team works. “Our office is open and non-traditional which encourages cross pollination of ideas.”

## What Is Jagnus Design Studio’s Design Process With Clients?

When meeting clients, their design process is very much like how the left and right brain function. “The design process begins with a meeting with the client. We try to get to know them and their needs,” Austria says logically.

“We even process their mannerisms. Those are all important,” Sunga adds. “Hearing their thoughts and needs and then visiting the site for the first time informs our lines and our way of approaching a problem. We are collaborative and not just between the two of us but also with our team.”

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_1409a.jpg "JAR_1409a - BluPrint")![Jagnus Design Studio team](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_1436a.jpg "JAR_1436a - BluPrint")*As the leaders of Jagnus Design Studio, Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga aim to create a relaxed and fun work environment that some may see as unorthodox.*

Once they gather all the information they need, they allow this to steep. “After absorbing all of the data and visiting the site there’s this quiet moment that some might call procrastination. But it’s actually us processing the problems and contemplating on the solutions,” Sunga explains.

## Concrete, Geometry, and Materiality in Jagnus Design Studio’s Work

A close look at Jagnus’ portfolio shows a gravitation towards geometry and the use of concrete. “Concrete is versatile with stone and glass and can be balanced by wood. Materials have the ability to situate and contextualize a building. It’s like the fabric of our clothes. You don’t wear fur in the tropics,” says Sunga.

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4824a.jpg "JAR_4824a - BluPrint")

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4813a.jpg "JAR_4813a - BluPrint")

With Sunga and Austria helming Jagnus Design Studio, they are not only able to complement one another, but they also are able to use their differences as an advantage. They can question and consult each other over a project’s challenges until they find the strongest solution.

Jagnus strongly believes architecture is essential in problem solving (their office is a good model of how architecture can change one’s way of thinking). “One of the common challenges we face is that most people in a position to affect change still see architecture as something frivolous,” Sunga discloses.

![Arnold Austria and Sonny Sunga of Jagnus Design Studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_5184a.jpg "JAR_5184a - BluPrint")The solution to many of our society’s problems may not lie solely on architecture, but it definitely has a big part. “Everything affects us whether we believe it or not: the food we ingest, the clothing we wear, the people we surround ourselves with and most specially the spaces we inhabit, our homes and our cities,” Sunga explains. “We are surrounded by the built environment. So naturally, if these are well-planned, beautiful and efficient we will have better lives.”

RELATED READ: [Reinterpreting Philippine Architecture: Manny Miñana on Abstracting Filipino Design in Contemporary Setting](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/reinterpreting-philippine-architecture-manny-minana-on-abstracting-filipino-design-in-contemporary-setting/)

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Commercial, Profile, Top Story

**Tags:** Architect, Architecture, Design, Jagnus Design Studio, Philippines

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### [Denise de Castro on Designing Equity Into Manila Central University's Campus](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/equitable-design-in-architecture-creating-inclusive-spaces-in-practice/)

**Published:** March 15, 2026
**Author:** Jar Concengco

**Content:**

Denise de Castro, Principal Architect of DEQA Design Collaborative, believes that designing with equity in mind means starting at the workplace. Values and practices that your studio or office espouse inevitably filter down to the work that you do. Equitable design ensures that people with different needs and different backgrounds are supported through fair access, thoughtful planning, and inclusive conditions.

## How Does DEQA Design Collaborative Practice Equity in Its Own Workplace?

“As a woman-led firm, we try to support other women and let them excel – even though it’s not intentional. I’m so supportive of the LGBTQ, also not by intention but just by openness and giving everyone an equal opportunity,” de Castro states.

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-1.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 1 - BluPrint")Architect Denise de Castro of DEQA Design CollaborativeDe Castro earned her Master in Architecture in Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design so she is quite free from the bias and preferences of local universities. “I’m quite agnostic to UP, UST or if you studied in St. Louis in Baguio, or if you’re from Davao or from Samar. I think that has really been part of the ethos. It’s really about having the values and having the talent and the skill. So I think equity there is expansive – at least in the workplace,” she continues. “It’s great to see all these people from different backgrounds, different parts of the country and they’re not only getting to experience work here in Manila, but they’re also getting exposed to our clients and multinational consultants.”

## Manila Central University: Adaptive Reuse and Facade Renovation by DEQA

One of her studio’s latest projects is the Manila Central University’s revamp – a striking facade, and a masterplan with open, green spaces. The facade’s undulating fins are made of aluminum in wood finish adding a dynamism to the original structure that faces EDSA. At night, lights by Light Plan Inc. illuminate the fins evoking the torch of the university’s logo.

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-2.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 2 - BluPrint")Bird’s-eye view of Manila Central University“We want the students here to be proud of where they go to school. I think all of the school projects we’re working on now, especially in that bracket of institutions that are not top tier – but not public school – they really want to give equity to these students that are trying to give a better future to their families. Students are able to access affordable education that will push their and their families’ lives forward,” de Castro explains. “Pride of place carries over into the students’ and faculty’s identity and well-being.”

The building was abandoned for years and was suggested to be demolished at first until de Castro saw that it should be saved through adaptive reuse. “It actually had good bones. It had a sort of a modern Bauhaus aesthetic outside and we thought we could use that as a foundation for the renovation of this building,” she recalls. “But they really wanted a look that was more contemporary that would appeal to a younger generation – something that was about nature.”

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-3.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 3 - BluPrint")Manila Central University’s façade The MCU campus, although by the busy throughway of EDSA, goes deep past the frontage with many mature trees. DEQA Design Collaborative wanted to incorporate this not only into the architecture—seen in the fins as growing, winding branches or the trees as columns supporting the canopies in the portal entry—but by placing importance on green spaces.

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-4.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 4 - BluPrint")Canopies located at the university’s portal entry. De Castro was inspired by what she saw on the property. “The previous entrance on the side street was very wooded. There were a lot of trees and a courtyard. When we saw that, it was what we wanted to bring to this side. We wanted to bring the history and heritage, but modernize it and make it more contemporary.”

## MCU Campus Landscaping: Joaquin Rodriguez’s Green Space Masterplan

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-5.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 5 - BluPrint")Students are given access to outdoor spaces.

One of the first phases of this project was the landscaping. Two adjacent green spaces flank the main road into the university. De Castro worked with landscape architect Joaquin Rodriguez of LanArch Studio. “MCU is a school that has a very strong curriculum in nursing and the health services. So I think the landscape was really important here for them because it’s about health, wellness and well-being. The landscape plays a big part in the redevelopment of the school. Hopefully now, because they have these outdoor spaces in the landscape, students will be more social and form more bonds with each other,” she points out.

Events and gatherings can be held at the larger, circular green space which is outlined by benches. The smaller park which features the statue of Minerva—godess of wisdom and the patron of the university—has curvilinear benches and taller plants for more privacy.

## MCU: Pedestrian Access and Equity in Campus Design

Another phase of this project included the entry portal fronting EDSA. “We wanted to give the same importance to pedestrian entry because a lot of the students are commuters. We didn’t want to just prioritize the gates where the guards would be for vehicles only. We felt that it was important to also give the students that privilege of a decent arrival,” she mentions.

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-6.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 6 - BluPrint")Safer walkways are given to students, ensuring accessibility within the campus.The fence in the front is also now lit up at night providing a safer walkway when students leave the school. “Before it was totally dark. I think that’s also part of the equity factor,” she says.

## DEQA’s Well-Living Design Framework 

DEQA Design Collaborative abides by four key values when designing, making up their Well-Living Design framework: 1) Design with purpose 2) Empathetic accountability 3) Quest for innovation and 4) Align with design. “It came out of this desire to design spaces for people that will improve their wellness and well-being. What does that mean? It’s really giving everyone access to better light, air, healthy materials, giving them spaces to be social with others or their family. It’s about giving them access to nature and landscape. It’s also about giving access to buildings and spaces for people that are handicapped or have disabilities. That has filtered down into our values,” she cites concrete examples. “In all the homes we’re doing now, all of them are multi-generational in mind. It’s not only about the client’s children but also the client’s parents living with them. So we consider PWD bathrooms now in the homes we’re doing and elevators if there is space. It’s thinking about access and designing for everyone in the home, in the building or in the community.”

To help fulfill this human-centered design philosophy, de Castro implements in-depth reports and reviews of their projects. “We want to make sure we can walk the talk. We want to make sure that what we’re trying to implement in design is actually really happening in behavior. After we turn over, we do post-occupancy reports, reviews, and check-in with the clients. We’re also in the process of creating a checklist of things that can be measured, such as air quality. Those are metrics that you can physically measure.”

![BluPrint Perspectives: Equitable Design in Architecture with Architect Denise de Castro](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Denise-de-Castro-FI-7.webp "Denise de Castro - FI 7 - BluPrint")Architect Denise de Castro of DEQA Design CollaborativeShe also seeks out qualitative aspects. In a home, are clients observing more social interaction with a certain layout? In a school, how are students receiving the space? Do they feel proud coming to school? Who’s using the space, and what activities are they doing? All of this data informs DEQA’s design approach.

When it comes to designing from an open perspective with inclusivity and equity, there can be something to learn from de Castro’s thoughtfulness. Being sensitive to the different needs of people can level the playing field and ensure people have the same opportunities to succeed.

**Read More:** [Women Run Design: DEQA Principal Denise de Castro on why gender is unimportant to achieving one’s creative potential](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/women-run-design-denise-de-castro/ "Women Run Design: DEQA Principal Denise de Castro on why gender is unimportant to achieving one’s creative potential")

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Associate Producer: Mae Talaid

Makeup: Twinkle Bernardo

Hair: Angeli Alfonso

MMA: Raechel Oro

Photographer: Jar Concengco

Videographer: Kim Santos

Video Editor: Chelsea Coniega

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is equitable design in architecture?

Equitable design is an architectural approach that ensures people of all backgrounds and needs have fair access, thoughtful planning, and inclusive conditions within a space. It prioritizes supporting diversity—including gender, physical ability, and socioeconomic status—through intentional design choices that level the playing field for all users.

### How does adaptive reuse contribute to equitable and sustainable design?

Adaptive reuse promotes equity and sustainability by preserving buildings with “good bones” rather than demolishing them, which reduces environmental impact and honors local heritage. As seen in the Manila Central University project, saving an existing structure allows for a contemporary transformation that fosters “pride of place” for students and faculty.

### What role does landscaping play in promoting student well-being on campus?

Landscaping promotes student well-being by providing green, outdoor spaces that support health, social interaction, and mental wellness. At MCU, the integration of circular green spaces and curvilinear benches encourages students to form social bonds and find moments of privacy in a nature-focused environment.

### How can architects improve pedestrian equity in campus master planning?

Architects improve pedestrian equity by prioritizing decent arrival points and safe walkways for commuters rather than focusing solely on vehicular access. Implementing features like well-lit fences and dedicated pedestrian portals ensures that all students, regardless of their mode of transport, feel safe and valued upon entering the campus.

### What is the DEQA Well-Living Design framework?

The DEQA Well-Living Design framework consists of four key values: designing with purpose, empathetic accountability, a quest for innovation, and aligning with design. This human-centered approach focuses on improving wellness by providing everyone access to natural light, fresh air, healthy materials, and inclusive features like multi-generational or PWD-accessible spaces.

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover.webp "bp-perspective-micaela-benedicto-feature-cover - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/) 

### [Micaela Benedicto on Designing Homes Built to Last](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/micaela-benedicto-tropical-architecture-designing-spaces-built-to-last/)

Since setting up her design firm, MB Architecture Studio, in 2007, Ar. Micaela Benedicto has built a diverse portfolio of architectural projects. Her works, whether residential or commercial, showcase a distinct spatial quality, “I like to create things that can go from something static to something that is alive and reactive,” Benedicto states. “In creating \[…\]

 [![BluPrint Perspectives April 2026: PXP Design Workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FEATURE-COVER.webp "FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-pxp-design-workshop-uses-the-power-of-place-to-shape-better-living/) 

### [How PXP Design Workshop Shapes Better Living Through Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-pxp-design-workshop-uses-the-power-of-place-to-shape-better-living/)

Architects Spencer Sy and Patrick Espiritu of PXP Design Workshop believe it is their responsibility to create spaces that improve how people live. The studio is known for modern residences and nature-integrated homes that show how the built environment can shape human interaction. Building a Practice in the Philippines As a child, Sy was drawn \[…\]

 [![BluPrint Perspective February 2026 cover featuring architect Jose Siao Ling in a modern glass building, highlighting architectural integrity.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Jose-Siao-Ling-FEATURE-COVER.webp "Jose Siao Ling - FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jose-siao-ling-an-architectural-legacy-founded-on-integrity/) 

### [Jose Siao Ling: An Architectural Legacy Founded on Integrity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/jose-siao-ling-an-architectural-legacy-founded-on-integrity/)

As the built environment evolves, the role of the architect demands reconsideration. For Jose Siao Ling, Co-Founder and Principal Architect of Jose Siao Ling & Associates (JSLA Architects), the role extends far beyond being a licensed professional who designs and oversees construction. By championing ethical practice, ISO-certified systems, and mentorship-driven leadership, he built a firm \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FEATURE-COVER-1.webp "FEATURE COVER - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-art-of-collaboration-barchan-architecture-on-decentralizing-design-and-cultural-expression/) 

### [The Art of Collaboration: Barchan + Architecture on Decentralizing Design and Cultural Expression](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/the-art-of-collaboration-barchan-architecture-on-decentralizing-design-and-cultural-expression/)

Architecture extends beyond mere structures. It has the power to hold stories that reflect our current social milieu, while also presenting itself as a solution to societal challenges. As time progresses, Barchan + Architecture continues to evolve along with the changing landscape. Standing at the forefront of progressive architecture are the firm’s Principal Architect, Jason \[…\]

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### [Architecting Ambiance: Larawan Ink and the Power of Invisible Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/architecting-ambiance-larawan-ink/)

The genius of a well-designed space is often invisible, yet its presence is deeply felt. It’s there in the warmth of light that encourages you to linger, the balance of texture and materials, and in the intuitive layout that guides you effortlessly through the room. This translation of an idea into a tangible, atmospheric reality \[…\]

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### [Life-Centric Architecture: Terence Yu Places the Human Experience First](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/life-centric-architecture-terence-yu-places-the-human-experience-first/)

At its core, architecture has always been about the human experience. While this fundamental purpose can sometimes be overlooked amid the complexities of modern life, a renewed focus on human-first principles is taking hold. This deliberate approach is articulated in the philosophy of Life-Centric Architecture, a mandate championed and put into practice by Terence Yu \[…\]

**Categories:** Bluprint Perspective

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Equity

---

### [Five Bathroom Design Trends Shaping the Way We Live Today](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/bathroom-design-trends-personalize-your-sanctuary-cotto/)

**Published:** June 18, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

Once defined primarily by function, the bathroom is now becoming a space that reflects personal lifestyles. As broader design aspirations change in response, so do expectations of the products that shape these spaces.

From customizable fixtures to touchless technologies, today’s bathroom solutions are increasingly designed around the way people live. COTTO’s KLIRR Collection highlights several of the trends shaping this evolution.

## **1. Personalization Is Becoming the New Standard**

Not every homeowner approaches the bathroom in the same way. Some prioritize simplicity, while others seek greater comfort and technology integration. As a result, manufacturers are moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions and toward products that offer more choice.

COTTO’s “Choose Your Edit” philosophy reflects this shift. Rather than presenting a single solution, the KLIRR Collection allows users to select from multiple configurations that align with their preferences and lifestyle requirements.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-4-scaled.webp "cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-4 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Five Ways Smart Bathroom Fixture Choices Support Daily Wellness](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/five-ways-smart-bathroom-fixture-choices-support-daily-wellness/)

## **2. Products Are Expected to Grow Alongside Their Users**

Consumers increasingly expect products to remain relevant beyond the day they are installed. In the same way that homes evolve over time, bathroom fixtures are beginning to follow a more flexible approach.

The KLIRR Collection Smart Edition is available in five editions, ranging from non-electric models to fully integrated smart solutions. Select models also feature upgradeable seat systems, allowing additional functions to be incorporated in the future rather than requiring complete replacement.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-3-scaled.webp "cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-3 - BluPrint")## **3. Smart Technology Is Becoming Less Visible**

The most successful technologies are often the ones people notice the least. Instead of adding complexity, smart features are increasingly expected to work quietly in the background.

Designed around the philosophy of “Simple yet Smart,” the KLIRR Collection Smart Edition integrates intelligent functions into a clean and minimalist form. The emphasis is not on technology for its own sake, but on making everyday routines feel more seamless.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-2-scaled.webp "cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-2 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Kuysen Unveils hansgrohe’s New Bauhaus-Inspired Ceramic Collection](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/kuysen-unveils-hansgrohes-new-bauhaus-inspired-collection/ "Kuysen Unveils hansgrohe’s New Bauhaus-Inspired Ceramic Collection")

## **4. Hygiene Is Influencing Product Design**

Cleanliness has always been important in the bathroom, but it is now shaping how products are designed and experienced. Touchless interactions, automated functions, and water-efficient systems are becoming increasingly common.

Within the KLIRR Collection, features such as automatic flushing, automated seat operations, and the Hydro KEEN Flushing System respond directly to these expectations. Engineered to optimize water direction and pressure while using only 3.8 liters per flush, the system combines performance with efficiency.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-1-scaled.webp "cotto-klirr-bathroom-collection-1 - BluPrint")## **5. Timeless Design Still Matters**

While technology continues to advance, visual longevity remains a priority. Homeowners and designers alike are seeking products that can remain relevant as styles and trends change.

The KLIRR Collection basins demonstrate this through soft organic forms, minimalist detailing, and carefully considered finishes. Paired with durable ceramic materials and advanced glazing technologies, the collection emphasizes an idea that continues to resonate across design disciplines: the best products are often the ones that age gracefully.

Related Reading: [How Smart Technology Is Transforming the Modern Bathroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/how-smart-technology-is-transforming-the-modern-bathroom/)

## **Looking Ahead**

The bathroom is no longer viewed solely as a utility space. It has become a more considered part of the home—one shaped by comfort, flexibility, hygiene, and design.

Through the KLIRR Collection, COTTO offers a glimpse into how these priorities are influencing the next generation of bathroom products.

## **About COTTO**

COTTO’s KLIRR Collection Smart Edition and KLIRR Collection basins are available in the Philippines through Sanitec Import Ventures Inc.

Visit the COTTO showroom at Sanitec Import Ventures Inc., 240 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Barangay Don Manuel, Quezon City.

For inquiries, contact +63 917 817 8149 or visit Sanitec.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### ****Why are bathrooms becoming more personalized?****

Bathrooms are increasingly viewed as extensions of personal lifestyle rather than purely functional spaces. As a result, homeowners are looking for products and layouts that reflect their preferences, routines, and comfort requirements.

### **What is the benefit of customizable bathroom fixtures?**

Customizable bathroom fixtures allow homeowners to select features that suit their current needs while providing flexibility for future upgrades. This approach helps products remain relevant as lifestyles and technology continue to change.

### **How is smart technology changing bathroom design?**

Smart technology is making bathrooms more convenient through automated functions, intuitive controls, and touchless features. Increasingly, these technologies are designed to work quietly in the background, improving the user experience without adding complexity.

### **What is touchless bathroom technology?**

Touchless bathroom technology includes features such as automatic flushing, automatic seat operations, and sensor-based functions that reduce direct contact with surfaces. These solutions help support hygiene while improving convenience in everyday use.

### **How does the COTTO KLIRR Collection reflect modern bathroom design trends?**

The COTTO KLIRR Collection incorporates several trends shaping contemporary bathroom design, including personalization, upgradeable smart features, touchless technologies, water-efficient performance, and timeless aesthetics. Together, these elements respond to changing expectations around comfort, convenience, and long-term usability.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [The Language Of Light: Lodes And The Tile Gallery Bring Timeless Light Installations To Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/the-language-of-light-lodes-and-the-tile-gallery-bring-timeless-light-installations-to-life/)

**Published:** June 22, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

In a curated setting at the The Tile Gallery showroom, architects, designers, and media guests were transported into the immersive world of Italian contemporary lighting brand Lodes, where light illuminated the space through sculptural forms and innovative materiality.

The Language of Light event presented a selection of Lodes’ established collections alongside new releases, revealing the brand’s approach to contemporary illumination and spatial design.

Throughout the evening, guests moved through a series of thoughtfully arranged installations integrated into lounge-like settings, offering a closer look at how lighting can define atmosphere, articulate volume, and shape the experience of a space beyond mere function.

“This gathering is not only about introducing our new products, but also about strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and enjoying meaningful moments together. \[…\] We remain committed to aligning ourselves with your vision and bringing these exceptional products to our market,” says Kenneth Hing, president of The Tile Gallery.

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2006-scaled.webp "IMG_2006 - BluPrint")

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-2-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery-2 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Why Lighting Design Is Becoming Central to Interior Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/why-lighting-design-is-becoming-central-to-interior-design/)

## **More Than Just Ornaments**

Born in Venice, Lodes positions itself as a contemporary lighting house, where illumination is carefully tailored to the space it inhabits. This reflects its philosophy of treating light, not as an afterthought or decorative ornament, but as an architectural element that defines and connects interiors.

This approach is exemplified in earlier collections such as the A-Tube Nano Series, where clustered suspension lamps descend to shape atmosphere, rhythm, and spatial perception. The delicate lines suspended from the ceiling form a sculptural composition overhead, introducing visual rhythm while accentuating the height and depth of the room. Their versatility allows them to be integrated across different residential settings, from lounge and entertainment areas to open-plan dining spaces and bedrooms.

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-13-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery-13 - BluPrint")

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-14-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery-14 - BluPrint")

Another notable expression of this design language is the Volum series. Created in collaboration with Snøhetta, the lamps are meticulously crafted to diffuse light evenly throughout the spherical form, creating a soft, enveloping glow. Its 360-degree illumination is made possible by a refined white blown-glass diffuser, finished with a methacrylate lid that maintains visual continuity while allowing light to pass through uniformly, resulting in a soft, uninterrupted glow.

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-3-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery-3 - BluPrint")

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2013-scaled.webp "IMG_2013 - BluPrint")

One of its newer pieces, the Axia suspension lamp, greets guests at the reception, hovering like a chandelier, though more minimalist in expression. Designed by Italian architects Vittorio Venezia and Carolina Martinelli, the lamp presents itself as a subtle architectural gesture rather than an ornate centrepiece. It is reminiscent of a light constellation, moving in space and suspended almost mid-air. It also subtracted the individual electrical cables and replaced it with a single beam, supporting the energy transmission throughout the piece.

The Non Random installations also draw attention through their varied forms and finishes. Lodes reinterprets soap bubbles in this collection, offered in different sizes and surface treatments. When unlit, the lamps appear as solid metallic objects, finished in tones such as Glossy Bronze, Golden Sage, and Deep Azure Steel, allowing them to sit more quietly within the interior as sculptural elements. Once illuminated, they shift in character, revealing their coloured glass and a softer diffusion of light.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/lodes-the-tile-gallery-scaled.webp "lodes-the-tile-gallery - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Lampscaping: How to Light up Your Home like a Pro](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/lampscaping-how-to-light-up-your-home-like-a-pro/)

## **Customizable By Design**

What defines Lodes is not only its sculptural language but also its approach to flexibility. The brand describes many of its installations as “Standard Bespoke,” meaning pieces are designed as fixed elements but can be configured in scale, composition, and arrangement, depending on the designer’s preferences and spatial context.

“Through our approach of “Standard Bespoke” and “Out of Scale,” design becomes a tool to interpret different spatial needs, from adaptable modular systems to fully custom solutions. This allows light to move beyond function and become a spatial element in its own right,” says Massimiliano Tosetto, Owner and Managing Director of Lodes.

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-8-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery - BluPrint")

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lodes-x-The-Tile-Gallery-12-scaled.webp "Lodes x The Tile Gallery-12 - BluPrint")

Rather than prescribing a single fixed form, these systems allow architects and designers to compose with light, whether it is adjusting density or configuring the orientation to suit different interiors. In this way, the lighting becomes less of a standalone object and more of an adaptive architectural tool.

“The role of design, in this sense, is to balance technical constraints with expressive intent. It enables us to create installations that respond to a project’s requirements while enhancing atmosphere, proportions and perception,” Tosetto shares.

![The Language of Light event by Lodes and The Tile Gallery in June 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2166-scaled.webp "IMG_2166 - BluPrint")This design sensibility is rooted in Venice, Italy, where glassmaking has historically been defined by both precision and adaptability. Venetian glassblowing traditions have long balanced craftsmanship with modular variation, where similar forms can be reworked through colour, proportion, and finish.

Lodes carries this lineage forward, translating it into modular lighting systems that retain a handcraftsmanship, while responding to contemporary architectural needs. Through its collaboration with The Tile Gallery, these ideas are brought into a local context, creating opportunities for architects and designers to engage with lighting not only as a functional object, but as a material and spatial element that can shape the experience of interiors.

*The Lodes showroom and its collection of timeless lighting installations can be viewed at Gallery 7 Design Center, San Juan City.*

Related Reading: The Tile Gallery Opens Its New Showroom with a Celebration of Design Excellence

## About Lodes

Founded in Venice in 1950, Lodes designs and manufactures decorative lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor spaces, balancing form, function, and technical innovation. Rooted in a family heritage spanning three generations, Lodes combines Italian craftsmanship with contemporary design to create lighting that enhances the way people experience spaces.

Through their “Out of Scale” and “Standard Bespoke” approaches, Lodes offers adaptable lighting solutions that bring greater creative freedom to designers and customization across residential, hospitality, and commercial environments. Today, Lodes stands as one of Europe’s foremost manufacturers of decorative lighting, present in over 90 markets worldwide.

## About The Tile Gallery

At The Tile Gallery, we believe great spaces begin with quality—in materials, craftsmanship, and the details people live with every day. Established in 2005 by Manfel Piastrelle Corporation, The Tile Gallery began as a destination for premium ceramic and homogeneous porcelain tiles in the Philippines. Over the years, the business has evolved into a curated design showroom offering fixtures, lighting, door hardware, furniture, and other design elements.

Guided by a passion for thoughtful design, The Tile Gallery collaborates with architects, designers, developers, and homeowners to create purposeful spaces and help bring every client’s vision to life.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **How does Lodes approach lighting design?**

Lodes treats light as an architectural element that shapes atmosphere, spatial perception, and the overall experience of a space rather than as a purely decorative object.

### **What was presented at The Language of Light event?**

The event showcased a selection of Lodes’ established collections and new releases, highlighting its approach to contemporary illumination and spatial design. Featured collections included the A-Tube Nano Series, Volum by Snøhetta, Axia suspension lamp, and the Non Random collection.

### **Who collaborated with Lodes for this launch in the Philippines?**

Lodes partnered with The Tile Gallery to introduce its lighting collections and create a platform for engagement within the local design community.

### **What does “Standard Bespoke” mean in Lodes’ design approach?**

“Standard Bespoke” refers to lighting systems that can be customized in scale, composition, and arrangement while retaining a standardized design language.

### **Where can visitors find the Lodes showroom in the Philippines?**

The Lodes showroom is located at Gallery 7 Design Center in San Juan City.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [Poltrona Frau’s “True Over Time” Collection: Design That Endures Through Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/poltrona-frau-true-over-time-collection/)

**Published:** July 9, 2026
**Author:** The Bluprint Team

**Content:**

Presented during Milano Design Week 2026 at Palazzo Gallarati Scotti, Poltrona Frau’s flagship store in Milan, the “True Over Time” Collection celebrates one of the brand’s most enduring values: authenticity. More than a matter of craftsmanship or material quality, durability is understood as a design’s ability to preserve its meaning over time, remaining relevant across generations, lifestyles and changing spaces.

The collection brings together creations designed to be lived in, inherited and reinterpreted, expressing a vision of contemporary luxury rooted in lasting value rather than immediacy. Through a balance of artisanal expertise, innovation and timeless aesthetics, “True Over Time” explores how design can evolve while remaining true to its essence.

As Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau, explains: “With the 2026 collection, we want to emphasize the importance of authenticity, a philosophy that has guided every design and production decision at Poltrona Frau since 1912. We believe that design should endure, maintaining its essence. In an age dominated by immediacy, choosing something that lasts is an act of awareness.”

![The Poltrona Frau Milano flagship store in Italy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-Milano-flagship-store-11.webp "PF26 Milano flagship store 11 - BluPrint")The Poltrona Frau’s flagship store in Milan, Italy, showcases the Archibald Sofa System by Jean-Marie Massaud, paired with the Baldwin coffee tables by Jean-Marie Massaud and the Tullissè lamps by Atelier Oï.Related Reading: [Genteelhome Debuts First Summer Outdoor Furniture Line, PAYAK Collection](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/genteelhome-debuts-first-summer-outdoor-furniture-line-payak-collection/)

## ****Contemporary Icons, Reimagined****

At the heart of the collection are designs that demonstrate how timeless objects can evolve while remaining true to their original identity.

Among them is the expansion of the iconic Archibald family by Jean-Marie Massaud. Originally introduced in 2009 and now considered one of Poltrona Frau’s most recognizable contemporary icons, the collection grows with the introduction of the Archibald Sofa System, the Archibald Slim Dining Chair, and a new Presidential version of the Archibald Task Chair featuring a higher backrest and innovative Kristal Med® padding. Designed to enhance comfort and concentration throughout the day, the new chair bridges executive functionality and residential elegance.

![The Archibald President Task Chair from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-Archibald-President-task-chair-1-scaled.webp "PF26 Archibald President task chair 1 - BluPrint")The Archibald Task Chair, designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, in its new iteration, the Presidential version, featuring a higher backrest and innovative Kristal Med® padding.

![The Blisscape sofa from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-Blisscape-sofa-6.webp "PF26 Blisscape sofa 6 - BluPrint")The Blisscape sofa system, designed by Ludovica Serafini + Roberto Palomba, reflects the brand’s vision of comfort as a lasting value, which can be configured according to the owner’s preference.

The collection also welcomes Blisscape, the new sofa system designed by Ludovica Serafini + Roberto Palomba. Conceived as an invitation to slow down and reconnect with everyday wellbeing, Blisscape reflects Poltrona Frau’s vision of comfort as a lasting value, combining generous proportions, flexibility and refined craftsmanship.

Another significant evolution is represented by Infinitamente 2.0, Roberto Lazzeroni’s reinterpretation of the dining table originally introduced in previous collections. Enlarged to accommodate up to twelve people, the new version celebrates conviviality while showcasing sophisticated craftsmanship through helicoidal, beveled surfaces upholstered in Pelle Frau® leather using techniques derived from luxury automotive interiors.

![The Blisscape sofa from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-Blisscape-sofa-1.webp "PF26 Blisscape sofa 1 - BluPrint")The Blisscape sofa, now 10 cm deeper, and the 45°-tilted curved armchair are designed for anyone seeking a more relaxed posture. It is featured with the Pouf Esedra by Monica Förster and the Gio Ponti Oro lamp by Gio Ponti.

![The Infinitamente 2.0 Table and Lepli Chairs from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Infinitamente-2-0-table-Lepli-chair-4-scaled.webp "Infinitamente 2 0 table Lepli chair 4 - BluPrint")The Infinitamente 2.0 Table, designed by Roberto Lazzeroni, reinterprets the dining table with helicoidal, beveled surfaces upholstered in Pelle Frau® leather. It is featued with the Zabriskie cabinet (also by Lazzeroni) and the Leplì seating by Kensaku Oshiro.

Related Reading: [OMO Furniture: Innovating Filipino Design with Sustainability](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/omo-furniture-innovating-filipino-design-with-sustainability/)

## ****New Narratives for the Home****

The collection further expands Poltrona Frau’s vision of contemporary living through new collaborations and product families.

Following her acclaimed Squash collection, British artist and designer Faye Toogood introduces the LieLow Night Collection, a bedroom system composed of a bed and coordinated nightstands. The collection reflects her distinctive sculptural language while maintaining the balance between comfort and functionality that defines Poltrona Frau.

![Poltrona Frau 2026 True Over time LieLow Night Collection 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Poltrona-Frau-2026-True-Over-time-LieLow-Night-Collection-2-1.webp "Poltrona Frau 2026 True Over time LieLow Night Collection 2 - BluPrint")The LieLow Night Collection, designed by Faye Toogood, consists of a bed and coordinated nightstands, with structural forms that that balances functionality and comfort. The sleeping area is further enriched by Sebastian Herkner’s Stock’n Roll console, while Dante Bonuccelli’s DressCove Night System evolves beyond the wardrobe environment with the introduction of the new DomusCove Day System, extending its architectural approach to the living space.

![The DomusCave Day System from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DomusCove-Day-System-1-scaled.webp "DomusCove Day System 1 - BluPrint")The DomusCove Day System by Dante Bonuccelli, is the new iteration of the DressCove Night System, which is specifically designed for living rooms and lounge areas.Related Reading: [The Ultimate Furniture Solution Guide for Small Spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/the-ultimate-furniture-solution-guide-for-small-spaces/)

## **Collectible Pieces Designed to Leave a Legacy**

The concept of “True Over Time” is particularly evident in a selection of limited and special edition, collectible pieces that celebrate design as cultural heritage.

The Archibald Delicate Balance Armchair, produced in a limited edition of only 200 pieces worldwide, sees Jean-Marie Massaud’s iconic design transformed by renowned American artist Shepard Fairey. Through a specially created graphic upholstery, Fairey reinterprets themes of nature and environmental awareness through his unmistakable visual language.

Equally significant is the reissue of Albero, Gianfranco Frattini’s iconic bookcase originally conceived in the 1950s. Presented in the special GFF100 Edition, celebrating the designer’s centenary, Albero returns in precious Santos Rosewood and American Walnut Brown versions, reaffirming its status as a timeless icon while highlighting the beauty and longevity of natural materials.

![The Archibald Delicate Balance Armchair from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Poltrona-Frau-2026-Archibald-Delicate-Balance-26-scaled.webp "Poltrona Frau 2026 Archibald Delicate Balance 26 - BluPrint")The Archibald Delicate Balance Armchair is a limited-edition piece by renowned American artist Shepard Fairey, fully upholstered in Poltrona Frau Impact Less Colorsphere leather.

![The Albero Bookcase GF100 from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Gianfranco-Frattini-1926-2026-Albero-CastelloSforzesco-Ph-Francesco-Merlini-7-scaled.webp "Gianfranco Frattini 1926 2026 Albero CastelloSforzesco Ph Francesco Merlini 7 - BluPrint")Gianfranco Frattini’s Albero Bookcase is reinterpreted in the GFF100 Edition, which commemorates Frattini’s centenary and available in Santos Rosewood and American Walnut Brown versions.

## **Completing the Living Experience**

The “True Over Time” collection extends beyond furniture to include lighting, accessories and decorative objects that enrich everyday living.

Among the highlights are the edition of a previously unpublished lamp designed by Gio Ponti in 1956 for a residential project, the Gio Ponti Oro, Atelier Oï’s Tullissè lamp with its distinctive Pelle Frau® leather-wrapped structure, Sebastian Herkner’s Nymph Air lamp and the ethereal Moonbeam collection by digital artist Six N. Five.

The accessories offering is further enriched by Yuki Nara’s Shiwa ceramic vases, the Chicware table accessories collection and new additions to the Traveller’s Collection, all conceived to complement interiors with the same attention to craftsmanship, materiality and enduring elegance.

Ultimately, the “True Over Time” Collection demonstrates that lasting design is defined not only by exceptional craftsmanship and material quality, but also by its ability to preserve meaning. Through a dialogue between heritage and innovation, Poltrona Frau creates pieces designed to accompany life over time—objects that become repositories of memories, gestures and personal stories, growing richer with every passing generation.

![The Tulliss lamp from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-Tulliss-lamp-1-scaled.webp "PF26 Tulliss lamp 1 - BluPrint")The Tullissè lamp, designed by Atelier Oï, is seen in its distinctive Pelle Frau® leather-wrapped structure.

![The GioPontiOro lamp from the True Over Time Collection by Poltrona Frau](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PF26-GioPontiOro-1-scaled.webp "PF26 GioPontiOro 1 - BluPrint")The Gio Ponti Oro lamp is an unpublished design in 1956 by Gio Pointi and originally created for a residential project.

## About Poltrona Frau

Poltrona Frau has been a leader in high-end furnishings since 1912, evolving into a global brand with three distinct business units dedicated to crafting unique design solutions for life’s most memorable moments. Its headquarters and core operations are based in Tolentino, in the Marche region of Italy.

The Residential Living Business Unit values artistic aptitude and meticulous construction, using only the highest-quality noble materials, like Pelle Frau® leather, for high-end products, accessories and complements for indoor, outdoor and office. The search for style has led Poltrona Frau to create classic pieces that express a unique elegance that is as universal as it is intimate and personal, from Chester and Vanity Fair, designed by company founder Renzo Frau, to Dezza by Gio Ponti and Titano, a project by Pierluigi Cerri that won the brand its first Compasso d’Oro industrial design award. The brand today collaborates with international designers including Faye Toogood, Jean-Marie Massaud, Ludovica Serafini + Roberto Palomba, Roberto Lazzeroni, GamFratesi, Sebastien Herkner and Neri&Hu.

Born in 1985, the In Motion Business Unit develops distinctive interiors for the luxury automotive, aviation, rail and yachting sectors. With three production facilities located in Tolentino, Montegranaro, (both in the Marche Region), and Coventry—following the acquisition of KJ Ryan in the UK—it leverages its global presence to enhance its offerings. Thanks to continuous research in materials, advanced technologies and processes, it has gained a unique competence capable of blending the tradition of craftsmanship and attention to detail with proven design, product development and supply chain management capabilities. It operates as an integrated tier-1 supplier for many of its clients and has collaborated with many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Bugatti, Etihad Airways, Ferrari, Ferretti Yachts, Jaguar Land Rover, Lamborghini, Lucid Motors, McLaren, Pagani, Pershing, Riva, Singapore Airlines and Wally.

The Custom Interiors Business Unit focuses on creating purpose-designed contract solutions for auditoriums, theatres, airports, public spaces, offices, retail showrooms, hotels and the marine sector, working closely with the very best names in architecture and international design. With a roster of over 5000 custom projects around the world, it has been chosen by the likes of Renzo Piano, Foster+Partners, Frank 0. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid Studio and David Chipperfield bring to life many of the world’s most iconic design projects.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is Poltrona Frau’s “True Over Time” Collection?**

It is Poltrona Frau’s 2026 collection, unveiled at Milan Design Week, celebrating enduring design through craftsmanship, heritage, and storytelling.

### **Who collaborated on the collection?**

Featured collaborators include Jean-Marie Massaud, Roberto Lazzeroni, Faye Toogood, Sebastian Herkner, Dante Bonuccelli, and Shepard Fairey.

### **What are the collection’s standout pieces?**

Highlights include the Archibald Delicate Balance Armchair, Infinitamente 2.0 Table System, LieLow collection, and the reissued Albero bookcase.

### **What is the “True over time” collection’s main concept?**

The collection explores how furniture can retain its value and meaning across generations while adapting to changing lifestyles and spaces.

### **Where can I view Poltrona Frau products in the Philippines?**

Poltrona Frau products are available at Furnitalia, where customers can explore the brand’s selection of luxury furniture and interior pieces. For showroom details and product availability, visit Furnitalia or contact its team directly.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [The Quiet Craft of Everyday Living](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/fisher-paykel-integrated-design-plumeria-courtyard-house/)

**Published:** July 10, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

The modern kitchen has evolved beyond its traditional role as a place for preparing meals. It is the heart of the home – a space where daily rituals unfold, conversations linger and the rhythm of everyday life takes shape. As open-plan living continues to redefine residential design, the kitchen is no longer a separate room, but an integral part of a connected living environment where architecture quietly supports the way people live.

This shift has redefined the role of appliances. Rather than existing as standalone objects, they are now designed to integrate seamlessly into the architecture allowing materials, proportion, and craftsmanship to shape the experience of the space. The result is a sense of visual calm and a more intuitive way of living, where technology supports the home without drawing attention to itself.

Fisher & Paykel extends this approach through integrated cooling solutions that are designed to adapt to the unique rhythm of every home. Flexible configurations allow refrigeration to be positioned where it best supports everyday routines—whether concealed within bespoke cabinetry, placed close to areas for entertaining, or extending beyond the kitchen itself. The outcome is not only efficient preservation, but a more seamless connection between design and daily living.

This approach is evident in The Plumeria Courtyard House in Singapore, designed by K2LD Architects—a private urban sanctuary defined by restraint, natural light, and a carefully curated material palette. The dry kitchen flows effortlessly into the adjoining living and dining spaces, reinforcing a sense of openness and continuity. Fisher & Paykel integrated refrigeration is concealed within custom cabinetry, preserving the purity of the architecture and allowing the home’s materiality to take precedence. The only visible expression is a dedicated Wine Column, thoughtfully positioned as a sculptural focal point that celebrates the rituals of entertaining without disrupting the home’s quiet elegance. A discreet CoolDrawer further extends refrigeration beyond the kitchen, creating a more intuitive way of living where essentials are always within reach.

![Fisher & Paykel Plmeria Courtyard House by K2LD Architects Singapore](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-9-16x9_glo_2400.webp "fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-9-16x9_glo_2400 - BluPrint")fisherpaykel\_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-9-16x9\_glo\_2400

![Fisher & Paykel Plmeria Courtyard House by K2LD Architects Singapore](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-13-16x9_glo_2400.webp "fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-13-16x9_glo_2400 - BluPrint")fisherpaykel\_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-13-16x9\_glo\_2400

![Fisher & Paykel Plmeria Courtyard House by K2LD Architects Singapore](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-10-16x9_glo_2400.webp "fisherpaykel_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-10-16x9_glo_2400 - BluPrint")fisherpaykel\_plumeria-courtyard-house-K2LD-architects-singapore-sp-10-16x9\_glo\_2400

Related Reading: [Smart Luxe: Home Appliances Worth Investing In](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/at-home/smart-luxe-home-appliances-worth-investing-in/ "Smart Luxe: Home Appliances Worth Investing In")

A similar philosophy informs Naples Street House in Melbourne, designed by architecture studio Edition Office, where the kitchen is conceived as the social core of the home. Seamlessly embedded within custom timber joinery, the space prioritizes connection and ease over display. Fisher & Paykel integrated refrigeration is fully embedded within the architecture, allowing the kitchen to read as a calm, continuous whole rather than a composition of separate elements. The result is a kitchen where storage, preservation, and entertaining are seamlessly woven into the design, reinforcing the home’s emphasis on warmth, materiality and effortless living.

![Fisher & Paykel Naples Street Edition Office Melbourne AU](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-18-4x5_glo-scaled.webp "fisherpaykel_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-18-4x5_glo - BluPrint")

![Fisher & Paykel Naples Street Edition Office Melbourne AU](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-scaled.webp "fisherpaykel_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au - BluPrint")

![Fisher & Paykel Naples Street Edition Office Melbourne AU](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykel_03_00_00_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-09-4x5_glo-scaled.webp "fisherpaykel_03_00_00_naples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-09-4x5_glo - BluPrint")

![Fisher & Paykel Naples Street Edition Office Melbourne AU](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fisherpaykelnaples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-20-4x5_glo-scaled.webp "fisherpaykelnaples-street-edition-office-melbourne-au-tt-20-4x5_glo - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [5 Kitchen Interior Design Ideas We Love](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/5-kitchen-interior-design-ideas-for-2025/)

Together, these homes reflect a broader shift in contemporary luxury – one where thoughtful design is measured not by what is seen, but by how effortlessly a space supports everyday life. Integrated refrigeration becomes part of a holistic architectural vision, enabling homes that feel calm, cohesive and deeply intuitive. In this new expression of luxury, beauty lies not in the technology on display, but in the seamless rituals it quietly enables.

Fisher & Paykel is distributed in the Philippines by TW & Company Inc. Discover more at fisherpaykelph.com or visit their showroom at the G/F The Renaissance Condominium, 215 Salcedo, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila.

Related Reading: [Fisher & Paykel: A Legacy of Innovation and Design Freedom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/fisher-paykel-a-legacy-of-innovation-and-design-freedom/)

## About Fisher & Paykel

Founded in New Zealand in 1934, Fisher & Paykel has built its reputation on designing premium home appliances that place people and the way they live at the center of innovation. Guided by a philosophy of human-centered design, the brand creates products that integrate seamlessly into contemporary architecture while delivering intuitive performance for everyday living. Its portfolio spans cooking, cooling, and dishwashing, with integrated appliances designed to complement bespoke interiors and support cohesive residential environments. Today, Fisher & Paykel continues to collaborate with architects and designers around the world, shaping homes where thoughtful technology, refined craftsmanship, and timeless design come together.

Credits:

Plumeria Courtyard House

Practice: [K2LD](https://k2ld.com/)

Location: Singapore

Photographer: [Studio Periphery](https://www.studioperiphery.com/)

Naples Street House

Practice: [Edition Office](https://edition-office.com/)

Location: Melbourne

Photographer: [Tasha Tylee](https://www.tashatylee.com/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### ****Why are modern kitchens designed around open-plan living?****

Open-plan living allows cooking, dining, entertaining, and everyday interaction to happen within one connected environment. As a result, kitchens have evolved from enclosed preparation areas into the social and emotional center of the home.

### **What makes an integrated kitchen feel seamless?**

Integrated kitchens use consistent materials, concealed detailing, and built-in appliances that blend into cabinetry rather than stand apart from it. This creates cleaner sightlines and a calmer architectural experience.

### **How does refrigeration influence contemporary kitchen layouts?**

Refrigeration now plays a role in how people move through and use the home. Integrated systems, undercounter units, and modular refrigeration allow storage to be distributed across different zones instead of concentrated in one area.

### **Why is undercounter refrigeration popular in luxury homes?**

Undercounter refrigeration supports a more fluid approach to entertaining by placing drinks and essentials closer to where people gather. It also helps maintain visual continuity within open-plan spaces.

### **What are Column refrigerators and freezers?**

Column refrigerators and freezers are modular cooling units that can be configured according to the needs of the home. Their integrated design allows them to sit flush within cabinetry while maintaining architectural continuity.

### **Where can I experience Fisher & Paykel in the Philippines?**

Fisher & Paykel is distributed in the Philippines by TW & Company Inc.
Discover more at fisherpaykelph.com or visit the showroom:
G/F The Renaissance Condominium
215 Salcedo, Legazpi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [5 Qualities Designers Look for in a Kitchen Built to Last](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/qualities-designers-look-for-in-a-kitchen-built-to-last/)

**Published:** July 10, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

A kitchen is one of the hardest-working spaces in a home. It must withstand daily wear, changing routines, evolving technologies, and shifting lifestyle needs while remaining visually coherent within the larger architectural narrative.

While every project has its own requirements, experienced designers often return to a similar set of considerations when evaluating a kitchen. Here are five qualities that contribute to a kitchen’s long-term performance, usability, and relevance.

![Nolte kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-kitchen-1-scaled.webp "nolte-kitchen-1 - BluPrint")## **1. Look Beyond the Layout**

A successful kitchen is more than a well-arranged floor plan.

While layouts determine how people move through a space, the system behind the layout often determines how effectively a kitchen can adapt to different requirements. Cabinet dimensions, storage modules, appliance integration, and alignment strategies all influence how flexible a kitchen can be over time.

This becomes particularly important when working across multiple residential typologies or when accommodating changing user needs. A strong planning system allows designers to maintain consistency while responding to different spatial conditions.

For this reason, many kitchen manufacturers develop dimensional frameworks that guide planning decisions. Nolte Küchen’s Matrix system is one example, providing a structured approach to cabinet heights, proportions, and storage configurations that allows layouts to remain flexible without sacrificing visual coherence.

![Nolte beyond](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-beyond-1-scaled.webp "nolte-beyond-1 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [5 Kitchen Interior Design Ideas We Love for 2025](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/5-kitchen-interior-design-ideas-for-2025/)

## **2. Consider How the Kitchen Looks With the Cabinet Doors Open**

Most kitchens are designed and presented with every cabinet closed, but rarely experienced that way.

Once doors, drawers, and pantries are opened, the interior of the kitchen becomes part of the visual experience. Exposed shelving, drawer sides, cabinet interiors, and organizational systems all contribute to how the space is perceived in daily use. Designers who pay attention to continuity create kitchens that extend design thinking beyond the exterior surfaces.

![Nolte kitchen cabinet details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-separate-2-scaled.webp "nolte-separate-2 - BluPrint")Continuity often extends to the construction of the cabinetry itself. Matching front finishes and carcase finishes can create a more cohesive visual experience, particularly when cabinets are open or viewed from different angles.

Nolte Küchen supports this approach through coordinated storage solutions, interior organization systems, and material selections that help maintain visual consistency even when the kitchen is actively in use. Often overlooked, these choices significantly influence how a kitchen functions and feels over time.

![Nolte kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-separate-1-scaled.webp "nolte-separate-1 - BluPrint")## **3. Separate Appearance from Performance**

A finish may look beautiful in a showroom but perform very differently after years of everyday use.

This is why experienced designers evaluate materials through multiple lenses. Beyond color and texture, they consider durability, maintenance requirements, resistance to wear, and how surfaces age over time.

![Nolte kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-kitchen-5-scaled.webp "nolte-kitchen-5 - BluPrint")Matte lacquers, wood reproductions, acrylic surfaces, and genuine wood veneers each offer different advantages depending on the project. The goal is not necessarily to specify the most expensive material, but to choose one whose performance aligns with how the kitchen will actually be used.

Recent developments in surface technology reflect this shift toward long-term usability. Nolte Küchen’s Anti-Fingerprint 2.0 finish, for example, was developed to reduce visible fingerprints and simplify maintenance, helping surfaces retain their appearance through everyday use.

![Nolte kitchen in white glossy finish](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nolte-white-glossy-finish-kitchen-scaled.webp "nolte-white-glossy-finish-kitchen - BluPrint")Related Reading: [Multi-Purpose Appliances that Will Revolutionize Your Kitchen](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/multi-purpose-appliances-kitchen/)

## **4. The Best Details Are Often Invisible**

Some of the most important decisions in kitchen design are more felt than seen.

Hinges, drawer systems, shelf supports, hardware, and internal fittings receive far less attention than countertops or cabinet fronts. A drawer that opens smoothly after years of use, shelving that supports heavy loads without sagging, or hardware that maintains alignment through repeated operation all contribute to the overall quality of a kitchen built to last.

![Nolte hinges](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nolte-Hinges.webp "Nolte Hinges - BluPrint")

Manufacturers often invest heavily in these hidden components. Features such as built-in dust seals, weight-rated drawer systems, reinforced shelving, and precision-engineered fittings rarely appear in project photographs, yet they play an important role in how a kitchen performs over time. These details help protect interiors, support daily wear, and maintain functionality through years of use.

Nolte Küchen’s ongoing refinements to fittings, drawer systems, shelving solutions, and hardware reflect a broader industry understanding that longevity depends as much on unseen performance as on visible design. These details may not appear in technical drawings or project renders, but they affect the overall daily experience of the kitchen.

![Nolte kitchen cabinet details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-details.webp "nolte-details - BluPrint")Built-in dust seals to keep both dust and pests away.

## **5. Prioritize Versatility Across Different Ways of Living**

The best kitchen solution is not always the same for every project.

A luxury residence, a condominium development, and a starter home may have different budgets, priorities, and design requirements. The challenge for designers is maintaining quality and design coherence while responding to those realities.

Nolte addresses this through multiple product lines designed for different project types. Rather than applying a single approach across all residential needs, the brand offers solutions that can respond to different lifestyles, project scales, and levels of customization.

![Nolte kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nolte-scaled.webp "Nolte - BluPrint")At the premium end, nolteneo serves as the brand’s high-end offering, distinguished by elevated material selections, architectural finishes, and designer-focused series that allow for a more individualized and expressive kitchen environment. Nolte Küchen functions as the core collection, combining system-based planning, design flexibility, and functionality suited to a wide range of residential applications. Express Küchen provides a more streamlined and accessible option that maintains the quality and reliability associated with German kitchen manufacturing.

A kitchen built to last is not always the most expensive one. Often, it is the one that is most appropriate to the needs of the project and the people who will use it.

![Nolte Kitchen with corner solutions](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nolte-condo-kitchen-with-corner-solutions-scaled.webp "nolte-condo-kitchen-with-corner-solutions - BluPrint")## **A Kitchen Built to Last Is Built on Decisions**

While aesthetics often capture attention first, it is the less visible qualities that determine how successfully a kitchen performs over time. In many cases, longevity is not defined by a single material or feature, but by the system that supports it. As kitchens evolve alongside the people who use them, designers are increasingly looking beyond aesthetics alone toward solutions that balance flexibility, durability, and long-term performance.

![Nolte kitchen cabinet details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-details-1-scaled.webp "nolte-details-1 - BluPrint")

![Nolte kitchen cabinet details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nolte-details-3-scaled.webp "nolte-details-3 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [7 Condo Kitchen Layouts We Are Totally Digging Right Now](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/condo-kitchen-layouts/)

## **About Nolte Küchen**

Founded in Germany, Nolte Küchen is recognized for its system-based approach to kitchen design, combining precision manufacturing, adaptable planning frameworks, and a broad range of material and finish options. Its kitchens are designed to balance functionality, durability, and design flexibility across a variety of residential applications.

In the Philippines, Nolte Küchen is exclusively represented by Kassi Distributors Inc. (KDI), a distributor of premium interior systems and international cabinetry brands. Working closely with homeowners, architects, interior designers, and developers, KDI provides technical expertise, project coordination, and access to Nolte Küchen’s German-made kitchen systems.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### ****What makes a kitchen design timeless?****

A timeless kitchen balances aesthetics with functionality. Rather than relying on trends alone, designers often prioritize flexible layouts, durable materials, thoughtful storage solutions, and details that continue to perform well over time.

### **Why is a kitchen planning system important?**

A planning system provides the framework that supports a kitchen’s long-term usability. By coordinating dimensions, storage modules, and cabinet configurations, it allows designers to maintain consistency while adapting to different spatial requirements and lifestyle needs.

### **How do designers choose materials for a long-lasting kitchen?**

Beyond appearance, designers evaluate materials based on durability, maintenance requirements, resistance to wear, and how they age through everyday use. The goal is to select materials that support both the design intent and the practical demands of daily life.

### **What should designers consider beyond cabinetry and finishes?**

Many of the qualities that contribute to a kitchen’s longevity are found in less visible components, including hinges, drawer systems, internal organization, hardware, and fittings. These elements often have a significant impact on how a kitchen functions over time.

### **Where can architects, designers, and homeowners explore Nolte Küchen in the Philippines?**

Nolte Küchen is exclusively represented in the Philippines by Kassi Distributors Inc. (KDI). Through its showroom and project support services, KDI works with homeowners, architects, interior designers, and developers to provide access to Nolte Küchen’s German-made kitchen systems and planning solutions.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Kitchen, Sponsored

---

### [Aurelia Residences Integrates Art and Architecture into Luxury Living in BGC](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/aurelia-residences-bgc-som-architecture-art-collection/)

**Published:** July 21, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

In the business district of Bonifacio Global City rises a residential development designed around low-density living. Aurelia Residences brings together architecture, interiors, landscape, and art to create an elegant and culturally-resonant living environment.

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Shang-Properties-Aurelia-52-scaled.webp "Shang Properties - Aurelia-52 - BluPrint")

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Shang-Properties-Aurelia-49-scaled.webp "Shang Properties - Aurelia-49 - BluPrint")

Related Reading: [Shang Summit: Shang Properties Unveils New 250-Meter High Rise](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/shang-summit-shang-properties-unveils-new-250-meter-high-rise/)

## **Architecture, Interiors, and Landscape Design**

Arrival plays a central role in the residential experience, unfolding through compression and release rather than overt gestures. The project’s architectural vision by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, (SOM) establishes a composed architectural presence through proportion and clarity of form.

The landscape, designed by PLA, buffers and softens the movement away from the city. Upon entering, the lobby opens up to a vertically expansive interior by FM Architettura. Residents are welcomed by sculptural chandeliers that set a tone of understated grandeur carried throughout the property’s shared spaces.

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Shang-Properties-Aurelia-25-scaled.webp "Shang Properties - Aurelia-25 - BluPrint")A central feature of the area is the large-scale weaving installation by Rita Nazareno and Gabby Lichauco created in partnership with S.C. Vizcarra. The artists’ largest installation to date, the grand staircase reinterprets traditional weaving techniques through a contemporary architectural scale.

Indoor amenity spaces continue the project’s material language through muted finishes, balanced proportions, and integrated furnishings. This considered approach to design extends into the property’s wellness and recreational spaces, where every detail reinforces elegance across the residential experience.

Outdoor lounges, gardens, and recreational areas are integrated into the overall architectural and landscape framework, allowing transitions between interior and exterior spaces to unfold gradually throughout the property.

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Shang-Properties-Aurelia-21-scaled.webp "Shang Properties - Aurelia-21 - BluPrint")Related Reading: [What Interior Designers Consider Before Planning a Space ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/what-interior-designers-consider-before-planning-a-space/)

## **Curated Art Collection and Featured Artists**

Art plays a defining role in shaping the project’s identity, not as decoration, but as part of the everyday spatial experience. Curated by Miguel Rosales of Caramel, Inc., the broader collection of over 50 artworks seamlessly integrates art into the residential environment. Among the more prominent pieces are two large-scale metal works entitled Islas by Bea and Marga Valdes of Valdes Designs.

The striking installations, depicting abstract forms inspired by indigenous cultures and historical references, anchor the grand atrium lobby. At the reception area, two minimalist pieces by Gus Albor offer a contemplative counterpoint to the larger sculptural works. At the amenity level, Lenore RS Lim’s prints translate intricate techniques into layered and intricate compositions.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/KMS1883-scaled.webp "_KMS1883 - BluPrint")Across each lobby wing, French artist Francis Dravigny draws inspiration from his decades-long connection to the Philippines. His pieces are informed by the textures and material traditions of the Philippine archipelago, incorporating abaca, shells, and copper into layered compositions that evoke memory and landscape.

Through its synthesis of world-class design and thoughtfully curated art, Aurelia Residences succeeds in expressing a distinct vision of refined living.

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/KMS1701-scaled.webp "_KMS1701 - BluPrint")

![Shang Properties Aurelia Residences art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/KMS1691-scaled.webp "_KMS1691 - BluPrint")

[Related Reading: Every Room a Chapter: Grace Reyes Designs an Art-Filled Residence](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/every-room-a-chapter-grace-reyes-designs-an-art-filled-residence/)

## About Aurelia Residences

Aurelia Residences comprises a limited collection of 285 residential units designed around low-density living, spacious layouts, and privacy within Bonifacio Global City. Completed in September 2025, the project joins Haraya Residences as part of the Shang Robinsons Properties, Inc. (SRPI) portfolio, a joint venture between Shang Properties, Inc. and Robinsons Land Corporation.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### ****Who designed Aurelia Residences and where is it located?****

Aurelia Residences is located in Bonifacio Global City. Its architecture is by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), interiors by FM Architettura, and landscape design by PLA—a combination intended to integrate global design expertise with the surrounding BGC urban context.

### **Who curated the art collection at Aurelia Residences?**

The art collection at Aurelia Residences was curated by Miguel Rosales of Caramel, Inc., whose past projects include Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. The curated collection comprises over 50 artworks distributed across the property’s shared and amenity spaces.

### **What is “Islas” at Aurelia Residences and who created it?**

“Islas” refers to two large-scale metal sculptures by Bea and Marga Valdes of Valdes Designs, installed at the grand atrium lobby. The works draw on indigenous Philippine cultures and historical influences, expressed through abstract metal forms.

### **Who designed the grand staircase at Aurelia Residences?**

The grand staircase was designed collaboratively by Gabby Lichauco and Rita Nazareno, produced in partnership with century-old weaving craftsmanship house S.C. Vizcarra. It is described as the artists’ largest weaving installation, reinterpreting traditional materials in a contemporary form.

### **Which furniture and amenity brands are featured at Aurelia Residences?**

Indoor amenity spaces feature furnishings from Flexform, Meridiani, Cantori, Porada, Molteni, and Poliform, with Technogym equipment in the gym. Outdoor areas use Tribù and Cane-line lounges with Tuuci umbrellas, plus Barazza barbecue systems and Archipelago furnishings.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

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### [Emerging Icons in The Vanguard of Modern Philippine Architecture and Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/emerging-icons-in-the-vanguard-of-modern-philippine-architecture-and-design/)

**Published:** October 16, 2022
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Creatives are both born and made. Many successful creatives have already possessed a high level of artistic intent and ability when they are born. Some are individuals with no initial creative talent but have mastered the art of creating through proper training. In an industry full of creative people, however, it takes more than having the talent, either inborn or made, to stand out and establish one’s name.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-PERSP.-OCTOBER-COVER-1.jpg "BP PERSP. OCTOBER COVER - BluPrint")The Philippine architecture and design industries are narratives of strong beautiful contributions of the great creative figures of the current generation and those before them. Many familiar names have helped shape the industry and brought honor to the country for their unique and world-class creations, be it for place-making or object-making. The Philippines is at the forefront in championing Filipino talents by celebrating those who are fearless enough to break boundaries in the industry.

The country’s great icons have also started with humble beginnings. Earned recognition through prime greatness on cultural scene and immense power projects that, until today are continuously making an impact. Generation’s Emerging Names Architect Arts Serrano, Landscape Architect Vincent Lim, and Product Designer Stanley Ruiz are three rising icons, creating a difference in architecture, landscape architecture, and industrial design. The young visionaries pave the way for new ideas that uplift local architecture and design, shaping the future of creativity.

## **The Emerging Icons**

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/sustainability-resilience-wtas-siargao-resettlement-project/)### **ARTS SERRANO**

Arts Serrano is the founder and Principal of [One Zero Design Collective](https://www.instagram.com/onezerodesignco/?hl=en), which is located in the [First United Building](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/revitalized-first-united-building-bags-malasakit-gran-prix-award-at-2024-good-design-award-ph/) in Escolta. Before putting up his firm, Serrano started out by joining few competitions as a startup architectural firm in 2015. After winning a mixed-income housing project with PAG-IBIG and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) group, the firm had enough capital to put up an office in Escolta.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images9 - BluPrint")> “Ultimately, we would want to communicate more concrete solutions to help preserve, and regenerate, whatever built heritage we have left.”
> 
> Arts Serrano

Escolta has played an important role in Serrano’s practice. The most fulfilling part of what he does, for him, is being involved in community work in Escolta. He explains much of his firm’s work revolves around understanding the stories of the people they work with. Apart from being passionate about the places they create, One Zero Design Collective aims to help more people discover the beauty of downtown Manila.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images8 - BluPrint")One thing Serrano and his team would never get tired of is the prevalent amusement from people whenever they see their Escolta office. “The building has been a creative playground for independent entrepreneurs and artists for almost a decade now and we are glad to be a part of it. We would like to think that apart from being an architecture design studio, we have a duty as well to champion our built heritage and to reintroduce downtown Manila to more people who are unaware of our rich history,” he shares.

“Our dream for downtown Manila is to be able to have a voice in city making in the context of our heritage structures. We have slowly built this relationship with the LGU in terms of assistance in some of our creative activities in Escolta. Ultimately, we would want to communicate more concrete solutions to help preserve, and regenerate, whatever built heritage we have left,” he adds.

### **STANLEY RUIZ**

A prolific story teller of form and function, Stanley Ruiz is another Filipino creative of this generation worth recognizing for his rigorous workmanship. He is a product designer, founder and the Principal designer of Estudio Ruiz Design Consultancy. Ruiz studied Industrial Design in college and got acquainted with the industry during his sophomore year. While he was still in school, Ruiz started getting project commisions and was able to gain some work experience. This allowed him to build a portfolio that enabled him to land design jobs right after graduation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons4 - BluPrint")> “Here, I am able to take on projects independently, take control of my creative path, manage my own time, and work on some developmental projects that hopefully have made some impact on the stakeholders involved.”
> 
> Stanley Ruiz

Over the past years, his works have been widely recognized here and abroad. Several of Ruiz’s works have been exhibited locally at the Yuchengco Museum, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and Vargas Museum in UP Diliman. He also had multiple exhibitions at different prestigious and important design shows outside the country, including the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, Salone Del Mobile in Milan, Maison & Objet in Paris, Ambiente in Frankfurt, and a few around the Asia Pacific region. Museums like the Museum of Arts and Design and the New Museum both in New York have also featured his works.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons3 - BluPrint")On top of these exhibitions, Ruiz also represented the Philippines at various international events, such as being a country delegate to Asia-Europe Art Camp in Helsinki, being the Creative Director for the Philippine Delegation to NY NOW, and the Creative Director for the Philippines-Taiwan Craft Cooperation in 2021.

Ruiz considers publishing his work in “Exploring Materials: Princeton Architectural Press” for the first time as a definite highlight of his career so far. However, the most significant one would be the establishment of his own design studio. “Here, I am able to take on projects independently, take control of my creative path, manage my own time, and work on some developmental projects that hopefully have made some impact on the stakeholders involved,” Ruiz shares.

### **VINCENT LIM**

Gone are the days when landscape architecture does not get enough attention when talking about the built environment. Vincent Lim took an alternate way of thinking a decade ago. He manifested his childhood hobby and eventually created a firm and became one of the stakeholders in landscape architecture industry. Lim is a Landscape Architect, founder and Principal designer of Clarq Landscape Design, alongside the company Balcony & Gardens. He is also the CEO of Clarqscapes, a landscape construction company.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images5 - BluPrint")> “I am grateful that we live in a time where landscape architecture here in the Philippines has started to gain traction, with more people appreciating the value it adds to a designed space and how it highlights our natural environment and the abundance of local materials.”
> 
> – Vincent Lim

Lim studied Landscape Architecture and took the board exams a year after graduation. He also has an Executive MBA from the Asia Institute of Management. His first work to practice was for his university, a commission project in preparation for the centennial year of the University of the Philippines. He had his first residential project in 2007, a project which cemented his desire to pursue the profession.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images - BluPrint")Two of Lim’s works have been featured in the “SouthEast Asia Landscape Architects” book, which was released in Indonesia. The book features works from 24 landscape architecture consultants from seven countries, such as the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Laos, among others. This kind of invitation in the middle of the pandemic came as a pleasant surprise for him and became one of his pride projects up to date.

## **The Influences**

Different factors have influenced the three creatives in pursuing careers in their chosen fields. Lim, for example, was fond of playing with LEGO toys when he was a kid which took part in sparking his interest in architecture. Growing up, however, he found himself to be more inclined to open public spaces like parks and resorts. “I vividly imagined being a landscape designer one day. I also recall doing a lot of gardening work in our backyard back then. So come college application, Landscape Architecture sounded appealing to me,” Lim reveals.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons - BluPrint")In the case of Serrano, he would have chosen to study Applied Mathematics at Ateneo de Manila University. What made him took up architecture is the realization of architects’ role in shaping society.

“The motivation to actually take it seriously came when I realized the role architects play in attempting to shape a better society through the places that we make. Over the past few years, we’ve taken an obsession to try to answer the question of who we build our spaces for,” Serrano explains.

Serrano also draws motivation from his observations growing up in a middle-class family. There shouldn’t be a great divide between good design and people because of expensive materials. He gets inspired by using a simple methodology that every Filipino can relate to. He also wants to understand how he can create a good design using humble materials.

Having an office in Escolta, Serrano also takes inspiration from one of Manila’s historic streets. “Seeing something withstand almost a century blows my mind. It goes beyond our individual existence. Maestros from the 1900s created what they felt our country stood for at that time and we still experience that creation to this day. There is still so much that we can do with our built heritage,” he shares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images7 - BluPrint")For Ruiz, what motivated him to start a career in his field is simply the pragmatic aspect of design. But several Italian masters also influenced him during his formative years. These include Andrea Branzi, Achille Castiglioni, and Michele De Lucchi. He also mentioned that his favorite designer is Daniel Weil, an Argentinian Architect. For him, his works in the ’80s were truly groundbreaking.

## **Breaking Boundaries**

The three creatives have been in the industry for quite some time. They have done numerous projects that have made them three of the most notable emerging figures in Philippine architecture and design, as well as on the international stage.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects10.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects10 - BluPrint")Garden Court Residence Arca South by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects9 - BluPrint")Garden Court Residence Arca South by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects8 - BluPrint")Garden Court Residence Arca South by Architect Vincent Lim

For Lim, these projects include the One Roxas Triangle & Park Central Towers in Makati. He worked on both of these projects when he was still under Ayala Land Premier. Another groundbreaking project for the team is the Pavilion Nanning Garden Expo in 2017, a collaboration project between Clarq Landscape Design and ZubuDa of Architect Buck Sia.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images10.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images10 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Vincent-lim-projects4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Vincent lim projects4 - BluPrint")The Enclaves at Northpoint Bacolod by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Vincent-lim-projects3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Vincent lim projects3 - BluPrint")The Enclaves at Northpoint Bacolod by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Vincent-lim-projects2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Vincent lim projects2 - BluPrint")The Enclaves at Northpoint Bacolod by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects17.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects17 - BluPrint")The Enclaves at Northpoint Bacolod by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects16.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects16 - BluPrint")Park Central Towers Makati by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects15.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects15 - BluPrint")Park Central Towers Makati by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects14.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects14 - BluPrint")Park Central Towers Makati by Architect Vincent Lim

Ruiz, meanwhile, shares that one of the projects that pushed his limits as a designer is the New Organic collection that he produced in Brooklyn, New York during an economic recession. “It’s a rudimentary, basic, back to the roots kind of design, more of an introspection really. It launched my solo design career, and generated a lot of curiosity about me and my work. It got a lot of press acknowledgment and eventually received the Coup De Coeur award in Maison & Objet Paris in 2008.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz10.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz10 - BluPrint")Sprain Vases by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz6 - BluPrint")Slice by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz18.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz18 - BluPrint")Symbiosis Paper Speakers by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz17.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz17 - BluPrint")Symbiosis Paper Speakers by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz13.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz13 - BluPrint")The New Organic Bowl by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz12.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz12 - BluPrint")Growth Series by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz14.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz13.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz12.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons5 - BluPrint")Wedge by Stanley RuizThe RAW series is also one of Ruiz’s famed projects. It is an ongoing exploration and quite definitive of his design approach. He shared that the collection has been exhibited all over and has been sold in design stores in the US, Europe, and Asia.

“Contrapunto” (counterpoint) is another stunning collection designed by Ruiz. It is a collection of objects developed through the process of improvisation. The collection is defined as “a musical form involving the simultaneous sound of two or more melodies” and “a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody”. Here, Ruiz treats the found components (the injection of moulded bins) as the melody which serves as the foundation for the pieces. He then added the wood components as a support structure which serves as the counterpoint.

Ruiz explains that the coldness of the injection of moulded component is fused with the warmth of wood. The result is a product of exploratory, improvised process.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects8 - BluPrint")Sketches of pieces from Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects9 - BluPrint")Sketches of pieces from Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects7 - BluPrint")From Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects6 - BluPrint")From Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects4 - BluPrint")From Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects3 - BluPrint")From Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Stanley-Ruiz-projects2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Stanley Ruiz projects2 - BluPrint")From Contrapunto Collection by Stanley Ruiz

As an Architect, Serrano, together with this team, likes playing with humble materials. In one of his projects, a restaurant space in Makati called “Talyer,” he and his team wanted to see how they can apply this ingenuity in their material choices in the design of the whole space.

“We lined its walls with plywood shelves that highlight its natural grain and with its edges visible. These same shelves act as partitions, offering some privacy for a small office at the back. We also designed custom furniture pieces that feature plywood as the core material: a sofa, worktables, and lightweight movable stools. We also used tanguile wood studs to create a grid in the ceiling connecting to the lines created by the shelves,” explains Serrano.

As the test kitchen and creative HQ for Toyo Eatery in Makati, Serrano took inspiration from the spirit of resourcefulness in food and apply it to the physical design of their space. He compared the design process to how Filipinos use ingredients that could have been discarded and turn them into delicious dishes.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Arts-serrano-projects2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Arts serrano projects2 - BluPrint")Talyer by Toyo Eatery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Arts-serrano-projects.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Arts serrano projects - BluPrint")Talyer by Toyo Eatery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects2 - BluPrint")Talyer by Toyo Eatery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects - BluPrint")Talyer by Toyo Eatery designed by One Zero Design Collective

Serrano adds that hollow blocks are often hiding behind a layer of another material—often either an inch of concrete plaster or cladding of some sort.

“In a space we designed for a coffee company Deuces Coffee in Makati, we wanted to explore if it was possible to remove all these layers and celebrate the material in its purest form.

Shelving systems were constructed out of hollow blocks and plywood that act as wall partitions, floor finishes were poured custom-mixed concrete with its surface honed to expose aggregates, and different furniture pieces were designed out of solid guijo wood blocks. Different translations of purity that is a nod to the coffee industry’s mindfulness of a bean’s origins.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects18.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects18 - BluPrint")Deuces Coffee Roastery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects17.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects17 - BluPrint")Deuces Coffee Roastery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects16.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects16 - BluPrint")Deuces Coffee Roastery designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects15.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects15 - BluPrint")Deuces Coffee Roastery designed by One Zero Design Collective

He also explains that coffee spaces have been conduits for different communities to thrive. That’s why they designed a space for Yardstick Coffee in MOA Square which aims to move towards more accessible coffee spaces and experiences. “This yearning for accessibility was translated into the materiality of the space by using retaso wood: offcut pieces of materials that are typically deemed unusable,” Serrano explains.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Arts-serrano-projects9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Arts serrano projects9 - BluPrint")Yardstick Coffee designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Arts-serrano-projects7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Arts serrano projects7 - BluPrint")Yardstick Coffee designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Arts-serrano-projects6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Arts serrano projects6 - BluPrint")Yardstick Coffee designed by One Zero Design Collective

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects9 - BluPrint")Yardstick Coffee designed by One Zero Design Collective

He revealed that six hundred pieces of these were sourced, cut, and processed into arbitrary geometric blocks and suspended on the ceiling as an installation—breaking the production and consumption cycle for materials meant for disposal.

“We found it fitting to talk about the circularity of materials in the context of Yardstick’s location in the same building as the global furniture megastore IKEA—celebrating local craftsmanship produced using local materials,” says Serrano.

## **Incorporating Sustainability Into Practice**

Sustainability has been an important topic in architecture and design. For the three of them, this is something they take seriously as designers. Lim believes that sustainability is a mindset that must be carried out thoroughly in the whole design process. “Sustainability is now almost ‘basic’ or an integral part of any project. We need to wear this hat and keep on attempting to carry it as we think of caring for the environment, our people, and the future generation. It’s now and beyond,” Lim emphasizes.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images2 - BluPrint")For Ruiz, “sustainability is paramount, and it should be part and parcel of the design process. They are not mutually exclusive.” As a product designer, he uses a lot of natural materials in his work. Recently, he’s working on a project wherein his team utilizes agricultural wastes and turns them into pellets. He then turns these products into something usable, like floor lamps and other light fixtures. These types of projects excite him for their measurable impact.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz8 - BluPrint")RAW Clock by Stanley Ruiz![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz9 - BluPrint")RAW Mirror by Stanley RuizIn line with this, Serrano also believes that sustainability shouldn’t be an add-on that architects and designers can choose to apply only when it’s convenient. He adds that this practice should not be used to make the project become more marketable. “Sustainability in design should be a core value that everyone should take to heart,” emphasizes Serrano.

On having the construction industry as a major contributor to carbon emissions globally, Serrano calls for action from the industry players. “We must find ways to be more mindful about how our designs contribute to this,” he says.

## **Finding Individual Identity** 

Ruiz explains that he is more of an approach rather than having a particular style. For him, style is more passing and gets less creative over time. His approach is more essential.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images4 - BluPrint")Lim still wants to keep on improving as a landscape architect/designer, as a boss of his team, as an entrepreneur, as a steward of the environment, and as someone his clients can trust in making their dream projects come to life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons_FAd-images6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons_FAd images6 - BluPrint")On the other hand, what makes Serrano’s process unique is he looks for inspiration from stories shared by the people he works with, from their material preferences to a memory they cherish from their childhood. When it comes to the signature aesthetic, he says “We are more focused on storytelling and in craftsmanship, than sticking to an aesthetic or a style. These trends come and go but the stories we build from are eternal. We are also interested in designing with the humblest of materials—dos por dos, bare hollow blocks, plywood, and retaso wood. We believe this is an important exploration as a Filipino designer as a step towards creating a design that is for all.”

## **The Future of Architecture and Design** 

Philippine architecture and design have come a long way. Thanks to the creative minds of Filipino architects and designers both from the past and the present. The young ones are now in charge of uplifting local craftsmanship continuing to glorify our mother land in the global niche.

Serrano believes that it’s not so much about finding new approaches and solutions that will put Philippine architecture on the map. “It is rather more about looking inward and seeing what we can improve from where we are. The pandemic taught us how unsustainable it was to rely on the imported supply of materials and labor,” he explains.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects14.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects12.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects12 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Arts-serrano-projects11.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Arts serrano projects11 - BluPrint")Maestranza Creative Quarter designed by One Zero Design Collective“Vernacular is a word that is often thrown around a lot, and for a good reason—nurturing local craftsmen, finding sustainable sources of materials locally, and building from there is more exciting for us as a design studio,” Serrano adds.

Ruiz, on the other hand, thinks design research can make a difference. It can help create more innovative and non-derivative works.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz11.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz11 - BluPrint")Shelter Island by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz - BluPrint")Benjamin Lamp for Venzon Lighting designed by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Emerging-Icons-Stanley-Ruiz3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Emerging Icons Stanley Ruiz3 - BluPrint")Emblem IV by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz14.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz14 - BluPrint")Structure I by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz5 - BluPrint")Interpolate II by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz4 - BluPrint")Interpolate I by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz6 - BluPrint")Modern Primitive Cabinets for Craftmill by Stanley Ruiz

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Emerging-Icons_Stanley-Ruiz9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Emerging Icons_Stanley Ruiz9 - BluPrint")MONO for Spektacularis by Stanley Ruiz

On how landscape architecture helps shape local architecture as a whole, Lim explains that it helps prove the importance of having synergy among the allied professions in creating multi-faceted yet holistic built spaces while ensuring that the environment is well considered.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Vincent-lim-projects.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Vincent lim projects - BluPrint")Casa Canlas Antipolo by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects20.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects20 - BluPrint")Seda Lio by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects19.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects19 - BluPrint")Seda Lio by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects18.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects18 - BluPrint")Seda Lio by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects17.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects17 - BluPrint")The Enclaves at Northpoint Bacolod by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects2 - BluPrint")Casa Canlas Antipolo by Architect Vincent Lim

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Vincent-lim-projects.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Vincent lim projects - BluPrint")Casa Canlas Antipolo by Architect Vincent Lim

“I am grateful that we live in a time where landscape architecture here in the Philippines has started to gain traction, with more people appreciating the value it adds to a designed space and how it highlights our natural environment and the abundance of local materials. Now, it also has become more relevant because the pandemic has made more people realize the importance of going outdoors and basking in nature—with all its benefits,” shares Lim.

Collaboration between creatives is essential in upholding Filipino craftsmanship and talent. For these emerging icons, having an alignment of passion, respecting each other’s ambitious inputs, and supporting other creatives are vital qualities for a thriving collaboration.

*Project Credits*

Text RICK FORMALEJO

Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Photography KIERAN PUNAY

Videography RADPRODUCTION

Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO

Video Producer MIGUEL LIM

Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA and MAE TALAID

Shot on location BEYOND CONCEPTS STUDIO

Grooming CATS DEL ROSARIO

Wardrobe ORIAS STUDIOS, RHETT EALA, HANSEN

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Heritage, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Arts Serrano, Clarq Landscape Design, Estudio Ruiz, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, One/Zero Design Collective, Stanley Ruiz, Vincent Lim

---

### [The Tile Gallery Opens Its New Showroom with a Celebration of Design Excellence](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-tile-gallery-opens-its-new-showroom-with-a-celebration-of-design-excellence/)

**Published:** October 23, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The grand opening of The Tile Gallery showroom in San Juan marked an exciting milestone for the local design community. Hosted by Issa Litton, the event brought together industry professionals, celebrating the theme “Completare,” meaning “complete.” Located on 191 A. Mabini St., Addition Hills, in San Juan, the new showroom spans seven floors showcasing world-class brands and design innovations. It offers tiles, furniture, and fixtures—everything needed to complete exceptional spaces.

## House of Design

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-156.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-156 - BluPrint")H1 Architects designed the new Gallery 7 building with a clear vision in mind: to reflect the dynamic personality of its owners and to create a unique space that would complement the bustling, narrow streets of Mabini in San Juan. The client envisioned the building as a design center that would house diverse luxury architectural brands, offering a comfortable and conducive environment for designers and home builders alike.

According to H1 Principal Architect Raymond Hernandez, the building drew inspiration from two key elements: the ambition of the owners, Kenneth and Raymund, and the site itself.

“We wanted the form and feel of the building to express their dynamic, progressive, and ambitious nature by meticulously introducing patterns, forms, and details that create a sense of movement, energy, and dynamism,” Hernandez explained. This intention is evident throughout the building’s sleek modern-industrial design, which utilizes glass, metal, and concrete to create a bold and contemporary atmosphere.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-150.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-150 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-151.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-151 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-155.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-155 - BluPrint")The second inspiration was the challenging site. Hernandez saw the tight, low-rise environment of Mabini Street as an opportunity to decompress the space. “Our approach for the building design is to introduce a wonderful open space at the street level to decompress the site and enhance its site condition,” Hernandez noted. This concept led to the creation of a sculpted void that stretches across three levels, which serves as a central design feature. The void is accentuated by a diagrid tiled ceiling and sculpted bridges that connect the retail spaces to the elevator core, serving as transitional foyers that invite visitors to explore.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-121.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-121 - BluPrint")Spanning seven floors, Hernandez emphasized that the building was not only designed to showcase luxury brands but also to contribute meaningfully to its surroundings. “Similar to the mission of Tile Gallery, the building design is crafted to introduce an elevated experience,” he said.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-174.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-174 - BluPrint")On the top level is Tile Gallery’s Sevenscape, an events venue offering panoramic views of the Makati, Pasig, and Quezon City skylines. With open spaces, thoughtfully sculpted details, and flexibility for events, the new Tile Gallery showroom sets a high standard in both design and function.

## **From Manila to Milan: Michael Uy’s Journey in Architecture and Design**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-073.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-073 - BluPrint")Michael Vincent Uy shares his unique design journey.Celebrated Milan-based designer, Architect Michael Vincent Uy, opened the program. He presented insights on the future of design and contemporary architecture. His presentation added depth to the theme of completing spaces with thoughtful, cutting-edge design.

Uy shared his incredible journey from studying at the Politecnico di Milano to working with leading international architecture and design studios. His experience with Dolce & Gabbana and designing for iconic Italian brands like Olivari cemented his place as a major talent in the global design world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-068.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-068 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-065.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-065 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-056.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-056 - BluPrint")

Uy discussed one of his first major projects—Il Foyer at Teatro Alla Scala, a defining moment in his career that set the tone for his future work. He then spoke about his collaborations with Dolce & Gabbana, which ultimately led to his discovery by other luxury brands and his growing influence in the design scene. He also shared updates on his current project, a prestigious two-tower development for the Mandarin Oriental in Tel Aviv.

Uy also touched on his long-standing connection with BluPrint and the shared vision he has with Editor-in-Chief, Geewel Fuster. He praised the platform for consistently pushing the boundaries of architecture and design in the Philippines. Speaking passionately about the fusion of Italian and Filipino design, he emphasized that the two do not need to be mutually exclusive. He explained that his work often incorporates elements from both, reflecting the complexity and diversity of his influences.

Uy concluded his talk with a nod to his product collaborations, particularly with Olivari, a leading Italian brand known for its innovative hardware designs. In closing, he encouraged the audience to explore how design can transcend borders and create spaces that tell a unique story.

## **Transforming Spaces with World-Class Brands**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-053.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-053 - BluPrint")Geewel Fuster, BluPrint’s Editor-in-Chief, then welcomed attendees with a message of gratitude. She highlighted the importance of community in driving design innovation and craftsmanship, emphasizing that completing a space goes beyond aesthetics. According to Fuster, it’s about creating environments that reflect personality and meet functional needs, a vision aligned with BluPrint’s mission.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-051.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-051 - BluPrint")“The Tile Gallery exists because we believe in the transformative power of design,” states Tile Gallery President Kenneth Hing in his welcoming remarks.Tile Gallery President Kenneth Hing followed with an inspiring speech, reflecting on the journey to create this unique space. He acknowledged the partnerships with renowned brands like Olivari, Meridiani, and Atlas Concorde, all committed to craftsmanship and design innovation. Hing emphasized that The Tile Gallery offers the essential elements to transform spaces into personalized stories.

## Heralding **a New Era in Design**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-045.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-045 - BluPrint")From left to right: Tile Gallery Vice President, Raymund Hing, Tessa Prieto-Valdez, Manuel Hing, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Tile Gallery President Kenneth Hing, Idea Group’s Daniela Modolo, and Michael Vincent Uy.The highlight of the evening arrived with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was symbolic moment carried out by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Tessa Prieto-Valdez, Architect Michael Uy, Daniela Modolo of Idea Group, along with Kenneth, Raymund, and Manuel Hing. This officially inaugurated The Tile Gallery, marking the start of a new era in design excellence.

After the ribbon-cutting, Kenneth Hing led the audience in a celebratory toast. He stated: “To the beginning of many creative journeys that will unfold within these walls!” Glasses were raised in celebration of The Tile Gallery’s promise to redefine and transform spaces through its world-class offerings and partnerships.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-028.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-028 - BluPrint")After the toast, Tile Gallery Vice President Raymund Hing expressed his gratitude and excitement during the opening of The Tile Gallery Showroom, emphasizing that the event marks the start of a new journey where innovative design and superior craftsmanship come together. He highlighted the showroom’s commitment to offering more than just products, aiming to create purposeful and complete environments. Hing thanked the guests, partner brands, and BluPrint for their support and invited everyone to explore the showroom’s transformative offerings.

## **Partner Brands: Elevating Design Through Craftsmanship**

The event continued with presentations from The Tile Gallery’s prestigious partner brands. These offered attendees a deeper understanding of their exceptional products.

### **Zucchetti: Transforming Bathrooms into Serene Sanctuaries**

Liz Yang, General Manager for [Zucchetti](https://tilegalleryph.com/product-tag/zucchetti/), introduced Kos’ approach to bringing well-being and pleasure into daily life through innovative washbasins, bathtubs, and furnishing accessories.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-125.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-125 - BluPrint")General Manager for Zucchetti, Liz Yang showcases the brand’s exquisite fixtures.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-133.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-133 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-126.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-126 - BluPrint")Described as “domestic micro-architectures,” Zucchetti.Kos products transform bathrooms into serene, luxurious environments. Yang emphasized that each piece is designed with the intent to create intimate sanctuaries where users can relax and unwind.

### **Meridiani: Timeless Elegance in Home Furniture**

Meridiani’s Export Area Manager, Cristian Lapolla, followed with a presentation on the brand’s timeless and versatile furniture collections. Lapolla explained how Meridiani interprets the home as a “dress to wear.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-037.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-037 - BluPrint")According to Export Area Manager, Cristian Lapolla, Meridiani offers its discerning clients unparalleled customization when choosing colors, fabrics, and materials. The brand combines neat, pure shapes with a constant exploration of new materials and textures. He highlighted the craftsmanship behind their living, dining, and outdoor collections. Precise proportions and meticulous details allow for personal interpretation and sophisticated living.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-169.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-169 - BluPrint")Lapolla noted that Meridiani’s approach blends contemporary elegance with artisanal skill, ensuring each piece reflects the highest quality of Italian design.

### **Idea Group: Crafting Well-Being Through Bathroom Design**

[Idea Group](https://tilegalleryph.com/product-tag/ideagroup/) represented by Daniela Modolo, shared the brand’s vision for creating multi-sensory, well-being-centered bathroom spaces. For nearly four decades, Idea Group has crafted ‘total bathroom’ solutions that integrate industrial expertise with craftsmanship.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-040.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-040 - BluPrint")Idea Group’s Daniela Modolo![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-124.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-124 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-130.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-130 - BluPrint")Modolo emphasized that Idea Group’s designs aim to nurture both physical and mental balance, transforming bathrooms into spaces of relaxation and restoration. Each design is a reflection of the brand’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

### **Atlas Concorde: A Legacy of Italian Elegance and Innovation**

Finally, Atlas Concorde, represented by Massimo Musola, Sales Director for the Asia Pacific region, was the first to take the stage. Musola highlighted Atlas Concorde’s legacy as a global leader in surfaces since 1969. Known for its elegant and timeless style, Atlas Concorde offers a wide array of surfaces that go beyond trends.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-033.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-033 - BluPrint")Massimo Musola shared Altas Concorde’s commitment to sustainability by showcasing its state of the art, eco-friendly manufacturing facility.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-143.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-143 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-137.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-137 - BluPrint")Collections such as Marvel, Boost, and 3D have gained popularity for their innovation and collaboration with top international designers. Musola emphasized that Atlas Concorde’s products are a perfect blend of Italian craftsmanship and cutting-edge design. This makes them a go-to choice for those seeking to elevate their spaces.

The partner brand presentations underscored the theme of “Completare.” Each showcased how their products contribute to creating and completing spaces. With an impressive lineup of world-class brands, The Tile Gallery solidified its position as a premier destination for design. It offers solutions that embody craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless elegance.

## **A Conversation on Material Craftsmanship**

The program continued with BluPrint Circles, an exclusive roundtable discussion. Bringing together some of the most brilliant talents in design, they explored the theme, “A Journey Through Material Craftsmanship.” The discussion focused on the intricate relationship between materials and design, topics essential in reshaping modern architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-026.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-026 - BluPrint")From left to right: Host Issa Litton moderates the BluPrint Circles round table comprised of Michael Vincent Uy, Charisse Ong, Nikki Escalona-Tayag, and Chad Rialp, Digital Editor of BluPrint and MyHome.Comprising the panel were Michael Vincent Uy, Charisse Ong, Principal Architect of Studio Ong, Nikki Escalona-Tayag, Design Principal at 33rd & 3rd Architectural Lighting Design and Dean of Enderun’s College of Architecture and Design, and Chad Rialp, Digital Editor of BluPrint and MyHome.

The panelists shared their thoughts on how material choices contribute to the overall narrative of a space. Uy emphasized the importance of thoughtful design that blends tradition with innovation. Charisse Ong provided examples of how materials can be used sustainably without compromising aesthetics. Nikki Escalona-Tayag highlighted the role of lighting in enhancing the material qualities of a space, making it both functional and beautiful.

## **Discovering Design Across Multiple Floors**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-152.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-152 - BluPrint")With the conclusion of BluPrint Circles, guests were invited to freely explore The Tile Gallery showroom. The host invited guests to explore the beautifully designed spaces across multiple floors. Each showcases an array of exceptional brands that bring the theme of Completare—completing spaces—to life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-120.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-120 - BluPrint")With tote bags in hand and maps to guide them, guests fully experienced The Tile Gallery’s comprehensive offerings. Starting on the 2nd floor, stunning decorative lights from Lodes greeted visitors, along with Tile Gallery’s offerings of elegant slabs. Moving up to the 3rd floor, guests could explore a range of bathroom design innovations, featuring a spotlight on Idea Group’s stunning products.

The 5th floor was home to a striking array of designer tiles, particularly from Atlas Concorde, the Tile Gallery’s main partner brand. This floor offered a wide array of textures, finishes, and colors that can add the perfect finishing touch to any space.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-145.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-145 - BluPrint")Up on the 6th floor are Tile Gallery’s collections of contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture. Meridiani, a standout in the Italian indoor furniture scene, showcased a versatile yet contemporary collection that exuded sophistication. For outdoor spaces, Talenti offered pieces that breathed life into charming, personalized environments. The floor also featured [Olivari](https://tilegalleryph.com/product-tag/olivari/), known for their expertise in design-driven hardware, adding a subtle yet impactful touch to interiors.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-165.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-165 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-164.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-164 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-011.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-011 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-016.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-016 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-166.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-166 - BluPrint")Each floor was thoughtfully curated to showcase how different elements. From lighting and tiles to furniture, all come together to transform and complete any interior. Throughout the exploration, Tile Gallery treated guests to delightful surprises. This included exclusive freebies from partner brands and captivating vignettes on the upper floors, rounding out the evening’s festivities.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-008.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-008 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-118.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-118 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-076.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-076 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-061.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-061 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-018.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-018 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-027.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-027 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-039.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-039 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-096.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-096 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-092.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-092 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-091.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-091 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-Tile-Gallery-087.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Tile Gallery)-087 - BluPrint")As the evening drew to a close, The Tile Gallery’s grand launch left a lasting impression on all who attended. With its expertly curated collections and world-class brands, the showroom sets a new standard for design excellence in the country. The celebration underscored The Tile Gallery’s commitment to offering unparalleled solutions for completing any space. This is only the beginning of countless creative possibilities and transformative designs that will emerge from this premier destination.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed The Tile Gallery’s San Juan showroom building?

H1 Architects designed Gallery 7, the seven-floor building housing The Tile Gallery, led by Principal Architect Raymond Hernandez. The design drew inspiration from owners Kenneth and Raymund Hing’s ambitious character and the constraints of the narrow Mabini Street site.

### What is the design concept behind Gallery 7’s central void?

Hernandez designed a sculpted void stretching across three levels to “decompress” the tight Mabini Street site, accentuated by a diagrid tiled ceiling and sculpted bridges connecting retail spaces to the elevator core as transitional foyers.

### Where is The Tile Gallery located and how many floors does it have?

The Tile Gallery occupies a seven-floor building at 191 A. Mabini St., Addition Hills, San Juan. The top floor, Sevenscape, is an events venue with panoramic views of the Makati, Pasig, and Quezon City skylines.

### Which brands partner with The Tile Gallery?

The Tile Gallery’s partner brands include Olivari, Meridiani, Atlas Concorde, Zucchetti.Kos, Idea Group, Talenti, and Lodes, spanning tiles, furniture, bathroom fixtures, hardware, and lighting across the showroom’s multiple floors.

### What did the BluPrint Circles panel discuss at the opening?

The BluPrint Circles roundtable, moderated by Issa Litton, brought together Michael Vincent Uy, Charisse Ong, Nikki Escalona-Tayag, and Chad Rialp to discuss how material choices shape a space’s design narrative under the theme “A Journey Through Material Craftsmanship.”

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, News

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [The Crucial Role of Environmental Compliance Certificates in Resort Development](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-crucial-role-of-environmental-compliance-certificates-in-resort-development/)

**Published:** March 19, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Recently, Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Barangay Libertad Norte in Sagbayan, Bohol was under fire after it went viral online. People on social media voiced their concerns as it disturbs the pristine beauty and may potentially destroy the natural state of Bohol’s iconic Chocolate Hills. Julieta Sablas, Captain’s Peak Resort administrator, defended the resort in an interview saying that they received approval to build in the said area from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Protected Area Management Board. The Local Government Unit of Sagbayan also granted them a business permit, allowing them to operate the resort.

![Captain's Peak Garden and Resort](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-CHOCOLATE-HILLS-4.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(CHOCOLATE HILLS)-4 - BluPrint")*A screenshot from the controversial video of content creator “Ren The Adventurer” which caught the attention of the public.*

According to the DENR, the resort sits within the protected zone of the Chocolate Hills, which were declared a protected area in 1997 by the administration of the late president Fidel V. Ramos.

“The declaration of the area as a protected area may impose certain restrictions or regulations on land use and development within the protected area, even for privately-owned lands,” DENR’s statement on March 13 states.

![Chocolate Hills in Bohol](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Feature-Cover-Landscape-1-scaled.jpg "Feature Cover (Landscape) (1) - BluPrint")Photo by [Shing](https://unsplash.com/@imshing?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/chocolate-hills-philippines-kCNf42AH5RM?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)

The agency also revealed it had already issued a temporary closure order last September 6, 2023 but the resort continued operating. Sablas acknowledged the receipt of the order but explained that they were appealing the decision.

Apart from the temporary closure order, the DENR said they also issued a Notice of Violation to the Chocolate Hills resort last January 22, 2024 for operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

## **What is an Environmental Compliance Certificate?** 

In the realm of tourism and hospitality, the construction of resorts represents not only a significant investment but also a profound impact on the surrounding environment. As developers seek to capitalize on scenic landscapes and pristine locations, it becomes imperative to strike a delicate balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. One crucial instrument in achieving this equilibrium is the ECC.

Despite Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort’s claim on securing permits from another government agency, the Bohol LGU emphasizes that they don’t have an ECC and that they were not accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

An ECC serves as a safeguard against the adverse effects of resort development on the environment. Here’s why it’s indispensable in the construction of structures like resorts:

### **Preserving Natural Ecosystems**

Resorts are often situated in areas of ecological significance, such as coastal regions, forests, or mountainsides. These locations harbor diverse flora and fauna, fragile ecosystems, and natural habitats. Obtaining an ECC ensures that developers thoroughly assess the potential environmental impacts of their projects. It compels them to implement measures to minimize disturbance to wildlife, preserve vegetation, and protect water bodies, thereby safeguarding the delicate balance of these ecosystems.

### **Mitigating Pollution and Waste**

The influx of tourists to resorts can significantly increase pollution and waste generation. From sewage discharge to solid waste accumulation, improper management can degrade air, water, and soil quality, jeopardizing the health of both the environment and local communities. An ECC mandates the implementation of proper waste management systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and pollution control measures. By adhering to stringent environmental standards, resorts can minimize their ecological footprint and ensure sustainable operations.

### **Promoting Sustainable Development**

Sustainability has become a cornerstone of modern resort development. Beyond mere compliance with regulations, obtaining an ECC signifies a commitment to responsible stewardship of natural resources. It encourages developers to adopt sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient design, renewable energy utilization, and water conservation measures. Moreover, it fosters engagement with local communities, indigenous peoples, and environmental organizations, fostering partnerships for conservation and socio-economic development.

### **Enhancing Reputation and Marketability**

In an era where environmental consciousness is increasingly valued by consumers, possessing an ECC can enhance the reputation and marketability of a resort. Eco-conscious travelers seek destinations that prioritize environmental preservation and sustainable practices. By demonstrating compliance with environmental regulations and obtaining certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), resorts can differentiate themselves in the competitive tourism market, attracting discerning guests and bolstering their brand image.

### **Ensuring Long-Term Viability**

Ultimately, the issuance of an ECC contributes to the long-term viability and resilience of resort developments. By conducting comprehensive environmental assessments and adhering to mitigation measures, developers mitigate the risk of regulatory violations, legal disputes, and reputational damage. Moreover, they future-proof their investments against evolving environmental regulations and climate change impacts, ensuring that resorts remain attractive destinations for generations to come.

The ECC plays a pivotal role in guiding the responsible development of resorts. By addressing environmental concerns, mitigating impacts, and promoting sustainability, it facilitates the harmonious coexistence of tourism and nature. As stakeholders strive to strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation, the ECC emerges as a vital tool for shaping a more sustainable future for resort destinations not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. Resort developers and owners in the country can apply for ECC online through the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau [website](https://eia.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/User-Guide-for-ECC-Applicants.pdf).

In the case of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, should they acquire an ECC prior to construction and operation, its building would have not be deemed unlawful. Regardless, the resort itself is, as described by concerned citizens, an “eyesore.” Design wise, it doesn’t blend well with its environment and disturbs the beauty of the Chocolate Hills. But should we really allow such developments in protected areas even if they have substantial requirements? Apparently, Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort is not the only structure in the area according to the DOT. There is another mountain resort in Sagbayan and a campsite in Carmen town in Bohol.

On March 13, 2024, the DENR issued a cease and desist order on the resort for operating without an ECC. The government still studies the case whether the resort will resume operations in the future.

Related Read: [Panglao Shores in Bohol Aims to Be A Sustainable Leader](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/panglao-shores-in-bohol-aims-to-be-a-sustainable-leader/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort controversial?

The resort, in Barangay Libertad Norte, Sagbayan, sits within the protected Chocolate Hills zone declared in 1997. It went viral after critics said its construction disturbs the landmark’s natural state, and DENR later confirmed it lacked an Environmental Compliance Certificate.

### What is an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)?

An ECC is a Philippine regulatory document required before construction in ecologically significant areas, mandating an assessment of environmental impact and mitigation measures for wildlife, vegetation, water bodies, and waste management before a project can proceed.

### What regulatory actions has DENR taken against Captain’s Peak Resort?

DENR issued a temporary closure order on September 6, 2023, followed by a Notice of Violation on January 22, 2024 for operating without an ECC, and a cease-and-desist order on March 13, 2024.

### Did Captain’s Peak Resort have any permits to build?

The resort’s administrator, Julieta Sablas, said it received approval from the DENR Protected Area Management Board and a business permit from the Sagbayan Local Government Unit, but the Bohol LGU confirmed it lacked an ECC and DOT accreditation.

### Why does the Chocolate Hills area have development restrictions?

The Chocolate Hills were declared a protected area in 1997 under President Fidel V. Ramos. Under DENR rules, this designation can impose land use and development restrictions even on privately owned land within the protected zone.

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Heritage, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Sine Pop: A post-war home turned "Boutique Theatre" in Cubao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/sine-pop/)

**Published:** June 29, 2021
**Author:** Daniel Lampa

**Content:**

**This pandemic has indeed made dedicated cinephiles miss the whole experience of watching a movie in a cinema. Sine Pop, a post-war home turned “Boutique Theatre” in Cubao, will let you experience the thrill and excitement of watching a beautiful film in an actual cinema whose architecture and interiors will inspire you.**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-1.jpg "SINEPOP-1 - BluPrint")![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-2.jpg "c-301x300 - BluPrint")Located in a quiet spot in Cubao, the cinema that stands on a 750sqm lot was initially designed and built by Sotero Pasion Eugenio, a Civil Engineer from Laoag City, and his wife, Lourdes, a pharmacist from Ilocos Norte. The house was completed in 1948. The family of the property owner lived there for almost 70 years. Still, they hardly changed anything with the desire to preserve the beautiful memories of living there.

In 2017, the owner of Sine Pop collaborated with Architect Justin Guiab, who graduated from The University of the Philippines in Diliman in 2015 and placed third in the 2017 architecture board exams. They initially planned on tearing down the old house and building a new structure. However, budget constraints resulted in the owner and the architect’s decision to preserve the main house and incorporate modernity on certain areas of the property.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-3.jpg "SINEPOP-3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-4.jpg "SINEPOP-4 - BluPrint")They renovated the lower floor of the main house into a cafe and lounge area but kept the original frames of all the wood windows, which are now panoramic windows that frame the bamboo forest outside. The old structure at the back of the house is now the cinema. The lush bamboo forest used to be a row of apartments. On the second floor, you are welcomed by a massive Mark Andy Garcia painting. It has two rooms that were initially planned as retail spaces. There is a dimly lit hallway that will lead you to the cinema. This mini-cinema features a 48-seater theater, a seven-meter screen, DCP projector, and a 7.1 surround sound system.

In an article published recently, the architect said, “We were not going for a particular look. Rather, it was an attempt to build something with a sense of humility and honesty. We did not desire to create a striking facade. Instead, we hid the cinema behind the old house and a bamboo forest. We did not want it to stand out. We wanted it to disappear. Honesty led to our use of concrete, stone, and unfinished materials. Whatever material we used had to serve a purpose. We wanted to use the material as it is and not have to hide it behind a layer of paint or tiles. In the end, this saved us additional costs, no more plastering or varnishing to hide the imperfections. We embraced the[ imperfections](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/the-concept-of-wabi-sabi-architecture/).”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-5.jpg "SINEPOP-5 - BluPrint")![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-6.jpg "- BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-9.jpg "SINEPOP-9 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-10.jpg "- BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-11.jpg "SINEPOP-11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-12.jpg "- BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-13.jpg "SINEPOP-13 - BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-14.jpg "SINEPOP-14 - BluPrint")

Sine Pop can also be used for exhibits, press conferences, photoshoots and can be rented for private screenings. There was a 3-day pop-up exhibit last week of works by Cebu based artist, [Lean Reboja](https://www.artstation.com/leanderthal13)

Currently, there is a screening of NORTE, HANGGANAN NG KASAYSAYAN, a 2013 film directed by Lav Diaz and produced by Moira Lang every Sunday. This movie was screened at various film festivals overseas in 2013- Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and San Diego Asian Film Festival.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-7.jpg "- BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-8.jpg "- BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-FEAT-PHOTO.jpg "SINEPOP-FEAT-PHOTO - BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-23.jpg "SINEPOP-23 - BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-22.jpg "SINEPOP-22 - BluPrint")

![Sine Pop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SINEPOP-21.jpg "- BluPrint")

Sine Pop is located at 14 St. Mary St., Quezon City. For inquires and seat reservations, you may contact them through Facebook: SinePopUp and on Instagram: @Sine.Pop

**Notes about the Contributor**

Daniel Lampa

Art enthusiast and into Fashion, French Culture, Mid-century modern design and spends a lot of his time curating his home in Manila and LA. He lives with his 3 dogs, Coco, Yohji and Junya.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Sine Pop and where is it located?

Sine Pop is a boutique cinema inside a converted 1948 post-war house at 14 St. Mary St., Cubao, Quezon City. The renovated property houses a cafe and lounge on the ground floor and a 48-seat theater built into the original structure’s rear annex.

### Who designed Sine Pop’s 2017 renovation?

Architect Justin Guiab, a University of the Philippines Diliman graduate who placed third in the 2017 licensure exam, led Sine Pop’s 2017 adaptive reuse, preserving the 1948 house originally designed by civil engineer Sotero Pasion Eugenio while converting its rear structure into a cinema.

### What design philosophy shaped Sine Pop’s renovation?

Architect Justin Guiab designed Sine Pop around material honesty, using exposed concrete and unfinished stone instead of paint or tiles, and hiding the cinema behind the original house and a bamboo forest so the addition would not visually compete with the historic structure.

### What cinema equipment and seating does Sine Pop have?

Sine Pop’s theater seats 48 guests and features a seven-meter screen, a DCP digital projector, and a 7.1 surround sound system, housed within the property’s original rear structure behind the renovated main house and cafe.

### What films and events does Sine Pop currently host?

Sine Pop screens Lav Diaz’s 2013 film “Norte, Hanggahan ng Kasaysayan” every Sunday and hosts exhibits, press conferences, photoshoots, and private screenings, including a recent pop-up exhibition by Cebu-based artist Lean Reboja.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Cafes, Concept, Interiors, Retail

---

### [Structures that Heal: Dan Lichauco on Designing The Philippines’ First Cancer Center](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/structures-that-heal-dan-lichauco-on-designing-the-philippines-first-cancer-center/)

**Published:** July 15, 2023
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

The healing process doesn’t only require good medicine, the best doctors, and kind advice. Top-notch healing also includes having a good experience during the process. This means being in the right place to heal and experiencing comfort and convenience like they’re constant company. In the world of architecture, designing hospitals is a task that requires not just the ability to empathize with the user’s every single need, it also needs a firm grasp on the complexities of the design for the structure itself because sicknesses themselves are also complex. Cancer, for one, is a disease that has more than 100 different branch diseases that can affect different parts of the body.

It’s the leading cause of death worldwide and was responsible for the loss of nearly 10 million people in 2020. In the Philippines, it’s the third leading cause of death, with lung cancer taking the lead for the highest mortality rate. According to studies from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), this high mortality rate can be attributed to low screening rates which, if done earlier, can help prevent cancer. For cervical and breast cancer alone, only one percent of women get tested for cancer but regardless of the type, these screening rates are incredibly low for the Philippines due to lack of government funding paired with the lack of hospitals offering cancer screening services.

Though cancer is a disease that’s practically an ancient tree with extensive branches, the last five years have given birth to an explosion of new cancer treatments thanks to new cancer drug approvals that enlighten about cancer biology around the world. In the Philippines, one of the most recent developments includes the construction of Healthway Cancer Care Center–the very first cancer center in the Philippines, designed by Architect Dan Lichauco of Archion Architects alongside the best doctors and compassionate nurses who provided their own kind advice in building this groundbreaking project.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives3-1.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives3 - BluPrint")*The Healthway Cancer Care Center is the first hospital focusing on cancer and healing cancer patients.* 

## Dan Lichauco, The Household Name in Healthcare Architecture 

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WP_Dan-Lichauco_FinalCover-2--scaled.jpg "WP_Dan-Lichauco_FinalCover-(2)- - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DanLichauco5.jpg "DanLichauco5 - BluPrint")*Dan Lichauco, the Managing Principal of Archion Architects is the first name people think of when it comes to healthcare architecture.*

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals were scrambling to adapt and keep up with the mass of patients who needed new medicines, technology, and spaces to heal. At the moment when skilled adaptation was necessary, Lichauco, who’s known to be one of the experts in designing healthcare spaces, was brought in to help retrofit the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to the current problem, fixing the existing wards and crafting them with negative pressure to make it as least infectious as possible.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DanLichauco2.jpg "DanLichauco2 - BluPrint")*Dan Lichauco has over 27 years of experience in designing and building healthcare facilities.*
*Chair courtesy of Casa Bella*

In the Philippines, healthcare architecture has Lichauco at the forefront to help create spaces that constantly balance the intricacies of healthcare architecture. As an industry veteran, he has led Archion Architects through several projects with his extensive experience in urban planning, master-planned communities, educational institutions, high-end residential, institutional, office buildings, tenancy improvement design, and healthcare facilities. Lichauco is currently the Managing Principal of Archion Architects. A renowned name known throughout the industry, Lichauco has over 27 years’ worth of experience in the total delivery process and 15 years of experience in urban planning.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DanLichauco10.jpg "DanLichauco10 - BluPrint")*A renowned figure, Lichauco is also a Green Architect. With his leadership, Archion Architects is known as a sustaining member of the Philippine Green Building Council since August 2012.* 

Alongside the up-and-coming cancer center, Archion Architects also designed the Manta Corporate Plaza which recently became a finalist at the World Architecture Festival where it was shortlisted in the Completed Buildings – Office category. The firm will present live in Singapore during the festival on November 29, 2023, to December 1, 2023.

## Designing Healthcare Facilities: What you need to Remember

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives34.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives34 - BluPrint")*With the combined efforts of doctors, Archion Architects, and Dan Lichauco, the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital was built.*

Like the illnesses they deal with, healthcare facilities are complex and difficult to design. Though they look simple to the layman, designing a floor plan where the staff can help patients efficiently go through a comfortable healing process requires more technical thinking that forces the architect to think in multi-dimensions where different users, machines, and a wide range of varying professions are considered during the design process. In healthcare, knowing what the doctor needs and how they work is the pillar to crafting an efficient hospital.

“Healthcare architecture is the top of the pyramid in terms of complexity.” Lichauco says, “ In a hospital, you have a hotel, an office building, officing, residential, and of course, you have treatment and diagnostics. And what’s interesting is that the technology always changes…it’s continuously changing and so we have to keep ourselves up to date and constantly research and understand what the new therapies are, what the new machines are being used, and what’s applicable or not in the Philippine setting.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/DanLichauco.jpg "DanLichauco - BluPrint")

Aside from keeping up with these new developments in healthcare and its professionals, **these facilities should also be designed to cater to the patients’ healing process.**

“One of the things in our office…the number one rule is, every bedroom has to have a window.” Lichauco says, “Light is very important for the healing process.”

Most healthcare facilities have a combination of natural daylight entering through windows or even skylights that let light flood in from above, and artificial lighting. Natural light though is still widely different from artificial light as it has a wider color spectrum and can better help with daily tasks especially since natural light can help with fine color discrimination, allowing for fewer errors during daily work.

Aside from this, windows also allow patients to still experience the outside world, giving them the connection they still need in a time of isolation. According to [a 2018 study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6287302/#bibr3-1178630218812817) by the National Library of Medicine, views of the outside world could help decrease patients’ stress and could help lower their length of stay (LOS) in the hospital.

“We want our patients to be able to experience the clouds passing through the sun, the time changing, as well as, natural light that basically cleanses the room and the environment. We make sure that views are given to the patients. We make sure that when we put different spaces together, it’s as efficient for the patient as possible, as well as, for the staff. On the other side, we have to make sure our staff is protected so we’re very careful about infection control, about where dirty and clean passes each other. We’re very careful about air changes. In the operating room, we change the air 24 times an hour and control humidity so you don’t leave the hospital sicker than when you came in. Patient privacy is also a primary concern.”

Since COVID-19, some hospital architects were able to better adapt healthcare facilities in case another pandemic hits. For Lichauco, he figured out that **unidirectional airflow was one vital design technique**. With this design, an infection that can lead to more patient losses can be minimized as this technique involves airflow moving in a single direction, keeping infected particles away from healthy individuals or keeping already diseased patients from catching new sicknesses.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives2.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives2 - BluPrint")Related read:[ LOOK: DIY COVID-19 home isolation room explained by a healthcare architect](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/diy-covid-19-home-isolation-room/)

“We should be able to shut down parts of the building to handle infectious patients but not disrupt operation for the rest of the hospital.” Lichauco points out, “Once we have the ability to shut down, then we can begin to isolate patients, staff, materials, movements of goods, infected clothes so we can separate them totally and allow the rest of the hospital to run normally.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives3.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives4.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives4 - BluPrint")**The ability to change rooms from the usual positive pressure to negative pressure should also be included in hospital design**. Negative pressure rooms or isolation rooms are spaces that keep infected patients away from other patients, preventing cross-contamination from happening.

“Negative pressure means, when you open the door to a room, the air from the corridor enters the room.” Lichauco says, “Why is that important? Because if an infected patient is in that room and the air is infected, if you open the door and the air goes out then that infected air will infect other people in the corridor. Normally, all hospitals and operating rooms are designed as positive pressure. Meaning, if the door opens, the air leaves because we don’t want contaminated air from the corridor entering the operating rooms where the patients could be immuno-compromised. So negative pressure was very rare. What we’re looking at now is the ability to change rooms so that they move from negative pressure to positive pressure at the switch of a button so that in case the next pandemic hits, we can now begin to handle airborne diseases.”

Remembering the height of COVID, it became clearer now that **hospitals of the future need to become more flexible in a way that general hospitals wouldn’t have to shut down because of one disease.** By only focusing on designing to cater to one, it’s more likely to lose more patient lives.

## What makes a good hospital?

“Do no harm.” The Hippocratic Oath–one of the oldest binding oaths in history pledged by all new physicians says this and is basically the pillar that puts up a good hospital.

“A good facility should prevent the disease from spreading from one room to the other, from one patient to another.”

It’s also vital to teach the doctors and nurses how to use a good hospital, constantly reminding them during the first six months of opening that the hospital was designed a specific way and should be used well to maximize its functions.

## The Healthway Cancer Care Center

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives5.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives5 - BluPrint")A project of the AC Health Company and partner Zodiac Health Ventures, Healthway Cancer Care Center is going to be the first hospital in the country that specializes in comprehensive cancer treatments. As a Department of Health (DOH) Level 2 hospital, it’s slated to have a capacity of 106 beds within a single structure with five levels about grade and two basements. Aside from this, it would have the following facilities for Radiation Oncology (2 Linear accelerators), Brachytherapy (1 CT Simulator), Nuclear Medicine (1 Pet CT and 1 Gamma Camera), Chemotherapy (16 cubicles and 2 bed cubicles), OPD \[Out Patient Department\] (17 Exam/consultation rooms), and the Breast Center (1 sterotactic Mammo, 1 Mammo, and 1 Ultrasound).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives6.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives6 - BluPrint")*Wall colorings in a patient’s room are actually important and help doctors and nurses give a more accurate diagnosis.*

As the first facility dedicated to cancer patients, Healthway Cancer Care Center aims to be the country’s go-to facility service provider for all cancer patients who need accurate and timely diagnosis accompanied by effective treatments. At the same time, it also aims to be the first [EDGE](https://edge.gbci.org/) Certified hospital in the country leading the charge in sustainable healthcare by making it one of the country’s most resource-efficient buildings.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives366.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives366 - BluPrint")*Upon entry, the lobby is a warm and welcoming sight.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives311.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives311 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives310.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives310 - BluPrint")*The waiting room has a warmer palette and rows of comfortable couches for visitors.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives38.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives38 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives37.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives37 - BluPrint")“DOH kind of rewrote the regulations for specialty hospitals based on our design and it was always a cooperative kind of system where we want to make the regulations work for everybody and not just for private or public hospitals.”

Though it’s still under construction, the project is slated for completion this 2023.

The Healthway Cancer Care Center is still a breakthrough for the country. Currently, the country has 10 facilities designated as “national specialty centers”–hospitals with the highest level of expertise in clinical services, teaching and training, and research. These places are also among the country’s apex facilities for medical specialties. As the first of its facilities, the Healthway Cancer Care Center paves more ways for future healthcare practitioners to help birth more innovations that battle cancer while helping those already with the disease.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Healthway-Cancer-Care-Hospital-Perspectives36.jpg "Healthway Cancer Care Hospital Perspectives36 - BluPrint")*Like the other patient rooms, the cafeteria also has a calming green-blue palette.*

“One of the things that we do when we do DOH projects, when we do government projects, our tagline is ‘Because the Filipino Deserves Better’. So we want to make sure that it’s not a ‘pwede na yan’ hospital, but we’re trying to upgrade even the public hospitals so that they come into a level of care that is much better than the hospitals that were built in the 2000s and before. What’s nice to see is as we begin to develop more public hospitals, DOH actually sees us and says, ‘hey, if this firm can do it this way, why can’t our other hospitals be like this?’. So it’s our way of kinda teaching the government as well and upgrading the standards so that we can upgrade the whole healthcare network of the country.”

When it comes to building new healthcare facilities, the job is a harmony between the architect’s knowledge and a highlight of the doctors’ and patients’ needs. Lichauco points out that, as healthcare architects, it’s a basic responsibility to remind doctors of what the hospital would truly need. From design to finance, viability, epidemiology, and disease trends, Lichauco and his team become a full-service firm that looks at all points, helping doctors create a better functioning hospital.

“We’re finding ourselves coming in after the building is finished to teach the doctors, the nurses to teach them how to use the building based on how it was designed…because this is the logic of why things were done this way. ” Lichauco says. “Once we get a firm commitment, ask the right questions, and maybe question their thinking, we come up with a good product because the design is basically the genesis of everybody collaborating, putting everything on the table, and then picking what is good for that particular hospital.”

If such points are rigorously followed in building the next healthcare facilities, the Philippines can have a wider set of hospitals, both in Manila and in the more rural areas, that can help lessen the loss of lives while progressing towards a Philippines that’s more aware in terms of caring for health.

---

Project Credits

Words SHAN ARCEGA
Interview RICK FORMALEJO
Photographer KEIRAN PUNAY
Videographer KIM SANTOS
Video Editor GRANT BABIA
Multimedia Artist PATRICIA OLIVEROS
Grooming CATS DEL ROSARIO
Styling ROUELLA ANN GARCIA
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID
Shot on Location Healthway Cancer Care Center & Manta Building

Special Thanks To CASA BELLA

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed Healthway Cancer Care Center and what is his architectural background?

Dan Lichauco, Managing Principal of Archion Architects, designed Healthway Cancer Care Center. He has more than 27 years of experience in healthcare architecture, previously retrofitting Philippine General Hospital’s wards for negative pressure during COVID-19, and has been a Green Architect and Philippine Green Building Council sustaining member since 2012.

### What makes Healthway Cancer Care Center the first of its kind in the Philippines?

Healthway Cancer Care Center is the Philippines’ first hospital solely dedicated to comprehensive cancer treatment. The DOH Level 2 facility has 106 beds, radiation oncology with two linear accelerators, brachytherapy, nuclear medicine, sixteen chemotherapy cubicles, seventeen consultation rooms, and a dedicated breast center.

### What is a negative pressure room and why is it used in hospital design?

A negative pressure room keeps infected air from leaving when the door opens, drawing corridor air in instead. Lichauco notes most hospitals use positive pressure to protect patients; Healthway’s rooms can switch between the two, allowing isolation of infectious patients during a pandemic without disrupting other operations.

### How does natural light influence hospital design according to Dan Lichauco?

Lichauco’s office rule is that every bedroom must have a window, since natural light supports healing and aids accurate color-based diagnosis. A 2018 National Library of Medicine study he cites found that outdoor views reduce patient stress and can shorten a patient’s length of stay in the hospital.

### What is unidirectional airflow and how does it prevent infection spread in hospitals?

Unidirectional airflow moves air in a single direction through a healthcare facility, keeping infectious particles from spreading to healthy patients or staff. Lichauco applied this design technique so hospitals can isolate infected patients, materials, and movement within one section while the rest of the facility continues operating normally.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Profile

**Tags:** Architecture, Dan Lichauco, Design, Healthcare architecture, hospitals, Philippines

---

### [Women Leading the Way in Architecture through Education and Innovation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/women-leading-the-way-in-architecture-through-education-and-innovation/)

**Published:** March 15, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the dynamic [world of architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/), women architects are carving out their space, reshaping skylines, and transforming communities through their creativity, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Among these trailblazers are Nikki Buensalido, Nikki Tayag, and Rebecca Plaza-Ti, whose architectural journeys highlight the transformative power of education, vision, and perseverance.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-1 - BluPrint")As they navigate the intricacies of the built environment, these women reshape the physical landscape while championing inclusivity, sustainability, and social impact.

## **Nikki Buensalido: Redefining Contemporary Philippine Architecture**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-16.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-16 - BluPrint")Nikki Buensalido’s journey in architecture is a testament to her resilience, vision, and commitment to Filipino identity. Graduating magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, Buensalido’s academic achievements laid the groundwork for her illustrious career in architecture. After honing her skills through internships and passing the [Architecture Licensure Exam](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-to-ace-the-architecture-licensure-exam-ale/), she officially joined [Buensalido + Architects](https://www.buensalidoarchitects.com/) in 2011, where she played a pivotal role in rebranding the firm and shaping its distinct identity.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-14.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-14 - BluPrint")*Outfit by Closet Culture*

Buensalido + Architects specializes in contemporary Philippine architecture, characterized by an experimental, process-oriented, and context-driven design approach. Buensalido’s passion for her craft extends beyond the confines of traditional practice. She is deeply involved in various aspects of architectural endeavor, from business development and project management to design approval and community engagement. Her firm’s projects, such as the Redenza Suites, exemplify her commitment to sustainability, vibrant aesthetics, and user-centric design solutions.

The Redenza Suites project holds a special place in Buensalido’s heart. It embodies her family’s legacy and her vision for contemporary Philippine architecture. From conceptualization to completion, she infused the project with a sense of vibrancy, warmth, and functionality, creating spaces that resonate with the Filipino spirit. The project’s success underscores Buensalido’s ability to marry innovation with tradition, creating spaces that inspire and uplift communities.

## **Nikki Tayag: Illuminating Spaces with Architectural Lighting Design**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-26.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-26 - BluPrint")Nikki Tayag’s architectural journey is illuminated by her passion for lighting design and her dedication to education. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas, Tayag pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design in New York. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience, she returned to the Philippines to found her boutique firm, 33rd & 3rd Architectural Lighting Design, with a focus on user experience, creativity, and collaboration.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-22.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-22 - BluPrint")*Outfit by Closet Culture*

Specializing in architectural lighting design for interior, exterior/façade, and landscape/land development, Tayag’s firm is at the forefront of innovation and creativity. Her projects showcase a deep understanding of light as a design tool, enhancing spatial experiences and creating environments that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Beyond practice, Tayag is committed to education. She serves as the Dean of the College of Architecture and Design at Enderun Colleges, where she imparts her knowledge and passion for design to the next generation of architects.

Tayag’s expertise and dedication to her craft have earned her recognition and accolades. This includes a nomination in the Women in Lighting Awards by The Light Collective, UK. Her leadership in architectural lighting design shapes the physical landscape and redefines how we experience and interact with our built environment. Her commitment to improving lives through architecture is reflected in projects like the BSP SNR Complex, which symbolizes hope and upliftment for the Filipino community.

## **Rebecca Plaza-Ti: Building a Better Future through Social Architecture**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-18.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-18 - BluPrint")Rebecca Plaza-Ti’s architectural journey is marked by excellence, social impact, and a commitment to lifelong learning. With academic accolades from prestigious institutions such as the University of Bath and the University of Cambridge, Rebecca’s architectural prowess is matched only by her dedication to community engagement and social justice.

[Plaza and Partners](https://www.plazaandpartners.com/), now integrated into WTA Architecture and Design Studio, champions social architecture. They place people at the forefront of design. Through her firm’s projects and advocacy efforts, Rebecca strives to create inclusive and barrier-free environments that promote discovery, exploration, and societal development.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-19.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-19 - BluPrint")*Outfit by Closet Culture*

Rebecca’s journey in architecture is characterized by her unwavering commitment to excellence, her dedication to social impact, and her willingness to challenge the status quo. As Managing Director of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, she continues to lead by example, inspiring others to push boundaries, embrace diversity, and create spaces that empower and uplift communities.

## **Balancing Motherhood and Design Excellence**

As women architects continue to make significant contributions to the field, their journeys serve as inspiration for future generations. Buensalido, Tayag, and Plaza-Ti exemplify the transformative power of education, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in shaping the built environment and empowering communities. Through their leadership, mentorship, and advocacy efforts, they pave the way for a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future in architecture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-29.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-29 - BluPrint")Moreover, these three women are not just architects reshaping skylines and transforming communities. They also balance the demanding roles of being moms. Their ability to navigate both professional excellence and motherhood highlights their resilience, dedication, and exceptional time management skills. Balancing design meetings, site visits, and project deadlines with family responsibilities requires careful planning and flexibility. Yet they demonstrate that it’s possible to excel in both realms, inspiring others to pursue their passions without compromising on family life.

In her architectural journey, Buensalido emphasizes the experiential nature of design, highlighting the importance of engaging all the senses. She believes that architecture should evoke memories, appeal to the brain, and touch the human heart. Spaces should elicit emotional responses and inspire lasting experiences. Buensalido draws inspiration not only from renowned architects like Le Corbusier and Rem Koolhaas but also from local icon Bambi [Manosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/christmas-with-the-manosas-an-intimate-affair/). Her commitment to community and art resonates deeply with her. Additionally, her children serve as constant sources of creativity and inspiration, reminding her of the limitless possibilities of imagination and play.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-28.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-28 - BluPrint")*(L-R) Outfit Rebecca’s Personal; Outfit by The Closet Culture; Outfit by The Closet Culture; Outfit by The Closet Culture*

For Tayag, the element of light holds paramount importance in architectural design, particularly natural light. With a deep understanding of its potential to enhance spaces and improve well-being, Tayag strives to optimize light as a fundamental design tool. Drawing inspiration from architects like Tadao Ando and lighting designers like Tino Kwan, she incorporates simplicity, site context, and innovative lighting solutions into her practice. Despite the demands of her profession, Tayag finds joy in designing landscape and land development projects. She relishes the opportunity to integrate diverse elements into cohesive and visually engaging spaces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-7.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-7 - BluPrint")Plaza finds inspiration in her partner, both personally and professionally, as they share a mutual passion for architecture and design. Their intellectual exchanges and shared appreciation for architectural giants like Rem Koolhaas and Le Corbusier shaped Plaza’s approach to design. She emphasizes the importance of placing people at the forefront of every architectural endeavor, recognizing the profound impact buildings have on individuals and communities. Plaza’s dedication to prioritizing human-centric design reflects her commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable, and socially impactful environments.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-1-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-1 - BluPrint")*(L-R) Outfit from UNIVERS \[Skirt & Top VB Body, Jacket Victoria Beckham\]; Outfit by The Closet Culture; Jacket from UNIVERS and Top & Pants from The Closet Culture*

As architects, Nikki Buensalido, Nikki Tayag, and Rebecca Plaza-Ti excel in their professional endeavors. But they also demonstrate remarkable resilience and dedication as mothers. Balancing the demands of architecture and motherhood, they continue to inspire others with their creativity, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence in both realms.

Innovation and education are central to the architectural endeavors of Nikki Buensalido, Nikki Tayag, and Rebecca Plaza-Ti. They continually push the boundaries of design while imparting their knowledge to others.

## **Transforming the Future of Architecture through Education and Innovation**

Buensalido’s role in innovation shines through her firm’s experimental and context-driven design approach, constantly seeking new ways to marry tradition with innovation. Her dedication to education is evident in her involvement in various aspects of architectural endeavor. From mentoring young architects to engaging with communities, she fosters a deeper understanding of design’s impact.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-10.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-10 - BluPrint")Tayag’s passion for architectural lighting design exemplifies innovation, as she continually explores new techniques and technologies to enhance spatial experiences. As the Dean of the College of Architecture and Design at Enderun Colleges, she plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of architects, instilling in them a commitment to creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

Plaza-Ti’s commitment to innovation is reflected in her firm’s focus on social architecture, creating inclusive and barrier-free environments that prioritize human-centric design. Through her advocacy efforts and leadership roles, she actively promotes the importance of education in architecture. She inspires others to embrace innovation and push the boundaries of design to create meaningful impact in communities.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BluPrint-2024-March-IN-ARTICLE-BPPERSPECTIVE-13.jpg "BluPrint-2024-March-IN ARTICLE-(BPPERSPECTIVE)-13 - BluPrint")*(L-R) Outfit by The Closet Culture; Outfit by The Closet Culture; Outfit from UNIVERS \[Blazer and Skirt Thom Brown and Shirt Victoria Beckham\]*

Collectively, Buensalido, Tayag, and Plaza-Ti exemplify how innovation and education are integral to their professional success. Both are essential for shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful future in architecture.

Related Read: [Meloy Casas and Bong Recio: A Powerful Partnership Leading the PIA](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/meloy-casas-and-bong-recio-a-powerful-partnership-leading-the-pia/)

---

**Project Credits**

Text: Rick Formalejo
Photographer: Kieran Punay of KliQ Inc.
Videographer: Excel Panlaque of KliQ Inc.
Video Editor: Brylle Joseph Sarmiento
Sittings Editor: Arch. Geewel Fuster
Creative Direction: Jehd Francisco
Art Director: Marc Yellow
Makeup Artist: Cats Del Rosario
Hairstylist: Marj Cabarrios
Stylist: Siya Daryani and Roshni Mirpuri
Shoot coordination: Mae Talaid
Shot on location: Casa Bella Home and Living Showroom.
Wardrobe from The Closet Culture and Homme et Femme

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Nikki Buensalido and what defines her approach to contemporary Philippine architecture?

Nikki Buensalido is a principal at Buensalido + Architects, known for an experimental, process-oriented approach to contemporary Philippine architecture. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, she led the firm’s rebranding and designed projects such as Redenza Suites, emphasizing sensory, memory-driven spatial experience.

### What is architectural lighting design, and how does Nikki Tayag apply it in her practice?

Architectural lighting design uses light as a spatial design tool for interior, façade, and landscape projects. Nikki Tayag, founder of 33rd & 3rd Architectural Lighting Design and Dean of Enderun Colleges’ College of Architecture and Design, applies natural and artificial light to enhance spatial experience, drawing on Tadao Ando’s influence.

### What is social architecture, and how does Rebecca Plaza-Ti’s firm practice it in the Philippines?

Social architecture places people and community impact at the center of design, prioritizing inclusive and barrier-free environments. Rebecca Plaza-Ti, Managing Director of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, formerly Plaza and Partners, applies this approach through projects and advocacy that promote accessibility, discovery, and societal development.

### How do women architects like Buensalido, Tayag, and Plaza-Ti balance motherhood with running a design practice?

These architects manage motherhood alongside firm leadership, mentorship, and site work through deliberate planning and flexibility. Buensalido draws creative inspiration from her children, while Tayag and Plaza-Ti describe similar integration of family life with design meetings, project deadlines, and advocacy commitments across their practices.

### Which architects and designers influence Buensalido, Tayag, and Plaza-Ti’s design philosophies?

Nikki Buensalido cites Le Corbusier, Rem Koolhaas, and Bambi Manosa as influences on her experiential design approach. Nikki Tayag draws from Tadao Ando and lighting designer Tino Kwan. Rebecca Plaza-Ti’s design thinking is shaped by professional exchange with her partner and shared admiration for Koolhaas and Le Corbusier.

**Categories:** Architects, Architecture, Bluprint Perspective, Civic, Profile, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [PIID Hails New BOTs to Boost Sustainable Design Efforts](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/piid-hails-new-bots-to-boost-sustainable-design-efforts/)

**Published:** February 20, 2024
**Author:** Hannah Haber

**Content:**

The [Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID)](https://piid.org.ph/) has been elevating the professionalization and impact of interior design in the country for sixty years. Driven by its core values, it centers its endeavors on sustainable interior designs to uplift the Philippine cultural heritage and global recognition.

With this motivation, the PIID introduced its 2024-2025 Board of Trustees (BOTs) during the oath-taking ceremony held at the Goldenberg Mansion, Manila on February 6.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-3.jpeg "image-3 - BluPrint")Led by the PRC Interior Design Chairperson Sonia Olivares, the ceremony began with a valedictory note from the outgoing president Maria Victoria Almario. Sheila Romero followed this with her delivery of Congressman Michael Romero’s speech. First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos was also present as the event’s guest speaker.

The nine celebrated new BOTs were the youngest in PIID’s long years of history, namely:

IDr. John Paolo Castro, President

IDr. Cynthia Marie Fernandez-Beltran, Vice President

IDr. Jose Enrico Santiago, Corporate Secretary

IDr. Lorenzo Valencia III, Treasurer

IDr. Rossy Anne Rojales, Exec. Director for Professional Development

IDr. Carla Mae Leonor, Exec. Director for Public Relations

IDr. Katherine Anne Correa, Exec. Director for Events

IDr. Christine Villamora, Exec. Director for Finance

IDs. Ma. Carmen Lim-Regala, Exec. Director for Practice and Ethics

Furthermore, PIID also recognized Architect and Interior Designer [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lee-residence-elevated-perspectives-by-ed-calma/) as the Outstanding Professional of the Year. He is a key contributor to the [Philippine Contemporary Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/) renowned for his luxurious home designs.

## **Roles Of The New PIID BOTs**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-1.jpeg "image-1 - BluPrint")With the inauguration of the new BOTs, PIID entered a new era led by a team pledged to elevate interior design in both local and international scenes. PIID believed that the BOTs will provide modern points of views and progressive initiatives to the organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new Board of Trustees, whose collective vision and passion for design will guide our organization into the future,” Almario stated.

Olivares even lauded the new PIID BOTs’ roles for their excellence, creativity, and constant growth in the interior design discipline.

## **PIID In The Midst Of Climate Emergency**

![IDr Cynthia Almario and IDr Ivy Almario, former PIID President.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IDr.-Cynthia-Almario-with-PIID-Immediate-Past-President-IDr.-Ivy-Almario-scaled.jpg "IDr. Cynthia Almario with PIID Immediate Past President, IDr. Ivy Almario - BluPrint")Being the only accredited interior design organization in the Philippines, PIID carries the task to reimagine the purpose of interior design in dealing with modern challenges.

Despite the country’s vulnerability to climate and environmental threats, PIID ensured to remain loyal to its [sustainability schemes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/why-are-sustainable-homes-vital-in-the-philippines/).

“As we confront pressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation, the PIID remains steadfast in its commitment to leveraging design as a force for positive change,”Almario stressed.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JEN08259-scaled.jpg "JEN08259 - BluPrint")The new PIID Board of Trustees with the First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos.Moreover, the RA 11904 or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act embedded in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 further supports PIID’s dedication to sustainability. This allows the creative sector to build collaborative partnerships across the different sectors of the society.

Congressman Romero also shared the same ideal through his call for the passage of the New Philippine Building Act. This policy has a potential to speed up PIID’s aim to re-establish lasting buildings and facilities in the country.

“With this threat \[of global challenges\] at hand, it is high time that everyone be proactive in ensuring that the country’s infrastructures will be well-equipped to deal with such a scenario,” Sheila Romero furthered.

## **The Future Of Filipino Interior Designers** 

![Philippine Institute of Interior Designers](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-2.jpeg "image-2 - BluPrint")The PIID already laid out its plans for the succeeding years. These will primarily revolve around the promotion of interior design careers in Southeast Asia, design-driven transformation of societies, and empowerment of Filipino designers to reach greater heights in the Philippines and abroad.

In line with this, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers President Paolo Castro urged interior designers to create inclusive and collaborative ties with other industries including the government. This was to put weight on the idea that aesthetics is not the sole cornerstone of interior designers.

“It is our mission to harness the boundless potential of Philippine interior design to not only captivate the world but also to inspire meaningful change and leave an enduring legacy for generations to come,” Castro asserted.

**Read more:** [Jet Acuzar’s Tapestry of Memories and Practical Elegance](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/jet-acuzars-tapestry-of-memories-and-practical-elegance/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who leads the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers’ 2024-2025 Board of Trustees?

IDr. John Paolo Castro serves as president of PIID’s 2024-2025 Board of Trustees, installed February 6 at Goldenberg Mansion, Manila. The nine-member board, PIID’s youngest ever, includes Cynthia Marie Fernandez-Beltran as vice president and Jose Enrico Santiago as corporate secretary.

### What is the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904) and how does it relate to PIID?

RA 11904, the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, is embedded in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and supports collaborative partnerships across creative sectors. PIID cites the law as reinforcing its sustainability mandate and its role as the Philippines’ sole accredited interior design organization.

### What is the New Philippine Building Act proposed by Congressman Michael Romero?

The New Philippine Building Act, championed by Congressman Michael Romero, is a proposed policy intended to strengthen the durability and resilience of Philippine buildings and facilities. PIID has voiced support for the measure as part of its climate-adaptive design advocacy.

### Who was named PIID’s Outstanding Professional of the Year in 2024?

Architect and interior designer Ed Calma was named PIID’s Outstanding Professional of the Year, recognized for his contributions to Philippine contemporary architecture and for his body of luxury residential design work within the local design industry.

### What are PIID’s priorities for Filipino interior designers going forward?

PIID’s new leadership, under president John Paolo Castro, is prioritizing the promotion of interior design careers across Southeast Asia, design-driven societal transformation, and cross-industry collaboration with government to position interior design beyond aesthetics alone.

**Categories:** Designers, Interiors, News, Profile

**Tags:** Interior Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS: January 2019 Architect Licensure Exam results](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/2019-architect-licensure-exam-results/)

**Published:** January 31, 2019
**Author:** Arielle Abrigo

**Content:**

The examinations were administered in different PRC testing centers all over the country including Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Legaspi, and Zamboanga on January 25 and 27.

Justin Lei Germino Ramos from Cebu Institute of Technology University got the top spot with 83.80%. University of the Philippines, Diliman’s Carlo Martin Lovete Llanto came in at close second at 83.50%, tied with Christina Marie Reamico Relucio of Technological University of the Philippines, Manila. Angelo Ezekiel Pallorina Nuestro of De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde took the third place with 83.40%.

## Here are the rest that made it to the Top 10:

Genna Aina Gapusan Domingo, Mapua University – Manila – 83.00%

Sofia Marga Vallega Silot, University of Mindanao, Davao City – 82.30%

Ulysses Eduardo Baldo De Guia, Jr., Mapa University – Manila – 82.00%

Ivan Lester Leaño, Technological Institute of the Philippines – Manila – 81.80%

Marlon Capistrano Gamilong – Technological Institute of the Philippines -Manila – 81.70%

Kim Mark Anthony Talictic Revote, University of Mindanao – Davao City – 81.70%

Noel Tizon Amor Jr., University of Mindanao – Davao City – 81.60%

Emmanuel Josemarie Reyes Teruel, University of Santo Tomas – 81.50%

Here are the rest of the board passers:

## ARCHITECT LICENSURE EXAMINATION

Held on JANUARY 25 & 27, 2019

Released on JANUARY 30, 2019

Seq. No. Name

1 ABANES, LESLIE VIDALLO

2 ABANILLA, ROXANNE LAPARAN

3 ABELLA, CARLO ALEJANDRO LAVARO

4 ABELLA, CHENEN IRIS JURIZA

5 ABILON, GERALD INFANTE

6 ABINA, DONNA MARIE VILLARDO

7 ABLAZA, RAISA KATHLEEN BANTING

8 ABRAJANO, ROAN JANE SALUNOY

9 ABRIL, CHRISTIAN JOY TAMONTE

10 ABROGINA, PATRICIA YSABELLE ESPORLAS

11 ABUEVA, AMELY TUYOR

12 ABUEVA, MARC LAWRENCE PONCE

13 ACANTILADO, ARVIN CLEMENTE

14 ACOB, MARJORIE PORLAY

15 ACOSTA, ALDRIN BOY OLIVAR

16 ACQUIATAN, LOREN ADINO

17 ACUIN, ELEAZAR SAGUN

18 ADEJA, CEZRIC CARLO PANCERAS

19 ADORNA, CARLZDEL DE LEON

20 ADRIANO, ADRIAN CARLOS TAGANAS

21 AGAPAY, JOHN OLIVER SEE

22 AGAPITO, PETER PAUL BELARDO

23 AGAS, JONIE GALLARDO

24 AGCAOILI, GARY DELEÑA

25 AGUAS, JOHN MARCELIN TORNO

26 AGUILA, KAE ANN MONTECILLO

27 AGUILA, MARAYA BIANCA AJERO

28 AGUSTIN, KRYSTAL JOY EDO

29 ALA, RUSSEL LOWELL CABUQUIN

30 ALAG, SHEMINITH DE LA SERNA

31 ALANES, ALECS GERSHWIN GARING

32 ALANO, KARLO PACURSA

33 ALAURIN, JEFF DUPAN

34 ALBESOR, ELIA KIM LORENZO

35 ALBOROTO, CHEMUEL CELLO

36 ALCAZAR, ARVIEN DIAMANTE

37 ALCOBER, JOSE VICENTE DE LEON

38 ALEGA, REMWIL PASCUA

39 ALEJO, JOHN BERNARD DELELIS

40 ALENTON, ROD CHRISTIAN REYES

41 ALFONSO, FERNANDO DOMINIC CUNANAN

42 ALIMURUNG, STEPHANIE SACASAS

43 ALLEDA, AIREEN MAE PALANCA

44 ALMAJOSE, JINKY VEGA

45 ALMEIDA, DIEGO SOLOMON SEVILLA

46 ALMONTE, ANGELICA SANTOS

47 ALMONTE, MARIA AILEEN ANTE

48 ALMONTE, RACHEL MAE ENCINARES

49 ALOB, AIRO JAMES GABISON

50 ALTES, KEVIN MAISO

51 ALTEZA, LAWRENCE PAZ

52 ALVARADO, JESSICA CHRISTIE MARABE

53 ALVAREZ, SOLON JR VALLANO

54 AMARADO, MATT ANDREW FAJARDO

55 AMARO, RACHELLE DEMATERA

56 AMBANLOC, JEROME BANTA

57 AMBE, JEROLD ARL EAMIGUEL

58 AMOR, NOEL JR TIZON

59 ANCHETA, DARLENE ELOISA FERNANDEZ

60 ANCHETA, MA CHIA FE ZAIRA GABITO

61 ANDICOY, ALLEN DANIEL ALOBIN

62 ANDRADA, CHARLES ANGELO TABON

63 ANDRES, JUAN ISHMAEL RODRIGUEZ

64 ANDREY, MAY FLEUR ZARAH SAAVEDRA

65 ANGELES, GERALD BAYBAYAN

66 ANINO, KATHLEEN MAE JUANITAS

67 ANOT, JAYSON RONNALD NARANJO

68 ANTUERPIA, ARIANNE JOY LLANTO

69 ANUNCIADO, APPLE VISTAL

70 ANUSENCION, NOVEL DAYRIT

71 APARI, DANIELO JR ASEO

72 APODACA, RYAN TRIPULCA

73 AQUIDADO, JUSTIN DEOCAMPO

74 AQUINO, ALJEAM AIRA MARTINEZ

75 AQUINO, IAN LESTER NEGRITE

76 AQUINO, JAN CEDRIC VALDEVIEZO

77 ARAC, DONNA MAE JALALON

78 ARAZAN, TIFFANY PARDILLO

79 ARCALES, DORONITO ESBRA

80 ARCENAL, JEFFERSON DACUMOS

81 ARCEO, ROZZELLIA SIGUA

82 ARCILLA, JOSE JR AVILA

83 ARELLANO, ALLAN REUPTA

84 ARELLANO, AMERY ANN DELOS SANTOS

85 ARISTAS, HAROLD VILLARAZA

86 ARMENION, JOHN JOB LOPEZ

87 ARSAYO, NOWELL RON ALFONSA

88 ARTIAGA, CINDY PALADAN

89 ASCUTIA, GEOFREY BAYONITO

90 ASENIERO, CAREZZA MARIE PAGHASIAN

91 ASUNCION, NIXON PEREZ

92 ATANACIO, ROBERTO JR MARCELO

93 ATCHUELA, SHERYL VALENZUELA

94 ATIJERA, DERRICK WILQUIN ORROS

95 AUNZO, VINCENT SEPTEMBER MALAZARTE

96 AVILA, ANTONIO JR ALIBANGBANG

97 AWAT, KIM ERESON AGONCILLO

98 AYENTO, CARLOS MIGUEL BOQUIREN

99 AÑONUEVO, JANINE BALUNZO

100 BAANG, RACHEL ANN MAE MANDABON

101 BABASA, DIONYL ROJO

102 BABON, KIO ZAMANTHA CERDEÑA

103 BACLIG, GENESSEY MACATUNGGAL

104 BACULAO, NIÑA SAJOL

105 BACUNGAN, ROCKSTY JAMES KURT MULDONG

106 BAGONA, HOMER FRANCISCO

107 BAGUSO, GERRY JOVIN VILLANUEVA

108 BAHIAN, AL GLEN ACERA

109 BALANAY, DEO VALLENTE

110 BALANGUE, SHARMAINE OSPIG

111 BALBOA, NELSON MARZAN

112 BALBON, JUVELYN OCTAT

113 BALDEMORO, SARAH MAE ABAYON

114 BALDOZA, MARME VILGERA

115 BALEN, RONA LEI CRESMUNDO

116 BALMEO, ZENY ROSE CALICA

117 BALUYOT, BEA FRANCISCO

118 BALUYUT, EDMER SALAK

119 BALUYUT, SANDER ANGELO MIGUEL CORONEL

120 BANCO, MARVIN MAGLALANG

121 BANDIANON, MARY LOUISE ECITO

122 BANDOJO, JONUEL BALAORO

123 BANGI, MEGAN CERA

124 BANZON, JONAS TIMOTHY VELASCO

125 BARRAMEDA, EDDMAR ARINGO

126 BARRETO, PAOLO STEVEN MALLORCA

127 BARROMETRO, BIEN PHILLIP BARAL

128 BASCON, CHRISTIAN SORIANO

129 BASISTER, MICHELLE CASUELA

130 BASMAYOR, SHEENA PEARL

131 BATION, JARRID CATUBIG

132 BATO, CRISTINA MARIE BAHINTING

133 BAUTISTA, EXCEL JETHER CASIO

134 BAUTISTA, SHEILA ENRIQUEZ

135 BAWAG, JENALYN MENDIOLA

136 BAYBAY, JAHZIEL VILLANUEVA

137 BAYER, JESSON ALEGRIA

138 BAYOT, JERR VASHNER LACSON

139 BAYOT, REBOMAFIL II CIPRIANO

140 BEDIONES, ALFONSO IV HOFILEÑA

141 BELLEN, MYRENE VEGA

142 BELTRAN, JENNIE ROSE DE VERA

143 BELTRAN, MARLON BATAS

144 BELTRAN, ROQUEMAR SORIANO

145 BENEDICTOS, RACHELL DE GUZMAN

146 BENOYA, SERKNIGHT SAGARINO

147 BENSON, ANGELIQUE FLORENCIO

148 BERGONIO, RUSTY NEIL BARING

149 BERNABE, CRISTIAN PAUL TUAZON

150 BERNABE, KATHARINE RAPSING

151 BERNAL, JUST DE LEON

152 BERNAL, RITZ OCSILLOS

153 BERNARDINO, JULIUS SORIANO

154 BERNARDO, MICHELLE FERRER

155 BIAY, RAFAEL CARINO

156 BILANDO, IRIS PEARL LISABA

157 BILL, ALLAN JUSTIN REYES

158 BILOLO, PONS NICKOLE SOLOMON

159 BIOLENA, RYAN ALFRED DIESTA

160 BLANCO, JULIUS CAESAR DOCTOR

161 BLAQUERA, JAMES BRIAN GONZALES

162 BOADO, DONA KRISTLE SOTELO

163 BOCANEGRA, MA CARLA ANGELA HIDALGO

164 BOJOCAN, JORDAN TEJERO

165 BOLAY-OG, ABIGAIL ENRIQUEZ

166 BOLAY-OG, QUINETTE ENRIQUEZ

167 BOLAÑOS, KRISTOPHER RHENZ RELLETA

168 BOLLENA, MART FRANCIS DECINO

169 BOLO, NIKKI GOM-OS

170 BONADOR, FAITH JOY AGUINALDO

171 BONGANAY, CHARINA MAY BEJINO

172 BORCELIS, ROSALIO JR BORLAGDAN

173 BORCES, LOUIS LOPEZ

174 BORINES, RAFAEL LUIS BUENAVENTURA

175 BORJA, STEVEN CHARLES CARAGA

176 BORNALES, ROGELIO JR MADRID

177 BORRE, GERWIN POPA

178 BORROMEO, RENEE CASTILLO

179 BOY, MARYGAIL MAY JALMAN

180 BRAGAT, WINDEL DUMANCAS

181 BRAVO, NICOLE ANDREW NEBIT

182 BRINGUER, KATHE ALING

183 BRIZO, ADONIS JR MERMIDA

184 BRODETH, CYRUS JOHN MAGDAMIT

185 BUAG, SARAHLEEN BITARA

186 BUAN, FATIMA CORTEZ

187 BUDIAO, FREDERICK ALBARADO

188 BUENAFE, MIKHAIL PAOLO MONTEALTO

189 BULA, ELPIDIO AXL III ORALE

190 BULATAO, MARK JOSEPH MANLIMID

191 BUMANGLAG, CHARLOTTE MAE SALES

192 BURGOS, MICHAEL ANGELO MONDERIN

193 BUTAS, GIMELLE MAGPILI

194 CAAG, JERAHMEEL AGACER

195 CABACUNGAN, CHRISTINE MAUREEN ALIP

196 CABAEL, VON JONI AURELIO

197 CABALLERO, GENVIER BONG MACANLALAY

198 CABALTICA, ARNIE MARI SILVA

199 CABANTE, KAREN MARIE MAGADAN

200 CABATAY, MARICON CECILIA NICOLAS

201 CABILES, JULIE ANN SORIANO

202 CABRALES, CRISTIAN PAUL AMATE

203 CACAL, CHESTERDALE ADRIANE VISTRO

204 CACHO, ANDRES RAPER

205 CACHOLA, JAMAICA CORDOVA

206 CADAG, JORLAND PAZ

207 CADAPAN, MICHAEL RUSSEL ANGELO VALDEZ

208 CADIENTE, ROMEL YANOS

209 CAHILIG, MARICHELLE ANN CUSTODIO

210 CALATA, JOHN NOEL DELA MERCED

211 CALDERON, REYNALDO JR LOZADA

212 CALIMLIM, RAMON CARLO CUBILLAS

213 CALINGASAN, NILO ELIGIO JR MAYO

214 CALLING, MA JOANNA REVECCA CALVENTO

215 CALUD, JOEVIN BALTAZAR

216 CALUDUCAN, MAYRA CAMILLE SAYUD

217 CALUPIT, ROUWEIL HANDIG

218 CAMAYA, MARI VITA EUGENIA ZABALA

219 CAMINERO, HAROLD BABANO

220 CAMPOS, JESUS III BERMIDO

221 CANAPI, GERALDINE AGGABAO

222 CANDELARIA, FAE KATHLEEN ARNAIZ

223 CANO, JENNYLYN LUSUNG

224 CANOBIS, JOHN TOBY GOMEZ

225 CANTADA, DARLA MAE FERAER

226 CANTOR, ROCKY JOHN GANNABAN

227 CANZON, FRANCIS DAVID TAPAN

228 CAO, JEROSE DIAZ

229 CAPAN, JESUS ANTONIO JAVIER

230 CAPILI, JANINE ANGELICA PALOR

231 CAPILI, MAITA ALYSSA GLODOVIZA

232 CAPINDING, ROBERTSON REYES

233 CAPUNO, DENISE ANN CERA

234 CARANTO, RYAN MARK SAYA-AO

235 CARAOS, KVALHEIM MARTIN

236 CARATOL, CARLO GOMEZ

237 CARBON, JELLIE ANN VICENTE

238 CARIAN, SAHARA JANE ATENTA

239 CARIAZO, LYZA CAMILLE KING

240 CARINGAL, CHAMBERLAIN MACASADIA

241 CARNITES, EUSEBIO JR VASQUEZ

242 CARO, ANGELO JAVATE

243 CAROLINO, GLECINIO JR OLIVEROS

244 CARREON, MARIE ANGELA CAGUIOA

245 CARRERAS, JOY FELICHI SABA

246 CARTAS, CAMILLE MAE NIMUAN

247 CARUNUNGAN, CAMILA ANN BALCE

248 CASICAS, DANIELL IVES PASTELERO

249 CASIGNIA, ALYSSA MARIE VELASCO

250 CASIL, CHESTER JOJIE ZAMORA

251 CASIMIRO, JOMAR YANGCO

252 CASTILLANO, JHAN LEE OLAGUER

253 CASTILLEJOS, ARIELLE TIU

254 CASTILLO, BERNARD LORICO

255 CASTILLO, EUGENE AUREL BENESA

256 CASTILLO, LUIGEE ORTEGA

257 CASTILLO, RACHEAL ALCANTARA

258 CASTILLO, RONALD GAVIN PANTE

259 CASTISIMO, PRINCESS JULIE CANO

260 CASTRO, ANGELO DOMINIC DADIOS

261 CASTRO, CAMILLE AGUILAR

262 CASTRO, DARELL LAXA

263 CASTRO, ERILYN ANGELICA MAE ESPIRITU

264 CASTRO, MARK ANTHONY LINDO

265 CASTRO, ROXANE ESTOESTA

266 CASUGA, DAVID ASHTONE LAWAG

267 CASUPANAN, JOSE III CASTILLO

268 CATAPANG, RASSEL JONES CEMPRON

269 CATARINA, MAIZA VARGAS

270 CATBAGAN, ELIJAH MICHAEL MANAOIS

271 CATIBOG, RYAN PAOLO MUSA

272 CAUSON, MARIA THERESA MIKAELA CRUZADO

273 CAÑIZARES, KENZO JOHN RODRIGUEZ

274 CELIS, MATTHEW LOUISE CALALANG

275 CENTENERA, CARMELINA FULO

276 CHAN, KATYA DANIELLE YAMZON

277 CHAN, REGINA ISABELLA MEDINA

278 CHAVEZ, MARLYN MIRANDA

279 CHIANG, KATES ANN ROBLES

280 CHIU, ERWIN MARK DY

281 CHIUCO, WRENC LOUIS BADURIA

282 CHOW, ARMAINNE DATU

283 CHU, JOHN MANUEL GOPIAO

284 CHUA, PAUL KEVIN BOS

285 CIRILO, SAMSON EVAN KENDRICK ENSOMO

286 CLARITE, CHERRIE MARIE GUMAL

287 CLARO, JOEFRE AVILES

288 CLEMENS, IAN JAMES PROFETANA

289 CLET, RUBY ANN RANUDA

290 CO, JOHAN DOMINIC CHAN

291 CODOY, RALPH SPENCER ANDO

292 COMETA, ANGELA IMELDA PARAISO

293 COMIA, ARLENE MACALINDONG

294 CONANAN, JOKER FERNANDEZ

295 CONCEPCION, DIVINE SARAH MONCAYO

296 CONEJAR, KELVIN JOHN ROMEO TAMAYOR

297 CONTRERAS, PAULINA KRYSTYLLE ACOLENTABA

298 COPRADO, ROSEBETH EBIO

299 CORDON, MARY TAMEE CELINNE CELIS

300 CORDOVILLA, MAVILYN REY

301 CORMINAL, JOY BERNARD SANTANDER

302 CORPUZ, ARMIE LORAINE GABINAY

303 CORPUZ, SUZETTE PALACAY

304 CORTEZ, JUSTIN ROQUE

305 CREDO, DANICA PEPITO

306 CRISTOBAL, FLORSHIEM IGNACIO

307 CRUZ, JOHN PAUL CARPIO

308 CRUZ, RACIELLE ANNE FRANCISCO

309 CRUZ, SHAYNE LAURICE LIGON

310 CRUZ, ZEUS SO

311 CUBILLO, KEITHLEEN PAPA

312 CUETO, JOHN VINCENT LALONG-ISIP

313 CUEVAS, CARMELA BEATRIZ GONZALO

314 CUIZON, JANNO ESTAURA

315 CUNANAN, CHALSHEY HONRADA

316 CUNANAN, HERNIÑO DIMACALI

317 CUYA, DIVINE GRACE LUNAS

318 DAGUIO, IMEELYN YOUNG

319 DAIZ, JAD ARTHUR ENCISO

320 DAJUELA, SHERFHIL JAMES LASPRILLA

321 DAKAY, ANGELO FRANCIS ABELLANOSA

322 DALANGIN, APRIL MAE DEL MUNDO

323 DALIDA, CLARENCE HANNAH TAN

324 DALIT, ANNA MONIQUE PAYUPAY

325 DAMASO, JAY-R GRAGASIN

326 DAMIAN, DANIEL JOSEPH MONTINOLA

327 DAMPIL, JASMINE GRACE TRINIDAD

328 DANCEL, BILLY JOE PASCUA

329 DANGANAN, ABIGAIL VIÑAS

330 DASIGAN, JAMIE MAICAH SAPNU

331 DAVID, ADRIAN VALENCIA

332 DAVID, ANNE COREEN OLALIA

333 DAVID, VON HARRY

334 DAWANG, ARIES CASTILLO

335 DAYAG, RONALD JOHN ARELLANO

336 DE ASIS, JUNALEX LUZON

337 DE CASTRO, JOREM SANIEL

338 DE CASTRO, MYRIZ VALENCIA

339 DE GUIA, ULYSSES EDUARDO JR BALDO

340 DE GUZMAN, JOHN PAOLO DULDULAO

341 DE GUZMAN, VERONICA MARIE GARCIA

342 DE LARA, LARA ATHENA VELASQUEZ

343 DE LEON, RUSSEL CAYANAN

344 DE VELA, MARISSA BUISING

345 DE VERA, MAYLYN AURELLANO

346 DE VERA, RAYMART SUPREMIDO

347 DEL ESPIRITU SANTO, JAY TRILLES

348 DEL MUNDO, ANSHERINA JENINA MIRANDA

349 DEL ROSARIO, ORLANDO JR EVARISTO

350 DELA COSTA, PETER ALLAN MIRANDA

351 DELA CRUZ, CHARISSE MENDOZA

352 DELA CRUZ, CHARMAINE PINEDA

353 DELA CRUZ, ERICA JOY POLO

354 DELA CRUZ, JOHN MARK MANOG

355 DELA CRUZ, KERL XANDREA OAMIL

356 DELA CRUZ, LEAH CARPIO

357 DELA CRUZ, MARIA PAULINA CAÑETE

358 DELA PAZ, GINO INFANTE

359 DELA PEÑA, GRINGO LAMANILAO

360 DELA PEÑA, NICOLE IRIS JACOB

361 DELA ROSA, JAIZEND MAE DEANG

362 DELA TRINIDAD, JECARL BACERA

363 DELA VEGA, AGIA SOFIA TOLENTINO

364 DELA VEGA, DANIELLE LLOYD VILLEGAS

365 DELANTAR, MICHAEL SINUGBA

366 DELIMA, RONA IMARI GODINEZ

367 DELOS REYES, GEMARIE ROBLES

368 DELOS REYES, JONALYN TANGLAO

369 DELOS SANTOS, MARIO MEJORADA

370 DEMILLO, MATIAS JR ELPA

371 DESIERTO, KENNETH BRYAN RIVERA

372 DETERA, CAMILLE LYDELL GAMBOA

373 DEYPALUBOS, CEDRYL VILLANIS

374 DIAMAT, THELMA CONSTANTINO

375 DIANGCO, MA GELLIE ANN CLAVATON

376 DIAZ, CATHLEEN CARPIO

377 DIAZ, GABRIEL ALPHONSE REYES

378 DIAZ, GERARDO DE LEON

379 DIAZ, RASHELLA BIANCA CAMARILLO

380 DIEGO, JEFFREY CABALDO

381 DIGAL, MARIA ZOSSETTE EUSEÑA

382 DIGNADICE, PEARL JOY LAMELA

383 DILIG, ANGEL BRIAN PEREZ

384 DIMAANO, ANA MARIA THERESA MISA

385 DIMABUYU, DANICA CAMERINO

386 DIMACULANGAN, LYNEIL BAÑAS

387 DIMAL, EDEM ROSE DAVID

388 DIMASACAT, KATRINA LEXAN ALUAN

389 DIMAYUGA, RYAN RICHARD FLORES

390 DIONISIO, KEVIN WILSON LEE

391 DIONISIO, RIA KARMINA SANTOS

392 DISING, MAUREEN JOY

393 DIZON, KIM CHARLES ESGUERRA

394 DOLLAGA, CHRISTINE MARIZ BERNABE

395 DOMAG, DORREEN DANIKKA MANGARON

396 DOMINGO, GENNA AINA GAPUSAN

397 DOMINGO, JAYDEE MIRANDA

398 DOMINGO, NONITO JR BAYHON

399 DOMINGO, ROSE CHERENE SAZON

400 DOMINGUEZ, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA

401 DORONILA, JOHN PAUL SALVADOR

402 DUBAN, DANNIEL OCAMPO

403 DUCAY, ROMEO JR BOSITA

404 DUE, ANTONIE GALICIA

405 DULYOK, MARK LEXTER LUCERO

406 DUMARAOG, SAFEYA CRISTIANA CIELO

407 DUNGO, MARIA FE BERNALES

408 DUNQUE, ZANDRO PUYO

409 DUPITAS, GILROSE JOY RAMOS

410 DURAN, FRANCES CLEO ABAYAN

411 DURAN, ROMNICK JAMES GOTUAL

412 DURANTE, HANNA MONTEREY

413 DUSARAN, ALVIN AGUILLON

414 DY, VIENNA CATHERINE PEMPOLIO

415 EBRON, MAI RICH BALILI

416 ECHIPARE, DANIEL ALIPOPO

417 EFONDO, ROMMEL VILLAFLORES

418 ELA, FRANCHESKA ANN JANDUGAN

419 ELAMPARO, ADRIAN PEREZ

420 ELCANA, ROMNICK JUNE ARANCON

421 ELFA, KYLE TRISTAN CECILIO

422 ELLOREG, MARJON RAMOS

423 ELPA, CHARLES MARION SALVANERA

424 ELTAGUNDE, MARION KEMELYN EUMAGUE

425 ENANO, PIO III ESTERNON

426 ENCARNACION, ISABEL PAULA UBALDO

427 ENCISO, EDEN EUNICE ZAMBRANO

428 ENCORPORADO, KATHLEEN CANLAS

429 ENRIQUEZ, MA SHEILA AGUDA

430 EREÑA, MENANDRO JR PAPASIN

431 ESCOLAR, RICHELLE GAW

432 ESPARTINEZ, JAYSON GRAGEDA

433 ESPINO, ARLENE JOY ANTAZO

434 ESPINOLA, CARLYN MAE ESTREMERA

435 ESPIRITU, ELIOT OBNIALA

436 ESPRA, JOHN RONNEL

437 ESQUEJO, DANICA TOMELDAN

438 ESTADILLA, JEROME CRISTOPHER HULLANA

439 ESTAVILLO, MENNARD MALAQUI

440 ESTEBAN, JAN EZEKEL NAMBIO

441 ESTILLERO, JEROME DINO

442 ESTOE, JUSTINE CLOYD TABAS

443 ESTRADA, ERROL SABIO

444 ESTRADA, VERONICA FAY SORIENTE

445 EVANGELISTA, JOHN BRYAN BINAY

446 EVANGELISTA, JOSE MARWIN

447 EVANGELISTA, MAECY CAYACYAC

448 EVANGELISTA, MARIA KATRINA BAUTISTA

449 EVANGELISTA, MIGUEL MARCOS ENCARNACION

450 FABROS, MA MARGARITA ACOSTA

451 FAJUTAG, ROILAN DAVE FONTE

452 FALCON, KREMLORIEL AGCOPRA

453 FALCONI, FERNAND ELMON VILLORENTE

454 FAMADICO, CAMILLE PARUBRUB

455 FARNACIO, JEAN RUSS ELECCION

456 FELICES, RANDOLF JAN HILUDO

457 FELIPE, OLLYN ERMITANO

458 FERMENDOZA, FRINCESS AGUIO

459 FERNANDEZ, BREN BOB REGLOS

460 FERNANDEZ, MARIE JESSICA ALBARILLO

461 FERNANDEZ, REYNOLD ABALOS

462 FERNANDEZ, VANNIA CALVIN VELASQUEZ

463 FERNANDEZ, WINIE ANN TRAZO

464 FEROLINO, KENNELLY MOSQUERA

465 FERRANCO, SHEELA MAE CARONAN

466 FERRER, MA XYTUZ

467 FERRIOLS, KAREN VANESSA VER

468 FETALVERO, MOSES GABRIEL ABACAN

469 FLORENTINO, ABEGAIL VALDEZ

470 FLORENTINO, ARNIE DUNGCA

471 FLORES, JORICHEL JANE RECUENCO

472 FLORES, REYNALDO JR ATARA

473 FLORES, TEOFILO JR MAGYAYA

474 FLORES, VANESSA RAMIREZ

475 FLORIDA, RONNIE FULAY

476 FODRA, JASTINE EJERCITO

477 FONTANILLA, HAJIME DAVID

478 FORONDA, MAUREEN GALE ROCERO

479 FORTU, KATRINA BIANCA NAVALTA

480 FRASDILLA, JERMER PAGULAYAN

481 FUDALAN, BENEDICT GAMO

482 FUENTES, EL SEAN CANO

483 FUJII, TADASHI SARZUELA

484 GABAYAN, LIRA SORO

485 GABION, JESSA MAY ASTIBE

486 GABRIEL, LIOMAR URMATAN

487 GALAN, ROGEL ABAINZA

488 GALANG, CARL-MELVIN CARANDANG

489 GALANG, OLGA LOUISE NOBLEJAS

490 GALICIA, JONALYN GALARIDO

491 GAMAYON, CEDRIC PIERRE MALASIG

492 GAMBOA, DIANNE ALEXANDRA CANLAS

493 GAMILONG, MARLON CAPISTRANO

494 GANDING, SHENELRIC CARBONILLA

495 GANGOSO, GIRO PAUL FALCASANTOS

496 GANZON, CATHLEEN CAMILLE GABOR

497 GANZON, MARIA ANGELA OCBEÑA

498 GAPAC, EMMANUEL CASTRO

499 GAPAYAO, REGIE FELONIA

500 GARCIA, ACHILLES LANCE ONG

501 GARCIA, CAMILLE ANGELICA PANGILINAN

502 GARCIA, CHRISTIAN MICHAEL ADRIANO

503 GARCIA, EDMUNDO III BACAR

504 GARCIA, MAE GALE PALADAN

505 GARCIA, MAYVETTE SORIANO

506 GARCIANO, GIENYL GORGONIO

507 GATUS, EMIL SALONGA

508 GATUS, JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAZARO

509 GECOLEA, JAECELLE MARIE AVISO

510 GENER, JOHN EDWARD DE LA CRUZ

511 GERONA, RONALD LIM

512 GERONGCO, MAR VINCENT PASARDA

513 GERONIMO, GABRIEL CALSENA

514 GIRON, RAYMOND POMBO

515 GLINO, JOMAR PELITONES

516 GLOBIO, JUNE KENNETH DE LOS SANTOS

517 GLORIA, MA VIVEKA QUILANTANG

518 GOJOL, ARIANE ESPLANA

519 GOMEZ, ARNOLD JR RAMIREZ

520 GONZALES, ANGELO HERNANDEZ

521 GONZALES, CHRISTINE JOY MOJICA

522 GONZALES, DWINNON GAYTA

523 GONZALES, KENETH BAYSIC

524 GONZALES, REYNALD MIRANDA

525 GONZALEZ, ALBERTO III SAN MIGUEL

526 GOROSPE, RIA LYN AVECILLA

527 GOZE, DARWIN LEONEL VALDEZ

528 GRADO, CARMELA PARDIÑAS

529 GRANADA, RACHEL SAPANTA

530 GRANIL, JESUS II ABALOS

531 GUADIZ, YSVETLLANA TABAS

532 GUANLAO, BERLIN VITUG

533 GUANZON, MARICHELLE JOYCE ASISTENTE

534 GUARDALUPE, JOHN BENEDICT TALLEDO

535 GUDA, HAROLD VEDAN

536 GUEVARRA, JOANNE GONZALES

537 GUIAO, GLENN ROBERT MALLAR

538 GUILLES, RUSTOM CAÑETE

539 GUISON, MARIA CONSUELO TOMO

540 GUSTILO, JO NEIL LAPERA

541 GUTABA, ORLANDO JR BARTOLOME

542 GUTIERREZ, BENITO OMAGAP

543 GUZMAN, CHEALSEA MARIGOLD CHU

544 GUZMAN, ERICHA GOLDA GUERRA

545 HABILING, YENZYL GALANG

546 HALAGHAY, MARIA CARMELA FEGURO

547 HALILI, RAYMOND MARAVILLA

548 HANGAD, DOVIE SAMONTE

549 HEMOR, HELBERT ABELA

550 HERNAEZ, MARIA EDELINE PRESTO

551 HERNANDEZ, THEA MARIE MA-ALAT

552 HILADO, NICOLE BERNADETTE MANUUD

553 HIPOLITO, HEATHER GAYLE RIOROSO

554 HIPOLITO, JON ARIEL JORDA

555 HIPONIA, RAPHAEL FRANCISCO

556 HITOSIS, MA ERNESTINE UY

557 HIZON, ANGELITA BALUYOT

558 HORCA, RODNEY AMPLAYO

559 HUANG, KUAN-LIN MARTIRES

560 IBANA, PRINCESS LEI MARTIN

561 IBARRIENTOS, MARY ANN DE JESUS

562 IBE, DOROTHY PILAR LOPEZ

563 IBRAHIM, MONEER BASIT NAKAN

564 IBUYAT, ERICK TABULINAR

565 IDIA, JOHN PAUL KING TONGO

566 ILAGAN, SHERYL CATABAY

567 ILAN, JEVETTE

568 INLUCIDO, HELGEN BESONIA

569 ISIDORO, ELJI GRACIEL ANN ARRIOLA

570 ISIT, CRISELLE IANA DIEGO

571 ISLES, SAHARA MAYE

572 ISLETA, RALPH ALDRIN SAPITULA

573 JACOB, JOHANNA IRENE MEJORADA

574 JACOB, KORINA GAYE MORTEGA

575 JACOSALEM, RACHELLE GILO

576 JALANDONI, MARIA CORAZON MAGBANUA

577 JANDAYAN, JULIE ANN OLACO

578 JAVIER, DEXTER KIM BIEN

579 JAVIER, MIA CAMILLE REYES

580 JEREMIAS, MARY MAE DIVINAFLOR

581 JINGCO, JOSE AGUSTIN ALBERTO SAYLO

582 JOSE, JERWIN JAVIER

583 JOVERO, NICK JIRO CASUPANG

584 JUACHON, TEODEE MARLO VALMONTE

585 JULIA, THERESSE ROSALES

586 JUMALON, JEZREEL SAY

587 JUMAWAN, MA GEANICE ANIT

588 KASALA, JANEILLE ALOHA BAYLON

589 KEY, HANNAH SAMANTHA CORDOVES

590 LABRADOR, JADEEH MIA CUARESMA

591 LABUTAP, DYNAH ALAS

592 LABUYO, RUDOLF ALFRED SOLOMON

593 LACABA, HADRIAN PAUL NITUMA

594 LACANARIA, DANNY DEVANADERO

595 LACANLALI, RUBERT MATTHEW TUGONON

596 LACASANDILE, ALLAN BALMEO

597 LACAY, EDSON NUQUI

598 LACSON, MYLENE CRUZ

599 LACUNA, MARIA THERESA ALAGDON

600 LADIA, MIGUEL ANTONIO DOMINGO

601 LAFORTEZA, IA JOSELLE DIÑO

602 LAGARDE, QUINNIE MAE MACATANGGA

603 LAGASCA, JOHN ELIZEAR RAMOS

604 LALAS, JAIME JR SAGURIT

605 LALUAN, THEODORE ANOG

606 LAMBINO, JED MARVIN ELEGIDO

607 LANCISO, LYCA KAY AGUILA

608 LANDINGIN, EMMANUEL JOHN DIOSANA

609 LANSA, KENT BRYAN LAÑOSO

610 LANTACO, MIA ROXANNE ESPAÑO

611 LAO, MELISSA ZAPATOS

612 LAPEÑA, JESSELE LUZANO

613 LAPLAP, ANTHONY REY KOPPIN

614 LARION, MARCK LAWRENCE ESTRELLA

615 LAURENTE, EARL STANLEY DELA CRUZ

616 LAUS, CARL ADRIANE POCSOL

617 LAVANDERO, PATRICK JOSEPH CAPUA

618 LAZARO, JAMIRA ROSE PADILLA

619 LAZATIN, DIOBELLE MARIE ANTONIO

620 LEAÑO, IVAN LESTER

621 LEE, CHARLENE BARTOLOME

622 LEGASPI, MARLON BARLIS

623 LENDIO, FEBRAH GEE ELUMBA

624 LEONICO, JAN-NIN ANGELA ARCOLAS

625 LEONIDO, ALBERTSON ANDRIE MORALES

626 LIANGCO, CHRISTEEN MALIWAT

627 LIBAO, JOHN ANGELO REYES

628 LIBAR, MATT RAYMUND MAYLON

629 LIBRADO, ELLA MAE PAHILAGAO

630 LIBRON, RANDY TABIO

631 LIGUTOM, CHRISTY XENIA FAYE BUCOL

632 LILANG, SHIRL YVONNE FAMINIA

633 LIM, LOUISEL JILL LOCSIN

634 LIMA, ERICKA MAE GUEVARA

635 LINATOC, EDWARD DIMAPASOK

636 LIPAOPAO, JUDY ROSE TABERNILLA

637 LISONDATO, ESMAR ASTILLERO

638 LLABORE, ERICKA GABRIELLE MOBILLA

639 LLANTO, CARLO MARTIN LOVETE

640 LOBITANA, MARIAN EVE MANANSALA

641 LOCSIN, ANDREA JOSETTE FERNANDEZ

642 LOPEZ, MELANIE VILLENA

643 LOQUILLANO, KERVIN JAMES PAPURAN

644 LOREJO, DENISE PINILI

645 LOYOLA, KATE JASTINE LAJADA

646 LOZA, JANETH DESQUITADO

647 LUGUE, ROWEL FRANCISCO

648 LUNAR, PAUL ANDREW VERDERA

649 MABITAD, JUSTIN PAOLO ALICANTE

650 MACALLA, JANNA ZIL BLANCO

651 MACARAEG, ANGELI GRACE APOSTOL

652 MADRID, GERALD CASTELO RUBIO

653 MADRID, MANUELITO TRINIDAD

654 MADRIGAL, JOHN MATTHEW DE CHAVEZ

655 MAGALLANES, JENNYBER DE JESUS

656 MAGALLANES, MIKE LEONARD NAVARRA

657 MAGALLANO, MARCHELLE BRUCAL

658 MAGALLON, JANICE BLAZO

659 MAGALONA, MARK JOHN GARCIA

660 MAGAT, CHRISTIAN JOHN ALVIZ

661 MAGAT, TIMOTHY RALPH REPOLIDO

662 MAGAYANO, STEWART ELIS PASCUAL

663 MAGBANUA, ERMCLEVE SABAYLE

664 MAGCALAS, MARY ANN MAYUGBA

665 MAGCALE, JOHN PAULO GONZALES

666 MAGDASOC, CHRIS EDITH DESEAR

667 MAGHINAY, MARK SIXTO II PORPOR

668 MAGLAQUI, ROMERO LIMPIN

669 MAGNAYE, JOHANNA MARYL MUÑEZ

670 MAGTURO, DON MIGUEL PECATOSTE

671 MAKASIAR, JAN MICHAEL QUIZON

672 MALADO, ROVIZZI EPIE

673 MALAGUM, NONA GRACE DELA PEÑA

674 MALAKI, JOHN MICHAEL PAPERA

675 MALANA, ANTHONY CHIENO DOMINGO

676 MALANG, KELLY MARIE ESGUERRA

677 MALBOG, DIANA CAMILLE PEREZ

678 MALDONADO, JEROME DUÑGO

679 MALLAR, JUN MALONES

680 MALLARI, ERICKA MAE RAMOS

681 MALLARI, SAMUEL ESTRADA

682 MALLE, JEFFREY BARREDA

683 MALLETA, SEYCHELLE DAPHNE CZARELLE PAEZ

684 MALLILLIN, ANGELICA ALINEA

685 MALONZO, JOHN AKIRA LAPUZ

686 MALUBAG, ABEGAIL MASCARIÑAS

687 MAMINTA, FARIDHA CASTRO

688 MANALANSAN, CAMILE LINDO

689 MANALASTAS, CRISTINA DUMAGAT

690 MANALASTAS, JILL CHRISTELLE DE GUZMAN

691 MANALASTAS, JOYCE ANN VILLAFUERTE

692 MANALILI, MELANI MAE ABAINZA

693 MANALO, ANDREW EVANGELISTA

694 MANAOIS, ANTHONY NOTA

695 MANAYAO, ARNEL REYES

696 MANGAO, SHELDON SALES

697 MANJAAL, MANDI GERALD GALLON

698 MANLUTAC, MARGARET GABRIELLE YETYET

699 MANONGSONG, MENDEL LEWIS FLORES

700 MANUEL, MA VERONICA BERMUDO

701 MAQUIPOTEN, JANELLE ENDO

702 MARALAS, ELAILARMI GULLES

703 MARASIGAN, MICHAEL ANGELO JOSON

704 MARAVILLAS, JANICA ANGEL ROSARIO

705 MARCOS, MELODY DE JESUS

706 MARGALLO, ABIGAEL LLANETA

707 MARIANO, HARMIN JEAN YALUNG

708 MARIN, JEMIMA GARCIA

709 MARQUITA, AL MARK LAPIÑA

710 MARTINEZ, LENGIE YVES MIRABUENO

711 MARTINEZ, SHERWIN JADE CARPIANO

712 MARTIR, STEPHANIE UY

713 MASILUNGAN, MARK JOSEPH EBREO

714 MATALA, GENEVIEVE MAE

715 MATIAS, BEATRIZ ANJELAMARI MAYORMITA

716 MATIAS, CENEN DOMINIC ONGACO

717 MATIRA, KIMBERLY BULANHAGUI

718 MATUS, MARY CHINETTE ZAMORA

719 MAYO, FRANCISCO MA LUIS VILLANUEVA

720 MAYOGA, JULIE ANN CAJOLO

721 MAÑEZ, JOB CHARLES VERGEL PACALLAGAN

722 MEDEL, ANGELU LOIS VENTOZA

723 MEDIANA, JULIE ANN BAÑADERA

724 MEDIAVILLO, IKKO BENGIE LOMERIO

725 MEDIDA, JAM PRINCESS MAGAT

726 MEDINA, GEAN KIM BONIFACIO

727 MELAYA, JAYSON MABUTE

728 MELCHOR, JOSHUA PAREÑO

729 MELSON, RYAN PASAYAN

730 MENA, RAMON CRISTOPHER CASTRO

731 MENDIOLA, MARIA LAUREN OLAYBAL

732 MENDOZA, CHERRYL TORNEA

733 MENDOZA, JUANITO JR PANGAN

734 MENDOZA, RUSSELL CRUZ

735 MENDOZA, RYAN LLOYD SERRANO

736 MENDOZA, SHIE ANN ARVIE LASALA

737 MERCADO, CHRISTIAN ARBY CORDERO

738 MIRAFLORES, ROSALIE MAE BAILON

739 MIRANDA, ALYANNA KRISTEE QUIERREZ

740 MIRANDA, RYAN BERT PICHAY

741 MITRA, LOUVIN MARRIZE MEDIAVILLO

742 MOLINA, CRISTINA PALACIO

743 MOLINA, JOSHUA REY PANESA

744 MOLINES, JERUEM ESQUERRA

745 MONARES, LEVI VILLARMIA

746 MONCADA, JODIE GRACE BERNALES

747 MONDIDO, ALTHEA MARIE SANTOS

748 MONTAÑANO, NOEL CHRISTIAN HILARIO

749 MONTECASTRO, ARKAYE JOY LLAVE

750 MONTERO, ESMERALDO JR TAGUEBAN

751 MORA, JAN FELIX CANET

752 MORALES, JEAN DANICA ARTUS

753 MORATA, NICOLE HERRERA

754 MORES, ADRIAN TA-AY

755 MORTEGA, JAN NEZTY NAYVE

756 MOVIDA, JOHN EDISON PERALTA

757 MULLETA, JASPER IAN TORRES

758 MUÑOZ, GABRIEL ISAAC TAN

759 NABUS, MICHAEL APOLONIO

760 NALIPONGUIT, DAHLIA FUENTES

761 NANA, KRIS LOUIE PALABAY

762 NAPOLIS, ARDEL JOZEL NAYNES

763 NARBARTE, MARK ARRON DELA CRUZ

764 NARSICO, MONALISA BIANCA SANTITO

765 NAVARRO, COURTNEY LOVE CONCEPCION

766 NEGRETE, JERRYSON SANTOS

767 NICOLAS, IANA CLARICE CAPARAS

768 NICOLAS, PRISCA EUNICE VELAYO

769 NILAY, JULIE ANN CRIZZA JAVIER

770 NIPA, EDERLY ANN TEMPLE

771 NISHIOKA, HIROMI GANANCIAL

772 NITURADA, RENZ NIKKO MAGAT

773 NOORA, NATHALIE TRICIA SAN FELIPE

774 NUESTRO, ANGELO EZEKIEL PALLORINA

775 NUGUID, MARIA MONINA BASA

776 NUQUI, MA KATHLENE MATIC

777 NUR, ABDUL BASSET JR SALUDSONG

778 OBRERO, FRANCIS PAULO MANGALIMAN

779 OCAMPO, ELPIDIO SANTIAGO

780 OCAMPO, RICKY TORRES

781 OCHOA, XYLA RAVIDA

782 ODSIGUE, APRIL MAGATAO

783 OGAD, ANGELO GABRIELLE LAZAGA

784 OLA, WILLIAM GUNDAN

785 OLARTE, SHIERLYN PEÑA

786 OLFINDO, PRISSLE JOY TODOC

787 OLFINDO, RAY DEXTER RAMOS

788 OLIVA, QUENNIE OCTEZA

789 OLLERO, JOAQUIN BENEDETTO PAMINTUAN

790 OMANDAC, MA LORRAINE MOLINA

791 OMANDAM, KRISTOFFER DEO CUADRASAL

792 ORDONIO, OMAR SORIANO

793 ORDOYO, ROSALIE FLORES

794 ORDOÑEZ, JULIA MARIE DELA PAZ

795 OREIRO, PORTIA EVONNE BADUA

796 ORENSE, JONAH DELLE BAUSA

797 ORERA, ABEGAIL BENGAN

798 ORINES, IMMANUEL RIZ SANTOS

799 OROGO, SHAIRA DINO

800 ORTAÑEZ, JOMARC DE JESUS

801 PABLO, JOSEPH ANTHONY CRISOLOGO

802 PADILLA, DANICA ANNA SINDAYEN

803 PADILLA, JERRY SEVERINO

804 PADRIGAO, CRYSTAL GAILE FABILA

805 PALAGANAS, ANNE ROSE JIMENEZ

806 PALERO, VICTORIA MAE CRISTOBAL

807 PALOMIQUE, RUTH IRISH ADORNADO

808 PAMONAG, CATTLEYA VANESSA BONAYOG

809 PAMULAKLAKIN, MARK DENNIS DUAY

810 PANALIGAN, MARK ROLDAN GARCIA

811 PANCHO, MARC GERSON DEL ROSARIO

812 PANDO, JAMES PATRICK MATUGAS

813 PANERIO, GENEVIE QUITALIG

814 PANGAN, KRISTA CHERUBIN DE VERA

815 PANLAQUI, PAULO GULAPA

816 PAO, SHERNIZA SAHI

817 PAQUITA, KRISTY MAE TULAGAN

818 PARAJAS, HAROLD ZULUETA

819 PARALLAG, RALPH DOMINICK JUAN

820 PARAYNO, SHERDAN PRADO

821 PARUNGAO, MARVIN SIMON

822 PASCUA, KENNETH GARCIA

823 PATAWARAN, ARVIN NAÑASCA

824 PATAYAN, JOEMAR NESPEROS

825 PATRICIO, REINA MARIE TORRES

826 PELAYO, QUEENNIE ESTILLORE

827 PERDIGON, JOEMAR AGTANG

828 PEREGIL, JANICE DEL ROSARIO

829 PEREGRINA, JOANNA MARIE DIESTO

830 PEREZ, FEDERICO BAYLON

831 PERNITES, JOSEPH JAMES DIAZ

832 PETATE, MA DIANE UCHIDA

833 PEÑAFLOR, SHAHARA SAYRA SORETA

834 PEÑARUBIA, MARVIN REFERMOSO

835 PINEDA, GIANNE PAULINE GATPOLINTAN

836 PINEDA, JEFFREY LINGAT

837 PINEDA, PRINCESS GATCHALIAN

838 PINEDA, RUEL LINTAG

839 PINGOY, KENNETH PSALM BIOLANGO

840 PINPIN, JASMIN JANN GUEVARRA

841 PLAZA, CARLO VELOSO

842 POBLETE, MARIA CRISELLE AMELITA FELIZARDO

843 POLINAR, CHARLIE SUNDO

844 POLUMBARIT, ARIEN REGALA

845 PONCE, TIMOTHY JAMES BELAMIDE

846 PONTILLAS, FRANCIS RAMOS

847 PORTEZA, FLORENCE PAUL ZABALDICA

848 PULIDO, JEROME TONGKILI

849 PUNO, CATHERINE SONIDO

850 PUNZALAN, JANINA MAE ARENAS

851 QUAN, DENNIS ALLAN VILLAPANDO

852 QUESADA, ISMAEL RENE RODRIGUEZ

853 QUI, MARY ANNE GERVACIO

854 QUIDANGEN, JAYHANSON CORPUZ

855 QUIZA, ALLAN ORILLA

856 QUIZON, JOHN LYNDON CAYETANO

857 QUIÑONES, JOHN KENNETH AGUILAR

858 RAFALLO, CHERIE GIL BAÑADERA

859 RAGUINDIN, ROMAR GALDONES

860 RAMAY, KRISTINE GAGARANI

861 RAMIREZ, DEXTER SAMONTE

862 RAMIREZ, MARY GRACE BEGASA

863 RAMONEDA, JEANNE LOIS GUTIERREZ

864 RAMORES, ROSE ANN REYES

865 RAMOS, ALEXIE MARINELA NOCEDA

866 RAMOS, JASPER ELLIS SANTOS

867 RAMOS, JOHN PAUL ORTIZ

868 RAMOS, JUSTIN LEI GERMINO

869 RAMOS, KATHLEEN JERELL TOBIAS

870 RAMOS, RICK ALBERT NICOLAS

871 RAULE, RON ALESANDRO GARCIA

872 RAVANZO, RHUMSELL SUNIO

873 RAYMUNDO, LUIGI AGUILAR

874 RECAMADAS, MARY CYRAH MARLENE SALUDAGA

875 RECLUSADO, KIMBERLY ANN OLARTE

876 RECTIN, MARIA AILEEN JOY BEBLANIAS

877 REFERIZA, RUTH JOY LOPEZ

878 REGIS, CHRISTOPHER OLAN

879 RELAYO, CARLO ANDREW FAUSTO

880 RELOS, CHARLES GERWIN JADIA

881 RELUCIO, CHRISTINA MARIE REAMICO

882 REMORERAS, CINDY BANJAWAN

883 REQUINTA, JEFFREY REBULANAN

884 RESPICIO, SAM BOY SOL

885 RETUTA, VENUS REGODON

886 REVOTE, KIM MARK ANTHONY TALICTIC

887 REYES, ALBERT GUEVARRA

888 REYES, ARDEE AGUILAR

889 REYES, ERIEL ANN DELA CRUZ

890 REYES, GAVERELL SILVA

891 REYES, JANICA FAYE PAZ

892 REYES, LEA LYSA NOLASCO

893 REYES, VINCENT JOHN VALDREZ

894 RIBLEZA, JULIUS BRYAN RABE

895 RICABLANCA, JENIFER EDUARTE

896 RICAFORT, JHONN ALLEIN RAYCO

897 RICAPLAZA, MEANN JEASSA TRIMUCHA

898 RICARDEL, JOSEPH GERLON CELIS

899 RIVERA, ELIEZER CENTENO

900 RIVERA, GEMALYN BARCHETA

Roll of Successful Examinees in the

ARCHITECT LICENSURE EXAMINATION

Held on JANUARY 25 & 27, 2019 Page: 20 of 24

Released on JANUARY 30, 2019

Seq. No. N a m e

901 RIZO, JUSTIN RAPHAEL SABADO

902 ROA, JANINE MARIAN SOLERA

903 RODA, ADRIANE CARL ABCEDE

904 RODIL, RONALD FRUELDA

905 RODRIGUEZ, JOHANAN ARANETA

906 ROJALES, RUZ DENYL CRUCENA

907 ROJAS, GAYLORD GUERRERO

908 ROLDAN, MABE ROXAS

909 ROMANO, ROBERTO JR MANAO

910 ROMERO, JOHN CHRISTIAN NICOLAS

911 RONQUILLO, EILA BETTINA NER

912 RONQUILLO, LLOYD VIRAY

913 ROQUE, PAMELA REGINE SAN PEDRO

914 ROSALES, MARIA FATIMA CACAYAN

915 RUBIS, ZAIRA GRACE MAANDAL

916 RUEDA, CAROL ANNE AQUINO

917 RUEDA, CHRISTIAN LOIS SURATOS

918 RUSIANA, NILO JR MARTIREZ

919 SAAVEDRA, GEOFFREY BESMONTE

920 SAAVEDRA, JAYSON EARL LOMONGO

921 SABARIA, MICHAEL ANGELO MARTIZANO

922 SACRAMENTO, GENEVIEVE BAUTISTA

923 SAGRE, FRYL JAY DIOPOL

924 SAGUN, REMSON BALUETA

925 SALAC, ARVINNE LOUISE TULABUT

926 SALARSON, KAY ANNE MORA

927 SALAVARIA, IAN CEDRIC ARDINA

928 SALAZAR, ABIGAIL AGCAOILI

929 SALAZAR, BRIAN KEVIN JULATON

930 SALES, KLAUDINE KATE ABELLANOSA

931 SALES, MICHELLE ANNE SORIANO

932 SALIMBAGO, JANALAN CALBI

933 SALONGA, GIANNE CAMILLE VALERIO

934 SALONGA, JOEL SAMANIEGO

935 SALUBERES, GLAIZA EUGENIA AMOLO

936 SALUDAR, JED PATRICK PRIETO

937 SALVADOR, JOSHUA AZURIN

938 SALVADOR, REYAN KEVIN AGGABAO

939 SALVOSA, VENICE ROSALES

940 SAMALEA, SIBYL CHARM SARION

941 SAMSON, JOSE RAFAEL BADIOLA

942 SAMSON, MARK JEROME GALLENERO

943 SAMSON, ROBERT TYRON OLBINA

944 SAMSON, ZAHRA JANE SALIOT

945 SAN BUENAVENTURA, PAMELA RAMOS

946 SAN JOSE, JOSE LEANDRO LUIS FLORENDO

947 SANCHEZ, IAN CARLO DE GUZMAN

948 SANCHEZ, JESSICA ANNE PASCUA

949 SANCHEZ, MA KATRINA LIZARDO

950 SANCHEZ, NIÑO MIKE ANGELO MOLLEDA

951 SANCHEZ, PHIL BELARMINO

952 SANTOS, DAVE SESE

953 SANTOS, ETHEL JOAN PUNO

954 SANTOS, GILLIANNE ANDREI ROBLES

955 SANTOS, JAYSON RODEL CAINGAT

956 SANTOS, MARIE ANGELINE PASTERA

957 SANTOS, RICHARD DEAN CAÑETA

958 SANTOS, RUBIECRIS SERNAL

959 SANTOS, RUSSEL ULANDAY

960 SAPONGAY, BEVERLY SIMON

961 SARMIENTO, MARK JULIUS MADRILEJOS

962 SARMIENTO, MARY JOYCE DANA

963 SEDIACO, MARK CHRISTIAN FELICIANO

964 SEDIGO, MCREY ALOB

965 SEGNABEN, LE VAN ONGAN

966 SELGAS, KRISTIAN RAYMUND GALEMBA

967 SEMILLA, LENCY VALENTIN

968 SENGCO, DHIANA ROSE SANJUAN

969 SERRANO, DENISE SHARMAINE URIENZA

970 SERVITO, EMMANUEL PRESTOZA

971 SEVERINO, JAZMINE ATUN

972 SEWANE, ADAM SAING

973 SIA SENG, ART NOVEL TAN

974 SIASAT, ABEGAEL DE LEON

975 SIBAL, CASSANDRA LEE GANILA

976 SIBAL, JESSEL ESGUERRA

977 SIBUGAN, ROBERT JOHN APLASCA

978 SIGNE, JERSON MONTERA

979 SIGUENZA, LESLIE AVILA

980 SILO, MARIE ARIELLE KARIZZA SAN JOSE

981 SILOT, SOFIA MARGA VALLEGA

982 SILVERIO, RENATO JR VELASCO

983 SIMON, JULIUS ALVIN TAYAO

984 SIMON, KENNELYN R

985 SINGCA, MARK KHRISTIAN DAYAO

986 SISON, LADIELANNE SUAN

987 SOCIA, DOMINIC ANGOLUAN

988 SOCO, NAOMI YBARITA

989 SOLANO, FREDERICK ITULID

990 SOLATRE, RENZ LOWELL SILVANIA

991 SOLSONA, MA EDHELIA CONCHE

992 SORIA, BEVERLY DAGSI

993 SORIANO, JETHRO BALTAZAR

994 SORIANO, KENT CHRISTIAN QUILITANO

995 SORIANO, NOVA JEANA BAUTISTA

996 SORIANO, STEPHANIE ERIKA RETES

997 STA ROSA, CATHERINE CHICA

998 STO DOMINGO, NEMUEL GABUELO

999 SUAREZ, REGINA IBARROLA

1000 SUCK, JULIE ANNE BARIA

1001 SUERTE, EMIL MARVIN ROZARIO

1002 SUGUITAN, MARVIN PAUL LIBATIQUE

1003 SULA, JENNALYN MALLARI

1004 SUMAGANG, JENEVIB ATUNAY

1005 SUMULONG, LOU JUSTIN GARCIA

1006 SUYOM, GILBERT PREJULA

1007 SY, WILMA CASTA

1008 TABIANAN, ILINE JEUEL TILANO

1009 TABILIN, MICHELLE GRACE VALEZA

1010 TABIOSA, MICHELLE PERNITES

1011 TABLESO, DOMINIC BUGARIN

1012 TABUGADER, ARNOLD LAGASCA

1013 TADAYA, MARILOU BERI

1014 TADEJA, JOHN JR DE SAGUN

1015 TAGARINO, ELAINE DULAY

1016 TAKAGI, MARIA AIKO JIMENEZ

1017 TALACAY, HAROLD JOHN

1018 TALLUD, SHEIKA MACANIG

1019 TALO, REY NORRIS DUMALUAN

1020 TALOSIG, CIENA JENA MARILAO

1021 TAMAYO, JEUNE LANZ MALLARI

1022 TAMAYO, JONATHAN BALANAG

1023 TAMBUNTING, PAOLO RAMON SISON

1024 TAN, HANNAH ABILAINE PANG

1025 TAN, JAY MARK FRIAS

1026 TAN, JEFFREY CUE

1027 TAN, JENRIZ KHLOE EVITE

1028 TAN, JORGEN ERNEST LUMAKANG

1029 TAN, MARICAR DULLETE

1030 TAN, MARICRIS LAURIO

1031 TAN, NICOLE ANGELI TANCHOCO

1032 TANES, REYNALDO UNTALAN

1033 TANTUCO, DUSTIN LUIGI CHENG

1034 TANZUACO, AMUEL PAOLO JAVIER

1035 TARABI, PAULA KATRINA BASILLA

1036 TARUC, NERIQUE LOUIS PINEDA

1037 TARUC, REYMART RAMOS

1038 TAYAG, JONAR PANGILINAN

1039 TE, SARAH JANE YECLA

1040 TECSON, BILL CLINTON CABALES

1041 TEE, DANALICE BALURAN

1042 TEE, JEYANNIE LAZO

1043 TENAZAS, FRENDLY REY

1044 TERUEL, EMMANUEL JOSEMARIE REYES

1045 TIMBREZA, LOUIGENA MANZANO

1046 TIMBREZA, LYKA SAIDE

1047 TINGZON, CLARIBELLE MARIE TALATO

1048 TIQUEL, TOBY JOHN MAHILUM

1049 TOLENTINO, MA PATRICIA CAMILLE SAMSON

1050 TOMIAS, NIERVANIA BERICO

1051 TORAJA, RUTH JEAN COQUILLA

1052 TORDILLOS, KEVIN DELA CRUZ

1053 TORILLA, RUBEN CHRISTOPHER BUGAIS

1054 TORRES, MIGUEL ANTON BATUCAN

1055 TRIA, PATRICK MAYUGA

1056 TRISTE, JERLONNE SUMAOANG

1057 TRONO, RAMIEL REYES

1058 TUAZON, DOHERTY RAMOS

1059 TUAZON, ELAINE LOYOLA

1060 TULIAO, THEODORE MOISES RIVERA

1061 TULIO, ADRIANE PATRICK LIQUE

1062 TY, JAYENEY GRUSPE

1063 ULEP, JOHN ROSS SALAZAR

1064 URBIZTONDO, JEROME PAJARILLO

1065 USMAN, MOHAMMAD SAID DIMACALING

1066 USON, AARON PAUL ARAGON

1067 UY, FIEL JASON DELA PEÑA

1068 VALDEZ, JHUWEN ACOB

1069 VALDUEZA, JENNINA SANTI CODOG

1070 VALERIO, RAYMART BARNACHEA

1071 VELARDE, PHILLIP ANDRE BAUTISTA

1072 VELASCO, JEANETTE DE VILLA

1073 VELASCO, VANESSA ROSE RICAMATA

1074 VENERACION, ISIDRO SANTIAGO

1075 VENGANO, RHODJAY DIAZ

1076 VENTANILLA, KAYCEY CARYL LAGUYO

1077 VENTURA, JULIUS AMBATALI

1078 VERANO, CHRISTIAN FAJARDO

1079 VERGARA, CAMILE PERICO

1080 VERZON, BERT CARILLO

1081 VEÑEGAS, MIGUEL ANGELO MAGALONA

1082 VICTORIANO, MARIA KATHRINA ANICA EDMALIN

1083 VICTORINO, MARIFER ARAMBULO

1084 VIDAD, CYRILLE GWYNN DE GUZMAN

1085 VILELA, JEHOIAKIM ART PANGANIBAN

1086 VILLACORTES, MYKEL BRYLLE MATE

1087 VILLAFLORES, JOSE RAFAEL SAKAY

1088 VILLANUEVA, BENEX CATALAN

1089 VILLANUEVA, JOANNE PAULINE ANACAN

1090 VILLANUEVA, KARL ANGELO DAGDAG

1091 VILLANUEVA, KRIZIA NICOLE MOJICA

1092 VILLANUEVA, KYEL XYRRUS DE LOS REYES

1093 VILLANUEVA, MAERI CHRISTIELLE GUEVARRA

1094 VILLANUEVA, MARK ANTHONY CULILI

1095 VILLANUEVA, RYAN RABINA

1096 VILLAREAL, CLARICE MARION ELBO

1097 VILLARIN, GALVIN KYLE CALUMBA

1098 VILLARUZ, TIMOTHY JAN MARQUEZ

1099 VILLASENCIO, LORENZO CUIZON

1100 VILLENA, GRACE ANGELICA CUASAY

1101 VILORIA, VERNIL ALARCON

1102 VINUYA, KEVIN CUCHON

1103 VIOLA, KEVIN OMAR TORRES

1104 VIOLAN, DAN ANGELO SACASAN

1105 VIRAY, JONALD GUINTU

1106 VITRIOLO, GABRIELLO ZIMUEL PANLILIO

1107 VIVAR, JOHN BRENN MARTINEZ

1108 VIÑEGAS, CYLA AMON

1109 VORSTAKEN, LIONEL TALITA

1110 YACAT, RODEL REYES

1111 YALUNG, MC ARTHUR JR SUBA

1112 YAO, JOHN PATRICK DIAZ

1113 YU, JON JOSEFF MENOR

1114 ZALSOS, ISAIAH GARCIA

1115 ZAMBRANO, MA PAULINE ARANZADO

1116 ZAMORA, LINDSAY JAE RAMOS

1117 ZAMORA, WINZEL MARIE RIVERO

1118 ZARA, IRWIN SAMUEL FAJARITO

1119 ZARAGOZA, IAN CHRISTOPHER PADUA

1120 ZILMAR, MARY GAY DALURAYA

## Frequently Asked Questions

### When was the January 2019 Architect Licensure Examination held?

The Professional Regulation Commission administered the Architect Licensure Examination on January 25 and 27, 2019, at testing centers in Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Legaspi, and Zamboanga. Results were officially released on January 30, 2019, roughly three days after the second examination day concluded.

### Who topped the January 2019 Architect Licensure Examination?

Justin Lei Germino Ramos of Cebu Institute of Technology University topped the exam with a rating of 83.80 percent. Carlo Martin Lovete Llanto of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and Christina Marie Reamico Relucio of the Technological University of the Philippines, Manila, tied for second place at 83.50 percent.

### How many examinees passed the January 2019 Architect Licensure Examination?

A total of 1,120 examinees passed the January 2019 Architect Licensure Examination administered by the PRC. The complete roll of successful examinees, arranged alphabetically by surname, is published in the official PRC release and reproduced above.

### Which schools produced the most Top 10 passers in the January 2019 Architect board exam?

Mapua University – Manila and the Technological Institute of the Philippines – Manila each placed two examinees in the Top 10, as did the University of Mindanao in Davao City. Cebu Institute of Technology University, the University of the Philippines Diliman, the Technological University of the Philippines Manila, De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde, and the University of Santo Tomas each placed one.

### Where can architecture board passers verify their official PRC licensure exam results?

Examinees can verify their results through the PRC’s official website and the agency’s official social media channels, where the complete roll of passers is published following each release date. Newly registered architects are also advised to confirm oath-taking schedules and licensure requirements directly with the PRC.

**Categories:** News

**Tags:** 2019 Board Passers, Architecture, Architecture Licensure, Design, Philippines

---

### [Rossy Yabut Rojales: The Alchemy of Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/rossy-yabut-rojales-the-alchemy-of-space/)

**Published:** May 20, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

Design is more than just a profession for [Hurray Design](https://www.hurraydesign.com/)‘s co-founder IDr. Rossy Yabut-Rojales. It’s an intrinsic part of who she is. Not confined to a single discipline, her approach is a fluid exploration of form, function, and emotion. This deep-rooted connection to design shaped her perspective, allowing her to move seamlessly across different creative fields.

She grew up in Pampanga, surrounded by exceptional Filipino craftsmanship. Her parents’ love for interiors further nurtured her passion. “Design was always part of my world as a young girl,” she shares.

Her journey began with a deep appreciation for furniture, eventually leading her to interiors. But she also dabbled in jewelry, graphic arts, and photography, all of which inform her holistic approach to design. “I’ve never seen design as just one thing. It all overlaps. Whether it’s a space, a chair, or even a piece of jewelry, it’s always about balance, materials, and how it makes you feel.”

## A Holistic Perspective

Viewing design as an interconnected discipline, she applies the same principles across different forms. Every space or object she designs is both visually and experientially harmonious. This deep understanding of materials and craftsmanship further refines her approach. It allows her to design with a keen awareness of how elements interact and resonate with people.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BP-Interiors-Rossy-Rojales-In-Article-2.webp "BP Interiors Rossy Rojales In Article 2 - BluPrint")In 2009, she co-founded Heima, a creative hub that blended interiors, art, and product design. Over time, this vision evolved into Heim Interiors. She later co-founded Hurray Design with her partner and spouse, Bong Rojales.

The design firm celebrated its 15-year journey in the interior design industry in 2024, marking their evolution from a furniture shop to a premium atelier. This foundation continues to shape Hurray’s extraordinary spaces, evident in their diverse portfolio.

“Hurray has grown into a multidisciplinary studio that’s allowed me to evolve my passion into something bigger: building a practice that’s bold, dynamic, and rooted in a Filipino-global perspective,” Rojales shares. “Beyond just designing spaces, I’ve found fulfillment in fostering collaboration, mentoring emerging creatives, and pushing the boundaries of what interior design can be.”

## Philosophy and Practice

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MCA-Foyer.webp "Hurray MCA Foyer - BluPrint")This Ayala Alabang home blends timeless design with modern living, where a sculptural staircase, layered lighting, and crafted details elevate bright, open spaces. Thoughtfully curated textures—from canvas and wood to iron and metal—create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere.At the core of IDr. Rossy Yabut-Rojales’ methodology is a process-driven approach that prioritizes both creativity and functionality. “For me, designing a space isn’t just about making it beautiful,” the designer asserts. “It has to work, feel right, and evolve with the people who live in it.”

Central to this is understanding the client’s lifestyle and movement within a space. “At Hurray, we always start with our clients,” she notes. “How they live, what they love… It’s a dynamic, human-centered approach that balances creativity with practicality, allowing for bold ideas while staying meticulous with execution.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MCA-Living.webp "Hurray MCA Living - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MCA-Dining.webp "Hurray MCA Dining - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MCA-Master-Bath.webp "Hurray MCA Master Bath - BluPrint")

“It’s about balance: between form and function, past and present, intuition and strategy,” Rojales posits. “I’ve always been drawn to transitional design, where different eras, influences, and textures come together to create something deeply personal yet timeless.”

This fluid interplay of contrasts—melding history with modernity, instinct with precision—extends beyond concept and into practice. For Rojales, design begins long before execution, taking shape through an essential, almost meditative process: sketching.

“Sketching is also a huge part of how I think,” she shares. “It’s where ideas start to take shape before all the details come in. There’s something about putting pen to paper that makes the design more intuitive. It’s my way of problem-solving before we bring the projects to life.”

## The Alchemy of Space

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-RAF-Den.webp "Hurray RAF Den - BluPrint")This renovated 1960s mid-century modern home preserves its iconic clean lines and open layout while integrating sustainable materials and energy-efficient windows. Earthy tones paired with bold teal and deep blue accents reflect the era’s vibrant, eclectic style.Navigating the balance between aesthetics and functionality is an inherent challenge in interior design. But for Rojales, they are inseparable, stating, “I never really separate beauty and function. They have to be in synergy. A space should make life easier and feel good to be in. That’s why my approach is always human-centered.”

She adds, “It’s all about knowing when to go bold and when to keep things subtle, when a material should stand out and when it should just quietly do its job. It’s not just about making something look good on paper, it’s about making sure it works in real life. When you get that balance right, everything just clicks.”

For the designer, a space becomes truly “human” when it tells a story. “There’s a difference between a styled space and a lived-in one,” she emphasizes. “A space feels human when it’s lived in, when it tells a story. It’s not just about styling, it’s about layers of intention, memory, and personal history coming together.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-RAF-Den-wide.webp "Hurray RAF Den (wide) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-RAF-Dining.webp "Hurray RAF Dining - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-RAF-Courtyard-2.webp "Hurray RAF Courtyard 2 - BluPrint")

Many assume that interior design is purely about aesthetics, overlooking the intricate layers that shape a space’s functionality and longevity. Thoughtful design integrates elements like flow, lighting, ventilation, and the natural aging of materials—all while navigating technical and structural constraints that influence the final outcome. Lighting is also a key component of her design philosophy. She approaches it with the same level of meticulousness as any other element.

“Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in design,” she notes. “It sets the tone, brings out the richness of materials, and completely transforms how a space feels. I always say that good lighting doesn’t just illuminate, it creates an experience. It can make a room feel expansive or intimate, energizing or calming.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-RAF-Sofa.webp "Hurray RAF Sofa - BluPrint")Equally crucial is the element of time, a factor often underestimated in the pursuit of efficiency. “Quality design takes careful planning, and while Hurray is known for efficiency, good design still requires space to evolve,” Rojales emphasizes. “The smoother the process, the better the outcome.”

## Collaboration and Craft

According to Rojales, the most rewarding design experiences stem from a true partnership between client and designer. When clients embrace collaboration, they allow designers the freedom to refine and elevate their vision, leading to spaces that feel deeply personal and intentional.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BP-Interiors-Rossy-Rojales-In-Article-3.webp "BP Interiors Rossy Rojales In Article 3 - BluPrint")As she puts it, “A great client is someone who’s open to ideas, to the process, to trusting the designers. The best projects happen when there’s a full collaboration with trust as the foundation, when clients bring their vision but also give us the space to push it further.”

And the measure of success is far more than just aesthetic appeal. Well-designed spaces must evoke a sense of belonging. It should support a client’s daily life and aspirations, making them feel truly at home.

“For me, a successful project is one where the client walks in and feels like the space was made just for them. It’s not just about creating something beautiful, it’s about crafting a tailor-fit space that supports their lifestyle, work, or even how they celebrate life.”

## An Advocate for Filipino Design

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MTW-Living-scaled.webp "Hurray MTW Living - BluPrint")This Katipunan village home embraces transitional design, blending restored 1970s details with curated contemporary touches. French doors open to a marble-accented veranda, linking the refined interiors to its classical heritage.Alongside her work at Hurray, she actively shapes the local interior design industry as a Board of Trustees member at the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID). As Executive Director for Professional Development, she drives change by championing initiatives that bridge academic insights with real-world applications. She advocates for innovative educational programs and policies, ensuring the local design community remains competitive while staying deeply connected to its cultural roots.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MTW-Entrance-scaled.webp "Hurray MTW Entrance - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MTW-Foyer-scaled.webp "Hurray MTW Foyer - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MTW-Living-2-scaled.webp "Hurray MTW Living 2 - BluPrint")

“I’ve always believed that design is about evolution,” she expresses, “both in the work we do and in the way we shape the industry. With PIID, my goal is to help build a future where Filipino interior designers are more empowered, better equipped, and globally recognized.”

The challenges facing interior designers today are multifaceted, but Rojales sees them as opportunities for innovation. Her efforts center on bridging the gap between theory and practice while advocating for policies that uplift the profession. “Professional development is a huge part of that, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of innovation, craftsmanship, and human-centered design.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hurray-MTW-Lanai-scaled.webp "Hurray MTW Lanai - BluPrint")“One of the biggest hurdles is balancing creativity with the realities of timelines, budgets, and evolving client expectations,” she points out. “At Hurray, we navigate this by being solutions-driven, finding ways to merge bold, visionary ideas with practical luxury, making sure every decision adds both beauty and value.”

## Going Global

Design is never static—it thrives on exploration, adaptation, and the exchange of ideas. For Rossy Yabut-Rojales, this philosophy extends beyond her own work, influencing how she engages with the global design community. Affiliations with international organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) further broaden her perspective. Her exposure to diverse design philosophies reinforces her belief in the strength of Filipino creativity on the global stage.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BP-Interiors-Rossy-Rojales-In-Article-1.webp "BP Interiors Rossy Rojales In Article 1 - BluPrint")“Filipino design has always been rooted in a deep understanding of materiality, craftsmanship, and storytelling,” she observes. “There’s an honesty to our work, whether it’s in the way we use natural materials, celebrate local artistry, or create spaces that feel warm and inviting.”

Looking ahead, she remains excited about the evolving nature of design. “Right now, I’m fascinated by the intersection of technology and craftsmanship, how we can use innovation to enhance traditional techniques rather than replace them,” she shares. “Materials are also becoming more experimental, and I love the idea of working with unexpected textures and finishes to add layers of depth to a space.” For Rojales, design is a continuous journey—one that is deeply personal, ever-evolving, and always pushing boundaries.

![Rossy Rojales and The Alchemy of Space: Balancing Beauty, Function, and Emotion.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BP-Interiors-Rossy-Rojales-Cover-scaled.webp "BP Interiors Rossy Rojales Cover - BluPrint")IDr. Rossy Yabut-Rojales’ journey reminds us that interior design transcends mere aesthetics—it’s about crafting environments that resonate with the human experience. Her path, marked by a deep connection to craftsmanship, collaboration, and continuous evolution, illustrates how a holistic, process-driven approach can transform spaces into living narratives.

By merging creativity with functionality, she hones her own definition of design and inspires a future where it is a dynamic dialogue between innovation, culture, and the people it serves.

**Read more:** [R House: Professional Expertise Meets Personal Narrative](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/r-house-a-designer-dream-home-blends-artistry-and-intimacy/)

---

Photographer: Dix Perez

Stylist: Geno Espidol

Hair and Make Up: Hanna Pechon

Sittings Editor: Geewel Fuster

Managing Editor: Katherine Lopez

Shoot Coordinator: Mae Talaid

Shot on location at the [Mobler Showroom](https://mobler.com.ph/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the design philosophy of IDr. Rossy Yabut-Rojales?

Rossy Yabut-Rojales practices a “human-centered” approach that views design as a fluid exploration of form, function, and emotion. Her methodology, often described as the “alchemy of space,” prioritizes a balance between intuition and strategy, ensuring every project works practically while feeling right for the inhabitant. She draws from a holistic background in furniture, jewelry, and photography to create transitional spaces that blend different eras, textures, and personal histories.

### How does Hurray Design balance aesthetics with functionality in its projects?

Hurray Design treats beauty and function as inseparable elements that must exist in synergy to enhance the user’s daily life. The firm utilizes a process-driven approach that starts with understanding a client’s specific lifestyle and movement, ensuring bold ideas are backed by meticulous execution. By integrating technical factors like flow, lighting, and the natural aging of materials, they create “practical luxury” that remains both visually stunning and highly livable over time.

### What role does sketching play in the Hurray Design creative process?

For Rossy Yabut-Rojales, sketching is a meditative and essential problem-solving tool used to give ideas shape before technical details are finalized. Putting pen to paper allows her to think intuitively and visualize the interaction of materials and space in a way that feels more organic than digital drafting alone. This traditional technique ensures that the core concept of a project remains grounded in human scale and artistic intention before moving into the execution phase.

### Why is lighting considered a powerful tool in Rossy Yabut-Rojales’ work?

Lighting is viewed as a transformative element that does more than just illuminate; it creates an immersive experience and sets the emotional tone of a room. Rojales meticulously plans lighting to bring out the richness of materials and define the atmosphere, whether making a space feel expansive or intimate. Her affiliation with the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) underscores her commitment to using light as a strategic design component that enhances both beauty and functionality.

### How does Rossy Yabut-Rojales contribute to the future of Filipino interior design?

As a Board of Trustees member for the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), Rojales advocates for professional development and bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world practice. She champions initiatives that empower local designers to remain globally competitive while staying deeply connected to their cultural roots and traditional craftsmanship. Through her leadership, she promotes a Filipino-global perspective that highlights the nation’s unique mastery of materiality and storytelling on the international stage.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Designers, Profile

**Tags:** Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines

---

### [Beauty Beyond Brutalism: Inside the Historic Architecture of PICC](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/beauty-beyond-brutalism-inside-historic-architecture-picc/)

**Published:** March 4, 2021
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

History is often intertwined with larger-than-life personalities, landmark decisions, as well as significant events. But sometimes, a piece of history can also be synonymous with monumental structures that help define a nation.

The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) is one of the most iconic pieces of architecture history in the country. Designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the design of the legendary structure reflected the popular Brutalist Architecture movement of the 50s up until the 70s.

Characterized by its heavy use of bare concrete, striking visuals, and defined lines, PICC was inaugurated on September 5, 1976 to host the World Bank-International Monetary Fund annual meeting. It has since become one of Locsin’s most famous works and continues to be the premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) venue in the country, as well as an inspiration and destination for budding architects and photographers.

Writer and Creative Director Patrick Kasingsing is the figure behind popular Instagram profile Brutalist Pilipinas, a curated online platform spearheading the revival of Brutalist architecture in the public consciousness. He had the opportunity to revisit the iconic structure sans its usual bustling crowd and events.

“It was both unnerving and refreshing to see a venue associated with crowds and activity bare and empty,” tells Kasingsing. “It’s like finally beholding a work of art (as a big fan of architect Leandro Locsin) without the distraction of crowds; a chance to intimately get to know a structure in all its physical facets, and how the architect probably beheld the structure before it opened to the public. For the first time, the stage that held the show, is the show.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-2-1.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-1-3.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 1 - BluPrint")The imposing upper bridgeway connecting the Delegation Building to the Plenary & Reception Halls.

The PICC is often considered as Locsin’s magnum opus, with the state-of-the art structure acting as a pioneer for convention centers in Asia since it opened its doors to the public. The revered event venue is more than just a piece of architectural wonder, in fact, it’s also a haven for art lovers thanks to its huge collection of artworks from six National Artists inside their buildings.

The photographer shares his favorite part of the PICC, saying: “I do have a favorite area to photograph in the PICC, and that is the upper bridgeway connecting the Delegation Building with the Plenary and Reception Halls. This is where one can fully appreciate the structural acrobatics Locsin was able to execute with the littlest of design gestures. Sometimes less is more, and all the more memorable too!”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-3-1.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 3 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-4.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 4 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-5.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 5 - BluPrint")*The PICC boasts of its Brutalist symmetry through its vast halls.*Asked about his thought process when taking pictures, the photographer shares: “Whenever I take pictures of architecture, I first walk around leisurely around my subject before I take photos of whatever catches my attention; it is imperative to get to know your architectural subject first: to formally assess its form and appreciate how it stands, how it works, how the spaces flow and connect, and how people interact with it. The angles and photos reveal themselves after you’ve thoroughly ‘conversed’ with the structure.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-6.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 6 - BluPrint")*Vivid showcase of concrete inside PICC.*![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-7.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 7 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-8.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 8 - BluPrint")*Details inside the Reception Hall.*Decades since its establishment, the PICC has been able to keep its revered status both as a historical landmark and architectural wonder. This is due to the combination of the PICC’s strenuous efforts on rehabilitation, as well as Locsin’s forward-looking creation, which surmounted architectural trends throughout the years.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-9.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 9 - BluPrint")One factor that makes PICC still the premier MICE venue in the Philippines is its ability to adapt throughout the years, including the “new normal” situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. PICC has been implementing strict preventive measures within its premises to ensure the safety and security of all employees, clients and guests, who are required to undergo temperature scanning and footwear disinfection at entrances. Aside from the required safety and sanitation measures, PICC also upgraded its WiFi and technology capacities to address the requirements of virtual and hybrid events.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-1-1.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 1 - BluPrint")*Hard lines and raw concrete define PICC.*![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IN-ARTCLE-PIC-10.jpg "IN-ARTCLE PIC 10 - BluPrint")*A closeup of the famed Arturo Luz sculpture at the Plenary and Reception Hall Lobby.*The initial high of wandering the empty halls of an extensive amount of space such as the PICC “gave way to a bit of loneliness at the lack of people and activity,” says Kasingsing. “However, seeing and photographing all the staged sets and dressed up halls as if for an event, I am hopeful and confident that this forty-five year old institution can weather the storm we all currently face and have its doors open again to future gatherings and celebrations.”

“We are eager to welcome our clients back to PICC. The circumstances may be different, and adjustments had to be made, but we are more than ready to help our clients and the MICE industry recover,” says Atty. Renato B. Padilla, General Manager and Board Director of the PICC.

*The Philippine International Convention Center is accepting bookings for meetings and events. For more information, visit the [official website](https://www.picc.gov.ph/) of the PICC.*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed the Philippine International Convention Center?

The PICC was designed by Leandro Locsin, National Artist for Architecture. Inaugurated on September 5, 1976 to host the World Bank–International Monetary Fund annual meeting, it is considered Locsin’s magnum opus and a pioneering Brutalist convention center in Asia.

### What architectural style defines PICC?

PICC exemplifies Brutalist architecture, a movement prominent from the 1950s to 1970s characterized by exposed bare concrete, striking geometric massing, and defined structural lines. Locsin’s design is regarded as one of the movement’s most significant expressions in the Philippines.

### What artworks can be found inside PICC?

PICC houses artworks by six National Artists displayed throughout its buildings, making the venue as significant for its art collection as for its architecture. This positions PICC as both a MICE facility and an accessible showcase of Filipino artistic achievement.

### What is the upper bridgeway at PICC known for?

The upper bridgeway connects the Delegation Building to the Plenary and Reception Halls. Photographer Patrick Kasingsing cites it as PICC’s most compelling detail, illustrating how Locsin achieved structural expression through minimal design gestures rather than ornamentation.

### How has PICC adapted since the COVID-19 pandemic?

PICC introduced temperature scanning and footwear disinfection at entrances, alongside upgraded WiFi and technology infrastructure to support virtual and hybrid events. These measures allowed the 45-year-old venue to maintain its status as the Philippines’ premier MICE facility.

**Categories:** Architecture, Sponsored

---

### [How Kaway’an EcoPark is Redefining Bamboo Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-kawayan-eco-park-is-redefining-bamboo-architecture/)

**Published:** July 24, 2025
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

Set within the city limits of the burgeoning General Trias, Cavite, Luzon’s largest bamboo structure graces the landscape. The Kaway’an EcoPark Bamboo Pavilion speaks of local aspiration, international design expertise, and a profound connection to its Philippine setting.

Visually, the Pavilion is a captivating sight. Its immense, organically curved roof, layered with thick thatch accented with copper, seems to float above the landscape, supported by a forest of robust bamboo poles that fan upwards. The structure embraces openness, its expansive canopy offering shelter while inviting the surrounding greenery and natural light deep within, creating a space that feels both monumental and intimately connected to the earth.

Its story begins with the vision of Rosie Tsai , CEO of Citihomes Builder and Development Inc. Building upon then Mayor Antonio Ferrer’s suggestion to create an eco park, Tsai envisioned it as a beautiful, vibrant space that was entirely self-sustaining and delivered true community benefit. “I thought of bringing the community together with a venue that will foster not just interaction with people, but also with nature,” she explains.

## Collaboration and Craftsmanship

![How Kaway’an EcoPark is Redefining Bamboo Architecture.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-EcoPark-Pavilion-1.webp "Kawayan EcoPark Pavilion (1) - BluPrint")
Designing such a landmark in the Philippines presented unique environmental considerations. This challenge was keenly felt by Christian Salandanan of Sangay Architects, the pioneering Filipino architect who collaborated closely on the project with Orin Hardy founder of PT Bamboo Pure Bali, and Elora Hardy of Ibuku, the globally acclaimed designer behind the Pavilion’s concept. For Salandanan, Hardy, and their teams, it sparked a deeper inquiry into the essence of contemporary Filipino bamboo architecture.

The Philippines presents a distinct challenge: structures must withstand wind speeds of up to 300 kph due to powerful typhoons. The ambitious scale and the climatic demands led the design team to an innovative yet pragmatic approach: a marriage of steel and bamboo. This was a conscious evolution for Ibuku, moving beyond purist bamboo applications to embrace what the site and vision required. “We decided not to hide it, not to conceal it, but to reveal it and celebrate it as part of the honesty of the building,” Hardy states.

Salandanan echoed this philosophy, emphasizing that for a permanent bamboo structure of this magnitude, combining materials was essential. By using steel as steel, and bamboo as bamboo, it allowed each to truthfully express its inherent strengths.

## Cultivating a Sustainable Future

Hardy’s design philosophy always begins with people. She considers how they will use a space, how they should feel within it, and how it can connect them back to the natural world. This is evident in the Pavilion’s open, embracing form, deeply attuned to both human experience and its specific environment.

Salandanan also saw the collaboration as an opportunity to push the practice of bamboo architecture beyond preconceived notions and individual styles. He points to specific functional innovations born from this contextual awareness, such as the carefully engineered slits in the Pavilion’s soaring roofline, designed to allow the structure to “breathe” and reduce wind pressure during extreme weather events—an elegant solution to a powerful local force.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-EcoPark-Pavilion-Aerial-scaled.webp "Kawayan EcoPark Pavilion Aerial - BluPrint")An aerial view of the Kaway’an EcoPark.For Rosie Tsai, the Pavilion holds a significance that transcends its physical form; it’s about changing hearts and minds of Filipinos. “I love bamboo so much because of the spiritual meaning it lends to the human spirit,” she shares. “In the Philippines, bamboo has a reputation that it’s the poor man’s timber. We want to change that. Despite bamboo’s humble roots, if applied with patience and proper treatment, its intrinsic resilience can be transformed into an incredibly diverse and inspiring material.”

Her commitment extends to tangible action, with Citihomes now investing in bamboo treatment facilities and ensuring that local workers gain invaluable skills alongside the Balinese craftsmen during the Pavilion’s construction. Salandanan also hopes it will serve as a compelling precedent that showcases bamboo’s enormous potential. “We can use bamboo here in the Philippines with the right process, with the right design, and with the right acceptance of the material. We want to set an example that bamboo is not temporary.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-EcoPark-Pavilion-2-scaled.webp "Kawayan EcoPark Pavilion (2) - BluPrint")Looking at the broader horizon, Hardy sees an exciting evolution for bamboo in global sustainable architecture. While optimistic about its potential in diverse settings, she offers a crucial insight: “I hope that what happens as we bring bamboo into more dense settings, into urban settings, is that we don’t just treat it like a replacement for steel or a replacement for wood. We keep in mind the really special properties that bamboo has and let that inform the design process.”

The Kaway’an EcoPark’s Pavilion stands proudly as an architectural and engineering marvel. It is an invitation to experience the beauty and resilience of bamboo, and a bold step towards a more sustainable and inspiring future for Filipino architecture.

Learn more about Kaway’an EcoPark by visiting their website at www.kawayanecopark.com. Experience the beauty of bamboo like never before. Follow them on Instagram @KawayanEcoPark for daily inspiration, updates on upcoming events, and exclusive content straight from the heart of the park.

Images provided by Kaway’an EcoPark.

**Read more:** [Christian Salandanan: Leveraging Bamboo’s Sustainability and Resilience](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/christian-salandanan-leveraging-bamboos-sustainability/#google_vignette)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does the architectural design of the Kaway’an EcoPark Pavilion reflect its Philippine setting?

The Pavilion features an immense, organically curved roof layered with thick thatch and copper accents that mimics the natural landscape of General Trias, Cavite. Supported by a forest of robust bamboo poles that fan upwards, the structure maintains an expansive, open-air canopy to invite natural light and greenery deep within. This design choice fosters a direct connection between the community and nature, fulfilling CEO Rosie Tsai’s vision of a self-sustaining space that encourages interaction with the earth.

### What was the innovative solution for making a large bamboo structure typhoon-resilient?

To withstand wind speeds of up to 300 kph, the design team from Sangay Architects and Ibuku moved away from purist bamboo applications to create a pragmatic marriage of steel and bamboo. Instead of concealing the steel, the architects chose to celebrate it as part of the building’s structural honesty, allowing each material to express its inherent strengths. Additionally, carefully engineered slits were integrated into the soaring roofline to allow the structure to “breathe,” effectively reducing wind pressure during extreme weather events.

### How does the collaboration between local and international designers redefine bamboo’s reputation?

Rosie Tsai and architect Christian Salandanan aim to transform bamboo’s reputation from being the “poor man’s timber” into a diverse and inspiring high-end material through proper treatment and artistic application. By bringing in Balinese craftsmen from PT Bamboo Pure Bali to work alongside local workers, the project facilitates a transfer of specialized skills and emphasizes that bamboo is a permanent, viable resource. This collaboration showcases that with the right design process and cultural acceptance, bamboo can transcend its humble roots to become an architectural marvel.

### What are the functional innovations introduced by Sangay Architects and Ibuku in this project?

The Pavilion’s form is deeply attuned to the human experience, using an open layout to influence how people feel and move within the sanctuary. Beyond the aesthetic curves, functional innovations include specialized bamboo treatment processes and the strategic use of steel for massive structural loads that bamboo alone could not support at this scale. These elements serve as a compelling precedent for the potential of bamboo in sustainable global architecture, proving it is not merely a temporary material but a sophisticated alternative for modern construction.

### What is Elora Hardy’s vision for the future of bamboo in urban settings?

Hardy suggests that as bamboo is integrated into more dense and urban environments, it should not be treated as a simple replacement for wood or steel. She advocates for a design process informed by the unique properties of bamboo, such as its flexibility and rapid growth, rather than forcing it to conform to traditional timber standards. The Kaway’an EcoPark serves as a bold step toward this future, encouraging architects to let the material’s intrinsic resilience and spiritual meaning guide the creation of inspiring, sustainable urban spaces.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [The Quiet Power of Everyday Details](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/gessi-ventaglio-michael-vincent-uy-metrotiles/)

**Published:** June 8, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

Many people only notice good design when it is absent. A faucet that splashes too far, feels awkward in the hand, or sits slightly out of alignment can disrupt a routine in ways that are subtle yet persistent. These are small irritations, but they reveal a larger truth: the objects used every day often have the greatest influence on how a home feels.

In design conversations, attention often goes to statement lighting, dramatic furniture, or large architectural gestures. Yet comfort is just as often built through repetition. It lives in the details encountered each morning, revisited throughout the day, and returned to again at night. Few household objects embody this more clearly than the bathroom faucet.

Through [Metrotiles](https://metrotiles.com.ph/), the exclusive Philippine distributor of [Gessi](https://metrotiles.com.ph/product-categories?field_category_target_id=5&field_brands_target_id=124), Ventaglio brings together the Italian brand’s design expertise and Michael Vincent Uy’s perspective on contemporary living. The collection began with a familiar frustration. Uy has shared that he often noticed faucets in hotels and airports that felt poorly aligned, awkwardly resolved, or careless in their detailing—small flaws that can quietly affect how a space is experienced. “I wanted a faucet that’s precise, elegant, and functional,” he said.

Related Reading: [The Latest Bathroom Trends You Need to Know for a Modern Makeover](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/the-latest-bathroom-trends-you-need-to-know-for-a-modern-makeover/)

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ventaglio-1.webp "ventaglio-1 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ventaglio-2.webp "ventaglio-2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ventaglio-3.webp "ventaglio-3 - BluPrint")

From that starting point, [Ventaglio](https://gwebassets.gessi.com/strapi-uploads/assets/VENTAGLIO_55cdfd9236.pdf) asks how an ordinary fixture might be reimagined. Its name comes from the Italian word for “fan,” and the collection draws from that form not as decoration, but as movement. The faucet opens, closes, and can rest in a semi-open position, turning a familiar gesture into something more considered.

That distinction matters. Good design is not only about appearance, but about the way an object is used. How it is grasped, how smoothly it responds, how naturally it fits into habit, and how it brings ease rather than friction to daily life. In this sense, Ventaglio is less about novelty than refinement.

Related Reading: [5 Easy and Affordable Hacks for a Stylish Bathroom Makeover](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/5-easy-and-affordable-hacks-for-a-stylish-bathroom-makeover/)

## Why the Smallest Things Often Matter Most

Bathrooms are among the most intimate spaces in the home. They are where mornings begin and evenings slow down. Because these routines are repeated every day, even modest improvements can have an outsized effect. A fixture that feels intuitive, durable, and pleasing to use can quietly elevate the experience of the room around it.

This attention to everyday experience is at the heart of Gessi’s design philosophy. In the Philippines, Metrotiles brings this approach closer to homeowners, architects, and designers through collections such as Ventaglio, where functional fixtures are conceived not only as practical objects, but as part of a more intentional way of living.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ventaglio-4.webp "ventaglio-4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ventaglio-5.webp "ventaglio-5 - BluPrint")

Ventaglio also shows how utility can contribute to a sense of space. Its layered profile, reflective surfaces, and sculptural lines interact with light throughout the day, adding depth and character even in compact spaces. Rather than competing for attention, it demonstrates how functional objects can support a calmer and more resolved interior.

For homeowners, this offers a useful reminder. The most meaningful upgrades are not always the largest or most visible. They are often the ones touched most often: hardware, switches, handles, and fixtures that shape the rhythm of everyday living through repeated use.

In that way, thoughtful design is rarely loud. More often, it works quietly in the background, improving daily life one small detail at a time.

Related Reading: [How to Hang Bathroom Art: Pros, Cons, and Tips](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/how-to-hang-art-in-bathrooms-pros-cons-and-tips/)

## About Metrotiles

Metrotiles is the exclusive Philippine distributor of Gessi, the Italian design brand known for its approach to craftsmanship, innovation, and wellness-focused living. Through its network of showrooms, Metrotiles provides homeowners, architects, interior designers, and developers access to Gessi’s collections, bringing together functionality, material quality, and contemporary design for the modern home.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What is the GESSI Ventaglio Collection?**

A bathroom faucet collection designed by Gessi in collaboration with Micheal Vincent Uy, inspired by the form and movement of a fan.

### **Where can I see GESSI Ventaglio in the Philippines?**

The collection can be viewed at the newly opened GESSI showroom at Metrotiles in Makati and at the Metrotiles showroom on Tomas Morato.

### **What makes Ventaglio different from a standard faucet?**

It combines sculptural form, interactive movement, and everyday functionality in one fixture.

### **Why does faucet design matter in a home?**

Because faucets are among the most frequently used fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms, affecting comfort and routine every day.

### **Is a luxury faucet worth investing in?**

For many homeowners, better materials, durability, ease of use, and design quality can make high-use fixtures a worthwhile long-term upgrade.

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [Art Deco: Modernity and Design at the National Museum](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/art-deco-modernity-and-design-at-the-national-museum/)

**Published:** June 4, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

*Running from November 27, 2025, to May 31, 2026, the exhibition traces how Art Deco moved from global design movement to localized expression through Philippine architecture, furnishings, fashion, and everyday life.*

The National Museum of Fine Arts’ [Art Deco: Modernity and Design in the Philippines 1925-1950](https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/exhibitions/fine-arts/gallery-7/) explored the history of the Art Deco style in the Philippines since its inception in Paris. In an interview with BluPrint, Museum Curator of the Architectural, Arts, and Built Heritage Division, Arnulfo F. Dado, states: “The importance of Art Deco lies in how it represents a turning point in our history. Because architecture represents this important design movement, it is part of our history.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco.webp "national-museum-art-deco - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-timeline.webp "national-museum-art-deco-timeline - BluPrint")

**Related Reading:** [5 Iconic Art Deco Buildings of Retro Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/5-art-deco-buildings-of-retro-manila/)

## Tracing the Arrival of Art Deco in the Philippines

Consisting of two galleries, the exhibition tells a narrative of how Art Deco entered the Philippines and subsequently impacted the built environment. The *Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes* of 1925 triggered the global formalization of Art Deco. Embraced by the Philippines, the style was adapted to suit Filipino culture.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-commonwealth-arch.webp "national-museum-commonwealth-arch - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-sculptures.webp "national-museum-art-deco-sculptures - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-lady-with-mandolin.webp "national-museum-art-deco-lady-with-mandolin - BluPrint")

In the first gallery, the narrative focused on how the style came into the country. The objects displayed reflect the era’s growth, having arrived during a significant economic milestone marked by the introduction of free trade. This marked the beginning of new structures like cinemas and theaters.

**Related Reading:** [The Romantic Architecture of Old Theaters](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/the-romantic-architecture-of-old-theaters/)

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-exhibition.webp "national-museum-art-deco-exhibition - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-manila-metropolitan-theater.webp "national-museum-art-deco-manila-metropolitan-theater - BluPrint")

“I find one of our heritage theaters—along with other theaters—to be very important. The ornamentation of these theaters gives us an idea of how we lived then and how we embraced the way of life, including the enjoyment of cinema and entertainment. The same can be seen in the houses, architectural interiors, furnishings, and furniture,” Dado expresses.

**Related Reading:** [Juan Arellano’s Mastery and His Art Deco Buildings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/juan-arellanos-mastery-and-his-art-deco-buildings/)

This sentiment is seen in the exhibition’s second gallery, which features furniture, clothing, and accessories. “It was adapted to how we use materials. If you see the furniture, they show the range of materials used in our country. Wood was used in ways reflecting how Filipinos translated the design in terms of fashion and material use,” Dado adds.

## Building a Collection Through Collaboration

Dado reflects on how the exhibition was built through collaboration with the museum researchers and collectors. This partnership with collectors allowed the museum to present items, such as furniture, that typically remain hidden within private collections. “In this exhibition, we emphasize that it is a collection of the nation, not just the National Museum, but the people’s collection put together in one exhibition,” Dado states.

Other than the galleries themselves, the exhibition also held public programs such as *Modern Lenses: Photography Through Art Deco Period Pieces.* Spearheaded by photography professor Roderick Javier, the program showcased photography techniques during the Art Deco period. It illustrated how the photography of that time was different compared to today’s cellphone photography in relation to lighting and fashion—underscoring why cameras and film equipment were displayed in the galleries.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-furniture-fashion.webp "national-museum-art-deco-furniture-fashion - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-furniture-1.webp "national-museum-art-deco-furniture-1 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/national-museum-art-deco-furniture-2.webp "national-museum-art-deco-furniture-2 - BluPrint")

On the importance of this exhibition, Dado shares: “One reason is the expression of our built heritage—and not just built heritage, but heritage as a whole. When we say our heritage, we mean the expression of our creativity, ingenuity, and so on. It is also an expression of the resources we have: our ecology, in terms of the materials in our buildings, our furniture, our fashion, our technology. We can see all of that. It is a whole spectrum of what resources we have.”

## Taking the Exhibition Beyond Manila

Due to positive audience reception, the National Museum is taking the exhibition outside of Metro Manila. Still in progress, there are plans to craft a mobile, scaled-down, miniature version of the exhibition.

For Filipinos living outside of the capital, you can anticipate more from the National Museum’s Art Deco exhibition.

**Related Reading:** [How the UPV Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage Became a Model of Adaptive Reuse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-the-upv-museum-of-art-and-cultural-heritage-became-a-model-of-adaptive-reuse/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Art Deco?

Stemming from the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco is a design movement that emerged in Paris just before World War I. The style is characterized by geometric shapes, symmetry, and streamlined forms, including materials such as chrome and stainless steel.

### Where is the National Museum of Fine Arts located?

The National Museum of Fine Arts is located along Padre Burgos Avenue in Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila

### What are the operating hours of the National Museum of Fine Arts?

Operating Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)

### Does the National Museum of Fine Arts have an admission fee?

No, admission is free.

### What is the closest train station to the National Museum of Fine Arts?

The closest train stations are United Nations (U.N.) Avenue Station and Central Terminal Station on the LRT Line 1 (LRT-1). From either station, you can take a short walk or a pedicab or tricycle to the museum grounds in Rizal Park.

**Categories:** Architecture, Art + Design, Interiors, News, Philippine Architecture

---

### [How Large-Format Tiles Create Seamless and Luxurious Interiors](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/how-large-format-tiles-create-seamless-luxurious-interiors/)

**Published:** June 2, 2026
**Author:** The Bluprint Team

**Content:**

Flooring can profoundly influence how a space is experienced. Long before furniture and finishes are introduced, the floor establishes a visual field that shapes movement, light, and proportion.

This is where large-format tiles are particularly effective. By reducing the number of grout lines across a floor or wall, they create a more continuous surface. The result is a cleaner appearance that minimizes visual clutter and can make even compact rooms feel larger than they are.

The advantage is both aesthetic and practical. Fewer grout lines mean fewer areas where dirt can accumulate and less maintenance over time. In homes, this translates to interiors that are easier to clean. In commercial spaces such as retail stores, offices, and shopping malls, the same continuity creates a polished and cohesive finish that stands up well to daily use.

Large-format porcelain tiles also allow design intent to be expressed with greater clarity. When the goal is to create a space that feels open and refined, the material itself must embody those qualities. A broad marble-look surface with minimal visual interruption delivers that effect more convincingly than smaller, heavily segmented tiles.

Read more: [Renovation 101: Things to Consider For Renovation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/at-home/renovation-101-part3/)

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/verona-raven-black-floor-tile.webp "verona-raven-black-floor-tile - BluPrint")Raven features striking white and grey veining across a polished charcoal-black surface for a seamless luxurious finish.
## **Why Do Architects and Interior Designers Choose Large-Format Tiles?**

Architects and interior designers often think of flooring as more than a finishing material. It helps dictate how people move through and perceive a building.

In open-plan interiors, a continuous floor acts as a kind of soft wall. It defines zones without interrupting sightlines, allowing living, dining, and working areas to remain visually connected. The orientation of veining or patterns can also guide the eye toward a focal point such as a window, an entrance, or a significant piece of furniture.

Surface color and finish influence how light behaves within a room. Light-colored tiles with polished finishes can reflect daylight deeper into an interior, helping spaces feel brighter and potentially reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

Design is often strengthened through contrast. Smooth marble-look porcelain gains greater presence when paired with textured wood, exposed concrete, or woven fabrics. The juxtaposition of large surfaces and finer details gives the overall composition more depth and character.

Read more: [Serene Geometries: Ed Calma Finds Clarity Through Quietude](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/serene-geometries-ed-calma-finds-clarity-through-quietude/)

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/verona-galatea-floor-tile.webp "verona-galatea-floor-tile - BluPrint")Galatea pairs soft feathered grey veining with a polished marble-inspired finish suited for bright contemporary living spaces.## **Verona Tiles Create Seamless Contemporary Interiors**

Verona is known for its premium large-format porcelain tiles for floor and wall applications. Available in expansive sizes such as 750 x 1500 mm and 900 x 1800 mm formats, Verona tiles create cleaner visual continuity with fewer grout lines and a more seamless architectural finish.

One of its defining collections, the Marble Series, takes cues from natural stone through refined veining, layered textures, and detailed surface patterns. The collection features a range of marble-inspired designs, from restrained soft-flowing veins to more dramatic vein compositions, allowing architects and interior designers to shape different spatial moods and applications.

Marble Series tiles are particularly well suited to contemporary homes and high-traffic commercial environments, including malls and hospitality spaces, where a seamless visual effect is desired. Further enhancing the realism of the collection is Verona’s use of multiple random face patterns. Selected designs such as Yulla feature up to seven random patterns per tile design, helping surfaces appear more natural and less repetitive when installed across large spaces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/verona-quanda-beige-floor-tile.webp "verona-quanda-beige-floor-tile - BluPrint")Quanda introduces flowing beige and grey veining across a polished marble-inspired surface designed for refined spaces and lasting performance.## **Verona Tiles Deliver Lasting Value**

Beyond aesthetics, Verona tiles are designed for long-term performance. They offer excellent resistance to impact and breakage while exceeding industry standards for warpage, thickness accuracy, and water absorption, delivering lasting durability and strong value over time.

This quality is backed by compliance with Philippine National Standard (PNS) ISO 13006:2019, the benchmark mandated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for ceramic and porcelain tiles. Verona products carry either a PS Mark or ICC certification, confirming that they meet recognized standards for quality and safety.

Available exclusively through [Wilcon Depot](https://www.wilcon.com.ph/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) stores nationwide, Wilcon Depot gives homeowners, architects, interior designers, and developers access to Verona’s premium porcelain tile collections for both residential and commercial projects.

Whether the goal is to create a bright and expansive living room, a refined hospitality space, or a seamless retail interior, Verona large-format porcelain tiles provide an architectural finish that combines design impact with lasting performance.

Read more: [Find Wow-worthy Home Pieces to Jazz Up Your Space at Wilcon](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/find-wow-worthy-home-pieces-to-jazz-up-your-space-at-wilcon/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### **What are large-format porcelain tiles?**

Large-format porcelain tiles are oversized tiles designed to cover more surface area with fewer joints. Their scale creates a cleaner and more continuous appearance compared to smaller tiles.

### **Why do large-format tiles make a room look bigger?**

Because they reduce the number of grout lines, large-format tiles minimize visual interruption. This allows the floor or wall to read as a more unified surface, making the space feel larger and more open.

### **Are Verona Tiles suitable for commercial spaces?**

Yes. Verona’s large-format porcelain tiles are highly durable and especially effective in commercial environments such as malls, offices, hotels, and retail stores where a seamless and cohesive finish is desired.

### **What is the advantage of marble-look porcelain tiles?**

Marble-look porcelain tiles replicate the veining and elegance of natural stone while offering easier maintenance, greater durability, and more consistent performance

### **Are Verona Tiles compliant with Philippine standards?**

Yes. Verona tiles comply with PNS ISO 13006:2019 and carry PS Mark or ICC certification, confirming that they meet Philippine standards for quality and safety.

### **Where can I buy Verona Tiles in the Philippines?**

Verona tiles are available exclusively at Wilcon Depot stores nationwide.

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [A Serene Mountain Retreat by Fitnesscape Creative Studio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/a-serene-mountain-retreat-by-fitnesscape-creative-studio-inc/)

**Published:** January 21, 2025
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the misty mountains of Baguio City, Paul Peña of Fitnesscape Creative Studio Inc. (FCS) has crafted a home that embodies rest, renewal, and a profound connection to nature. The M Residence, completed in June 2024, was born from the vision of a local family longing for a retreat that would bring the serenity of the mountains into their daily lives. Peña, known for his emphasis on restful spaces that prioritize comfort, took on the challenge of executing this vision. With a design that harmonizes natural beauty, sustainable materials, and thoughtful details, Peña’s work reflects both the serene landscape of Baguio and a forward-thinking approach to homebuilding.

## **Building a Dream**

For Peña, the journey began with understanding his clients’ desire: a mountain sanctuary where they could rest and recharge.. “Our clients wanted a place where they could experience the tranquility of the mountains,” Peña shares. This aspiration aligns seamlessly with the philosophy of FCS, which focuses on creating restful spaces that feel welcoming and restorative.

![A Serene Mountain Retreat by Fitnesscape Creative Studio Inc. The spacious outdoor deck provides a tranquil space to unwind, with seamless transitions between indoor living areas and the surrounding natural beauty.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Paul-Pena-1.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Paul Peña)-1 - BluPrint")
The spacious outdoor deck provides a tranquil space to unwind, with seamless transitions between indoor living areas and the surrounding natural beauty.The design brief specified the importance of embracing Baguio’s natural beauty and serene atmosphere while crafting a residence that celebrates relaxation. To this end, Peña highlighted openness, natural light, and views that would allow the residents to stay connected to the breathtaking vistas of Benguet province.

## **Bringing the Vision to Life**

![A Serene Mountain Retreat by Fitnesscape Creative Studio Inc. The sculptural light serves as both a striking design statement and a functional feature, casting soft ambient light and enhancing the room's aesthetic with its artistic form.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Paul-Pena-2.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Paul Peña)-2 - BluPrint")The sculptural light serves as both a striking design statement and a functional feature, casting soft ambient light and enhancing the room’s aesthetic with its artistic form.Peña’s attention to detail was instrumental in transforming the clients’ dream into reality. Each room was strategically oriented to make the most of natural light and ventilation, ensuring comfort while minimizing energy needs. With an open layout, Peña provided clear sightlines across spaces, making the most of the property’s expansive mountain views.

Peña’s design expertly navigates the challenges posed by Baguio’s distinct climate and landscape. Considering the sun’s path, neighbors, and surrounding views, he prioritized orienting the residence to optimize warmth and light in cooler months while avoiding excessive sun exposure. The home’s elevated position further allows residents to enjoy panoramic views, bringing the lush environment of Baguio’s mountains into the comfort of their everyday lives.

## **Emerging Trends: Wellness and Nature Connection**

As Peña looks to the future, he anticipates a shift toward wellness-centered design, with spaces dedicated to rest, comfort, and self-care. His Baguio project embodies this approach, offering a tranquil, nature-focused environment that enhances the residents’ well-being. This balance of technology, sustainability, and harmony with nature exemplifies the design philosophy of FCS and sets a new standard for home design that nurtures both people and the environment.

![A Serene Mountain Retreat by Fitnesscape Creative Studio Inc. The exposed beam adds both strength and character to the space, seamlessly blending functionality with architectural elegance.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Paul-Pena-3.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Paul Peña)-3 - BluPrint")The exposed beam adds both strength and character to the space, seamlessly blending functionality with architectural elegance.As architecture continues to evolve, projects like this serve as an inspiring example of how homes can be designed not just for functionality but for quality of life, offering spaces that enrich our well-being while honoring the natural world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Paul-Pena-4.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Paul Peña)-4 - BluPrint")Get a closer look at this beautiful mountain sanctuary by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, available via the [sarisari.shopping website](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-volume-2), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.42905f53oYtyra&itemId=4456214334&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are available for download via [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [Mabini180: A New Community Hub Where Form Meets Purpose](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/mabini180-form-meets-purpose/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What was the core design inspiration for the M Residence in Baguio?

The M Residence was designed as a mountain sanctuary focused on the concepts of rest, renewal, and a profound connection to nature. Lead designer Paul Peña focused on harmonizing the home with the serene landscape of Benguet to create a restorative environment for the family.

### How does the home’s architecture adapt to Baguio City’s unique climate?

To manage the cool mountain climate, the residence is strategically oriented to optimize natural warmth and light during cooler months. The design utilizes an open layout with specific sightlines that maximize natural ventilation and energy efficiency while protecting the interior from excessive sun exposure.

### What sustainable and wellness-centered features are included in the design?

The project prioritizes wellness by incorporating expansive outdoor decks, sculptural lighting for soft ambiance, and an open layout that fosters a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. By balancing sustainable materials with high-quality comfort, the home serves as a dedicated space for self-care and environmental harmony.

### How does the M Residence maximize the surrounding mountain views?

The home is built on an elevated position to provide panoramic vistas of the lush Baguio mountains from multiple vantage points. Large windows and strategically placed outdoor living areas ensure that the breathtaking scenery of the province is integrated into the daily experience of the residents.

### Who is the creative team behind this Baguio mountain retreat?

The project was executed by Paul Peña of Fitnesscape Creative Studio Inc. (FCS), a firm known for prioritizing comfort and quality of life in their designs. Completed in June 2024, the residence exemplifies their philosophy of creating spaces that nurture both the occupants and the natural world.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Baguio, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Dexterton (DXT) Launches a New Kohler Showroom at its Quezon City Office](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/dexterton-kohler-showroom-quezon-city/)

**Published:** May 25, 2026
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

On May 9, 2026, [DXT](https://dexterton.com) opened its new Kohler Showroom on the 7th floor of its Quezon City Office. Alongside the launch is the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers’ (PIID) General Membership Meeting (GMM).

The theme, *Designing for Possibility*, underscores this significant milestone. Three speakers were invited for the featured talk: PIID’s National President, [IDr. Cecil Ravelas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/meet-cecil-ravelas-the-national-president-of-the-piid/) opened with What the Room Can Be: Designing Spaces that Open Up Possibility; DXT President Audrey Go spoke about The Courage of Reinvention: What Brands Evolve and What Designers Should Know; and Kohler’s Kamille Iris Abapo delved into Designing for Wellness: The Bathroom as a New Frontier.

![Dexterton (DXT) Kohler showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_06282-scaled.webp "DC_06282 - BluPrint")

![Dexterton (DXT) Kohler showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_06132-scaled.webp "DC_06132 - BluPrint")

![Dexterton (DXT) Kohler showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_06151-scaled.webp "DC_06151 - BluPrint")

**Related Reading:** [Alignment in the Boardroom: The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) Introduces Its New Board of Trustees](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/the-philippine-institute-of-interior-designers-piid-introduces-its-new-board-of-trustees/)

## What Can You Expect from DXT and Kohler’s Vision of Designing for Possibility?

Founded in 1962, President Audrey Go inherited DXT from her parents. “In many ways, my parents spent more time with this company than they ever did with us as they built the company. For us, this business is our family’s contribution to the Filipinos \[and to\] the local industry,” Go shares.

DXT’s partnership with Kohler marks another milestone in the brand’s dedication to Filipino households. Founded in 1873, Kohler has been the leading brand in bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Its extensive range of products, such as faucets, sinks, toilets, and bidets, is now available in the Philippines through this partnership.

![Dexterton (DXT) Kohler showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_06064-scaled.webp "DC_06064 - BluPrint")

“Things like the creativity and the courage that we used to have in bringing all of these innovative materials and having the eye for things that people would come to the showroom to look for that they never had, or nobody else had—those are kind of the values and ideals that I knew we couldn’t just let it fade away,” Go expresses.

Through its newly launched Kohler showroom, Go is revamping the brand’s deep commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship.

**Related Reading:** [miratap Lands in the Philippines: Osaka-born Brand Featured in New Greenhills Dexterton Showroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/miratap-lands-in-the-philippines-osaka-born-brand-featured-in-new-greenhills-dexterton-showroom/)

## What Makes DXT’s Kohler Showroom an Experiential Space? 

The showroom was designed in collaboration with the head office of Kohler. DXT’s Business Development and Specifications Manager, Mao Muros, states, “We wanted this showroom to be very experiential. I think most showrooms just showcase the products side by side, but we wanted to have a curated area for each of the collections, and also a designated area for the ones that are most accessible for Kohler clients.”

![Modern bathroom showroom with a curved white freestanding tub, marble vanity, and a large round mirror; fixtures displayed on a gray wall behind.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_05596-scaled.webp "DC_05596 - BluPrint")DXT was responsible for creating the floor plan, while Kohler curated the location for each of the collections. “We wanted to feel like it’s an actual bathroom that you can imagine yourself in, just so it’s easier for you to purchase and also get influenced in a way,” Muros continues.

![Showroom bathroom with dark tiled walls, a circular mirror, and a freestanding bathtub; promotional wall reads'Come home to the colors of nature' with a mountain landscape.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DC_05601-scaled.webp "DC_05601 - BluPrint")For interior designers visiting the space, Muros emphasized the display of Kohler’s flexibility. “Even though they’re mostly curated per collection, there are a lot of configurations with Kohler. You can definitely mix and match them with different finishes and think outside of the box. Since design has been growing more towards monotone or monochromatic colors, we want to make it pop more and use Kohler as an accessory—not just as a fixture in your household.”

**Related Reading:** [Dexterton and Caracole Reenvision Quiet Luxury at New Greenhills Showroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/dexterton-and-caracole-reenvision-quiet-luxury-at-new-greenhills-showroom/)

## Discover More from DXT

Learn more about Kohler’s products at DXT’s [official website](https://dexterton.com/).

Photographs courtesy of DXT.

## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)**

### Where is DXT located?

DXT QC: 157 Sgt. E Rivera St., Brgy. Manresa, Quezon City, Philippines 
DXT BGC: Lt. 2 Blk. 32, 38th Street, North, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Philippines

### What products and services does DXT offer?

DXT provides the foundation for great design. Through a deep commitment to originality, sustainability, and craftsmanship, the company curates the world’s finest brands in bath fixtures, surfaces, hardware, and home finishes. By blending expertise with innovation, DXT offers seamless, efficient solutions that make exceptional design accessible to everyone, regardless of scale or budget.

### What is DXT?

Founded in 1962 by Mr. Simpson Ong as “Chesterton,” a small hardware store in Caloocan, DXT Corporation has grown into a premier Philippine distributor of high-end, imported home furnishings and building materials.

### What is Kohler?

With over 150 years of experience, Kohler is a leading brand in bathroom and kitchen fixtures. It creates products that transform everyday spaces into luxurious environments.

### Where can I shop for Kohler products?

You can visit DXT’s official website at [dexterton.com](https://dexterton.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). to discover Kohler’s products.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Sponsored

---

### [Anton V. Quisumbing Returns to Sculpture at the Yuchengco Museum with Pasulong](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/anton-v-quisumbing-pasulong-yuchengco-museum-makati/)

**Published:** May 21, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

*Pasulong* by Anton V. Quisumbing explores loss, longing, and repair. Two years in the making, Quisumbing pieced together the remains of bronze propellers from boats damaged in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in 2021.

Curated by Miguel Rosales and designed by Caramel Creative Consultancy, the exhibition consists of twenty-nine compositions. The works suggest that moving forward is rarely linear, mirroring the artist’s return to sculpture after a solitary period devoted to painting.

![Anton V. Quisumbing, Sculpture, Pasulong](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Archangel-scaled.webp "Archangel - BluPrint")Anton Quisumbing, “Archangel”, 2025, Bronze, 102 x 46 x 32 cm. Photo by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.

![Bald man with glasses stands with arms crossed in a sunlit workshop, trophies visible in the background.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Artist-Profile-Photo-I-scaled.webp "Artist Profile Photo I - BluPrint")Anton Quisumbing. Photo by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.

**Related Reading:** [LAKBAY 2026: Art House Kicks Off National Arts Month With Christina “Ling” Quisumbing’s Through Visual Poetries](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/lakbay-2026-art-house-kicks-off-national-arts-month-with-christina-ling-quisumbings-through-visual-poetries/)

## What does *Pasulong* mean to Anton Quisumbing?

Working with bronze, Quisumbing reaffirms his ability to adapt to both material and circumstance. The material’s malleability is both unforgiving and physically taxing. The sculptures showcase arcs and material curvatures that underscore motion: from shapes that are reminiscent of spiritual symbols to others that present themselves as buried strokes towards elsewhere.

![Abstract black-and-white metal sculpture of a bird in flight on a pedestal, with flowing, curved shapes and a glossy surface.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Detail-View-II-scaled.webp "Detail View II - BluPrint")Detail view of Anton Quisumbing’s sculpture. Image by Zach Aldave. Photo by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.

![Close-up of abstract metallic ribbons twisting and curving, forming a chrome sculpture against a blurred background, in black and white](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Detail-View-I-scaled.webp "Detail View I - BluPrint")Detail view of Anton Quisumbing’s sculpture. Image by Zach Aldave. Photo by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.

In *Pasulong,* Quisumbing examines what a man can make in the aftermath of destruction. This exhibition also serves as a prelude to his new direction in his artistic practice.

**Related Reading:** [Designing ALT ART 2026 at SMX Manila: Baby Imperial on Building an Art Fair](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/designing-alt-art-2026-at-smx-manila-baby-imperial-on-building-an-art-fair/)

![Portrait of a bald man with glasses standing arms crossed in a dimly lit gallery with sculptures and pedestals nearby (black and white).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Artist-Profile-II.webp "Artist Profile II - BluPrint")Anton Quisumbing. Photo by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.## Beauty Emerges from the Wreckage

Depicting a misshapen figure standing tall on a twisting metal base, *Sight* is a pivotal piece in the collection. Its almond-shaped eye runs horizontally across its center, with an armor on the left that appears to shield it from external aggressors. Ultimately, it demonstrates lightness despite the weight of what we carry, including the artist’s reflection on imperfection.

![Abstract brass sculpture with intertwined curved shapes and a circular loop on top, mounted on a square pedestal.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sight-scaled.webp "Sight - BluPrint")Anton Quisumbing, “Sight”, 2024, Bronze, 63 x 40 x 22.8 cm. Photo by Zach Aldave and
courtesy of the artist.*Pasulong* attempts to make sense of the wreckage while building something new. The exhibition marks his point of departure from painterly ways and into concrete forms of mending.

Article header photographed by Zach Aldave and courtesy of the artist.

## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)**

### Where is the exhibition located?

The exhibition is located at the Main Gallery, Y Space at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Makati City, Philippines

### What is the duration of the exhibition?

May 15 to 30, 2026

### Who is Anton V. Quisumbing? 

Anton V. Quisumbing (b. 1970 in Cebu, Philippines) is a renowned sculptor and painter. A graduate of Fine Arts (Sculpture) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, he has decades of experience in the fabrication and furniture industry. His works have been featured in exhibitions at the Ayala Museum, Alliance française de Manille, and many other stages across the globe.

### What is Pasulong: Recent Sculptures by Anton V. Quisumbing about?

The exhibition consists of twenty-nine compositions that process loss, longing, and repair. Two years in the making, Quisumbing pieced together the remains of bronze propellers from boats damaged in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in 2021.

### Does the exhibition have an entrance fee?

Yes, the Yuchengco Museum has an entrance fee of PHP 200 for regular admission, and PHP 100 for students, PWDs, and senior citizens.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture

---

### [Building Third Spaces: 4 Kapitolyo Cafés as Community Hubs in Pasig](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/4-kapitolyo-cafes-third-spaces-community-hubs-pasig/)

**Published:** May 27, 2026
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Located in Pasig City, Kapitolyo is a small village that is known for its food and beverage scene. From *karinderyas* to local bistros, the area is a popular hub for young professionals and families. The cafés in the neighborhood reflect the dynamic community they serve, offering more than just a cup of coffee.

## **What Makes Kapitolyo Cafés Important Third Spaces?**

Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, the term “third place” refers to a social environment distinct from home (“first place”) and work or school (“second place”). These spaces serve as neutral grounds where communities can build social connections and strengthen well-being.

In this article, BluPrint lists four cafés in Kapitolyo that act as third spaces for both local and the surrounding communities.

**Related Reading:** [3 Cafés in Katipunan Redefining the Third Space](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/cafes-to-visit-around-katipunan-quezon-city/)

### Couch Club

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-entrance.webp "couch-club-entrance - BluPrint")Having spent years living in Kapitolyo, the owners decided to establish Couch Club as a neighborhood café. “We also figured our neighborhood needed a place where people could chill and hang out because the spots in the area back then were mostly grab-and-go, probably because of restrictions due to the pandemic,” Anica Tabora, co-owner of Couch Club, states.

The location was originally a dental clinic on the first floor and a family home on the second floor. Tabora shares, “When we checked out the place, it was a fixer-upper. The flooring on the second floor was dilapidated; the roof had several leaks.”

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-entryway.webp "couch-club-entryway - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-2nd-floor-entryway.webp "couch-club-2nd-floor-entryway - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-2nd-floor-seating.webp "couch-club-2nd-floor-seating - BluPrint")

Through adaptive reuse, the owners transformed this two-storey space into a café. “A lot of care and intention were really put into this space, and we continue to add things we love as time passes,” Tabora adds.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-2nd-floor-seating-2.webp "couch-club-2nd-floor-seating-2 - BluPrint")The café is defined by its casual, creative atmosphere: from its vinyl and book collection displayed on shelves on the ground floor to the artworks exhibited on the walls on the second floor. Its seating arrangements foster social interaction, including couches for larger groups and modular furniture that adapts to its visitors.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Couch Club](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/couch-club-1st-floor-back-area.webp "couch-club-1st-floor-back-area - BluPrint")This design transformation was a collaborative effort between the owners and the community. “Our customers and patrons have also given us pieces which we’ve put up or displayed around the area,” Tabora shares. Many of the smaller artworks, such as the ones displayed on the refrigerator and the shelves, were provided or made by their customers.

She adds, “We’d like to think this space is theirs as much as it is ours.”

### 1C

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, 1C](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1c-cafe-front-counter.webp "1c-cafe-front-counter - BluPrint")Nestled in the quieter residential streets of Kapitolyo, 1C is a café designed to feel like an extension of one’s home. As a resident of Kapitolyo herself, café owner Abby understood that her community was searching for a casual café where they didn’t feel the need to dress up.

“That is why we made it look like a home. It’s like an extension of your home in Kapitolyo. Most of the pieces here are thrifted. Some of the artworks came from our friends who are artists,” Abby shares.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, 1C](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1c-cafe-display-shelf.webp "1c-cafe-display-shelf - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, 1C](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1c-cafe-corner-display.webp "1c-cafe-corner-display - BluPrint")

Having already shut down two of her former cafés influenced the cafés interior design. “I had to close two coffee shops before because of the pandemic \[…\] It was really difficult. That is why, when I resurrected with 1C, the main inspiration was that we didn’t have any permanent pieces. If you noticed, everything’s movable,” Abby shares.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, 1C](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1c-cafe-outdoor-signage.webp "1c-cafe-outdoor-signage - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, 1C](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1c-cafe-indoor.webp "1c-cafe-indoor - BluPrint")

The modular furniture allows for adaptability while enabling visitors to create their own seating arrangements. This casual atmosphere also extends towards its coffee-making process—with the coffee bar allowing for transparency.

By letting the customers witness the preparation, 1C makes specialty coffee less intimidating. Ultimately, the cafe crafts a sense of calm by making coffee a social and casual experience.

### Beach House

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-front-counter.webp "beachhouse-cafe-front-counter - BluPrint")The Beach House is a three-story café that redefines the third space. Offering book and film clubs and workshops, the café is a hub for social interaction and creativity. Blending coffee and community, each floor offers an intimate atmosphere.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-entrance.webp "beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-entrance - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-3rd-floor-seating.webp "beachhouse-cafe-3rd-floor-seating - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-seating.webp "beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-seating - BluPrint")

“For the space, I didn’t want the usual ‘sterilized’ setting, so I set out to find an older space with character, and I specifically wanted a vintage-looking frontage with glass doors reminiscent of old roadside establishments,” explained co-owner Sarah.

As a subsidiary of Beachborn, sustainability is also a big component of the café. “I also wanted our carbon footprint to be as minimal as possible, so we reused and reworked as much as we could.”

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-seating-2.webp "beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-seating-2 - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-display-shelf.webp "beachhouse-cafe-2nd-floor-display-shelf - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-1st-floor-entrance.webp "beachhouse-cafe-1st-floor-entrance - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Beach House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beachhouse-cafe-1st-floor-entrance-display-wall.webp "beachhouse-cafe-1st-floor-entrance-display-wall - BluPrint")

This philosophy explains the hodgepodge nature of the furniture, which was derived from the owners’ old offices and their own homes. The intention was to provide the local community with a welcoming and safe space where like-minded individuals can gather.

### Habagat

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-indoor.webp "habagat-cafe-indoor - BluPrint")Habagat is a beach-inspired café located within the busy urban area of Kapitolyo. Joy, co-founder of Habagat, shares: “Basically, the design was all about having a space that could make you feel you’re having a break by the beach.”

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-window-signage.webp "habagat-cafe-window-signage - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-outdoor-seating.webp "habagat-cafe-outdoor-seating - BluPrint")

The owners, in collaboration with Architect Catalina Cusi, set out to build a place of calm amid the hustle and bustle of the city. Influenced by Baler and La Union, the café design reflects a typical beachside establishment.

With an al fresco-style layout, the café blends the indoors and outdoors. Wooden tables and chairs are used in the interior, and camping chairs are utilized for outdoor seating.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-indoor-seating.webp "habagat-cafe-indoor-seating - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-graffiti-design.webp "habagat-cafe-graffiti-design - BluPrint")

Design elements such as surfboards, a grab-and-go style coffee counter, and tattoo art displays further establish the café’s design language.

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-corner-display.webp "habagat-cafe-corner-display - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-couch-window-area.webp "habagat-cafe-couch-window-area - BluPrint")

![Kapitolyo Café, Coffee Shop, Habagat](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/habagat-cafe-window-counter.webp "habagat-cafe-window-counter - BluPrint")

“We wanted to bring the vibes here in Manila so people could also be reminded of those places and feel relaxed even for just a few hours,” states Joy.

**Related Reading:** [Street Kohi: A Small Mid-Century Modern Cafe’s Elevated Revival](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/street-kohi-a-small-mid-century-modern-cafes-elevated-revival/)

Photographs by Gabriel Ramos and Raechel Oro

## **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)**

### What is a “third place”?

Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a “third place” refers to a social environment distinct from home (“first place”) and work or school (“second place”). The third place serves as a neutral ground for communities to foster their social connections and well-being.

### What is adaptive reuse?

Adaptive reuse is an architectural approach that involves giving a new purpose to old buildings. It revitalizes structures that are underused or abandoned while preserving their historical and cultural significance.

### What are the operating hours of each coffee shop?

Couch Club: 11:00 AM to 7 PM, Tuesday to Sunday
1C: 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Sunday
Beach House: 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday to Sunday
Habagat: 12 PM to 9 PM, Wednesday to Thursday
 9 AM to 9 PM, Thursday to Sunday

### What are the addresses of each coffee shop?

Couch Club: 76 San Rafael St, Kapitolyo, Pasig, 1603 Metro Manila
1C: 6 San Francisco St, Pasig, 1603 Metro Manila
Beach House: 11 C E Capitol Dr, Pasig, 1603 Metro Manila
Habagat:  77 San Rafael St, Pasig, Metro Manila

### Are there parking spaces available?

Not all of the coffee shops offer parking spaces, with some offering limited ones.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Cafes, Interiors

---

### [Don Lino creates reclaimed stone collage in this bungalow renovation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/don-lino-architecture-bungalow/)

**Published:** August 20, 2021
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** Exercising discipline in crafting a tapestry of old stone onto a renewed contemporary home

**Content:**

A crisp new profile greets you when approaching the southwesternmost corner of a leafy private subdivision in Makati, one that suggests a contemporary modernist architecture we are accustomed to seeing in today’s image-saturated world of design. What belies this appearance, however, is a temperate approach by LINO Architecture in updating a traditional, 1980s Filipino bungalow and maximizing its former qualities.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-6.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-6 - BluPrint")The new rectilinear façade of the house by LINO Architecture conceals the remains of a former 1980s bungalow, most of which was retained. The profile of the renovated pitched roof hides behind the dynamic composition of orthogonal lines. 
Photo courtesy of Ed Simon

Initially in collaboration with Leandro Magat, who left the [LIMA Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lima-architecture-renovates-villa/) partnership in January 2016 to study in Australia, Don Lino assumed authorship of the project under the firm’s new guise, LINO Architecture (renamed in May 2017). Less a departure than a continuity, the previous bungalow now embodies the sensitive and subtle design approach seen in all of Lino and Magat’s projects to date.

“It’s really about starting from the idea of showing the history of the place,” declares Lino. Through a clever reworking of the old house’s plan and materials, Lino revives the site’s past in a new manner.

## Defining a refined approach

One of the key design moves Lino pushed for was a reconfiguration of the arrival and entry sequence, which he felt was lacking from the original house. By removing a room at the center of the front elevation, Lino liberated the entrance from being a narrow entry point into one splaying out onto stepped landings down to street level. As a result, the courtyard porch, which opens up to the sky, marks the culmination of one’s ascent to the main door.

The only major and most conspicuous addition to the original house is the second-floor volume containing an extra bedroom and bathroom, a solid counterpoint to the open porch and carport below it. The box adds a perpendicular anchor to the composition and appears to hover effortlessly, courtesy of a new 14-meter beam, which Lino urged the contractor to “make it happen without columns.” The reclaimed gray stone cladding wraps around to frame and unify solid and void in the elevation.

**READ MORE: [Old to Bold: LIMA Architecture Renovates An Aging Villa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lima-architecture-renovates-villa/ "Old to Bold: LIMA Architecture Renovates An Aging Villa")**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-2.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-2 - BluPrint")The removal of the old den at the center of the elevation created an arrival experience where there was none before, and allowed Lino to craft an interplay between solid and void. 
Photo courtesy of Ed Simon![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-3.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-3 - BluPrint")A skylight punches through the extensive overhang to illuminate the pocket garden, which eases the transition from the outside to the front door. 
Photo courtesy of Ed SimonThe floor plan exemplifies a clarity and refinement of the house’s previous layout. Lino shaved off extraneous corners and incongruous room arrangements to align walls demarcating different quarters of the house. The wall planes of the main living areas run from front to back, creating direct visual links across the whole space.

The neutral tones of the communal spaces is a conscious effort by Lino to make the architecture recede inside, to allow for the changeable taste of its occupants and their belongings. “A lot of people underestimate that it’s about visual consistency. It’s not even about when it lines up in plan. It’s about when you stand in it, and you see a straight wall, and it makes it feel cleaner,” says the architect.

## Designing a palimpsest

A palimpsest in architecture is a modified or repurposed design, which bears the physical or visible traces of previous occupations. Lino’s attempt to preserve the material history of the original house manifests itself in the reclaimed stone pieces, meticulously rearranged onto the front elevation to delightful effect. What might appear to be an arbitrary array of stones is a collage of stone types from different parts of the old house, namely, adobe, araal, and marble.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-4.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-4 - BluPrint")Left: The patchwork of reclaimed stone is an unraveled material tribute to the old house. Right: The second-floor cube represents the only new addition to the design, whose splayed picture window is accentuated by a neat juxtaposition between reclaimed stone and timber paneling. Photo courtesy of Ed Simon![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-designdev.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-designdev - BluPrint")Lino explains his motivation: “I want to do architecture that’s old and new every time, even when it’s a totally blank lot with a new structure. It’s still a developing theory, me trying to find a formula, a base formula. It’s not really a style—every project is different. It’s more about the base principles you believe in that is consistent in a project.”

The aesthetic outcome is a revelation, given it was a practical and cost-effective response to ensuring the façade finish would age well in extremes of tropical climate. By laying the rough and smoothly-cut stones both horizontally and vertically, shallow and deep, onto and off the grid, Lino enriched the texture of the asymmetrical front elevation, while celebrating their material qualities. Lino extends this material logic to other parts of the house, applying the old stones in like manner to the kitchen wall and at the rear of the house facing the new swimming pool.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-5.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-5 - BluPrint")Left: The operable windows in the shower allows direct access to the rear garden. Right: The single stair leading up to the extra bedroom and bathroom. Daylight floods in via an upper-level skylight. 
Photo courtesy of Ed Simon![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-7.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-7 - BluPrint")The bespoke rusted-finish steel island counter and glimpses to foliage outside complement the strictly neutral interior palette. The stone motif continues in the kitchen and the wall facing the new pool at the rear of the house. 
Photo courtesy of Ed Simon**READ MORE: [Nothing token about passive cooling in Formwerkz’s Open House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/formwerkz-open-house/ "Nothing token about passive cooling in Formwerkz’s Open House")**

## Softening the edges

The client’s taste in flora is evident from the soft landscaping around the house. Lino is full of praise for the client’s enthusiasm and execution of this portion of the design, which complements his rigid, cubic architecture. Cogon grass, which was difficult to source, has been judiciously planted across the sharpest lines along the front elevation, cushioning the mass of the house as it meets the ground. Windows looking out from the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms have views of a variety of plants, punctuating the monochromatic palette with moments of color.

[LINO Architecture](https://linoarchitecture.com/about/) has kept the contextual approach, as developed during the firm’s days as LIMA Architecture, in the same vein as their methodical renewal of old buildings for modern living. The 35-year old architect reiterates his conviction: “Even if you’re not doing a renovation, even if you’re doing something new, it should have an underlining sense of history or the culture of the place.” In this project of deft alterations and additions, Lino demonstrates a strong sensibility of reconstituting architectural elements from the past to stand the test of time. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article was originally published in BluPrint Volume 4 2017. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Don-Lino-1210-elev.jpg "Don-Lino-1210-elev - BluPrint")Photo courtesy of Ed Simon**READ MORE: [These 5 houses exemplify responses to our tropical climate](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/tropical-houses-southeast-asia/ "These 5 houses exemplify responses to our tropical climate")**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the LINO Architecture bungalow renovation in Makati?

The LINO Architecture bungalow renovation is a project by architect Don Lino that transformed a 1980s Filipino bungalow in a private Makati subdivision. The design retained most of the original structure while adding a second-floor volume and a reclaimed stone façade collage.

### What is a palimpsest in architecture?

A palimpsest in architecture refers to a modified or repurposed structure that visibly bears traces of its previous form. In this project, architect Don Lino used reclaimed stone pieces from the original house — including adobe, araal, and marble — rearranged on the new façade as a material tribute to the home’s history.

### What materials were used in the LINO Architecture bungalow renovation?

The renovation used reclaimed stone types from the original house, including adobe, araal, and marble, applied to the front elevation, kitchen wall, and pool-facing rear. Additional materials include timber paneling, a bespoke rusted-finish steel kitchen island, and cogon grass for soft landscaping.

### Who is Don Lino and what is LINO Architecture?

Don Lino is a Filipino architect and founder of LINO Architecture, formerly known as LIMA Architecture, a partnership he shared with Leandro Magat before its renaming in May 2017. The firm is known for a contextual design approach that bridges the historical and contemporary in renovation and new-build projects.

### How did LINO Architecture preserve the history of the original bungalow?

LINO Architecture preserved the original bungalow’s history by retaining most of its existing structure and repurposing its materials. Reclaimed stones from different parts of the old house were collaged onto the new façade, celebrating their varied textures and origins while giving the renovated home a layered material identity.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Bungalow, Don Lino, LIMA Architecture, LINO Architecture, Philippines, Renovation, Residential, Stone

---

### [CSB's Design Exploration: A Unique Approach to Architecture Education](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/csbs-design-exploration-a-unique-approach-to-architecture-education/)

**Published:** April 11, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) is renowned for its innovative approach to education, particularly in the fields of arts and design. In the realm of architecture, one of the standout programs the college offers a specialized track called Design Exploration (DE). This program is distinct in its approach, blending traditional architectural education with out-of-the-box thinking. It’s a focal point for students aspiring to become trailblazers in the architecture.

BluPrint spoke with architect [Jim Caumeron](https://www.instagram.com/jimcaumerondesign/), one of the mentors of DE, to discuss this highly innovative program. Be sure to check out his students’ thesis projects at the end.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE5.jpg "DE5 - BluPrint")The Phonosphere, designed by architect Kyle Nuestro and a pioneer from the DE program, is an architectural concept that posits the idea of defining a place through sound. It aims to provide an auditory escape from the city’s clamor with sounds reminiscent of the countryside.## Philosophy and Approach

Caumeron explained that Design Exploration’s philosophy merges foundational architectural principles with avant-garde design methodologies. Cultivating architects skilled in the traditional aspects of architectural design are a given. But DE emphasizes being adept at exploring and [integrating innovative concepts](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/) into their students’ work. The program encourages them to think beyond conventional boundaries and to consider the broader impacts of architecture on society, environment, and culture.

## Curriculum and Learning Experience

Design Exploration focuses on nurturing creative, conceptual, experimental, and innovative approaches in architectural creation. Unlike projects centered on problem-solving, DE emphasizes idea-driven and visionary design practices.

This initiative began five years ago under the leadership of a group of mentors, including Caumeron. Among these are notable figures such as Program Chairperson Ven Quizon, Dean Harvey Vasquez, and Walther Ocampo, among others.

The collective goal is to foster an environment where students can explore and develop groundbreaking ideas in architecture. This sets Design Exploration apart as a unique and forward-thinking component of the college’s architecture program.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE8.jpg "DE8 - BluPrint")Photo by Bien Alvarez.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE9.jpg "DE9 - BluPrint")A 3D printed model of Nuestro’s Phonosphere. Photo by Bien Alvarez.When the Architecture program was launched at Benilde, there was a wave of optimism among everyone involved. The goal was to infuse the program with innovative teaching methods in design. This aspiration was influenced by the faculty’s experiences and the program’s establishment in 2009.

A key moment that shaped the approach occurred when Stephanie Tan Branquinho, a former colleague now leading Spacefabrik in Lisbon and Manila, brought in a guest from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London to co-lead a design class. The teaching methods and fresh perspectives were enlightening and resonated with the faculty deeply. Inspired by this experience, they were motivated to create their own unique teaching approaches, drawing from their diverse backgrounds and insights.

To further enhance the pedagogical strategies, they invited Paolo Zaide, a Filipino educator from the Bartlett, to conduct workshops at Benilde. These sessions were instrumental in helping identify and fill the gaps in the school’s methodologies. And this led to a more refined and effective design education framework.

“Over time,” Caumeron shares, “we evolved the process to be compatible with the learner-centered mission of the school as we work with the students’ study direction and assist them in the development of the architectural product through a well-researched idea.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE2.jpg "DE2 - BluPrint")Nuestro’s thesis evolves from contrasting urban and rural sonic experiences. The architecture manipulates acoustics to create a unique sense of place.## Design Exploration’s Rigorous Criteria

The first critical requirement for students is their ability to undertake a Design Exploration project. Selected students should have received instruction from a DE instructor on multiple occasions. This made certain they possessed the necessary attitude, work ethic, and skills for this intensive type of work.

Caumeron recounts there were instances where students who were initially attracted to the creative aspects of Design Exploration but wanted to participate without adequate preparation. This often led to challenges, as they lacked a deep understanding of the discipline’s depth, rigor, and intensity of work. Now, mentors assess a student’s previous design portfolio to determine their readiness to successfully execute a DE project.

The second criterion is the thoroughness of the design process. This serves as a strong indicator of a well-researched and thought-out project.

“It is by no means a solve-the-problem scenario,” Caumeron explains. “It is more of an experimentation on building systems that hopefully results in new architecture.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE10.jpg "DE10 - BluPrint")Phonosphere features layers that amplify geophonic, biophonic, and anthrophonic sounds. It simulates rustling leaves, resonating caves, and spaces for birds, bees, and crickets.The third criterion focuses on validating the procedures by connecting research data with design. This step ensures the accuracy of the process. It may include exploring various aspects such as theory, building technology, materiality, and spatiality. It’s crucial that the choices made here are highly pertinent to the study.

The fourth criterion underscores the importance of the study’s outcome. Despite meeting the second and third criteria, the research would be deemed ineffective if it results in something commonplace. This is what Caumeron refers to as “banality”. The goal is to produce a result that is novel and distinctive when compared to existing forms or structures. While originality can be subjective, he posits, it’s possible to assess the degree of innovation in the final product.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE3.jpg "DE3 - BluPrint")The structure of Phonosphere incorporates natural and artificial sounds in its design. Its diagrid allows wind to flow through, acting as a wind instrument, while also supporting the architecture.## DE and Sustainability

When asked how sustainability figures into the equation, Caumeron had this say:

“Design Exploration is topic specific,” he says. “Therefore it depends on the relevance of the topic in relation to sustainability. Sustainability in itself can be an idea explored. It isn’t something you add as an ingredient to spice up a design project. It just doesn’t work that way in DE’s perspective.”

According to Caumeron, integrating sustainability into a building project introduces an additional layer of complexity. While there are excellent examples of sustainable buildings, there’s always space for further innovation. DE ventures into new territory. The research process is already thorough. Incorporating sustainability could potentially overcomplicate the project, making it feel forced.

To use Caumeron’s own metaphor, DE is akin to composing a painting. The composition should be coherent and well-curated. Introducing an additional concept could muddle the painting’s message. Similarly, DE should remain focused on its process. In the realm of Design Exploration, particularly concerning creative typologies, the approach should be data-driven, technically solid, and well-researched. This ensures the focus remains sharp and the outcomes are meaningful.

“These days, sustainability mindsets should be a norm and not just a conscious integration into our practice,” he concludes.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE4.jpg "DE4 - BluPrint")Phonosphere redefines the architectural experience, making sound an intrinsic element of the spatial design.## Embracing Innovation: The Journey of Design Exploration

In the nascent stages of DE, the program faced skepticism for its intense focus on creativity. Critics voiced concerns that such a heavy emphasis on innovation might compromise the students’ ability to excel in the conventional aspects of architecture. They were particularly concerned about the design component of the licensure exam.

However, the program’s validity and success were unequivocally demonstrated in 2017. Kyle Nuestro, a pioneer from the DE program, secured a top 3 position in the [architecture licensure exam](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-to-ace-the-architecture-licensure-exam-ale/). His project ingeniously integrated nature’s sounds into an urban setting in Ortigas. It exemplified the unique blend of creativity and practicality that DE promotes.

DE commits to produce well-rounded architects who excel in all facets of the architectural process. This includes theoretical discourse, model-making, technical drawing, research, and curation. The program’s pedagogy emphasizes the creation of diverse artifacts, through which students demonstrate their competencies. This hands-on, immersive approach cultivates a deep-seated creative intuition. It prepares students to innovate and excel across the spectrum of architectural practices.

“I strongly believe in the creative prowess of architects and the unquantifiable creative intuition is what will set us apart,” Caumeron professes. “Design Exploration sharpens your craft as a designer. Our projects may be fictive in a school setting but it pushes the imagination of our students.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DE1.jpg "DE1 - BluPrint")## Addressing the Future of Architecture in the Technological Age

The program also engages with the broader discourse on the future of architecture in an era dominated by rapid technological advancement. Historically, architects were esteemed as the primary sources of ideas for constructing environments. Today, however, there’s a growing narrative suggesting that the profession may face obsolescence. After all, technological tools make design skills more accessible to a broader audience.

The DE program confronts this challenge head-on. It questions what remains for architects when skills and methodologies can be acquired by anyone, anywhere. By fostering a deep understanding of both the art and science of architecture, DE ensures its graduates offer more than just technical skills. They bring a holistic, innovative perspective that synthesizes various aspects of design, culture, and technology.

In essence, the Design Exploration program at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde embodies a commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional architecture education. It proves that creativity and practicality can coexist and flourish, even in the face of skepticism and the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

“I always say to my students to always shoot for the stars,” Caumeron says. “And if you miss shoot for the moon instead. Whenever they wonder why my method is hard, I always refer to Formula 1 race cars. They put all the best specs in that car for optimum performance. So why would I teach you to just design a sedan? Sedan is nice, but do you just stop there? When they practice, they will encounter many limitations, they can always work around the challenges or explore options to push for the maximum potential of an idea. That is Design Exploration.”

To learn out more about Design Exploration, check out these 4 thesis projects by graduates of this program.

https://bluprint-onemega.com/conversations-with-mary-explores-the-relationships-between-people-and-space 

https://bluprint-onemega.com/lambanugan-a-distillation-of-the-vernacular-architecture 

https://bluprint-onemega.com/the-nomadic-habitation-unit-is-mobile-modular-and-climate-resilient 

https://bluprint-onemega.com/warp-weft-weaving-tradition-and-innovation-in-filipino-textile-architecture 

*Images courtesy of Jim Caumeron.*

**Read more:** [A New Attitude: Jim Caumeron’s Fresh Minimalist Perspectives](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/a-new-attitude-jim-caumeron-creates-minimalist-yet-fresh-perspectives-for-modern-spaces/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Design Exploration program at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde?

Design Exploration is a specialized architecture track at DLS-CSB that blends foundational architectural principles with avant-garde, idea-driven design methodologies. It emphasizes experimental, visionary thinking over conventional problem-solving, guided by mentors including architect Jim Caumeron and program chair Ven Quizon.

### How is Design Exploration different from a traditional architecture program?

Unlike traditional architecture programs focused on problem-solving, Design Exploration is idea-driven and visionary. Students are assessed on the depth of their research process, the originality of their outcomes, and their ability to connect design innovation with technical rigor rather than producing standard architectural solutions.

### What are the criteria to qualify for a Design Exploration thesis project at Benilde?

Students must meet four criteria: prior instruction under a DE mentor, a thorough and well-documented design process, validated research connecting data to design decisions, and a final outcome that is genuinely novel. Mentors review each student’s portfolio to assess readiness before approving their participation.

### How does Design Exploration handle sustainability in architecture?

Design Exploration treats sustainability as a topic to be explored in its own right rather than an ingredient added to a project. According to mentor Jim Caumeron, forcing sustainability into a DE project risks overcomplicating the work and diluting its focus, as the program prioritizes coherent, data-driven design above all.

### Has Design Exploration produced successful architecture graduates in the Philippines?

Yes. Kyle Nuestro, a pioneer of the DE program, placed in the top 3 of the Philippine architecture licensure exam in 2017. His thesis project, the Phonosphere, integrated natural soundscapes into an urban setting in Ortigas and exemplified DE’s blend of creative innovation and technical competence.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Architecture Education, Design, Education, Philippines

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### [Optimism Embodied: Buensalido + Architects Builds The LYFE Tower](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/optimism-embodied-buensalido-architects-builds-the-lyfe-tower/)

**Published:** June 18, 2022
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

According to [a Harvard Business Review article](https://hbr.org/2021/07/why-you-may-actually-want-to-go-back-to-the-office) by Art Markman, working together in-office allows for more organic collaboration. In face-to-face interactions, colleagues can find solutions quicker and easier when a question is asked. Even informal conversations can urge the explosion of information that can be used in projects. Another is highlighting a better sense of purpose. With human interaction, employees may be able to feel more connected to the organization’s mission.

> *“Believing in what the organization wants to accomplish reinforces that sense that a job is a vocation or calling and not just a way to earn a paycheck.”*
> 
> *Art Markman*

In today’s urban setting, it’s imperative to have buildings that are not just vertical glass towers to place employees. Authentic architecture must strive to be, in its own way, palaces of art that touch the psyche and emotions of people. In other words, cities now need optimistic architecture–structures that seek to express purpose in every design in a way that onlookers can see that life should be celebrated while wellness is promoted at the front line of daily life.

With more optimistic architecture, placemaking in cities would be more prevalent, ushering in an age where people are more tethered to public spaces and, in turn, take better care of their own environments. With this type of architecture, people will be inspired to work harder, to strive further for their dreams while urging the surrounding urban space to design more structures as dynamic as this piece of true architecture. The Philippines itself hasn’t been left behind in terms of making communities better spaces for the public. Continuous exploration, education, and actual project development of optimistic architecture now seem to be rolling into a steady path that’s open towards making more people-centric spaces.

The world of architecture has several architects who have been influenced by art that has surrounded them since childhood. They come from different places but have been commonly introduced to their disciplines at a young age. In the end, these people became legends and inspired others to come to their level. One of these inspiring architects is Jason Buensalido–one of the Philippines’ architectural masters who stands at the helm of the local architectural firm, Buensalido + Architects.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Buensalido-Holiday-2021-674.jpg "Buensalido Holiday 2021-674 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Buensalido-Holiday-2021-588.jpg "Buensalido Holiday 2021-588 - BluPrint")

Being one of the most influential architects of today’s generation, Jason Buensalido is making generous collaborative designs influencing optimistic placemaking and architecture.

[Buensalido + Architects](https://www.buensalidoarchitects.com/) is an architectural, interior, and urban design laboratory that started creating its fascinating and eye-catching designs in 2006. Since then, it has been famous for crafting architecture that is fresh, bold, and innovative. Structures that are inspired by life and context.

Over the years, Buensalido’s work has centered on design manifestos that carry the identity of Philippine architecture and have become extensions of the Philippine environment. As an award-winning architect, Buensalido’s work has become great inspiration for new architects who wish to highlight and reflect culture through their designs.

## **How does architecture inspire us?**

If you look hard enough, inspiration can strike anywhere at any time. For any architect who aspires to make a difference, this is enough to remind them that their structures can also be a source of inspiration for a tired artist planning their next masterpiece, a story prompt for the wordsmith suffering writer’s block, or simply someone who wants to see more beauty in life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_FINAL-DIGITAL-COVER.jpeg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_FINAL DIGITAL COVER - BluPrint")At Buensalido + Architects, architecture is their sword against the lack of inspiration in life. Consistently, the firm has been integrating Filipinism in all of its projects, working as one of the model firms that promote the modernization of [Philippine architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-time-of-human-centric-architecture-is-now/). Recently, the firm finished designing and building LYFE Tower–an homage to the client’s late father, who helped the family flourish through the future by founding a manpower agency that has grown into other enterprises. For this project, Buensalido worked with an equally talented project team headed by Associate Architect and Lead Project Architect Jerome Bautista and Project Architect Nikko Bumanglag.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_74.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_74 - BluPrint")Project Team (from left to right): Nikko Bumanglag, Jason Buensalido, and Jerome Bautista

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_76.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_76 - BluPrint")Project Team (L to R): Jerom Bautista, Nikko Bumanglag, and Jason Buensalido

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_75.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_75 - BluPrint")Project Team (L to R): Jerom Bautista, Jason Buensalido, and Nikko Bumanglag

Project Team (from left to right): Nikko Bumanglag, Jason Buensalido, and Jerome Bautista

“To the owners of the building, we wanted it to be a reminder of their WHY.” Buensalido says, “Their mission statement: *One million jobs for one million Filipinos*. I also thought of making the building a kind of reminder of their roots. They built the company from scratch, pretty much how we built the project from scratch and the hard work built with one goal of making a difference. LYFE Tower is something we wanted the project to express and represent the client. For their employees, we wanted this building to be an inspiring place to work in. For the owners, we wanted the building to project an image of professionalism and commitment. “

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_10.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_10 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_29.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_29 - BluPrint")The tower is a diamond in the rough built along Shaw boulevard and is seated far from the central business district (CBD). “The closest CBD is Ortigas. So there you can see the flashy buildings, new kinds of architecture, more western, the project site is located within more organic structures in terms of growth and design. Design and development guidelines are more relaxed compared to CBDs. One of the things we put on ourselves as a goal was to encourage the community to up its game in terms of urban design quality. So perhaps if we introduce or transplant something with an optimistic and a future-forward design here, maybe the future developers will be inspired to follow suit. That’s kind of how we also see architecture–that it has the potential to create a positive change not just in the users, but also in the immediate vicinity, and perhaps even in the country. You’ll never know.”

On the context behind this beautifully designed and poetically named building, Buensalido mentions that it ties well to resilience and optimism–two characteristics required in making art and otherwise succeeding in life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_22.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_22 - BluPrint")LYFE Tower projects commitment to continuously evolve towards excellence.“It’s about prosperity. If the building is kind of a herald of something, a deliverer of a message, it’s like the building is a promise to a better life, to a more prosperous life to multiple people. It’s a testimony, a promise, and a reminder that the mission, the dream, and the purpose of the company is being, will be, and must be attained. It’s a projection of commitment to continuously evolve towards excellence. For CNT, the main company that LYFE Tower houses, the building is a symbol of a promise to flourish. It is also a testimony to the family who owns and runs the business, built in the memory of their father.”

Digging deeper into context, LYFE Tower gets its name from the clients themselves and became an ode to the family matriarch (Lydia) and the company’s founding father (Felix). Put their names together and LYFE Tower is born with a name that radiates life itself.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-IDENTITY-1ST.png "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ IDENTITY 1ST - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-IDENTITY-3RD.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ IDENTITY 3RD - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-IDENTITY-4TH.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ IDENTITY 4TH - BluPrint")

Overall, LYFE Tower’s design is Buensalido + Architects’ critique and love letter to Philippine cities. At the same time, it is also a sample of what high-rise structures in tropical climates can be. Unlike the stereotypical western glass towers that dominate Philippine central business districts, LYFE Tower has a design that radiates tropicality and individualism. It’s not just a building that was built for the sake of sheltering people and working as headquarters to a firm. But like every project, there were challenges and loopholes that had to be plugged in. The project was a tough one to complete, especially since it was built on a small lot of under 400 square meters. The effect of the site’s small space was a problem that bled into both the design and construction phases.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_2.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_1.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_1 - BluPrint")

“For the design, we really had to prioritize fitting in all of the spaces first with the required adjacencies and optimal flow and function, after which solving other design issues accordingly” Bautista says, “Even in construction, it had to be planned and sequenced properly. For example, there’s obviously only room for one crane on a 300 plus square meter-wide lot. So if there was work that had to be redone that required heavy machinery after the crane was dismantled, you can imagine the effects you have in terms of cost and timeline. So there’s no room for error literally and figuratively.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-LYFE-TOWER-FRONT-ELEVATION.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ LYFE TOWER, FRONT ELEVATION - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-LYFE-TOWER-TYPICAL-FLOOR-PLAN.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ LYFE TOWER, TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_-LYFE-TOWER-AXONOMETRIC-DIAGRAM.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_ LYFE TOWER, AXONOMETRIC DIAGRAM - BluPrint")Alongside its unique design, the structure is on its way to getting EDGE certified–an online software whose process serves as an international green building certification system.According to Bumanglag, the firm also experienced a few other major challenges that included working around the soft nature of the site’s soil which urged them to use pile foundation for the project, the challenge of fitting all of the spaces within the small plot, and managing vertical circulation (of both people and vehicles) given that the lot is small and digging a basement would be super expensive and impractical due to the soil condition. Putting these challenges together, the firm made a tactical decision in pre-fabricating the whole facade and simply installing it onsite. Even the interior finishes were pre-fabricated and pre-finished to minimize wet-works on site.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_73.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_73 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_25.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_25 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_30.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_30 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_64.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_64 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_67.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_67 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_65.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_65 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_47.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_47 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_69.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_69 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_68.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_68 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_66.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_66 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_55.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_55 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_53.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_53 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_45.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_45 - BluPrint")

Despite these issues, the firm was able to craft a 16-story structure that embodied the inner strength needed to go past problems. The design phase took six months at most while construction took three years. Which, adding the pandemic strains into the timeline, is quite an impressive feat to complete.

Among LYFE Tower’s unique features is the brise soleil facade–a design that addresses heat problems and provides comfortable interior working spaces by blocking the heat from even coming into contact with the glass. Though low-e and double-paned, the building’s glass can still have heat seep into the building through convection.

“The typical design of office towers are taken from western models of glass-enveloped boxes, which in a tropical climate, may not be the appropriate solution all the time.” Buensalido says. Putting this glass box formula into local Philippine architecture isn’t as effective and fitting for the tropical climate. Not only that, but it also ends up being a monotonous reflection of city structures, stealing the city’s sense of place.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_15.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_20.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_18.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_19.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_19 - BluPrint")

“The problem is, if you paste that model all over the world, all of the cities start to look the same. What if we get that western model and combine it with the typical responses of vernacular architecture? If you look at these local structures, you always have external elements that prevent heat from coming in but also maintain a high level of porosity so that views are allowed outwards and the wind is allowed to penetrate (like the sawali or bamboo-slatted walls of the *bahay kubo* or the *ventanillas* of the *bahay-na-bato*).Yes, there are technologies such as low-e glass, double-paned curtain wall systems to prevent heat from penetrating the interiors, but the best way to prevent the harsh sun from going inside is by blocking it from outside even before it comes in contact with the glass. This also lowers the cooling and energy requirements of the building. We were able to do this by introducing a brise-soleil or a sunscreen, in the form of external aluminum fins, inspired by the company identity and whose main gesture is that of an upward, optimistic, and aspirational sweep.”

By planning workshops and collaborating with suppliers, design consultants, and contractors, Buensalido + Architects was able to achieve an efficient design that is distinctly Filipino and embodies the client’s overall history and identity.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_9.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_9 - BluPrint")> “So that’s what we wanted to achieve. A new kind of tropical high-rise structure that can be distinctly Filipino. We wanted to combine context with identity. It’s important to have and reflect identity in something whether that is architecture or self. That kind of thinking is the same when it comes to architecture. The real and honest reflection of self is what makes each structure different from each other.”
> 
> Jason Buensalido

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_54.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_54 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_72.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_72 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_46.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_46 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_56.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_56 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_57.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_57 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_60.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_60 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_43.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_43 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_58.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_58 - BluPrint")

This facade also extends into the structure’s interiors. From the lobby that connects to the outside world through an escalator that’s open to a mini-plaza entry, visitors are greeted with the main lobby that’s a double-height space carrying the same idea of the slats, the facade’s diagonality. Higher into other floors is the vertical parking area that extends from the 4th to the 6th floors. Some parking levels can be converted into social spaces: a basketball court, a digital driving range, and even a space for parties. On the 7th floor are the training rooms where rooms can be combined and divided depending on the number of employees that need to be trained. Higher up are the floors reserved for CNT Promos and Ads’ multiple sister companies such as a cooperative, digital marketing and events agency. Each of these floors expresses each company’s distinct identity and gives occupants a sense of what floor they’re in.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_62.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_62 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_27.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_27 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_33.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_33 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_42.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_42 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_59.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_59 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_36.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_36 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_34.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_34 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_31.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_31 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_48.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_48 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_44.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_44 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_26.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_26 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_40.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_40 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_61.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_61 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_51.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_51 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_49.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_49 - BluPrint")

“You see these patterns on the walls, these are all acoustic panels that we customized one by one that are differently themed per floor.” Bautista adds, “So it becomes a navigation tool as well. If you’re on the orange floor and see orange panels, you know that you’re on a certain floor.”

As a way to balance work with play, the LYFE Tower also has the beautiful Polari sky lounge, a topmost floor dedicated to the music lounge where employees (and even the general public) can enjoy musical performances while dining out with fellow colleagues.

“The concept here, especially at night, is dancing and dining under the stars so even the light fixtures are almost like constellations of sorts.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_38.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_38 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_24.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_24 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_39.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_39 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_41.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_41 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_42.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_42 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_5.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_26.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_26 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_70.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_70 - BluPrint")

“Sustainability is actually at the core of the design, so much so that we are actually at the last stages for auditing for green certification through EDGE.” Bautista adds. All in all, LYFE Tower is a physical manifestation of the client’s culture, core foundation, dreams, and goals. In a way, it is a lighthouse for the clients and their employees, and a reminder to people that individualism, perseverance, optimism, and grit can give birth to something akin to artistry.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_23.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_23 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/BP-WEBZINE-2022-In-Article-photo_BUENSALIDO-LYFE-BUILDING_21.jpg "BP WEBZINE 2022 In - Article photo_BUENSALIDO LYFE BUILDING_21 - BluPrint")

“We’re not exactly in the Central Business District. The owners could’ve easily built a structure that blends but they wanted a structure that stands out, that could cause a kind of inspiration and a ripple effect so that the architecture, the people around us could also follow suit, that could all kind of work together to create a desirable and inspiring urban environment to exist in.” Buensalido says, “At the end of the day, I think if we are able to cause lives to be a little bit better, then I think we have done our job.”

Click on the Link to watch BluPrint’s Conversation with Buensalido + Architects

**PROJECT INFORMATION**
Project Name: LYFE Tower
Project Status: Completed
Construction: 2018-2021
Completion Year: 2021
Location: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
Client: LYFE Land
Lot Area: 393 sq.m.
Building Area: 5,192 sq.m.

**PROJECT TEAM:**
Architecture and Interiors: Buensalido + Architects (Jason Buensalido,Jerome Bautista, Nikko Bumanglag and Kash Pacia)

Socials:
https://buensalidoarchitects.com/
https://www.facebook.com/buensalidoarchitects/
https://www.instagram.com/buensalido\_arch/
https://twitter.com/buensalido\_arch 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/buensalidoarchitects

**Collaborators:**
Project & Construction Management: AVA Consultancy, Inc.
Structural Consultant: BCECS
Plumbing & Sanitary Consultant:
RSGutierrez Engineering Design & Consultancy
Mechanical Consultant:First Flow HVAC Technologies, Inc.
Electrical Consultant:Ibarra Almajose and Associates
General Contractor: Thaison Builders
Facade Contractor: SOTA Phils., Inc.
Interior Contractor: Don Pin Corporation

**Suppliers:**
Car Lift: IFE Elevators Philippines, Inc.
Elevator: International Elevator & Equipment, Inc.
Lighting: Sparklight Marketing, Inc.
Tiles Supplier: Niro Ceramic Philippines, Inc.
Office Furniture & Acoustic Wall Cladding: Group Perspective, Inc. Laminates, Wood Decking: Multi-Rich Home Decors, Inc. (WilsonArt) Movable Acoustic Partition: Walls In Motion, Inc.
Interior Wall Finish: The Fourth Dimension, Inc. (VASARI Wall Plaster) Vinyl: Kent Floors
Stone: Guanco Development Corp.
Toilet Fixtures: Kuysen
Exterior Paint Finish: Davies Paint Philippines

Photography BUENSALIDO + ARCHITECTS

Portraits ED SIMON
Art Direction DIANNE NICOLE FERNANDO
Sittings Editor GEEWEL FUSTER

Video Credits CHAPTERSPH
Social Media Video Producer ANDREW WAYNE

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### What is LYFE Tower, and who designed it?

LYFE Tower is a 16-story office building in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, serving as the headquarters of the CNT Group of Companies. Designed by Buensalido + Architects, it showcases innovative and context-driven architecture that reflects the client’s vision and values.

### Where is LYFE Tower located in the Philippines?

The tower is located along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. Its position outside the traditional business districts gives it a distinct presence while remaining accessible in the city.

### What makes LYFE Tower different from other office buildings?

LYFE Tower stands out for its tropical-inspired design and warm, elegant features like arches and fillets. The architecture emphasizes optimism, resilience, and individuality, making it more than a typical glass-and-steel high-rise.

### Who is the client behind LYFE Tower?

The building was commissioned by the CNT Group of Companies, a manpower agency. Its name, LYFE, combines the founders’ names, Felix and Lydia, symbolizing vitality and their commitment to uplifting Filipino lives.

### What are some unique features of LYFE Tower’s design?

Unique elements include its horizontal profile with arches, the Polari sky lounge for music and alfresco dining, and a design approach that embraces tropicality and individuality, setting it apart from conventional high-rises.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Jason Buensalido, Manila, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Nurture a Greener Manila Urban Life with Biophilic Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/nurture-a-greener-manila-urban-life-with-biophilic-design/)

**Published:** January 15, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

People want a shot of nature in their surroundings. Even when it’s in a highly-urbanized area, studies like ones that come from the [U.S. National Institute of Health](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5663018/) show the importance of green spaces for a person’s mental and physical health. Usually, the typical methods have been creating accessible parkland. However, in recent decades, biophilic design has come into the forefront as a creative way of getting green spaces into an urbanized space.

Biophilic design comes from the original idea of “biophilia,” credited to Edward O. Wilson from his 1984 book of the same name. It’s the belief that a human being’s continued connection to nature is necessary for that person to have a holistic existence.

Biophilic design extends that idea to the way we build things. Do we force a sharp divide between the modern and the natural world? Or do we find a way to include those designs to our day-to-day life?

![Arroceros forest Park photo courtesy of Manila Public Information Office.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/arroceros-park_manila-public-information-office.jpg "arroceros park_manila public information office - BluPrint")The Arroceros Forest Park has a plethora of trees that you can learn about during your stroll. Photo courtesy of Manila Public Information Office.Parks seclude and preserve a big parcel of land in the city and use it as green space. Biophilic design goes one step further and looks to integrate greenery into a space’s design.

### **Reframing How We Engage Our Spaces**

Biophilic design as an idea sprang forth from an increasing need for environmentally sustainable ideas and designs in our modern-day buildings. Certain designs would do no good to a changing global climate. Thus, biophilic design also aims to integrate ample amounts of sustainable materials to ensure that a building won’t be carbon intensive in its use.

Stephen R. Kellert and Elizabeth F. Calabrese’s *The Practice of Biophilic Design* talks strongly about the way we design spaces in modern times as creating an “increasing disconnect between people and nature in the built environment.” Whether it’s the way many buildings lack natural lighting or how many buildings are confined from the outside, how we design our spaces discourages a connection to nature.

Biophilic design blurs and dismantles whatever strong defined lines there are between nature and modernity. It integrates *natural* elements into the design of the buildings. Instead of imposing and shut-off buildings, biophilic design encourages playing with elements like natural lighting, water, plant life, and animal life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Bamboo-Treehouse-9.jpeg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Bamboo Treehouse) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/treehouse-4.jpg "treehouse 4 - BluPrint")

![A elongated tree house with an oblong window surrounded by tall narrow trees.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Treehouse-Square.jpg "Treehouse-Square - BluPrint")

It might not even necessarily include those elements in reality; but it invokes those ideas in a grand scale. Some ideas like animal art designs on the walls or a free-flowing, well-lit lobby for people to go through project an element of naturalness to the project.

Biophilic designs also encourage ideas like walkable buildings versus a car-centric design as well as more open spaces integrated into an area. It puts the action of the person into the forefront of how we interact with our surroundings, actively engaging with the world instead of passively behind closed walls.

### **The Psychological Component of Biophilia**

What is more important than the material used in a design? The pattern used and the emotion it evokes to the people residing. As biophilic design became more popular, the question becomes how can we invoke the biophilic part of ‘biophilic design,’ i.e., how can we emulate nature in our buildings?

A combination of psychology, biology, and other sciences inform how patterns of biophilic design can effectively create comfort and connection with nature. It’s elaborated further in “[14 Patterns of Biophilic Design](https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/),” but the core ideas are grouped into three:

- Nature in the Space, or how much nature is used in the design;
- Natural Analogues, or how the design adheres with natural patterns;
- Nature of the Space, or how the elements are combined together.

Combined, it creates an effect of connecting people with nature in its very context. It shows how we evoke and connect people with experiences through facsimiles: “even better than the real thing,” as U2 once sang.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Capitaspring_portrait-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Capitaspring_portrait) (9) - BluPrint")Photos by Dianne Doctor### **Biophilic Design: Modern-Day Hanging Gardens of Babylon**

The Philippines has been a great testing ground for biophilic ideas, with many developers embracing the blurring of modern architecture and nature in interesting ways. While there are a variety of designs that you can point towards, many architects in the country seem to be inspired by buildings and structures like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or rice terraces—a staggered approach to invoking nature in man-made structures.

Mostly you can see this in giant establishments like malls and offices around Metro Manila. One of the most prominent examples of this is The Podium in Ortigas Center. Its design features a large-scale vertical garden surrounding the lower parts of its building that creates this ziggurat-styled look with the greenery hanging off of it.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-news-philippines-property-awards-2018-6.jpg "bluprint-news-philippines-property-awards-2018-6 - BluPrint")Aerial view rendering of The Podium Complex by SM Keppel Land IncThe Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas Avenue or the NEX Tower in Makati integrates the principles of biophilic design into the buildings themselves. Both establishments have large communal areas with greenery, with a lot of fresh plant and animal life reminiscent of a small park area.

Internationally, there are interesting trends to note on how other countries approach biophilic design. Singapore, for example, has the Supertree Grove, which consists of giant artificial trees with vertical gardens. It’s a tourist attraction that shows the possibilities with biophilic design in the future.

### Living Outside the Box

In urban spaces, the use and evocation of nature can be the line between a healthy mental state and an unhealthy state of mind for someone. It’s the difference between feeling at home and feeling untethered to reality. Designers want to evoke more than splendor: they want to evoke ‘home.’

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait2-2.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait)2 - BluPrint")Though it’s small, The Raincoat House’s clear corrugated polycarbonate roof allows light to flood into the home during the day.Biophilic design is still very much an emerging concept, open to more experimentation and playing around with concepts inside and outside nature. How we utilize this concept in our cities may become the linchpin in designing accessible, livable spaces in our urban jungle.

Related content: [Indonesia’s Biophilic Office: A Step Towards Employee Welfare](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/indonesias-biophilic-office-a-step-towards-employee-welfare/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is biophilic design in architecture?

Biophilic design is an architectural approach that integrates natural elements — plant life, water, natural light, and organic patterns — directly into the built environment. Rooted in Edward O. Wilson’s 1984 concept of biophilia, it holds that humans require ongoing connection with nature for holistic wellbeing. In practice, biophilic design blurs the boundary between modern structures and the natural world through materials, spatial layouts, and sensory experiences.

### What are the three core patterns of biophilic design?

Biophilic design is organized around three core pattern groups as outlined in *14 Patterns of Biophilic Design*: Nature in the Space, which refers to how much actual nature — plants, water, animals — is present in the design; Natural Analogues, which describes how the design mimics natural forms and textures; and Nature of the Space, which addresses how spatial configurations evoke the feeling of being in a natural environment, such as prospect, refuge, or mystery.

### What are examples of biophilic design in the Philippines?

Notable examples of biophilic design in the Philippines include The Podium in Ortigas Center, which features a large-scale vertical garden wrapped around the lower levels of its building in a ziggurat-inspired form. The Rockwell Business Center on Ortigas Avenue and NEX Tower in Makati both integrate communal green areas with abundant plant life resembling small urban parks. These buildings reflect a growing movement among Philippine developers to merge modern architecture with nature.

### What is the difference between a park and biophilic design?

A park preserves and dedicates a defined parcel of urban land as green space, typically separate from surrounding built structures. Biophilic design goes further by integrating nature directly into a building’s architecture — through vertical gardens, natural lighting strategies, water features, and organic spatial patterns. Rather than setting nature apart from the built environment, biophilic design embeds it into the everyday experience of occupying a structure.

### How does biophilic design benefit mental and physical health?

Research from institutions including the U.S. National Institute of Health demonstrates that access to green spaces supports mental and physical wellbeing in urban environments. Biophilic design extends these benefits by bringing nature into the buildings where people spend most of their time. Natural light, plant life, water features, and nature-inspired patterns have been shown to reduce stress, improve concentration, and foster a sense of connection and calm in otherwise dense urban settings.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Green Architecture, Green Spaces, Interior Design, Sustainability

---

### [Modern Tiny House Design: 5 Unique Homes Under 100 sqm](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/modern-tiny-house-design-5-unique-homes-under-100-sqm/)

**Published:** March 12, 2024
**Author:** Albert Aycardo

**Content:**

Construction and development is a costly endeavor that makes building a home quite inaccessible to many people. Additionally, land is a finite resource, and as the demand continues to grow, its price naturally increases. Thankfully, new homeowners are spoiled for choice when it comes to modern tiny house designs.

A tiny home, classified as less than 100 sqm, offer a viable solution to housing. These smaller and more efficient homes are more affordable and easier to build. We put together 5 modern tiny house designs that showcase the benefits of efficient living, proving that a smaller size doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort, functionality, or a sense of spaciousness.

## **Garden Studio by Studio Abacaxi**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_13.jpg "garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_13 - BluPrint")Photos by Aiste Rakauskaite![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_6.jpg "garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_6 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_10.jpg "garden-studio-studio-abacaxi_10 - BluPrint")The Garden Studio, designed by [Studio Abacaxi](https://www.instagram.com/studio.abacaxi/), is a simple gable-roof structure that houses a young couple while still managing to fit a workspace and room for guests. Within just 59 sqm, this clever modern tiny house design approach makes use of alternating staircases and folding beds to conserve space. Adding multi-use traits throughout each space allows for flexibility that loosens the constraints of a smaller building footprint. The building is primarily made from wood that sits on a concrete slab, making it quite cost effective. Cladding the exterior with wide glazing makes the space look and feel much more open.

## **Tiny House by Cazú Zegers Arquitectura**

![a two story sculptural wooden cabin with a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_4.jpg "casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_4 - BluPrint")Photos by Marcos Zegers

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_6.jpg "casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_12.jpg "casa-pequena-cazu-zegers-arquitectura_12 - BluPrint")

[Cazú Zegers Arquitectura](https://cazuzegers.com/) proposed the Tiny House project for a planned small town known as Pueblo La Dehesa in Chile. As such, the house uses prefabricated modules to be cost-effective and easy to build. The cubic form reinforces a uniform intent that would make each module look compatible, in contrast to the sloping landscape. The use of wooden cladding all throughout utilizes natural textures as the structure’s palette. Lastly, a provision of decks on each level act as an intermediary between the indoors and the outdoors.

## **Spring House by MA-SA**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_1.jpeg "casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_1 - BluPrint")Photos by Diego Soto Madriñan

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_2.jpeg "casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_3.jpeg "casa-la-primavera-ma-sa_3 - BluPrint")

The Spring House, by [MA-SA](https://www.masa-studio.com/), is a countryside retreat that deeply reflects the character of rural Colombia. The simplicity of the structure’s character is a take on the vernacular architecture of the area. Additionally, the modern tiny house design builds on the foundations of the former mill which reduces the need to disturb the landscape while allowing for the reuse of materials. Spaces within are brought together and extend into open-air perimeter corridors, aligned in a manner that takes advantage of cross ventilation and natural lighting. 

**Related Read:** [Burt Little Home: Small House Design by the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/burt-little-home-small-house-design-by-the-sea/)

## **House 3,5 x 17 by Story Architecture**

![a three story modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/house-35-x-17-story-architecture_3.jpg "house-35-x-17-story-architecture_3 - BluPrint")Photos by Lonton Studio

![a modern kitchen and dining area inside a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/house-35-x-17-story-architecture_11.jpg "house-35-x-17-story-architecture_11 - BluPrint")

![a modern stairway with wind blocks inside a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/house-35-x-17-story-architecture_13.jpg "house-35-x-17-story-architecture_13 - BluPrint")

[Story Architecture](https://storyarchitecture.vn/) manages to fit a home into a lot that is 3.5 meters wide and 17 meters in length. In response to these conditions, the layout of the structure utilizes stacked living spaces across multiple floor levels. Openings are formed through both ends of the structure with the staircase positioned along its center. As width is an essential factor, rooms are oriented along one axis and direction to be efficient with space. The result is a light-filled retreat that harmonizes both form and plan through a smart integration of modern tiny house design principles.

## **Sun Shelter by AzulPitanga**

![the rustic exterior of a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/refugio-do-sol-azulpitanga_15.jpg "Nome do Projeto - BluPrint")Photo by Igor Ribeiro

![the rustic exterior of a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/refugio-do-sol-azulpitanga_8-Large.jpeg "Nome do Projeto - BluPrint")

![the dining and kitchen area inside a modern tiny house design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/refugio-do-sol-azulpitanga_9-Large.jpeg "Nome do Projeto - BluPrint")

Refugio do Sol, or Sun Shelter, is a weekend home located in the heart of Barbalha, Brazil by [AzulPitanga](https://www.azulpitanga.com.br/). The design takes inspiration from African design tropes that reflect vernacular techniques. Rammed earth, wattle and duab, and reinforced mortar forms the character of both the exteriors and interiors. The inclusion of multiple garden types, ranging from stone to banana trees, showcases the immediate vegetation of the site’s location. The properties of these natural materials support the comfort and function of the spaces within while integrating its character as a part of Brazil’s country landscape.

## Small Space, Big Style

It just goes to show that modern tiny house designs can also be made spacious and beautiful when designed right. These structures each have their own unique programming that demonstrates affordable and sustainable results. Beyond that, these buildings can espouse a more intentional form of living through fewer rooms to maintain or possessions to manage, which can allow one to enjoy more fulfilling things in life.

**Related Read:** [Think Big, Design Small: Designing for the Forgotten](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/think-big-design-small-designing-for-the-forgotten/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is considered a tiny house and how big is it?

A tiny house is generally classified as a residential structure with a floor area of less than 100 square meters. Tiny homes offer a more affordable and easier-to-build alternative to conventional housing, making homeownership more accessible amid rising land costs. Their smaller footprint encourages space-efficient design strategies such as multi-use furniture, stacked floor levels, and open-plan layouts that maximize livability within limited square meterage.

### What are the best examples of modern tiny house design?

Five standout modern tiny house designs include the Garden Studio by Studio Abacaxi (59 sqm, New York), the prefabricated Tiny House by Cazú Zegers Arquitectura in Pueblo La Dehesa, Chile, the vernacular Spring House by MA-SA in rural Colombia, the 3.5-meter-wide House 3.5 x 17 by Story Architecture, and the rammed earth Sun Shelter by AzulPitanga in Barbalha, Brazil. Each demonstrates that small homes can be functional, beautiful, and contextually grounded.

### How does the Garden Studio by Studio Abacaxi maximize a 59 sqm footprint?

The Garden Studio by Studio Abacaxi fits a living space, home workspace, and guest accommodation into just 59 square meters through alternating staircases, folding beds, and multi-use spatial programming. The primary wood-and-concrete-slab construction keeps costs low, while wide glazing on the exterior makes the interior feel significantly larger and more connected to the surrounding garden landscape.

### What building materials are commonly used in modern tiny house design?

Modern tiny house designs frequently use wood, concrete slabs, prefabricated modules, rammed earth, and wide glazing. Wood offers cost-effectiveness and warmth, as seen in the Garden Studio and Cazú Zegers house. Rammed earth and wattle-and-daub provide thermal mass and vernacular character in the Sun Shelter. Wide glass panels and open corridors are used across multiple projects to bring in natural light and create a sense of spaciousness beyond the physical footprint.

### What are the benefits of living in a tiny house?

Tiny houses offer several practical and lifestyle benefits: lower construction and land costs, reduced environmental footprint, easier maintenance, and more intentional living with fewer possessions to manage. Architecturally, the constraint of a small footprint drives creative solutions — stacked levels, cross ventilation, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and multi-functional spaces — that often result in homes that feel more considered and livable than larger, less efficiently designed residences.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Residential

---

### [Metabolism Architecture: Buildings That Can Grow Over Time](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/metabolism-architecture-buildings-that-can-grow-over-time/)

**Published:** April 8, 2024
**Author:** Albert Aycardo

**Content:**

The Metabolism Architecture movement is a response to the rapid urbanization and societal transformation Japan faced after World War II. It was a groundbreaking movement that proposed radically new ideas of how our built spaces should be more animated for continued relevance.

To better understand this philosophy, we delve into the core principles, key figures, and iconic projects that established its lasting impact on the discourse of architectural design.

## What is Metabolism Architecture? 

In the 1950s, the trend of modernism was strongly emerging in the West. This concept was at its peak of influence especially in the United States and European Nations.

A group of young and upcoming Japanese architects and designers challenged this popular style as they found it too rigid and functionalist. These visionaries believed that buildings, alongside the built environment, should be continuously renewing and transforming. The term “Metabolism” encapsulated their contrarian stance that architecture should be treated as an extensively living and evolving entity.

The soul of Metabolism Architecture is the concept of organic growth; designing buildings and cities as dynamic, expandable, and replaceable. It vehemently subscribes to the values of flexibility and adaptability over time. Proposed architectural solutions such as modular components, prefabricated units, and the megastructure typology foster a broader capacity for evolution.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Metabolism-2-.jpeg "Metabolism 2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Metabolism-Expo.jpeg "Metabolism Expo - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Metabolism-Tokyo-Japan-Kenzo-Tange-Kiyonori-Kikutake-Kisho-Kurokawa-Fumihiko-Maki-Noboru-Kawazoe-shinchintaisha-Proposals-For-A-New-urbanism-osaka-expo35-2.jpg "Metabolism-Tokyo-Japan-Kenzo-Tange-Kiyonori-Kikutake-Kisho-Kurokawa-Fumihiko-Maki-Noboru-Kawazoe-shinchintaisha-Proposals-For-A-New-urbanism-osaka-expo35-2 - BluPrint")*Extracts from “Kisho Kurokawa His Works: Capsule, Metabolism, Spaceframe, Metamorphose”, 1967. Sourced from https://acetone.online/project-kurokawa*

> “Human society must be regarded as one part of a continuous natural entity that includes all animals and plants.”
> 
> Kisho Kurokawa

As such, the movement fully embraces the innovations that come with new technologies. These advancements are a natural byproduct of progress and the philosophy aims to always be inclusive to such changes. Adaptive reuse and resilient design practices attune to this philosophy, especially since [a building remains standing for around 50-60 years on average.](https://bciconstruction.us/which-factors-determine-the-lifespan-of-a-building/)

If one looks a bit deeper, it is comparable to the distinct views of western and easter modes of thought when it comes to authenticity. The renewing cycle of rebirth in contrast to the permanence of physicality.

## Famous Examples of Metabolism Architecture 

A slew of renowned works, ranging from conceptual proposals, iconic buildings, and urban plans in Japan subscribe to the principles of Metabolism Architecture.

In the realm of urban design, [Kiyono Kikatake’s Marine City (1958)](https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/) explores the possibilities of a floating metropolis that adapts to rising sea levels. [Kenzo Tange’s Tokyo Bay Plan (1960) ](https://www.acsa-arch.org/proceedings/Annual%20Meeting%20Proceedings/ACSA.AM.96/ACSA.AM.96.52.pdf)confronts the problem of urban sprawl with a more organic take on transportation and mobility.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Plan-for-Tokyo-Bay-Tange.jpeg "Plan for Tokyo Bay Tange - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Plan-for-tokyo_Tange.jpeg "Plan for tokyo_Tange - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tokyo-Bay-Tange-3-.png "Tokyo Bay Tange 3 - BluPrint")Kenzo Tange, Tokyo Bay (1960) with Kisho Kurokawa and Arata Isozaki, reproduced from Schumpp (1972), p. 111 

*Tokyo Bay Plan. Sourced from www.en.tangeweb.com*

[Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower (1972) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakagin_Capsule_Tower)was a mixed-used structure for residential and commercial tenants in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan. It was the first structure built that permanently integrated the capsule-configuration system into its design. At its peak, the building had 140 functional capsules that could be plugged into a central core.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nakagain-Capsul-Tower-2-.jpeg "Nakagain Capsul Tower 2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nakagin-Capsule-Tower-1-.jpeg "Nakagin Capsule Tower 1 - BluPrint")Nakagin Capsule Tower. *Photos by Arcspace*

The [Osaka Expo ’70](https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/blog/entry/expo-1970-osaka-the-story-of-japan-s-first-world-expo) was the first global exposition hosted by Japan under the theme “Progress and Harmony For Mankind”. This event marked a pivotal moment for Metabolism Architecture, as it showcased the movement’s ideas and designs. Pavilions and structures stood as futuristic interpretations of organic growth and adaptability.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/b2ap3_large_1970-telecom-004.jpg "b2ap3_large_1970-telecom-004 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/b2ap3_large_takara-beautillion-expo-1970-osaka-edit.jpg "b2ap3_large_takara-beautillion-expo-1970-osaka-edit - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/K-1970-toshiba-ihi-01.jpg "K-1970-toshiba-ihi-01 - BluPrint")

*Displays of Osaka Expo ’70.Images sourced from **[Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)](https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en)***

## Metabolism Architecture’s Lasting Impact 

The principles of Metabolism Architecture continue to be relevant as planners grapple with the challenges of sustainability, resilience and urbanization. [Moshe Safdie’s Habitat ’67](https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/habitat-67) in Montreal, Canada, bears marks of inspiration by its prefabricated construction and modular design. OMA, the design studio founded and managed by Rem Koolhaas,[ features the philosophy on their website.](https://www.oma.com/publications/project-japan-metabolism-talks) These lessons continue to inform and resonate with the contemporary industries of design.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/51dd948be8e44e6242000020_lost-utopias-photographer-jade-doskow-s-kickstarter-campaign_01_doskow_montreal_habitat_day-Large.jpeg "51dd948be8e44e6242000020_lost-utopias-photographer-jade-doskow-s-kickstarter-campaign_01_doskow_montreal_habitat_day Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ad-classics-habitat-67-safdie-architects_31-Large.jpeg "ad-classics-habitat-67-safdie-architects_31 Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ad-classics-habitat-67-safdie-architects_18-Large.jpeg "ad-classics-habitat-67-safdie-architects_18 Large - BluPrint")*Habitat 67. Photos by Gili Merin*

Unfortunately, critics have cited that the main pitfall of Metabolism Architecture is in its optimism. The philosophy’s highly theoretical nature comes with high costs and technical complexities. The concepts of megastructures and plug-in modules can arguably be neglectful on the human scale and perception. Others also question the long-term viability of the Metabolist approach as they point towards the difficulty in updating structures over time.

## The Biology of Architecture 

As the discourse on architectural design continues, the theories that shape our landscapes continue to evolve. As such, learning more about these movements can help us better understand how and why our buildings are designed the way they are. Metabolism Architecture offers a perspective to treat buildings as a living entity that dynamically reinvents itself over time. 

**Read more:** [Rethinking Architecture in Science Fiction](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/rethinking-architecture-in-science-fiction/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Metabolism Architecture?

Metabolism Architecture is a Japanese architectural movement that emerged in the late 1950s in response to postwar urbanization. It proposed that buildings and cities should function as living, evolving organisms — continuously renewing through modular components, prefabricated units, and megastructures. The movement was founded by a group of young Japanese architects and designers who rejected Western modernism’s rigid functionalism in favor of dynamic, adaptable built environments.

### Who were the key figures of the Metabolism Architecture movement?

The Metabolism movement’s key figures include Kisho Kurokawa, who designed the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo; Kenzo Tange, whose Tokyo Bay Plan (1960) proposed an organic approach to urban sprawl; and Kiyono Kikutake, who explored floating urban infrastructure in his Marine City proposal (1958). These architects, alongside others, collectively introduced the philosophy at the 1960 World Design Conference in Tokyo and through the Osaka Expo ’70.

### What is the Nakagin Capsule Tower and why is it significant?

The Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed by Kisho Kurokawa and completed in 1972 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, was the world’s first building to permanently integrate a capsule-configuration system. At its peak, it housed 140 functional capsules that could be individually plugged into a central structural core. It remains the most iconic built example of Metabolist principles — demonstrating replaceable, modular living units within a permanent framework.

### How did the Osaka Expo ’70 shape Metabolism Architecture’s legacy?

The Osaka Expo ’70 was Japan’s first world exposition, themed “Progress and Harmony For Mankind,” and served as Metabolism Architecture’s most prominent global showcase. Pavilions and structures designed for the event presented futuristic interpretations of organic growth, adaptability, and technological optimism. The expo marked the movement’s peak influence and introduced Metabolist ideas to an international audience of architects, planners, and designers.

### What are the main criticisms of Metabolism Architecture?

Critics argue that Metabolism Architecture’s primary weakness lies in its idealism. The philosophy’s highly theoretical proposals — megastructures, plug-in modules, and floating cities — carried prohibitive costs and technical complexities. Detractors also note that the megastructure typology can neglect the human scale, creating environments that feel monumental rather than inhabitable. Others question the long-term viability of Metabolist structures, citing the practical difficulty of updating or replacing modular components over time.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

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### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

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Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

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**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Sustainability

---

### [Menarco Tower leads the way with wellness-oriented design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/menarco-tower-well-leed/)

**Published:** August 13, 2018
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** Philippine collaboration with an entrepreneurial wellness advocate sets an aspirational standard for healthy working in the city

**Content:**

*Editor’s note: This is an updated article on Menarco Tower which includes excerpts from [CS Design Consultancy](https://csarchitecture.com/)‘s architectural and interior design statement, as well as new excerpts from an interview we conducted with Carmen Jimenez-Ong after the print magazine was published on August 1, 2018. The information in this article, therefore, supersedes what was written in print.*

---

For most millennials, an office environment that exemplifies healthy and environmentally conscious practices is just as much a consideration as how much they earn and the benefits they receive. So when Carmen Jimenez-Ong, managing director of Menarco Development Corporation, embarked on her first high-end real estate project, Menarco Tower, she orchestrated what would be the first building in the Philippines to register for WELL Certification (one of only nine across the ASEAN region at the time of writing).

On what spurred Jimenez-Ong to design a new, people-entered model for an office building in the Philippines, she recounts: “I noticed that Filipinos spent a lot of time indoors, and those that worked hard needed a proper space that would bring out their best and most productive work. Many said it would be expensive, but I felt it was important to place more value on people and the planet—not just profit. It was important to me that what we created was designed with the human at the center of the design—the usage, the productivity, the effect on one’s wellbeing.”

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/17.jpg "17 - BluPrint")The 32-storey [Menarco Tower](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/menarco-tower-creating-better-spaces-for-working-better/) (center) is located on 32nd Street, BGC on a relatively compact lot between One World Place (right) and the Ecoprime Tower (under construction). Anna Sy-Lawrence, managing director of CS Design Consultancy, outlines: “The seminal idea of the Menarco Tower design stems from an important site consideration. The property, sitting amidst a wide city avenue along its front, and a small urban park at its rear, makes the building a significant “link” between the two areas.” Jimenez-Ong also praises the tower achieving a WELL Walk Score of 98 out of 100—being close to amenities, bus stops, and main highways—which “has also resulted in reduced employee absenteeism.” 

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/18.jpg "18 - BluPrint")Wood-plastic composite fins cover the second to seventh-floor podium parking levels. “The layer of wooden fins again appears towards the upper levels of the facade, screening the penthouse terrace and boldly capping the tower,” describes CS Design Consultancy in their architectural design statement.The [WELL Building Standard](https://www.wellcertified.com/), launched in 2014 by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), measures and monitors the performance of building features that affect users’ health and well-being. There are seven ‘concepts’ that a building is assessed on: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.

With AIDEA as the architect of record and CS Design Consultancy as the concept architect and architectural interior designer, Menarco Tower also achieved a [certified LEED Gold](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/leed-game-green-building-rating/) rating, further enhancing the building’s green credentials. But what does the fulfillment of green and wellness criteria actually mean in terms of tangible user benefits from its design?

**READ MORE:** **[Silhouettes and a silvery glow welcome visitors to the new Silverlens](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/new-silverlens-cs-design/)**

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/16.jpg "Bluprint -Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy - BluPrint")“The main lobby is hence conceived as a tall and wide arcade running the full depth of the property and visually connecting the pedestrians of 32nd Avenue to the small urban park at its rear,” says CS Design Consultancy. The rear lobby feature wall is a natural Crema Italia stone, which is pre-sealed and protected with BIOprot liquid treatment that significantly reduces the likelihood of bacteria clinging onto it. Real timber beams are suspended from the ceiling inside the foyer.![Menarco Tower WELL certification](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DSF6139.jpg "_DSF6139 - BluPrint")Once the completely open-plan floor space is leased, tenants are able to design their own spatial arrangements to take advantage of the architect’s health-oriented design features. At least 75% of frequently occupied spaces are within 7.5 meters of windows with a view. In this instance, partition wall openings still offer a visual connection to the outside for inner-plan workspaces. Sy-Lawrence furthers, “Tenant comfort is also highly regarded and given great consideration, with interior office ceiling heights at 2.80 meters (well above local standards).”After the project was awarded the Best Green Development at the Philippine Property Awards in 2016 (it was ‘Highly Commended’ for 2016 Best Office Development and 2015 Best Office Architectural Design), Jimenez-Ong told the media: “I hope that we are able to redefine the Philippine workspace—a place with natural light shining on your desk, where you breathe clean, filtered air, where you can exercise and walk up and down the stairs while seeing the sky and listening to music, where there are virtually no pests or bugs that could invade your space, where the bathrooms are fresh and clean like your own home, and where the art features museum-quality work by select contemporary Philippine artists.”

> **With AIDEA as the architect of record and CS Design Consultancy as the concept architect and architectural interior designer, Menarco Tower also achieved a certified LEED Gold rating, further enhancing the building’s green credentials.**

As we learn from our visit, the holistic philosophy not only embraces architectural design and building technology but also extends to how the building actively promotes healthy working and living habits through visual prompts.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/15.jpg "15 - BluPrint")The front entrance to Menarco Tower facing 32nd Street, BGC.![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy And A Half](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/07.jpg "07 - BluPrint")As part of the WELL certification, additional stainless steel signage was included to highlight the building’s wellness-oriented design features and encourage healthy practices. For example, “To encourage the use of the staircases, we made sure that our fire exits were naturally lit. We even have a sound system for one’s entertainment while walking up and down,” Jimenez-Ong proudly states. Wayfinding signage was designed by Manila-based branding and design studio, And A Half. Simple and effective, the aesthetic subtly complements the high-end stone and wood material palette of the building.Signage, often just glanced at, is integral to the building’s WELL credentials in encouraging its occupants to practice a healthy lifestyle. On the unfinished eighth-floor communal canteen, nutritional advice is displayed on permanent signage: “Don’t drink your calories. Consumption of large amounts of sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and tooth decay. Drink water instead,” reads one.

Advertising of unhealthy foods is prohibited on the premises. Stairs are signposted with “Free workout,” while there are others indicating bike storage in the car parks. Jazz music calms the disposition as you move through the building. [Health is wealth](https://allure.ph/wellness/10-amazing-wellness-habits-that-actually-work/), as they say.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/03-1.jpg "03 - BluPrint")Backlit Krion panels inside the elevators—which have no pores, are anti-bacterial, and 100% recyclable—and Barrisol overhead and above the elevators evenly illuminate the elevator lobby. Solid oakwood cladding lines the walls between the elevators.![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/13.jpg "13 - BluPrint")The unfinished eighth-floor food hall leads to an al-fresco dining terrace. Banaba trees, pandan, gabi, lemongrass, tarragon, ginger, and kamuning will all be grown for the tenants to harvest upon requesting gardening tools.On the dining deck on the eighth floor, which tops the podium parking levels and gives the office plates a setback from its neighboring tower, edible plants line the edge of the property. Once the canteen is in full operational use, there is sure to be a queue outside for eager green thumbs to get a portion of ginger, *gabi*, or pandan for their next home-cooked meal. All of this, of course, generously provided by the building owner to any tenant employee.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/14.jpg "14 - BluPrint")Artworks by contemporary Filipino artists will be hung on the walls of each elevator lobby as part of an initiative to make the building a ‘vertical museum’, and complying further with the WELL certification to give visual amenity to its occupants and guests.Architecturally, then, the building has been designed to solidify these concepts further. The spacious ground floor foyer exhibits a sleek Miesian aesthetic, whose natural stone walls await embellishment with purchased artworks by contemporary Filipino artists, completing the sense of arrival. Pieces are already being hung on the office level elevator lobbies to form what will be a ‘vertical museum’. The beautifully curated palette of high-end materials becomes Jimenez-Ong’s setting for art and a source of creative inspiration for company staff and guests alike.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/05.jpg "05 - BluPrint")All comfort rooms are fitted out with Porcelanosa bathroom fittings and fixtures.A typical office floor plate, approximately 1,100 sqm. can be leased by up to four tenants, with 22 office floors in total and 25,400 sqm. of gross leasable area. In whatever fashion the interior design takes, all tenants are encouraged to use low-VOC products within their space, a recommendation for both WELL and LEED. The spaces are supplied with fresh, filtered, pre-cooled air with MERV 13 filters—a rating which ensures that even airborne contaminants including microscopic allergens, mold spores, and virus carriers stay clear from workstations.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/09.jpg "09 - BluPrint")An example of a communal space for employees where they can have a coffee and take a break from the rigors of the working day.Two 5,000-cubic-meter water tanks sit atop the building; one treats incoming water from the district water supply to serve all kitchens and bathrooms while the other stores graywater and atmospheric condensation for the building’s irrigation and maintenance needs. Tap water is drinkable although its occupants haven’t quite warmed to the idea just yet.

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/12.jpg "12 - BluPrint")130 bicycle parking spaces are provided for those who wish to commute on two wheels. Showers are provided for cyclists and those who use the fitness center.![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/11.jpg "11 - BluPrint")There are 37 mechanized parking lifts to accommodate double-deck parking spread across both a podium-level parking level and basement-level parking. Ten floors of parking offer a total of 383 car parking spaces. Perforated metal screens on the podium parking levels admit airflow and daylight to reduce the need for the space to be conditioned or artificially lit.Green does not need to be seen to be an exemplary case study of a sustainable and user-centric workplace. Although the client was intent on Menarco Tower being a showcase of Filipino collaboration, she was just as contrarily steadfast in keeping appearances simple, not flashy.

Project architect from [AIDEA](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/aidea-philippines-office/) Bernadette Mendoza gives some insight into how Jimenez-Ong’s hands-on collaboration made the building a resounding success: “She was so *meticulosa! Sobra!* She attended all the design coordination meetings, always asked a lot of questions. And remembered everything! *Lahat na-absorb niya*.” There’s nothing like the first. And it shows.

If the design of Menarco Tower is evidence of Jimenez-Ong’s character, then it’s clear as day that its tenants, who spend a significant amount of their waking hours inside the building, are well and truly taken care of. When she’s around, she is known to take selfies with tenant employees.

The project’s real flair lies in every element, detail, decision, and act that are all geared towards establishing the highest standard possible for a healthy work and, indeed, living ethos. With BGC’s big-city bustle being its main draw, Menarco Tower works extremely well in taking the pace off the rat race. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![Menarco Tower WELL certification AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/19.jpg "19 - BluPrint")A view of the front elevation of Menarco Tower as seen from 30th Street.![Menarco Tower ground floor AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Ground-floor-plan.jpg "Ground-floor-plan - BluPrint")![Menarco Tower typical floor plan AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Typical-8th-20th-floor.jpg "Typical-8th-20th-floor - BluPrint")![Menarco Tower typical floor plan AIDEA CS Design Consultancy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Typical-21st-31st-floor.jpg "Typical-21st-31st-floor - BluPrint")**Project Team**

**Developer** Menarco Development Corporation

**Architect of record** AIDEA Inc.

**Concept architect and architectural interiors designer** CS Design Consultancy Inc.

**Contractor** DATEM Inc.

**Construction manager** JACMI

**Structural engineering consultant** Sy^2 + Associates Inc.

**Mechanical consultant** RJ Calpo & Company, Inc.

**Electrical consultant** R.A. Mojica & Partners

**Fire protection & plumbing consultant** NBF Consulting Inc.

**Elevator consultant** Meinhardt Philippines Inc.

**LEED Consultant** Arcadis

**Original article first appeared in BluPrint Volume 3 2018. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes Menarco Tower the first WELL-certified building in the Philippines?

Menarco Tower in BGC is the first building in the Philippines to register for WELL Certification under the International WELL Building Institute, and one of only nine across ASEAN at the time of completion. It was assessed across seven concepts — air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind — and also achieved a LEED Gold rating, making it the country’s benchmark for people-centered, wellness-oriented office design.

### Who designed Menarco Tower in BGC?

Menarco Tower was developed by Menarco Development Corporation under managing director Carmen Jimenez-Ong. CS Design Consultancy, led by Anna Sy-Lawrence, served as concept architect and architectural interiors designer, while AIDEA Inc. acted as architect of record. The contractor was DATEM Inc., with construction management by JACMI and structural engineering by Sy² + Associates Inc.

### What wellness features does Menarco Tower offer its tenants?

Menarco Tower’s wellness features include MERV 13 filtered fresh air that removes allergens, mold spores, and virus carriers; naturally lit fire exit staircases with a sound system to encourage stair use; an eighth-floor edible garden with banaba, pandan, ginger, and lemongrass for tenant harvesting; drinkable tap water; 130 bicycle parking spaces with cyclist showers; and elevator lobbies displaying works by contemporary Filipino artists as a vertical museum.

### What is the WELL Walk Score of Menarco Tower and why does it matter?

Menarco Tower achieved a WELL Walk Score of 98 out of 100, reflecting its proximity to amenities, bus stops, and main highways in BGC. According to managing director Carmen Jimenez-Ong, this high walkability score has directly contributed to reduced employee absenteeism among tenants. The score is one of the measurable outcomes of the WELL Building Standard’s focus on user health and urban connectivity.

### How does Menarco Tower promote healthy habits through its architecture?

Menarco Tower embeds healthy habit prompts directly into its architecture and signage. Stairwells are naturally lit and labeled “Free workout,” bike storage is clearly signposted, and permanent nutritional guidance discourages sugary drink consumption. Advertising of unhealthy foods is prohibited on the premises. Jazz music plays throughout the building, and at least 75% of frequently occupied workspaces have direct views of windows — all designed to support physical and mental wellbeing without requiring behavioral change from tenants.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Aidea, Architecture, Carmen Jimenez-Ong, CS Design Consultancy, healthy, LEED, Menarco Tower, Office, Sustainability, WELL, wellness, workplace

---

### [LOOK: New Clark City's Athletic Stadium 5 months before its turn over](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/look-the-athletic-stadium-5-months-before-its-turn-over/)

**Published:** July 9, 2019
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Content:**

“It takes guts to do this,” says Royal Pineda, principal architect of [Budji+Royal Architecture+Design](https://www.facebook.com/budjiroyal/), the firm designing New Clark City’s sports complex in Capas, Tarlac. This is the firm’s first time to design a sports facility, but seeing the different stadiums in Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo gave Pineda and his team more confidence. “Because it’s all common sense. The IAAF ([International Association of Athletics Federations](https://www.iaaf.org/home)) has written down all the technical requirements. It’s math. It’s science.”

The design team had three months to work simultaneously on schematic design and design development. It took three months for them to get the technical delegate’s approval and a month to work on the pre-construction documents. Meanwhile, the contractor had to start digging and building before the completion of the CD package, given only 12 months to erect the stadium.

[**READ MORE: 33 days before turnover: Aquatic Center 90% complete**](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/33-days-before-turnover-aquatic-center-90-completed/)

During our team’s visit to the New Clark City construction site last May, the stadium and the rest of the complex had 94 days to go before the design and construction team’s internal deadline of 31 August 2019. This internal deadline, which all 8,000 workers, engineers, and architects are taking very seriously, is two months ahead of the official turnover on October 30th and three months before the 30th Southeast Asian Games begin on 30 November.

Here are some of the images we captured on our visit to New Clark City last May 29th.

[![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-5-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-5 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/look-the-athletic-stadium-5-months-before-its-turn-over/)The Athletic Stadium stands in a 73,580 square-meter site area, with a 25,000 square-meter footprint. It has a 20,000 seating capacity, with 21 rows of seats.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-9-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-9 - BluPrint")Budji+Royal’s design concept for the Athletic Stadium takes inspiration from Mount Pinatubo’s caldera or crater, represented by the charcoal-gray roof.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-6-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-6 - BluPrint")The Stadium’s roof spans 34 linear meters, and is 19.35-meter tall at the apex.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-8-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-8 - BluPrint")The roof is made of sandwich or insulated roofing panels.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-7-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-7 - BluPrint")“The frames of Pampanga lanterns inspired the Athletic Stadium’s columns. They’re actually braces for the roof and the structure. They carry the seats and the roof,” says Pineda.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-10-724x1024.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-10 - BluPrint")There is no rainwater collection system at the stadium. Rainwater from the downspouts will flow to a catchment area, then on to Cutcut River.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-2-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-2 - BluPrint")The undersides of the bleachers and the metal stringers supporting them show through. There are a total of 14 main stairs for both entry and exit points and seven gates for exits and secondary entryways.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-12-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-12 - BluPrint")Pineda says that they wanted to “make things lighter,” a deviation from the typical heavy and enclosed stadiums that the team visited during their design development. They lifted the roof higher to allow thorough cross ventilation.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-3-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-3 - BluPrint")“Aside from it being honest and looking good, it works well,” Budji+Royal principal designer Budji Layug (left) answers BluPrint when asked which aspects of the [Athletic Stadium](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/2019-sea-games-sports-facilities/) he is particularly proud of. “All the science and the guidelines have already been tested. We followed that, and added our soul, the originality, the design, the atmosphere of it. And we were able to do it in a way that falls within the budget, within the timeframe.” Pineda (right) adds that all the specs in the competition and the playing field were treated sacred, but the overall design remains relevant and “truthful” to the place, and to the Filipinos.![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-4-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-4 - BluPrint")“It’s good to see all the benchmarks, but we also wanted the license to change many things. And the technical delegate from the IAAF said, as long as it does not affect the competition area and it’s within the Philippines’ standards of building codes, it should be okay,” says Pineda.**Read the full-length article on the Athletic Stadium and see exclusive photos in BluPrint’s Volume 2 2019, available in newsstands nationwide, on Flip100, Magzter, Lazada, and Amazon.**

**Read More:** [DTI unveils the P1 billion Philippine pavilion at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/dti-unveils-philippine-pavilion-world-expo-2020-dubai/)

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed the New Clark City Athletic Stadium?

The New Clark City Athletic Stadium was designed by Budji+Royal Architecture+Design, led by principal architect Royal Pineda and principal designer Budji Layug. It was the firm’s first sports facility project. The stadium was built for the 30th Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines in November 2019, with construction completed within a compressed 12-month timeline in Capas, Tarlac.

### What is the design concept of the New Clark City Athletic Stadium?

The Athletic Stadium’s design draws inspiration from two Filipino cultural references: the caldera of Mount Pinatubo, represented by the charcoal-gray roof, and the frames of traditional Pampanga lanterns, which informed the stadium’s column and brace structure. The design prioritizes openness and cross ventilation by lifting the roof higher than conventional enclosed stadiums, creating a lighter, more breathable structure.

### What are the key specifications of the New Clark City Athletic Stadium?

The New Clark City Athletic Stadium sits on a 73,580-square-meter site with a 25,000-square-meter footprint. It has a seating capacity of 20,000 across 21 rows, 14 main entry and exit staircases, and seven gates. The roof spans 34 linear meters, reaches 19.35 meters at its apex, and is constructed from insulated sandwich roofing panels supported by lantern-inspired structural braces.

### How long did it take to build the New Clark City Athletic Stadium?

The contractor had only 12 months to erect the stadium, beginning construction before the complete design package was finished. Budji+Royal worked simultaneously on schematic design and design development over three months, followed by three months for technical delegate approval from the IAAF and one month for pre-construction documents. All 8,000 workers, engineers, and architects targeted an internal deadline of August 31, 2019 — two months ahead of the official October 30 turnover.

### How does the New Clark City Athletic Stadium achieve natural ventilation?

Budji+Royal deliberately lifted the stadium roof higher than conventional enclosed sports venues to allow thorough cross ventilation throughout the seating bowl and competition area. The exposed undersides of the bleachers and metal stringers contribute to the open, honest aesthetic while supporting airflow. Principal architect Royal Pineda described this as making things “lighter” — a conscious departure from the heavy, enclosed stadiums the team studied during design development in Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Athletic Stadium, Budji Layug, Budji+Royal, Budji+Royal Architecture+Design, New Clark City, New Clark City Sports Complex, Royal Pineda, Sports Complex, Stadium

---

### [Contemporary Bahay Kubo Design in Laguna: A Place for Peace and Quiet](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/contemporary-bahay-kubo-in-laguna-a-place-for-peace-and-quiet/)

**Published:** February 1, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

At some point in their childhood, Filipino children have drawn a “Bahay Kubo” beside a rice field with two mountains in the background where the sun is setting. In a quiet town in Santa Maria, [Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/take-a-look-at-this-stunning-mediterranean-home-in-laguna/ "Laguna"), a humble home is a real-life version of the Bahay Kubo imagery Filipino children tend to draw.

![Modern Bahay Kubo from afar](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v125.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v125 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo Exterior](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v122.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v122 - BluPrint")*This modern nipa hut resembles the image of a farmhouse children tend to draw.*

Bahay Kubo or nipa hut is a traditional house in the Philippines. It has evolved over the years, from the materiality to the construction process. Architecture graduate Alexa Libanan designed this house in Laguna in collaboration with Architect Ardie Mariano to be her family’s vacation home far from the bustling cities of Metro Manila. She got her inspiration from the drawings that depict what a Filipino house or scenery is.

![Modern Bahay Kubo design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v13.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v13 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v12.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v12 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v1.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v1 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v14.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v14 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v16.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v16 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v15.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v15 - BluPrint")

![Modern Bahay Kubo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v119.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v119 - BluPrint")

“I wanted to create that vision of the Bahay Kubo with no complex shapes, only highlighting its rawness and beauty through materials, as well as, its natural surroundings. Additionally, the spaces were designed in such a way that it would cater the family’s day-to-day actions,” she explains. “This house is meant to function for the purposes of both celebration and isolation,” she adds.

![Contemporary bahay kubo or nipa hut interior shot](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v117.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v117 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary bahay kubo or nipa hut interior shot - dining](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v116.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v116 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary bahay kubo or nipa hut interior shot - kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v113.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v113 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary bahay kubo or nipa hut interior shot - kitchen](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v112.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v112 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - dining](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v114.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v114 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - balcony](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v113.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v113 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - terrace](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v112.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v112 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - closed windows](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v111.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v111 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - windows](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v110.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v110 - BluPrint")

![Contemporary nipa hut interior shot - bedroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v115.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v115 - BluPrint")

The site of the project has significantly influenced the design of the house as well. Located in a remote area with access to untouched rivers, falls, and mountains, it’s the perfect spot for those who want to be lost in nature. Situated in Barangay Bubukal, rice fields owned by several local farmers surround the [modern nipa hut](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nipa-hut-design-features/). Its location also provides a beautiful backdrop for the house. esidents have a clear view of the mountain range of Pililla, Rizal. One can spend a quiet afternoon at the balcony, admiring the amazing vista of Pililla windmills and watch the sun sets.

![window details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v118.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v118 - BluPrint")

![window details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v115.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v115 - BluPrint")

![window details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v114.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v114 - BluPrint")

At first look, the Bahay Kubo design inspiration is evident. It features materials commonly used in a traditional nipa hut mixed with contemporary materials both for functionality and aesthetic. The architect explains that they applied environmental, economical, and social considerations through the choices of material for the house. The team believes that choosing the right material is as important as identifying its use in the structure.

![Nipa hut wooden stairs](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v19.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v19 - BluPrint")

![modern nipa hut garage](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v17.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v17 - BluPrint")

![modern nipa hut - stairs](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v12.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v12 - BluPrint")

![details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v13.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v13 - BluPrint")

![stairs details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v14.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v14 - BluPrint")

“We considered the weather, the climate, as well as, the entirety of the site so we will be able to use the right materials best suited for the location,” Libanan shares. The team initially wanted to be as authentic and natural as possible. They later realized that fusing modern building systems or materials with a traditional concept would be beneficial for the house’s longevity.

![Modern Bahay Kubo - room](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v123.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v123 - BluPrint")

![Bahay kubo mezzanine](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v119.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v119 - BluPrint")

![Modern bahay kubo floor-to-ceiling windows](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v127.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v127 - BluPrint")The second floor features jalousie windows to allow air to come in.

![Bahay kubo bedroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v126.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v126 - BluPrint")*One of the bedrooms on the ground floor has operable glass doors that give access to the lanai.*

![modern nipa hut thatched roof](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v116.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v116 - BluPrint")*The contemporary nipa hut features thatched roof made of cogon grass.*

The use of simple finishes focused on the rawness and authenticity of the material used characterizes its overall design. But the highlight material of the entire house is the variety of locally reclaimed Antipolo and Santa Elena wood. Additionally, the walls, ceilings, and the cladding uses Amakan, a type of traditional woven bamboo mats.

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v28.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v28 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v27.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v27 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v26.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v26 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v25.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v25 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v24.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v24 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v22.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v22 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v23.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v23 - BluPrint")

![Cogon grass drying process](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-Portrait-House-in-Laguna-v2.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (Portrait) - House in Laguna v2 - BluPrint")

Another distinct characteristic of the house is the thatched cogon grass for roofing, locally sourced in Santa Maria, Laguna. “The thatched roof of cogon grass was sourced from a local cogon farm where we approached locals who crafts and builds Bahay Kubo for a living and asked them for advice and techniques on how to go through the process of drying and installing thatched roof,” Libanan shares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v17.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v18.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v19.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v19 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v118.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v118 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v117.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v117 - BluPrint")

Bahay Kubo has been one of the symbols of Filipino culture. Apart from the aesthetic, the farmhouse has also adapted the methodology of building houses before. It includes sourcing materials within the community. Libanan explains that her team was able to experience the bayanihan of the locals.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BP-2023-In-Article-landscape-House-in-Laguna-v128.jpg "BP 2023 - In Article (landscape) - House in Laguna v128 - BluPrint")*At sun down, the modern nipa hut comes to life with strategically placed light fixtures.*

The modern nipa hut does not only reflect the traditional Filipino house. It is also a product of bayanihan, which is uniquely Filipino.

*Photography: Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a contemporary Bahay Kubo design?

A contemporary Bahay Kubo is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Filipino nipa hut. It retains the original structure’s rawness and natural materials — such as bamboo, cogon grass, and reclaimed wood — while integrating modern construction systems for durability and functionality.

### Where is the modern Bahay Kubo in Laguna located?

The modern Bahay Kubo is located in Barangay Bubukal, Santa Maria, Laguna. It sits among rice fields with views of the Pililla, Rizal mountain range and its windmills, offering a remote retreat surrounded by rivers, falls, and natural landscapes.

### Who designed the contemporary nipa hut in Santa Maria, Laguna?

The contemporary nipa hut was designed by architecture graduate Alexa Libanan in collaboration with Architect Ardie Mariano. It was built as a family vacation home inspired by the iconic childhood image of a Bahay Kubo beside rice fields and mountains.

### What materials were used in the modern Bahay Kubo in Laguna?

The house uses locally reclaimed Antipolo and Santa Elena wood, Amakan woven bamboo mats for walls and ceilings, and a thatched cogon grass roof sourced from a local farm in Santa Maria, Laguna. Materials were chosen for climate suitability, authenticity, and longevity.

### How does the modern Bahay Kubo reflect Filipino culture and bayanihan?

The modern Bahay Kubo reflects Filipino culture through its use of traditional materials, community-sourced construction, and the bayanihan spirit. Local craftsmen who build traditional nipa huts were consulted for roofing techniques, and materials were sourced from within the surrounding community.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Residential

---

### [Lake 192 House in Korea: Fulfilling Mental Health through Urban Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/lake-192-house-in-korea-fulfilling-mental-health-through-urban-design/)

**Published:** August 23, 2021
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

![Lake 192 house façade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/17-3.jpg "17 - BluPrint")Mental health is affected by a wide spectrum of elements. Internally and externally, one’s mind can be heavily affected. On the one hand, the state of one’s mental health is also entwined with the space a person spends most of their time in. The physical environment – a constant in daily life – constantly influences a person’s emotions but in the most subtle way that people rarely notice. For someone who lives in a bustling city, mental wellbeing is a need that can be difficult to attain, especially with the problem of an ongoing pandemic.

[Lake 192](https://www.lake192.com/) in Chuncheon, South Korea is one residence that exemplifies an ideal space to revitalize one’s mental health and overall wellbeing. Though South Korea has a plethora of beautiful spots for both locals and foreigners to spend their vacations in, Lake 192 is an architectural piece that has won the Korean Architecture Award and is famous for being the location of several commercials and Korean shows.

![Lake 192 house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-22.jpg "8 - BluPrint")Pristine, tranquil views surround the property. 

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9-22.jpg "9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/15-7.jpg "15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/16-3.jpg "16 - BluPrint")

![Lake 192 house façade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/17-3.jpg "17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/18-2.jpg "18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-2.jpg "21 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20-2.jpg "20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/22-1.jpg "22 - BluPrint")

The Lake 192 private lake house is a multi-story monolith with a facade of dark, exposed concrete. Mixing modern and brutalist elements, its simple exterior houses a spacious living room, a kitchen with refreshing rustic elements, three bathrooms, two rooms, and four terraces where visitors can enjoy the lakeside views.

It may just be a simple luxury house in the mix of other high-end Korean homes but following the [Centre of Urban Design and Mental Health (UD/MH)](https://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/)’s GAPS framework, Lake 192 is a home that fulfills the majority of the checklist of a healthy space that’s perfect for reigniting one’s mental health.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/6-29.jpg "6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2-33.jpg "2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/3-33.jpg "3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/4-32.jpg "4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/5-31.jpg "5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/7-26.jpg "7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/10-21.jpg "10 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/11-16.jpg "11 - BluPrint")

**It is a green space with seemingly never-ending access to nature.** With this much green space surrounding the house, people can freely exercise and have a setting that’s perfect for relaxing social interactions. This regularly seen green space also [ensures better mental health](https://allure.ph/wellness/the-silent-crisis-why-mental-health-awareness-matters-now-more-than-ever/ "ensures better mental health") that comes with the overall greenness of a neighborhood. Aside from being a space for social interaction and basically being a space that refreshes the eyes from the monochromatic colors that remind people of work and commercial spaces, this wide, green space also presents an active space for exercise. Lake 192 even has a floating guest house on the lake, allowing for relaxing boat rides or fishing activities.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/08DUjvgf-Bz3HVgXGv5msSQkdeHFT1ysicy1gY93Lvr7c3Z1SLuxNCJE5BbS4M25LYSqBzlckRbwQYMcYZ2cWwuHu_vLCygF3rcmtgbigp7WehbpM9844hPO_xfsiiHrWLB0Wn6e)Lake 192 is also set in a safe area and is designed in a way that clearly divides its private space from the public space. It also has transportation routes that make it easy to access may it be via walking, cycling, or vehicles. As a residence that is also set far from the noise of the city, it’s a perfect getaway from the ambient noise and light pollution of the city, resulting in a better night’s sleep.

![BTW](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/BP-2021-Website-Featured-Photo-BTS.jpg "BP-2021-Website-Featured-Photo-BTS - BluPrint")Global K-pop superstars BTS chose Lake 192 House for the filming of their new variety show. Being such a residence where visitors can relax before a beautiful and unbothered landscape, Lake 192 served as the location for [BTS](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/heres-whats-inside-the-new-hybe-building/)’ 2020 variety show ‘*In The SOOP*’. Launched in August 2020, *In The SOOP* involved the members doing and enjoying daily activities in their own leisure. Keeping the details and overall design of the home in mind and mixing it with the ambiance brought by the variety show, Lake 192 seemed to be the perfect residence that served as an extension of BTS’ advocacy for mental wellbeing.

https://twitter.com/pinterestjin/status/1426508816280137730 

 Lake 192’s wide front yard became the best place for a refreshing water fight between V and J-Hope Overall, residences like Lake 192 are an example of how effective great urban design is when it comes to helping one’s mental health.

Hit Korean boyband BTS itself showed just how great this impact is through their variety show where many sweet and fun moments between the members were fulfilled, thanks to the lack of external interference or stresses from the city.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is Lake 192 House located?

Lake 192 House is a private lakeside residence located in Chuncheon, South Korea. The award-winning architectural property features a multi-story dark concrete facade, a floating guest house on the lake, and panoramic views, making it a popular filming location for Korean commercials and television shows.

### Did BTS film In The SOOP at Lake 192 House?

Yes, BTS filmed their 2020 variety show “In The SOOP” at Lake 192 House in Chuncheon, South Korea. Launched in August 2020, the show featured all seven BTS members enjoying daily leisure activities, including a viral water fight on the property’s front yard between V and J-Hope

### What architectural style is Lake 192 House?

Lake 192 House blends modern and brutalist architectural elements, featuring a multi-story exposed dark concrete facade. The interior includes a spacious living room, a kitchen with rustic accents, three bathrooms, two bedrooms, and four terraces offering panoramic views of the surrounding lake and forest landscape.

### What awards has Lake 192 House received?

Lake 192 House has received the Korean Architecture Award for its design, becoming widely recognized in the country’s architectural community. Its distinctive lakeside concrete form, combined with its integration into the natural landscape, has also made it a sought-after filming location for commercials and Korean television.

### How does Lake 192 House support mental wellness?

Lake 192 House supports mental wellness through generous access to green space, a clear separation between private and public areas, a low-noise location away from city light pollution, and multiple terraces for outdoor relaxation. It aligns with the Centre of Urban Design and Mental Health’s GAPS framework.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture, BTS, Holistic, In The Soop, Korea, Sustainable Architecture

---

### [Lambanugan: A Distillation of the Vernacular Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/lambanugan-a-distillation-of-the-vernacular-architecture/)

**Published:** April 26, 2024
**Author:** Albert Aycardo

**Content:**

[Lambanog](https://pca.gov.ph/index.php/10-news/283-the-philippine-vodka-lambanog-facts-misconceptions?appgw_azwaf_jsc=Rrlt9LYYtewomqyzlLFFwimv_ZxofGiEf5qmo-p0yDs), known as coconut wine, is a staple in Filipino culinary culture. It’s a potent alcoholic beverage that reflects our unique heritage and rich produce. For his thesis under the CSB’s Design Exploration program, Lance Sy goes in-depth into the industry of creating this celebrated drink to come up with a design that strengthens the craft. Lambanugan is a mix of vernacular architecture enriched with cultural practices and rituals.

## Strengthening Cultural Identity with Lambanugan

*“ THESIS STATEMENT: Reintroducing traditional rituals and practices will enrich territorial identity and create a better culturally rooted architectural space for people producing and consuming the beverage, therefore making the local lambanog industry more competitive.”*

Lambanugan revolves around the cultivation and renewal of the lambanog production typology. It explores the social traditions, rituals, and practices of drinking in the Philippines. This is especially true for lambanog as it relates to our nation’s agricultural heritage, with coconut being a major natural resource. The significance of the project lies in its circumventing the possibility of cultural loss. Unregulated and sub-standard production of lambanog has resulted in deaths due to improper distilling.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-42-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-42 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-43-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-43 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-44-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-44 Large - BluPrint")

Undoubtedly, the production and consumption of these products have deep roots in our culture. Drinking in the Philippines is a social occasion with beliefs and customs. Practices such as “tagay” and “alay” add more meaning to our jovial and celebratory nature. As such, these traditions can be the muse that architecture can take inspiration from.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NARRATIVE-scaled.jpeg "NARRATIVE - BluPrint")## Building with Regional Identity 

In line with the Design Exploration program, Lance Sy starts his design process with identifying the authentic elements that make up lambanog culture. The goal is to create a production typology that reaffirms its territorial identity. It uses the drink as a means to provoke topophilia and terraphilia, the love of one’s environment and locality. Three models make up the framework used to inform the design: the socio-physical model of interrelationships, the Identerra model, and the Vernacular Value model.

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MUCH-23-Large.jpeg "MUCH-23 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PATIENCE-Large.jpeg "PATIENCE Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TANKING-17-Large.jpeg "TANKING-17 Large - BluPrint")

Traditionally, the Southern Tagalog region is well-known for its lambanog. The Tayabas area houses the Mallari Distillery that sits at the foot of Mt. Banahaw. Sy analyzed the site’s characteristics ranging from the dwelling places of the workers, landscape, lifestyle, and their rituals. It is here where the essence of uniqueness can be captured and distilled into a design.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01-AD9-FRAMEWORKS-20-Large.jpeg "01-AD9-FRAMEWORKS-20-Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01-AD9-FRAMEWORKS-23-Large.jpeg "01-AD9-FRAMEWORKS-23-Large - BluPrint")The Mangangarit, or coconut climbers, are the heroes of lambanog’s production. The site features a rich expanse of the tropical tree that the locals had built around. A bridge between each tree, called a Karitan, is built to allow for ease of traversal rather than climbing each tree for harvest. Fixed parallel bamboo poles connect them together and allow climbers to steadily walk across.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-14-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-14 Large - BluPrint")## Empowering Lambanog Production

“I poured some of my drink on the bamboo floor. It went through the slits on the ground below.” – Alejandro R. Roces (We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-16-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-16 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-17-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-17 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-19-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-19 Large - BluPrint")

Lance translates these findings into Lambanugan from these indigenous elements. The structure features motifs that reference the parallel form of the Karitan. Artifacts, filled with symbolisms and meanings, dot the project as they serve as muses for environmental symbology. It’s a design that leans heavily into the traditional experience of savoring lambanog.

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SOWI-11-Large.jpeg "SOWI-11 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SO-22-Large.jpeg "SO-22 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MUCH-29-Large.jpeg "MUCH-29 Large - BluPrint")

These are the *Pugon*, the place where artisans create and work with lambanog. The *tagayan* is where the drink can be enjoyed with its traditional means of enjoyment. Lastly, the *tahanan* is the residential and hosting component to the design. The arrangement of these spaces form an experience to encounter the drink in a holistic manner. The design supports the process of making lambanog from fruit to bottle. An in-depth study into the workflow serves as the basis, and Sy designs these areas with a selection that merges cultural forms with functional requirements.

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/I-3-Large.jpeg "I -3 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AM-4-Large.jpeg "AM-4 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/THANK-24-Large.jpeg "THANK-24 Large - BluPrint")

![Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SO-28-Large.jpeg "SO-28 Large - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-25-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-25 Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-26-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-26 Large - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04-Plans-20-Large.jpeg "04 Plans-20 Large - BluPrint")## Strengthening Local Industries

Lambanugan explores how the development of rural industries can be harmonious with its vernacularity. It captures the essence of lambanog and distills it into a modern structure that remains legible to its local community. True to its name, CSB’s Design Exploration class dissects the ethos of the design goals and enables students to come up with their own unique take on architecture.

**Read more:** [CSB’s Design Exploration: A Unique Approach to Architecture Education](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/csbs-design-exploration-a-unique-approach-to-architecture-education/)

*Visuals and diagrams are by Lance Sy*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Lambanugan and what is it about?

Lambanugan is an architectural thesis by Lance Sy under the College of Saint Benilde’s Design Exploration program. It proposes a production typology for lambanog — Philippine coconut wine — that reintegrates traditional rituals, social practices, and indigenous building forms to strengthen the local industry’s cultural identity and territorial rootedness, while addressing safety issues caused by unregulated distillation practices.

### What is lambanog and why is it significant to Filipino culture?

Lambanog is a potent distilled coconut wine deeply embedded in Filipino agricultural and social heritage. It is traditionally produced in the Southern Tagalog region, particularly around the Tayabas area near Mt. Banahaw. Beyond its culinary significance, lambanog is tied to communal drinking rituals such as tagay — a shared pouring custom — and alay, a ritual offering, making it a vessel for Filipino social traditions and cultural identity.

### What is a Karitan and how does it inform the design of Lambanugan?

A Karitan is a bamboo bridge system connecting coconut trees in lambanog production sites, allowing Mangangarit — coconut climbers — to traverse the canopy without descending between each harvest. Lance Sy translated the Karitan’s parallel bamboo pole structure into the architectural motifs and spatial organization of Lambanugan, grounding the design in an authentic indigenous element of the production landscape.

### What are the three main spaces in the Lambanugan design?

The Lambanugan design is organized around three interconnected spaces: the Pugon, where artisans produce and work with lambanog; the Tagayan, a communal space for enjoying the drink through traditional rituals; and the Tahanan, the residential and hosting component of the complex. Together, these three areas create a holistic architectural experience that follows lambanog from raw coconut fruit to finished bottle.

### How does the Lambanugan thesis address the dangers of unregulated lambanog production?

Unregulated lambanog distillation has historically caused deaths due to improper production methods. Lance Sy’s Lambanugan thesis responds by proposing a formalized production typology that embeds proper workflow, safety considerations, and cultural accountability into the architecture itself. By anchoring the design in ritual, community, and indigenous spatial logic, the thesis argues that a culturally rooted built environment can raise production standards while preserving local heritage.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines

---

### [Isabela Convention Center, the ICON reaches completion ahead of its target turn over](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/isabela-convention-center-the-icon-of-the-ideal-city-of-the-north/)

**Published:** December 7, 2021
**Author:** Catherine D. Ong

**Content:**

Isabela Convention Center (ICON) is a multi-purpose coliseum that functions mainly as a sports, convention and trade center for the province of Isabela. It has a 2,500-seating capacity with offices and commercial spaces for lease. Having successfully hosted events since its opening on November 8, 2021, it is Cauayan City mayor Bernard F. Dy’s hope that ICON will boost economic growth and promote local tourism as a convention and trade show venue in the north of the Philippines.

In an exclusive Bluprint interview, Mayor Dy is excited to tell us all about ICON and what we can look forward to in this impressive and unique infrastructure.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON13.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)13 - BluPrint")Mayor Bernard F. Dy of Cauayan City, Isabela, proudly shares what ICON is all about and what we can expect in the future.

**BP**: True to its form, the ICON seems to set the image of Isabela to be an iconic city through this structure. What was the conceptual design of this outstanding building?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** First and foremost it’s the first convention center in Isabela and in fact in Region II, so that makes it a milestone. What we envisioned, the name speaks for itself ICON. We wanted to do a classic design and has that WOW factor, especially it’s a landmark that will be enjoyed by future generations, not just the current one. I worked with Mike and Charmaine Lagman to make this project possible. They executed my vision very well and efficiently.

You may also like: [Together We Build: Mike Lagman’s Notes on Construction and Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/together-we-build-mike-lagmans-notes-on-construction-and-design/)

**BP:** What was the inspiration behind the marvelous facade?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** We wanted to play around with the *kawayan* beam being resilient and having that characteristic that one can find in a bamboo. This structure was something unique and timeless. It is future-proof so 10, 20, or 30 years from now, should we want to build something on top of it, (like a high-rise, we can just dismantle it and put it on top) it is bound for new creation. What sets it apart from other structures is its functionality and sustainable features.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON3.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON5.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON6.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)6 - BluPrint")

**BP:** The city of Cauayan partnered with MC Geometric Proportions for this project. How was it completing its turn over before the target date?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** The construction only took less than a year, 10 months in the making, even I was amazed and overwhelmed. It was completed in a perfect timing and we’re just starting to reopen the economy of the city of Cauayan. In fact, we already used it even before the actual turnover and hosted a joint national event. It was a success and it was memorable to all guests and participants and definitely it could be an eye-opener for other conventions for private firms or government to see Cauayan as an alternative venue for conventions. MCGP made an incredible construction timeline. Due to project’s innovative techniques, we were able reduced constructions costs, build time and material waste.

People are used to Baguio or Ilocos so they might want to see new places. Now Cauayan is offering a new venue. We have well planned airport and hospitality buildings are emerging. We already had two conventions simultaneously. That itself has a tremendous impact for the citizens of Cauayan as well as the entire province of Isabela.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/3-35.jpg "3 - BluPrint")MCGP made it possible to anchor the fastest construction methodology in the country integrating efficiency and smart planning.**BP:** How feasible was it to make the infrastructure eco-friendly?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** Cauayan City is a part of Isabela, northern part of the Philippines. The city is famous for having the most typhoons in the country before. We got hit by super typhoons around 7 times in a year so the structure has to be really set in a way that it could withstand signal no. 1 typhoons. Secondly, the calamities that we have in Isabela is not the normal calamity that you’d experience here in Manila and that’s why it has to be resilient. With the help of MCGP, we were able to project a good structure that can withstand potential disasters in the future. This is one of the key considerations upon initial planning.

The sustainability there should surpass any catastrophe that come our way. We have not had a supertyphoon hit us this year yet, after ICON’s completion but we’re confident that it could withstand it and with that kind of design this is also something unique and for sure, it will serve its purpose.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON12.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON11.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON10.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)10 - BluPrint")

**BP:** ICON is such an impactful and inspirational name for this structure. What does it mean for the city of Cauayan to have a venue where people can gather and exchange ideas?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** It’s an economic booster and economic driver. In any major city in the world, you would have to have a place like that to have meetings and conventions and exhibits but more so it’s really monumental for the city of Cauayan. We’re in the middle of rice fields, a highly agricultural city, we’re poor in terms of income, and yet we have this kind of facility. So that again will change the landscape of the city of Cauayan from a neglected agricultural city to becoming a smart and sustainable one.

This is a smart infrastructure that wasn’t built without a purpose. It had to be sustainable, it had to have that pride of Cauayeños. The name ICON connotes two things: ICON for Isabela Convention Center, and ICON for the ideal city of the north.

**BP:** The soft launch of ICON was on Nov. 8. The Isabela [NATCON](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/uap-announces-the-49th-uap-national-convention-2024/) 2021 was held on Nov. 11, where leaders from JCI Philippines and JCI Senate Philippines have convened. What measures did ICON put in place to align with IATF guidelines when having esteemed guests from all over the country come over?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** I, being a local chief executive, need to be responsible for everything to follow such guideline. I need to make sure that all the delegates attending were vaccinated, they needed to have a PCR test before coming. While they were there, they had to follow the protocols such as wearing masks and practice social distancing. When they left, they had to take a PCR test again and thank God, nobody tested positive.

This is also a testament for other cities, even Metro Manila, that we can do it. It can be done because we already did it. And again, at this signal of reopening and building back the economy.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON15.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON16.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)16 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON17.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BP-2021-Website-In-Article-Photo-ICON2.jpg "BP 2021 Website-In-Article Photo (ICON)2 - BluPrint")

**BP:** Will Isabela have its own tradeshow in ICON? If so, what are the best local products of Isabela that you want to showcase?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** Eventually. I think everything will follow suit and events that will happen in ICON in the next coming months. It’s a fresh place that people would want to see to explore and we want to host them.

Isabela has 34 towns and cities so with the “OTOP” itself “One Town, One Project” we have automatically 37 things, you would taste, feel and touch coming from the different municipalities and cities. Apart from that, the local food: we have better *longganisa* than Vigan, we have Mushroom empanada, which is healthier than Ilocos empanada, we have *serkele*, *goto*, *pancit kabagan*, *cassava rolls,* all these new flavors that our local and foreign tourists would certainly enjoy.

**BP:** Are there any major events lined up for ICON? What are the future projects of Isabela this 2022?

**Mayor BERNARD DY:** We’ve been getting a lot of calls, inquiries and reservations for local events, whether it’s the Rotary Club and inductions, but I am more looking forward to the conventions. Once the economy opens up, I’m certain we will be back to normal soon. I’ve been hearing a lot of people wanting to hold their respective conventions in ICON but I have yet to push my city council to pass the ordinance already. However, the future is bright and there is so much potential that I just can’t wait for people to explore the city of Cauayan through ICON.

Photos courtesy of Ed Simon

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Isabela Convention Center (ICON)?

The Isabela Convention Center, known as ICON, is a multi-purpose coliseum in Cauayan City, Isabela, with a 2,500-seat capacity. Opened on November 8, 2021, it serves as a sports, convention, and trade venue and is the first convention center in Isabela and Region II of the Philippines.

### Who built the Isabela Convention Center?

The Isabela Convention Center was built by MC Geometric Proportions (MCGP), led by Mike and Charmaine Lagman, in partnership with Cauayan City under Mayor Bernard F. Dy. The project was completed in just 10 months using innovative construction techniques that reduced costs, build time, and material waste.

### How long did it take to build the Isabela Convention Center?

The Isabela Convention Center was built in just 10 months by MC Geometric Proportions, an exceptionally fast construction timeline for a 2,500-seat coliseum. The firm used innovative techniques and smart planning to reduce construction costs, shorten build time, and minimize material waste throughout the project.

### What sustainable features does ICON have?

ICON’s facade is inspired by the resilience of bamboo (kawayan) and was engineered to withstand typhoons up to signal number 1, a critical consideration given Cauayan City’s history of severe storms. Its modular structure also allows for future vertical expansion without demolishing the existing building.

### What events has ICON hosted?

ICON officially opened on November 8, 2021 and hosted the JCI Philippines and JCI Senate Philippines NATCON 2021 on November 11, with strict IATF compliance including vaccination, PCR testing, and physical distancing. Several civic and government events have followed, with more conventions planned for the future.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** Cauayan City, Icon, Isabela architecture, Isabela Convention Center, Mayor Bernard Dy

---

### [Jason Buensalido and his search for contemporary Filipino identity for architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/jason-buensalido-contemporary-filipino-design/)

**Published:** February 6, 2018
**Author:** MH Canlas

**Excerpt:** During Artkitektura 2018, Buensalido asserted it’s high time for a cultural revival in Philippine architecture

**Content:**

How can different design approaches affect the way designers shape the identity of Philippine contemporary design? In [\#BluPrintConversations](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23BluPrintConversations) latest episode, Buensalido+Architects principal Jason Buensalido answers this, and talks about the search for Philippine architecture, and his firm’s approach to creating spaces that speak the vernacular.

## A brief history

“How is it that when we view the architecture of other countries, their spaces speak of a strong sense of place? Whereas here, we surround ourselves with a hodgepodge of styles and themed spaces that seek to imitate other places. We don’t have a collective identity,” Jason Buensalido says. The Philippines has a rich architecture history, which traces its roots to the traditional *bahay kubo,* a house on stilts*.* The arrival of the Spaniards in the 1500s saw them contemporizing this local typology into the *[bahay na bato](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-bahay-na-bato-architecture-300-years-in-the-making/) at kahoy,* introducing stronger materials and European innovations into the *bahay kubo’s* structural practicality and logical program. The arrival of the Americans and Daniel Burnham’s *City Beautiful* movement in the 1900s imposed the Neo-classical style for its perceived aesthetic superiority despite its incompatibility with the tropical climate.

The exposure of Filipino architects to the prevailing western styles of the 1930s and 1950s gave birth to localized strains of Art Deco and the International Style. This architectural renaissance continued until the 1970s where local architecture giants like Carlos Arguelles, Jose Zaragoza, and Leandro Locsin created memorable structures that were modern yet culturally and climactically responsive. Political turmoil and brain drain of the 1980s, however, put a brake on this development. And today, we are still gripped with an unfortunate case of colonial mentality, an inferiority complex that has resulted in themed-subdivisions and copycat architecture.

Buensalido asserts it is high time for a cultural revival in Philippine architecture, especially in this day and age of rapid globalization. “Claiming our identity leads to authenticity and a readiness to converse with the rest of the world,” he told *BluPrint*. He further comments on the issue of transposing international styles and themes in local architecture, “These designs, aside from being inauthentic, do not converse with or meet the needs of local context.” Citing his firm as an example, “Context always determines our architectural responses; we do not have a style or a form that we adhere to. We let the characteristics of the place shape and form our architecture.”

Intensive research and even consultations with anthropologists led to the four points of Filipino culture for architecture that Jason Buensalido expounds on in his book *Random Responses.* He shares that these four points are derived from prevailing themes evident in local culture that describes Buensalido+Architects’ approach in creating Filipino architecture:

## Four points of Filipino culture in architecture

**1. Responsive vernacular models:** Typologies that respond to existing cultural and climate conditions

![BluPrint Jason Buensalido Architects Architecture Polygon House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Polygon-HouseUSE.jpg "Polygon HouseUSE - BluPrint")While its bold geometries and angular forms may be miles removed from the humble bahay kubo, Buensalido says that the same principles that governed the bahay kubo, and what made it a successful vernacular typology were also applied to the Polygon House. An open space plan was utilized, the house’s steel structure undisguised and in plain view, with the private spaces located in upper floors.**2. Weaving:** Philippine culture has a wealthy tradition in craft of weaving. It can also be taken as our propensity to gather together as a family and as a community.

![BluPrint Jason Buensalido Architects Architecture CIIT Tower](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CIIT-Tower.jpg "CIIT Tower - BluPrint")The CIIT Tower adapts a weaving metaphor by stitching together a homage to the color and richness of local culture and the burgeoning digital talent on the rise in the country.**3. Personalization:** The acknowledgment that there is no one-size fits all solution, and of the need for individual expression. This is illustrated in local culture by way of jeepneys and the seasonings we use to flavor our meals to personal preferences.

![BluPrint Jason Buensalido Architects Architecture Sofia Townhouses](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Sofia-Townhouses.jpg "Sofia Townhouses - BluPrint")The townhouse typology often relies on replicable designs to minimize costs, but the Sofia Townhouses went further by offering means of interior layout personalization to fit the needs and wants of its different resident profiles.**4. Optimism:** The Filipinos’ inherent positivity even in the midst of disaster. Our penchant for celebrations in the form of *fiestas* and holidays were all illustrated with projects by the firm that best expressed these points.

![BluPrint Jason Buensalido Architects Architecture Terraces at Dao](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Terraces-at-Dao.jpg "Terraces at Dao - BluPrint")The eye-catching form (and colors) of the Terraces at Dao in Marikina celebrates the beauty of the Banaue Rice Terraces, mimicking its curvaceous contours by way of lofting. A vibrant sunny color scheme was chosen in the hopes of inspiring a sense of wonder and optimism in its immediate community.At the end of the day, however, Jason Buensalido seeks not to impose these mentioned points but rather to share them to fellow architects and designers to spark a conversation and to fuel the drive to arrive at that ultimate destination: a distinct Filipino architectural identity. “These points are starting points where we can trigger this conversation of a distinct architectural identity. No one architect can carry this burden alone. It has to be a conversation, a collaboration.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How can I substitute Western “copycat” architecture with a more authentic Filipino identity?

To move away from colonial mentality and themed subdivisions, substitute rigid Western styles with Responsive Vernacular Models. Instead of imitating neoclassical or international forms, use the logical program of the bahay kubo—such as open floor plans and elevated private spaces—as your structural foundation. This ensures your “dish” is climatically responsive and culturally authentic to the tropical local context.

### What is the secret to achieving a “woven” texture in modern building facades?

The secret to a woven texture is a metaphorical “stitching” of diverse cultural elements and community values. By adapting the Weaving tradition into your design, you can use vibrant colors and interlocking geometric patterns to represent the Filipino propensity for gathering. This technique transforms a static structure into a dynamic expression of local craft and social connectivity.

### What common mistake should I avoid when designing replicable housing like townhouses?

The most common mistake is applying a “one-size-fits-all” solution that ignores the user’s need for individual expression. To fix this, incorporate Personalization—much like how jeepneys are decorated or how we season meals to our specific taste. Provide “ingredients” within the architectural layout that allow residents to customize their interiors, ensuring the design fits the unique profile of every occupant.

### How can I properly “store” and express Filipino optimism through architectural form?

Store and radiate cultural positivity by using eye-catching forms and vibrant color schemes that mimic natural local wonders. Use the principle of Optimism to inspire a sense of wonder in the community, even in the midst of disaster. For example, lofting curvaceous contours to mimic the Banaue Rice Terraces creates a celebratory “fiesta” atmosphere that remains resilient and uplifting.

### What “ingredients” are necessary to ensure a design is truly climatically responsive?

The core ingredients are intensive research and a deep understanding of local Context. Rather than adhering to a pre-set style, let the characteristics of the place shape the architecture. Ensure your design “conversations” include traditional structural practicality—such as undisguised steel structures for transparency and high-level ventilation—to meet the specific heat and humidity requirements of the Philippine environment.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, ARTKITEKTURA, Buensalido Architects, Buensalido+Architects, Design Talk, Identity, Jason Buensalido, Philippines

---

### [Combining Colors: Revisiting Le Corbusier's Color Theory](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/combining-colors-revisiting-le-corbusiers-color-theory/)

**Published:** July 28, 2023
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret or Le Corbusier, is one of the pioneers of modern architecture. His portfolio has projects spanning urban planning for entire cities to crafting furniture. some of this work embraced a color theory he called Architectural Polychromy. Considered one of his masterpieces, it has 63 shades in two color collections. The 1931 collection has 43 shades in 14 series while the 1959 has 20 more intense shades. Known as the Keyboards of Color, they are all harmonious hues that can be combined in any way. These tones also come with a color selector that combines colorful and neutral tones.

![The color palette of 1931 has 43 shades](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/le-corbusier-polychromie-architecturale-1931-1.png "le-corbusier-polychromie-architecturale-1931-1 - BluPrint")*The color palette of 1931 has 43 shades. Photo from [Les Couleurs Le Corbusier](https://lescouleurs.ch/en/the-colours/).*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/le-corbusier-polychromie-architecturale-1959.png "le-corbusier-polychromie-architecturale-1959 - BluPrint")*The color collection from 1959 has 20 other powerful* colors. *Photo from Les Couleurs Le Corbusier.*![Jiaogong Kindergarten Campus](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Untitled-1-5.jpg "Untitled-1 - BluPrint")*when combined right, colors can boost the aura of a structure. Here is the Jiaogong Kindergarten Campus by LYCS Architecture in China. Photo by Qingshan Wu.*

Related read: [Designed for Children: The Jiaogong Kindergarten Campus is a Colorful Playground Inspired by a Spaceship](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/designed-for-children-the-jiaogong-kindergarten-campus-is-a-colorful-playground-inspired-by-a-spaceship/ "Designed for Children: The Jiaogong Kindergarten Campus is a Colorful Playground Inspired by a Spaceship")

Colors have three groups: constructive, dynamic, and transitional.

## **Constructive** 

Constructive colors have natural pigments used to create pleasant atmospheres. Often, they establish harmony, warmth, and a connection with the natural environment. These colors make up the space’s ambiance and character.

## **Dynamic** 

Dynamic colors use synthetic pigments that evoke emotional responses. These colors are bold, vibrant, and intense–reds, blues, and yellows. These primary colors give the space visual impact and a heightened sense of dynamism.

## **Transitional** 

Transitional colors or transparent colors alter surfaces without affecting spatial depth. Usually, these are for glazes or clear finishes to improve the texture of materials.

![A rebuilt staircase from a renovated Le Corbusier apartment](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/le-corbusier-apartment.jpeg "le corbusier apartment - BluPrint")*A rebuilt staircase from a renovated Le Corbusier apartment. Originally fashioned by influential furniture designer Jean Prouve.*

According to color psychology, colors actually have an effect on our minds. Colors do have different meanings according to one’s own memories or culture. But a well-blended mix of colors in a space can certainly make a day feel fresher and brighter or dull and lonely.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Le Corbusier’s Architectural Polychromy?

Architectural Polychromy is Le Corbusier’s color theory comprising 63 harmonious shades across two collections — 43 shades in 1931 and 20 more intense shades in 1959. Known as the Keyboards of Color, every hue is designed to combine harmoniously in any configuration.

### How many colors are in Le Corbusier’s color palette?

Le Corbusier’s color system contains 63 total shades. The 1931 collection has 43 shades organized across 14 series, while the 1959 collection adds 20 bolder, more intense tones. Both include a color selector pairing colorful and neutral tones.

### What are the three color groups in Le Corbusier’s color theory?

Le Corbusier’s Architectural Polychromy divides colors into three groups: constructive colors that use natural pigments to create warmth and harmony, dynamic colors that use synthetic pigments for bold visual impact, and transitional colors that alter surface texture without affecting spatial depth.

### What are constructive colors in architecture?

Constructive colors are tones derived from natural pigments that establish harmony, warmth, and a connection to the natural environment. In Le Corbusier’s system, they define a space’s ambient character without overpowering its overall atmosphere.

### How do dynamic colors affect a space according to Le Corbusier?

Dynamic colors use synthetic pigments — typically bold reds, blues, and yellows — to create emotional responses and heightened visual energy. In Le Corbusier’s theory, these primary tones give a space strong visual impact and a sense of movement and vitality.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** color psychology, Color Theory, Design, Interior Design, Le Corbusier

---

### [Installation Art Overview: Filipino Artist Junyee Makes A Stand with Felled Trees](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/installation-artist-junyee/)

**Published:** July 13, 2020
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** Junyee’s sculptural works show how the native in us emerges when we are confronted with modern challenges, and becomes transformed

**Content:**

Often referred to as the “Father of Installation Art in the Philippines,” Luis Yee, Jr. or Junyee (b.1942) has always focused on two things in his artistic career. First is to document and explore life as a Filipino. Second is to creatively use indigenous materials as a means of sculptural expression.

Junyee is an Agusan del Norte native who studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines under National Artist Napoleon Abueva during the mid-60s. He has made a lifetime commitment to be an environment friendly artist. The artist makes conceptual art through the ethical use of organic materials like naturally-felled woods, bamboo, leaves and branches, and even seed pods. Living in Los Baños since 1975, the arboreal surroundings of nearby Mount Makiling has been the main resource for Junyee’s unique assemblages, like his celebrated *Wood Things* series (1981) that look like large hairy caterpillars made out of dried kapok pods and banana stalks.

![BluPrint Art Junyee](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BluPrint-Art-Junyee-3.jpg "BluPrint Art Junyee-3 - BluPrint")*Two Fools, wood, metal and color, 50 x 91 x 18 cm, 1997*

![BluPrint Art Junyee](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BluPrint-Art-Junyee-1.jpg "BluPrint Art Junyee-1 - BluPrint")*(Left) Other Self, paint and wood, 86.5 x 56 x 25.3 cm, 2000 (Right) Roll Up, paint and wood, 98 x 51 x 33.5 cm, 1999*

## A Commentary on Tradition and Modernity

Since the 90s, Junyee has been concentrating on hardwood sculpture as a sensuous medium. He also plays with ideas about cultural identity and the clash between tradition and modernity. His award-winning *Two Fools* (1997) is a masterpiece of figurative understatement, as two figures swoon and jump over one another like a wacky episode from a comic kabuki play. *Pintado* (a person covered in tattoos), exhibited at the Havana Biennale (2000), shows Junyee’s more introspective and philosophical side.

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [Wrap up: 5 extraordinary works of the late installation artist, Christo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/5-iconic-works-of-the-late-conceptual-artist-christo/)**

![BluPrint Art Junyee](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BluPrint-Art-Junyee-2.jpg "BluPrint Art Junyee-2 - BluPrint")(Foreground) Kulang sa Drum, one of the life-sized sculptures of the Siete Pintados series, wood and mixed media, 2008 (Background) Kulang sa Drum (rear view)

A life-sized sculpture of a nude man tattooed with pre-colonial designs hangs like a corpse suspended by brass wires from the ceiling. Pintado combines a thirst for knowledge about our ancient past, and criticizes the present’s unsustainable consumerism and rapid destruction of traditional cultures in threatened tropical forests around the world.

Junyee expanded on this ambivalent relationship between traditional culture and the modern world in his *Siete* *Pintados* series (2008), which mixes sculpted hardwoods (salvaged from trees felled during storms) with paint, nylon and brass wire, and modern gadgets. It is a sly commentary on the techno-stressed out world of the contemporary native Pinoy. *Pahinog* shows the pintado wrapped inside a brass-wired cocoon that seems both comforting (as a shield against danger) and suffocating (being a slave to modern technology). Contrast this to *Kulang sa* *Drum*, in which a pintado wearing hip-hop tattoos carries a boom box, eyes straining to hear the bass. *Hu U?* captures that moment in which tradition and modernity clash, as the pintado talks on a mobile phone with a blank stare.

**READ MORE: [Sculpted Fragility: Diaphanous Wire Sculptures by Alab Pagarigan](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/wire-sculptures-alab-pagarigan/)**

Junyee’s sculptural works show how the native in us emerges when we are confronted with modern challenges, and becomes transformed. Whether the transformation is for better or worse is an entirely different matter.

**This first appeared in BluPrint Volume 4 2011. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Junyee and what is he known for in Philippine art?

Junyee, born Luis Yee Jr. in 1942, is widely recognized as the Father of Installation Art in the Philippines. An Agusan del Norte native and University of the Philippines fine arts graduate, he is known for assemblages and sculptures made from ethically sourced organic materials — naturally felled wood, bamboo, leaves, seed pods, and branches — that examine Filipino cultural identity and environmental sustainability.

### What materials does Junyee use in his sculptures and installations?

Junyee works exclusively with organic and indigenous materials, including naturally felled hardwoods, bamboo, dried kapok pods, banana stalks, brass wire, nylon, and salvaged storm-felled timber. His commitment to ethical material sourcing reflects a lifelong practice as an environmentally conscious artist, drawing heavily from the arboreal surroundings of Mount Makiling near his home in Los Baños, Laguna.

### What is the Siete Pintados series by Junyee?

Siete Pintados (2008) is a series of life-sized hardwood sculptures depicting pre-colonial tattooed Filipino figures — pintados — in confrontation with modern technology. Using salvaged storm-felled wood mixed with paint, nylon, brass wire, and contemporary gadgets, the series critiques the techno-stressed experience of the modern Filipino, exploring how traditional identity is reshaped by consumerism and digital culture.

### What was Junyee’s Pintado artwork exhibited at the Havana Biennale?

Pintado, exhibited at the Havana Biennale in 2000, is a life-sized sculpture of a nude tattooed male figure suspended from the ceiling by brass wires. The work draws on pre-colonial Filipino tattoo traditions to critique modern consumerism and the destruction of indigenous cultures by rapid environmental and social change. It reflects Junyee’s philosophical examination of Filipino identity across time.

### Where does Junyee live and work, and how does his environment influence his art?

Junyee has lived in Los Baños, Laguna since 1975. The forests surrounding Mount Makiling serve as both his material source and artistic inspiration. Naturally felled trees, branches, and seed pods gathered from the area form the raw material for his sculptures and installations. This direct relationship with a living landscape defines his practice as inherently site-responsive and ecologically grounded.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Art, Father of Installation Art in the Philippines, Hardwood Sculpture, Installation Art, Junyee, Philippine Art, Philippine Installation Art, Philippines, Sculpture

---

### [In the Works: The Camber House in Batangas by Gaga Design House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/in-the-works-the-camber-house-in-batangas-by-gaga-design-house/)

**Published:** February 2, 2022
**Author:** Maria Rebecca Abaya

**Content:**

Filipinos in general love celebrating holidays out of town. Families fondly anticipate extended periods of rest whether it be Christmas, New Year, or Holy Week. Batangas, being in close proximity to Metro Manila, would be one of those popular holiday destinations. With just a two-to-three-hour drive, one can already enjoy the pristine beaches located in municipalities such as San Juan, Calatagan, Lobo, Mabini, Tingloy, and Nasugbu. Close to these beaches are stunning vacation homes where guests can rest and relax, veering away from the busy city life. One of the upcoming new vacation homes in Nasugbu, Batangas is the Camber House. The house will be built on a 400 square meter lot in Peninsula de Punta Fuego. The proposed structure will have a total gross floor area of up to 780 square meters. Architect duo, Miguel and Anna Garcia of [Gaga Design House](https://www.facebook.com/gagadesignhouse/) say the project is currently in the bidding phase and construction is expected to be finished by 2023.

> *With the intention of bringing the outdoor experience indoors, we designed an open plan, unobstructed by walls and columns, and bounded by oversized glass. This allowed both front and rear yards to be visible from either end*.
> 
> GAGA DESIGN HOUSE

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-2-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) (2) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) (3) - BluPrint")Camber House is all about location. Situated on a promontory, the main intentions were to design a home that can withstand harsh weather conditions brought by its closeness to seawater while being able to maximize the views around. The scenic view of the location is the reason why it’s a popular holiday destination. The concerning weather conditions also had given materiality an even greater role in the overall house design.

The architects considered and strengthened sustainable design without having to compromise the structures’ aesthetic value. From designing a curved wheelchair ramp at the entrance for accessibility to the use of aluminum composite panels as gutter cladding, and to having fluted walls to deter future drip marks. A portion of these fluted walls on the second floor can be fully opened whenever there’s a need for optimum morning sun and it can also be fully closed, acting as a second layer blocking the harsh afternoon sun. Also, the V-Shaped Columns at the front and rear entrances give the aesthetics a bit of a twist. Evaluated and acted beforehand were the necessary preventive maintenance projections.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-Camber-House-.jpeg "BP 2022 (Camber House) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) - BluPrint")The use of extended cantilevers for shade paved the way for the incorporation of large glass panels, permitting residents and guests to appreciate the views and natural elements surrounding the property. As these large glass panels are also operable, residents and guests can easily open up and extend spaces to their delight. The interior also boasts a large open layout for the users of the vacation home to veer away from the feeling of restricted spaces of city living. Camber House has a total of 4 levels. The basement houses all the service areas, and the ground floor contains all the communal spaces such as the living, dining, kitchen, and guestroom. On the second floor would be all the bedrooms while the roof deck serves as the open lounge and viewing deck of the house.

“Camber House was designed not just to see the sites around it but to be a site to see on its own. Minimalism in design is not just about using less but being more intentional in the use of materials to gain more purpose,” says Miguel and Anna.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-2-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) (2) 2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) 2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Camber-House-3-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Camber House) (3) 2 - BluPrint")

[Gaga Design House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/a-striking-contrast-from-the-familiar-the-brick-house-in-pampanga-by-gaga-design-house/) is also formally known as Garcia and Garcia Architectural Design Co. Its founder and principal architects, Miguel Silva Garcia, and Anna Garcia Garcia focus on expressionist architecture and on bringing out the emotional value of the structure for their clients. Not only is “Gaga” an abbreviation of the principal’s names, but also the firm’s philosophy as the literal definition of “Gaga” means being very enthusiastic and excited about something.

*Article Credits: Drawings and Images courtesy of Gaga Design House©*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Camber House in Batangas?

Camber House is an upcoming vacation home designed by Gaga Design House, located in Peninsula de Punta Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas. Built on a 400-square-meter lot with a total gross floor area of 780 square meters across four levels, the house was designed to maximize coastal views while withstanding the harsh weather conditions of a seaside promontory location.

### Who are the architects behind Camber House in Punta Fuego?

Camber House was designed by Miguel Silva Garcia and Anna Garcia Garcia, the principal architects and founders of Gaga Design House—formally known as Garcia and Garcia Architectural Design Co. The firm focuses on expressionist architecture that brings out the emotional value of a structure, with projects including the Brick House in Pampanga and now Camber House in Batangas.

### What sustainable design features does Camber House have?

Camber House incorporates several sustainable and climate-responsive features: fluted walls that block harsh afternoon sun while opening fully to morning light, aluminum composite panel gutter cladding, extended cantilevers for shade, and large operable glass panels for natural ventilation. A curved wheelchair ramp at the entrance also ensures accessibility without compromising the home’s minimalist aesthetic.

### What is the floor plan layout of Camber House?

Camber House is organized across four levels. The basement contains all service areas, the ground floor holds communal spaces including the living room, dining area, kitchen, and a guest room. The second floor houses all the bedrooms, and the roof deck functions as an open lounge and viewing deck, framing panoramic views of the surrounding Batangas coastline.

### What design philosophy guided the Camber House project?

Camber House was guided by the principle that minimalism is not about using less, but about being more intentional with materials to achieve greater purpose. Architects Miguel and Anna Garcia designed the home to be both a frame for its coastal surroundings and a visual landmark in its own right—a structure meant to see the views around it and to be a site worth seeing itself.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Interiors, Sustainable Design, Vacation House

---

### [Casa Cecilia: A Modern Tropical Mediterranean Farm Villa in Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/casa-cecilia-a-modern-tropical-mediterranean-farm-villa-in-laguna/)

**Published:** April 26, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Located in Barangay San Bautista, San Pablo, Laguna, is a residence that looks and feels like a villa in Southern Europe. Designed by Architecture student [Jolo Cecila](https://www.instagram.com/jolocecilia/), in collaboration with Architect Anjo Cantalejo, Casa Cecilia: The Farm Villa sits on a ten-hectare farm. Cecilia spearheaded the project when he was 20 years old, which is his first design-and-built project.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia3.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia3 - BluPrint")“The Project was challenging and fulfilling at the same time. Being a 20–year–old project head, it was difficult for other people to take me seriously. But at the end of the day, I approached the project as an open-minded learner. Ready to learn every step of the way from the professionals and seniors that I was lucky enough to work with,” Cecilia shares with BluPrint.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia - BluPrint")*Architecture student Jolo Cecilia poses by the front door of Casa Cecilia: The Farm Villa*

The core design team was composed of Architect Anjo Cantalejo, Interior Designer Karen Maximo-Fernando, and Engineer Alfredo Dulay. They have guided Cecilia in a way that allowed him to practice and create his own creative freedom in design. “Honestly, the process was not smooth and it had its fair share of ups and downs. From dealing with various suppliers all the way to construction workers, it was definitely a learning experience,” Cecilia said.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia5 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia6 - BluPrint")The farm villa is located on the foot of Mt. Malarayat, 100 meters above sea level. It provides a pleasant environment with the facade of the villa facing the morning sunrise of Mt. Banahaw following the sunset along the mountains of Mt. Malarayat, the cool breeze during the mornings and afternoons, and fog rolling in from the mountains. The farm is abundant with full-grown coconut trees that go up to more than 50 feet and a banana plantation that just keeps flourishing.

Cecilia explains that what makes the house unique is that it is a hidden understated villa in the heart of a traditional Filipino-grown farm in the middle of nowhere. “My design brief for the house to the design team was that I did not want it to look like a house. An architecturally distinct villa that is timeless and has a different take on a farmhouse that is set in the tropical country of the Philippines,” he shares. To him, it is refreshing and reminiscent of classic architecture given the modern tropical Filipino houses we have today.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia7 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia8.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia8 - BluPrint")A tropical modern Mediterranean villa inspires Casa Cecilia. The design team wanted the villa to feel timeless with its architecture and interior design. It is meant to age and patina so that it gets more beautiful with character as time passes. They also wanted to bring nature in and feel the relaxed farm ambiance by surrounding the house with lush greenery. The team collaborated with Landscape Architect Lester Almazan and Architect Lj Patalinghug for the master plan.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia12.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia13.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia20.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia20 - BluPrint")

The [architectural concept](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/) of the villa emulates the hacienda style design perspective, with the white repeated arches, stucco-finished walls, and aged terracotta Spanish roof tiles, with a touch of modernity. They had to blend a Spanish Mediterranean-style home into a tropical setting and find the perfect balance with the exterior finishes. The team wanted it to be simple but full of character and texture.

For the interior design concept, however, the team wanted to have an organic modern design approach. A balanced mix of modern lines and crisp white surfaces contrasted with natural forms and materials. A monochromatic white home with accents of natural elements and some pop of color through art. The design layout, which is an open layout that seamlessly connects the outdoor areas to the indoor living areas, is a design aspect that is meant to create a space where people can interact with each other and a place to bring people together.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia39.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia39 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia41.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia41 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia28.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia28 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia22.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia22 - BluPrint")

The landscape design, meanwhile, was a challenging task to combine and marry European landscape and tropical landscape design. They decided to pair the vibrant blossoming white Bougainvillea with the lush leaves of a Calathea.

“The main inspiration for the project was my parents. It was meant to be a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Metro and embrace tranquility and stillness amongst nature. I wanted them to be able to have a home away from home, with a slower pace in their everyday lives,” Cecilia told BluPrint.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia2 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia - BluPrint")When it comes to the materiality, the design team tried to keep it minimal and as simple as possible. They have intentionally used a combination of cement-textured and crisp white walls to serve as a contrast to the characteristics of the varying wood in the space. Natural materials and raw organic finishes were mainly used in the villa to pay homage to the beauty of the nature that surrounds it, and how it allows it to elegantly blend in as supposed to be a stand-out.

Moreover, the aged-stained Terracotta roof tiles from Spain have brought in the classic feel and character of a Spanish Mediterranean-style home. Limestone paint was also utilized in the interior of the home to give emphasis and relation to the surfaces present in the exterior walls, and to the classic technique of European-style homes.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia30.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia30 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia31.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia31 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia32.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia32 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia33.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia33 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia34.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia34 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia35.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia35 - BluPrint")

The floor-to-ceiling glass panels by Aust-Phil, added that modern touch to the villa connecting the outdoors at the same time. Spanish tiles are placed as the primary flooring for the whole structured areas around the farm. The limestone-finished floor tiles added that subtle effect. The wood accents that are placed as exposed beams and the eaves of the villa added the right amount of warmth to the space. The understated woodwork done through the 12-foot doors is remarkable with its impact despite its simplicity. Matte-black metal finishes and hardware were added to add structure, streamlines, and contrast to the villa.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia11.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia10.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia10 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia6.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia23.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia23 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia5 - BluPrint")

Despite having Mediterranean influences, the project has championed Filipino values in its own ways. Bayanihan, for instance, were present during the completion of the project according to Cecilia. “Almost 80 percent of our workers during the construction process came from our neighboring farms. As much as possible, we wanted to provide livelihood around the small community that we have and help them attain a certain level of skill with the help of our onsite engineers, whether it is; basic masonry, paintwork, and even welding works.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia26.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia26 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia27.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia27 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia44.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia44 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia43.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia43 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia36.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia36 - BluPrint")

From the Design perspective, the team has given emphasis on supporting Filipino made. Most of the finishes of the project were locally sourced from local artisans and makers. For all the sash work in the project, it was done by Elikmar Wood Works from Tanay, Rizal. Their excellent craftsmanship has made all the difference in the design impact of the home.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia10.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia10 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia9.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia9 - BluPrint")The design team has also used woven materials, like Rafia, Saguran, and even bleached rice sack material. These were done by local artisans from the Visayas Region. One of the most unique pieces of the villa is the main door handles. It is a customized battered-bronze metal door handle and knocker which was created by the artists of the Industria Gallery. They have reached out to local pottery makers, as well, for their handcrafted jars and vases that are made in Antipolo, Rizal.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia40.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia40 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia37.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia37 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia30.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia30 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia29.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia29 - BluPrint")

Furthermore, Cecilia highlights that sustainability has always been one of their biggest advocacies since starting the project. For the placement of the house, the team tried to be conservative on its placement and have avoided cutting any kind of tree for the villa.

Material-wise, on the other hand, the team tried to be more environmentally conscious about the materials they used. Avoiding the use of plastic and proper waste management has been done to conserve the beautiful forestry surrounding the villa. Leaning towards more naturally produced materials for the finishes of the home.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia35.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia35 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia25.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia25 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Casa-Cecilia17.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - Casa Cecilia17 - BluPrint")

For the interior design, as much as possible, they wanted to use old and used furniture and re-purpose them as a practice of sustainability. Re-upholstering a certain chair can transform its whole look. Stripping down a certain varnish on wood furniture, to give it a new life. “A good example that we did for the project is repurposing wood planks from our fishpond deck and utilizing it for our new coffee table. It not only saves resources, but it also adds character to the area,” Cecilia shares. He also mentioned that investing in key pieces that could last a lifetime was also an important goal and in practice of a more environmentally friendly furnishing process.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Casa-Cecilia7.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - Casa Cecilia7 - BluPrint")Cecilia has always been passionate about architecture since he was young. Completing a beautiful project like Casa Cecilia, in collaboration and with guidance of industry professionals, is a proud moment for the architecture student who aims to do more in the future.

Photography by Jeric Rustia

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Casa Cecilia Farm Villa in Laguna?

Casa Cecilia is a Mediterranean-inspired farm villa in San Pablo, Laguna, designed by architecture student Jolo Cecilia in collaboration with Architect Anjo Cantalejo. It sits on a ten-hectare farm at the foot of Mt. Malarayat, blending European and tropical design.

### Who designed Casa Cecilia in San Pablo, Laguna?

Casa Cecilia was designed by Jolo Cecilia, an architecture student who led the project at age 20, working alongside Architect Anjo Cantalejo, Interior Designer Karen Maximo-Fernando, and Engineer Alfredo Dulay as the core design team.

### What architectural style is Casa Cecilia inspired by?

Casa Cecilia is inspired by tropical modern Mediterranean architecture. It features white repeated arches, stucco-finished walls, aged Spanish terracotta roof tiles, and floor-to-ceiling glass panels, combining hacienda aesthetics with a modern tropical Filipino sensibility.

### Where exactly is Casa Cecilia located in the Philippines?

Casa Cecilia is located in Barangay San Bautista, San Pablo, Laguna, at 100 meters above sea level on the foot of Mt. Malarayat. The farm villa faces Mt. Banahaw at sunrise and Mt. Malarayat at sunset.

### How does Casa Cecilia incorporate Filipino and sustainable design?

Casa Cecilia champions Filipino craftsmanship through locally sourced materials, artisan-made woven pieces from the Visayas, and woodwork by Elikmar Wood Works in Tanay, Rizal. The team also repurposed old furniture, avoided tree cutting, and employed workers from neighboring farms through the spirit of Bayanihan.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential, Sustainability

---

### [Harlan + Holden Coffee Is Redefining The Café Experience](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/harlan-holden-coffee-is-redefining-the-cafe-experience/)

**Published:** July 30, 2021
**Author:** Micah Mongcal

**Content:**

With time being a luxury, Harlan + Holden’s creative vision of simplicity and elegance is constructed to helping people get more of it. As the first cashless coffee shop in the Philippines, Harlan + Holden Coffee eliminates long lines and waiting times so that you can focus on the experience of enjoying your coffee in the minimalist, glasshouse-inspired cafe.

Here, BluPrint talks with Harlan + Holden’s marketing manager, Marianne Cruz, about how the Harlan + Holden cafe embodies the brand’s values and philosophy.

![Harlan+coffee](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1-26.jpg "1 - BluPrint")True to its mission,Harlan + Holden with its sleek minimalist facade, is providing a uniform approach to save time.**BP: Could you give me a brief history of your brand? What was the concept behind it?**
H+H: Harlan + Holden started as a fashion brand, and the philosophy of the brand is
to provide a uniform approach to dressing and its mission is to save you time.

![Harlan+Holden](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/8-13.jpg "8 - BluPrint")Harlan + Holden Atelier was the first concept store of the brand which benchmarked the all minimalist aesthetic.

Meanwhile in the F&B industry, the biggest pain point is waiting in line to pay for your
item, or place an order, a pain greater than even waiting for your order. People are actually forced to
skip their coffee fix, because of time constraints such as being late for a meeting, a shift, reporting back to
work, a movie, or just plain impatience. This is where Harlan + Holden Coffee comes in. It’s the only
coffee store that saves time and sells convenience through a cashless experience. It’s click-and-collect, no-waiting-in-line.

![The brand's signature fig is the first element that grabs your attention.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/10-10.jpg "10 - BluPrint")Photo by Harlan + Holden
The brand’s signature fig is the first design element that grabs your attention.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/11-11.jpg "11 - BluPrint")Photo by Harlan + Holden
The Brand’s all about sleek aesthetic gives an immediate minimalist+cool vibe to the customers.

**BP: What is the vision of the brand?**
H+H: To save you time so you can do things that matter.

**BP: What is special about your cafe?**
H+H: We are the first cashless coffee shop in the Philippines with a convenient app that will save you time. We also have a ModBar type machine that coffee experts appreciate.

**BP: Can you name the designer of your cafe?**
H+H: The café was designed by Copenhagen design firm GamFratesi. They took inspiration from their first project with us in Rockwell called Harlan Glasshouse. The flooring and Fig trees were used as a starting point, then reinterpreted for coffee and faster service.

**BP: How did you come up with the whole theme of the Interior Design?**
H+H: We wanted to provide a cool + exciting experience for our customers. It’s all about clean lines, a fig tree in the middle of the store, and stools for that grab, sit and go coffee break.

**BP Could you tell us more about your current branding and how were you able to conceptualize it amidst the pandemic?**
H+H: The shop actually opened in 2019 so when the pandemic hit, we were already doing cashless transactions and were available online with our app. It was easy to manage COVID-19 protocols. We did shift into offering bottled coffees so that customers can have their favourite caffeine fix in the leisure of their home.

![Harlan+Holden](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/6-17.jpg "6 - BluPrint")Photo by Harlan + Holden
Efficiency and elegance in action**BP: What are the key elements in designing the cafe? What were the considerations during construction?**

H+H: The ModBar coffee machines are the focal point. This is the only coffee bar that uses such a machine, and shows our commitment to quality coffee. The primary consideration was the simplicity of the ordering process: from ordering through our self-check cashless tablets, or through an app, and picking up the order to save time.

![Harlan + Holden](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/4-22.jpg "4 - BluPrint")Photo by Harlan + Holden

****BP:**** **Do you think this cafe can inspire your clients aesthetically?**

H+H: Definitely. Our customers come in here to get inspired and feel excited even

****B**P:** **Can you give us a tour of your cafe through 5 key words?**

1. Mod Bar- This is the first in the country, and shows our commitment to quality coffee.
2. App – Provides a cashless and easy way of ordering even when not yet in the store. Simply pick up. We really don’t accept cash. Even pre-pandemic, our customers never used cash in the first place.
3. Fig tree – The focal point of the store.
4. Because Coffee sign – Everyone thinks this is our name, but it’s actually our tagline!
5. The Coffee Bar – We have one singular module for the full coffee process. Baristas are trained with precise and approved movements including how to tamp, how to level the coffee, how to steam and even how to stand.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/11-11.jpg "11 - BluPrint")

Whether it’s clothes, coffee or interior design, Harlan + Holden’s values and aesthetic revolve around reducing the friction in people’s daily lives as they pursue meaningful goals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes Harlan + Holden Coffee unique in the Philippines?

Harlan + Holden Coffee is the first cashless coffee shop in the Philippines. Orders are placed through a self-checkout tablet or mobile app, eliminating queuing entirely. The café also uses a ModBar espresso machine—the first of its kind in the country—and was designed by Copenhagen firm GamFratesi, giving it a distinctly minimalist, glasshouse-inspired aesthetic.

### Who designed the Harlan + Holden café interior?

The Harlan + Holden café was designed by Copenhagen-based design firm GamFratesi. Their concept drew inspiration from the brand’s earlier Harlan Glasshouse project in Rockwell, reinterpreting its signature flooring and fig tree elements for a faster, coffee-focused service environment built around clean lines, minimal clutter, and an unobstructed ordering flow.

### How does the Harlan + Holden cashless ordering system work?

Customers order through the Harlan + Holden mobile app or in-store self-checkout tablets before arriving or upon entry. No cash is accepted at any point. Orders are prepared and ready for pickup, removing the need to wait in line. The system was designed to eliminate the single biggest pain point in café visits—waiting to pay or place an order.

### What is the ModBar machine at Harlan + Holden Coffee?

The ModBar is an under-counter espresso machine system that keeps the coffee bar surface clean and unobstructed, allowing baristas to face customers directly. Harlan + Holden is the first café in the Philippines to use this machine. It represents the brand’s commitment to precision coffee craft, with baristas trained in standardized movements for tamping, steaming, and service.

### What is the design concept behind the Harlan + Holden café?

The café’s design philosophy centers on simplicity, efficiency, and elegance—values carried over from the Harlan + Holden fashion brand. Key design elements include a central fig tree as the store’s focal point, an all-white minimalist interior with clean lines, bar stools for quick seating, and a single integrated coffee bar module that handles the full brewing process.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Cafes, Concept, Interiors, Top Story

---

### [The hidden architecture of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/gardens-by-the-bay-artkitektura/)

**Published:** February 7, 2018
**Author:** MH Canlas

**Excerpt:** Atelier Ten’s multi-awarded environmental engineer Patrick Bellew unveils the inner workings of the 2012 WAF Building of the Year

**Content:**

Environmental engineer Patrick Bellew is a big fan of modern-day Renaissance man Buckminster Fuller. “Bucky was always going on about the value of doing more with less! Even to his death!” He then proceeds to show his captive audience Bucky’s tombstone which was engraved with the words: Call me Trimtab. “It’s an odd engraving, but Bucky always admired the function of a trim tab, a tiny, hidden object which delivers a large effect. It’s a small mechanism on the back of ship rudders that help stabilize the ship on water,” he says, captivating the audience in [Artkitektura 2018](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/artkitektura-2018/), held in Arete, in the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

![Patrick Bellew addresses the Artkitektura 2018 audience | Photo courtesy of Artkitektura](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Patrick-Bellew-addresses-his-audience-1.jpg "Patrick Bellew addresses his audience 1 - BluPrint")Patrick Bellew addresses the Artkitektura 2018 audience | Photo courtesy of Artkitektura## A green portfolio

Bellew’s talk set out to unravel the hidden mechanisms in place in some of the world’s most environmentally-friendly structures containing intricate design solutions. He brought out case studies of some of his previous works with building environmental engineering consultancy Atelier Ten, which included working on a 1.2km long subterranean labyrinth to passively cool Melbourne’s famous Federation Square, to the BREEAM “Outstanding” rated UK headquarters of the World Wildlife Fund in Woking, England.

> **“We are not add-ons. Great projects can only result from great team collaboration between the designers, builders, and clients who understand each other’s roles and specializations right from the beginning.”**

The team also worked alongside Singapore’s DP Architects and James Stirling Michael Wilford & Associates for the Esplanade – Theaters by the Bay project, whose iconic durian-like roof treatment was largely due to the fin shield system developed by Bellew’s team to protect and cool the spaces below its large, glass roof. Bellew outlines how the team has to be on board from the inception of the project. “We are not add-ons. Great projects can only result from great team collaboration between the designers, builders, and clients who understand each other’s roles and specializations right from the beginning.”

## Gardens by the Bay

One product of such successful collaboration is Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay megaproject, spearheaded by the government in service of Lee Kuan Yew’s vision for the nation as a ‘city within a garden.’ The project was won by Wilkinson Eyre Architects in partnership with landscape designers Grant Associates, structural engineers Atelier One, environmental engineers Atelier Ten, exhibit designers Land Design Studios and communication designer Thomas Matthews. The 101-acre project reaped accolades and visitor numbers left and right, even winning the coveted WAF Building of the Year prize in 2012 and welcoming its 20th millionth visitor last November 2015.

> **“The government gave a tough brief. We had to create a garden that uses less energy than a typical Singapore office building.”**

“The gardens had such an iconic form that it has been used everywhere from tourism campaigns to even advertising materials by banks with no connection to the landmarks whatsoever,” Bellew jests. Behind all that exterior beauty however lie complex structural components and mechanisms set in place to run the park in the cleanest and less environmentally taxing way possible. “The government gave a tough brief. We had to create a garden that uses less energy than a typical Singapore office building. We also had to contend with the needs of the abundant plant life we had to support, and in a country where there is 60% cloud cover during most afternoons, it was quite the challenge,” Bellew recalls.

![Gardens by the bay sunset](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Gardens-by-the-bay-sunset.jpg "Gardens by the bay sunset - BluPrint")Ranging from 25 to 50 meters, the Supertrees serve as vertical gardens in Singapore’s Marina Bay area.A slew of technological innovations were employed in Gardens by the Bay, especially in the two conservatories, of which the larger one is considered the largest columnless space in the world. Supporting two distinct biomes inside with differing demands, one necessitating cold, dry conditions and the other replicating a cold and wet clime, Bellew’s team had to contend with a number of factors that affect the eventual survival of the plants within.

For one, they made sure that the plants get their light requirement by building columnless spaces supported by blade-thin metal supports that bear the load of the double glazed glass roof, which lets light in but not the heat. The cool air is thanks to rainwater collection from the conservatory surfaces, which are then circulated and connected to the Supertrees, tall plant-life filled structures that range from 25-50 meters in height, which act as solar energy harvesters, rainwater collectors, and vents and exhaust for the conservatories’ cooling systems. Should the heat still be too much, Bellew’s team formulated a Plan B: a system of 419 rectractable roof blinds to lessen heat gain. Closing the environmental loop, the bio-waste produced by the gardens and the pruning of Singapore’s copious greens are incinerated by a biomass co-generation system in the vicinity which helps maintain the biomes.

![Gardens by the bay inside](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Gardens-by-the-bay-inside.jpg "Gardens by the bay inside - BluPrint")The Cloud Forest has over 130,000 plants comprising 400 species and replicates the cool moist climate found in tropical mountain regions.## “100-year-investment”

These green innovations often come at a high cost, what with the research, specialized skill set, and materials required to pull it off, but Bellew has this to say: “It is admittedly a pricey investment but it is a long-term one, a 50-100 year investment that goes beyond present benefits; its effects are inter-generational.” The drive to create greener and more energy-efficient solutions drive Atelier Ten to setting new precedents when it comes to environmental engineering. “While clients often look for projects to refer to to gauge possible results, I say keep being innovative and hope someone notices,” Bellew laughs, “We are always in search of the new norm.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**The final installment of the three-year program of Artkitektura will be held in 2019 with an exciting new lineup of speakers and discourse topics. Visit the Artkitektura website for more information.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed the environmental systems for Gardens by the Bay in Singapore?

The environmental engineering for Gardens by the Bay was led by Patrick Bellew and his firm Atelier Ten. They worked alongside Wilkinson Eyre Architects, landscape designers Grant Associates, and structural engineers Atelier One. The project won the WAF Building of the Year prize in 2012 and welcomed its 20th millionth visitor by November 2015.

### How do the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay function?

The Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay are vertical garden structures ranging from 25 to 50 meters in height. They serve as solar energy harvesters, rainwater collectors, and exhaust vents for the conservatories’ cooling systems. Harvested rainwater is circulated through the Supertrees to cool the air inside the biomes, reducing dependence on conventional energy-heavy air conditioning systems.

### What makes the conservatories at Gardens by the Bay environmentally sustainable?

The conservatories use blade-thin metal supports and double-glazed glass roofs that admit light while blocking heat. Rainwater collected from conservatory surfaces feeds into the Supertree cooling network. A system of 419 retractable roof blinds manages peak heat gain, and a biomass co-generation system incinerates garden bio-waste to help maintain the distinct cold-dry and cold-wet biomes inside.

### What is the Trimtab philosophy and how does it apply to sustainable architecture?

The Trimtab philosophy comes from Buckminster Fuller, whose tombstone was engraved with the words “Call me Trimtab.” A trim tab is a small mechanism on a ship’s rudder that produces a large stabilizing effect. Patrick Bellew applies this concept to environmental engineering—small, hidden design solutions, like passive cooling labyrinths or retractable blinds, deliver outsized environmental benefits at a building scale.

### What was the energy brief for Gardens by the Bay?

The Singapore government required that Gardens by the Bay use less energy than a typical Singapore office building—a significant challenge given the country’s tropical climate and 60% afternoon cloud cover. Atelier Ten met this brief through passive cooling strategies, rainwater harvesting, Supertree ventilation systems, and a closed-loop biomass co-generation system that turns garden waste into usable energy.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** ARTKITEKTURA, Atelier Ten, BREEAM, Engineering, Environmental design, Festival, Gardens by the Bay, Patrick Bellew, Singapore, Talks, World Architecture Festival

---

### [Fuji Kindergarten in Japan was designed with a healthy dose of danger](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/fuji-kindergarten-designed-healthy-dose-of-danger/)

**Published:** November 12, 2019
**Author:** Juanito Alipio Dela Rosa

**Excerpt:** Takaharu Tezuka, in his design for Fuji Kindergarten, exposes nursery school kids and families to the elements and just the right amount of risk 

**Content:**

Prescribing danger to a piece of architecture for children, getting away with it, and then winning a slew of awards is all in a day’s work for Japanese architect Takaharu Tezuka. He spoke at the National Architecture Symposium: Evolving Paradigms organized by the architecture students of the University of Santo Tomas last April 23, 2016. His presentation came as a surprise. “A small dosage of danger is always needed,” he says as he shows how his projects almost always rebel against the stringent regulations in his country.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-1 - BluPrint")Children like to run in circles, hence the shape of the building. Tezuka wants the children to have fond memories of their childhood. He doesn’t want to take the fun out of play. He believes that children who are deprived of their time to play in childhood experience a greater amount of anxiety and depression in adulthood.## **The world is a circle**

Tezuka’s Fuji Kindergarten in Tokyo, completed in 2007, takes an oval form with the roof designed as an activity space for children. With just guardrails surrounding the roof and nets covering the spaces where three trees pierce through, the students find themselves in a rather entertaining playground. It’s not the safest place for the children but they sure are enjoying and learning. Tezuka took things further by designing classrooms without walls at the ground level, allowing children to loiter and interact with their schoolmates. They’re free to leave their classes anytime and roam around the courtyard at the center or climb up the roof. Tezuka quips, “It’s circular. They’ll eventually come around.” Although this is not in line with regulations for school buildings, he talked to people, explained his progressive concept, and managed to get his design approved.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-2.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-2 - BluPrint")In 2007, the Fuji Kindergarten was given recognition in the Design Category by the Association for Children’s Environment. It also received the Kids Design Gold Prize from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Japan Institute of Architects Award in 2008.Tezuka hopes the building will help develop the nursery school children’s physical, emotional, and social skills, which he finds lacking in an enclosed and overprotective society. He believes humans are hardwired for the outdoors, can easily adapt to their environment, and should not be deprived of the opportunities to do so.

“Here, the children can climb up the trees. Naturally, they get good at it! My son is capable of diving quite deep in the sea, and he is still 10 years old. He can swim a few kilometers, no problem. The most important thing is we let children explore their surroundings,” he says.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-3.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-3 - BluPrint")For Tezuka, an ideal learning environment is not one where students sit in silence while their teachers talk. Noise is important for him, that’s why he opened up the classrooms to allow maximum student interaction. He believes children demonstrate a higher level of concentration when they are exposed to just the right amount of noise and activity.## **Ring Around a Tree**

Asked to create an annex for the Fuji Kindergarten that functions as a classroom and a waiting area, Tezuka got his own children to “test” and play inside the open-air structure built around a mature Zelkova tree. And play they did– they ran around, crawled through the nooks and compartments, and climbed the tree. They sustained minor bumps and bruises with all the horseplay, which prompted Tezuka to adjust some parts of the structure to make it safer for other children. If it is safe enough for his children, then it is safe enough for others.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-4.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-4 - BluPrint")Image courtesy of Tezuka Architects## **Up on the Roof**

The nursery school was not the first instance Tezuka challenged convention. The Roof House–which Tezuka claims is the most photographed and featured house in Japan–is perhaps the project that started it all, as he acceded to his clients’ peculiar love for hanging out on the roof, virtually making it their alfresco living space. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, the family house has a dining area, a kitchen, and even a shower on its roof. Each bedroom on the ground floor has its own access to the roof via ladder and skylight. He inclined the roof not only for rainwater discharge but also because inclines are more intuitive.

He points out that the best public squares like the Pompidou Center in Paris are inclined because people tend to stay at the sides and away from the middle of flat squares.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-5.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-5 - BluPrint")Image courtesy of Tezuka Architects## **People-Centric Design**

Tezuka’s architecture is difficult to imagine without people. All designs are done with specific people in mind. “The key is context–how people like the space and want to live in it,” he explains. Indeed, his Roof House would not make sense for a different client. His willingness to break convention (yet somehow always get approval) to delight the users of his buildings can be attributed to how much he values people. “It’s very important to talk to people. It’s called democracy,” says Tezuka. He shares his experience talking to politicians and organizations for disabled people whenever he can. He says “You can’t solve the problem by yourself. You need to find and talk to the right people.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-6.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-6 - BluPrint")Image courtesy of Tezuka ArchitectsWhereas most designers comply with building regulations without a second thought, Tezuka is more inclined to free people from excessive restrictions. “If you see something wrong with the regulations, it is important to fight it,” exclaims Tezuka. He has no illusions that his designs can “achieve a hundred percent satisfaction,” much less please everyone. For this reason, although he champions making buildings and public spaces completely barrier-free or accessible, boldly stating that universal design can be boring and alienating. “I was talking to a colleague in Bali who said he doesn’t want to make barrier-free cities anymore. For him, it’s nice to have stairs without ramps and lifts. In Bali, they carry and assist the elderly or disabled. These people–total strangers– watch out for and care for one another. In a barrier-free city, you don’t need to care for people around you. Each person goes his own way. Of course, you can’t ignore accessibility all the time, but I think it’s important to find balance,” says Tezuka. For him, seeing people help those with disabilities is a more potent way to advocate for the plight of those with special needs. “Architecture is what makes human beings human,” Tezuka claims with conviction.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-7.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-FujiKindergarten-7 - BluPrint")The Roof House was awarded the Japan Institute of Architects Prize and the Yoshioka Prize in 2002 and was commended by the Architectural Institute of Japan the following year. More importantly, according to Tezuka, the owners love their unique home. Images courtesy of Tezuka Architects.In the arena of architecture where performance and parametricism have gained solid footing, Tezuka goes beyond by sticking to the basics. As with most Japanese architects, Tezuka remains minimal not only with his aesthetic but also with the simple motivations that drive his design. This focus on purpose and program rather than form is a quality he shares with this mentor Richard Rogers. Takaharu Tezuka’s architecture reminds us that as humans and designers, we are free to question and break the rules when needed, learn from our errors, and discover other ways of doing small things. According to Tezuka, “small doses of danger are necessary because people need to fall sometimes so they will learn to get back up and learn to help one another.

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 4 2016. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

Photographed by Jonas Aarre Sommarset

**READ MORE:** [Ned Carlos designs the Don Bosco Bi-Centennial School Building](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/ned-carlos-bi-centennial-building/ "Ned Carlos designs the Don Bosco Bi-Centennial School Building")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the design concept behind Fuji Kindergarten in Tokyo?

Fuji Kindergarten in Tokyo, completed in 2007, was designed by Takaharu Tezuka as an oval-shaped building with a rooftop activity space, open classrooms without walls, and a central courtyard. The concept deliberately incorporates risk and freedom of movement to foster children’s physical, emotional, and social development through unstructured play.

### Why did Takaharu Tezuka design classrooms without walls at Fuji Kindergarten?

Tezuka removed classroom walls to maximize interaction, noise, and movement among children. He believes children concentrate better when exposed to a moderate level of activity and sound, rather than enforced silence. The open layout allows students to roam freely, encouraging curiosity and self-directed learning in a natural, stimulating environment.

### What awards did Fuji Kindergarten receive?

Fuji Kindergarten received the Design Category recognition from the Association for Children’s Environment in 2007, the Kids Design Gold Prize from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Japan Institute of Architects Award in 2008. The awards recognized its innovative approach to child-centered learning environments that prioritize play, freedom, and developmental well-being.

### What is Takaharu Tezuka’s design philosophy?

Takaharu Tezuka designs with specific people and contexts in mind, prioritizing human experience over regulatory compliance or formal aesthetics. He believes architecture should free people from excessive restrictions, encourage social interaction, and reintroduce manageable risk into daily life. For Tezuka, small doses of danger are essential because they teach resilience and mutual care.

### What is the Roof House by Tezuka Architects?

The Roof House is a family home in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, designed by Takaharu Tezuka with a fully functioning rooftop living space—including a dining area, kitchen, and shower. Each bedroom connects to the roof via a ladder and skylight. It won the Japan Institute of Architects Prize and the Yoshioka Prize in 2002 and is considered Japan’s most photographed private residence.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Japan, School, Takaharu Tezuka

---

### [A country at home: A look inside Francisco Mañosa's home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/francisco-manosa-home/)

**Published:** November 6, 2020
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** National Artist for Architecture Francisco 'Bobby' Mañosa's home is a serenade to the Philippines

**Content:**

179 Saranggani Street is a well-known house in Ayala Alabang. The guards are accustomed to journalists, government officials, celebrities, and tourists coming to see it. It is seven in the morning and the gate whirrs open a few seconds after we ring the doorbell. We are expected.

We walk in with our gear and my photographer’s eyes widen with appreciation as she takes in the long porte cochère of etched glass sheltering the double-paneled front doors. I go up the flight of steps towards the doors and notice immediately their rich detail, their surface studded with one-inch pyramids of wood, smooth to touch and darkened with age. Francisco Mañosa would later explain to me that he had 4000 pieces of coconut shell cut in triangles and these were glued into place by the household help—his way of making them feel invested in the house when it was being constructed in 1981.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-14.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-14 - BluPrint")Clerestory windows peek from between the two roofs, the house is raised on stone pillars, providing additional entertainment space belowStepping into the foyer, I felt an immediate sense of recognition—of shapes, patterns, textures, and even light-values I had seen before. Yes, this place is Mañosa, I felt. Not that I had been to other houses that he had built or the Floirendo’s famed Pearl Farm, much less the legendary Aman Pulo resort. The only place of Francisco Mañosa’s that I had visited, like hundreds of school children before and thousands after me, was the iconic Coconut Palace.

The house does not have the grand scale of the Coconut Palace, but the sumptuousness of its interiors. A mural mosaic in Philippine jade, black stone, and mother-of-pearl shimmers in the foyer, depicting broad leaves of the *anahaw* fanning in the foreground and partially obscuring a fat, full moon sitting low on the horizon. The ceiling is high and its exposed rafters form a series of triangles. The *anahaw* motif in the mural is picked up in the carved wooden panel along the ceiling delineating the foyer from the formal living room. It is hard to know where to begin—Francisco Mañosa’s home is almost Baroque in sensibility with obvious love for embellishment, especially in details such as cornices, moldings, and inlays. Inlays of coconut shell, or of black pen alternating with mother-of-pearl, are a recurring touch of opulence on stair banisters, railings, and walls, where they are laid in thin horizontal bands running across from end to end.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-12.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-12 - BluPrint")Glass porte cochère leading to the main entrance![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-13.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-13 - BluPrint")The pitched roof shields the L-shaped *balconaje* from glare; note the exposed rafters and ceiling made of bamboo weaving; in the foreground is a round breakfast table made from coconut lumber and shellBut I am getting ahead of myself. The house is composed of two structures, a large square, and a smaller hexagon, interconnected by the foyer. A discreet, almost hidden door leads to the smaller structure, the hexagon, which houses the family’s private spaces—bedrooms, library, and a playroom. The large square houses the family’s public spaces—the living, dining, and kitchen areas. It is the part of the house that Francisco Mañosa loves to call his *bahay kubo* that combines elements from the *bahay-na-bato*. It has the steep pitched double roof of the humble Filipino hut and is on stone pillars, lifted off the ground for coolness. The space underneath the main floor is the *zaguán*, similar to the *silong* of the *bahay-na-bato*.

From the foyer, one can take five steps down to the zaguán or five steps up to the living room. Mrs. Mañosa decides for us by asking us to take breakfast upstairs with them on the veranda.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-15.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-15 - BluPrint")The foyer with its exposed ceiling rafters and walls inlaid with thin strips of black pen and mother-of-pearl; the steps on the left lead down to the *zaguán*![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-9.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-9 - BluPrint")The high ceiling and clerestory windows with vents draw hot air up and out of the living roomWe take the steps up to the central living area. It is a large square space that feels contemporary—large white lamps, a large white sofa, and chairs arranged around a large glass coffee table that sits squarely in the center of the room. Right above it hangs a large chandelier, which draws our eyes upward to the exposed apex of the double roof, where the four main structural members meet. Hot air rises and escapes through narrow vents around the wrap-around capiz clerestory windows. The capiz is cut and framed into the familiar shapes of banana and *anahaw* leaves; tints of color on the capiz add a touch of whimsy. The living space is anchored by a black baby grand piano, and the solidity and substance of the piano are echoed in turn by a rich, dark tapestry on the wall across.

**READ MORE: [Gelo Mañosa Revives the 1960s Corner House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/manosa-revives-corner-house/ "Gelo Mañosa Revives the 1960s Corner House")**

What makes this large square space remarkable is what it doesn’t have—two adjacent walls. Large sliding panels have been retracted and the generous opening leads to a wide, L-shaped *balconaje* or veranda, which begins with a TV room on one end and culminates in the other with a bar whose ceiling and bar stools gleam golden with coconut shell laminates. In between, all around the L, several conversation areas are comfortably arranged, leading one to notice another remarkable absence—that of a formal dining area. Tables arranged in small groupings can be pulled together and cleverly interlocked to make a long, formal dinner table for 16, or into a large square seating 12. One could also sit anywhere along the long, wide wooden planks that serve as railing encircling the *balconaje*.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-10.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-10 - BluPrint")Mañosa’s well-stocked bar at one end of the L![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-11.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-11 - BluPrint")The living room sans one set of adjacent wallsMrs. Mañosa—Denise—sits us down at a round table made of coconut, near the TV room. A jolly voice greets everyone good morning—it is Mr. Mañosa come to join us. He immediately memorizes our names and proceeds to regale us with stories about the house, of historical figures, his passion for vernacular building traditions, and indigenous materials. “*Gawang Pinoy, ipagmalaki natin*!” is his lifelong cheer, for that is what he is—an indefatigable champion and cheerleader of designing Filipino. As he talks, we take in more of the *balconaje*—it is the heart of the home, really, and everyone’s favorite place to be. It affords unobstructed views of the garden below, which is modest in size but feels endless because it connects directly with the greens of a neighboring golf course.

It is in the *balconaje* that the house’s massive pitched roof with its wide, overhanging eaves can be best enjoyed, and its provenance from the unassuming *bahay kubo*, best appreciated. The roof’s pitch makes the space light and airy, and it extends low enough to be aligned with the horizon, perfectly eliminating glare, no matter the time of day. The roof extension rests on diagonal struts that bring to mind the window props or *tukod* of the *bahay kubo*. So generous is the roof extension that it keeps the *balconjaje* dry even in stormy weather; it is only when a typhoon hits the house directly that the furniture pieces are pushed toward the center of the living area.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-5.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-5 - BluPrint")View of the master bedroom from one end of the pond; The headboard, a glass etching by Ramon Orlina, doubles as a divider![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-6.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-6 - BluPrint")Another well-stocked pond just outside the guest room by the *zaguán*After breakfast, Francisco Mañosa himself takes us around the house. As we shoot downstairs in the *zaguán*, he plies us with more information about Philippine materials and the technologies that can make these readily available materials more “suitable” for construction. He can hardly wait to take us to the other side of the house; he knows we are here to take photos of the master bedroom and the fishpond right outside it. “I am an Aquarian,” he declares. “I love water, I love to have it everywhere.”

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [Succeeding Success: Bobby and Gelo Mañosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/succeeding-success-bobby-gelo-manosa/ "Succeeding Success: Bobby and Gelo Mañosa")**

We cross the foyer into their private space—the hexagon—where all the bedrooms, including the help’s, are. Since all the Mañosa children are grown up and have moved out of the house, their bedrooms have not been lived in. But the playroom where they once romped, accessed by a secret door hidden behind rows of shelves in the library, is very much in use by the Mañosa grandchildren. The playroom is a magical place, with a colorful jeepney for children to trundle in and go on fantastic trips, rope ladders and a fireman’s pole, and lots of miniature furniture and toys that Mañosa himself designed.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-1.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-1 - BluPrint")The brass handles of the main entrance doors are shaped like an M for Mañosa and S for Singh (Denise’s maiden name)![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-2.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-2 - BluPrint")Coconut mesh instead of wallpaper cover the powder room’s walls; a small brass plaque on the door identifies it as “The Pipi Room”We descend to the master bedroom and are not disappointed. A dramatic glass etching by Ramon Orlina serves as divider and headboard for the king-size bed that dominates the room. The bed is placed at an angle so that it directly faces the corner of the room that opens out to the pond—only, as in the living room, the adjacent walls that should make up the corner are open, so that the floor of the bedroom seems to jut out into the water. The pond is stocked with fish (*tilapia* or *pla-pla*, depending on the time of year), which Francisco Mañosa eagerly informs us he catches with rod and reel with his grandkids on weekends. Another pond, near the *zaguán*, is stocked with catfish and is where a dear family friend comes every so often to contemplate and catch dinner.

We are delighted with the stepping-stones that allow us to cross the pond to the other side and explore the landscape. It is all very Filipino and very provincial—no expensive ornamentals here. At the foot of MacArthur palms are *kangkong*, cassava, and squash. Side by side with *selloum*, *diffenbachia,* and red caladium are the native citrus *calamansi* and the potent chili pepper, siling *labuyo*. The sound of flowing water is refreshing and the lazy, fat fish make occasional ripples when they surface. The sunlight dances merrily on the water and casts mercurial reflections of light on the bedroom’s ceiling and eaves.

![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-3.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-3 - BluPrint")The *zaguán* decorated with muslim brass gongs; a door made of bamboo leads to a guest room; note exposed floor joists supporting the living room and *balconaje* above![BluPrint Architecture Francisco Mañosa House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Architecture-Francisco-Bobby-Mañosa-House-4.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Francisco Bobby Mañosa House-4 - BluPrint")The catfish pond by nightThe fishpond reflects Francisco Mañosa’s philosophy that “a Filipino landscape is an edible one.” He proceeds to tell us about the other different edible plants in his garden: fruit trees *balimbing*, avocado, *santol*, *macopa*, papaya, guava, and *rimas*. Along the fence separating his lot from the golf course is a border of *deliciosa* pineapple. Trellises of patola and ampalaya provide steady produce, with peanuts, tomatoes, and garlic thriving underneath. His children grew up appreciating the mysteries of the dark earth and the magic of sun and water, of seeds and sprouts, and life and death, of growth and rest and seasons. His grandchildren are beginning to learn these lessons too.

The house and landscape make perfect sense. It feels right and harmonious. “When you see my home, you see my country,” Mañosa says. It is a most beautiful country indeed, and one that we wish we could see in more homes.![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This first appeared in BluPrint Volume 4 2009. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

**READ MORE: [Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 1)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-1/ "Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 1)")**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is Francisco Mañosa’s personal home located?

Francisco Mañosa’s home is located at 179 Saranggani Street, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. Built in 1981, it is one of the most visited private residences in the Philippines, regularly welcoming journalists, government officials, and design enthusiasts who come to experience his Filipino neo-vernacular architecture firsthand.

### What indigenous materials were used in Francisco Mañosa’s home?

Mañosa’s home uses Philippine jade, black stone, mother-of-pearl, capiz shells, coconut shell laminates, woven bamboo rafters, and coconut lumber throughout. The front doors alone feature 4,000 hand-cut coconut shell triangles, glued in place by the household staff during construction—a deliberate act of communal investment in the home’s creation.

### How does the design of Mañosa’s house reflect the bahay kubo?

Mañosa’s home directly translates the bahay kubo into a modern family residence. It features a steep double-pitched roof, stone pillars lifting the structure off the ground, diagonal tukod-like struts, wide overhanging eaves for shade and rain protection, and natural cross-ventilation through capiz clerestory windows—all hallmarks of traditional Filipino vernacular architecture.

### What is the layout of Francisco Mañosa’s home in Ayala Alabang?

The home consists of two interconnected structures: a large square housing the public areas—living room, dining, kitchen, and a wrap-around balconaje—and a smaller hexagon containing the private family spaces including bedrooms, a library, and a children’s playroom. The foyer links the two, with steps leading up to the living areas or down to the zaguán below.

### What is the significance of the garden at Francisco Mañosa’s home?

The garden embodies Mañosa’s philosophy that “a Filipino landscape is an edible one.” It is planted with fruit trees like santol, avocado, and papaya, alongside vegetables such as kangkong, ampalaya, patola, and siling labuyo. The landscape directly connects to a neighboring golf course, making the modest garden feel expansive while celebrating productive, native Filipino horticulture.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Bahay Kubo, Bahay na bato, Bobby Mañosa, Francisco Mañosa, Philippines

---

### [Studio Workshop's Brise Soleil House is enrobed in an undulating timber screen](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/brise-soleil-house-studio-workshop/)

**Published:** February 12, 2019
**Author:** Arielle Abrigo

**Content:**

![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-8.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-8 - BluPrint")Overseeing a former cargo terminal, the 173-square-meter house is a cast-in-situ concrete building partially clad in an undulating wave-like timber wrapper which provides shading, privacy, and ventilation to the master suite.In a particular setting, there are features that resonate with the visitor, or a passerby engaged in a quiet saunter. Size, beauty, light, and color, are elements that capture intrigue. However, the Brise Soleil house poised on a hillside in Papua New Guinea does more than attract whoever is within its reach—it turns glances into a sustained conversation, and simply invites one to dwell.

Designed and built by Gold Coast-based practice [Studio Workshop](https://www.studioworkshop.com.au), the compact two-bedroom house completed in 2017 is fashioned with concrete and dressed with a timber wrapper that provides shading, privacy and ventilation to the master suite. The elaborately made screen grounds beauty in practicality, an evident mark of thoughtful intelligence, which is driven by craftsmanship and strong material understanding.

![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-2.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-2 - BluPrint")View of living, dining and kitchen space from master bedroom.The Brise Soleil House is occupied by an Australian emigrant who has lived in the region for 30 years, and it is the first of three structures to be constructed on the site, which was unearthed by hand with the support of jackhammers and picks. The two-storey house that faces west is accessed through a overlaid garden entrance on the ground floor. Intended for entertaining, it holds a game room that opens to the swimming pool, and a bedroom and bathroom. Its open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area are placed upstairs. Bordering these are the master bedroom, ensuite, and home office. Materials, massing, and the request to augment views, comprehensively affected the overall shape of the house.

![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-3.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-3 - BluPrint")The wrapper and doors are constructed from 50×50 millimeter rough-sawn acetylated pine timber, which is glued and doweled at digitally-executed complex half-lap joints. All these have an area of over 80 square meters with over 2200 pieces in total, and have over 700 unique pieces with CNC milled half-lap joints.![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-4.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-4 - BluPrint")The Brise Soleil House’s main material is poured concrete, which was utilized to form treads leading to the second floor.

A lot of the architecture in the region was built using timber that is not appropriately tested, thus, leading to decay. On account of this, Studio Workshop has utilized concrete for durability and an off-form visual, combining it with timber to offset the firmness. The house’s undulating timber explores pliability, and is hinged on attaining efficacy in materials. It was made with Accoya, a pine that is treated to cut and prevent moisture for greater longevity, and was tinted to equal with the Kwila—a type of hardwood that helps timber from cracking or splitting—throughout the house. All milling, joining, finishing, and assembly into panels took place at the designer’s workshop, and was later on shipped to Papua New Guinea for the installation.

![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-5.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-5 - BluPrint")Though each panel is unique, the installation method is identical, which took approximately two days for a crew of three laborers working exclusively by hand on scaffolding. The eight-door panels were similarly installed in one day.![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-6.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-6 - BluPrint")The balcony breaks the hard geometry of the house and offers a faster means of ventilation when the shutters and screens are closed. The angled window fins break the planarity of the walls and help to obstruct views into the house.The entire assemblage has been organized into a system of seamless panels and doors that performs not only to aid in transportation and erection, but also to minimize the need for excessively involved on-site labor. The screen around the master bedroom and the bathroom is a mix of shorter and longer timbers that configures the height of the screen, yielding the three-dimensional manipulation. Studio Workshop also assembled the pivoting shutter doors, which take the same silhouette but without the wave-like impression, as well as the ingrained seating, internal joinery, and other timber apparatus.

From a design viewpoint, the wrapper praises local traditions of timber craftsmanship seen in the lowland stilt houses and intricately engraved canoes in the area. It employs a system of complex joints and a high degree of surface articulation, performing several purposes, namely: reducing the afternoon heat, letting light in as to cast a visual effect, and allowing sufficient ventilation. The timber screens present an idiosyncratic trait amongst the vernacular housing and typical apartment blocks seen in Port Moresby. These are also treated as a vigorous response to the conventional *brise soleil*. Furthermore, the design of the wrapper involves a broader discussion of screens and veils in equatorial architecture found in the canon of Modern and 20th century works of Ossipoff, Ferrie, Rudolf, and others.

![studio workshop](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bluprint-studio-workshop-7.jpg "bluprint-studio-workshop-7 - BluPrint")The wrapper flattens as it resumes around the building to become a full-height operable screen for the upper level gallery to control the western sun. And just before dusk, one is graced with views to the Coral Sea beyond.The previous concept had openings cut into the screen for windows, but Studio Workshop eventually decided against it once on site. [Balance Enviro Solutions,](https://www.balanceenviro.com.au) on the other hand, was behind the landscaping of the Brise Soleil House, which incorporates a green roof earnestly filled with highly resilient plants. Studio Workshop shipped the soil, drainage cell, and low-bitumen paint from Australia, and culled the plants from local roadside sellers. With its sonorous framework, Studio Workhop’s Brise Soleil House is clearly a product of its place, regardless of being so distinct from the vernacular architecture of the region, and it presently stands to demonstrate progressive design that has the faculty to incite and challenge other architectural topographies. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [WHBC Architects builds a big, broad brise soleil that safeguards a home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/whbc-architects-tropical-home/ "WHBC Architects builds a big, broad brise soleil that safeguards a home")**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is the Brise Soleil House located?

The Brise Soleil House is located on a hillside in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, overlooking a former cargo terminal. Positioned facing west, the structure was specifically engineered to mitigate the intense afternoon heat and climate conditions typical of equatorial environments.

### What materials were used to construct the Brise Soleil House?

The Brise Soleil House is constructed primarily from a poured-in-place concrete framework combined with a high-performance acetylated pine timber screen. Poured concrete ensures long-term structural durability against regional decay, while the treated Accoya timber provides visual warmth, pliability, and moisture resistance.

### How does the timber wrapper function on the building facade?

The timber wrapper functions as an advanced passive shading, privacy, and ventilation system for the upper-level master suite. Composed of over 2,200 unique CNC-milled pieces assembled into seamless panels, the screen blocks direct western sunlight while allowing cooling coastal breezes to pass through.

### How does the building design honor local traditions?

The building design honors local traditions by referencing the historical timber craftsmanship found in regional lowland stilt houses and engraved canoes. Studio Workshop modernized this vernacular typography by employing a complex system of digitally executed half-lap joints and a highly articulated exterior surface.

### Does the Brise Soleil House include sustainable landscaping?

The Brise Soleil House includes sustainable landscaping featuring an integrated green roof engineered by Balance Enviro Solutions. The system utilizes highly resilient, locally sourced plants set into specialised drainage cells and imported soil media to maximize thermal insulation and minimize tropical stormwater runoff.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Balance Enviro Solutions, Concrete, Design, Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Studio Workshop, Timber, Traditional, Vernacular

---

### [How Architect Ned Carlos envisions the future with a nostalgia that is responsive to the design approach his firm supports](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/how-architect-ned-carlos-envisions-the-future-with-a-nostalgia-that-is-responsive-to-the-design-approach-his-firm-supports/)

**Published:** October 18, 2021
**Author:** Arielle Abrigo

**Content:**

Ned Carlos is a modernist who has verified over and over again that simple and practical are not adverse. His aptitude to invoke commercial and institutional architecture without excess has made him the architect of choice for local corporations and schools, including St. Paul University, Don Bosco, and RUSI main, for whom he fashions buildings so alluring in their details, so corporeal, and so spatially captivating.

Architect Ned Carlos is an alumnus of the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, the Philippines and received valuable involvement in several of Cebu City’s top firms before débuting his own studio. He started out with Espina, Perez-Espina Architects and Guanzon Architecture & Design, two of the biggest firms in Cebu responsible for Cebuano landmarks. He then worked for Brittany Estates Corporation, a developer of themed subdivisions where he collaborated with some prominent names in the country’s design industry including Danny Silvestre, Sonia Olivares, and Benny Velasco.

**BP: What made you establish the office?**

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis was an opportunity to start the practice. While big construction came to a halt, the furniture exporters in Cebu were thriving primarily because their market was in Europe and America. The exporters were looking for young upstarts to design their houses and condominium interiors and we jumped in to ride with the tide.

**BP: Can you expound on the architectural practice or design approach of CARLOS & ANTIQUE ARCHITECTS, the tone embraced in the works of the firm?**

Our approach in design has always been progressive. We always wish to be forever young and forever bold, to try things that are new, exciting and daring. Every year, we forcefully absorb the spirit of innovation. In 2021, our tone is that we are rebellious, experimental, customized, personal, young, creative, and Filipino … in that order.

**BP: What were the challenges encountered during the construction process of the Bi-Centennial School Building, St. John Bosco Chapel, and the RUSI Building in Dumaguete City?**

St. John Bosco Chapel’s foundation was difficult because the site was swampy and water was already present after 1 foot of excavation. Each excavation always collapsed after only a few hours so we had to pour concrete immediately after excavation. Also, we had to add tie beams connecting all columns to brace the entire structure and prevent it from tilting.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FD2EF09E-9222-4EC8-A4C5-B1EA1ADA8004.jpeg "FD2EF09E-9222-4EC8-A4C5-B1EA1ADA8004 - BluPrint")A large overhang with louvers ensure classrooms are cooler, while the berms elevate the entire building from flood, and provide opportunities for landscaping.For the Bi-Centennial School Building, replacing sand with lime for the plaster mixture was a challenge because the mixture ratio had to be the same all throughout; otherwise, the natural color of the plaster finish would be at variance once exposed to the sun.

With the RUSI Building, workers were unaccustomed to the polished concrete floor finish. Our specification was to smoothen the floor immediately after pouring because the building was to be 80% without tiles.

**BP: How do you find balance between aesthetic appeal and function?**

Frank Lloyd Wright said it best when he said that “form and function are one”. We always follow that principle.

**BP: How important is sustainable architecture and design today, especially taking into account the status of the Philippines, which is frequently affected by natural disasters, namely earthquakes and typhoons?**

Today, sustainability is as important as the air we breathe. But sustainability should go beyond architecture and should contain all areas of engineering, town planning, city planning, urban planning, and even transportation. We see sustainability systems working very well in Singapore. Why can’t the Philippines do the same?

**BP: What for you is the biggest weakness or area one can improve on in the green building sector.**

Green building is still vague for many. Propaganda for green building has had no impact on many Filipinos. It’s time to play the lion instead of the fox: to force it upon the citizens to build green. Singapore is successful at playing the lion and the fox altogether.

**BP: How can architecture and design tackle the many issues currently facing the world?**

Because health is one of the biggest factors determining the economy and business, one of the most direct ways but seldom addressed in solving the current pandemic is to retain what psychologists call “personal space” of each individual. And there is no better way but to create an environment that retains that space. An environment with high-risk contagion creates wildfire in infection. Informal settlements like slum areas can only increase contagion. But architecture like a good housing plan can reverse that effect. Or well-designed educational spaces that reduce or even deter an epidemic. Environment is everything!

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/11-10.jpg "11 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/ned-carlos-bi-centennial-building/) Architect Ned Carlos proposes to turn all roads into parks.**BP: For CARLOS & ANTIQUE ARCHITECTS, what is considered great design?**

We are awed and inspired by the ruins in Greece and Rome or overwhelmed with mystery at the sight of the pyramids in Egypt, and moved with admiration of the sculptural space that is the Guggenheim Museum. For us, timelessness is something that we would reason greatly about!

In spite of the on-going coronavirus pandemic and the present state of work-from-home life, Dumaguete architect Ned Carlos displays no sign of deceleration. Case in point is his relentless proposal to make Dumaguete City into a walkable, functional, and healthy city for several years. Amid these is the LUNGS Urban Plan which highlights employing trees as infrastructure.

Presently, Architect Ned Carlos and his firm are teaming up with The Bank of the Philippine Islands-Bayanihan para sa Inang Bayan advocacy project to construct dry toilets in Apo Island, off the coast of the town in the southern part of Dauin in Negros Oriental. A project that applies bamboo inclusive and concrete as its groundwork, it was planned with an X-brace to bear typhoons and earthquakes. With bamboo walls, the structure exploits natural ventilation and has a solar panel for night illumination. As a justifiable project, it can be a prototype for community-based coastal resources management.

These days, he unswervingly works as a devotee for green building and is enthused by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, Malaysian architect [Ken Yeang](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/dr-ken-yeang-on-his-ecological-advocacy/), and Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, three connoisseurs who are, at this time of the pandemic, shifting the style to designing buildings and spaces through their credence in ecology and sustainability.

Says the architect, “it’s time we regard trees not as a luxury in design nor as an afterthought, but as an infrastructure.”

“Also, we really need to be thinking about rural settlements at this time of the pandemic,” continues the architect. “How can we make living in townships nourishing again? We are going to need farmers. Industrial farming depends too much on fossil fuels; that is not sustainable.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/10-14.jpg "10 - BluPrint")Roof deck pocket forests will be mainstay to replace lost greeneries on the ground where a building will sprout.

He also said car parks could be outdated and went on a conjecture that farming could make a reappearance to cities as one of numerous ways that urban areas could become greener.

“We should all be discerning about urban agriculture,” adds the architect “about vertical food production, looking at food that can be grown vertically on the walls of structures, on the roofs of buildings.”

Glass skyscrapers and enclosed malls are outmoded as well. “We should learn how to live and work without air-conditioning,” argues the architect. “Buildings subsidize more to the demise of planet Earth than planes and cars combined apart from dispersing the feared virus within enclosed walls.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/5-17.jpg "5 - BluPrint")The dry toilet is an all-bamboo contraption, with a concrete base and can be pre-fabricated in the mainland of Negros Oriental and shipped to the nearby Apo Island.

Parks of the future may include reforesting roads and closing these in favor of al fresco restaurants; highways will be lined with a new-found infrastructure: trees.

“We now have scientific evidence to demonstrate that access to greeneries is not only virtuous for your health, but they empower you to accomplish better,” he said.

“We now have scientific evidence to demonstrate that access to greeneries is not only virtuous for your health, but they empower you to accomplish better,” he said.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is architect Ned Carlos and what is he known for?

Ned Carlos is a Dumaguete-based modernist architect and founder of Carlos & Antique Architects. He is known for designing institutional and commercial buildings for clients like St. Paul University and Don Bosco, and for his advocacy of green urbanism, walkable cities, and using trees as civic infrastructure in the Philippines.

### What is the design philosophy of Carlos & Antique Architects?

Carlos & Antique Architects follow a progressive, experimental approach that is rebellious, customized, and deeply Filipino. Guided by Frank Lloyd Wright’s principle that form and function are one, the firm pursues innovation annually while drawing inspiration from ecology-focused architects like Kengo Kuma, Ken Yeang, and Vo Trong Nghia.

### What is the LUNGS Urban Plan proposed by Ned Carlos?

The LUNGS Urban Plan is Ned Carlos’s proposal to transform Dumaguete City into a walkable, healthy, and functional urban environment by treating trees as infrastructure rather than ornamentation. The plan envisions reforested roads, rooftop pocket forests, and urban agriculture as tools for greening Philippine cities sustainably.

### How does Ned Carlos approach green building in the Philippines?

Ned Carlos argues that green building remains poorly understood by many Filipinos and that stronger mandates — similar to Singapore’s approach — are needed to accelerate adoption. He advocates for buildings without air conditioning, vertical food production on facades and rooftops, and bamboo-inclusive construction as viable sustainable alternatives.

### What community project is Carlos & Antique Architects currently working on?

The firm is collaborating with BPI’s Bayanihan para sa Inang Bayan advocacy to build dry toilets on Apo Island, Negros Oriental. The all-bamboo structure with a concrete base features an X-brace for typhoon and earthquake resistance, natural ventilation through bamboo walls, and solar panels — designed as a replicable prototype for coastal community use.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Industrial, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, DESIGNPH, Philippines

---

### [Bihing Tahik Resort: A Toast to Local Culture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/bihing-tahik-resort-a-toast-to-local-culture/)

**Published:** September 27, 2021
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

Of late, the number of new structures that combine the sensibilities of art with the precision of construction are increasing rapidly. As nations continue to battle the uncertainties of the future as presented by the mayhem caused by Covid-19, art offers a resting harbor for tired spirits. The importance of architecture in our daily lives has never been more definite, as shown by the design of Bihing Tahik resort.

Deo Alrashid Alam certainly knows the importance of art and culture, especially in these trying times. As the founder of design firm DADA, he envisions the cities of tomorrow to be built upon the enriching ideas of art. “DADA is a company that aims to cultivate the future of architecture as a form of art,” he says. “We conceptualize and develop sustainable, practical, economical, and adaptable architecture designs,” he continues.

![Bihing Tahik](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2-37.jpg "2 - BluPrint")As a native of Mindanao, Alam possesses an understanding of the region’s culture and other trademarks, which can be seen in the design approaches of DADA for Bihing Tahik and other developments in the region.

For Bihing Tahik, a resort located in the coastal municipality of Bongao, the capital of[ Tawi-Tawi](https://minda.gov.ph/news/406-minda-to-promote-treasures-beauty-of-tawi-tawi-province?appgw_azwaf_jsc=e3woHBgszNDFvBbACRBmvfy5pAM35_ea3joBXqN4Yi0), cultural identity is central to the overall theme. As the area is inhabited by the Sama Badjaus or the Sea Gypsies of the [Sulu](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/filipino-textiles/ "Sulu") and Celebes Seas, these people are regarded as expert fishermen, deep-sea divers, and navigators. Built into the fabric of their belief is the role of the sea in the concept of life. Meaning “By The Sea,” Alam found his fitting inspiration in the elements of the open waters—the giant clams which are regarded as the “jade of the sea.” “Following the smooth curves of the hardy clam’s shell, the design for Bihing Tahik is a representation of its exterior strength and the equal marvel that is situated inside,” says Alam. “There is also a belief that clams possess the power to heal so it’s like infusing the design with healing properties,” he adds.

![Bihing Tahik](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/3-36.jpg "3 - BluPrint")Out of the 12 species of giant clams found in the coral triangle, eight can be found in the Philippines. As the existence of these sea creatures is continuously being threatened as evidenced by its sharp decline over the years, Bihing Tahik also aims to put to fore an awareness towards its protection and conservation. Through intensive research, the team can come up with this composition that is perfect for the region’s tropical climate.

 ***To learn more about the design and construction of Bihing Tahik, [click on the link](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/) to BluPrint’s latest e-mag issue.***

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is the Bihing Tahik resort located?

Bihing Tahik resort is located in the coastal municipality of Bongao, which serves as the capital of Tawi-Tawi in the Philippines. The geographic location heavily influences the property’s design, grounding it in the maritime environment of the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

### Who is the architect behind Bihing Tahik resort?

Architect Deo Alrashid Alam, the founder of the design firm DADA, is the creative mind behind Bihing Tahik resort. As a Mindanao native, Alam utilizes his cultural background to develop sustainable, practical, and adaptable architecture that honors regional identities.

### What does the name Bihing Tahik mean?

The name Bihing Tahik translates directly to “By The Sea” in the local dialect. This name reflects the lifestyle of the indigenous Sama Badjau people, or Sea Gypsies, who reside in the area and consider the ocean essential to their concept of life.

### How does the architecture of Bihing Tahik reflect local culture?

The architecture of Bihing Tahik reflects local culture by mimicking the natural, smooth curves of the giant clam shell. This indigenous marine creature represents exterior strength and internal marvel, mirroring the traditional healing beliefs and maritime navigation heritage of the Sama Badjau people.

### What environmental message does Bihing Tahik resort promote?

Bihing Tahik resort promotes the protection and conservation of endangered giant clams native to the Coral Triangle. By integrating the clam’s biology into its tropical climate engineering, the design actively raises awareness about the sharp decline of these critical marine species.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Sustainability, Vernacular Architecture

---

### [Heart Evangelista Opens a Magical Balinese-Inspired Resort in Boracay](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/heart-evangelista-opens-a-magical-balinese-inspired-resort-in-boracay/)

**Published:** August 25, 2021
**Author:** Micah Mongcal

**Content:**

Harlan Beach Villa Boracay offers everything you would expect from its luxuriously elegant owner. Actress, visual artist, and style icon Heart Evangelista recently launched her resort, showcasing beautiful architecture, lavish amenities, and dazzling views.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/10-23.jpg "10 - BluPrint")Overlooking the powdery-white sand and turquoise water, the resort is definitive laid-back luxury.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-25.jpg "8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/5-35.jpg "5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/6-33.jpg "6 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/7-29.jpg "7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/13-14.jpg "13 - BluPrint")

With most of us still confined to our homes, the idea of a [post-pandemic holiday trip](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/5-hotels-resorts-to-visit-post-pandemic/ "post-pandemic holiday trip") seems like a fantasy. But with the procedures and infrastructure in place to handle the situation, Harlan Beach Villa can accommodate groups of up to 10 in its spacious, secure villas. With just four rooms in two casitas, the vibe is intimate and cozy.

Harlan Beach Villa Boracay is located at the end of Station 1, White Beach, which has the finest powdery white sand on the island, where you can also find The Lind and other high end resorts. While the location is set in a very quiet and peaceful area of Station 1, the whole property can be rented exclusively in the luxury of your own private space. Convenient access to the beach is one of the resort’s main draws, and guests can enjoy unobstructed ocean views, and walk onto Boracay’s pristine white sand just a few steps from their door.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/15-8.jpg "15 - BluPrint")The master bathroom’s tub is the perfect spot to unwind and admire the view. 

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/17-4.jpg "17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/16-4.jpg "16 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/14-9.jpg "14 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/12-18.jpg "12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/3-37.jpg "3 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/11-18.jpg "11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/4-36.jpg "4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2-37.jpg "2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1-36.jpg "1 - BluPrint")

Heart Evangelista’s 1,073 square meter Balinese-inspired property is a unique and magical balance of lush colors, raw materials and high-quality craftsmanship. Each of the four rooms has a king-sized bed, with a separate bath and toilet. The master room has a bathtub overlooking the beach. It has a spacious shared living and dining room and an infinity pool overlooking the white beach. The resort offers plated breakfast, private airport door-to-door transfer and private chef to their guests.

## AMENITIES / FACILITIES 

Infinity Pool

Hot and Cold Shower

Linens and Towels

Hairdryer and toiletries

Common Kitchen

Air Conditioning

WiFi access in all areas

Flat-screen TV

Private Terrace

BBQ Facilities

Karaoke

Water Sports activities (can be arrange on site)

Room sizes:

Casita 1 – 67 sqm

Casita 2 – 46 sqm

Master 1 – 67 sqm

Master 2 – 41 sqm

Living Room – 106 sqm

Dining Area and Kitchen – 42 sqm

*For updates, follow Harlan Beach Villa on Instagram: [@harlanboracay](https://www.instagram.com/harlanboracay/?hl=en)*

 *Book a stay at , or contact their mobile number for inquiries: 0996 821 8888*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Harlan Beach Villa Boracay?

Harlan Beach Villa Boracay is a Balinese-inspired boutique resort owned by Filipino actress and style icon Heart Evangelista. Located at the end of Station 1 on White Beach, the 1,073-square-meter property features four rooms across two private casitas, an infinity pool, and direct beachfront access.

### Where exactly is Harlan Beach Villa located in Boracay?

Harlan Beach Villa is situated at the quieter end of Station 1, White Beach — widely considered the stretch with the finest powdery white sand on the island. It neighbors upscale resorts like The Lind and offers guests unobstructed ocean views with direct beach access just steps from their villa door.

### How many guests can Harlan Beach Villa Boracay accommodate?

Harlan Beach Villa can accommodate groups of up to 10 guests across its four rooms and two casitas. The entire property is available for exclusive rental, making it ideal for intimate group getaways, family vacations, or private celebrations that require a secure, self-contained luxury beach setting.

### What makes Harlan Beach Villa different from other Boracay resorts?

Harlan Beach Villa stands out through its Balinese-inspired architecture, intimate four-room layout, and the personal design vision of owner Heart Evangelista. The combination of lush tropical aesthetics, raw natural materials, high-quality craftsmanship, and a prime Station 1 beachfront location creates a rare boutique luxury experience in Boracay.

### What amenities does Harlan Beach Villa Boracay offer?

The resort offers an infinity pool overlooking White Beach, air conditioning, WiFi, flat-screen TVs, private terraces, BBQ facilities, karaoke, and water sports arrangements. Guests also enjoy plated breakfast, a private chef, and door-to-door airport transfers, making it a fully serviced private villa experience.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

---

### [Design Better Extended: Terminal gardens in Hubilla Design Group's Ayala MRT station](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/hdg-ayala-mrt-station/)

**Published:** January 15, 2018
**Author:** Carlos Hubilla

**Excerpt:** This Design Better proposal decongests the Ayala MRT station to give commuters breathing room in between travels

**Content:**

The MRT-3 stations along EDSA are vital connections in Metro Manila’s daily commute. The [Ayala MRT Station](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/hdg-ayala-mrt-station/) is a transport node for commuter transfers between rail, bus, and taxi services for the business districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City. Over a million commuters use this station every month. Throw in the train breakdowns and queuing from the roadside to platform for over an hour, the daily commute alone makes every workday challenging, harrying, and exhausting.

![The Ayala MRT station is atop the EDSA northbound lane, train tracks, and southbound lane. The available clear sidewalk width for pedestrians are bound by the welded wire fences, some landscaping, and steel construction board-ups.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation12.jpg "HDGstation12 - BluPrint")The Ayala MRT station is atop the EDSA northbound lane, train tracks, and southbound lane. The available clear sidewalk width for pedestrians are bound by the welded wire fences, some landscaping, and steel construction board-ups.

The lack of spacious passenger areas for transfers to and from buses and vans along EDSA is a major concern. Northbound along EDSA, passengers currently have one staircase to access the Ayala station. They alight from their rides onto a narrow sidewalk forested by the station’s massive columns. On the southbound lane, two stairs lead up to the station from the bus lanes. An exterior staircase, escalator, and lift climb alongside the adjacent mall that also has a bridgeway into the station.

![MRTayalacurrent](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MRTayalacurrent.jpg "MRTayalacurrent - BluPrint")Left: Southbound commuters and vendors waiting on pedestrian islands below the station. Commuters board and alight from vehicles onto tight, fenced-in and soot-blackened aisles before accessing the sidewalk through breaks in the fence. Inoperative lighting and the absence of exhaust blowers provide a tight, uncomfortable and unhealthy environment, especially during rush hour. Right: Steps rise to the street level of EDSA southbound. The alley below leads to another set of steps that climb to the commuters’ area.

Another concern is the lack of lighting and ventilation along the southbound bus lanes below the station’s sprawling floor area. Also, the infrequency of trains causes passengers to wait in long lines that extend past waiting areas, down and outside the roofed confines of the station.

**Mission Control**

Hubilla Design Group’s proposal addresses commuter comfort and the ease of transfers between transport modes through a strategic layering of functions, orientation, spaces, voids, surfaces, and landscaping.

![HDGstation7](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation7.jpg "HDGstation7 - BluPrint")The southwest end of the station and garden decks with the perimeter solar collectors. The garden level has landscaping, walkways, openings, and connections to the mall. The central structure and two smaller buildings attached to the performance theaters allow for passive cooling through directional weather-proof grills.

![HDGstation8](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation8.jpg "HDGstation8 - BluPrint")

**Lift Off and Touchdown**

Street-level station access is increased through larger waiting areas within the voids below the elevated bus ramps on both sides of EDSA. Multiple outdoor escalators, lifts, and stairs, ferry passengers up to the terminal level. Bridgeways to the mall and commercial area on the southbound side are maintained as well. Bus platform lightwells and emission sensor-activated fans prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide and diesel fumes along both EDSA commuter waiting areas.

On the [Ayala MRT station](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/hdg-ayala-mrt-station/) terminal level, ticketing machines stand next to the security scanners of four entrances. Public gardens link both entrance gates. Solar collectors are mounted along the southern garden’s perimeter. Turnstiles are oriented along the length of the station for larger waiting areas leading to the end gardens.

![HDGstation2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation2.jpg "HDGstation2 - BluPrint")The open-air entrance on the southbound side showing the body scanners, light well to the bus ramp, garden deck perimeter wall, and diagrid structure. A covered entry from the mall with the open air walk leads to the garden area.

![HDGstation15](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation15.jpg "HDGstation15 - BluPrint")The station’s concourse, turnstiles and ticketing booth. During rush hour, passenger lines extend along the lengths of the retail areas and even out of the station to street level.

![HDGstation5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation5.jpg "HDGstation5 - BluPrint")The diagrid and v-columns on the station level showing the turnstiles, and ticketing and administrative offices on either side.

Skylights and wall grills descending to the train platforms let natural light and wind penetrate the space for brighter and less confining waiting areas. The design assumes the existing width and depth of the platforms and rails.

Commuters can use stairs, escalators, and lifts to the landscaped areas above. This anticipates increased commuter volumes and faster travels where excessive passenger queues no longer occur. Both landscaped spaces here and on the station level are designed with dining, retail, park and two covered performance spaces. Spineless Yucca (Yucca elephantipes) is planted in the inner green areas, Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa ) along the perimeter. Miyagos bushes, Picarra shrubs, and Frog grass are used on the lawns.

![HDGstation13](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation13.jpg "HDGstation13 - BluPrint")The current tenanted retail units behind the station’s north elevation. The large perimeter louvered openings and high ceilings allow for effective passive cooling of the interiors.

![HDGstation3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation3.jpg "HDGstation3 - BluPrint")The covered walk along the station’s perimeter connecting all garden and retail areas.

![HDGstation4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation4.jpg "HDGstation4 - BluPrint")The interiors of the covered performance area on the Northeast end of the park level.

A diagrid system envelopes and supports the garden and terminal levels as well as the edges of both raised bus ramps. Weather-proof louvers and architectural glass panels keep the rains out while being permeable to changing wind patterns.

**Nurturing Mobility**

The MRT-3 is a system designed for 350,000 passengers serving over 500,000 commuters daily. Utilizing a busy station like Ayala involves navigating the crowded sidewalks and platforms to clock in, clock out, and make it home. For many Filipinos, the daily grind consists of the “sardine-can” inconvenience of the MRT-3 from queuing to alighting.

![HDGstation10a](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HDGstation10a.jpg "HDGstation10a - BluPrint")

![17 hdg Axonometricwhitebg](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/17-hdg-Axonometricwhitebg.jpg "17 hdg Axonometricwhitebg - BluPrint")

We have a public transportation crisis. There are plans to transfer MRT-3 operations to private companies who intend to invest billions of pesos in rehabilitating the system. While increasing the number of trips is on one side of the coin, improving railway facilities is on the other. We hope that the rehabilitation efforts materialize this time around and can transform the perception of metro rail commutes from dreary to empowering. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

---

**This proposal for the Ayala MRT station by Hubilla Design Group is an extension of BluPrint’s latest book *Design Better*. The book is available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does the Hubilla proposal address Ayala MRT station congestion?

The proposal addresses congestion by increasing street-level access through larger waiting areas and multiple outdoor escalators, lifts, and stairs. By orienting turnstiles along the length of the station and adding garden decks, the design provides commuters with expansive “breathing room” to manage high passenger volumes during rush hour.

### What role do terminal gardens play in the station’s redesign?

Terminal gardens serve as public green spaces that link entrance gates and provide a psychological respite from the “sardine-can” commute. These landscaped areas include dining, retail, and performance spaces, using native plants like Banaba and Spineless Yucca to improve air quality and create a more inviting urban environment.

### How is natural ventilation improved in the elevated MRT station?

Natural ventilation is improved through the use of a diagrid envelope paired with weather-proof louvers and architectural glass panels that are permeable to wind patterns. Strategic skylights and wall grills descending to the platforms allow air to circulate freely, reducing the need for mechanical cooling while flushing out heat and humidity.

### What technologies are proposed to manage air quality at the bus levels?

The design introduces emission sensor-activated fans and bus platform lightwells to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide and diesel fumes. These systems ensure that the enclosed waiting areas below the station’s sprawling floor area remain healthy and comfortable for commuters transferring between different transport modes.

### How does the diagrid system support the station’s structural integrity?

The diagrid system functions as a structural exoskeleton that envelopes and supports the garden levels, terminal levels, and the edges of the raised bus ramps. Supported by V-columns, this diagrid structure allows for wide, column-free interior spaces, which are essential for accommodating ticket machines, security scanners, and large waiting crowds.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Design Better, Design Concept, Hubilla Design Group, MRT, Transportation

---

### [Grading Green: The case for BERDE over LEED](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/grading-green-berde/)

**Published:** December 13, 2015
**Author:** Ar. Adrian Tumang

**Excerpt:** The Net Metropolis in BGC champions BERDE, the Philippines’ green building rating system

**Content:**

The Net Metropolis in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is easily the most exciting commercial office building complex developed by The Net Group (TNG) not only because it is new and innovative, but also because it is the first building certified under the Philippines’ new green building rating tool, BERDE. While many have heard of LEED—indeed, a handful of buildings around the block are LEED certified—few people know of its local counterpart.

![The Berde certified Net Metropolis in Bonifacio Global City (right cluster of buildings in photo). Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim planned the 1.2-hectare Net Metropolis at the corner of 5th Avenue and 26th Street.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8222-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go2.jpg "9V5A8222 Net Lima featured Marc Go2 - BluPrint")The Net Metropolis in Bonifacio Global City (right cluster of buildings in photo). Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim planned the 1.2-hectare Net Metropolis at the corner of 5th Avenue and 26th Street.## **What is BERDE?**

An acronym for Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence, BERDE is the Philippines’ voluntary green building rating system developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), a member of the non-profit World Green Building Council (WorldGBC). WorldGBC’s mandate is for every country to develop its own rating tool, such as LEED (US), Green Star (Australia) and Green Mark (Singapore). Like its foreign counterparts, BERDE measures, verifies and monitors the performance of buildings above and beyond existing mandatory building and environmental regulations and standards.

BERDE has four major rating schemes—new construction, retrofits and renovations, operations, and existing buildings. The number of points a project earns in each of the categories (i.e. water, land use ecology, etc.) determines its level of accreditation; the highest is five stars while the lowest is one star. Project teams submit documentation to prove compliance with the requirements of each category. Rating systems provide developers with a quantifiable basis for claiming to be green. It’s a mechanism to prevent greenwashing, where companies advertise unverifiable environmental benefits of their buildings for branding and marketing purposes.

TNG executive vice president Ramon Rufino, a green building advocate, is among the founders of PhilGBC. He would later be elected PhilGBC chairman in 2014. Returning from his studies in the US in 2006, Rufino joined TNG and was tasked to spearhead the development of Net Metropolis. At that time, PhilGBC was already developing BERDE. Having seen the benefits of green office buildings abroad, Rufino was able to convince his team at TNG to work with PhilGBC and apply as the pilot building of BERDE.

**READ MORE: [Tunnel Vision: Fort Bonfacio War Tunnel Restoration](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tunnel-vision-bonfacio-war-tunnel/ "Tunnel Vision: Fort Bonfacio War Tunnel Restoration")**

![Berde certified Net Lima and Net Park feature a façade consisting of aluminum sunshade envelope and a full glass curtain wall composed of double glazed low-e glass.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8206-2-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go.jpg "9V5A8206 2 Net Lima featured Marc Go - BluPrint")Net Lima and Net Park feature a façade consisting of aluminum sunshade envelope and a full glass curtain wall composed of double glazed low-e glass.Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim planned the 1.2-hectare Net Metropolis at the corner of 5th Avenue and 26th Street. With local design consultants L.V. Locsin Partners and [CS Design Consultancy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anna-sy-minimalist-house-nature/), Oppenheim originally planned for three office towers on a six-level podium. However, at the height of the Financial Crisis of 2008, TNG sold off part of the property to the Ascott Group, which built the Ascott Hotel, leaving space for only two office towers, the Net Lima and the Net Park. Despite the change, Rufino said that a serviced hotel would complement their office buildings especially now that it hosts a number of multinational companies. Rufino admits that undergoing BERDE entailed additional costs, which would normally be passed on as a premium to the tenants. While the local market seems to be cautious and skeptical about the benefits of green certification to the bottom line, TNG succeeded in attracting big names like Coca-Cola, PhilAm, Google, Citibank, and Sony, all of which wanted to locate in a green building as part of their CSR programs and initiatives in greening their operations.

The first office building, the recently completed Net Lima, is a 28-storey tower with ground level retail, a five-storey parking podium, and a landscaped amenity deck. The second tower, the Net Park, is now under construction. Architect-of-record Leandro A. Poco of L.A. Poco Architects says that BGC’s Urban Design Guidelines tend to define a homogeneous building typology. “Because BGC is strict with building volumes and GFAs, most buildings end up becoming reinterpretations and iterations of elements on the building skin, wrapping around a similar tower-podium-arcade typology,” he explains. He identifies the band of perforated aluminum panels wrapped around the buildings as the element that differentiates the Net Metropolis Superblock from the guideline-driven volumes of the buildings in the area. The aluminum panels reduce heat and glare from coming into the building, and they create depth and layering on the façade. Says Poco, “Net Lima’s iconic profile, while not necessarily the tallest in the area, stakes its claim on that part of BGC’s skyline.”

Rufino is not apprehensive despite the popularity of LEED over BERDE in the Philippines. “As long as the building is certified under a green building rating tool, I’m happy. It means it went through a process and there’s less likelihood of greenwashing,” he said. He praised the success of LEED and how it changed the conversation in the US property sector. “In the US, it’s no longer a question of whether you’re going green or not, but how green your building will be. All new buildings are expected to be certified.”

![On the ground floor along the arcade, the shop fronts and lobbies are covered by clear single glazed glass panels with glass fins. The podium parking levels are clad with a louver system consisting of rectangular hollow sections and angles that are 50% open, allowing for natural ventilation of the parking levels.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8241-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go.jpg "9V5A8241 Net Lima featured Marc Go - BluPrint")On the ground floor along the arcade, the shop fronts and lobbies are covered by clear single glazed glass panels with glass fins. The podium parking levels are clad with a louver system consisting of rectangular hollow sections and angles that are 50% open, allowing for natural ventilation of the parking levels.## The case for BERDE over LEED

“Every country’s experience and conditions are different including climate, technology level and laws,” continues Rufino. “LEED is a US-centric rating tool though they have been rewriting the latest versions to make it more global, but BERDE is built to consensus.” PhilGBC conducted public and multi-sector consultations to get feedback from real estate stakeholders. “We got buy-in from the local industry because we asked architects, engineers, and developers to give us their comments.” One of the issues raised was that some documentation requirements of foreign rating systems that should come from local planning authorities are not being issued by the Philippine government. BERDE requires the submission of environmental clearances and building permits prescribed by the national and local governments. This serves as a cross-check of the building’s compliance with existing legislation and national policies regarding environmental practices in the country.

BERDE is also the first rating system in the world to account for heritage conservation, a welcome check and incentive in a country with a built heritage constantly threatened by developments. Thus far, only BERDE rewards retrofit and reuse of historic buildings. This parameter does not apply to Net Metropolis, but culturally-sensitive developments in historic districts like Binondo and Escolta stand to earn a lot of green points.

![Collection of condensate water from the VRF air conditioners can supply water for irrigation and cleaning. The condensate water is stored in corrosion-resistant GRP Fuel Tanks. GRP tanks are environmentally safer, and mechanically and structurally superior to steel tanks.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8291-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go.jpg "9V5A8291 Net Lima featured Marc Go - BluPrint")Collection of condensate water from the VRF air conditioners can supply water for irrigation and cleaning. The condensate water is stored in corrosion-resistant glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) Fuel Tanks with built-in leak detection systems. GRP tanks are environmentally safer, and mechanically and structurally superior to steel tanks.

While the parameters of green rating systems around the world are similar, the weights differ based on the priorities of each country. According to Rufino, the main advantage of BERDE is that it is aligned with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for emerging economies, which underscores water conservation and access to clean water as a major problem in the Philippines. Aside from waterless urinals and faucets with sensors, Net Lima uses condensate drain collection to augment the water supply used for irrigation and general maintenance. Condensate water from the building’s variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air-conditioning system are collected and stored in a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) tank with built-in leak detection system. For the Net Park, TNG is installing a rain water collection system aside from the condensate water collection system. The goal is to collect enough water for landscaping and cleaning without having to get from the tap.

## Common myth about green building

TNG vice president and legal counsel Cristina Samson addresses common misconceptions about green building certifications.

She says, “People think that if you go for a green building, your cost will jack up to 100 to 200 percent more than the original cost.” She cites construction waste management as one criterion where developers could score points without spending much. For Net Park, crates used for equipment delivery were recycled into pieces of furniture and bicycle racks. Samson also encourages developers who don’t want to go for certification to at least use BERDE as a roadmap to guide them in the whole project delivery cycle. “Unlike with LEED, BERDE is open source. If you go to BERDE’s website (berdeonline.org), you can download every single rating tool for free.”

## BERDE as a public policy

Aside from business, BERDE is also gaining influence in the area of policy development. While Rufino and Samson support mandatory green building amendments to the National Building Code, both agree that BERDE should remain a private sector-led and voluntary system. “BERDE should always be above and beyond the minimum requirements of the law. If they want to amend the building code to be greener, that’s great,” says Rufino. “But BERDE would also have to adjust with more stringent requirements. To those who want to push the envelope and go beyond what’s required, BERDE is a way for you to be recognized for the effort.” This didn’t prevent local government units like that of Mandaue City to pass an ordinance requiring all new planned unit developments (PUDs) in the city to meet BERDE standards. Others like Mandaluyong borrowed heavily from BERDE and passed their own green building certification ordinance.

Rufino says, “We support these LGUs but we don’t believe that they can sustain the certification because their building officials are already loaded. They can hardly check compliance of every building permit applicant.” While BERDE is developed by PhilGBC, the actual assessment of buildings is conducted and professionally managed by a third party auditor, in this case TÜV Rheinland Philippines. This ensures the integrity of the process placing it beyond the reach of corporate greed and government corruption. There are also green building rating tools crafted by other private organizations, but only BERDE may claim to be representative of the construction and property industry. The rest were developed by certain groups in the industry like architects and engineers.

![Power chargers for battery-operated cars are provided in Net Lima. TNG worked with Meralco to install this feature despite the fact that there are only a few electric cars around, meaning it won’t be used as much. The group’s thinking was, “Build it and they will come.”](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8188-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go.jpg "9V5A8188 Net Lima featured Marc Go - BluPrint")Power chargers for battery-operated cars are provided in Net Lima. TNG worked with Meralco to install this feature despite the fact that there are only a few electric cars around, meaning it won’t be used as much. The group’s thinking was, “Build it and they will come.”## Beyond the bottom line

Green building used to be just about environmental protection and the bottom line, but according to Rufino, green advocates are now looking at the effects of green buildings on people. He cites latest research that says green buildings improve the well-being and increase the productivity of their users. Factors such as temperature control, quality indoor air, and access to daylight and views are found to have positive effects in the workplace where employees spend approximately 40 hours a week. Says Rufino, “Just imagine if you have people who come to work on time and are less absent because they feel good in their office; imagine if you have teammates who are more focused, more patient, and hindi pikon. Maybe you can save a little on your monthly energy and water consumption but if I told you that I can improve the productivity of your people by 10 percent, isn’t that a powerful economic driver for your organization?”

![Net-Lima-elevations](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Net-Lima-elevations.jpg "Net Lima elevations - BluPrint")![Net-Lima-FloorPlan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Net-Lima-Plan.jpg "Net Lima Plan - BluPrint")##### **This story first appeared in BluPrint Volume 6, 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is BERDE certification in the Philippines?

BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) is the Philippines’ voluntary green building rating system developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC). It measures building performance across water, land use, energy, and ecology, awarding one to five stars based on compliance.

### How is BERDE different from LEED?

BERDE is built specifically for Philippine conditions, regulations, and climate. Unlike LEED, which is US-centric, BERDE is open source, free to download, aligned with UN Millennium Development Goals, and uniquely rewards heritage building conservation — a first among green rating systems globally.

### Is BERDE certification expensive for developers?

Not necessarily. While green certification involves some added costs, many BERDE criteria — like construction waste management and condensate water collection — require minimal spending. BERDE is also available for free online, making it accessible as a planning roadmap even without formal certification.

### Which buildings in the Philippines are BERDE certified?

Net Lima in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) was the first building certified under BERDE. Developed by The Net Group, it was used as the pilot building during BERDE’s development and houses tenants like Google, Coca-Cola, Citibank, PhilAm, and Sony.

### Can green buildings improve employee productivity?

Yes. Research cited by green building advocates shows that factors like temperature control, indoor air quality, natural light, and views have measurable positive effects on employee well-being and productivity. A 10% productivity gain is considered a powerful economic driver for organizations operating in green-certified offices.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage

**Tags:** BERDE, BGC, Chad Oppenheim, Commercial, Fort Bonifacio, Green Design, High Rise, L.A.Poco Architects, LEED, Net Lima, Net Metropolis, Net Park, Office, Oppenheim Architecture + Design, Skyscraper

---

### [BCDA Pres tackles USD 5 billion New Clark City, white elephants](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/bcda-new-clark-city-white-elephants/)

**Published:** August 13, 2019
**Author:** Denny Mata and Judith Torres

**Content:**

The [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/) is dubbed as “the vision of a modern Philippines,” and is being groomed to be the standard of how urban communities should be—green, sustainable, and optimal for human dwellings with an integrated transport system—a stark contrast to Metro Manila in the national capital region. The 9450-hectare ambitious development is funded through a partnership between the [Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)](https://bcda.gov.ph/) and the private sector. BCDA is a state-run development corporation under the Office of the President of the Philippines, which owns and maintains Fort Bonifacio, Villamor Airbase, Clark Freeport Zone, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Atmanda Eco Park (formerly Bataan Technology Park), Poro Point Freeport Zone, and John Hay Special Economic Zone. The [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/) is one of its big-ticket projects under the Build Build Build program of the government, whose development is spearheaded by BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon.

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex aquatic center bcda](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-2-1.jpg "bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-2 - BluPrint")At the entrance to the NGAC, a large black signboard posted the number “33” in bold white fonts. Underneath the number reads: “Days left to August 31, 2019.” The contractor and co-developer MTD Philippines committed to turnover the NGAC two months ahead of the government turnover deadline in October to allow the facilities to breathe and get rid of the fumes, and to let the Filipino athletes train at the new [Athletic Stadium](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/look-the-athletic-stadium-5-months-before-its-turn-over/) and Aquatic Center before they compete in the SEA Games in November.Vince Dizon is also the BCDA representative to Clark Development Corporation; the chairman of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development; the vice-chairman of Clark International Airport Corporation; and a member of the board of directors of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., Bonifacio Estate Services Corp., and Bonifacio Global Estates Association. Prior to his appointment to BCDA in 2016, he was a consultant of then-Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, the Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Office of the President, and the Chief of Staff of the Office of the late Senator Edgardo Angara. Dizon also worked in the academe for half a decade as a senior lecturer in Economics, and Finance and Statistics for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Program at the University of Northern Virginia, Prague Campus in the Czech Republic and as an assistant professor of Economics at De La Salle University in Manila. Dizon took his degrees in Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management of Financial Institutions from the De La Salle University. The Chevening Scholarship awardee (1998) then took his Master of Science in Applied Development Studies from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

The [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/)‘s first phase, which includes the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) and the sports complex, is nearing its completion and turnover in late October, almost ready to host the [30th Southeast Asian Games](https://2019seagames.com/) from November 30 to December 10. Many have expressed their excitement on social media, while others are skeptical about the use of public funds on such an ambitious project, which they fear is unsustainable and will fall to disuse and disrepair after the SEA Games. Last 29 July, BluPrint visited the site and spoke with Dizon.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-19.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-19 - BluPrint")An aerial view of the sports complex from the East. Photographed 29 May 2019Here are some excerpts from the walking interview BluPrint’s editor had with Dizon, as he and [MTD Philippines](https://www.mtdphilippines.com/) president Patrick Nicholas David showed us around the misty landscape of the [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/) NGAC, and explained why the new metropolis is worth spending billions of pesos and how the new sports complex will not be another white elephant.

**BluPrint: The role of BCDA in the development of the New Clark City would be?**

Dizon: It’s good to start with the big picture. Under the Build Build Build (BBB) program of the government, Clark—not just the [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/), but the entire development of Clark—is one of the centerpieces of that unprecedented infrastructure build-up. The role of Clark in that huge BBB program, which aims to spend anywhere between 150 and 160 billion US dollars (about 8 trillion pesos) within the six-year term of President Duterte, is to create a new metropolis for the country. The role of the BCDA is to spearhead that development because this entire land area of Clark is all under its purview, and creating the new metropolis is the main focus of what we’re trying to do right now.

**Let’s discuss the need for a new metropolis.** If you live in Metro Manila, you’d probably know why there is a need for it. Right now, there is only one major metropolis in the country and that is Metro Manila. Metro Cebu might be big, but it also has the same problems as Manila. So, let’s put it this way: there’s only one major metropolis in Luzon, which has about 60 million people. Given that you only have one major metropolitan center servicing 60 million people, it shouldn’t come as a surprise why Metro Manila is the way it is.

**Right.** It also doesn’t come as a surprise why the growth and development, at least in Luzon, is only focused on the greater metropolitan Manila area. The rest of Luzon has been left behind. From an urban development perspective, there is a dramatically urgent need to build a new metropolis outside of Metro Manila, which frankly should have been planned and done decades ago.

![bluprint architecture new clark city aquatic center](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-43.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-43 - BluPrint")Spectators arriving by car may access the entrance to the Aquatic Center via the vehicle ramp connected to the main road (right), while pedestrians and PWDs have separate access points on the side.**True.** Creating a new metropolis has a two-pronged objective: 1) to decongest Metro Manila, which is now the [densest city in the world](https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-most-densely-populated-cities.html) with a population density of about 40,000 per square kilometer; and, 2) to spur growth and make it more inclusive and more spread out by building other metropolitan centers throughout the country. We are not just building sports facilities, a building here and there, or a couple of houses here and there. This is all part of a huge master-planned development to create that new metropolis.

**And the plans are made by?** For the [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/), the plan was a collaboration between our Japanese partners, the [Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN)](https://www.join-future.co.jp/english/index.html), and [AECOM](https://www.aecom.com/), and [Nippon-Koei](https://www.n-koei.co.jp/english/). They did the masterplan for this way back, and it was finished in 2017. Now we included another partner, [Surbana Jurong](https://surbanajurong.com/) of Singapore, our development manager, to do the urban design standards and guidelines, and development management for the phasing of the city development. Right now, we are in the [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/) Phase 1, the first 60 hectares of the development, which is the National Government Administrative Center.

**Alright. So, the planners are your partners, like Surbana. What kind of partnership would that be?** We have a joint venture with them and we rely on them on the technical aspects of the development. So, to make sure that the city is developed and phased properly, and to protect the sustainability and resiliency of the area, we have to institute the urban design standards and guidelines, which, unfortunately, we don’t really have in the Philippines yet. With the way developments have been made in the country, there is utter disregard in green and public spaces.

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex aquatic center](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-1-1.jpg "bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-1 - BluPrint")The colossal Aquatic Center greets the visitors to the NGAC. The 2000-capacity, lantern-inspired Aquatic Center was 90% completed, according to MTD Philippines president Nicholas David, as of 29 July 2019.**Tell us how it’s different here.** The guidelines are very strict and benchmarked. For example, the easements between the river and the structures are wide. Some of them go as far as a hundred meters. Where we are now, there’s about a 120-meter easement. The zoning codes of Metro Manila require a 10-meter to 30-meter easement. For us, that’s too narrow because climate change is apparent and other problems may occur there. The worst thing is, despite the 10 and 30 meters easement, the codes are not followed. I mean, you’ve got houses right beside Pasig and Marikina rivers. Here, that will change. That’s the kind of discipline that we need in the country when we talk about urban development, which can only come from experts who have actually done this elsewhere. Obviously, it’s [Asian Development Bank (ADB)](https://www.adb.org/), Surbana Jurong… and we have to rely on them to implement this kind of large-scale development.

**READ MORE:** [IN PHOTOS: New Clark City Sports Complex 94 days before turnover](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/)

**And BCDA will oversee how things are run here?** Yes, of course.

**It is not a responsibility BCDA will let go of, even after the buildings are bought or leased?** We cannot, because if we let go of that responsibility, things will just go haywire again, and you go back to the situation like our typical urban centers are faced with.

Also, the reason why the Clark area, including Subic, was chosen to build this new metropolis is 1) it has the necessary infrastructures in place already: an international airport, an international seaport, and a network of world-class highways (SCTEX and NLEX); and, 2) its location’s natural resiliency.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-17-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-17 - BluPrint")View of the PVC-lined competition pool from the scoreboard. The pool, including the diving and practice pools, will be filtered for impurities and other requirements, with filters locally distributed by Alpha Pools.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-12-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-12 - BluPrint")A Myrtha specialist and a local worker painting on the lane lines on the pool floor. “We have specialists only on specialist items. The pool is a very technical and very specialized construction or methodology that we don’t allow any other person except them. Of course, they hired local help,” says David.

**In what way? We have a volcano right beside us.** Which will erupt maybe in the next 600 years, so that’s good for us. But the main indicator of the area’s resiliency is when the Americans chose it to be the major US base. They didn’t just choose it randomly; they chose this because of its natural resiliency: its elevation, natural contour, and its distance from a faultline. Metro Manila has an average elevation of 1.5 to 2 meters above sea level. The entire 32,000-hectare Clark area is at 65 to 70 meters above sea level, and that is the lowest area in Clark. Also, this site was not meant to be flat. Nature designed it to be undulating, so it adds to the resiliency. It protects us from floods and all sorts of possible natural problems in the future. Lastly, we are 20 kilometers away from the nearest faultline, the East Zambales fault to the northwest. The site is not earthquake-proof—there’s no such thing—we are all gonna be hit by earthquakes. But our distance from the faultline mitigates the effect of the possible earthquake. Besides, all the buildings here are designed to withstand a minimum of a magnitude-8 earthquake (the Building Code of the Philippines requires a minimum of 7). This is really primed to be the new metropolis between Subic and Clark.

**A metropolis literally green with plants, right?** That’s the plan, and it has been planned that way. We want to keep it that way. Green in terms of green and open spaces, and there will be very strict guidelines on density. For example, within the 250-hectare NGAC, we want to keep everything low-rise, so the highest buildings will be 7-story. If you look at the government centers abroad, seldom are they high-dense. Usually, they are very low-rise and mid-density areas.

**Why do you think that is?** I think the number one concern is security. Also, it gives that sense of openness. When you look at government centers like Washington D.C., for example, it is all low-rise, all low to mid-density, and sprawling. You have huge spaces for the public, and that is exactly what we wanted, where you can enjoy the sky, the green space. You see, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You just have to really look at the best cases all over the world.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-bcda-president-vince-dizon-mtd-philippines-president-nicholas-david-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-aquatic-center-bcda-president-vince-dizon-mtd-philippines-president-nicholas-david-2 - BluPrint")BCDA president Vince Dizon (left) and MTD Philippines president Patrick Nicholas David (right) stand on the ground where the commercial center will be built**Going back to sustainability, there have been comments from our readers about the trees in the area. Maybe because in the pictures we took last May, the site looked so arid they thought trees had been uprooted.** No. In fact, we did not cut a single tree on this site. And if you look at the park, those are all lush trees that have been here for decades.

**In fact, I think you added.** Of course, we really have to add trees. We didn’t cut any tree. We probably balled a couple and just relocated them. But the thing is, when it’s summer, this whole area is really very dry. It’s always been like that here in the Philippines. Well, that was summer. So, you should take pictures now.

**Actually, I like the difference.** You should come here mid-October.

**We will. We’ll come here every month.** Good! You’re very welcome here. Come here by mid-October because by that time the site will be landscaped already. It will be cleaner as all construction activities will be no more. Then you can really appreciate what has been done here. By September, you can tour the site completely. By the way, we’re very proud of our public toilets and the athletes’ locker rooms. They’re really well-designed by [Budji+Royal Architecture+Design](https://www.facebook.com/budjiroyal/), simple but elegant and well-made.

**READ MORE: [New Clark City design plan a showcase of PH identity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/new-clark-city-ph-identity/ "New Clark City design plan a showcase of PH identity")**

**Why did you choose Budji+Royal?** Well, we collaborated with them two years ago. Also, remember, they tried to collaborate with the government in the previous administration with the rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened there, maybe Royal can tell you. But you know, I think it’s important for the government to work with our best and brightest architects. It’s not just Royal. For example, the cauldron that has been designed for the SEA Games…

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex river park bcda president vince dizon](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-4-1.jpg "bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-4 - BluPrint")“When developers have a project, the typical mode is to cut, fill, and flatten the earth because that allows you to maximize the land. Here, you’ll notice that we kept the undulating, natural contours of the site, and that was done on purpose because we did not want to intervene too much with nature,” Dizon says.**Where is it?** It will be placed outside the stadium.

**But where is it now? Is it being made?** It’s being made already, and it was designed by Mañosa.

**Mañosa, the son, right?** No. I think it was the last drawing that Bobby signed before he passed away. You just have to confirm it with Gelo and Bambi, but I think he signed it before he passed.

**I will. That’s a wonderful story.** Yeah, and you know, we need to work with our best and brightest. Royal is doing the [pavilion for the Expo 2020 Dubai](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/ramon-lopez-royal-pineda-marian-pastor-roces-preview-of-bangkota/ "pavilion for the Expo 2020 Dubai"). And we just felt that we, (BCDA and Budji+Royal) were in sync with the vision of what we wanted to do here, which Royal likes to call the ‘modern Filipino sensibility.’ It’s Filipino, like the *bahay kubo*, the jeepney, the capíz, the *tinikling*, but it’s a modern take of all of that.

**Yes, it’s not literal.** Yes, and with the timeline and budget for the development, Royal presented the best design. As you can see, the stadium is very simple and very easy to maintain. If it was too elaborate or had several claddings, we wouldn’t be done here.

**Or, we couldn’t afford it.** Since it’s very simple with only concrete and lahar finish, we were able to finish speedily while keeping the quality high and the maintenance low. I think the teamwork really gelled very early and very well.

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex river park bcda president vince dizon and mtd philippines president nicholas david](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-5-1.jpg "bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-5 - BluPrint")The day of BluPrint’s second visit to the site, the water running in the Cutcut River was murkier and deeper than our last visit due to the rainy season. “When Nikko (left) and I were here last year, around this time, when the rains were very heavy, the water actually reached up to here, at about five meters,” Dizon recalls. “Hence, the need for this open space. Because this park is not only meant to be a park; it’s meant to be flood protection for the city. It was based on an Asian Development Bank river sustainability study two years ago, and the idea is to create this buffer zone between the rivers and the city. Like in other countries, you have an open space, a park between the river and the structures, which in the event of a one-in-a-hundred-year, one-in-a-five-hundred-year flood, protects the city.”**Tell us about the funding, because there have been some angry retorts about BCDA using public funds on the development of the New Clark City.** BCDA’s revenue is public funding because it’s a government agency. But this development has been partially funded through a Private-Public Partnership with MTD Malaysia. The sports facilities are funded by the government because those facilities are public and for public use.

**Okay, publicly funded. But the way it’s going to be run and maintained will be?** We want to privatize the operations and maintenance because that is the only way to ensure that these facilities are well taken cared of. It’s apparent that the facilities operated and maintained by the government usually end up becoming very run-down facilities, and we don’t want that to happen here. It’s the same model for, say, the Clark International Airport, which Budji+Royal also conceptually designed. That was built using public funds, but the operations and maintenance are done by the private sector.

**READ MORE: [BUDJI+ROYAL reinterprets vernacular landscapes for Clark International Airport](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/budjiroyal-new-clark-international-airport/ "BUDJI+ROYAL reinterprets vernacular landscapes for Clark International Airport")**

**How will the government get its ROI?** As in any privatization effort, part of the revenues that are generated from the operations of the facilities goes to the government. The government gets a revenue share from the private sector, and that’s how the government recovers the funding in several years. But you know, it is the government’s responsibility to build structures like these. The private sector will never build something like this for the public because they are not going to be able to recover it in the span of time they want. Typically, the private sector wants to recover in 5-7 years.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-3.jpg "bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-3 - BluPrint")On the edge of the NGAC Phase 1A is the Cutcut River that stretches 1.4 kilometers. During our visit, the river is being dredged and widened to accommodate a thousand-year flood. Photographed 29 May 2019**Yeah, it has to be built for the public good.** I’ll just give you an example. After Joko Widodo of Indonesia won the recent presidential elections, he announced that the Indonesian government is going to build their version of [New Clark City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/in-photos-new-clark-city-sports-complex-94-days-before-turnover/) in Kalimantan Island. Guess how much the government of Indonesia plans on spending?

**Ten times as much?** 33 billion US dollars!

**Which is how much more than this?** The entire complex costs around 13 billion pesos. Indonesia wants to spend 33 billion US dollars on a new metropolis. I mean, what is the government going to spend its money for if not for facilities like these, which are for the public?

**Why is it worth spending 13 billion pesos? Give me more arguments about why this is important.** As I’ve said earlier, you need to build a new metropolis, and this is the beginning of that new metropolis. I guess the skepticism on the part of the public is that the past governments have not done that. We’re not just building a sports complex here. We are building an entire city. If you put it in that context, 13 billion pesos is nothing.

**What is the cost of the complex?** The entire city could cost anywhere between 3 and 5 billion US dollars. That’s the development of 4000 hectares, which will become the country’s new metropolis, and that is really nothing if you think about it.

**Could you give me the numbers for the Aquatic Center and Stadium?** The Aquatic Center is probably 2 billion pesos. The [Athletic Stadium](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/2019-sea-games-sports-facilities/) will cost about 4 billion pesos.

*(Note: The Athletic Stadium cost includes the warm-up track beside it, as well as a field dedicated to the throwing sports such as the javelin, shot put, hammer, etc.)*

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex the residences](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-7-1.jpg "bluprint-planning-bcda-president-vince-dizon-new-clark-city-sports-complex-7 - BluPrint")Like the Aquatic Center, the Athlete’s Village and The Residences, which will house the athletics and aquatics athletes during the SEA Games are 90% completed when BluPrint visited last July. “We have 2000 to 2300 people working every day on The Residences, while there’s a thousand people working on the Athletes Village,” says David.**And the NGAC would be?** Between the Athletic Stadium and the Aquatic Center, it’s about 6 billion pesos, and the entire first phase of the national government center is about 13.5 billion pesos. If you look at what other countries spend on their facilities, we pale in comparison with what they spend.

**I know, right. Royal was telling us that as well.** Yeah, and it’s about time that we start building facilities like these that are truly world-class. *‘Wag naman natin titipirin ang mga kababayan natin, ‘di ba?* (Let’s not be skimp on our fellow Filipinos, right?) Here, you see that the funds are really spent on top, world-class facilities, as you can see, and it’s something that would rival facilities even in developed countries. I mean, if you look at Aquatic Centers in countries in Europe, in the US, and in other developed countries in Asia, we measure up to them with these new facilities.

**Really? Which ones?** All of them.

Nicholas David (MTD): Right now, we are better than Singapore’s and Malaysia’s.

**Ours is better than Singapore’s? How so?** Look at the Aquatic Center of Singapore in the [Singapore Sports Hub](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/singapore-sports-hub/ "Singapore Sports Hub"). To me, ours is better.

**Why?** It’s better designed and easier to maintain. Our pools are built better because Singapore used tiles in theirs.

Vince Dizon (BCDA): The way our Aquatic Center has been planned is better. It’s not a “box,” as Royal puts it. Typically, it’s just a box with aircon and everything. This one is built for the Philippines, with our tropical climate in mind. It’s inspired by things that are very Filipino, like the *baklad* and the *capíz* windows. You can’t put a price tag on good design. How much is Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim in Bilbao? That was built with government funds, with funds from the city of Bilbao. But what does a Frank Gehry-designed museum give to the city? It gives tourism, billions and billions of dollars in revenue to the city. It gives marketability to the city. So you can’t really put a price tag on architecture. You would agree to that, right?

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-6.jpg "bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-6 - BluPrint")The Athlete’s Village (foreground) and The Residences (background). Photographed 29 May 2019**We would.** There will always be skeptics and critics, but if the government listens to all the critics, we’ll never get anything done.

**For sure. How much is the monthly maintenance of the Aquatic Center?** ADB is computing that right now so that when we privatize it, the potential private sector partner will know how much it would cost to maintain.

**Ah, the potential private investor is not MTD Philippines?** No. For the facilities, we don’t know yet.

**BCDA will open it up to bidding?** Yes, or we’ll accept proposals from them. But it needs to be the private sector, it cannot be the government. I’m gonna get criticized for saying that, but it’s okay.

**No, it’s okay. I should think everyone knows that.** Well, except for people in the government.

**Haha! But you’re one of them, aren’t you?** Yeah, I am. But you know…

**Well then, if BCDA is selling the sports facilities, does that mean you needn’t worry about a legacy plan?** No, we have to worry about a legacy plan because it’s got to be designed in such a way that will be commercially viable. It’s really a challenge. MTD will be our partner here for the government buildings, [government housing](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/social-housing-in-the-philippines-nha-government/), and the commercial facilities. For the sports facilities, we have to look for a private sector partner who can and who has a track record.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-7.jpg "bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-7 - BluPrint")The Athlete’s Village also offers gym amenities, a 24/7 dining hall, conference rooms, and recreational facilities. Photographed 29 May 2019**Yes, Rizal Memorial Stadium is government-run, see what happened.** Yeah, government, because they chose it to be that way. But we’re not doing the same thing as Rizal and Ultra did. That’s all Philippine Sports Commission. This has to be private. It must be private.

**How soon might there be a legacy plan that you can discuss?** The legacy plan is in place and being done now. Right now we’re just finalizing the necessary feasibility studies to make the sports facilities commercially viable. That’s what we’re doing now.

**Does that include the Athlete’s Village?** That’s going to be part of the privatization of the facilities. The Athlete’s Village will form part of the sports facilities, which will be a dormitory-type housing for our athletes, and also for our transient government employees who don’t want to live here permanently.

**If you sell those, then we can’t have another large athletic gathering here again, because we’ll have sold the place for the athletes to stay.** No, no. One building will be exclusive for the athletes. You’re not gonna have sporting events every month, right? So, you need to make a way to make the facilities sustainable, and a way that we’ve learned from the experiences of London and Sydney is that after the major sporting events, the facilities become mixed-use. The houses and the units are sold, and some of the athlete’s dormitories were converted to dorms for young people.

You can build other facilities later on. For example, we want to bid for the Asian Games in 2030. Then we’ll build again. And then after that…

![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-5 - BluPrint")An aerial view of The Athletic Stadium, the Athlete’s Village on the right, and the practice track above. In the middle is the Government Center, and farther up is the Aquatic Center. Photographed 29 May 2019**Sell again?** Yes. That’s one way to make it sustainable. That’s the point. Even the sports facilities are mixed-use. They can be used for concerts. They can be used for other local or regional sporting events.

**There’s skepticism about that, at least online.** There’s always skepticism especially when it comes to government projects, that’s very understandable. But what we’re trying to do here is to plan it in a way that takes a very long view. It’s not something that you build and then nothing happens afterward. It’s really got to be planned and benchmarked in such a way that it outlasts everybody and it becomes a thriving city where people can live, work, play, and learn. That’s why the planning is so important and the way we benchmarked with successes abroad, that’s critical in the development of this project.

**Which successes abroad?** London. Sydney. We went there and saw that they’re successful. They were built and they didn’t become white elephants. Instead, they’re now thriving communities. If you go to the [Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park](https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/), the stadium that they built is now the stadium of the West Ham United. The housing facilities that they built are now high-end housing, being sought-after by the residents of London. So, they’re successful models. There are also unsuccessful models, but that’s why we have to benchmark on the successful ones, and not the unsuccessful ones.

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex bcda](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-5.jpg "bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-5 - BluPrint")An aerial view of the New Clark City’s National Government Administrative Center Phase 1A. Photographed 29 May 2019**Alright. Do you have more to say about the legacy plan and how the sports facilities will not become white elephants?** Well, I think the most reassuring statement we can give is that this will be a private and public sector partnership because once the private sector is involved, then there’s always the incentive to maintain it well, at the same time make a little money. That’s the key to sustainability. If you look at other facilities abroad, the reason why they’re sustainable and they don’t become white elephants is because they’re able to become commercially viable. Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore, that is run and maintained well because it’s commercially viable.

**On the other hand, there are so many good things that are government-funded because they simply must be funded.** Yeah. The construction needs to be government-funded because the private sector will not build a Stadium like that. They just won’t. *Kawawa naman ang Pilipinas kung ganoon*. (Where would the Philippines be if we relied completely on the private sector.)

**I have to say, though, that with BCDA behind the project, there is an assurance of quality. I guess the general distrust stems from government projects awarded to contractors nobody knows.** Unfortunately, the past has given that conception. But what we’re trying to do now is we’re trying to change all of that, not just for BCDA but for all government agencies. I think that this is the first step. The things that we are building now, with the new airport and new facilities that are being built, hopefully, that will create that kind of momentum so that we won’t backtrack anymore and go back to the old ways.

![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-4 - BluPrint")“It’s good to see all the benchmarks, but we also wanted the license to change many things. And the technical delegate from the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) said, as long as it does not affect the competition area and it’s within your standards of building codes, it should be okay,” says Pineda.**I have a question to ask and it’s about beauty. I miss it in public conversation because modernism seems to focus exclusively on functionality, making talk about beauty, you know, *baduy* (cheesy).** Not to us, not to us.

**Okay. Tell me why it’s important to you.** Design is so important because it’s reflective of a nation’s and a people’s character and identity. If you create a box, it doesn’t say anything about us, Filipinos. You might as well be anywhere in the world, and there’s nothing about that box that says, “This is Filipino.” Beauty to us is about the expression of what it is to be Filipino. If we are able to express what is being Filipino in our architecture, especially in public architecture, then that, in all certainty, is going to be beautiful. I think the narrative or the story behind the architecture will result in beautiful architecture, and that is what we see here. The Athletic Stadium that Budji+Royal designed, which story is so beautiful as it talks about the resiliency of the Filipino spirit, is inspired by Mount Pinatubo. Even the lahar finish of the stadium comes from that part of our history, which was a disaster when the volcano erupted, but now rising from that disaster, you have this beautiful structure taking inspiration from that. In that sense, it’s beautiful. Unfortunately, in the past, there wasn’t anything like it. What was the last public building that you would consider a design masterpiece?

**The CCP, of course. PICC.** Exactly!

**The Coconut Palace.** All the greats. All the works of [Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/ "Locsin"), of [Mañosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/succeeding-success-bobby-gelo-manosa/ "Mañosa"). But, since that time, was there anything else? None. Beauty and architecture are never frivolous. I mean, look at countries, even poor countries, they have iconic architecture, iconic facilities, that talk about who they are, and that’s the most important thing. That to me is what beauty is.

![bluprint architecture new clark city sports complex athletic stadium budji layug royal pineda budji+royal architecture+design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-sports-complex-athletic-stadium-3 - BluPrint")“Aside from it being honest and looking good, it works well,” Layug (left) answers BluPrint when asked what aspects of the Athletic Stadium he is particularly proud of. “All the science and the guidelines have already been tested. We followed that and added our soul, the originality, the design, the atmosphere of it. And we were able to do it in a way that falls within the budget, within the timeframe,” he adds. Pineda (right) says that everything in the competition and the playing field is treated sacred, but the overall design remains relevant and “truthful” to the place, and to the Filipinos. Photographed 29 May 2019**Does the BCDA have an agenda on beauty?** It’s not a beauty agenda, really. It’s an agenda to provide the Filipino with something they can enjoy, and I’m talking about everybody. Whether you’re rich, poor, young, old, anyone can enjoy something—to use the cliché—world-class, something that people can only enjoy if they’re OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) living in a developed country. But now they can enjoy it here, and these are all public facilities that can be enjoyed by everyone. The River Park that we walked along, that’s for everyone. The problem in the Philippines is that you can only enjoy beautiful and world-class things in exclusive places.

**I loved how the BGC started with public art and public parks where people could hang out. But now there are signs saying, “Don’t walk on the grass” or “Skateboarders not allowed,” and other verboten stuff. Where else are the kids supposed to go?** *Nawala na*. (It’s gone already.) That’s the key to engaging and working with planners that have designed places like this successfully in the world. Look at Singapore, everything is public. The roads have dedicated bicycle lanes and dedicated pedestrian lanes. Unfortunately, in Manila, everything is an after-thought. Public spaces are always, “*Uy! Nakalimutan natin ‘to.”* (“Oops, we forgot this.”) Or, “*Okay na ‘yan, lagyan na lang natin ng konti.”* (“That’s fine, let’s just add a bit.”) In other countries, especially in countries that value public space, those are the first things that are thought of, and that is why MTD is such a great partner because the first thing that was developed and completed was the River Park. It was the very first project they started and finished first, and it’s 4.5 hectares. It’s huge.

**I like what you say about New Clark City and the River Park being for the people but when parts of this development are privatized, the new owners may start saying, “You’re not welcome unless you’re invited.”** No, we can’t allow that to happen. That’s why you need the government to regulate it.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-athletic-stadium-budjiroyal-mtd-philippines-bcda-18.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-athletic-stadium-budji+royal-mtd-philippines-bcda-18 - BluPrint")David tells BluPrint, “People doing the field have to cross on the plastic because we’re waiting for the certification from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). We can’t risk one small defect in the tracks.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-athletic-stadium-budjiroyal-mtd-philippines-bcda-19.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-city-athletic-stadium-budji+royal-mtd-philippines-bcda-19 - BluPrint")Yellow and blue short lines mark the hurdles. “Depending on the event, there are yellow and blue lines. There are markers already so that you don’t have to measure them all the time and you have the same length for everybody,” David explains. (Image courtesy of BCDA)

**You will.** Yes. That’s why the government and the private sector always have to work together. When you privatize something, it’s the government that still makes the rules. We make the rules. The senior citizens will have discounted fares, students will have discounted entrance fees. This is like what they do in other countries. They’re not going to be free. I mean, if you’re gonna use the swimming pool, it can’t be free because you have to maintain it. Besides, if it’s free, more often than not, that’s when you can’t maintain it. And people destroy it. People will have to be able to say, “I’m going to pay for this even if it’s affordable because that now gives me the incentive to take care of it.” There’s got to be a balance between making it viable and sustainable, but at the same time, making it very open to the public.

**What does it take, Vince, for local government units to have the same kind of responsibility that the BCDA has for the properties that are under its care?** What we need to do is to show them a benchmark, a best-case scenario that they can model and follow. We think that Clark is going to be that model, that’s why we always want to entertain local government units, provincial governments, for them to see what’s been done here and how it’s going to be run. So that they can use the model and develop something similar in their own areas. That’s the key. We just have to start somewhere.

**Well, the SEA Games is just a couple of months away. You excited?** It’s something.

![bluprint planning new clark city sports complex](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-2.jpg "bluprint-planning-new-clark-city-sports-complex-2 - BluPrint")According to the BCDA, the NGAC will contain the “back-up” offices of various government agencies to ensure continuous business operations and services for the people in case of disasters or national calamities. Six more buildings will be built before the end of 2020. Photographed 29 May 2019**It’s something? Haha! Describe the feeling.** It’s very difficult to describe, to be honest, especially when I think that the last time the Philippines built facilities like this was in 1934 when we built the Rizal Memorial Complex. It was world-class then, but not anymore, 80 years later. We really needed to build something new for everybody, because this city is going to be for everyone, especially the sports facilities for our athletes.

The successful hosting of the SEA Games will be a major goal for us. That’s just not us, that’s everybody, that’s the [Philippine Sports Commission](https://www.psc.gov.ph/), that’s the Philippine committee, organizing committee, and all of the sports officials. And we’re working with them to make this a success. But I think the long-term goal is to really make sure that people enjoy this. It’s really for them, for us, for everybody.

**New Clark City is probably one of the most exciting things you’ve done, right? Oh, yeah. I mean, it’s a city! You’re building a city. Who gets to do that in their lifetime?

**Alright, I’ll talk to you the next time you build another city.** Oh, no, no more. This is enough. (Laughter)

**We’ll be back, for sure.** In October, let’s go. When it’s all landscaped and done.

*Article Credits:*

*Interview by Judith Torres*

*Introduction and edits by Denny Mata*

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the main purpose of the New Clark City project?

New Clark City is a master-planned development designed to decongest Metro Manila and spur inclusive economic growth across Luzon. By building a sustainable, green metropolis outside the national capital region, the project establishes a resilient urban center capable of servicing the country’s expanding population density needs.

### How is the infrastructure of New Clark City funded?

The infrastructure of New Clark City is funded through a hybrid Private-Public Partnership model combining government revenue and private investment. While public funds cover the 13.5 billion peso sports facilities for public good, the ongoing operations and maintenance are privatized to ensure long-term commercial sustainability.

### What natural resiliency features protect New Clark City from disasters?

New Clark City is protected by its strategic geographic location, featuring a high natural elevation of 65 to 70 meters above sea level. This topography protects the area from floods, while its 20-kilometer distance from the nearest faultline mitigates the seismic impact of potential earthquakes.

### How will the government prevent New Clark City from becoming a white elephant?

The government prevents New Clark City from becoming a white elephant by privatizing operations and converting sports venues into mixed-use commercial spaces. Benchmarked against successful Olympic models in London and Sydney, this strategy relies on private sector efficiency to maintain profitability and infrastructure quality.

### Who designed the sports facilities for the New Clark City first phase?

The first phase sports facilities were designed through a collaboration between local architectural firm Budji+Royal Architecture+Design and late national artist Bobby Mañosa. The structures incorporate a modern Filipino sensibility, using sustainable, low-maintenance materials like localized lahar finishes suited for the tropical climate.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept

**Tags:** Aquatic Center, Architecture, Athletic Stadium, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, BCDA, Budji+Royal Architecture+Design, City Development, MTD Philippines, National Government Administrative Center, New Clark City, New Clark City Sports Complex, SEA Games, Urban Planning

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### [Its Own Paradise: Aqua Boracay Merges Luxurious Living With Youthful Expression](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/aqua-boracay-merges-luxurious-living-with-youthful-expression/)

**Published:** January 10, 2020
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Content:**

Located by the serene Bulabog Beach of Boracay, Aqua Boracay is the newest vacation hotspot that aspires to elevate its Mediterranean and tropical deco foundation with local flair while intertwining the island’s natural wonders.

## There is more to these white walls

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1a.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1a - BluPrint")](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1a.jpg)[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1f.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1f - BluPrint")](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1f.jpg)“The first thing that came into my mind \[upon looking at the entire property\] was that it felt like a luxury resort in Miami or Ibiza. Once we got Chef Chele Gonzales to partner with us for our food and beverages, he mentioned how the place felt like a resort in Bali. First Miami, then Ibiza, and now Bali–we had to define who we are,” said Carlo Co, Executive Vice President of Aqua Boracay. The end goal for the resort was pretty straightforward: to not fall in line with western resort trends, but tread their own line of luxury.

With Principal Architect [Jason Buensalido](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/jason-buensalido-contemporary-filipino-design/) at the helm of the resort’s build, the team took inspiration from the shape of seashells for the guest building’s elliptical shapes. These seven white-clad structures are distributed along the lot’s lateral boundaries. Each building is like a stack of wide, parallel concrete slabs with glass panes along the gaps in between, making visible the 138 guest rooms and opening the guest’s view of the surrounding beauty.

The rest of the development was finalized and designed by APL Architects. With their principal, Architect Philip Lu, and his team of international and local consultants, the introduction of the more linear structures, starting from the main building (reception) and facilities building (gym spa and the admin offices), to the rectilinear swimming pools and the clubhouse facing the beach materialized. The design intent was to contrast the curves of Buensalido’s towers.

## Modern tropical by the masters

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1e.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1e - BluPrint")From pool to beach, the resort’s seamless transition to the white sand of Boracay gives guests a freedom of experience![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1c.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1c - BluPrint")Aqua Boracay’s center pool is cut by a path that directly leads to the sea.food by Chele restaurant![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1b.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1b - BluPrint")Aqua Boracay’s structures gradually taper towards the shore, with The Day Club wide open for daytime partiesBut in order to inject a sense of the locale in a space that intertwines many foreign influences, Co turned to two industry bigshots: Architect [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ed-calma-modern-minimalist-home/) and Vito Selma. Influenced by the architectural and interior design prowess of his father Lor Calma, [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/) has paved his own path to be regarded as one of the leading creatives in Philippine modernism today. “[Architect Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/unrestrained-modernism-advancing-the-contemporary-architecture-and-design-dialogue/) is well-known for his modern, minimalist design and his work fits the overall concept that we had in mind,” says Co.

It’s safe to say that any design choice one might see at Aqua Boracay was a part of [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lee-residence-elevated-perspectives-by-ed-calma/)’s plan of bringing a modern tropical aura to the place. “When we got to the property, everything was bare, and he planned almost everything: the furniture placement, material selection, wall mounts, color palettes–he had a touch in almost everything,” Co adds.

Vito Selma, on the other hand, lent his expertise on locally-sourced materials and woodcraft to give Aqua Boracay nature’s touch. Co explains, “When you see most parts of the property, it’s not your typical Filipino build. But once you enter the guest rooms and see that every piece of furniture is by Vito Selma, you get to feel that Filipino touch. It’s all in the subtleties.”

Selma’s works prove to be crucial in grounding the resort to its location that has gained worldwide fame for its natural beauty. “People go to Aqua Boracay to experience not only the beauty of the property, but definitely the nature that surrounds it. I believe that every visual choice matters in creating a balance between the two: furniture, use of space, and the combination of them all,” adds Co.

## A refreshed experience

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1d.jpg "AQUABORACAY_BLUPRINT1d - BluPrint")Bulabog Beach is well-known for its windsports activities, such as kitesurfing. Guests can engage in this thrilling sport straight from their hotel rooms

To stand out from the bustling hospitality scene on the island, Co had to position Aqua Boracay to cater to a rather untapped market: the young partygoers. A number of luxury resorts in Boracay tend to embody the “old-fashioned” way of luxury–lavish decors, overabundant experiences, exquisite everything. But for Co, his vision for Aqua Boracay is to bring forth an experience that’s a merger of luxury and youthful expression: “Luxury, in most people’s minds, is all in the excess. We like to keep our experiences filling, but not overwhelming.”

It is through this “just right” mindset where hopefully, through their ongoing soft launch, guests can experience tropical tranquility and grab the occasional drink whenever they feel like letting loose–that is the Aqua Boracay experience.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What makes the architecture of Aqua Boracay unique?

Aqua Boracay features a unique architectural design that contrasts elliptical, seashell-inspired guest towers by Jason Buensalido with linear, minimalist amenity structures by APL Architects. This structural duality creates a distinct luxury aesthetic reminiscent of Miami, Ibiza, and Bali, while remaining deeply rooted in its tropical environment.

### Who designed the interiors and furniture of Aqua Boracay?

The interiors of Aqua Boracay were masterminded by Architect Ed Calma, who established the resort’s modern tropical aura. Renowned designer Vito Selma crafted the custom guest room furniture, utilizing locally sourced materials and expert woodcraft to subtly infuse authentic Filipino identity into the luxury space.

### Where is Aqua Boracay located on the island?

Aqua Boracay is located along the serene shores of Bulabog Beach in Boracay, Philippines. This specific location is internationally famous for its natural beauty and exceptional windsports activities, allowing guests to experience thrilling outdoor adventures like kitesurfing directly from their hotel rooms.

### How does Aqua Boracay redefine the luxury resort experience?

Aqua Boracay redefines luxury by blending premium hospitality with youthful expression, moving away from old-fashioned, overwhelming excess. The resort offers a balanced, “just right” experience where younger travelers can enjoy tranquil beachfront relaxation alongside a vibrant daytime party scene at The Day Club.

### What dining options are available at Aqua Boracay?

Aqua Boracay features premium food and beverage experiences developed in partnership with celebrated culinary expert Chef Chele Gonzalez. The resort’s dining options complement the beachfront ambiance, offering high-end local and international flavors that enhance the property’s distinct multi-cultural resort identity.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept, Interiors, Restaurants

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### [The Anatomy of A Sustainable Home: 5 Basic Principles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anatomy-sustainable-home/)

**Published:** June 29, 2021
**Author:** Maria Rebecca Abaya

**Content:**

**Sustainable Home – two big words are being described here, anatomy and sustainability. When we say anatomy, what immediately comes into mind is the overall structure of the body. It gives you a picture of how all the body parts and organ systems are well connected.**

The construction blueprints and drawings of houses are similarly presenting like of a body’s anatomy where the different living spaces are connected. The second word, sustainable, Cambridge tells us it’s something that can continue over a while. About the environment, being sustainable is to cause little or no damage to the environment, therefore it can continue for a long time. Dissecting deeper into the anatomy of what constitutes a Sustainable home gives us 5 basic design considerations that must be applied.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-1.jpg "ANATOMY-1 - BluPrint")Section Sketch of Goudhurst Eco House in Kent Village, England by Farrells Architects## **The Importance of Orientation**

In humans, life begins with the first heartbeat of the baby inside the mother’s womb. Relating to designing and building any structure and house, the first heartbeat is understanding how to maximize the natural advantages present in your property through proper building orientation. In a gist, orientation refers to the position and direction of sunrise and sunset including the direction of the prevailing winds. Ideally, for a tropical country like the [Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/how-the-philippine-construction-industry-is-moving-forward-amidst-the-pandemic/), the building’s long side should be facing the north and south axis, while the short side should face the east-west axis. This is to minimize the impact of the undesirable afternoon sun, especially on these days that the earth’s temperature is getting high due to climate change.

With successful orientation, sustainable design is achieved through passive cooling or having a more stable interior temperature, reduced lighting load due to satisfactory daylight entering the structure, less consumed energy, and less operating costs for both artificial lighting and cooling systems. Also, it helps the designer and builder know what additional efficient building systems can be incorporated to enhance more the sustainability of the design.

![Sustainable home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/modernhome3.jpg "CSS - BluPrint")Congregation Beth David Synagogue California, Photo By BuildingGreen.com## **Use The Right Building Materials**

The materials and finishes one uses inside and outside a house are as important as their proper orientation. The building envelope is likely similar to the largest organ of the body which is the skin. Nobody wants to put on products on one’s skin knowing that it’ll just worsen its texture and health. The same goes with choosing the building materials. Having known the location and the right orientation, the question will be, are your material specifications suitable for say, an urban setting? Or will it be feasible for say, a rural setting? Or will it stand the harsh conditions say, being nearby a salty body of water?

Today there are so many available products and materials that can be said are truly sustainable. These products are considered sustainable because of the quality itself and how it is produced, using less energy and carbon footprint. Some of the best-known green building material examples would be bamboo, which is considered the best eco-friendly material, pre-cast concrete, recycled plastics, reclaimed or recycled wood, and steel.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-12.jpg "ANATOMY-12 - BluPrint")Qing Xaio Residence by Shulin Architectural Design, Photo by Yilong Zhao## **Incorporate Suitable Building Systems and Technology**

As the world advance in years of existence, so is technology. It becomes greater and more intelligent. The most common system adapted is the use of solar panels. Solar Panels allow one to maximize the naturally available [solar energy](https://www.doe.gov.ph/national-renewable-energy-program). It is a clean and renewable source of energy. At first, it can be very expensive but in the long run, one will realize that it’s a good investment, having saved not just energy but even that electricity bill. The rainwater harvesting systems and tankless water heaters are also proven sustainable systems. The collected rainwater from roofs temporarily stored in tanks can be used for other purposes, like water closet flushing or for cleaning the garage. While the tankless water heaters reduce the process by heating only the needed amount of water through an electric coil and there’s no need for the typical hot water tank. Last, one of the easiest and most affordable sustainable technology through eco-friendly lighting. It is by using LED or CFL, Compact Fluorescent Lamps, that uses less energy and lasts longer than incandescent bulbs.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-4.jpg "ANATOMY-4 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-5.jpg "ANATOMY-5 - BluPrint")## **Resort to Smart Furnishings**

How do smart furnishings become sustainable? The first example is the choice of a durable and long-lasting piece of furniture. Again, sustainability is about using things for a long period, so throwing away easy-to-break furniture will be considered wasting resources. Using furniture that’s already made from natural and renewable materials is better preferred. Those pieces with more than one function, or the multi-purpose ones, will be a great option also. It also goes with investing in the right Sustainable Home appliances. Always look for those with energy star labels or eco-friendly labels, for these machines are crafted and well-tested sustainable items.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-13.jpg "ANATOMY-13 - BluPrint")Pet Furniture by DS Yanko Design![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-11.jpg "ANATOMY-11 - BluPrint")Multi-purpose L-shaped Wood by Luka Locicnik## **Introduce Sustainable Lifestyle for the Users**

It’s an unspoken influence that it’s the architects and designers that somehow create the culture of how people will use their living spaces by the way it is planned and being built. Yes, providing all the above-mentioned elements and systems to create a sustainable house is tremendously essential. But as they say, a house is not a home without users. So is a sustainable house becoming a Sustainable home when users know how to live in a sustainable way. One way is to create an open or free layout of spaces, allowing a space to have multiple uses. It lessens the carbon footprint of getting from one point to another and also helps save resources by only procuring building materials to what is only needed, like fewer doors and partition walls. Also, to give ample outdoor spaces for backyard vegetation for the user’s basic food ingredients and at the same time allowing them to breathe and enjoy outdoor activities like exercise, that is beneficial to their physical and mental well-being as well.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-2.jpg "ANATOMY-2 - BluPrint")Wind House Thailand, Design and Photo by Openspace Design![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ANATOMY-7.jpg "ANATOMY-7 - BluPrint")Eco-Sustainable House France by Djuric Tardio Architects – Photo by Clement Guillaume## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the main principles of a sustainable home?

The five main principles of a sustainable home include proper building orientation for passive cooling, using eco-friendly building materials, integrating renewable energy technologies, selecting smart multi-purpose furnishings, and designing flexible layouts that foster an eco-conscious lifestyle. Together, these elements drastically minimize environmental impact.

### How does building orientation affect home energy efficiency?

Building orientation affects energy efficiency by maximizing natural daylight and wind patterns while reducing heat absorption. In tropical regions, aligning the long sides of a house north-south minimizes direct exposure to the harsh afternoon sun, which lowers indoor temperatures and significantly reduces cooling costs.

### What are the best eco-friendly materials for home construction?

The best eco-friendly materials for home construction include bamboo, pre-cast concrete, recycled plastics, reclaimed wood, and sustainable steel. These building materials are highly durable, have a significantly lower carbon footprint, and ensure the structure can withstand diverse environmental conditions without quick degradation.

### Which green technologies help lower household electricity bills?

Solar panels are the most effective green technology for lowering electricity bills by providing clean, renewable energy. Additionally, incorporating energy-efficient LED or CFL lighting, tankless water heaters, and rainwater harvesting systems further reduces long-term operational costs and conserves critical natural resources.

### How does an open floor plan support sustainable living?

An open floor plan supports sustainable living by reducing the raw materials needed for internal walls and doors. This flexible layout maximizes natural airflow and daylight distribution while allowing spaces to serve multiple functions, effectively shrinking the home’s overall environmental and carbon footprint.

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

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### [G1 Lodge encapsulates a total rethink of what Cordilleran architecture could convey today](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/g1-lodge-90-design-studio/)

**Published:** October 14, 2019
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** No two angles are the same at G1 Lodge, as Baguio-based 90 Design Studio ply Cordilleran timber in the most malleable of manners

**Content:**

On a tapered 200-square-meter lot which slopes down steeply from the upper Session Road area down to Bagumbayan Street, [G1 Lodge](https://www.facebook.com/G1LODGE/)—Baguio’s newest and probably the boldest hotel—strikes a pose. Looking at the building from either street, it’s clear that this isn’t the sort of accommodation that tourists are used to seeing in the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Its irregular profile and upper-level rooms appearing to jut out at angles awry evoke shades of the organic architecture of Enrique Miralles and Benedette Tagliabue (EMBT) or British architect and academic, Peter Salter.

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-5 - BluPrint")The front façade is entirely screened by timber beams, each cut to size to collectively form a brise soleil. The aspect adds value to the narrow streetscape, which is located along the main thoroughfare through Baguio City.![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-G1-Lodge-90-Design-Studio-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-G1-Lodge-90-Design-Studio-1 - BluPrint")Upon entry, two custom-made benches introduce the idea of the contemporary *hagabi* to the visitor. The loadbearing masonry is painted black to emphasize and frame the textural timber elements.There is more, however, to the unconventional departure from the traditional [architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/pig-and-palm-nerihu/) of the region than just a freeform architecture from the designer’s wandering mind. On one level, Aris Go, principal of [90 Design Studio](https://www.facebook.com/90designstudio/), unconsciously attempts to break free from the monotony of contemporary minimalism many architects seem to favor for every project they do. “In a way, I really wanted the design of G1 Lodge to be minimal at a micro-scale, but ornate at a macro scale,” remarks Go. “Because I find minimalism, as a whole, to be uninteresting. You see it everywhere. If it’s flat, it’s flat. It has no character,” he continues. Quite the opposite, the interior and exterior of the hotel exhibits a craftedness which expresses personality at every turn and beckons your curiosity.

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-8 - BluPrint")The front desk, an abstraction of the *hagabi*, is crowned by groupings of timber ceiling strips curving down to form an eye-catching backdrop.![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-6 - BluPrint")The architects have devised a unique piece of furniture for each type of visitor, old and young alike. This is one is a bench which children intuitively also use as a slide, which characterizes he part-play, part-design approach of 90 Design Studio to elements of its architecture.Moreover, at a more primordial level, the architect is primarily fuelled by questioning what he calls the “staples” of Cordilleran architecture: “How do you create a new, contemporary Cordilleran architecture? How do you rethink the *hagabi* (a bench carved out of a single piece of wood placed in front of a house as a sign of wealth and status)? How do you rethink the *kayabang* (a traditional woven basket from Benguet province)? How do you even rethink the Ifugao hut?” Go says. At G1 Lodge, 90 Design Studio was able to push some of these design responses with less compromise than the educational institution projects for the redevelopment of the UP Baguio campus. The firm was also the design lead of the said project.

**READ MORE: [90 Design Studio explores abstract past forms in UP Baguio Teatro Amianan](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/90-design-studio-explores-abstract-past-forms-in-up-baguio-teatro-amianan/)**

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-4 - BluPrint")The organic make-up of the timber was the perfect choice to render a graphical approach to the hotel lobby, effectively rendering a fusion of nature and design.Partly the reason they were able to achieve an outcome closer to their vision with the hotel—and bag a Kogler Bold Design Award for the Boldest Urban Hotel when it opened in March 2018—was due to the familiarity and freedom its hotelier Russell Go, Aris’ brother, afforded him during the design and construction stages of the project. Russell Go shared that they had originally planned for the building to be commercial office space with retail units. The building had already broken ground when the change of heart meant that the architects were chasing to revise and resolve the design for the upper levels of the building and, ultimately, producing a different architectural response.

The architect was careful in explaining that the arduous trial and error process in assembling the marvelous undulating hotel lobby ceiling was done by eye and hand—with the assistance of a 3D model, but not at the expense of true craftsmanship. It is a captivating riposte to those who may assume that the thin timber strips were made-to0order using an algorithmic process. Every steel channel was manually dropped to a grid of points affixing to each timber strip’s pliable curvature. The result is an inverted abstraction of the Cordilleran terrain; one that feels like a microcosm of the experience of being in Baguio City itself within the wider landscape, and thus, enables the visitor to feel that they are in some place apart.

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-7 - BluPrint")The undulating timber-slatted ceiling is an abstraction of the Cordilleran terrain made even more expansive by its continuity from the front to the back of the hotel lobby and café.The care and attention to timber detailing is a refreshing sight and stems from the lead designer’s infatuation with the Cordillera’s most celebrated building material. He spoke in extensive detail about how he used to spend day and night receiving deliveries of 22-feet sections of the hardiest of woods—namely *narra* and *yakal*—at his workshop during his early days as an architectural practitioner. “Since the beginning of my practice, when I began my timber explorations back in 2004, I was really enamored with timber,” he gleams. Imagine the scene: a workshop full of sawdust from him and his carpenters planing hours on end. Aris Go was knee-deep in it. Timber replaced the air he inhaled. Through touch, he knew its characteristics—both its strengths and its limits. Today this knowledge is expressed with flair and conviction that continues the great lineage of traditional wood craftsmanship in the Cordillera.

**READ MORE: [Square one: Malcolm Square rehab breathes new life into Baguio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/malcolm-square-baguio/)**

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-3 - BluPrint")The timber ceiling aesthetic continues in the topmost floorAn entire family of bespoke crafted, built-in-furniture inspired by the *hagabi* was, therefore, devised for the visitor to enjoy the interior landscape. At the front-of-house, the concierge desk is the largest of the pieces, in a similar way, claims Aris Go that the *hagabi* would be put in front of a traditional house. In the café, a tall bench is designed for millennials wanting to sit with their laptops while sipping their cups of Benguet coffee.

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-2 - BluPrint")In one of the Flamingo rooms, a strip rooflight lets light flood in which gives an airy feel to the space, defined by compound volumes.What one might not necessarily pick up on the first sight, however, is that every table and chair was also made especially for the establishment. The crisp-edged dark finishing and candy-colored upholstery underlining the project’s desire for contemporary hospitality without losing the traditional timber touch that us well-associated with Baguio. Aris Go explains that every creation, whether it be a timber wall feature, a piece of furniture, or a pattern, will be signposted in the future to help visitors appreciate the origins of these sculptural ideas. The entire building has already become an exhibit of abstracted narratives brought together in the singular spirit of Cordilleran carpentry.

**READ MORE: [The Pig and Palm: Neri&Hu’s temple for tapas in Cebu](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/pig-and-palm-nerihu/)**

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-9 - BluPrint")Detail of hand-fabricated spiral stair at the front of the building connecting the basement spaces (which will be communal spaces when finished) to the main lobby.![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-10 - BluPrint")The sculptural spiral staircase epitomizes the traditional methods of construction by putting things together piece by piece with the finish and expression of something boldly modern. The basement rooms to the right receive some daylight from the atrium and double height lobby windows above.Visiting the different types of rooms, which are categorized using different fauna—Swan, Fox, Butterfly, Flamingo, and Panda, all ranging from 12 square meters to 25 square meters—it becomes evident that every corner has been tectonically thought out to the nth degree. Faceted ceilings give the rooms a dynamism, which is inspired by the Japanese art of *origami*, while the bespoke angular side tables and the triangular floor carpet tiles are also in keeping with the theme. Where either the large rooms need to accommodate more beds, medium rooms need sitting areas, or smaller rooms need comfort rooms within the compact plan, volumes extrude out from the main building for extra space and thereby, giving an expressive rear elevation. The rooms to the front have a view up to SM Baguio to the southeast and down Session Road proper to the northwest. Meanwhile, the rearview opens up to the urbanized hilly landscape of the rest of the city. Every room option has its own permutations of quirk and surprise and is sure to give the repeat visitors greater variety during their stays.

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-13.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-13 - BluPrint")G1 Lodge ‘s premium city location takes advantage of the views of the rest of the Baguio urban and mountainous landscape beyond.90 Design Studio, whose other projects include the phase-by-phase design and construction of new UP Baguio facilities and the relandscaped [Malcolm Square](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/malcolm-square-baguio/) at the Lower Session Road, is gradually redefining the architectural landscape of Baguio, one edifice at a time. The result of the firm’s conscientious design process with G1 Lodge, in particular, encapsulates a total rethink of what an architecture from the Cordillera could convey today—one with verve and authenticity that the city is better off for it.![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-12.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-12 - BluPrint")The sloping site down to Bagumbayan Road heightens the resultant rear elevation of G1 Lodge. The push-and-pull north and east elevations help to breakdown and give visual interest to the tall massing of the hotel.![bluprint architecture g1 lodge 90 design studio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-11.jpg "bluprint-architecture-g1-lodge-90-design-studio-11 - BluPrint")What appears to be random on the exterior elevations at first sight actually follows a logic of expanding the interior floor area in each type of room to fit in more functions.**This article was first published in BluPrint Volume 4 2018. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

**READ MORE: [These welcoming pavilions orchestrate encounters](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/welcoming-pavilions-alan-tay/)**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is G1 Lodge in Baguio?

G1 Lodge is a boutique hotel on Session Road in Baguio City, Philippines, designed by 90 Design Studio and opened in March 2018. Built on a 200-square-meter sloping lot, it won the Kogler Bold Design Award for Boldest Urban Hotel for its reinterpretation of Cordilleran architecture.

### Who designed G1 Lodge?

G1 Lodge was designed by Aris Go, principal of 90 Design Studio. The project benefited from creative freedom afforded by hotelier Russell Go, the architect’s brother, allowing 90 Design Studio to fully express its reimagining of Cordilleran design through timber craftsmanship and bespoke furniture pieces.

### What is the hagabi, and how is it used in G1 Lodge?

The hagabi is a traditional Cordilleran bench carved from a single piece of wood, historically placed in front of a house as a symbol of wealth and status. At G1 Lodge, 90 Design Studio reinterpreted the hagabi as bespoke built-in furniture including the front desk and lobby seating.

### What are the room categories at G1 Lodge?

G1 Lodge rooms are categorized by animals: Swan, Fox, Butterfly, Flamingo, and Panda, ranging from 12 to 25 square meters. Each features faceted ceilings inspired by Japanese origami, angular bespoke side tables, and triangular floor carpet tiles, with rooms offering views of Session Road or Baguio’s hilly landscape.

### What inspired the lobby ceiling at G1 Lodge?

G1 Lodge’s undulating timber-slatted lobby ceiling is an inverted abstraction of the Cordilleran terrain. It was assembled by hand using a 3D model as reference, with steel channels manually placed on a grid of points to shape each timber strip’s curvature, preserving traditional craftsmanship throughout.

**Categories:** Architecture, Cafes, Commercial, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** 90 Design Studio, Architecture, Baguio City, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cordilleran Architecture, G1 Lodge, Hospitality, Hotel, Philippine architecture, Timber

---

### [G Studios: A Creative Space Designed for the South](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/g-studios-a-creative-space-designed-for-the-south/)

**Published:** September 23, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

Located at Alabang, Muntinlupa City, G Studios is a space that redefines what it means to be a creative hub in the southern part of Metro Manila. Co-founded by actor and producer Matteo Guidicelli and his wife, singer and actress Sarah Geronimo, G Studios was conceived with the idea of creating a premium, versatile studio space for the South—a much-needed alternative to the predominantly northern-based studios in Makati and Quezon City. Designed by architect [Rebecca Plaza](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/women-leading-the-way-in-architecture-through-education-and-innovation/), Managing Director of [WTA Architecture and Design Studio](https://www.wtadesignstudio.com/), this collaborative project has not only come to life as a functional studio, but also as a beautifully crafted space that caters to the needs of the local creative community.

## **The Birth of G Studios**  

What started as a concept shared between the Guidicellis and their long-time friend and architect, Rebecca Plaza, has now become a 400-square-meter space that supports a variety of creative activities. Matteo and Sarah, having launched G Productions, were on the lookout for a space that could house both content creation and events. After experiencing the limitations of studios in the north, the couple envisioned a space closer to home, one that could accommodate everything from commercials and music videos to workshops, events, and even birthday parties.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-04 - BluPrint")The Guidicellis tapped Rebecca Plaza, who then running Plaza and Partners, to design the creative studio in the South.“It was really clear what we wanted,” Matteo explained. “We needed a space that wasn’t just a studio. We wanted it to be a creative hub for people in the South.”

With that vision in mind, the Guidicellis approached Rebecca Plaza to help design a space that wasn’t only functional but also aesthetically aligned with their vision. In just a few weeks, Plaza presented the first iteration of what would become G Studios, and it was love at first sight.

**Functional Design Meets Architectural Beauty**

At its core, G Studios is a versatile space designed for multiple uses. This ranges from content production to hosting events. However, its true beauty lies in its architecture, which seamlessly marries form and function.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-09 - BluPrint")A reception area welcomes visitors and artists to the G Studios where they can order coffee and snacks.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-24.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-24 - BluPrint")A large multi-purpose open space with high ceiling takes up majority of the studio. This can be used for dance practice or an event’s space.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-06.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-06 - BluPrint")The open-plan interior of G Studios offers a versatile space where creativity thrives, designed with functionality and collaboration in mind.From the outside, the building commands attention. Plaza took inspiration from brutalist architecture, creating a cubist form that plays with the idea of geometric simplicity. The exterior is sculptural—composed of several boxes stacked together. Each box represents a distinct functional space inside. The largest box houses the main studio, while smaller ones correspond to the recording studio and dressing rooms.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-08 - BluPrint")The facade of G Studios showcases a minimalist architectural design, marked by clean lines and geometric forms that emphasize its modern aesthetic.“The architecture had to be honest and pure,” Plaza said. “Each space needed to be reflected externally, and because it’s a recording studio, we couldn’t have too many windows. So we celebrated the form itself, giving it a sense of permanence and solidity.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-23.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-23 - BluPrint")![Interior shots of the G Studios concrete stairwell.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-05.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-05 - BluPrint")![Interior shots of the G Studios concrete stairwell.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-18.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-18 - BluPrint")![Interior shots of the G Studios concrete stairwell.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-19 - BluPrint")![Interior shots of the G Studios concrete stairwell.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-17.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-17 - BluPrint")Inside, the studio opens into a 200-square-meter blank canvas. High ceilings and minimalist white walls dominate the space, while polished cement floors offer an industrial yet sleek feel. The absence of clutter allows the space to be transformed for any type of shoot or event—whether it’s a TV commercial, a photo shoot, or a private concert. Mirrors line one side of the studio, but can be covered if the space requires more neutrality.

## **Designed for Creatives**

The thoughtful design extends to every corner of G Studios. The second floor is home to three dressing rooms, a podcast room, and a conference room. These spaces were designed with input from the Guidicellis, based on their years of experience in the entertainment industry. The dressing rooms, for example, feature custom-designed makeup tables, spacious mirrors, and cozy seating areas, making them ideal for actors and performers to prep in comfort. The bathrooms, a point of pride for Matteo, are equipped with all the amenities needed for an extended stay—showers, heaters, and plush seating, making it possible for guests to truly feel at home.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-13.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-13 - BluPrint")G Studios’ communal areas are designed to encourage interaction. With ample room for team discussions and brainstorming sessions, it comes within a stylish, minimalist setting.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-12 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-14.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-14 - BluPrint")“We wanted G Studios to feel like a second home,” Matteo shared. “It’s not just a place where people come to work. We want them to feel comfortable enough to stay, relax, or even sleep here.”

The versatility of the space is what truly sets G Studios apart. From dance workshops to intimate concerts and podcast recordings, the possibilities are endless. The main studio space has high ceilings to accommodate various production setups, including suspended lighting rigs, while soundproofing materials allow for uninterrupted filming even when it rains.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-03.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-03 - BluPrint")The open-plan interior of G Studios offers a versatile space where creativity thrives, designed with functionality and collaboration in mind.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-02.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-02 - BluPrint")The conference room, often used by Matteo for his production meetings, is another favorite. “It’s where a lot of the brainstorming happens,” Matteo shared. “It’s intimate yet spacious enough for our team to gather and plan our projects.”

## **A Space for the South** 

G Studios’ location in Alabang makes it a rare gem in the southern part of the metro. “We always found ourselves driving to the north for shoots or events,” Matteo said. “There wasn’t anything like this in the South, so we wanted to create a space that could cater to the local creative community.”

The convenience of its location, paired with the thoughtful design, has already made G Studios a favorite among creatives in the South. With unlimited parking, a nearby Landers Superstore, and a multitude of shoot-friendly corners inside the studio, it’s easy to see why.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BluPrint-2024-September-In-Article-GStudios-25.jpg "BluPrint 2024 September In-Article GStudios-25 - BluPrint")The large “G” monogram on the building’s exterior stands as a visual statement, complementing the studio’s straightforward yet commanding architecture.G Studios hosts a variety of events each month, including the South Trading Post (STP), a market where vendors sell vintage clothes and other artisanal goods. It’s also set to host pet adoption events and plant-based markets, showing the versatility of the space beyond its primary use as a production studio.

## **The Future of G Studios**

Looking ahead, Matteo envisions G Studios as a mainstay in the South’s creative scene. “Our dream is for G Studios to be the go-to creative space in the South. A place where people can come together, collaborate, and create.”

With its functional yet aesthetically pleasing design, and a commitment to fostering creativity, G Studios is already well on its way to becoming the creative hub that the Guidicellis dreamed of—and architect Rebecca Plaza brought to life. Whether you’re a photographer, filmmaker, or event organizer, G Studios offers a blank canvas waiting to be transformed, all within a thoughtfully designed space.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [International Design Conference 2024 Re-evaluates the Meaning of Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/international-design-conference-2024-design-beyond-desire/ "International Design Conference 2024 Re-evaluates the Meaning of Design")

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### Who owns G Studios?

G Studios is co-founded and owned by actor-producer Matteo Guidicelli and his wife, singer/actress Sarah Geronimo, who envisioned it as a creative hub serving the southern Metro Manila region.

### What is G Studio?

G Studios is a premium, versatile creative studio located in Alabang, Muntinlupa, offering a thoughtfully designed space for content production, events, workshops, and more as a creative home for southern creatives.

### Where was G-Son Studios?

G-Son Studios is a recording studio established in a former community center ballroom in Atwater Village, Los Angeles—home to the Beastie Boys’ recording endeavors since 1991.

### Who designed G Studios?

Architect Rebecca Plaza of WTA Architecture and Design Studio designed G Studios in collaboration with the Guidicellis, bringing their vision of a functional and aesthetically beautiful creative hub to life.

### What creative events can G Studios host?

G Studios accommodates a wide range of creative activities—from dance workshops and intimate concerts to podcast recordings, content shoots, conferences, vintage markets, pet adoptions, and more.

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**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Alabang, Architecture, Creative Space, Events Space, Interior Design, Studio

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### [Future Forward: ASYA and Glas’ Game-Changing Sustainable Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/future-forward-asya-and-glas-game-changing-sustainable-design/)

**Published:** January 28, 2022
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

The blending of technology and architecture has come a long way over the centuries. For other countries, green architecture is already the norm. In architecture’s most recent progression, new designs that have been strongly influenced by the inherent responsibility of being kinder to nature have slowly been taking the reins, combining form and function with sustainability. In the past, business structures only seemed to focus on creating buildings that were all for human benefit and simply for the sake of having an office space. Without sustainability in mind or the practice of maintaining a green approach, these buildings almost ignored the heavy environmental impact structures can leave. As the team in [ASYA](https://asyadesign.com.ph/) believes, modernity however requires flexibly bending to changes in nature which now asks for a wider range of sustainable structures that can last future generations.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-Featured-Photo-ASYA.jpeg "BP 2022 Website-Featured Photo (ASYA) - BluPrint")*Glas Aerial Perspective showing Ortigas Skyline.*## What is ASYA?

For the largest architecture and design practice in the Philippines, flexibility is a trait found both within the company’s teams and in its projects.

> “ASYA breathes life to the phrase “Design with Purpose”, applying the philosophy not just through drawings but in all our pursuits.”

Established in 1993 by principal architect Albert Yu, ASYA has a wide range of value-added consulting services such as master planning and urban design, creative services ranging from model-making to animation and more, interior design, engineering, and environmental signage among other services. With this lineup of services, this multi-talented firm has been known as one of the industry’s top practices where the design style shines as purposeful structures.

> “While aesthetics will consistently be subjective and open for interpretation, the client’s contentment is not. And while we push the envelope for innovation, our Client will continue to be our top priority. In the same vein, we can say that each project is unique as it constitutes a million factors for it to be built. If we were to quantify a single common strand among them, it would be that the project works.”

ASYA has the expertise and technical resources expected of a star firm. These allow the practice to incorporate both passive and active strategies that respond to contemporary issues like the use of renewable energy sources, wind power, indoor day-lighting, air quality, good ventilation, energy conservation, and other details that reduce costs.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Photo-ASYA-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Landscape - Photo (ASYA) (7) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-Photo-ASYA.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Landscape - Photo (ASYA) - BluPrint")> “Developers now see the value in design and are willing to invest in green architecture with the realization that business and environment preservation can sit in harmony.”

In light of the pandemic and its effects, green, sustainable architecture has become key to assuring a person’s well-being. ASYA focused on the green market, proving that green building is attainable. In 2008, ASYA built its headquarters in the MOA Complex. Dubbed the A-Place, it introduced the first double-layered glass technology to the area and is recognized as the world’s first 201,000 square foot certified silver building owned by an architectural firm.

Not soon after, this double-glazed technology took that market by storm and became the standard in green design. In the name of expanding headquarters, ASYA has created Glas, a praised game-changer in its own right. Located in the heart of the bustling Ortigas, Glas is a state-of-the-art, 188-meter all-glass façade that features 102,000 square meters of Grade A office spaces and retail areas within its 42-story, three-basement structure.

## Inspired Design

The thing about good architecture is that it not only possesses a natural design that fits its concept like a glove, but it also inspires the creation of similarly designed projects. Maybe even be the first of a collection of legendary firsts that leave past buildings in the dust. Glas was designed and built with this in mind, to stand as an architectural piece that future architects can draw inspiration from, follow, and innovate.

A distinct sense of luxury and warmth permeate Glas’ interiors as expressed on its common areas, all of which are conceptualized by ASYA’s very own Interior Design team. Creating Glas ushered the opportunity to both elevate current market design standards and include the firm in the green initiative affecting the economy, social community, and environment.

> “For years, CEOs around the world have imputed mother earth to their equation. In the same vein, Glas seeks to raise the global standard on sustainable design and construction and simultaneously encourage tenants and visitors to support sustainable practices by being part of the development… We want Glas to be the catalyst for such a massive revolution in the Philippines and ultimately, in the world…”

Glas’ overall designs include comprehensive and thorough design considerations such as efficient planning, generous space allocations, the careful selection of FF and Es and finishes, and the incorporation of innovative technologies. As a building set to be certified LEED-Platinum by May 2022, every aspect of building Glas was carefully thought of to ensure that sustainability goals were reached.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-16.jpg "- BluPrint")*Despite the innate ‘modernity’ and ‘iconic’ objective of buildings in the world of architecture, Glas successfully integrates into efficient forms of programs while maintaining a sense of reason.*## What are the features of a sustainable building?

A green and sustainable building has various features. Aside from the structure being placed in a sustainable site, it must be made of recycled materials, should have an efficient water system, a system that reduces energy usage, and has top-notch indoor environmental quality among many other things. Just some of Glas’ sustainable features include:

## A Rainwater Harvesting System

With ASYA’s in-house specialist team, Glas is able to utilize its water resources through a highly efficient rainwater harvesting system that ensures a clean and safe non-potable water supply. This is reserved mostly for servicing purposes like housekeeping and landscaping maintenance.

## Exceptional Cooling Systems

Glas’ office spaces are equipped with VRF or variable refrigerant flow technology which allows tenants to individually control air conditioning zones at their convenience. The building’s AC technology also uses a 3D i-see Sensor that can accurately detect people, automatically adjusting its settings depending on a space’s occupancy and ultimately optimizing energy usage.

## High Performing Glass Windows

The first of its kind in the entire Philippines, the double glazed, triple Low-E high performing glass windows wrapped around Glas are its most notable and undisputable feature.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-20.jpg "- BluPrint")*Glas’ main office floors are wrapped with these high-technology windows.*With floor-to-ceiling heights, these windows will allow natural light to penetrate throughout the floor while blocking off heat from the sun, largely reducing energy requirements and costs per year. This 32mm thick insulated glass unit (10mm clear heat strengthened, 12mm airspace, and 10mm thick fully tempered), at 4m x 1.5m per panel also presents a seamless and continuous facade. So both function and form are elegantly combined.

## Glas’ Overall Design: High User Experience Value

Glas’ design was born from the interaction of people, their lifestyle, and what makes an office space valuable. If there is excess space, it is converted into what the tenants need the most.

> “Glas takes pride in offering the “biggest” and the “firsts” of many technologies that are focused on the most important aspect of architecture: user experience.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/11-2.jpg "11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/13-2.jpg "13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/7-3.jpg "7 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5-3.jpg "5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/6-3.jpg "6 - BluPrint")

Even during conceptualization, Glas’ features were designed to be hyper-sized. From the grand lobby adorned with beautiful marble stones, spacious lift lobbies, floor allocation, and even comfort room provisions, Glas is a structure that shines on the word ‘spacious’ and perfectly caters to social distancing.

> “Its tower is also smartly configured as if there are four buildings stacked on top of each other. Divided into four zones, each zone has its own entrance, a dedicated 5 high-speed elevators, and a 4m wide elevator lift lobby that allows for better pedestrian flow and exclusivity. This mitigates foot traffic within the building.”

Just outside the elevator is a contactless Destination Allocation System (DOAS). This directs the guests on which elevator to use with just one tap. Each of Glas’ elevators are beautifully designed at 2.8 meters high with the most expensive titanium black finish to give it that modern look. Inside, the elevators are equipped with the Plasma Air Purifier which cleans the air and destroys pathogens.

## The Grand Lobby

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by two automatic, crystal glass, contact-free revolving doors three meters in radius and 3.6 meters in height. Guests of course are required to follow screening protocols done with the Lenus, an automatic facial recognition, temperature checker, and sensor-type alcohol dispenser, all-in-one technology. Further inside waits the grand lobby.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/15-2.jpg "15 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/16-2.jpg "16 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/17-2.jpg "17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (14) - BluPrint")*Glas’ magnificent lobby has an expanse of smooth stone floor flaunting elegant marble veining that highlights the building’s high-class design.*![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (3) - BluPrint")

An exceptional welcoming sight, it gives off a luxurious ambiance with its natural stone finish. Standing with an 8.5 meter high ceiling, the wide space is perfect for social distancing and flaunts itself as one of the grandest lobbies in the market. Here, Glas also flaunts an indoor LED screen, the largest in the country at 6.5m x 21m.

The grand lobby also features staggering 8.5 m x 1.5m, 12mm thick, fully tempered, laminated Low Iron FT heat soaked+ 2.28SGP glass panels. These are beyond market standards in terms of quality and scale. Low-iron glass panels provide extra clear glass that increases flow of natural light on the interiors while also allowing visibility of high-level displays from the outside, providing a seamless continuity between spaces.

SGP (SentryGlas Plus) is another popular security interlayer used in laminated glass to provide increased strength and security. Heat-soaked and toughened glass is incorporated into the laminated glazing to create a secure pane that will be tough to break and even tougher to break through.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-8.jpg "- BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-10.jpg "- BluPrint")*The 6m x 15m LED screen in Glas’ lobby will certainly catch eyes. What better platform to have for artists than this?*> “ASYA has been carefully exploring ways in which to branch out radically into the arts by providing platforms to Filipino artists around the globe, creating a statement that would best materially manifest the modern day Filipino talent. With Glas’ largest indoor LED screen, the grand lobby shall display bespoke digital art by chosen local artists.The striking display blends the outside within Glas’ lobby courtesy of the low-iron, SGP laminated glass panels that provide utmost clarity and safety.”

## Hotel-grade finishes

Glas is known for having hotel-grade finishes already sightable in the common areas, including the lavatories. Each floor has two shower facilities with its own drying area, and a generous number of toilets and with hand sprays. All fixtures in the lavatories have smart sensors. From the lavatory faucet to the urinal and water closet, these sensors are included to ensure a contact-free experience.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20-2.jpg "20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/22-2.jpg "22 - BluPrint")Even the lavatories flaunt high-class features that present modernity at its finest.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21-3.jpg "21 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-photo-ASYA-Reception-copy.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article photo (ASYA Reception) copy - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-23.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (23) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-ASYA-22.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (ASYA) (22) - BluPrint")

From the inclusion of major features like the double glazed, triple low-e glass technology to the thoughtful process of comprehensive and continuous focus on the project’s sustainability, Glas was designed to carry all these to let the practice take a larger step towards innovation for the green market. Despite these being costly investments, the inclusion of these features will ultimately benefit the future, saving up on operation costs and most importantly, allowing us to focus more on the next generation.

This giant project and everything in it was crafted completely by ASYA’s one-stop-shop team.

> “One of Glas’ inherent strengths is that it was designed and built by a holistic one-stop-shop team that provides seamless continuity from start to finish. Along with its tested architecture and design service industries, ASYA also makes use of its own ASYA Engineering Team, featuring the Building Information Modelling (BIM) team that produces accurate project estimates. These are all produced virtually and practically, paperless.
> ASYA has also formulated the perfect design and build paradigm through ASYA Build. This in-house team not only produce the most efficient designs and source out the best materials, it is also involved in construction monitoring through Arquee Construction Management (ACM), leasing out the property to global tenants via Espace Marketing and Leasing, and most importantly maintaining the building through Day One Property Management.”

## What’s the future of Philippine green architecture?

An architect’s piece is the reflection of how deep in artisanship architects really are. By producing tangible products that are designed to be adaptive, deconstructed, and reused, an architect’s work directly affects people through spatial interactions. As centuries pass and cultures evolve, architecture must do its best to keep its own steps in sync, maybe even be a few more steps ahead of the current times. These days, this kind of problem-solving thinking is essential in order to create better environments. Future architects are now given the responsibility of proposing standard solutions not just for pathogenic risks like COVID19, but to also think of the future. But of course, these won’t be met with the ideal results if people in higher power refuse to cooperate or fail to give more attention to green architecture. ASYA, of course, agrees with this sentiment.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-Photo-ASYA-5_Zeke.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Portrait - Photo (ASYA) (5)_Zeke - BluPrint")> “The next leaders should support developments that promote sustainable design, and give incentives for others to follow through. The administration should also look at architecture for its long term environmental, cultural, and historical impacts. How does it reflect the times? What purpose does it serve and will serve in the future? How will it elevate the communities in which they are built on? Understanding architecture along with its communal context, will emphasize its role as a catalyst for greater improvement.”

By completing Glas, which is also set to be LEED Platinum-certified, architects are able to prove that ambitious projects catering to the costly sustainable features are quite possible. ASYA for one is a practice driven on the goal of proving to the industry that leading technologies can be used even here, creating an impact nationally and internationally. In the future, ASYA aims to put up more sustainable design and build projects not just in Ortigas but all across the country. Leading by example after all, is one of the most efficient ways to influence others to follow in one’s footsteps.

> “No amount can pay for the future generation, so if we can help the environment in our own way, we should do it.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Feature-cover-ASYA_1-copy.jpg "BP 2022 - Feature cover (ASYA_1 copy - BluPrint")## What is it like to work in ASYA?

ASYA was founded by principal architect Albert Yu. The youngest, most competent, and most dynamic architect in the Philippines, architect Yu is a member of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) and the Philippines’ Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPOA). Because of his excellent service to UAP, he became a member of the UAP College of Fellows in 2014, a distinction he holds to date.

He has also been honored with numerous awards. These include the 2001 PRC (Philippine Regulatory Commission)’s Most Outstanding Professional of the Year of the field of Architecture award. In the same year, Albert Yu received The Thomasian Young Achiever Award from the University of Santo Tomas, Total Awards. He was also recognized as an ASEAN Architect and APEC Architect in 2015. Overall, Albert Yu is highly praised for his invaluable contributions in the field of architecture but also for advancing the welfare of the less fortunate.

When Albert Yu created ASYA in 1993, the company stood tall with the idea that one has to be flexible in order to survive. This grit and tenacity born from Yu’s own crucial life philosophy highlighting Velocity, Multi-tasking, and Responsibility opened doors that made ASYA the giant that it is today. Since then, working with the firm equals new opportunities that allow them to stay within the country’s borders instead of seeking jobs overseas.

> “It is not only about strategies and policies in rendering professional services. It is also about improving the quality of life of the marginalized Filipinos particularly those who come from the provinces and rural areas.”

Currently, ASYA employs more than 700 people within its company and subsidiaries. As a modern company with great talent, ASYA is also known for perfectly balancing work and play to bring the best out of its employees. At the very least, ASYA’s headquarters is known to be quite the enviable working environment. Pre-pandemic, the office was known to host badminton and basketball tournaments. They even had an “Ice Cream Day” accompanying the usual variety of novelty snacks for employees. Other fun events like karaoke competitions and movie nights were also great stress relievers for the employees. Back then, the firm also used to hire fresh architecture graduates just to let them join design competitions and to foster their creativity.

> “In fact, in the near future, we will be launching ASYA’s Playbook, a compendium of design projects conceptualized by our architects.”

## From ASYA, To Future Architects:

ASYA is indisputably one of the leading practices in the Philippines. It has become an elevator for success, allowing employees to further their careers and elevate their lifestyles through the different opportunities it presents. As one of the industry’s great names and mentors, here’s what ASYA has to say for the future architects rearing their heads and preparing for professional life.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/24-2.jpg "24 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/23-2.jpg "23 - BluPrint")With the rising talent and still robust local practices mingling and slowly making new plans, the Philippines is taking the necessary steps in creating a greener space for the future generations. It’s just a matter of time and effort from all the right people until the country steps higher into the platform for green architecture and be just as bright as foreign countries that almost practically live in utopias.

**Project Name**Glas**Completion Year**2021**Lot Area**2,952.50 SQM**Gross Built Area**102,000 SQM**Project Location**Opal Rd., cor. Ruby Rd., cor Topaz Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City**Architecture**[ASYA Design](https://www.asyadesign.com.ph/) **Interior Design**ASYA Interior Design**Environmental Graphics & Identity Signage**QASYA**Animation and Rendering**ASYA Marketing**Scale Model**ASYA Marketing**Electrical Engineering**ASYA Engineering**Plumbing Engineering**ASYA Engineering**Fire Protection**ASYA Engineering**Mechanical Engineering**ASYA Engineering**Structural Engineering**Magnusson Klemencic**Associates Engineering**ASYA Engineering**BIM/Revit Consultant** ASYA Engineering**Elevator Consultant**Roy Barry and Associates**General Contractor**ASYA Build**Construction Management**Arquee Construction Management**Marketing and Leasing**[Espace](https://www.espace.ph/)**Property Management**[Day One Property Management](https://www.dayone.ph/)*Photos by ASYA, Ed Simon, and Ezekiel Isaiah M. Bertumen*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Glas in Ortigas?

Glas is a 42-story, 102,000-square-meter Grade A office tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, designed and built by ASYA Design. Completed in 2021, the 188-meter all-glass building targets LEED Platinum certification and features double-glazed facades, smart cooling systems, and a contactless lobby experience.

### Who designed Glas in Ortigas?

Glas was designed and built by ASYA Design, the largest architecture and design practice in the Philippines, founded in 1993 by principal architect Albert Yu. The project was delivered through ASYA’s one-stop-shop model covering architecture, interior design, engineering, construction, leasing, and property management.

### What sustainability features does Glas have?

Glas features double-glazed triple Low-E glass windows, a rainwater harvesting system, VRF cooling with 3D i-see Sensor occupancy detection, contactless fixtures, plasma air purifiers in elevators, and energy-efficient design strategies. These features support its target LEED Platinum certification and reduce long-term operational costs.

### Who is Albert Yu of ASYA Design?

Albert Yu is the principal architect and founder of ASYA Design, established in 1993. He is a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), an ASEAN Architect and APEC Architect (2015), and received the 2001 PRC Most Outstanding Professional of the Year for Architecture.

### What is LEED Platinum certification?

LEED Platinum is the highest tier of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, awarded by the US Green Building Council. It recognizes buildings that demonstrate exceptional performance in energy use, water efficiency, materials, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development across the entire structure.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Concept

**Tags:** ASYA, Glas v84

---

### [A Symphony of Innovation and Design: OPPEIN Philippines Unveils Its BGC Showroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/a-symphony-of-innovation-and-design-oppein-philippines-unveils-its-bgc-showroom/)

**Published:** December 14, 2023
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the heart of Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, OPPEIN Philippines, the eminent global manufacturer of kitchen, wardrobe, vanity, and entertainment system cabinets, launched its new BGC Showroom at [W City Center](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/playful-pursuits-w-city-center/) on 7th Avenue. The space was thoughtfully designed by Atelier Almario led by Interior Designers [Ivy Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/setting-new-standards-a-conversation-with-piids-outgoing-president-ivy-almario/) and [Cynthia Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/moda-internis-presents-the-masters-touch-design-detail/ "Cynthia Almario"), showcasing state-of-the-art OPPEIN Philippines products.

![Interior Designers Cynthia Almario and Ivy Almario, designers of Oppein Philippines' showroom in BGC](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN-7.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN)-7 - BluPrint")![Interior Designers Cynthia Almario and Ivy Almario, designers of Oppein Philippines' showroom in BGC](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN-5.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN)-5 - BluPrint")*Premier Interior Designers Cynthia Almario and Ivy Almario of Atelier Almario are the creatives behind the design of OPPEIN Philippines’s showroom in W Center, BGC.*

The event was more than a gathering; it was a canvas where OPPEIN Philippines unfurled its diverse palette of products and services, inviting curated guests, including its Brand Ambassador Small Laude, to witness a spectacle of Italian-designed, high-quality home improvement solutions tailored for Filipino homeowners.

![Small Laude for OPPEIN Philippines](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN) - BluPrint")*Content Creator, Small Laude, is OPPEIN Philippines’ Brand Ambassador.*

Designing the perfect living space requires not only vision but also a commitment to transforming dreams into reality. OPPEIN Philippines has stepped onto the Filipino landscape to offer a unique blend of aesthetics and functionality, addressing the needs of every home builder.

![OPPEIN Philippines BGC Showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN-2.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN)-2 - BluPrint")*Sleek wardrobe cabinets are on display at the OPPEIN Philippines BGC showroom ready to elevate Filipino homes.*

Founded in 1994, OPPEIN has burgeoned into the largest modular cabinet manufacturer globally, spanning its influence across 118 countries with a vast network of 7,000+ showrooms. Over 10,000 projects have chosen OPPEIN, making it the premier provider of kitchen cabinets in Asia. With highly-automated woodworking machines and the design prowess of Marco Bortolin and Sergio Castiglia, OPPEIN seamlessly merges exceptional European design with the adaptability required to bring every design vision to life.

**Journey with The Design Maestro**

OPPEIN Philippines goes beyond being a mere cabinet provider; it emerges as the ultimate design partner. The process, from conception to completion, is a seamless journey marked by precision, impeccable design, clean installation, and unwavering after-sales service. Their portfolio of materials, from wood, lacquer, melamine to glass panels, forms a rich tapestry that elevates living spaces.

![OPPEIN Philippines BGC Showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN-1.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN)-1 - BluPrint")![OPPEIN Philippines BGC Showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-OPPEIN-3.jpg "BluPrint-2023-December-IN-ARTICLE-(OPPEIN)-3 - BluPrint")*OPPEIN Philippines prides itself to provide state-of-the-art kitchen cabinet systems to upgrade Filipinos’ kitchen experience.*

Furthermore, OPPEIN Philippines’ commitment extends beyond excellence in products and services; it incorporates a profound concern for health and indoor air quality. The brand vigilantly monitors every stage of the cabinetry process, ensuring adherence to the standards of EU, USA, Japan, Australia & New Zealand. Formaldehyde-free boards, GREENGUARD certified materials, and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified self-manufactured quartz stones underscore OPPEIN’s dedication to quality living.

For those seeking a reliable design partner committed to delivering excellence consistently, OPPEIN Philippines stands as an unwavering ally.

As the night unfolded, OPPEIN Philippines didn’t just unveil cabinets; it unveiled a visionary tapestry of design and innovation, ready to shape the homes and dreams of Filipinos. The launching of its new showroom marked the beginning of a transformative journey, where OPPEIN Philippines is not just a brand but a testament to the marriage of aesthetics, functionality, and a commitment to excellence.

Learn more about OPPEIN Philippines’ collections by visiting its [website](https://www.oppein.ph/). Follow OPPEIN Philippines on [Facebook](https://web.facebook.com/oppeinphilippines?_rdc=1&_rdr) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/oppein.ph/) to stay updated. To experience OPPEIN Philippines’ products and services, visit their showrooms locations.

**Bonifacio Global City**

G/F W City Center Building, 7th Avenue cor. Lane Q, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila

**Ortigas**

 2F AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Avenue cor. Garnet Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is the new OPPEIN Philippines showroom located?

The new OPPEIN Philippines showroom is located at the W City Center on 7th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig. Designed by the premier interior design firm Atelier Almario, the retail space showcases the brand’s latest high-quality kitchen, wardrobe, vanity, and home entertainment system cabinets.

### Who designed the OPPEIN Philippines BGC showroom?

The OPPEIN Philippines BGC showroom was designed by Atelier Almario, an elite interior design firm led by sisters Ivy Almario and Cynthia Almario. Their thoughtful layout showcases state-of-the-art European cabinetry, blending functional storage solutions with Italian design aesthetics tailored for modern Filipino homes.

### What types of custom cabinetry products does OPPEIN offer?

OPPEIN offers a comprehensive range of premium modular cabinetry products, including custom kitchen cabinets, sleek wardrobe systems, bathroom vanities, and specialized entertainment units. These Italian-designed systems are highly adaptable, utilizing diverse materials like wood, lacquer, melamine, and premium glass panels for home customization.

### Are OPPEIN modular cabinets safe for indoor air quality?

Yes, OPPEIN modular cabinets are completely safe for indoor air quality as they meet strict international safety regulations. The brand uses formaldehyde-free boards, GREENGUARD certified materials, and National Sanitation Foundation certified quartz stones to prevent toxic emissions and promote healthy home environments.

### How big is OPPEIN in the global modular cabinet industry?

OPPEIN is the largest modular cabinet manufacturer globally, operating an extensive international network of over 7,000 showrooms across 118 countries. Founded in 1994, the premier brand utilizes highly automated woodworking machinery and has successfully completed over 10,000 residential and commercial projects worldwide.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Evening Narratives: Escolta and its modern communities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/escolta-street-and-modern-communities/)

**Published:** December 4, 2018
**Author:** Arielle Abrigo

**Content:**

Escolta Street has displayed various configurations over the years, like the vividness of its former days, where the buildings slowly embraced topographies of the foreign, silent theaters multiplied in corners, and people walked along the streets in tailored garments—a resonant district filled with commerce, entertainment, and leisure. It witnessed the firsts of Philippine history, including Clarke’s Café, the first ice cream parlor located along Plaza Moraga on the south end of the Pasig River, Botica Boie, the first drug store on 81-87, and Salon de Pertierra, the theater house that left people astonished by its flicking images.

Or its paleness brought by the bombs of the Second World War that nearly left the place in ruin. It was also this time when it met its complete wither, where half of the buildings in Escolta was vacated as soon as movements gradually shifted to Makati. The beginning of the 21st century then became the “dead” era of Escolta, until art enthusiasts and heritage conservation advocates saw the need to preserve the place, drawing attention to its communities and worn edifices.

[98B COLLABoratory](https://www.98-b.org), an artist-run initiative and space established in January 2012, started its very first Saturday X Future Market at the ground floor of the [First United Building](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/revitalized-first-united-building-bags-malasakit-gran-prix-award-at-2024-good-design-award-ph/), where the Berg’s Department Store formerly stood. It was erected in 1928, and was originally called Edificio Luis Pérez Samanillo. The building was designed through the partnership of architects Andrés Luna de San Pedro and Juan Felipe Nakpil. Its rectangular form, dominant geometric patterns, and straight lines, make it a perfect example of the Art Deco style.

![escolta street](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-7.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-7 - BluPrint")The staircase inside the First United Building flaunts its intricately done geometric grillework.![escolta street](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-1.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-1 - BluPrint")In its time, people flocked the First United Building (formerly Berg’s Department Store), making it one of the busiest establishments along Escolta. Local celebrities like Dolphy and Nora Aunor once held their offices inside the building.The Saturday X Future Market gathered local artists and makers of multifaceted design discipline to set up shops, with the aim to recapture the glory days of the bygone premier shopping district in mind. And in 2016, the architecture firm [One/Zero Design Collective](https://www.facebook.com/1.0designcollective/) occupied the fifth floor of the building, and worked jointly with 98B COLLABoratory in the construction of the Hub: Make Lab, a business incubator space. The First United Building continues to welcome, and has received more additions, namely: [The Den](https://www.facebook.com/TheDenManila/), a coffee shop tucked at the far end, and [Fred’s Revolución](https://www.facebook.com/fredsrevolucion/), a quaint bar that greets visitors with a portrait of Mao Zedong next to a painting of Karl Marx.

Escolta’s habitation did not stop at those, as it still motions into existence. Last November 17, 2018, the second anniversary of the Escolta Block Party maddened the place with art events, creative talks, exchanges between customers and sellers at the Saturday X Future Market, and a DJ blasting remixed versions of classics out in the street. People slow danced to John Lennon’s “Woman,” and *footloosed* their way through the Kenny Loggins anthem.

![escolta street](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-5.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-5 - BluPrint")The Block Party in its noonday form. Food stalls and pop-up shops of local artists and business owners cover the sides of the street, arousing the interest of attendees.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-4.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-4 - BluPrint")Folk 1006, a barbershop that specializes in dapper cuts, shares the ground floor of the First United Building with the rest of those enlivening the Saturday X Future Market.One/Zero Design Collective has partnered with [The Public School Manila](https://www.publicschoolmnl.com) for the studying of Escolta’s pedestrianization. Arts Serrano, the principal of the architecture firm, elucidates the Escolta Block Parties, saying that these exuberant gatherings have always been a prototype for a pedestrianized street, which was made possible with the assistance of the Escolta Commercial Association Inc., the Manila City Hall, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, BRGY 291, and the Manila Police. “This offers a preview of what a people-centered Escolta feels like, but of course even with official blessing, traffic is a major problem in Binondo. We are looking into a shared street concept for next year that accommodates both street level activities without having the need to close off the street for traffic. With this, maybe we can ease in the idea of pedestrianization by accommodating what everyone in the district needs on the street level,” said Serrano.

One/Zero Design Collective, along with the Department of Tourism’s secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as presented by the [Creative Economy Council of the Philippines](https://www.facebook.com/creativeeconomycouncilphilippines/), and Paulo Alcazaren, the principal of [PGAA Creative Design](https://pgaacreativedesign.com), has developed a project concerning the modifications of the Maestranza in Intramuros. They have envisioned it as a platform for both creatives and non-creatives to unite in an experimental soft infrastructure that will actuate a part of the Intramuros wall. “For heritage structures, the physical manifestation of it is as important as how the people would thrive in it. They are not just artifacts we’d polish off with a fresh dab of paint once every three years. As designers working closely with places of character, we feel it’s also our duty to develop a dynamic quality in terms of programming that would keep the structure alive,” Serrano mentions. The project is anticipated to come into view in 2019.

The preservation of Escolta is not only exhibited through the effort put into sustaining the First United Building; this is also echoed by its tenants, whose narratives furnish whole the place. Seb De Jesus, one of the owners of[ Kariton by 1372 designs](https://www.facebook.com/1372designs/), revealed the shop’s story. Kariton, which was created with the help of his wife and children, takes pride in notebooks, origami boxes, and picture frames, products that are shaped from the offcuts and scraps of their neighbors. “Ever since I was a kid, *mahilig na akong magkutingting. Kuha rito, tapal dito, dikit doon, tahi rito*. (I’ve always been fond of tinkering. I would grab something here, paste it there, then sew something here.) I’m the type of person *na pag may nakita akong kalat o basura, hindi ko kaagad itinatapon.* (who, upon seeing scrap or trash, won’t think about throwing them away.) I see options and possibilities.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-6.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-6 - BluPrint")Out in the street, locals join the event staff in the completion of an art installation behind the stage.He furthers this thought in the context of Escolta, saying that in order to maintain the place, one has to remember it, and what it can be again. “Yes, it’s an old part of the city. Yes, it’s an old part of history, but like what we’re doing now, we are continuously creating possibilities. *Huwag mo muna itapon. May magagawa pa rito.* (Do not throw it away yet. There is still something that can be done here.) The same goes with the immediate communities here, like the street children. If you want to revive Escolta, you have to include them. *Kung gusto mong umangat ang* Escolta*, isabay mo sila*. (If you want Escolta to grow, involve them in its growth.)”

Reymart Cerin, the co-founder of The Public School Manila, reflects similar sentiments when he said that it is necessary for the locals, not just the community, to see the place in a different light through shared efforts. One has to consider the narratives of the buildings and streets in Escolta in order to fully comprehend the role of these elements in foregrounding the identity of the people. “I think in the end, what I want is for Escolta, and eventually our very own heritage and history, to become not just a matter of conversation but also an essential facet to our own being,” says Cerin.

Keziah Gervic Vivo, the owner of [remakethestore](https://www.instagram.com/remakethestore/), also partakes in preservation, but in the form of shopping. When she started the business, she originally wanted to reinvent and modernize vintage clothing pieces, but eventually ended up retaining them. “Clothing is such a big percentage of the waste we have in the world. We need to learn how to value things a little bit more, because everything nowadays is so disposable. You can buy something from fast-fashion, but two weeks later, you don’t like it that much anymore. It changes. I like to show that these pieces, which were around thirty of fifty years ago, are still relevant now.” Just like how 98B COLLABoratory, One/Zero Design Collective, and The Public School Manila look for ways to provide value to the old streets and sites along Escolta, Keizah uncovers the worth of these pieces that some consider momentary.

![escolta street](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-escolta-street-2.jpg "bluprint-escolta-street-2 - BluPrint")The view taken from the fourth floor of the First United Building at the peak of the Escolta Block Party. A piece of Burke and Regina buildings slightly protrude on the corners.Preservation is a gesture realized and executed in different manners. Sustaining heritage buildings provides a sense of continuity in this fast changing world for future generations. It sets everything in place, just as how a narrative causes one to remain rather than pass by. The First United Building not only stands to house the quarterly [Escolta Block Party](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mornings-escolta-block/)—with its drunken stupors, the unfailing trade on the ground floor, music-evoked nostalgia, or hands rummaging inside pockets for the pack of cigarettes bought at nearby convenience store—but also as an impulse for others to take part in the conservation and adaptive reuse of buildings. The revitalization of Escolta enthuses the design community to reshape and transform surroundings to suit the needs of the people.

Architecture is a relationship between dweller and place, and it is fueled all the more when lived in. Belonging in place, on the other hand, will prove most profound after everyone has been accommodated. Only then can smile lines stay prominent on the faces of those constantly mapping and occupying Escolta. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [Notes on a Building: on remembrance, cultural preservation, and identity](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/notes-on-a-building-heritage-conservation/)**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the First United Building in Escolta?

The First United Building is an Art Deco landmark on Escolta Street in Manila, originally built in 1928 as Edificio Luis Pérez Samanillo and later known as Berg’s Department Store. Designed by Andrés Luna de San Pedro and Juan Felipe Nakpil, it now houses creative tenants and community spaces.

### What is the Saturday X Future Market?

The Saturday X Future Market is a recurring market on the ground floor of the First United Building in Escolta, launched in January 2012 by 98B COLLABoratory. It gathers local artists, makers, and designers from diverse disciplines to recapture the energy of Escolta’s golden shopping era.

### Who is reviving Escolta Street in Manila?

Escolta’s revival is led by 98B COLLABoratory, One/Zero Design Collective, and The Public School Manila, alongside heritage-driven tenants like Fred’s Revolución, The Den, Folk 1006, Kariton, and remakethestore. Together they organize block parties, markets, and pedestrianization studies to restore the historic district.

### What is the Escolta Block Party?

The Escolta Block Party is a recurring street event held along Escolta in Manila, featuring food stalls, pop-up shops, DJ sets, and art installations. Organized by One/Zero Design Collective with local partners, it serves as a prototype for the eventual pedestrianization of Escolta Street.

### Why is Escolta Street historically significant?

Escolta Street was Manila’s premier shopping and entertainment district in the early 20th century, home to firsts like Clarke’s Café (the first ice cream parlor), Botica Boie (the first drug store), and Salon de Pertierra (an early theater house). It declined after World War II.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Heritage

**Tags:** 98B COLLABoratory, Art Deco, Escolta, Escolta Block Party, Escolta Commercial Association Inc., First United Building, Maestranza, One/Zero Design Collective, Pedestrianization, Preservation, Saturday X Future Market, Sustainability, The Public School Manila

---

### [The retrofitted Laperal Apartments aka Youniversity Suites aims to raise the standards of student living ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/youniversity-suites-aims-to-raise-the-standards-of-student-living/)

**Published:** October 2, 2020
**Author:** Gabrielle De La Cruz

**Excerpt:** Rebranded as Youniversity Suites, then Art Deco Laperal Building calls for a reevaluation of the quality of student life in Metro Manila

**Content:**

In 2018, then Art Deco [Laperal](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/) Apartments was refurbished and opened as a residential and recreational building for students. Standing as a vision along Claro M. Recto Highway in Manila, the now Youniversity Suites demonstrates how culture and heritage can be preserved and remembered through the structures and spaces within a city. The building boasts a 14-story co-ed dormitory and a 4-story commercial building that houses food kiosks and restaurants. For two years, residents and guests have delighted in using various areas such as study spaces, student rooms, and the famous LA Village.

![Youniversity Suites](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BP-LaPeral-Apartments-5.jpg "BP LaPeral Apartments-5 - BluPrint")The Youniversity Suites is famous for its LA Village, an entire space where students can enjoy dining and other activities.**READ MORE:** [Art Deco Laperal Apartments retrofitted, now a student dorm](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/)

With restrictions and new protocols due to the novel coronavirus, how does a building adjust to make ends meet? With the majority of institutions implementing online classes, how do student dorms survive? BluPrint asked one of the owners of the [Laperal Apartments](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/) or Youniversity Suites about the steps that they are undertaking to keep the building (and the business) alive, how the building has been since its opening, and how Youniversity Suites will continue to uphold cultural and social value.

![The Laperal Apartments before the renovation | Photo courtesy of the owners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Lapreal-before-1.jpg "Lapreal before 1 - BluPrint")The Laperal Apartments before the renovation. Photo courtesy of the owners## Building protocols

The Youniversity Suites was fortunate enough to have all its residents move out before the COVID-19 outbreak, so closing down during the Enhanced Community Quarantine was not a problem. When restrictions were eased and MECQ came, the building’s regulations aligned with the quarantine protocols, following the standard temperature checking, provision of alcohol and sanitizers, frequent sanitation of surfaces, and social distancing for workers and employees. He shared that most food businesses are barely surviving and that it is a struggle for food kiosks, stalls, and restaurants to generate income during this time, so the chances of raising sales heavily depend on the number of orders received online. The owner stated that other commercial establishments along Recto are also open, rest assured that they are observing quarantine protocols.

![Rooms at the Youniversity Suites](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-2.jpg "Laperal after 2 - BluPrint")Asked about the changes in the set up of each dorm room, the owner answered that they will still give the residents the option to share rooms and will live up to their promise of making the residence a safe space for all genders.**YOU MIGHT LIKE:** [Architecture and planning in the time of coronavirus—what’s next? ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/architecture-planning-coronavirus-what-next/)

In terms of its own rules and regulations, Youniversity Suites is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the users. “The primary requirement would be swab tests. They (residents) need to have this before boarding,” one of the owners said. He shared that there are no occupants staying inside the building as of now, but they will be ready to accommodate if face-to-face classes resume once quarantine restrictions are eased. To guarantee the safety of all residents, common dining areas are closed at the moment, while a few shared spaces remain open, with the set up configured to maintain social distancing. The owner explained that as a vaccine may come sometime later and the virus will probably still be steady for a few more months, it will be nearly impossible for owners to shut down their businesses, so the most viable option is to adhere to the standards set by health and public officials. “What we do at Youniversity Suites is the bare minimum, we regularly sanitize, perform a daily health check for all those who are coming in, and adhere to the guidelines set by our health and public officials. This pandemic is affecting all of us, and it is our responsibility to respect how each one of us is coping and I guess, for now, what we must do is strive to discipline ourselves and be hygienic as much as possible.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BP-LaPeral-Apartments-1.jpg "BP Laperal Apartments-1 - BluPrint")One of the shared spaces at Youniversity Suites, where residents can spend quality or quiet time. Photo courtesy of Youniversity Suites [Facebook page. ](https://m.facebook.com/YOU.suites/)## Raising the standards of student living

Commute, travel, and safety of students play subsequent roles in education. “If your class starts at 8:00 AM, you most likely need to wake up at 6:00 AM because of the heavy traffic. If you live far from your school, you wake up around 5:00 AM, some even earlier. Imagine having to waste your time commuting for a total of at least 4-6 hours every weekday. How will you be able to study?” the Youniversity Suites owner demonstrated, adding that students who live in the province even have to deal with traveling during the weekends. He then cited how several schools in selected foreign countries implement a housing program specifically for freshmen. “What most of them do is encourage, sometimes even require, first-year students to stay in the dormitories or housing provided by the school. Aside from assuring their safety and security, this also fosters camaraderie and develops a student’s social skills. Given that Filipino freshmen are usually new to their educational environment, this is one of the options that institutions here in the Philippines can explore.” He underscored that there is no general way of making student living better as there are many factors to consider, but schools and colleges should try to determine how they can deliver a holistic learning experience for students.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BP-LaPeral-Apartments-2.jpg "BP Laperal Apartments-2 - BluPrint")A decorated room for 4 at the Youniversity Suites. Photo courtesy of Youniversity Suites Facebook page.**READ MORE:** [Experience is the best architecture teacher — Manolo Noche](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/experience-is-the-best-architecture-teacher-manolo-noche/)

Location is one of the factors that the owner emphasized as he discussed. “I don’t think there is an exact way of how we can improve student dormitories and housing, but I feel like we should start by seeing the realities in the metro.” He furthered that Metro Manila has long been a dense city, and it is not exactly a safe and clean environment. “When you look at the streets, you will see informal settlers, irregulated street vendors, poor garbage collection, and various forms of pollution.” Whether one admits it or not, the things he mentioned are realities that were left to simply exist and were never given enough attention. The bottom line is that living, in general, will not improve unless people strive to enhance their surroundings.

With the ongoing pandemic, everyone is forced to rethink and reevaluate how every individual can contribute to living in a better normal. In the context of Manila, the Youniversity Suites owner expressed that it is never too late to revive or reimagine its original state. “When we decided to refurbish [Laperal Building](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/), we had this vision of remembering how Manila used to be. Of course, we will continue to improve the building. We are planning to repaint the facade in December, depending on the schedule of nearby universities and colleges.” While the whole of Manila was locked down in varying stages of quarantine control, the owner shared that Youniversity Suites has not been resting at all. “We have started building and installing wastewater treatment to help safeguard our environment. Although not yet required, this is our way of becoming environmentally compliant.”

Despite the challenges given the current pandemic, Youniversity Suites says that it will “continue and strive to provide a balanced, exciting, and safe environment for everyone alike” and hopefully entice the entire community to bring back the beauty that once belonged exclusively to Old Manila.

![Laperal arcade before](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-arcade-before.jpg "Laperal arcade before - BluPrint")The 80-meter arcade before the renovation. Photo courtesy of the owners.![Youniversity Suites arcade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-4.jpg "Laperal after 4 - BluPrint")The arcade of [Laperal](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/preserving-heritage-embracing-hospitality-the-renaissance-of-the-laperal-mansion-in-malacanang/) after the renovation.## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the history of the Laperal Apartments in Manila?

The Laperal Apartments is a historic Art Deco building located along Claro M. Recto Highway in Manila. In 2018, the structure underwent a major adaptive reuse refurbishment, reopening as Youniversity Suites—a modern, 14-story student dormitory and commercial complex designed to preserve local heritage.

### How do modern student dorms maintain safety during health crises?

Student dormitories maintain safety by implementing rigorous sanitation protocols and health screenings. Facilities like Youniversity Suites enforce mandatory pre-boarding health checks, regular surface disinfection, daily temperature monitoring, and reconfigured common areas to ensure proper social distancing for all active residents and employees.

### Why is premium student housing important in Metro Manila?

Premium student housing is vital because it eliminates grueling multi-hour daily commutes, directly improving academic performance. By offering secure, well-located accommodations near universities, these modern facilities safeguard student well-being, foster peer socialization, and provide a holistic, focused environment for learning.

### What amenities does Youniversity Suites offer to university students?

Youniversity Suites offers integrated residential and commercial amenities, including a 14-story co-ed dormitory and a 4-story retail hub. Residents have access to dedicated study spaces, secure student rooms, and the LA Village—a centralized community space featuring various food kiosks and local restaurants.

### How does heritage preservation contribute to sustainable urban living?

Heritage preservation drives urban sustainability through adaptive reuse architecture. By retrofitting iconic structures like the Laperal Apartments instead of demolishing them, developers reduce environmental waste, integrate eco-friendly upgrades like modern wastewater treatment, and revitalize the cultural landscape of historic city centers.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Art Deco, Laperal Apartments, Recto Avenue, student life, student residences, Youniversity Suites

---

### [Women Artists Bring Together Advocacy and Art](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/women-artists-bring-together-advocacy-and-art/)

**Published:** August 10, 2021
**Author:** Daniel Lampa

**Content:**

Manila is seeing its fair share of immersive exhibits with captivating artworks of women artists Isabel Santos, Nikki Luna, and Marina Cruz – and their eloquent insights into the complexity, dynamism, and beauty of the female experience.

![Filipino women artists](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2-17.jpg "2 - BluPrint")Nikki Luna behind her work “Female Fighter”, made of M4 Bullet Holes on white aluminum panel. Photo courtesy of riarecommends.com

![Filipino art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/6-13.jpg "6 - BluPrint")Marina Cruz

![Isabel Santos](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/15-3.jpg "15 - BluPrint")Isabel Santos in her studio in Quezon City

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## NIKKI LUNA

Nikki Luna’s work brings together advocacy and art. Her body of work primarily tackles social-political concerns. A proud feminist and activist, her work is notable for highlighting women’s issues, including the problems of rape, sexual harassment, domestic workers, and migrant workers.

Nikki Luna was born in 1977 in Manila. She initially studied Political Science at the University of the Philippines but graduated under the said university’s Fine Arts program, focusing on visual art. In 2008, Luna conducted a residency at the Cooper Union Summer Art Residency in New York. In 2015, she was one of thirteen artist awardees of the Cultural Center Of The Philippines. The following year, she received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Award to conduct a Masters in Art and Education at the University of London in the UK. In 2018 she authored the book “I Love My Body” to raise body awareness among girls. The book was published under Power In Her Story, a publishing house she founded to create books focusing on mainstreaming women’s human rights and gender equality, emphasizing the needs of marginalized groups of girls and women.

Notable for highlighting women’s issues, her art has been exhibited in Blanc Gallery, 1335 Mabini Gallery, [Finale Art File](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/finale-art-file-exhibits-november/) Gallery, CCP, Vargas Museum, and Lopez Memorial Museum. Internationally, she has exhibited in Singapore, New York, London, and Milan. Her works that stand out for unconventional use of materials have also been featured in the Cairo Biennale, Aichi Triennale, Singapore Biennale, Beijing Biennale, and Le Festival International des textiles Extra Ordinaires in France.

![Political Art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/10-7.jpg "10 - BluPrint")“Dancing With a Dictator” from THIS IS HOW TO BE A WOMAN OF THE WORLD solo exhibit at 1335 Mabini Gallery.

These are wood-carved shoes from Filipino carvers communities. The work represents Former first lady Imelda Marcos’ crystal-encrusted strappy pumps, which she wore to her husband’s inauguration in 1965. The artist wants to remind the viewers that justice for Martial Law victims has been eluded to this day, and criminals are still dancing free.

![Feminist Art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/12-4.jpg "12 - BluPrint")A few of the series of guns Luna has made in the course of 10 years.

By working with lacework from wedding dresses from various women and resin cast guns, the artist imbues the weapons with femininity both in form and content. The artist said: “With these guns, I lay bare the culture of rape and repression that has silenced every woman. Threatened and killed by patriarchy, gender prejudice, and poverty, they must resist together. Womanhood is a weapon.”

![Contemporary Geopolitical Art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/11-4.jpg "11 - BluPrint")“Scars on the Reef” for RAPE OF SEAS exhibit at Vienna Unttld Contemporary Gallery in Austria. 

This work is composed of fifty pieces of miniaturized giant clams made from 3D scans of actual giant clams from Chinese poachers in the West Philippine Sea, resembling scarred hymen, echoing the scars on the reefs.

![Swarovski Beauty Queen Crowns](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/9-8.jpg "9 - BluPrint")“Crafted Spectacle” at the ManMadeWoman Solo exhibit in Manila. 
Photo courtesy of Silverlens Galleries

The exhibition was later on showcased at AIR GALLERY 14th Biennale curated by Jasmine Wahi in New York. The installation is composed of eight Swarovski beauty queen crowns and a voice/sound recording sound installation. The Audio being played under the crown is a conversation between the artist and “Inay,” a local community survivor of repeated state-sponsored demolitions to give way to land development for commercial ventures in Agham Road, Quezon City. The artist shares the audio sound of the ‘Q&A’ from Miss Universe 1997: Brook Lee of the USA with the women in the community.

![Social Commentary in Art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/1-16.jpg "1 - BluPrint")“Backbone” for the LABOR Exhibit at Cultural Center of the Philippines.

This work is made of ceramic cast female vertebrae and the scythe/sickle farming tool. The work speaks of ordeals of the Filipina worker working in pineapple plantations in the southern part of the Philippines, coinciding with the much-publicized struggles of factory workers in a substandard-equipped factory that caught fire and claimed the lives of women and their children whom they brought to work.

Luna, who believes that art is a shared experience that nourishes the soul, is now based in Spain. She is still active in her work for[ Power In Her Story. ](https://www.powerinherstory.com/)Just this year, a French edition of her book was launched under Bayard Presse. She is currently working with migrant Filipina workers and their struggles in Spain for her next exhibit in Barcelona as she continues to employ her art in her activism.

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## MARINA CRUZ

Pre-eminent visual artist Marina Cruz discovered her primary subject, the dress, in 2002. She is best known for her nostalgic photorealistic paintings of old clothes treasured by her family. A feeling of nostalgia and highlights family values come to mind when viewing her work. She has amassed over 100 pieces of clothing from her family members as well as their memories of these treasured garments.

Marina Cruz Garcia was born in 1982. She graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2003. Around this time, When Cruz was looking for a piece of fabric for printmaking plates, she found her mother’s old baptismal dress. Greatly inspired by her mother’s old clothing, she began to paint dresses from her grandmother. Imagining her mother as a child was an intensely surreal experience for the artist. The dress evoked emotions from the past experiences and history of her childhood. Realizing the value of time and life, Cruz felt that she needed to preserve that memory.

In 2004, She won the Juror’s Choice in the GSIS Painting Competition and won the Grand Prize in the Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards in 2007, now known as Philippine Art Awards. The following year, she won the Ateneo Art Awards and was granted a fellowship at the Visual Art Center, La Trobe University in Australia. Consequently, she received the Freeman Foundation Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center in Vermont. In 2012, She was one of CCP’s Thirteen Artists Awardees. Her work was featured in numerous [exhibitions at key galleries and museums](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/mona-gallery-admits-to-fake-picassos/ "exhibitions at key galleries and museums") such as Artinformal Gallery in Makati, Ateneo Art Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, 1335 Mabini, among others. Internationally, she has exhibited at Vienna, Taipei, Berlin, Bangkok, Sydney, Beijing, Kaohsiung, and Singapore.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/13-2.jpg "13 - BluPrint")The Twins, 2006

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/5-14.jpg "5 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/3-16.jpg "3 - BluPrint")

![Photorealistic paintings by Marina Cruz](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/4-15.jpg "4 - BluPrint")Marina Cruz’s works are redolent of personal narratives and familial bonds.

She and her husband, famed artist [Rodel Tapaya](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/rodel-tapaya-showcases-his-work-in-solo-exhibition-may-tenga-ang-lupa/), initially started having problems starting a family. With her husband’s urging, they decided to adopt. They were blessed with an 11-month-old boy named Yohan after two months of filing all the requirements at DSWD. And just a month later, she found out she was pregnant with her second son, Keon.

As an advocate of domestic adoption, she shares her art and advocacy by traveling the country and sharing her own story. She lets her art help spread her message because she was fortunate enough to discover a new, beautiful way to form families. She says that “Family is not defined by biology alone, but love.”

Marina Cruz has an ongoing show titled [“Tide Table′](https://kdmofa.tnua.edu.tw/en/mod/exhibition/index.php?REQUEST_ID=e1626ae68798853bcff9a390f902a9dfec63e56b1ab68255e39e7cae00b82dd2)′ at the Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan. It is on view until October 17, 2021.

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## ISABEL SANTOS

Being in a family of respected artists and being surrounded by art since she was a child, It was no surprise that Isabel Santos would become a painter herself.

Isabel “Beng” Santos was born in 1991. When she was young, family trips were spent visiting museums and art galleries. She graduated from Ateneo De Manila University. On one study trip abroad, she found herself looking forward to the parts of the trip focused on art. But it wasn’t until after she graduated from school that Santos began to pursue her art. The freedom to explore art on her own terms, she explains, helped her learn to appreciate it.

A consistent theme in her work is vintage comics, which is not surprising since it was through comics that she learned how to draw. The era of midcentury comics fascinates and inspires her, and the simple lines, as well as techniques, suited her style.

Although it took a while to define what she wanted to do or create, she did it in her own time. Her first group show happened in 2013. As of late, she has exhibited works at West Gallery, Blanc Gallery, Secret Fresh Gallery, and Silverlens. She has had residencies in New York, France, and Berlin.

![Isabel Santos](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/15-3.jpg "15 - BluPrint")Isabel Santos in her studio in Quezon City![Comic-inspired Art](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/16-1.jpg "16 - BluPrint")Just a Touch, Acrylic on Canvas

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/17-2.jpg "17 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/BP-2021-Website-Featured-Photo-11.jpg "BP-2021-Website-Featured-Photo - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/7-10.jpg "7 - BluPrint")Above and Over

![Uniqlo UT GRAND PRIX](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/14-3.jpg "14 - BluPrint")“A Fortune in Jewels Kept in Your Safe.” Only What I Want to See, Blanc Gallery

She looks up to Mariano Ching, Jigger Cruz, Kawayan de Guia, Yasmin Sison, and her father – the celebrated artist, [Soler Santos.](https://www.artnet.com/artists/soler-santos/) She is inspired by her mother, Mona Santos, and Geraldine Javier’s work ethic. Earlier this year, Uniqlo announced her as the grand winner of the clothing brand’s annual UT Grand Prix, which is in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Her submission was from an existing piece in her Only What I Want to See show at Blanc Gallery in 2018. Titled “A Fortune in Jewels Kept in Your Safe,” the design features cutouts of retro Hollywood hairstyles in front of the shirt. The back, on the other hand, bears the faces of women in varying emotions. Her work was chosen over 10,000 entries, making her the first Filipino to win the prize since its launch in 2005. The shirts with her design on them were sold in Uniqlo stores worldwide.

Santos believes that art, along with any vocation or talent, can contribute to an advocacy close to the heart. Being an animal lover, she has drawn pet portraits for a fee and gave all the proceeds to MBY pet sanctuary and to Hound Haven Philippines. She recently donated an enclosure for Strays Worth Saving, an organization dedicated to rescuing stray dogs and cats.

The stylish artist is currently working on a show for Pablo Gallery in September and plans to do another residency in Italy in October of this year.

Through their work, these women artists explore the themes of feminism, history, politics, and identity. Their captivating artworks are, in and of themselves, instruments of awareness and change.

Notes about the Contributor

Daniel Lampa

Art enthusiast and into Fashion, French Culture, Mid-century modern design and spends a lot of his time curating his home in Manila and LA. He lives with his 3 dogs, Coco, Yohji and Junya.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who are some notable contemporary Filipino women artists?

Filipino women artists making a significant global impact include Nikki Luna, known for her sociopolitical feminist installations; Marina Cruz, celebrated for her nostalgic, photorealistic paintings of family garments; and Isabel Santos, the international Uniqlo UTGP grand prize winner recognized for her vintage comic-inspired aesthetics.

### How does artist Nikki Luna use her art for activism?

Nikki Luna uses art for activism by addressing urgent socio-political issues, specifically focusing on women’s rights, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and marginalized labor. Through unconventional materials like bullet holes, resin-cast guns, and ceramic vertebrae, her provocative visual installations expose systemic injustices and give voice to female survivors.

### What is the central theme of Marina Cruz’s artwork?

The central theme of Marina Cruz’s artwork centers on memory, nostalgia, and familial bonds. She explores these concepts primarily by painting detailed, photorealistic replicas of old clothing treasured by her family, utilizing textiles like her mother’s baptismal dress to preserve personal histories and champion domestic adoption.

### Why did Isabel Santos win the Uniqlo UT Grand Prix?

Isabel Santos won the global Uniqlo UT Grand Prix for her submission titled “A Fortune in Jewels Kept in Your Safe.” Selected from over 10,000 entries, her winning graphic design combined retro Hollywood hair cutouts on the front with expressive illustrations of women’s faces on the back.

### In what ways do contemporary artists support social causes in Manila?

Contemporary artists in Manila support social causes by transforming their creative platforms into tools for awareness and philanthropy. For instance, Nikki Luna publishes educational books on gender equality, Marina Cruz raises awareness nationwide for domestic adoption, and Isabel Santos donates animal portrait proceeds to local stray rescues.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Art, Filipiana, Filipino, filipino art, Filipino Identity, local pieces

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### [Vision 2030: A Regional Spatial Strategy for Metro Luzon](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/vision-2030-a-regional-spatial-strategy-for-metro-luzon/)

**Published:** November 25, 2020
**Author:** Nathaniel Von Einsiedel

**Excerpt:** With two-fifths of our population living in Metro Luzon Region, we need to formulate a regional spatial strategy that shapes and enables a just and equitable society

**Content:**

**This first appeared in BluPrint Volume 2 2016. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

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Urban population growth in Metro Manila continues at a very high rate in both internal growth and in-migration. This growth has spilled over to towns and cities within a 50-kilometer radius of the metropolis. At the same time, similarly high urban population growth is happening in the larger cities within 100 kilometers of Metro Manila, such as the cities of San Fernando, Angeles, and Mabalacat in Pampanga; and Lipa and Batangas City in Batangas. The growth rates in some of these cities are even higher than that of Metro Manila, and like Metro Manila, all of them are experiencing the negative consequences of unplanned and ill-managed urban growth.

Without an effective land use and transport policy that rationally relates these urban centers to each other, the result is increasing traffic congestion, inadequate housing, deteriorating urban basic infrastructure, and services, premature and improper conversion of agricultural lands into urban uses, and encroachment into flood plains, river basins, and other danger zones, which exposes thousands of people to increasingly frequent and devastating disasters.

Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon, which can collectively be called the Metro Luzon Region (MLR), are the top three contributors to the country’s GDP, but ironically, the chaotic urban growth in these areas has resulted in social injustices and inequity that invariably disadvantage the poor. With two-fifths of our population living in MLR, we need to formulate a regional spatial strategy that shapes and enables a just and equitable society.

## I. METRO LUZON REGION’S SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT

### A. Factors Influencing Urban Growth Patterns

Urban growth in the Philippines has traditionally been linear, running along major roads and highways, thus creating long stretches of urban areas and longer commuting distances. The lack of secondary and tertiary roads contributes to the situation. The absence of an efficient mass transport system makes the situation worse as commuters travel long distances and waste precious time traveling to their destinations. This translates to significant economic losses and worsening urban air quality.

\[one\_half padding=”0 15px 20px 0″\]

![BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-3.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 3 - BluPrint")Figure 2. North-South Urban Growth PatternThis situation is evident in the urban centers of the MLR. Before the construction of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the MacArthur Highway served as the main transport route from Metro Manila to the towns and cities of Central and Northern Luzon. Similarly, before the construction of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the old Manila South Road, which passes through the towns and cities of Laguna and onwards to Batangas and Quezon, was the main transport route in CALABARZON. In both cases, the most intensive urban growth occurred along these two major roads, with Metro Manila connecting the two in one long urban corridor.

Satellite images show a distinct north-south urban growth pattern of the MLR with Metro Manila in the middle. However, growth starting from Metro Manila is more intensive in a southward direction, which can be explained by several reasons. (See Fig. 1)

One is that SLEX has service roads on both sides, thus facilitating urban development up to Alabang where the service roads end. NLEX, on the other hand, has no service roads. Another reason is that agricultural lands alongside SLEX were not covered by the Agrarian Reform Law and thus were more easily converted from agricultural to urban uses, whereas agricultural lands alongside NLEX are predominantly planted to rice and therefore covered by said law. Another reason for the lands along NLEX remaining agricultural in land use is the existence of the Candaba Swamp and the Pampanga River Delta, which flood every rainy season and remain waterlogged even during part of the dry season.

Development in the south of Metro Manila had also been greatly induced by the existence of large tracts of land under single ownership, such as the 7000-hectare former Canlubang Sugar Estate and the 2000-hectare land owned by Jose Yao Campos. In the real estate development industry, developers prefer such lands because they avoid the difficulty of assembling many land parcels owned by different people. In the north, the largest land parcels under single ownership are already in the Pampanga and Tarlac area.

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [How do we make sure Asia’s megacities are healthy cities?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/sean-chiao-healthy-cities/)**

### B. The Synergy between Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON

***1. Expansion of Metro Manila***

The rapid growth of population in the Metro Manila area is manifested in the extent and influence of its urban development, which can be both seen and felt well beyond the boundaries of the metropolis. Encouraged by cheaper land and services, but still, within relatively easy access to Metro Manila, predominantly private sector-led investments can be found beyond the northern, eastern, and southern administrative boundaries of the metropolis. Most of these, however, have been undertaken in a piecemeal, unplanned, and uncoordinated manner, often built upon flood plains and river basins, thus exposing a large number of people to floods, and prematurely eating up productive agricultural land, and creating more traffic.

The physical pressures exerted by an increasing and uncontrolled population growth rate and expanding industries have extended Metro Manila’s urban built-up area into 1.) the cities and towns of the provinces of Bulacan in the north along the MacArthur Highway and near the exits of NLEX; 2.) the municipalities of Cainta, Taytay, San Mateo, Montalban, Antipolo, Angono and Binangonan in the province of Rizal to the east, along the Ortigas Avenue Extension and Manila East Road; 3.) the municipalities of Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, and Silang in Cavite Province along the General Tirona National Road and the General Aguinaldo Highway respectively in the southwest; and 4.) the municipalities of San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba in Laguna Province along SLEX and the Old Manila South Road.

Further north at a distance of around 100 kilometers are the highly urbanized and rapidly urbanizing cities of San Fernando, Angeles, and Mabalacat, which, together with the Clark International Airport and Special Economic Zone, are coalescing into a major metropolitan area. Further south are the similarly rapidly growing cities of Lipa, Batangas, and Lucena. Batangas City and its adjacent cities and municipalities, namely San Pascual, Bauan, Ibaan, Taysan, and Lobo, are one of the country’s emerging metropolitan regions. (See Fig. 2)

***2. Population and migration***

Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON together comprise the three most populous regions in the Philippines, which collectively account for 40% of the country’s population. The fastest-growing areas are those located on the periphery of Metro Manila. A key element of this growth is the entry of migrants. The three regions are among the top five destinations of migrants because of opportunities for gainful employment and access to better amenities.

The mobility of people between Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON shows both inward and outward movement—residents of Metro Manila have moved to the adjacent regions, while those of Central Luzon and CALABARZON still see Metro Manila as the land of opportunity.

![BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-4.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 4 - BluPrint")Figure 3. Metro Clark Area***3. Employment***

With the concentration of labor-intensive establishments in Metro Manila and the adjacent municipalities of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite, the three regions account for more than 30% of the total employed population of the country, and about 50% of the total non-agricultural employed persons. However, the three regions have a majority of all recorded unemployed, a symptom of the social and economic problems of rapidly urbanizing areas.

***4. Commodity and services exchanges***

Metro Manila serves Central Luzon and CALABARZON as 1.) the major market for their agricultural products; 2.) the destination of students seeking education, and of people seeking medical services and facilities; 3.) a major shopping center for finished products; and 4.) the gateway for people, goods, and services to and from the rest of the country and abroad.

In return, Metro Manila looks to the adjacent regions as 1.) its major source of food supply; 2.) a key source of manpower; and, 3.) a nearby area for recreation and leisure activities. The municipalities on the immediate fringes have served as sources of land for residential and industrial development and for main infrastructure such as water supply. Also, they have been the destination for the relocation of Metro Manila’s squatters, and sites for the disposal of solid waste.

***5. Previous government actions to decrease the primacy of Metro Manila***

Since the late 1960s, it has been the official government policy to decrease the primacy of Metro Manila and encourage the growth and development in other regional urban centers and their rural hinterlands. Based on this policy, the national government undertook such actions as the construction of NLEX and SLEX, the development of the Bataan and Cavite Export Processing Zones together with the provision of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors in these areas, the construction of the Batangas Seaport, and more recently the development of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), and the Subic and Clark special economic zones.

Despite these policies, projects, and package of incentives, Metro Manila continues to attract migrants and investors. However, because of cheaper land and services outside Metro Manila, the different urban centers in Central Luzon and CALABARZON have grown. Statistics show that after Metro Manila, these two regions have attracted the most number of new investments, including foreign direct investments, than other regions in the country.

**READ MORE: [BCDA Pres tackles USD 5 billion New Clark City, white elephants](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/bcda-new-clark-city-white-elephants/)**

***6. Recent government policies***

In recognition of the relative attraction of the three regions in terms of population growth and economic investments, the national government has given priority and support to the development of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon under the program known also as CALABARZON. In 2003, CALABARZON had 64 Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Even the World Bank, in response to government request, provided technical assistance to the preparation of development plans for Cavite and Laguna, known as the CALA project.

More recently, with the advent of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the last decade, the number of SEZs has considerably increased. The result is the large migration into CALABARZON, making it the second densest region in the country, next to Metro Manila. The region has the following infrastructure and services:

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-1.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 1 - BluPrint")***7. The Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016***

The plan cites that the country needs to develop suitable locations to ensure that BPO investments and expansions can be accommodated, and that physical and Information Technology (IT) infrastructures are key solutions to address the growth of the industry. In 2009, the government and the private sector collaborated on a project dubbed “Next Wave Cities,” focusing on locations with high growth potential in the BPO services. Among the 10 cities identified, six are in CALABARZON: Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Metro Cavite (Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Imus), Lipa and Batangas City in Batangas, and Malolos, Bulacan, in Central Luzon. In 2010, five other cities were added as BPO potential destinations. One of them is Metro Subic in Central Luzon.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) also prescribes strengthening the country’s international logistics and supply chain activities and specifically cites the existing ports in Batangas and Subic, not only to decongest Metro Manila but also to open opportunities to worldwide shipping in the new areas. Also cited is the strengthening of the integrated air and sea connectivity of Clark-Subic to enhance the profile of this growth center among foreign and local investors.

***8. The Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Corridor***

Prior to the current PDP, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010 already recognized the need for a transport logistics system that would decongest Metro Manila via efficient linkages between its business centers and nearby provinces. In 2007, the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Corridor, which connects the three regions, was envisioned as a major transshipment and logistics hub in the Asian region. The SCMB Corridor handles more than 80% of the volume of the national cargo throughput, but its potential has been constrained by inefficient logistics operations and infrastructure support. According to the MTPDP, this resulted in high transport costs of goods and services that have made the corridor less competitive. To address this, the MTPDP prescribed a seamless multimodal logistics system along the SCMB Corridor to support intra-regional trade and investment, increased level of services of an integrated transport system, and an efficient flow of commodities, supplies, and inputs to tourism areas and various economic and industrial zones.

The current PDP’s strategic plan with respect to the transport sector specifically highlights the need to develop an integrated multimodal logistics and transport system. It states: “The SCMB Corridor and other strategic logistics corridors must be developed to become a seamless intermodal logistics corridor…The extension of the SCMB logistics corridor farther to the north and to the south will also be pursued. To support this, the viability of establishing an efficient long-distance, high-speed mass rail transit system, integrated with the mass transit commuter rail system in Metro Manila, shall be explored… The feasibility of freight-rail services for all strategic logistics corridors will also be considered.”

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***9. Central Luzon Regional Development Plan 2011-2016***

This plan further strengthens the policies of the PDP, with a particular focus on Central Luzon. Its objectives include 1.) increased level of services of strategic roads and north-south linkages; 2.) integrated land, air, and sea transport modes; and 3.) development of Clark-Subic as a regional tourism hub. (See Fig. 3) The plan capitalizes on its strength as a major logistics hub, its being a major agricultural and food production area of the country, as well as its strong tourism potential. In physical development terms, the plan continues to adopt the “Enhanced ‘W’ Growth Corridor” spatial strategy, (See Fig. 4) with the Clark International Airport and its adjoining cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in the center.

***10. CALABARZON Regional Development Plan 2011-2016***

This plan acknowledges the need for developmental support to the province of Quezon because it lags behind the other provinces of the region, according to the Human Development Index. It also recognizes the dominant influence of the private sector in defining housing and real estate development in the region, noting that master-planned developments tend to locate along major roads. The region (particularly in Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite) has been a favorite location for government-developed resettlement sites for informal settlers. The plan espouses the rehabilitation of the PNR and further development of the Batangas Port as a high priority. It envisions the region as a major alternative residential and commercial node to Metro Manila. However, the plan cites a number of challenges, such as 1.) inadequate transport infrastructure; 2.) unbalanced distribution of settlements; 3.) limits to the use of land and other natural resources; 4.) disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation concerns; and, 5.) inadequate public service.

In physical development terms, the plan has adopted the “Cluster/Center Corridor Wedge” spatial strategy, which aims to direct and stimulate development and growth west to east, as well as strengthen the north-south corridor. This strategy specifically cites that “Proposed land uses and urban developments will be grouped in clusters, each borne from the predominant conditions, existing strengths, and potential opportunities of each area. Examples of land-uses in the west include beach and mountain tourism, waterfront mixed uses, *agropolis* or highly-specialized agricultural and urban development in Batangas, agro-industrial uses, metropolitan and commercial urban development in Batangas City.”

## II. PROPOSED SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR METRO LUZON

Building upon the prevailing conditions, development policies, plans, and programs, emerging trends, as well as major opportunities in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON (or MLR), the proposed spatial development strategy is basically a north-south transport-oriented development (TOD) corridor, with three major metropolitan areas: 1.) Metro Clark area in the north; 2.) Metro Batangas area in the south; and, 3.) Metro Manila in between the two.

In order to accommodate further growth of the three metro areas but avoid the negative effects of continuous ribbon development, however, and considering the distance between Metro Manila and the two other metro areas, the spatial strategy also envisions the development of “new towns”—one in Bulacan in the vicinity of Malolos near a commuter train station, and the other in Batangas in the vicinity of Tanauan and Malvar, also near a commuter train station. (See Fig. 5) This strategy is based upon the following considerations:

- The dominant influence of the NLEX-SCTEX and the SLEX-STAR expressways, as well as the proposed Integrated Luzon Railway, in the development of urban centers;
- The individual strengths and opportunities of, as well as the synergy between, the three metro areas, with a multimodal transport system as the integrating backbone;
- The fact that each of the three metro areas is or becoming self-sufficient and self-sustaining economic clusters, each with its own distinct but complementary primary function;
- The distance between Metro Manila and the two other metro areas is too long for commuting and, therefore, warrants development of intermediate or satellite townships where people can live and have the choice of metro areas for employment.

The major expressways need not traverse the proposed new towns since the lands that are easily accessible are already very expensive, especially in Batangas. Sites for the new towns, however, should be near enough to exits of the expressways, say within 1 to 3 kilometers.

![BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-5.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 5 - BluPrint")Figure 4. Enhanced “W” Growth Corridor## III. RECOMMENDED LAND USE POLICIES

### A. General Land Use Policies

The spatial development strategy envisions a policy that defines land use in the MLR in the four general categories, namely: Production Land, Protection Land, Settlements Land, and Infrastructure Land. In broad terms, productive agricultural lands already identified as Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ) are defined as Production Land. Environmentally sensitive areas defined by DENR, such as designated National Forests, erosion-prone areas, watersheds, floodplains, river basins, mangroves, and other critical eco-systems are designated as Protection Zones. Existing built-up and planned urban areas are defined as Settlements Land. And finally, easements and rights-of-way for roads, water reservoirs, irrigation canals, power transmission lines, flood control structures, and other utilities are defined as Infrastructure Land. Each of these major land categories should have clearly defined guidelines on specific allowable land uses and activities, as well as the conditions for their continued presence.

### B. Metro Clark and Metro Batangas

It is recommended that their current development policies, plans, and programs as approved by NEDA be pursued. These provide the framework for defining the appropriate land uses for these two metro areas. However, we need more detailed land use, zoning, land management, and implementation plans for the specific areas where stations of the long-distance and commuter rail lines will be located in order to optimize the socio-economic benefits these stations will generate. These station locations offer great potential for the development of “transit-oriented developments” or TODs, which can accommodate a mix of land uses, especially social housing. The plans for these TODs should be crafted in such a manner that they can be implemented as real estate development projects through public-private partnerships (PPP).

### C. New Towns

While specific sites for new towns still need to be identified and defined, we propose that the dominant land use for these areas be residential, particularly social housing, supported by a mix of compatible land uses, including commercial and retail facilities as well as schools and health care facilities that can cater to the immediate needs of its residents within short travel distance. We propose locating retail facilities and its compatible land uses near the commuter train stations.

## IV. NEW TOWNS DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

### A. Basic Function

In contrast with the traditional definition of new towns, which are self-contained communities, the new towns in the MLR are envisioned to initially function as “bedroom communities,” which means they will start as predominantly residential areas while the major job centers are in the metro areas (Metro Clark, Metro Manila, and Metro Batangas) approximately within a 30 to 50-kilometer travel distance. Their medium- and long-term plans, however, should provide for future growth and development including the introduction of other land uses to accommodate business and commercial enterprises that generate employment and livelihood opportunities, as well as the expansion of community facilities, infrastructure services, and utilities. The critical factors that can attract new residents to the new towns are the affordability (and financing schemes) of house-and-lot packages, and accessibility to public transport and basic social services.

It would be advantageous if the new towns would already include in initial phases of development the promotion of urban-type manufacturing enterprises (e.g., electronics, assembly of household appliances and automobiles, food processing, etc.), distribution industries (e.g., trucking, warehousing, wholesale outlets, etc.), and intensive agriculture (e.g., track farming, high-tech vegetable farming, etc.). These can be combined with small, compact urban centers around the commuter train stations. This strategy will offer an alternative location to the metro areas and, in particular, help decongest Metro Manila.

**READ MORE: [Harvard GSD Dean on why “sustainable” is not enough](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ecological-urbanism-mostafavi/)**

### B. Roles of the Public and Private Sectors

Given the circumstances surrounding the land to be developed as new towns, such as for example, the multiple ownership of the land area involved and the need for accessibility, the development of these new towns will necessarily involve both government and the private sector. The government in this case will include the local, provincial, and national, while the landowners and developers will comprise the private sector.

The delineation of roles between the public and private sectors will depend on how the development of the new towns is to be pursued. There is a wide range of options that can be considered. At one end of this range, government acquires the land and bids out its development and disposition to the private sector. This approach is similar to the manner by which former military bases were developed, such as the Bonifacio Global City and Newport City (former Villamor Air Base). At the other end of the range, government mandates the development of the site and provides support and incentives to the landowners concerned to develop it themselves.

A middle-ground option is where a public-private partnership is forged between the landowners, government, and private developers. Assuming that the middle-ground option is the most viable, the delineation of roles between the public and private sectors could be as follows:

***Public Sector***

1\. National Government:

- Declaration of policy
- Provision of major access roads and utilities trunk lines
- Provision of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to landowners and developers
- Facilitation of the necessary national government permits and clearances, and transfer of land titles if necessary

2\. Provincial Government:

- Adoption of the spatial strategy in the Provincial Physical Framework Plan
- Provision of technical and institutional support to LGUs concerned

3\. Local Government Units:

- Identification of land parcels, their owners, and assessed values
- Support to the private developers in the acquisition of the properties involved, or in the establishment of a Joint Venture arrangement between the landowners and developers
- Facilitation of the necessary permits and licenses required by the developer
- Provision of the appropriate social services and community facilities

***Private Sector***

1\. Landowners:

- Sale of the properties involved to, or Joint Venture with, private developers

2\. Private Developer(s):

- Preparation of detailed development plans
- Construction of approved improvements
- Marketing and sale of developed lots
- Establishment and initial management of the Homeowners Association
- Support to the LGU in the maintenance of roads and utilities

![BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-6.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 6 - BluPrint")Source: Philippine Statistics Authority![BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BluPrint-Urban-Planning-Metro-Luzon-Spatial-Strategy-2.jpg "BluPrint Urban Planning Metro Luzon Spatial Strategy- 2 - BluPrint")### **CONCLUSION**

The current uncoordinated and unsynchronized urban growth of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON—the Metro Luzon Region—is resulting in an enormous waste of resources and efforts, which could otherwise be pooled to cope with the increasing demand for infrastructure and services. While the MLR has maintained its dominance as the industrial “belt” of the country, the rate of growth of their industrial output is way below their potential because of the lack of necessary structural reforms and integrated land use, transport, and infrastructure development program.

Central Luzon and CALABARZON are vastly more developed than other regions of the country, partly because of their proximity to Metro Manila and partly due to their logistics services, particularly air and sea transport, as well as their vast agricultural hinterlands. They have a higher degree of economic activity as reflected in their more intensive concentrations of population and industry, which are substantially above national averages. However, their current spatial development patterns are incompatible with each other in terms of an integrated economic development strategy, which should capitalize on the synergy among the three regions in addressing their respective priority concerns, opportunities, and challenges.

The further growth of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON is inevitable—that is, the physical extent of these areas will not only continue but even increase, merging into one huge megalopolis. The issue is not whether this is desirable or not, but rather how this growth can be accommodated such that its benefits can be enhanced and widely shared while, at the same time, preventing undesirable consequences from happening.

Human beings are social and spatial beings. Because of this, the social aspect of our lives shapes our spatial lives, and how we exist spatially impacts our society and the quality of our democracy. When we begin to think of the “spatiality” of social justice and injustice, it opens our eyes to more practical and effective strategies in urban planning and achieving genuine inclusive growth.![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

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*BluPrint thanks the Subdivision & Housing Developer’s Association for inviting us to cover the 24th SHDA National Developers Convention, Building a Million Dreams: Stronger in Synergy, Towards a Green and Sheltered Nation, and for sharing with us materials presented at the convention.*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the primary goal of the Metro Luzon spatial strategy?

The primary goal of the strategy is to create an integrated, transport-oriented development corridor that connects Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and CALABARZON. By establishing structured growth centers and satellite new towns, the framework aims to curb chaotic urban sprawl, reduce traffic congestion, and ensure equitable economic development.

### How do the North and South Luzon Expressways impact urban growth patterns?

Historically, intensive urban growth has followed a linear pattern directly along NLEX and SLEX, creating a dense north-south corridor with Metro Manila at the center. Growth has been faster toward the south due to SLEX service roads and large, single-ownership land parcels that are exempt from agrarian reform laws.

### What role do “new towns” play in the Vision 2030 regional framework?

New towns are planned intermediate townships located near commuter rail stations in provinces like Bulacan and Batangas to act as strategic buffer zones. Initially operating as residential bedroom communities for major metropolitan job hubs, they will eventually transition into self-sustaining commercial and manufacturing ecosystems.

### Why is the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Corridor critical for regional logistics?

The SCMB Corridor is a vital transshipment hub that handles more than 80% of the Philippines’ national cargo throughput. Optimizing this corridor with a seamless multimodal transport system directly decongests Manila’s ports while lowering trade costs and boosting overall economic competitiveness.

### How does the Metro Luzon spatial strategy address social justice?

The strategy incorporates spatial justice by replacing uncoordinated development with master-planned transit-oriented zones that include dedicated social housing. Equitably distributing infrastructure, basic services, and employment opportunities reduces geographic economic divides and prevents marginalized populations from being forced into hazardous flood plains.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Industrial, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Luzon, Metro Luzon Region, National Capital Region, Planning, Regional Spatial Strategy, Spatial Strategy, Urban Planning

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### [OPULENCE Design Concept redefines experiential luxury](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/opulence-design-concept-redefines-experiential-luxury/)

**Published:** November 27, 2019
**Author:** Gabrielle De La Cruz

**Excerpt:** Curating six different brands, husband and wife Gerry and Jinky Sy present an immersive showroom experience in OPULENCE Design Concept 


**Content:**

“Opulence means luxury. The main intention of [OPULENCE Design Concept](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/opulence-design-concept-launches-jonathan-adler-and-polspotten/) is to bring in luxury furniture, accessories, and appliances in the Philippines,” says OPULENCE Design Concept CEO Gerry Sy. Last November 25 (Tuesday), Gerry and Jinky Sy unveiled their very first showroom to friends, prospective clients, and the media. Inside the showroom are evenly distributed brands: art pieces from Fornasetti, furniture from MisuraEmme, kitchen installations from Stosa, and switches and outlets from Vimar.

![Fornasetti is a design universe conjured by the vivid imagination](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-1.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-1 - BluPrint")Fornasetti is a design universe conjured by the vivid imagination of its founder, Piero Fornasetti. Featured in most of his works is the late opera singer Lina Cavalieri.![Fornasetti into the mix](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-2.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-2 - BluPrint")It was Jinky Sy who suggested that they bring Fornasetti into the mix, believing that it is a special brand that can dress up any space.Narrating their journey of translating their love for interiors, the couple went back to the times they attended European design conventions or trade fairs. “People would often look at Gerry’s business card and say: ‘but you’re from information technology, what made you decide to get into design?’, that’s the time when we will explain that we always had a passion for interiors and thought that since we’re already providing solutions for residential and commercial spaces, why not provide them with interior and design essentials as well?,” shares Jinky Sy. Being in the business of providing system solutions for enterprises, the couple decided to expand into interiors and design. The couple shares that they were also inspired by the idea of offering interior pieces with reasonable prices, making luxury more accessible to modern homeowners.

![MisuraEmme Export Area Manager Graziella Borgognone](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-3.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-3 - BluPrint")“You will never see a furniture of MisuraEmme in only one furnishing,” says MisuraEmme Export Area Manager Graziella Borgognone. The brand takes inspiration from fashion trends and creates combinations that form a compelling style, bringing the artisan spirit of Italy’s Briana area worldwide.The showroom is located in Connecticut Street in Greenhills, along with many other furniture stores. “It was challenging, the concept is to build something that will fit everything. It had to be timeless, something that will have an impact when one drives through Connecticut,” says Architect Peter Ong. He shares that the building was once an old house and that they didn’t change anything about the structure, except the added rectangular space they allotted for the kitchen and the garden extension at the back.

![Stosa Cucine is known for its sustainable materials and various functionalities](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-4.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-4 - BluPrint")Stosa Cucine is known for its sustainable materials and various functionalities. “Style and quality are two main important things that represent Stosa because we bring the Italian style all around the world, all with the right quality,” says principal Leonardo Sani. General Manager Nicolo Papi shares that their latest trend and solution propositions are inside OPULENCE Design Concept.Painted with neutral colors, the showroom’s walls compliment the entire set-up, emphasizing the luxury pieces. Gerry shares that what sets them apart from other luxury experiential showrooms in the Philippines is that they also provide Samsung appliances that assist in providing actual spatial feel in residential and commercial areas. The couple also partnered with Harman for the store’s sound system. “We have a complete line-up: from home living up to the appliances and the accessories. I don’t think any showroom here in the Philippines has this concept. Everything is integrated and customized.”

![Italian system solutions label Vimar](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-5.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-5 - BluPrint")Italian system solutions label Vimar never uses plastic for their switches. “The beauty that our company takes pride in is not only the technology but the very high-end switches,” says General Manager Gionata Bosco. The company also offers other home automation such as video door intercom.OPULENCE houses a tech area that gives clients a demo of how their particular software enables owners to control the lights, sound, and other automation inside residential and commercial spaces. The tech booth is located inside Vimar’s own space, complimenting the home automation showcased.

![OPULENCE Design Concept CEO Gerry Sy leads the demo during the showroom launch](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-6.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-6 - BluPrint")OPULENCE Design Concept CEO Gerry Sy leads the demo during the showroom launch. The screen at the innermost right demonstrates the light and fixture changes as controlled by the software installed on the tablet.Gerry and Jinky Sy share that the launch is only a prelude to the innovative way of providing accessible luxury and changing design engagement. The couple revealed their plans of hosting cooking demos inside the showroom, as well as holding styling events and other activities that would not only highlight the brands but also provide guests and clients the overall experience that a showroom can offer. “Buying a piece of furniture is more like a lifetime commitment, you’ll use one for a long period of time. We want people to feel that their purchase is worth the price that they paid for,” Jinky states. “To me, the showroom is not a retail store. We really designed it to be an experience center,” ends Gerry.

![Samsung appliances are incorporated into the vignettes inside the showroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-7.jpg "BluPrint-Events-OPULENCEDesignConcept-7 - BluPrint")Samsung appliances are incorporated into the vignettes inside the showroom. The appliances provide the actual feel in bedrooms or living spaces.*OPULENCE Design Concept located at 267 Connecticut Street, Greenhills East is open from Sundays- Saturdays from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.*

**READ MORE:** [In a daring move, Casanuova launches an “Extraordinary Design Experience” explicitly for the sophisticated and affluent](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/casanuova-sophisticated-affluent-7-brands/)

Images courtesy of OPULENCE Design Concept

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is OPULENCE Design Concept in the Philippines?

OPULENCE Design Concept is a luxury furniture and interiors showroom located in Greenhills, San Juan. It carries international brands including Fornasetti, MisuraEmme, Stosa, and Vimar, and is positioned as an integrated experience center rather than a traditional retail store.

### Where is OPULENCE Design Concept located?

OPULENCE Design Concept is located along Connecticut Street in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila — an area known for its concentration of furniture and design showrooms, making it accessible to homeowners and interior design professionals.

### What brands are available at OPULENCE Design Concept?

OPULENCE Design Concept carries Fornasetti art pieces, MisuraEmme furniture, Stosa kitchen installations, Vimar switches and home automation, Samsung appliances, and Harman sound systems — offering a fully integrated luxury interiors experience under one roof.

### What makes OPULENCE Design Concept different from other luxury showrooms in the Philippines?

Unlike typical luxury showrooms, OPULENCE integrates furniture, appliances, and smart home technology into a single space. Clients can experience live demos of home automation, lighting control, and kitchen installations, making it a fully immersive design experience center.

### Who owns OPULENCE Design Concept?

OPULENCE Design Concept is owned by Gerry and Jinky Sy, a couple with a background in IT system solutions who expanded into luxury interiors. Their goal is to make high-end European design brands more accessible to modern Filipino homeowners and commercial clients.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** design experience, luxury furniture, Showroom

---

### [Versatility and Timelessness: Traditional Rattan in the Modern World](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/versatility-and-timelessness-traditional-rattan-in-the-modern-world/)

**Published:** September 1, 2021
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

Rattan is an ancient material that grows in the tropical jungles of Asia. Mainly, Malaysia, China, and of course, the Philippines – the largest source of this vine-like palm. Locally, rattan can be seen in a traditional Philippine household as everyday material. Some households make use of rattan baskets and mats, primarily functional items while some households have rattan furniture, maybe even both. Overall, rattan has flown through time for being such a maneuverable material. It can be bent, curved, and can be used both indoors and outdoors, and has a golden color that highlights its tropical roots while presenting immense durability against tough weather or pesky insects.

The 19th century British Empire was privy to the boom of tropical furniture and saw many families use bamboo and other tropical materials brought back from the tropical and Asian countries. In the next century, Philippine-made rattan furniture started appearing in the U.S. and were usually in the flamboyant Victorian style, which was quite perfect for the Hollywood set-up these pieces were mostly spotted in.

In international design, the sturdy rattan is an incredibly popular trend that can be seen all over homes and public spaces. Its versatility and timelessness became the strength that transformed it into a flexible material for ventilation, privacy, and even natural lighting. Soon enough, rattan had become such a well-known material that designers from all over the world have used it in a multitude of ways.

[**Nitton Architects**](https://www.nitton.co/) for one created a 90 square meter urban home in Singapore. Its minimalist design mainly focuses on the materials to put personality into the space. Among its many notable features, the apartment uses a system of pivot and sliding doors for flexible partitioning. Since the center pivot doors were used as a centerpiece in the open layout, they were a point of interest and attracted the eye with their use of plywood panels sandwiched by natural rattan.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/R3eVfZZnr3l1O7PhqFSFOqxJYeRfj_E29Nuz76dFqBnZZHPonxmWc88c3xlUdUAhDmK2bNiB46G4TfBOi4772KsqW2_EMElKDkW8Rh2Ee8VANEiRkQwM9RwT72u656Q87Tf15vp4=s0)Ho Chi Minh City has the [City Oasis Apartments](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/the-city-oasis-apartments-that-connect-people-and-nature/) created by K.A. Studio. An apartment complex with 27 rooms, this structure worked as a green and refreshing retreat from the polluted and noisy city. Its nature-centered design features a façade with natural-looking, curving lines wrapped by layers of many small tropical trees that vary in species depending on the position. Its interiors meanwhile use eco-friendly materials and traditional hand-made materials including rattan, naturally regenerating woods, lightweight concrete, terrazzo, and local split stones.

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/miTzp619egDtSCi_T4inPwMpvUnvrCIgTZBZyJ3w3ldJa14avpsm1lsQUJmnrRVY9u1u2jh5hwbxzz1LM5Ndicwd2jQyduXN6YpZCe4kJ1woH2hodSG8FxEX5DjpBpHNI0xBcPFp=s0)

The Cilandak Stackhouse completed by [Atelier Riri](https://atelierriri.com/) in South Jakarta is an example of a contemporary home that features the traditional. One of its decorative elements is a wall and roof extension made of synthetic rattan. Merging function and form just like how the entire home design intended, the rattan element was a personalized second layer that allows natural air to flow into the home and reduces solar heat.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ap-xw-5PQaLyjm0NN3Y-wJYfBOb4t8-_ueAN-gC4e18x1yXdhcoYsK_jy9vX0BERS_kZtcXXUtf0OcEAiVnYt4hSQgqnNA_lshTn3_DvHrawbuRD3a6Yha6AZn0dqNkYqJCgoWXl=s0)

The Pizza 4P’s Restuarant, Landmark 72 in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi was crafted on the idea of separating itself from the monotony of Hanoi’s jungle of high-rise buildings and commercial spaces. With a five-meter high ceiling, Landmark 72 was designed with seven levitating cylinder columns that encase the ceiling lights. Anchored and suspended from the upper floor’s reinforced concrete slab, these cylinders are also supported by T-columns. Alongside these wooden cylinders are local materials like rattan, a local species of fast-growing acacia, tanned wood surfaces, and sanded terrazzo with other steel elements.

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LJxEBt3TE4Ml4ZBG6tHRA8e30y3yIFb2nzHnGf3MUBbDo-NDVPwwicA9m9wD1ZpDrJr9iBJ-FUQm77O1RGoiXeuEUQXn-8RBdkid_Ggu5ekscS1d7jMmxfcEQFw63lp006Q50sV3=s0)**Ceilings**

The Odori Hotel by [Nimara Architects](https://www.nimaraarchitects.com/) in Indonesia is another notable piece that stands out from its neighborhood. Alongside an abstract facade highlighted by protruding windows, its finish materials are also made up of wash paint that resembles steel material, black metal plat stripes, and synthetic rattan ceiling for the ground floor entrance that brings forth a natural impression.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hr4y_kYdn1SmRp8H7R337B0m-rJOggt0Lu7lzjTjB-gg4lILAmWlJKzF237u8FYqSgRpr2noU8KghWfWKVVgfgjubcMJG1I7Xnldb6_5q7XRjaWYPpnpqWET7J2DZC0lBWLBosna=s0)Rattan’s versatility, however has become a bit of a problem. According to research, rattan is already being used by almost 700 million people worldwide. Being one of the world’s most valuable non-timber forest products, rattan is already in danger of overuse and is facing sustainability problems due to its high demand.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is rattan and why is it popular in architecture and design?

Rattan is a vine-like tropical palm that grows primarily in the Philippines, Malaysia, and China. It is prized in architecture and interior design for its flexibility, durability, natural golden tone, and resistance to weather and insects. Its ability to be bent, curved, woven, and used both indoors and outdoors makes it one of the most versatile natural materials available to designers worldwide.

### How is rattan used in modern architectural design?

Rattan is used in contemporary architecture as facade cladding, partition doors, ceiling treatments, decorative wall elements, and furniture. Projects like Atelier Riri’s Cilandak Stackhouse in Jakarta use synthetic rattan as a second-skin wall layer for ventilation and solar shading, while Nitton Architects in Singapore incorporated natural rattan panels into pivot doors as a design centerpiece in a minimalist urban apartment.

### What is the difference between natural and synthetic rattan in construction?

Natural rattan is harvested from tropical palms and valued for its organic appearance, breathability, and biodegradability. Synthetic rattan, made from polymer materials, offers greater weather resistance and consistency, making it suitable for exterior applications. Both are used in modern architecture depending on the project’s functional requirements, climate conditions, and sustainability goals.

### Is rattan a sustainable building material?

Rattan is a fast-growing renewable resource that requires less energy to harvest than timber, making it inherently more sustainable in principle. However, its global popularity has created significant sustainability concerns—rattan is currently used by an estimated 700 million people worldwide, and high demand is pushing the material toward overuse and potential resource depletion, raising questions about responsible sourcing and supply chain management.

### Where is rattan most commonly found in Philippine culture and design?

In the Philippines—the world’s largest source of rattan—the material has long been part of everyday domestic life, appearing in traditional baskets, mats, and furniture. Philippine-made rattan furniture gained international recognition in the 20th century, appearing in Victorian-style pieces exported to the United States. Today, Filipino designers and architects continue to incorporate rattan as a culturally significant material that bridges traditional craft and contemporary design.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture, Interior Design, Rattan

---

### [One Ayala: an inclusive transport hub along EDSA](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/one-ayala-visionarch-waf/)

**Published:** October 19, 2017
**Author:** Visionarch

**Excerpt:** Visionarch's WAF-shortlisted project will give hardworking Filipinos more dignified commutes

**Content:**

***One Ayala by Visionary Architecture is shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival 2017 under the [Infrastructure – Future Projects](https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/infrastructure-%E2%80%8Bfuture-projects-2017) category.***

In a country Waze tags as having the 10th worst traffic in the world, transit-oriented development—the creation of compact, walkable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use communities centered around quality train systems and bus stations—may be one of the best ways the private sector could benefit from building for a public good. In Makati, the capital’s urban core, commuters are forced to take the overcrowded MRT or endure a long and crowded bus ride as barriers around the sprouting private enclaves restrict traffic flow in and out of the city.

Faced with an opportunity to design a mixed-use development on the site formerly occupied by the Hotel InterContinental Manila, the gateway to Makati Central Business District, Ayala Land partnered with Visionary Architecture to make the once impermeable site accessible to a mixed gradient of users, symbolizing the democratic ideals of social integration over isolation, of inclusion over exclusion.

![One Ayala streetview artist's render](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/07-Eyelevel-Dusk-FA.jpg "07 Eyelevel Dusk FA - BluPrint")One Ayala streetview artist’s renderThe recently demolished hotel will be replaced by a 390,000-square meter transit-oriented development dubbed “One Ayala” after its address at No. 1 Ayala Avenue corner EDSA. At the heart of the development is an intermodal transport hub that will meld Makati City’s mass transportation modes into a single, unified system. As an anchor, it will pull together the project’s major components: a 609-room business hotel, a condominium, two office towers for the robust BPO industry, and a retail podium with 54,700 square meters of leasable space.

The ground floor will have a naturally-ventilated BRT terminal for point-to-point buses, with wide bays for regular city buses and a separate terminal for public utility vehicles at the basement. No longer will commuters have to fight for space on narrow and unshaded sidewalks and occupy the carriageway to catch a ride in the rush hour. They can buy their tickets and wait comfortably inside the expansive concourse atrium on the second floor surrounded by three levels of shops, food stalls, and restaurants. The same concourse will connect to the existing [MRT Ayala Station](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rail-systems-mini-metros/), sparing train commuters the agony of lining up several blocks down the street under the oppressive weather.

![One Ayala Bus station](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1-bus-station.jpg "1 bus station - BluPrint")Bus station![One Ayala Main concourse](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Main-Concourse-View.jpg "Main Concourse View - BluPrint")Main concourse![One Ayala section](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/One-Ayala-WAF-Entry-Board-02-NEW.jpg "One Ayala WAF Entry Board 02 NEW - BluPrint")Apart from discouraging car use, our goal is to promote, at least within the area, two underrated forms of transportation: cycling and walking. With bike racks provided within the development, cyclists will no longer contend with leftover spaces on the street to park their bikes. A network of wide, covered, and well-lit elevated walkways, open 24 hours, will connect to existing neighboring properties like the Glorietta malls on the northwest, the SM Makati mall on the southwest, and the Ayala-McKinley Transport Terminal across EDSA, which serves buses going to the nearby Bonifacio Global City.

![Ground Floor Plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/One-Ayala-WAF-Entry-Board-02-NEW.jpg22.jpg "One Ayala WAF Entry Board 02 NEW.jpg22 - BluPrint")

Public art by emerging and established local artists, and facade articulations inspired by the aesthetic of Philippine National Artist Arturo Luz will keep the development on a walkable, human scale. Aside from wayfinding, the installations will serve as placemakers best appreciated on foot than from a car. A vibrant and active ground plane will serve a two-pronged purpose: to drive foot traffic to the fine-grained retail spaces and ensure a defensible public space for those who work graveyard shifts in BPO offices.

![One Ayala view from Glorietta Park](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/13053-One-Ayala-View-from-Glorietta-Park.jpg "13053 One Ayala View from Glorietta Park - BluPrint")One Ayala view from Glorietta ParkMore than a commercial development, we see [One Ayala](https://ayalalandoffices.com.ph/offices/makati/one-ayala) as a public transport infrastructure, a catalyst for properties around it to follow. In a dense city where architects compete for iconic silhouettes, Visionary Architecture differentiates itself by focusing on improving the public realm, working around the constraints of market forces, and creating opportunities for more people to move around and enjoy the places designed for them. At a higher level, our purpose is to liberate the working class from a crippling sense of cynicism, empower them to pursue other worthwhile activities and to spend more time with their families, and give them back the dignity of travel they rightfully deserve. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is One Ayala in Makati?

One Ayala is a 390,000-square meter transit-oriented development at the corner of Ayala Avenue and EDSA in Makati. It integrates a hotel, offices, condominiums, retail, and an intermodal transport hub connecting MRT, buses, and BRT in one location.

### Who designed One Ayala?

One Ayala was designed by Visionary Architecture in partnership with Ayala Land. The project was shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival 2017 under the Infrastructure – Future Projects category for its approach to public urban mobility.

### What transportation modes does One Ayala connect?

One Ayala connects the MRT Ayala Station, point-to-point buses, city buses, and public utility vehicles through a single intermodal hub. Elevated walkways also extend to Glorietta, SM Makati, and the Ayala-McKinley Transport Terminal serving BGC.

### How does One Ayala support cyclists and pedestrians?

One Ayala provides dedicated bike racks and a network of wide, covered, elevated walkways open 24 hours. These connections link major neighboring developments, encouraging walking and cycling as viable, comfortable alternatives to car use in Makati.

### What makes One Ayala a transit-oriented development?

One Ayala is a transit-oriented development because it places mass transportation at its core and surrounds it with mixed-use programs — retail, offices, hotel, and residential — designed to reduce car dependency and improve mobility for all commuters.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Ayala, Commercial, EDSA, Makati, MRT, One Ayala, Terminal, Transportation, Visionarch, Visionary Architecture, World Architecture Festival

---

### [MyHome by BluPrint: The New Horizon where dreams are made of with Yassi Pressman](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/myhome-by-bluprint-dreaming-in-color-with-yassi-pressman/)

**Published:** May 23, 2022
**Author:** Ivy and Cynthia Almario

**Content:**

*Stylemakers, trendsetting interiors, and beautiful must have home-furnishings. **MyHome** **by BluPrint** is a monthly webzine serving as the guide to decorating and designing a special home that adds more beauty to life. The Magazine has been around for several years and now it’s being empowered through an exciting collaboration. Now and then, renowned* industry *experts are invited as guest editors. For this issue, we teamed up with the leading creative direction of BluPrint’s Editor-in-Chief, Geewel Fuster.*

![MyHome by BluPrint](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MH-2022-YASSI-PRESSMAN-FINAL-COVER-May-20.jpg "MH 2022- YASSI PRESSMAN FINAL COVER (May 20) - BluPrint")---

When it comes to decorating, renovating, and entertaining people in style, the inside of a home isn’t the only place to think of. MyHome by BluPrint also shows how outdoor spaces are great house highlights that make a residence feel airy and more comfortable. In hindsight, the presence of these outdoor spaces or having access to areas that aren’t entirely full of man-made pieces has become an even more important aspect in living. These days, people appreciate the presence of nature more and prefer spending time outside the house rather than staying within cramped walls. An active lifestyle involved with nature, that is. One way to enjoy this certain lifestyle is to have areas like lanais in your home.

![Pressman Pavilion is a recreational space serving as an extension of their home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-3.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman) (3) - BluPrint")Located east of Metro Manila in Antipolo, the Pressman Pavilion is a recreational space serving as an extension of their home where they can also enjoy social gatherings. This property, however, was designed for recreational activities and has a covered floor area of 152-square meters.The lanai first appeared in 19th century Hawaii as an area for enjoying the beauty of natural surroundings without being bothered by bugs and other outdoor inconveniences. This private space attached to the house usually features one wall left open to the elements. Eventually, lanais began appearing in other warm areas like Florida and California.

All in all, having a lanai is similar to having a tropical home’s very own oasis during a hot but beautiful summer. For local actresses and sisters Yassi and Issa Pressman, their home embodies a healthy lifestyle with nature. It also serves as their personal gym and their own fabulous resort, where outdoor features like lanais and bigger open spaces go hand-in-hand with the indoor perks of a modern home.

[![outdoor pieces, a huge sofa, an ottoman, and a chaise lounge](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-2.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman) (2) - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/luxe-living-myhomes-top-5-luxe-bedrooms-for-2019/)![outdoor pieces, a huge sofa and a chaise lounge](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-4.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (4) - BluPrint")![outdoor pieces, a huge sofa and  chaise lounge](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-1.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (1) - BluPrint")Above: For the outdoor pieces, a huge sofa, an ottoman, and a chaise lounge were all covered in hardy outdoor fabric. These were designed to volt out when there is no party, and volt in to fit a crowd for gatherings. To harmonize with the sofa’s solid geometry, a wooden coffee table with a live edge was also included as a perfect organic shape. Meanwhile, a Magis Spun Chair serves as a whimsical touch that highlights Yassi’s tastes.Looking for the perfect home is never an easy task. It’s a huge investment, after all. For Yassi, she endlessly looked at several houses until she found the one that finally resonated. She saw the property where she now lives and somehow felt like this was *it*. Yassi confessed that funding was not yet fully secured that time. However, she saw it as a challenge and pushed her to work harder so she could achieve her dream home.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-6.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-6.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-7.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman) (7) - BluPrint")

The quest to find the perfect team didn’t quite involve looking through the internet for these architects. For Yassi, she simply got on her motorbike and drove around the gated village until she finally stumbled upon a house with a beautiful exterior that seemed to call to her. Ringing the doorbell to inquire about the brains of the beautiful home design, the startled homeowner was delighted to share the number of their architect.

Jason and Anne Abustan, a husband and wife tandem of creative licensed architects, had their own thriving construction and landscaping business. Upon interviewing them, Yassi was delighted that they clicked. Soon enough, an exciting collaboration began.

Yassi and Issa claim that they already knew what they wanted in a home. All they needed was a team to work with. Not only should they be able to respond to the detailed brief, but would also be capable of taking the Pressman siblings’ vision to the next level. The main house didn’t allow much elbow room for dramatic changes. As expected, a renovation has the tendency to box ideas in. The empty lot next door was the blank canvas that afforded the team and the Pressman siblings a playful and imaginative collaboration.

> Highly involved in the design and construction process, the siblings were present from conceptualization to execution.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-8.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (8) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-8.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman) (8) - BluPrint")Architects Jason and Anne Abustan of Central District Design Group.Not surprisingly, the concept underwent several permutations before they finally settled on using the property as an outdoor pavilion. Jason’s ideas for one, were clever and had high impact on the approach to the site. Among his ideas is building a swimming pool lifted 1.5 meters from the ground. The heated pool features a jacuzzi, lap pool, and lounge pool. This linear pool gives the area a resort feeling for any visitors that may come in. The pool, located at the very end corner of the site, provides good privacy for anyone taking a dip. Lush tropical plants lined up around its edges also complement the area. The 1.5 meter lift design allowed dramatic steps to lead up to the space. It also provided a play on two levels for furniture placement.

> The sisters readily agreed. This simple suggestion was the start of what turned out to be a very impactful outdoor living space.

Meanwhile, the perimeter fire wall served as a backwall. Siting the pavilion at a 30**°** degree angle from the focal wall was such an unexpected move that it was practically a magician’s move. The freedom of having the space to go up to two stories gave Ann and Jason the opportunity to have a soaring ceiling, almost five-meters high.

Ann selected a lush variety of tropical plants and trees, cleverly planted to set this jewel of a pavilion in. A glimpse of this pavilion from Yassi’s living room introduces the space’s contemporary lines. Set at an angle with its cut-away ceiling in one portion causes a stunning effect that catches onlookers off-guard, and reminds them of a stage. We can only imagine the fun Yassi and her friends have while using the space.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (14) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-12.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (12) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-12.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (12) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-11.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (11) - BluPrint")

The in-sync landscaping meanwhile was another feature that further invigorates the space. Yassi for one fell in love with the landscaping done by Ann and said she remembered seeing a row of Haleconia’s drooping to create a natural arch somewhere in Bali and wanted that replicated. Ann readily obliged.

Accompanying lush tropical foliage is a beautiful Talisay tree that lorded over the rest of the landscape. According to Jason, the landscaping wasn’t simply for aesthetic. A drip pipe was actually buried next to the tree’s roots for a steady supply of water. The natural look also extends through a natural color palette of beige travertine, teak, and gray split face rock expertly used to segue to the main house. The various shades of green from the lush landscaping also compliments the colors and materiality.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-15.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (15) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (14) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (7) - BluPrint")

A triangular roof with a steel wide flange fascia wrapped around the roof edges covers the pavilion. With its high ceiling finished with treated tanguile wood, the roof is then supported by a black slate wall. This is also covered with a wall climbing feature. A series of wide steps with varying lengths mimics what a natural stone step would look like. The pavilion’s flooring is raised to mitigate perennial flooding. Practicality aside, the raised flooring also emphasizes the pavilion’s role and importance as the focal point of this oasis-like home. As the gathering point for every social event, two lounge beds overlook the lawn.

Thanks to Yassi’s investment on high-end technology, the residence is also a smart home equipped by [SmartAge](https://smartage.ph/) technology. Aside from mood-lighting and a privacy setting care of Alexa, the bath tub area is also voice-activated. It also has an auto smoke glass enclosure system that diffuses when locked. Basically, the gas filament between the glass rises into a fog, obscuring outside view for total privacy. A simple voice command reverses the whole process and allows for the best and most relaxing in-home [TyloHelo](https://www.tylohelo.com) spa.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (10) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (16) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-17.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (17) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (13) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (8) - BluPrint")Above: Attention to detail in planning and construction are seen not just in the pavilion but all over the house. The house is defined by its sharp flat roof with the use of steel wide flange fascia to define its edges, a wide green lawn, a pool and steam room and a small gym with a billiard area. With an elegant use of wood, stone and steel features, the designers have created a [modern tropical design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/spinach-house-a-blend-of-mid-century-modern-and-modern-tropical-design/) interpretation of a recreational space for their client.

Entering the space, a covered billiard area and a gym will be the first to greet guests. A billiard table on the left and a fully customized [METCON](https://metcongroupph.com) gym on the right complete with an AirBike, a custom-made rig, Squat Rack, adjustable free weights, full-cushioned matting, and a wall bar for home workouts. The columns and ceiling of this covered area is painted in black finish, making the space appear smaller and in turn gives an illusion of a bigger space outside of it. The black paint finish of its columns and ceiling also compliments the site and acts as the transition space from darkness to light, a portal leading to the main focal point of the area.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-18.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (18) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_Portrait-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_Portrait) (1) - BluPrint")

The facade wall in a charcoal grey split face stone was even cleverly turned into a rock climbing wall, with toe holds that perfectly matched the color of the stone. Cynthia and I marveled at the design. It’s a testimony to Yassi’s eye for detail and perfection. She sheepishly admitted that finding toe holds that weren’t in the usual primary red, green, and yellow was quite difficult. Furniture-wise, the Pressmans still didn’t hold back. Both sisters selected bespoke furniture especially made for them.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-17.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (17) - BluPrint")A high table and a counter finished with epoxy resin designed by Issa Pressman herself sits at the back. A barbeque pit sits at the edge of the space, waiting to be lit for social events.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (16) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman) (6) - BluPrint")Personally, Yassi believed that having a dream and going after it is the best motivation to make her work hard. Work hard she did! Not only to acquire the existing house but the empty lot next to it as well. Once she owned both properties, the quest for finding the right architect to work with began.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-MH_Yassi-Pressman_landscape1.jpeg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (MH_Yassi Pressman_landscape)1 - BluPrint")From the start, the Pressman siblings wanted to surround themselves with art and other creative pieces. Yassi also collects ONE OFF pieces that attract her eye. She combines them with the new outdoor pavilion that is a work of art in itself. With their new residence, we can only conclude that Yassi Pressman indeed dreams without borders. We will be bold enough to add that she dreams in detail too. The endevaor to create this dream home involved Rizal-based architecture and design studio, Central District Design Group. With the firm’s expertise, they turned a vacant lot inundated by perennial flooding into a tropical pavilion. It has an open lawn that serves as a huge catch basin for rainwater, preventing flood from entering the house. Envisioned as an urban oasis, the main house and a pavilion surrounds its green space.

The Pressman House provides a perfect recreational space for the client’s active lifestyle. The elegant use of materials and the proper configuration of all the spaces gives its visitor a resort experience. The open space is perfect for social gatherings involving family, relatives, and friends, as well as business dealings. The use of lush tropical plants and high earth tone walls around the perimeter gives the space a much needed exclusion from the busy outside world. It’s their very own small but tranquil sanctuary. An oasis.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-9.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (9) - BluPrint")IDr. Cynthia and Ivy Almario![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MH-2022-in-Article-Photo-Yassi-Pressman-Portrait-2.jpg "MH 2022 in-Article Photo (Yassi Pressman Portrait) (2) - BluPrint")From Top to Bottom: Architects Jason and Anne Abustan, Interior Designers Cynthia and Ivy Almario, Yassi PressmanMarch My Home Visits Team BluPrint’s *MyHome Visits* showcases inspired homes like this, allowing you to virtually venture through the stunning residence and be inspired yourself. To watch the full video of My Home Visits, click on the link

Notes About the Writers:

[Ivy Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/visits/an-exclusive-look-inside-the-chic-condo-of-ivy-almario/), together with her sister [Cynthia Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/fulfilling-aspirations-cynthia-and-ivy-almario-on-luxury-in-interior-design/), founded ATELIER ALMARIO. An interior design firm
that specializes in high end residential and condominium work, restaurants, hotels and other
commercial projects. They lived and worked in Los Angeles California for fifteen years, where they honed their craft and talent for designing high-end residences, hotels, restaurants and offices. Since returning to Manila, they have successfully built a practice that has earned them the respect and loyalty of very satisfied clients.

**Sittings Editor** GEEWEL FUSTER

**Photography** ED SIMON

**Art Direction** DIANNE FERNANDO

**Video Producer** FERRENA ENRIQUEZ

**Shoot Coordination** ERICA LUNA, MAE TALAID, and MJ ALMERO

**Shot on location** ANTIPOLO CITY

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is Yassi Pressman’s house located?

Yassi Pressman’s home is located in Antipolo, Rizal, east of Metro Manila. The property includes a main house and an adjacent outdoor pavilion designed by Central District Design Group, serving as a resort-style recreational space.

### Who designed Yassi Pressman’s tropical pavilion?

The pavilion was designed by architects Jason and Anne Abustan of Central District Design Group, a Rizal-based architecture and design studio known for transforming challenging sites into livable, resort-inspired spaces.

### What is a lanai and why did Yassi Pressman include one in her home?

A lanai is a covered outdoor space with at least one open wall, originally from 19th-century Hawaii. Yassi included it to extend her living space outdoors, support an active lifestyle, and create a resort-like atmosphere for entertaining guests.

### What smart home features does Yassi Pressman’s house have?

The Pressman residence is equipped with SmartAge technology, including Alexa-controlled mood lighting, a voice-activated bathtub, and an auto smoke glass enclosure system that offers on-demand privacy — making it a fully integrated smart home.

### What is MyHome by BluPrint magazine?

MyHome by BluPrint is a monthly digital webzine focused on home decorating, interior design, and lifestyle. It features curated homes, guest editors from the design industry, and virtual home tours to inspire readers across the Philippines.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Interiors, Offices

---

### [Escolta Maestros: 6 Filipino architects who shaped the old CBD](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mundo-ni-maestro-escolta/)

**Published:** April 16, 2018
**Author:** May Lyn Cruz and Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** The architects who shaped the Escolta we wish we saw, the remnants of which are now being met by the swings of bulldozers. 

**Content:**

The book, *Ang Mundo ni Maestro*, in its editing stage, features eleven Filipino master builders and architect pioneers spanning the 1850s to the 1970s.

The word *maestro* was used in the title because the book is also a tribute to the unheralded Filipino designers and builders in the Spanish colonial days, when the highest title an *indio* could aspire to in the building trade was *maestro de obras*, or master builder (similar to the construction foreman of today); while the *insulares* and *peninsulares*, whether artist-architect, priest-builder or military engineer, all carried the title *director de obras* (director of construction).

Many of the Filipino *maestro de obras*, who were much more than mere foremen, remain unknown and unrecognized. The few whose names managed to escape oblivion are Geronimo Tongco and Pedro Jusepe, who designed the walls of Intramuros in 1591; Nicolas Ruiz, who designed the Paco Cemetery in 1822; Severo Sacramento, the façade of Morong Church in 1853; and Luis Arellano, the Pinaglabanan church in San Juan in the 1880s.

![Intramuros walls from the Santa Lucia gate](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-INTRO-Intramuros.jpg "Maestro-INTRO-Intramuros - BluPrint")Intramuros walls from the Santa Lucia gate, with a view of the Bishop’s Palace and the bell towers of San Ignacio church from a distanceIn the mid-19th century, Felix Rojas y Arroyo became the first Filipino to acquire a degree in architecture abroad. Upon returning from his travels and studies in Asia and Europe, he was assigned as Arquitecto Municipal de Manila (Municipal Architect), and eventually Director de Obras Publicas (Director of Public Works) in 1865. Rojas was the first Filipino to have broken through the Spanish ‘glass ceiling,’ and it is with his story that the book, [*Ang Mundo ni Maestro*](https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/80-facts-about-philippine-institute-of-architects/), begins.

*Editor’s note: This article was first published in BluPrint Special Issue 3 2013. Here we bring you a summery featuring the different maestros who shaped the old Escolta business district we wish we saw, the remnants of which are now being crumbled by time or met by the swings of bulldozers.*

**READ MORE: [Architectural photographs (or the remains of our buildings)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/architectural-photography-special-2018/)**

---

## Felix Arroyo Rojas (1823-1887)

![Barretto Building, designed by Felix Rojas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Barretto-Bldg-Escolta-Rojas-1888.jpg "Maestro-Barretto-Bldg,-Escolta,-(Rojas)-1888 - BluPrint")Barretto Building, designed by Felix Rojas, Calle Escolta, Manila, c. 1870Rojas belonged to a wealthy and influential clan in Manila—what they called buena familia. According to Joel Rico, Rojas acquired his government position after his aunt wrote the queen of Spain. The endorsement letter extolled his illustrious lineage, international exposure, academic training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid, and above all, his competence and dedication to practice architecture in his native country.

![Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, 1867](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Sto-Domingo-Rojas.jpg "Maestro-Sto-Domingo-(Rojas) - BluPrint")Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, 1867. This Rojas project was outstanding not only for its Neo Gothic, which had never been seen in the country, but also for its seismic soundness. It was leveled during the 1941 bombing.

Rojas proved more than qualified, designing public structures from watchtowers to markets, from schools to hospitals to administrative buildings like customs houses and tribunal courts. As head of public works, he also carried out civil works such as canals (traffic in Manila at that time was at the Pasig River, not on land), as well as zoning programs for the fire plagued districts of Manila.

His more impressive works, however, were done as a private practitioner: mansions for his wealthy Rojas relatives, commercial buildings in Escolta, and churches, including the famed Santo Domingo and San Ignacio churches in Intramuros.

The book also tells the little known story behind San Ignacio Church, whose metal framework was designed and supplied by French engineer Gustave Eiffel (who would later design and build the Eiffel Tower in Paris, in 1889). Eiffel’s company was represented in Manila by Jacobo Zobel, a nephew-in law of Rojas, and whose palatial ancestral home in Intramuros was one of Rojas’ first building projects. Research thus confirms the Eiffel connection in Philippine church architecture, but not with San Sebastian Basilica, as some believe.

## Tomas Fernandez Arguelles (1860-1950)

![Philippine American Drug Company, one of the major drugstores of the period](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Arguelles-Escolta.jpg "Maestro-Arguelles-Escolta - BluPrint")Left: Botica Boie Building by Arguelles, 1919. It housed the Philippine American Drug Company, one of the major drugstores of the period. Right: Burke Building, corner of Escolta and David Streets, was the location of Heacock’s, a major department store in Manila.

Arguelles’ career spanned the Spanish, American and post-war periods. He received academic training in surveying at San Juan de Letran, and in architecture at the *Escuela de Artes y Oficios* (School of Arts and Trade). Tomas is the father of [Carlos Arguelles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/david-consunji-inside-stories/), himself a pillar of [Philippine modern architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/).

Arguelles started work as an inspector for the Street Car and Manila Railroad companies from 1884 to 1896, agrimensor (land surveyor and assessor) for the Recollects in 1897, and maestro de obras in 1898 to 1924. He served in the Revolutionary Army against Spain, with the rank of captain; the advisory council of the City of Manila; was one of the founders of the Camara de Comercia Filipina (Philippine Chamber of Commerce); and founding member of the Philippine Architects Society (the precursor to the PIA).

In the book, his son and granddaughter write: “Arguelles was automatically licensed to practice architecture under the Engineers and Architects Law of 1921. He is holder of Registration No. 9, granted to him in 1922 when he was already in his senior years. The license was merely a formality as Arguelles had been actively practicing in this profession decades earlier.”

Among the structures he designed before he received his license were the Municipio de Manila or Manila City Hall when it moved out of Intramuros; the train stations of San Fernando, Pampanga; San Miguel, Tarlac; and Hondagua, Bicol; President Manuel L. Quezon’s mansion in Pasay; and the Botica Boie and Burke buildings on Calle Escolta, to name but a few.

## Arcadio De Guzman Arellano (1872-1920)

![Victoria Cafe, Calle Escolta, designed by Arcadio Arellano, 1919](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Victoria-cafe-Escolta-Arcadio.jpg "Maestro-Victoria-cafe,-Escolta-(Arcadio) - BluPrint")Victoria Cafe, Calle Escolta, designed by Arcadio Arellano, 1919Arellano’s father, Luis, was a maestro de obras and Arcadio followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing the building trade after his business studies at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, and taking further studies at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios (est. 1890), where he graduated in 1895. Arellano served in the engineering corps of the Revolutionary Army with the rank of captain. The American colonial government retained him to supervise the assessments in Intramuros, and eventually the whole of Manila, after which Arellano took part in preparing the building code for the city.

Later, Arellano would work as Governor W. H. Taft’s private consulting architect. Three key groups of projects emerge from the wealth of Arellano projects revealed in the book. One, Arellano seemed to have inherited the “post” of the Manila elite’s architect of choice after the death of Felix Rojas. Arellano built the palatial homes in Quiapo of the Hidalgos, the Paternos, the Aranetas and the Tuasons, as well as the Ongpins of Binondo. The latter’s legendary El 82 Bazaar was also a design of Arellano.

![Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion inside Manila North Cemetary](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/maestro-ARCADIO-Mausoleum.jpg "maestro-ARCADIO-Mausoleum - BluPrint")Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion inside Manila North Cemetary, designed by Arcadio Arellano, 1915A true nationalist, Arellano also had numerous projects related to the revolutionary movement. He particularly took pride in the Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution that can still be found at the Manila North Cemetery. A third group of works, the later works, were decidedly more modern in aesthetic, reflecting the collaborative partnership of Arellano with [his younger and US-schooled brother, Juan.](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/jaro-city-hall-restored/) Their joint projects, such as the Casino Español and Gota de Leche, defined the character of the city of Manila.

## Andres Luna de San Pedro (1887-1952)

![Crystal Arcade, inaugurated in 1932](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Crystal-Arcade-Luna.jpg "Maestro-Crystal-Arcade-(Luna) - BluPrint")Crystal Arcade, inaugurated in 1932, was the most famous and technologically-advanced commercial building in pre-war Manila.“Andres Luna would probably be the biggest revelation to most students and enthusiasts of Philippine architecture. Very few know him, or know him only as the son of the great painter Juan Luna. Those who know of Andres only identify him with the Regina, the Perez–Samanillo, the Natividad and the Crystal Arcade Buildings in Escolta. His resume is much thicker and more impressive than that,” Rico enthuses.

Luna was born in Paris, and grew up in the company of the ilustrado and inteligentia community of Filipinos in Europe, including National Hero Jose Rizal. In 1894, he returned to the country, took private art lessons under Manila’s best, but eventually went for architecture studies at the International Correspondents School in Manila. He went back to Paris to study architecture at the Ecole de Beaux Arts, and earned valuable experience by working under known Parisian architects Gilardi, Paulin, and Bertoner.

![Jacobo Zobel Mansion, along Dewey Boulevard](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Jacobo-Zobel-mansion-Luna.jpg "Maestro-Jacobo-Zobel-mansion-(Luna) - BluPrint")Jacobo Zobel Mansion, along Dewey Boulevard, one of the numerous homes Luna built for the Zobel family. The house, popularly called “La Cansona,” won the House Beautiful Award in 1928.Upon his return to Manila, he was appointed City Architect, a position he held from 1920 to 1924. Like Rojas and Arcadio Arellano, Andres Luna became high society’s favored architect, sought after both for his pedigree and his unique style of Filipino-French architecture. The ritzy pre-war Dewey Boulevard ([now Roxas Boulevard](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/archhive-manila-baywalk/)) was once lined by bayside palatial residences, a significant number of which were designed by Andres.

## Fernando Hizon Ocampo (1897-1984)

![Calvo Building on Calle Escolta, by Fernando Ocampo, c. 1938](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Calvo-bldg-Escolta-Ocampo.jpg "Maestro-Calvo-bldg,-Escolta-(Ocampo) - BluPrint")Calvo Building on Calle Escolta, by Fernando Ocampo, c. 1938Ocampo finished his Bachelor of Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University, obtained a diploma in Civil Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas, studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and took further studies in architecture in Rome and Fontainebleau.

Ocampo wore many hats. He had a brief stint at the Bureau of Public Works in the early 1920s as Assistant Architect. As an educator, he was affiliated with three schools—the Mapúa Institute of Technology, the University of Santo Tomas, and the short-lived Philippine College of Design. He sat on the Board of Examiners for Architects, and was a founding member of the Philippine Architects Society in 1933, and served as its president in 1945 under the current name, Philippine Institute of Architects.

![The Eugenio Lopez'Boat House' in Iloilo City, by Ocampo, c. 1936](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Mestro-Lopez-mansion-Ocampo.jpg "Mestro-Lopez-mansion-(Ocampo) - BluPrint")The Eugenio Lopez ‘Boat House’ in Iloilo City, by Ocampo, c. 1936. Photo by John RouxAlthough many of Ocampo’s architectural projects are found in Manila, among them the Paterno Building (later the Far Eastern Air Transport, Inc., or FEATI), the North Syquia and Admiral Apartments in Malate, as well as the renovation of the Manila Cathedral, many of Ocampo’s outstanding projects dot and enrich the architecture in the provinces, from Pampanga to Baguio to Iloilo.

## Juan Felipe de Jesus Nakpil (1899-1986)

![Capitol Theater on Calle Escolta by Juan Nakpil, 1937](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Maestro-Capitol-Nakpil.jpg "Maestro-Capitol-(Nakpil) - BluPrint")Capitol Theater on Calle Escolta by Juan Nakpil, 1937

Nakpil was the first Filipino architect to receive the National Artist Award for Architecture in 1972. His father was Filipino nationalist and musician Julian Nakpil, while his mother, Gregoria de Jesus (the widow of Andres Bonifacio), was one of the heroines of the Philippine Revolution.

Nakpil studied engineering, which he started at the University of the Philippines and finished at the University of Kansas. For advanced studies, he went to Fontainebleau, and earned an MA in architecture from Harvard University. Nakpil began his practice as a junior partner of Andres Luna in 1926.

Four years later, he ventured on his own, and in 1953, went into partnership with his sons Ariston, Elogiol, and Francisco. While Nakpil’s design was at the forefront of Modernism in Philippine architecture (some even considered him “too modern”), his descendants, Arch. Francisco Nakpil and Rebecca Nakpil Tañada, emphasize in the book that he vigorously promoted architecture that was “attuned to the climactic, seismological, and environmental conditions in the country.” This value is seen in his promotion and preservation efforts of native building materials, as well as the modern adaptation of indigenous house models, especially the bahay kubo roof.

Nakpil likewise had a fulfilling and long [career in the academe.](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/geronimo-manahan-class-99-speech/) At one point, the book says, “The deans of six architecture schools in Manila were all his former students.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [Forging Modernism: The early years of Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/)**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who were the first Filipino architects to practice in Manila?

The earliest recognized Filipino architects in Manila include Felix Rojas y Arroyo, the first Filipino to earn an architecture degree abroad and serve as Municipal Architect of Manila in the 1860s, and several maestros de obras such as Geronimo Tongco and Pedro Jusepe, who designed the walls of Intramuros as far back as 1591.

### What buildings did Filipino architects design along Escolta?

Several landmark Escolta buildings were designed by Filipino architects. Felix Rojas built commercial structures along Calle Escolta in the 1870s. Tomas Arguelles designed the Botica Boie and Burke buildings in 1919. Arcadio Arellano designed the Victoria Cafe in 1919. Andres Luna designed the Crystal Arcade in 1932, and Fernando Ocampo designed the Calvo Building around 1938.

### Who was Andres Luna de San Pedro and what is he known for?

Andres Luna de San Pedro was a Filipino architect born in Paris and the son of renowned painter Juan Luna. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he served as City Architect of Manila from 1920 to 1924 and became the preferred architect of Manila’s high society. His most celebrated works include the Crystal Arcade, the Regina Building, and the Perez-Samanillo Building along Escolta.

### Who was Juan Nakpil and why is he significant in Philippine architecture?

Juan Nakpil was the first Filipino architect to receive the National Artist Award for Architecture, granted in 1972. Trained at the University of Kansas and Harvard University, he began his career under Andres Luna before establishing his own firm. Nakpil championed modernist architecture adapted to Philippine climate and seismic conditions, and his Capitol Theater on Escolta remains one of his most iconic works.

### What is the book “Ang Mundo ni Maestro” about?

Ang Mundo ni Maestro is a book featuring eleven Filipino master builders and architectural pioneers spanning the 1850s to the 1970s. It documents the largely unrecognized contributions of Filipino maestros de obras during the Spanish colonial period and traces the careers of pioneering licensed architects who shaped Manila’s built environment, particularly along the historic Escolta business district.

**Categories:** Architecture, Cafes, Commercial, Interiors

**Tags:** Andres Luna de San Pedro, Arcadio Arellano, Architect, Book, Central Business District, Escolta, Felix Rojas, Fernando Ocampo, History, Joel Rico, Juan Nakpil, Philippine Institute of Architects, Philippines, Profile, Tomas Arguelles

---

### [Mixed-Use Developments: Recreating the Barangay in a Modern Context](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mixed-use-developments-recreating-barangay/)

**Published:** January 19, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Mixed-use developments continue to dot urban landscapes across the country, breaking the mold of sprawling residential areas disconnected from city centers. The concept aims to create synergistic environments that integrate living, working, and leisure activities, offering significant benefits to residents, businesses, and the broader community.

On paper, they can create vibrant, integrated communities where everything you need is within reach, reframing the way we think about urban living and city planning.

![An architectural render of a mixed use development.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-MIXED-USE-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(MIXED USE)-1 - BluPrint")A mixed use development integrating walkable areas and biophilic design.We define mixed-use developments by their unique blend of diverse components within a single physical and functional space, typically combining at least two different uses. These developments often feature residential elements such as apartments, condominiums, or townhouses, alongside commercial spaces including retail stores, restaurants, and offices.

They also commonly incorporate cultural and recreational facilities like theaters, museums, gyms, and parks. In certain instances, these developments may even include industrial aspects, such as light manufacturing or creative spaces, adding to their multifaceted nature.

More developers now focus on building extensive, master-planned areas in densely populated regions like Metro Manila and Cebu. And so mixed-use developments in the Philippines emerge as an attractive solution to effectively address the challenges of urban sprawl.

## **Urban Density: A Case for Mixed-Use Developments** in the Philippines

As urban areas become increasingly crowded, the demand for more intelligent spatial planning rises. In high-density environments, the competition for business, residential, and [commercial spaces is intensifying](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/) more than ever before.

Beyond the lack of available space in a city like Metro Manila, there’s also the problem of mobility. Separating business, commercial, and residential areas forces people into the daily struggle of long commutes.

There aren’t a lot of transportation options to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people to and from their workplace. Mass transportation like trains and buses help, but remain severely overloaded and inadequate in the Philippine context.

And despite its status as a megalopolis, Metro Manila streets can’t accommodate the huge swell of private vehicles. Urban environments necessitate efficiency. And nothing is more efficient than living close to where you work.

![A colorful modern mixed use development with retail spaces on the ground floor and in the upper floors.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-MIXED-USE-4.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(MIXED USE)-4 - BluPrint")## **Redesigning the Barangay**

Interestingly, before the Industrial Revolution, “mixed use” was very much the norm. In most places, towns were tight-knit enough that people lived where they worked: farmers lived on the farm, shopkeepers lived above their shops.

That changed when cities pushed for single-use zones. Workers lived away from their work in separated businesses and commercial areas. It created a homogenous experience in every city block. Many of the problems that plague city planning and zoning start from single-use zones.

Today, as cities become more congested, this concept of mixed-use falls into favor once again. Decades-long building projects that operate as commercial, business, and residential zones prove their viability.

Rockwell Makati, for example, has office buildings and residential towers, two schools, and multiple commercial buildings. At its center is Power Plant Mall, which contains high-end shops, cinemas, and dining options.

The mall functions the same way as a town center would, where everyone comes together. Rather than an open plaza, it’s a multi-level communal space with everything else built around it.

In a way, mixed-use developments *adopt* the structure of a barangay, but on a macro-scale. Shops are in close proximity to residences and offices. The key difference is they use highrises that occupy a relatively smaller footprint to house more people than a traditional barangay could.

![A modern minimalist low rise multi-level mixed use development surrounded by trees and water features.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-MIXED-USE-5.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(MIXED USE)-5 - BluPrint")A multi-level communal space## **Elevating the Experience of Urban Living**

The popularity of mixed-use developments in the Philippines seem predestined, especially in an increasingly-urban sprawl like ours. They bring a multitude of benefits, chief among them the reduction of commute times and transportation costs, achieved by integrating living and working spaces. This integration simplifies daily life and contributes to the local economy by boosting economic vitality.

Moreover, these developments promote sustainability by encouraging lifestyles that are less reliant on cars, thereby reducing carbon emissions. Furthermore, they play a crucial role in community building, providing shared spaces and amenities that foster social interaction and a stronger sense of community among residents.

Developers can combine emerging technologies to leverage the sustainable use of resources. Architects and urban planners design spaces more conducive to the elusive work-life balance. Leisure and cultural activities become more accessible.

The future appears bright, with several promising trends on the horizon. One is the integration of smart technology, which can enhance the livability and efficiency of mixed-use spaces. Another growing focus is on health and wellness, with emphasis on creating spaces that promote both physical and mental well-being. There’s also a rising interest in [adaptive reuse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/adaptive-reuse-old-buildings-into-new/), transforming existing buildings into mixed-use developments. This approach not only preserves cultural heritage but also helps to reduce environmental impact, making it a sustainable choice for urban development.

![An architectural illustration of a mixed use development.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-MIXED-USE-2.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(MIXED USE)-2 - BluPrint")## The Challenges Mixed Use Developments Face

But there are caveats. Although these developments offer numerous benefits, they also encounter several challenges. A primary obstacle is the presence of strict zoning and regulatory hurdles in many cities, which can significantly impede their development. Additionally, financing these projects tends to be more complex compared to single-use developments, due to their diverse components. Furthermore, mixed-use developments are often subject to market risks, especially concerning the viability of different components such as retail or office spaces, which can be affected by fluctuating economic conditions.

For a mixed-use development to be successful, it’s vital to consider several key factors. Firstly, understanding the needs and preferences of the local community is crucial to ensure the development’s relevance and success. The choice of location is also paramount. It should be easily accessible by various modes of transportation. Additionally, the development’s design plays a significant role. It should not only be functional but also aesthetically pleasing, with an emphasis on creating inviting public spaces. Lastly, incorporating sustainable design principles can significantly enhance both the environmental and social value of the development.

![A modern minimalist low rise multi-level mixed use development surrounded by trees and water features.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-MIXED-USE-6.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(MIXED USE)-6 - BluPrint")
In the Philippine context, mixed-use developments can embody a modern approach to urban planning that mirrors the communal spirit of the traditional Filipino barangay. These developments bring together sustainability, economic growth, and a strong sense of community, all integral to Filipino culture. Despite the challenges they face, with thoughtful planning and a deep understanding of the local context and preferences, these developments have the potential to create thriving, close-knit communities reminiscent of the barangay. As Filipino cities grow and transform, mixed-use developments are poised to be pivotal in redefining urban living, blending contemporary design with the rich communal heritage of the Philippines.

Related link: [(Euclidean) Planning is dead. Long Live Urbanism.](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/euclidean-planning-is-dead-long-live-urbanism/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a mixed-use development and what does it typically include?

A mixed-use development is a property that combines at least two different uses within a single physical space. These typically include residential units such as condominiums or apartments, commercial spaces like retail stores, restaurants, and offices, as well as cultural and recreational amenities such as gyms, parks, theaters, and sometimes light industrial or creative spaces.

### Why are mixed-use developments becoming popular in the Philippines?

Mixed-use developments are growing in the Philippines because they directly address the challenges of urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and limited space in dense cities like Metro Manila and Cebu. By integrating living, working, and leisure in one location, they reduce commute times, ease mobility pressures, and offer a more efficient and sustainable approach to urban planning.

### How do mixed-use developments relate to the traditional Filipino barangay?

Mixed-use developments echo the structure of the traditional Filipino barangay, where shops, homes, and workplaces exist in close proximity within a tight-knit community. Modern developments like Rockwell Makati replicate this dynamic at a larger scale, using high-rise towers and shared commercial centers to recreate the communal living experience of the barangay in an urban context.

### What are the main challenges facing mixed-use developments in the Philippines?

The primary challenges include strict zoning and regulatory requirements that can slow approvals, more complex financing structures compared to single-use projects, and market risks tied to the viability of components like retail or office space under shifting economic conditions. Successful projects must carefully balance community needs, location accessibility, sustainable design, and aesthetic quality.

### What does the future of mixed-use developments look like in Philippine cities?

The future of mixed-use developments in the Philippines points toward smarter, healthier, and more sustainable communities. Key trends include the integration of smart technology to improve efficiency, a growing emphasis on wellness-oriented design, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. These approaches aim to preserve cultural heritage while reducing environmental impact across rapidly urbanizing Philippine cities.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, Mixed-Use, Philippines, Sustainability, Urban Planning

---

### [Beating the Odds: Mike Peña's design for his own home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mike-pena-design-for-his-own-home/)

**Published:** November 4, 2019
**Author:** Gaby Alegre

**Excerpt:** Architect Mike Peña encompasses an unconventional family retreat in his design for his own home

**Content:**

They say good design is problem-solving—finding functional, practical and smart solutions to the design problem at hand. Architect Mike Peña, in his design for his own home, faced a unique design challenge—turning what was initially planned to be a multi-story commercial building into a haven for his family.

The Peña house is located along one of the city’s busier thoroughfares. When the structure was being built, construction was forced to a halt due to a zoning issue. Peña then decided to convert the building into a home for his family, including his father and the families of his two sons. Generously set back from the street, the towering fortress-like structure is surrounded by a garden of bonsai plants that acts as a shield from the noise, pollution, and traffic just a few meters away. The structure is divided into five stories—a basement garage, the kitchen, living and dining space on the first, a gallery, office, and bedroom on the second, more residential spaces on the third, and an open-air deck on the top story. To make it wheelchair-accessible, they installed an elevator at the east side of the house, right beside the staircase.

![Peña loves to collect bonsai plants](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-1-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-1 - BluPrint")Peña loves to collect bonsai plants which he displays in different areas of the house. A few of them stand guard by the main door, complementing the wood surfaces.One of Peña’s biggest considerations was in designing the façade, as the house was oriented to the west, leaving it at the mercy of the hot afternoon sun. To offset this, Peña created a collage of stone, wood and glass for the façade with narrow glass slats serving as windows, and the vertical and horizontal hardwood strips acting as *brise soleil.* The collage of materials makes for a striking façade.

![The strips of hardwood on the facade shield the home from the hot afternoon sun](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-2-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-2 - BluPrint")The strips of hardwood on the facade shield the home from the hot afternoon sun. On the right side, they conceal the staircase that gives the residents alternative access to the upper floors.Those familiar with Peña’s work will instantly recognize the main door, which was sculpted by artist and furniture designer Agi Pagkatipunan, a friend and frequent collaborator of Peña’s. This door, with its rippling texture, ushers guests straight into the living area, where eyes will be drawn to the ceiling’s white undulating waves, echoing the wooden waves of the entrance door. Again, those familiar with his work will notice how his house has none of his usual high ceilings. A known advocate of green architecture, Peña is known for residences designed to take advantage of natural light and ventilation—high ceilings, large windows, pocket gardens. He explains that “there was a height restriction,” because the original structure was intended to be a restaurant on the first story and commercial spaces for lease on the upper stories.

![A koi pond lies to the right of the main door](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-3-2.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-3 - BluPrint")A koi pond lies to the right of the main door, completing the wood, stone, and water elements for the entrance.The first story is a living and dining space, with an adjacent entertainment room on the east side. The architect used drop ceilings and chose low-slung furniture to make the space seem more voluminous. “It’s designed to be very practical. Since this was intended to be a restaurant, it is compact, and designed as an open-plan,” says Peña. The space was filled with multi-functional pieces and multiple seating opportunities for intimate family gatherings. Architect Peña collaborated with his wife Marlene for the interiors, and both believe in “reducing, reusing and recycling.” For this home, no new furniture was bought; everything was repurposed or reupholstered to fit the new space.

![The living area's ceiling has high-density fiber](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-4-2.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-4 - BluPrint")The living area’s ceiling has high-density fiber (HDF) boards installed. It also functions as a hub for Asian art, with large mirrors and consoles by Cebuano designer Clayton Tugonon, sculptures by Mike Cacnio, Agi Pagkatipunan, Rey Paz Contreras, and art pieces by a number of artists.![Sharing the same space with the living area is the dining area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-5-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-5 - BluPrint")Sharing the same space with the living area is the dining area, featuring a hardwood dining table that comfortably seats 14. The Ming dining chairs bought from Malaysia were supposed to be used for the restaurant.The walls are adorned with the family’s prized collections—art by various Asian artists picked up from their travels, including a collection of sketches of Filipino art masters, and pieces from *Buntis,* sculptor Pagkatipunan’s latest collection of stone sculptures. Beyond the main living and dining space is the entertainment room, which was intended to be a function room for the restaurant. In this space, a large glass window lets the morning light in and allows calming views of Peña’s bonsai creations.

![Filipino masters adorn one wall of the entertainment room](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-6-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-6 - BluPrint")“I like to collect sketches,” says Peña. Some of the sketches done by Filipino masters adorn one wall of the entertainment room.In the second story is The Gallery, which houses the family’s collection of larger pieces by various Filipino artists, and also functions as a space for entertaining clients of Peña’s architecture firm. A workspace-slash-conference room is adjacent to The Gallery, which is where Peña holds staff meetings. A second staircase was built on the west side of the structure, which initially provided access to the commercial spaces on the upper floors. It now provides alternative access to the upper floors—useful for bringing clients to The Gallery and office without needing to pass through the living spaces.

![Pagkatipunan and Tugonon and paintings by Filipino artists fill up space](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-7-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-designforhisownhome-7 - BluPrint")The gallery space on the second floor reflects the family’s passion for Filipino art, creativity, and design: Furniture pieces by Pagkatipunan and Tugonon and paintings by Filipino artists fill up space.In the future, Architect Peña and his wife are planning on moving out of the space, and re-converting the first story into a commercial space. The second and third floors are designed like condominium units, each with their own compact kitchen, living and dining spaces, so his sons and their families can remain in the space if the family decides to pursue the restaurant concept on the first story.

Despite the challenge of working with an existing structure, Architect Mike Peña says that one of the thrills of being both a designer and client is having more room for creativity. With a positive, forward-thinking outlook, and thoughtful planning and execution, he was able to build a haven for his most important client.

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 6 2013. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

**READ MORE:** [Succeeding Success: Mike and Paul Peña](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/succeeding-success-mike-paul-pena/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Architect Mike Peña and what is he known for?

Architect Mike Peña is a Philippine-based architect known for green architecture and residences that maximize natural light and ventilation. He is recognized for his collaborations with Filipino artists and designers, including sculptor Agi Pagkatipunan, and his design philosophy of practical, functional spaces that integrate art and sustainability.

### How did Mike Peña convert a commercial building into a home?

Mike Peña converted a stalled multi-story commercial structure into a five-story family home after a zoning issue halted construction. The building was redesigned to house his father and the families of his two sons, with a basement garage, living and dining areas, a gallery, office, residential floors, and a rooftop deck, plus an elevator for wheelchair access.

### How did Architect Peña solve the problem of a west-facing façade?

Peña addressed the intense afternoon sun of a west-facing façade by designing a collage of stone, wood, and glass with narrow glass slat windows and vertical and horizontal hardwood strips acting as brise soleil. The hardwood strips shade the interior while also concealing the staircase on the right side of the structure.

### What Filipino artists and designers are featured in the Peña home?

The Peña home features works by several notable Filipino creatives, including sculptor and furniture designer Agi Pagkatipunan, sculptor Mike Cacnio, Rey Paz Contreras, and Cebuano designer Clayton Tugonon. The family also maintains a collection of sketches by Filipino art masters acquired through travels across Asia.

### What is the future plan for the Peña house?

Architect Mike Peña and his wife plan to eventually move out of the home and reconvert the ground floor back into a commercial or restaurant space. The second and third floors were intentionally designed as self-contained condominium-style units with compact kitchens and living areas, allowing his sons and their families to continue living in the building.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** artistic home, Family Home, Mike Peña

---

### [Dominic Galicia on Designing the Ineffable](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/dominic-galicia-shabestan-house/)

**Published:** August 1, 2017
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Content:**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.46.10-AM.png "- BluPrint")Grillwork for the front door of the Shabestan House

Talking to Dom, as Dominic Galicia’s friends call him, is a bit like talking to the Mad Hatter—it can be an enthralling and confusing experience. Just when you think you’re on the same page, you discover you’re a couple of millennia off. An enthusiastic conversationalist, Galicia pursues a line of thought and playfully pushes it forward by referencing both recent and distant past—from Vatican II to Jung and Socrates; to the ancient Hebrews’ reverential obsession with the Word. It would be easy to see Galicia’s ping-ponging back and forth in time as a manifestation of an attention-deficient, hyperactive mind, but for Galicia, all these divergent ideas follow a clear and beautiful trajectory toward understanding the incomprehensible and expressing the ineffable. And just when you think he’s talking about *the* Incomprehensible, he may very well be simply talking about that which cannot be understood.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.14.01-AM.png "- BluPrint")The four-paneled front doors give the house an unmistakable sense of arrival

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.14.17-AM.png "- BluPrint")The first thing one sees in front of the doors is the shabestan or light well/wind tower, a feature of ancient Iranian domiciles called qanat.

Galicia’s fascination with extruding form from the formless drives him to constantly read and his constant reading fuels his fascination even more. This he puts to good use when designing, for he can never just simply design. For an edifice to take shape and rise—even if only in his mind—he loves first and foremost to plumb the depths of the thought, philosophy, history, and story that are the foundation of the design.

This scholarly bent was evident when Galicia was a young boy studying in Lourdes School in Quezon City, and was recognized by the International School where he studied middle school and high school under full scholarship, and by the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, where he was a Notre Dame Scholar, and where he obtained his professional degree in architecture in 1988. He also pursued graduate studies in architecture at Pratt Institute in New York. In June 2005, he received a University of Notre Dame Distinguished Asian Pacific Alumni Award.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.15.00-AM.png "- BluPrint")The stairway coils around the shabestan.

He obtained licenses to practice architecture in both New York State and the Philippines. He worked in New York for ten years before returning to Manila to form Dominic Galicia Architects in 1999. The New York experience offered him opportunities to be exposed to architectural design and construction, as well as high-end residential, retail, and institutional interior design.

His work may be considered modern, but he believes that the modern would not be possible without the continuing presence and preservation of heritage architectural sites. He sits on the advisory council of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), and represents it on the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI). As the current president of ICOMOS Philippines, he also represents the country in the International Scientific Committee on Twentieth-century Heritage (ISC20C) of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). He is an adviser to the Escolta Commercial Association Inc. (ECAI) and helps guide the public-private initiative to revive Escolta, Manila’s historic downtown.

Galicia does not consider himself a church architect, but in the last 17 years has worked on at least a dozen projects for the Catholic Church, the first being the Adoration Chapel of St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish, better known as Magallanes Church, Makati, completed in 2000. This led to the design of the new baptistery at EDSA Shrine in 2002 and the Archbishop’s Chapel in the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros in 2003. Other projects that followed include the renovation of the sanctuary at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Singalong, Manila; and the interior design of the chapel of the Archbishop of Manila’s summer retreat house in Mt. Peace, Baguio.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.15.11-AM.png "- BluPrint")The glass blocks lining the shabestan let light into the stairwell. The gap to the right lets air from the ground floor rise up the wind tower.

When the Magallanes Church burned down in 2004, Galicia’s firm won the competition to redesign the new church (featured in BluPrint’s Volume 2, 2009). Soon to be completed is the Parish Church of St. Benedict in Ayala Westgrove Heights (Galicia’s firm designed the interior, featured in this issue), and in the works are St. John Mary Vianney Parish Plaza and Annex in Makati, the new church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Hinulugan Taktak, Antipolo, and the renovation of the sanctuary at Most Holy Trinity Parish Church in Balic Balic, Manila.

Recent non-church projects include several residences in Makati and Nasugbu, Batangas, the conversion of Blanco Center in Salcedo Village into the Picasso boutique serviced residences, and his two biggest projects yet—the adaptive reuse of the Department of Agriculture Building into the National Museum of Natural History, and the ten-hectare Hyundai Logistics Center complex in Laguna.

If the conversation with Galicia below does not ping and pong as crazily as you might expect, it is because the interview has been chopped into sections and those sections that “belong” together have been strung together. The interview took place at the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, during a break between sessions of a conference on liturgy and church architecture—the perfect setting for talking to a man whose passion is designing the ineffable, whether he is designing the house of God, a house of man, or a house for artifacts.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.16.18-AM.png "- BluPrint")The shabestan–which is essentially a void–is the core of the house. The living spaces on the ground floor are arranged counterclockwise around it: the foyer, living area, dining area, family lounge, and kitchen.

**Did you always know you were going to be an architect?**

Sometime in high school, I was very much attracted to architecture, but math was not my strongest subject, so I was dissuaded from taking it. As a young kid, everything for me was a building, everything I looked at became a building—it was driving me mad. But I went to college not taking architecture because I had been dissuaded, and I was set to take this course at Notre Dame called the Program of Liberal Studies, also known as the Great Books Program, which for me was a good way to find out what you really wanted to do. But I also took a subject, *Introduction to Architecture*, just to be sure that I didn’t want to become an architect, but I fell in love with it and I ended up entering the architecture program.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.25.56-AM.png "- BluPrint")One can see the front doors facing the shabestan. Behind the shabestan is the dining area. the door to the right leads to the family lounge.

**When was this?**

My freshman year, I was 18 years old. Which was great. It wasn’t as though I understood everything from the very beginning. There were some very abstruse lectures talking about phenomena that I did not quite understand, but then I said, “Hey, I would like to explore this!” Like the parallax. A parallax is the relationship between objects that varies as you move in space. So you take that to the relationship of columns in a courtyard or the relationship of trees in a forest. Later on, I discovered that those ideas were like planted seeds because I think my fascination with the relationship of three-dimensional objects in space was born there.

**In those abstruse lectures.**

Yes. Eventually, you find out why they’re important. As I got older, I discovered things on my own, realizing that through the course of man’s history, other people have observed similar things and given them names. One of the fulfilling things about being an architect is when you have this joy of discovery. How things come together, how it impacts your understanding of things—it connects you through the whole chord of human history, the whole chord of human understanding and other people who have done the same. There is something—Wow!—so very, very heartwarming about it. What fascinates me right now is the notion of the archetype.

**Archetype.**

The notion of trying to understand these true things, these old things. I want to get to the depths of the sources. I think that’s one reason I’m very fascinated with working on churches because each project is an opportunity to have a starting point. With each project to build a church, right, I start blank—really *tabula rasa*. Empty, empty, then you just gather. You go to a hundred sources, you look through books, you scour the net, and you talk to people, to start to build a context.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.43.49-AM.png "- BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.15.15-AM.png "- BluPrint")

**How do you know what direction to take when you’re gathering? What you would gather for Magallanes would be different from what you’d gather for St. Anthony, right?**

For Magallanes Church, it would be the notion of the patron saint, who is Alphonsus de Liguori. To find out who he was, what he was about, what he wrote. He was a prolific writer. What you find cultivates things that help you in the development of the architectural design. For example, the fact that Liguori was the patron saint of confessors meant that confession, in the design of the church, should have importance. One thing that Alphonsus said was, “When you confess to a priest, it is equivalent to confessing to Christ.” So I wanted to give that architectural form. Magallanes church, as originally designed by Lindy Locsin, is a square plan, with the main path along the diagonal. Our first idea for the church was to build these large vaults, the main roof of the structure anchored at two ends, at the two corners, by drums that serve as visual anchors. Within those two drums are the confessionals. So confessing in one is like confessing to the other. That was the first move that came out of that understanding of Alphonsus.

What I find with every project is you always start with an initial text but it always takes you deeper. The next corner brought us new ideas: the notion of who Jesus said he was. He said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Light;” “I am the Alpha and Omega;” “I am the Bread;” “I am the Door.”

“I am the Alpha and Omega” came first, which gave us the idea for the pews. It was interesting to think about the incantatory possibilities, one end of a pew saying, “I am the Alpha,” and the other end, “I am the Omega.” Like the way monks say their prayers. If you see the pews, one end of a pew has “alpha” carved into the wood, the other end has “omega.”

The next thing that occurred was the “I am the Door.” There are two huge panels of the Main Door standing for “I am my life” and “I am my death,” which is why you have images of Jesus’ life on one panel and of his death on the other panel.

When you are just beginning the project and you start with that *tabula rasa*, and you just use the material that comes with the project, it has an organic way of leading you from this, to this, to this. From the “I am’s” to the most profound “I AM.” (*Editor’s note: Dom is referring to the biblical story of the burning bush where Moses asks God for his name and God replies, “I am who am.”*) I couldn’t have planned that.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.08-AM.png "- BluPrint")Unlike most houses, the stairwell of the Shabestan House never gets stuffy or hot. This is all the more remarkable because it is suffused with light.

**Surely it was not pure serendipity.**

It comes as part of the process. It took a life of its own. When a project has a life of its own, the project begins to tell you what it wants. That’s when you as an architect work fully as an instrument.

**How does the project tell you what it *wants*?**

When the project is working, when the design process is succeeding, when everything is in play, the elements start to move and form themselves. Of course, this is all with your pencil; this is all on your computer screen. I don’t know how it does that, but I think that’s when you realize that you’re succeeding in it. Things just, sometimes there are just things that you cannot contain. It’s like things just want to burst out.

**Having established a certain basic form, the space calls out for something, and then you respond to that.**

Exactly. The trajectory of it is like, like, like you’re peeling away layers to get to, to—

**A truth?**

A true light.

**What layers are you peeling away?**

You start with the layers of words. The layers of text. The texts that you read earlier are opportunities for you to get into a certain state of understanding. As it continues, it’s a way for the Spirit to come into the project. You start with many words and then you get to fewer words until you come to—as in the case of the project in Magallanes—the holiest word, the unutterable. That for me has been the pattern for our work, particularly for the work for the church. Which is why the church projects as a source of context are inexhaustible.

**Why is it inexhaustible? Are you talking about it in terms of being a spiritual experience for you, or as—**

Even as a source of thought.

**Okay. Because of the deep history of the church.**

Yes. It always starts with, for example in the case of St. Anthony or with St. Benedict, with the text. What St. Anthony was about, what St Benedict wrote.

**Did St. Anthony have a lot of writings?**

Not a lot of writings, but he had a lot of iconography because he’s one of the most revered saints.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.13-AM.png "- BluPrint")The very top of the stairwell is a catwalk that allows one to walk around the four sides of the wind tower. Windows on all four sides let all the hot air of the house exhaust, and at the same time, offer views of the neighborhood, kind of like a watchtower.

**How do you distill a body of iconography to get to the truth of the man? What do you peel away?**

In the case of St. Anthony, it was very pure; there was a painting by Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbaran, which was particularly beautiful, of St. Anthony holding a lily and a book, and the infant Jesus. Those are symbols of St. Anthony, and so we abstracted that. The simple curvilinearity of the lily became the forms of the legs of the lectern, the altar, and the baptismal font. We were dealing with the popular perception of St. Anthony as a saint who produced many miracles. What I was trying to express architecturally was the notion of the miracle, the notion of the material improbability of something.

**How do you express that architecturally?**

Well, a lily is not supposed to be able to carry a book, but it does, in the lectern. One of our tasks as architects is to bring to material expression these things that can be difficult to explain.

**The project was a renovation of the sanctuary, right?**

Yes. It’s a beautiful church by Carlos Santos Viola, but there were problems with the sanctuary itself. For one thing, the backdrop was very dark. The space felt *dark*. When you were seated amongst the congregation, you couldn’t see exactly what to look at. The priest was lost, because it’s a tall space, among many elements. At that time, I was intrigued by the notion of how one approaches the priest, as you’re about to receive communion. I was going to a church where I found myself distracted by a lot of ornate things not conducive to immersing oneself in the state of mind where I could be ready to accept the Eucharist.

So at St. Anthony’s, I was thinking the sanctuary needed a focus. There was a large wooden crucifix, but it was on a dark brown, dark gray stone wall so you could not see it. What we did was a simple gesture of moving the cross forward and building for it a large white backdrop: two elements clad in Cristone white, one concave, and the other convex. The concave was holding the convex in a kind of structural improbability, and against this white background, we placed the cross.

**The space *told* you what needed to be done.**

Yes. It was very clear. Because in any project, what it really comes down to is focus. There can be other things happening, but there has to be a strong focus because when you think about it, the experience of grace is a strong focus. That is one thing that we tried to do—to put in architectural form that experience of grace.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.22-AM.png "- BluPrint")The catwalk as seen from below. Grills let all the hot air rising up the stairwell to escape up the top of the windtower.

**What was the idea behind the EDSA shrine baptistery?**

When I asked Bishop Soc what he wanted the baptistery to be about, he said he wanted it to be about the Exodus. (*Editor’s note: Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan was then Rector of the EDSA Shrine during the time he was Auxiliary Bishop of Manila .*)

**“Let my people go.” Yes, that’s so EDSA.**

Which is why there are the elements of the Exodus. Exodus is so related to water, you know, the parting of the sea, the triangular *capiz* screen floating above it—that was the cloud that led the people as they escaped from Egypt.

**Is the triangle the Holy Trinity?**

Yes. One interesting thing I find is when you’re on the right path, you’re hitting three things. One, you’re hitting the pragmatic necessity of the space, you solve it; the other is you’re telling the particular story of the place, (in a way, Catechism); and then there’s the larger story, the story with less words, as I described it with Magallanes. The decreasing specificity, the increasing generality of the story.

**Could you be an architect of a church if you weren’t a believer?**

Yes. I think so. Even if you aren’t a believer, if you are sincere in being of service—sincerity counts for a lot, you know—you go through the process of gathering the material, reviewing the text, parsing it; the Spirit will come to you one way or another.

**The spirit of what? The one true God, or the god of the church you’re building for? Isn’t it your being Catholic—your upbringing, Catholic education, your spiritual experience—that informs your design?**

Of course, it does. But I would also love to design a mosque. For one thing, it would be an opportunity to learn another culture, the opportunity to plumb the depths of something. That’s one of the most exciting parts of any project—the opportunity to plumb the depths of something. And what I suspect is that there is one common depth. You get there different ways, like going down to the bottom of the sea, you go down one way, you could emerge another way, but you emerge the richer for it. It’s what makes architecture always fresh. Because I don’t like to take things for granted. I do like to re-examine views. I think it’s what makes architecture fun. (Laughs) The wheel is round! (Laughs) But we’re just looking at it from different angles.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.26-AM.png "- BluPrint")Another view of the catwalk from below.

**You studied in Rome, so you were really trained to design ecclesiastical structures?** (*Editor’s note: The third year of the undergraduate architecture program at Notre Dame takes place at the university’s Rome Studies Center.*) No, not really. One thing that is really great about Notre Dame was my profs there were always telling me to look deeper.

No, not really. One thing that is really great about Notre Dame was my profs there were always telling me to look deeper.

**Into what?**

Into the past. For example, for my thesis project, I began with a somewhat superficial approach, and my thesis adviser, Prof. Steven Hurtt, didn’t say anything critical about the project, he just said to look deeper.

**What was your project?**

A parliamentary building for the Philippines. It was after the EDSA People Power revolution, so I was pretty much swept up by the euphoria of the new democracy.

**Okay, and he wanted you to look deeper into what?**

To look at the sources of Philippine form. What he was trying to get me to do was to look at the roots of a Philippine Modern.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.35-AM.png "- BluPrint")View of the narrow steps leading up to the catwalk from the door of a third floor bedroom

**What would that be?**

At this point, all I can say is it would be different for different people. When you look to what you understand to be the deep past of anything, you will come out of it with different things from what other people see. Of course, you may be looking at the same thing but because you also imbibe your own personal experience, it affects you. Of course, it will be influenced by our climate, our context, our culture. You know, it comes down to the question that everyone asks and that is, “What is Filipino architecture?”

**Do you see that coming to fore anytime soon?**

You know what the answer to that would be? I believe that anything real really comes with quality. I think that if everyone in my profession were to respond with depth and sincerity to every project that they handle, what emerges could be a real Filipino architecture.

**By depth, that includes understanding of history**—

Understanding of history, understanding of context, understanding of culture, understanding of climate. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I do not think it should be a regimented grammar.

**Is that what it is now? There seems to be no syntax to a lot of the architecture we see.**

No, that’s not the way it is now, but it may be the way some people think it should be. But I do believe that there is greater sensitivity that the profession now has to climate, to place, and to culture.

**How genuine is that sensitivity?**

Well, I don’t think it is a matter of being genuine. I think it’s a matter of being incipient, because it is relatively recent, at least, as I see it in our generation. Previous generations of Philippine architects, like Pablo Antonio, had that sensitivity in spades.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.45-AM.png "- BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.26.54-AM.png "- BluPrint")

**How do you run your firm?**

We’re very much a studio kind of office. I’m on a first name basis with everybody, even the youngest people. We don’t have departments or anything. I work on every project, and it’s very important for people who work with me that they take it with me from the beginning up to the end. The advantage of working that way is they get the full view of the project; they also get to deal with the clients. It benefits the project if the full experience for everyone involved is as holistic as possible; that everyone gets as much feedback from the clients as possible, from the very early stages to the very end of the project.

**On the average, how many projects do you complete in a year?**

I can tell you how many projects we have at any given time. I’d say between five and ten.

**Tell me how you work.**

I meet with the client. We gather the facts, the person from the team who’s assigned to the project will help me do that. I do most of the gathering of the text.

**A junior architect assists you?**

Yeah. Then, the exploration of the site; that’s a group thing. We record the site, study the site. From the very beginning, you get a sense of what to do—I mean, from the practical sense, certain pragmatic considerations. We have some initial ideas and that combines with the stuff you’ve been researching, so you just keep at it, you just keep working the sketch. I do an initial sketch and then I pass it on to them, and then it’s back and forth, then sitting down together looking at it.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.47.01-AM.png "- BluPrint")

**Who does schematics?**

That’s me. I generate them and the team helps me develop them. Depending on how many alternatives we come up with, I work on those also with my team. They help me come up with a rough plan, help me refine the plan, and extrude the plan into elevations, sections. They help me with study models. I find it important to be able to build models. Not just the cardboard models, but also the models in the computer. They help me to see it.

**Is there anything about this process that’s different from other firms? Do you use a particular technology?**

No. We do it the old-fashioned way. We just do it more. Just working it, sketching, drawing. We’re always questioning. We don’t take anything for granted; we examine the examined until we are fully satisfied.

**Is it only when you’ve reached a certain level of satisfaction that you make a presentation?**

No. The client is in the process with you. We don’t want the situation where the client only comes in at the end—that’s not interesting for us.

**You must require a particular kind of client, then, because not everyone is into text gathering or understanding the process.**

Yeah. It’s a certain kind of client that looks for us.

**You must want those who are literate.**

Yes. We’ve been really fortunate. That’s why I think the church for me is so fascinating because of the vast body of knowledge it has, the deep wells of wisdom it has. You’re right, my clients tend to be the sort who read a lot, or write a lot. I’m fortunate that I have the clients that I need when I need them. I just kind of go with the flow.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.46.47-AM.png "- BluPrint")View of the shabestan from above

**Was there something discussed at the conference that particularly resonated with you?**

This may not be the most orthodox way of looking at it, but the notion of the tabernacle. When I think of the tabernacle, I think of the space of it. I think about the emptiness inside it. I think about the void of it. So when I try to think of its mystery, when I try to think of its depth that we’re trying to plumb, one of the things to my mind—because I’m an architect—that best represents it, is its emptiness.

**How do you present emptiness?**

Space. (Chuckles)

**Okay, but you’re already in an enclosed space like a church. How do you present a space within an enclosed space? And you’re not supposed to use transparent material!** (*Editor’s note: One of the things we learned at the conference was that tabernacles should not be constructed using transparent material and that the Eucharist reserved inside should not be visible from the outside.)*

(Chuckles) Yes, it’s difficult. We’re talking about the Eucharist as a material element. But what also in a way embodies, what is a sign of its ineffability, is the non-material, the emptiness, the void.

**Why do you see it as void? What does the void represent?**

Maybe it represents what it is we are after when we are designing. It’s to get to that point of…

**Emptiness?**

Yes.

**That only Christ can fill? What are you referring to?**

Not even that.

**Emptiness for the sake of what?**

As architects, we’re always aiming for expressing that which cannot be expressed. And at a certain point, you cannot. And so at that point, the emptiness becomes the expression of what you’re trying to express, which is ineffable.

**Why would you want to do that?**

I think to express the ineffable is at a certain point one’s goal as an architect.

**Oh! But you do all the time. You express joy, sorrow, exaltation—**

Exactly, exactly.

**Those are all ineffable!**

Yeah. (Laughter)

**Do you get the same kind of fulfillment doing houses?**

I do. When it works. You know, I’m realizing that the fulfilling thing about the church is that it’s a place for community. I get a lot of gratification when the space is something that a community can benefit from. I’m only realizing that now as we speak because I do get a lot of fulfillment from houses. But there’s a certain quality of fulfillment that comes from a space for communitarian purposes. Because when people come together, they’re the root of civilization, which of course is a fascinating thing. When people come together, they’re the root of potential—for both good and evil.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-shot-2016-02-09-at-10.46.21-AM.png "- BluPrint")View of the shabestan from below

**Dream project?**

A cathedral.

**Cool!**

And it would be the type of project you can really immerse yourself into, something with a lot of detail—I love detail. I love to examine all the details. In a sense, every project is *sui generis*, (*Editor’s note: Latin for “of its own kind”, that is, unique*) because it’s *tabula rasa*!

**Do you imagine how your cathedral would look like?**

I don’t know. *Tabula rasa*! That’s why it’s exciting. You don’t know. You never know. You just know it’s going to be a great deal of fun. (Laughter)

This is fun. The part, for me, that I find most significant was when I was trying to explain to you what ineffable is. It’s that wordless, material-less ineffability that is the most compelling fuel there is for the kind of work we do.

**Wait. When you talk about ineffability, are you talking about anything that could be ineffable? Or are you talking about God?**

I’m talking about the unutterable.

**Jehovah? The I AM? Help!**

I’m really talking about God. Maybe the work we do is a way of understanding God. Trying to understand God, recognizing the the the –

**Whoa, beware the Tower of Babel.**

No, no, no, no, one doesn’t do it for oneself really.

**Then why do you want to express the ineffable?**

Because one has to.

**No, only *you* have to. Why do *you* have to?**

You have to. You have to. You have to—there’s no choice.

**Why? Otherwise what?**

You go mad.

**Shabestan House by Dominic Galicia Architects is featured in the ‘Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1’ book.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Dominic Galicia?

Dominic Galicia is a Filipino architect and founder of Dominic Galicia Architects in Manila. A 1988 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he is licensed in both New York and the Philippines, serves as president of ICOMOS Philippines, and is known for ecclesiastical and heritage projects

### What is the Shabestan House by Dominic Galicia?

The Shabestan House is a residence designed by Dominic Galicia Architects, featured in the book “Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1.” It centers around a shabestan—an ancient Iranian wind tower and light well—that anchors the home’s circulation and passive ventilation through a coiling stairway.

### Which churches has Dominic Galicia designed?

Dominic Galicia has designed over a dozen Catholic church projects, including the Magallanes Church rebuild, the Adoration Chapel at St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish, the EDSA Shrine baptistery, the Archbishop’s Chapel in Intramuros, and renovations at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Singalong.

### What inspired the design of Magallanes Church?

The Magallonth design was inspired by St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s writings on confession and Jesus’s “I Am” statements. Galicia placed confessionals in two anchoring drums so confessing in one symbolically equals confessing in the other. Pews are carved with “Alpha” and “Omega” at opposite ends.

### What inspired the design of Magallanes Church?

Magallanes Church’s design was inspired by St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s writings on confession and by Jesus’s “I Am” statements. Galicia placed confessionals in two anchoring drums so confessing in one symbolically equals confessing in the other. Pews are carved with “Alpha” and “Omega” at opposite ends.

### What is Dominic Galicia’s design philosophy?

Dominic Galicia approaches every project as a tabula rasa, beginning with extensive research into the project’s history, philosophy, and symbolism before designing. He believes architecture’s deepest goal is expressing the ineffable—what cannot be said in words—through space, void, and the relationships between three-dimensional elements.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Retail

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### [Midcentury Manila: A Blast from the Past](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/midcentury-manila-a-blast-from-the-past/)

**Published:** September 23, 2021
**Author:** Daniel Lampa

**Content:**

A mid-century modern heaven where your mind and design sensibilities can play. That’s how Ken and Isa Mishuku, the husband and wife team of Midcentury Manila, describes MCM PLAY – their new 1,200 sqm playground: a workshop and a furniture gallery for their passion project-turned-business that currently has an almost 24,000 strong Instagram following. It also serves as a warehouse/studio in showcasing and photographing their curated finds.

![Eames Lounge chair 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/28.jpg "28 - BluPrint")

![Eames Lounge chair 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/27.jpg "27 - BluPrint")

![Eames Lounge chair 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/26.jpg "26 - BluPrint")

Buying an “authentic” [Eames Lounge chair](https://www.thespruce.com/) in a decrepit state and wanting to restore the piece in its original glory started their passion for mid-century furniture. In the process of refurbishing the chair, they found out it was a knockoff. Not wanting this to happen again, Ken has developed an obsession with determining the vintage piece’s authenticity. Armed with knowledge on determining a piece’s authenticity and needing more furniture with character for their beautiful home, he searched high and low. He was able to get a lot of chairs at excellent deals from thrift stores and resellers.

![auctioned iconic pieces 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/24.jpg "24 - BluPrint")

![auctioned iconic pieces 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/25.jpg "25 - BluPrint")

![auctioned iconic pieces 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/22-1.jpg "22 - BluPrint")

As a part of a collector’s journey and as their lifestyle and tastes have evolved, they had pieces that didn’t suit their preference anymore. Ken posted an item on a Facebook group and got sold right away. He posted another one and got snatched as fast as the first one. It didn’t last long that he has realized that he had already sold a substantial part of their collection. That started the success that is Midcentury Manila today. Successful enough that they just recently had their fourth collaboration with Leon Gallery, where they auctioned iconic pieces through the Philippines’ premier auction house.

![mini exhibits and house our collection 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/23.jpg "23 - BluPrint")

![mini exhibits and house our collection 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/21-2.jpg "21 - BluPrint")

![mini exhibits and house our collection 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/20-2.jpg "20 - BluPrint")

Ken and Isa moved into what they consider an accidental space early this year. They were fortunate to find this sprawling compound near their home that used to have commercial establishments that were casualties of the coronavirus pandemic. Everything they needed was under one roof. It also had vacant warehouse spaces inside the same complex. Having an office, a studio, a workshop for restoration and storage was the original purpose in getting the area but having few empty spaces left, they decided to turn it into a furniture gallery. Isa notes, “It’s not really a store since the selling happens online but more like a place to hold mini exhibits and house our collection – a place where guests can come just for furniture appreciation, to speak to a fellow collector and immerse. The space originally intended for their office, studio, workshop, and warehouse now has a “cafe,” a place for a gift shop, and an area for an exhibit that their artist friends can use. Having a café wasn’t a plan of the Mishuku’s, but their visitors would come over and stay awhile. “We’d share meals usually and coffee, and noticed we were using food delivery services so much we decided it would be beneficial to put up a café.” Isa remarks.

![mid-century modern category 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/18-3.jpg "18 - BluPrint")

![mid-century modern category 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/19-2.jpg "19 - BluPrint")

![mid-century modern category 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/16-9.jpg "16 - BluPrint")

They only accept items for restoration that belong to the mid-century modern category; they don’t see themselves as experts on antiques and can only take mid-century pieces as is what they are most familiar with. The couple looks at it as an added service for friends of Midcentury Manila. Isa states, “We don’t make a sizeable profit from it, but it’s an excellent way for our team to deepen their experience and knowledge on different furniture pieces; it’s added learning and skill-building.”

!["unique" or exotic designs 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/17-6.jpg "17 - BluPrint")

!["unique" or exotic designs 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/14-10.jpg "14 - BluPrint")

!["unique" or exotic designs 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/15-10.jpg "15 - BluPrint")

They also believe that an item is valued more when there are very few. The more iconic pieces used to be their fastest-selling items until recently. Design enthusiasts are currently looking for “unique” or exotic designs, something not everybody else has or can easily find, such as pieces from Gerrit Rietveld, Paul Mccob, Pierre Paulin, Eero Aarnio, Ubald Klug, Joe Cesare Colombo, Finn Juhl, and many more.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/12-15.jpg "12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/13-13.jpg "13 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/10-16.jpg "10 - BluPrint")

Other than mid-century furniture, there are also clocks, planters, lamps, and design books on view at the gallery. Paintings by Pow Marin, Kadin Tiu, Wipo, and other notable contemporary artists adorn the gallery’s walls. Their supporters, like collectors and artist friends, tend to send things over to consign or to add to the gallery display. The couple welcomes it and likes the idea that there’s something for everyone in their “furniture & design appreciation space.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9-19.jpg "9 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/8-21.jpg "8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/7-23.jpg "7 - BluPrint")

They plan to do more furniture & design exhibits. Isa mentions, “There’s so much good design and furniture, it’s difficult to showcase these all at the same time, so to break it up into more digestible, mini shows focused on a specific designer or design era will be very interesting and a lot more in-depth.” Sometime in October, a new exhibit called PLAY will formally open MCM Play. They are currently working on distributing other brands as well. With the growing demand for these furniture pieces that combine great design and function, The couple is excited about how the space is going to evolve. Isa says,” We’d love to open to workshops when possible, but all in good timing. We aren’t rushing anything, just enjoying the ride – it’s been great meeting new collectors & collaborators, and we’re looking forward to exploring more of that.”

![furniture & design exhibits 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/6-24.jpg "6 - BluPrint")

![furniture & design exhibits 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/5-25.jpg "5 - BluPrint")

![furniture & design exhibits 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/4-26.jpg "4 - BluPrint")

![furniture & design exhibits 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/3-29.jpg "3 - BluPrint")

![furniture & design exhibits 5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2-30.jpg "2 - BluPrint")

![furniture & design exhibits 6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1-32.jpg "1 - BluPrint")

For more inquiries on MCM Play, send a message to Midcentury Manila on their Instagram: @midcenturymanila

Photos courtesy of **CHUCK RONQUILLO**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Midcentury Manila and who are its founders?

Midcentury Manila is a Philippine-based mid-century modern furniture business founded by Ken and Isa Mishuku. What began as a personal collecting hobby — sparked by the restoration of an Eames Lounge Chair — evolved into a curated reselling business with nearly 24,000 Instagram followers and multiple collaborations with Leon Gallery.

### What is MCM Play and where is it located?

MCM Play is Midcentury Manila’s 1,200 sqm physical space serving as a furniture gallery, restoration workshop, photography studio, and café. Located near the Mishukus’ home in Metro Manila, it occupies a compound previously housing commercial establishments that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosts rotating exhibits and curated collections.

### Does Midcentury Manila offer furniture restoration services?

Midcentury Manila offers furniture restoration services exclusively for mid-century modern pieces. The couple positions it as an added service for clients and friends rather than a core revenue stream, with Isa Mishuku noting it serves primarily as a skill-building opportunity for their team to deepen expertise across different furniture types and eras.

### What mid-century modern designers are currently popular among Philippine collectors?

Philippine collectors are increasingly seeking rare and lesser-known mid-century designers over iconic names. Currently trending pieces come from designers such as Gerrit Rietveld, Pierre Paulin, Eero Aarnio, Finn Juhl, Paul McCobb, and Joe Cesare Colombo — unique or exotic designs that are harder to source and not widely available in the local market.

### How can I visit or buy from Midcentury Manila’s MCM Play gallery?

Midcentury Manila primarily sells furniture online through their Instagram account at @midcenturymanila. MCM Play functions more as a gallery and design appreciation space than a traditional retail store, welcoming visitors for furniture viewings, collector conversations, and curated exhibits. Inquiries can be sent directly through their Instagram page.

**Categories:** Architecture, Cafes, Commercial, Interiors

**Tags:** Design, DESIGNPH, Philippines

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### [Cube Berlin has taken the “smart” concept to the next level](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/cube-berlin/)

**Published:** June 28, 2021
**Author:** Jean Paul Peteza

**Content:**

## Just as a square has four sides, this square prism building named “Cube Berlin” has four key characteristics—sculptural, sustainable, smart, and social.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-13.jpg "Deferred CSS - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-8.jpg "- BluPrint")Cube Berlin has been gaining significant attention from the built environment industry in Europe, if not in the world, since it was inaugurated in February 2020. Grossing approximately 19,500 square meters of floor area, the Cube Berlin project was commissioned by CA Immo Deutschland to a Copenhagen-based architectural firm, 3XN. This contemporary glass cubature office building is considered to be an essential part of Berlin’s budding urban development called “Europa City.”

*Designed as a Sculptural Centerpiece*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-1.jpg "CUBE-1 - BluPrint")Since its design inception, 3XN has envisioned Cube Berlin to be a “sculptural centerpiece” — a stand-alone iconic structure at the middle of an open plaza exposing all its four facades that provide a kaleidoscopic experience to its surroundings. Cube Berlin was erected at the center of Washington Platz, which is one of the most prominent and busiest public spaces in Berlin due to its proximity to the Main Railway Station (also known as *Berlin Hauptbahnhof*), making it the main gateway to the most powerful country in Europe. This sculptural centerpiece serves as a welcoming element that would be impossible to miss for people arriving and leaving Germany’s capital city via train.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-2.jpg "CUBE-2 - BluPrint")While Cube Berlin may be perceived as a mere glass box structure due to its simple cubic massing, 3XN’s “wrapping concept” of a dynamic outer glass skin over the main thermal facade has made the building aesthetically interesting. Made up of twelve various glazing elements, the layering of this minimalist yet complex-looking facade offers a kaleidoscopic impression. The inward triangular folds of the outer layer have created platforms with access points that are introduced in a set of articulated tent-like openings. Having such a full glazed facade on all sides of the cube-shaped building maximizes the occupants’ access to daylight and views achieving a sense of transition from internal to the external environment while improving the quality of indoor experience and reducing energy use for artificial lighting.

*Designed as a [Sustainable Structure](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jason-buensalido/ "Sustainable Structure")*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-3.jpg "CUBE-3 - BluPrint")The design intentions of Cube Berlin’s sculpted building envelope go beyond aesthetics. Its high-performing double-skin facade allows air to pass through the gap between the two glass layers creating a breathing effect, which prevents heat gains while providing the option for natural ventilation through operable windows. This sustainable design approach for the building facade was highly influenced by integrating innovative “energy concepts” from the early development stage of the project. The lowered energy demand for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems through advanced energy management technology has led to further reduction of energy consumption, thereby, achieving optimized energy efficiency performance and an increase in operational cost savings.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-4.jpg "CUBE-4 - BluPrint")Awarded with a Gold certification by the German Sustainable Building Council (*Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen*) under the DGNB System, a local green building rating scheme, Cube Berlin has demonstrated many sustainability features. Its sustainable design and construction strategies have placed high value not only for environmental, economic, and sociocultural qualities of the entire project—from site to interior—but most importantly the technological aspect, which has been a major catalyst for Cube Berlin to achieve its sustainability goals.

*Designed as the Smartest [Office Building in Europe](https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/modern-european-office-buildings-combining-sustainable-smart-flex-services-and-sweet/)*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-5.jpg "Directory - BluPrint")Cube Berlin has taken the “smart” concept to the next level, particularly for commercial office buildings by raising the ceiling of artificial intelligence with digital user interfaces for buildings. Integrated within the building systems is a self-learning/-thinking central control, or what the developer CA Immo Deutschland refers to as a “virtual brain,” enabling facility interaction with the occupants based on their preferences, requirements, and behavioral patterns. According to UBM Magazine in an article featuring Cube Berlin, various smart devices have been installed in the building such as 3,750 sensors (i.e., Internet of Things, IoT), 750 beacons (i.e., low-energy Bluetooth transmitters), and 140 radio antennae (i.e., mobile phones) for real-time data collection, tracking, and recording. All gathered information will, then, be fed into the aforementioned central control for comprehensive analysis using preprogrammed algorithms and will autonomously perform necessary changes or actions in response to the users. To put it simply, the building learns from its occupants.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-15.jpg "Deferred CSS - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-14.jpg "Critical CSS - BluPrint")*Smart building conceptual diagram. (Source: https://www.ubm-development.com/magazin/en/smart-building-cube-berlin/)*A bespoke app was developed that offers all building users and visitors intelligent and engaging experiences with the building amenities and systems including access to entryways, conveying system operations, thermal and lighting controls, room and parking reservations, internal communications, and many more. Therefore, this smart technology calls for more than just computerized controlling and monitoring to minimize electricity consumption, it also functions as a practical tool for employees to identify and locate co-workers or preferred work areas at any given time. By using the app, which can be personalized according to a user’s needs and likings, people in the building will be encouraged to behave sustainably and have more efficient daily working patterns.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-6.jpg "CUBE-6 - BluPrint")The data-driven yet user-centered building technology of Cube Berlin will help save more energy and at the same time optimize workspace activities. While there is nothing new about smart concepts for buildings especially now in this information age, it is still commonly applied in private homes with a smaller scale. Thus, with such ground-breaking next-generation intelligent solutions incorporated in Cube Berlin, it would be rather easy to agree upon the architect’s claim that the futuristic building they have designed is indeed the “smartest building in Europe” for non-residential typology, to date.

*Designed for Social Experience*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-7.jpg "- BluPrint")One of the principal characteristics of this new €100 Million-worth building is that, above all, it was designed for the people not only on the outside but on the inside. Kim Herforth Nielsen, the Danish architect who co-founded 3XN, highlighted that, “the sculptural is an essential part when creating architecture, but equally important is the life inside that sculpture.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-9.jpg "Queue CSS - BluPrint")In a total gross floor area of approximately 17,000 m2, Cube Berlin consists of ten leasable office floors with modular concepts and a highly flexible layout that are ideal for accommodating the possible shifting requirements of tenants. Placed along the building perimeter that surrounds a central core, these office spaces can be either combined or separated horizontally or vertically depending on the tenants’ preferences. On its official website, 3XN stated that they aimed for Cube Berlin to be “the first office built specifically to support 21st Century workplace trends with multi-tenant occupancy, cross-organizational communication, activity-based workstations, shared facilities, and dynamic office layouts.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-10.jpg "Home Queue CSS - BluPrint")On the ground floor, apart from the main office lobby, the building caters to semi-public commercial spaces that are predominantly restaurants and food markets, auditorium, children’s corner, and exhibition areas for dining, events, and recreation purposes. Design features stimulating socio-cultural experiences extend up to the roof deck for holding social gatherings and celebrations or where employees can simply take a break for fresh air or have informal work huddles while enjoying the scenic Berlin skyline that includes the famous TV Tower and Reichstag Building.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CUBE-11.jpg "Critical CSS - BluPrint")Sculptural, sustainable, smartest, and social are key attributes of Cube Berlin wrapped altogether in a single glass box. But for a box building that has the capacity within to think by itself for its users, Cube Berlin is truly a memento reminding the world that such a cutting-edge design concept was only possible by daring to think outside the box.

**Notes about the Writer**
With over 14 years of professional experience in South East Asia, Middle East, and Europe, Jean Paul Peteza is a Filipino Architect who found his niche in sustainability consulting for green developments. He holds a BSc degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines and an MBA degree with focus on Building Sustainability – Management Methods for Energy Efficiency from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. Additionally, he is an accredited professional for various green building rating systems such as LEED, WELL, Estidama, GSAS, and BERDE (formerly a pilot consultant). Currently based in Berlin, he is soon to be relocated in London to work as an Associate Sustainability Consultant for a British multinational engineering consulting firm. Outside his practice, he enjoys architecture-themed travels and photography (Instagram: @jp.peteza). He also founded The Sustainability Class ([www.thesustainableclass.com](https://www.thesustainableclass.com/)), a non-profit social community group (in Facebook and Instagram) which aims to spread awareness and provide information on sustainable design achievements, circular economy approaches, and net zero targets for the built environment globally.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Cube Berlin?

Cube Berlin is a 19,500-square-meter sculptural office building at Washington Platz in Berlin, Germany, inaugurated in February 2020. Designed by Copenhagen-based firm 3XN and commissioned by CA Immo Deutschland, it is part of the city’s Europa City urban development district.

### Who designed Cube Berlin?

Cube Berlin was designed by 3XN, a Copenhagen-based architectural firm co-founded by Danish architect Kim Herforth Nielsen. The €100 million project was commissioned by CA Immo Deutschland and forms a key part of Berlin’s Europa City development adjacent to the Berlin Hauptbahnhof main railway station.

### Why is Cube Berlin considered the smartest office building in Europe?

Cube Berlin is called Europe’s smartest office building because of its self-learning “virtual brain” central control system, integrated with 3,750 sensors, 750 beacons, and 140 radio antennae. The system collects real-time data and autonomously adjusts the building to occupant preferences and behavioral patterns.

### What sustainability features does Cube Berlin have?

Cube Berlin holds a Gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Its double-skin glass facade enables natural ventilation through operable windows, reduces heat gain, lowers HVAC energy demand, and integrates advanced energy management technology that optimizes efficiency and reduces operational costs throughout the building.

### How does the Cube Berlin smart building app work?

The Cube Berlin app gives tenants and visitors personalized control over entry access, lifts, lighting, temperature, room reservations, and parking. It also helps employees locate co-workers or preferred workspaces, and uses behavioral data to encourage sustainable habits and more efficient daily working patterns inside the building.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Interiors, Offices

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### [Back To The Drawing Board: 10 Unbuilt projects by famous architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/unbuilt-projects-famous-architects/)

**Published:** October 12, 2019
**Author:** Patrick Kasingsing

**Excerpt:** Due to the lack of funding or simply a change of heart on either the client's or the designer's side, here are 10 unbuilt projects by famous architects.

**Content:**

The odds are not always in the architects’ favor, and not all designs make it from the drawing board to reality. Due to the lack of funding or simply a change of heart on either the client’s or the designer’s side, here are 10 unbuilt projects by famous architects.

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-1 - BluPrint")Museum of Tolerance by Frank Gehry## 1 | Museum of Tolerance

When the Museum of Tolerance, a multimedia museum based in Los Angeles decided they wanted to open a branch in Jerusalem, they chose this love-to-hate, hate-to-love Pritzker laureate for the job. For the site, they picked the thousand-year-old Mamilla cemetery, a sacred Muslim burial site, where famed Muslim scholars and Islamic saints rest. The controversy heated up even more when the architect revealed his design, which some observers found too ostentatious, a gross misrepresentation of the value it was meant to represent. Despite all the hullaballoo, the project was given the green light by the Israeli authorities, with the condition that it be redesigned. Our architect, [Frank Gehry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/architects-furniture-designers/), quit, and someone else handled the redesign.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-2 - BluPrint")Dubai Opera House by Zaha Hadid## 2 | Dubai Opera House

Fans will immediately recognize the sinuous curves and organic forms that characterize this architect’s works. The 2500-seat Dubai Opera House was to have been an architectural showpiece among the residential and commercial developments planned for the seven artificial islands that make up the suspended Lagoons development in Dubai. After many delays, the project, said to have been inspired by the gentle contours of sand dunes, was canceled along with many other fantastical projects our architect, [Zaha Hadid](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/heydar-aliyev-zaha-hadid-architects/), penned for Dubai.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-3 - BluPrint")Guggenheim Salzburg by Hans Hollein## 3 | Guggenheim Salzburg

A branch of the Guggenheim Museum was once planned for the city of Salzburg, Austria, and a competition held for its design. The winning entry by [Hans Hollein](https://www.hollein.com/eng), a Pritzker laureate architect, presented an arresting concept: nestling one of the world’s most prestigious art galleries inside the heart of a rock formation, the Mönchsberg. It was essentially a museum with no façade, its subterranean chambers lit by a vast skylight system. It also pays homage to the original Guggenheim with a 150-foot, funnel-shaped rotunda echoing that of Frank Lloyd Wright’s in New York. Sadly, this project did not see fruition.

**READ MORE: [Here’s how 5 architects designed their first mark in architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/name-the-architect-first-project/)**

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-4 - BluPrint")Manhattan Dome by R. Buckminster Fuller## 4 | Manhattan Dome

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://www.bfi.org/) is famous for his visionary and futuristic projects and this is one of his famous ones. He proposed a two-mile-wide geodesic dome over the area of Midtown Manhattan, capable of allowing weather control as well as reducing the amount of air pollution. The dome would keep temperatures at a moderate level, enabling savings in cooling and heating costs for the inhabitants inside. The success of the dome idea, said our architect, would depend on the choice of material. Although there were no takers, our architect felt his idea would someday be built and that the construction costs, said to be prohibitive at the time, would be offset by the energy savings.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-5 - BluPrint")The Spiral by Daniel Libeskind## 5 | The Spiral

Commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum as a modern extension, this ceramic-tiled structure that was said to resemble a pile of squashed boxes instantly stirred an impassioned debate between London traditionalists and others who wished London to welcome the entry of avant-garde architecture. It was eventually granted building permission, but the project had trouble securing funding. In 2004, eight years after the winning entrant was chosen, the project was officially canceled. Our architect, [Daniel Libeskind](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/daniel-libeskind-interview/), says: “You know, it’s funny… a lot of people in America say, ‘When I went to London I looked for the Spiral.’ Well, it hasn’t been built yet. The irony is that it has been around; people refer to it and relate to it. The only thing that is missing is the building.”

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-6 - BluPrint")M+ Museum by Shigeru Ban## 6 | M+ Museum

An unused shortlisted design for a visual arts museum in the developing West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, this unique proposal by our Pritzker laureate, [Shigeru Ban](https://www.shigerubanarchitects.com/), has a pentagonal structure with five triangular glass façades that open and close like windows. Viewed from above, the structure forms a five-pointed star, a subtle reference to Hong Kong’s eastern location. The open-and-close façade scheme was pursued in order to allow the public to enter the museum freely, lessen dependence on air-conditioning, and to blur the boundaries of indoor and outdoor space. To capture the multi-cultural identity of Hong Kong, the architect made use of a fusion of modern and natural materials like carbon fiber and bamboo in his design. The scheme, however, lost to the winning design of Herzog and Meuron.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-7 - BluPrint")Signal Tower by Jean Nouvel## 7 | Signal Tower

[Jean Nouvel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/national-museum-of-qatar-jean-nouvel/) was the winner of a design competition for a new skyscraper in the La Défense neighborhood of Paris. His winning scheme for the Signal Tower project has four boxes piled atop each other with large atria that form huge ‘windows’ opening up to different views of the city. Approved for construction in 2008, the project met its demise in 2010 when investors feared economic uncertainties. The architect, a Pritzker laureate, said that the project would restart when the economy improves, but he has since abandoned plans.

**READ MORE: [Playing Favorites: 5 architects and their favorite materials](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-5-architects-favorite-materials/)**

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-8 - BluPrint")City Tower by Louis Khan## 8 | City Tower

The City Tower project was developed by Louis Khan in partnership with his architect-assistant (and second wife) for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The architect had always wanted to develop a structural design worthy ‘to be exposed,’ and heavily criticized the design of fellow architect Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building for lack of structural clarity. What he came up with is a futuristic-looking office tower with a tetrahedron structural base. Floorplates pile up on each other in a zigzag shape with a ‘permanent’ scaffolding of aluminum louvers, and oversized structural joints or ‘Hollow Capitals’ make up the structural expression of the tower. Despite not having been built, the City Tower’s bold ideas and proposed innovations have influenced a lot of architects such as Renzo Piano (who once worked in our architect’s office), Richard Rogers, and Norman Foster, among others.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-9 - BluPrint")Rizal Memorial Theater by Juan Nakpil## 9 | Rizal Memorial Theater

Another victim of fund deficiency, the Rizal Memorial Theater was meant to be the centerpiece of the planned Rizal Memorial Cultural Complex, which included a national library and a national museum intended for completion by June 19, 1961. However, the funds raised were sufficient only for the national library ready for Rizal’s birth centennial. [Juan Nakpil](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/lizares-mansion-angelicum-school-iloilo/), our National Artist for Architecture, successfully reincarnated the design for another project of his in the Makati Commercial Center, The [Rizal Theater](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-philippine-heritage-landmarks/). Sadly, this iconic structure was demolished in the late 90s, its lot now occupied by the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

---

![bluprint architecture unbuilt project by famous architect](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-project-by-famous-architect-10 - BluPrint")Philippine-American Friendship Center by Leandro Locsin## 10 | Philippine-American Friendship Center

The reader will probably argue that this structure hardly belongs on this list as it has been built. But no! The design rendered here is not that of the CCP Main Theater, but of the unbuilt Philippine-American Friendship Center designed by [Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/). One could very well be the doppelganger of the other. The difference between the built and unbuilt structures is that the CCP is larger and elevated from the ground, to meet the demands of its function and to the seaside location. The story of how the Friendship Center design evolved into that of the CCP revolves around Imelda Marcos. She was determined to build a national theater and convinced the proponents of the Friendship Center to relocate to the newly reclaimed portion of Manila Bay and to have the architect redevelop the design for its new role.

---

**This article was first published in BluPrint Volume 4 2014. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Illustrated by Patricia Rico*

**READ MORE: [For Whom the Bell Tolls: PH heritage landmarks left in ruins](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-philippine-heritage-landmarks/)**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the most famous unbuilt architectural projects in history?

Among the most celebrated unbuilt projects are Frank Gehry’s Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, Zaha Hadid’s Dubai Opera House, Daniel Libeskind’s The Spiral extension for the Victoria and Albert Museum, Jean Nouvel’s Signal Tower in Paris, and R. Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic Manhattan Dome. Each was canceled due to controversy, funding shortfalls, or economic uncertainty despite receiving significant design acclaim.

### Why was Zaha Hadid’s Dubai Opera House never built?

Zaha Hadid’s 2,500-seat Dubai Opera House, inspired by the flowing contours of sand dunes, was part of the ambitious Lagoons development on seven artificial islands. The project was canceled after repeated delays, along with several other large-scale Hadid-designed proposals for Dubai, as many of the emirate’s fantastical development projects stalled during the late 2000s economic downturn.

### What happened to Daniel Libeskind’s Spiral extension for the V&A Museum?

Daniel Libeskind’s ceramic-tiled Spiral extension for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London was granted planning permission but was officially canceled in 2004—eight years after Libeskind won the competition—due to an inability to secure adequate funding. Despite never being built, the design became so widely referenced in architectural discourse that many people assumed it had actually been constructed.

### Are there any famous Filipino unbuilt architectural projects?

Yes. Two notable Filipino examples are Juan Nakpil’s Rizal Memorial Theater, intended as the centerpiece of a national cultural complex but abandoned due to insufficient funds, and Leandro Locsin’s Philippine-American Friendship Center, whose unrealized design directly evolved into the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater after Imelda Marcos redirected the project to Manila Bay’s reclaimed land.

### How did Louis Kahn’s unbuilt City Tower influence modern architecture?

Though never constructed, Louis Kahn’s City Tower for Philadelphia introduced bold structural ideas—including a tetrahedron base, zigzagging floor plates, aluminum louver scaffolding, and expressive hollow capitals—that influenced a generation of architects. Notable figures such as Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, and Norman Foster, all of whom were connected to Kahn’s circle, have cited his structural thinking as foundational to their own work.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Heritage

**Tags:** Architect, Architecture, Unbuilt

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### [Buensalido + Architects retrofits an old building into optimistic architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/buensalido-architects-retrofit-ciit-interweave-building/)

**Published:** September 17, 2020
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Excerpt:** CIIT Philippines commissioned Buensalido + Architects to turn an abandoned mixed-use building into its contemporary creative main campus

**Content:**

As the world undergoes rapid changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many systems including education, have explored and adopted technological and digital innovations. In the Philippines, the worst-hit Southeast Asian nation by the novel coronavirus, many universities and colleges have taken a different kind of space to hold their new academic year: cyberspace. One of these institutions is the [CIIT College of Arts and Technology](https://www.ciit.edu.ph/) (CIIT Philippines) that recently concluded its third term for the academic year 2019-2020 through ‘MOVE’ or Modern Virtual Education. This shift to virtual learning by CIIT Philippines was given a 93.65 faculty rating by its students. However, conducting classes and graduation rites online are not the only significant and smart moves that the multimedia arts college has taken recently and over the years. CIIT Philippines made a much-needed change of address five years ago. Long before the pandemic, the arts and technology college moved its main campus into the Interweave Building, a long-abandoned structure retrofitted by [Buensalido + Architects](https://www.buensalidoarchitects.com/) and Aecon Builders Co. to accommodate the growing population of the college.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-3.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-3 - BluPrint")On the northeast elevation of the Interweave Building is a mural by visual artist and muralist Kris Abrigo.## Growing pains

The old CIIT Philippines main campus was at CTTM Square Building in Quezon City, not too far from the new main campus. Buensalido + Architects said the college had to turn some of its rooms in this commercial building into multi-use spaces: the library doubles as a student lounge, and the drawing labs as science labs as well. The college also had to sacrifice dedicated areas for dining, congregating, and shooting photos and videos. Over 500 students and faculty members had to share those spaces.

“The space limitations in the old location were very restrictive for the owners,” Buensalido + Architects tells BluPrint. “As the student population grew, they ended up occupying disconnected floors in the commercial building, \[but\] had very limited space.”

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [Creativity and playfulness in the Buensalido+Architects office](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/buensalido-architects-office/)**

## New address with an old building

Around the year 2013, the owners purchased an abandoned property near the former campus. The property is a 450-square-meter rectangular lot with a four-story building, located in Kamuning Road, Quezon City, a busy residential neighborhood where houses are haphazardly converted into various commercial spaces as the land value in the area hikes up. The building—built in the 80s, the owners presumed—previously housed a bar on the ground floor, a restaurant at the top level, and some office spaces in between.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit B+A old structure](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-11.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-11 - BluPrint")The exterior of the existing four-story commercial building during the start of the construction.“The owners wanted to purchase a property somewhere near the existing campus to maintain the accessibility for their current students to the new campus,” says Buensalido + Architects. “They weren’t able to find an available empty lot in the area, and the potential savings on structural costs from purchasing an existing building outweighed the difficulties that are usually associated with renovation projects.”

## The brief

Buensalido + Architects and Aecon Builders Co. collaborated for the project. Aecon Builders Co. is the architect-of-record, in charge of the basic planning and detailed drawings, while Buensalido + Architects is the façade architect and the designer for key public areas.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-1.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-1 - BluPrint")The retrofitted building’s façade material is perforated aluminum composite panels with PVDF coating and nano-coating technology.The plan was to maximize the space using the existing structural frame of the building and effectively moving the projected number of students up and down the different levels through an engaging vertical circulation strategy. Classrooms are also a priority for the additional floors above the existing ones, as well as communal spaces and dedicated laboratories and studios.

For the exterior, CIIT Philippines wanted to express a certain level of creativity, experimentation, and freedom from the norm through the façade. “CIIT’s goal is to be at the educational forefront of the intersection of arts and technology while asserting the Filipino ownership of the company, as well as integrating a certain level of pride in the Filipino identity,” details Buensalido + Architects. “They also wanted to express their ethic of sustainability—not only in learning relevant knowledge that would sustain their students far into the future of their professional lives but also their responsibility towards the environment as shown in their decision to reuse the existing structure on the site.”

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit B+A old structure](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-13.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-13 - BluPrint")The existing RC structure was retrofitted with steel elements in the form of I-sections, channels, angles, and built-up plates.Buensalido + Architects and Aecon Builders Co. had to work with cost limitations and structural restrictions. The project took over two years to complete—eight months of designing the exterior and interior, including revisions, and over a year and a half of construction. “It was expected that it would be more difficult to retrofit the structure and do an adaptive-reuse approach as a design solution. Nevertheless, it was the approach that was decided on, largely for sustainability—to reduce and reuse whatever was possible to minimize resource consumption in the construction of the building,” Buensalido + Architects explains.

**READ MORE: [Buensalido’s polygon house is the result of out-of-the-box thinking](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/buensalido-polygon-house/)**

## Answering the brief

It was decided that the existing structural members of the old building be retained and retrofitted to accommodate additional floors for the new campus’ space requirements. According to Buensalido + Architects, the original structure’s floor area was around 1400 square meters. By adding three more floors, the combined area of the new space is now around 3000 square meters. This addition allowed them to create spaces for a proper reception area, an ample-sized dedicated library, a café, more classrooms, and a gym that also serves as an event space.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit B+A old structure](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-14.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-14 - BluPrint")The columns and foundations were structurally retrofitted to accommodate three new stories on top of the existing four-story building.“We gutted down the building to its bare bones, demolishing partitions and leaving just the structural components left standing—foundations, columns, beams, slabs—so we had to ensure that the spaces required fit just right into the column spans,” says Buensalido + Architects. The ground floor slab was also demolished to reveal the original footings of the building. New footings were then laid to carry another layer of reinforced concrete stiffeners wrapped around the existing columns. The new vertical members go beyond the existing four floors to carry the frames of the three new floors above as well as the double steel beams flanked on either side of each existing concrete beam as additional bracing to complete the retrofitting of the project.

“It was also a challenge to have acceptable ceiling heights on the existing levels as some of them were mezzanine levels with lower ceiling heights than regular levels, so we had to painstakingly organize the drop ceilings, lighting, and utilities to ensure that they do not affect the headroom around these areas,” Buensalido + Architects shares.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-2.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-2 - BluPrint")The Interweave Building’s second skin was inspired by indigenous weaving patterns such as Maguindanoan, T’boli, and Yakan, to name a few. “We studied commonalities between them such as patterns, shapes, use of colors, edges, transitional strategies, and boundary elements; and through an iterative process, these were then abstracted into more architectonic intricacies and scale,” explains Buensalido + Architects.The retrofit left Buensalido + Architects with little to no room for any creative three-dimensional expression on the main shell. “Departure from the main structural mass would mean high cost to the owners,” says the architects. “The solution, therefore, was found through the idea of a second skin, detached from the main structural frame of the building, which then allowed certain freedom on three-dimensional manipulation without driving the cost up too much.”

The architects estimated the cost would have been at least 50% more than what was spent for the skin solution if they went with major massing and structural alterations for the façade to attain an expressive architectural character. The skin mimics “a canopy that grows out from a central core, like a tree, an element of nature that the idea of sustainability wants to protect. This profile is then broken down into smaller-scaled segments, sliced through lines that seem to be in motion, laid out in a pattern that echoes a typical chipboard—a microelement that fuels the magnanimity of technology, which forms part of the core of the school. Finally, weaving patterns from Filipino tribes were abstracted into a vibrant, highly geometric network of shapes and colors that unmistakably exudes the Filipino identity,” explains Buensalido + Architects.

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [A proposed government office by Buensalido+Architects weaves spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/government-office-buensalidoarchitects/)**

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-9.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-9 - BluPrint")To offset the lack of outdoor spaces, Buensalido+Architects provided a small lounge by the entrance with green walls. Pockets of public spaces are distributed throughout the building for more breathing room.The skin also functions more than creative expression. According to the architects, the skin acts as “an auditory buffer against the noise from the streets.” Buensalido + Architects specified perforated aluminum composite panels (ACP) with PVDF coating (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) for the skin to address the cost and maintenance aspects and add an extra layer of protection against discoloration, and a supplier that offers nano-coating which allows the surfaces to self-clean. “We also specified a perforated paneling system, carefully detailing the sizing of the perforations and the spacing between each, to try to have a balance of opacity (to deflect heat and noise from coming in), porosity (for the wind to cut through to ventilate the interiors if needed), and transparency (so that views outwards is still possible),” the architects adds.

The building maximized the whole lot, with little to no room for a sidewalk, so parking was limited to 14 slots on the ground floor area. Adding a basement or a parking space above ground was out of the question as the existing columns had a maximum carrying capacity, and classrooms are a priority over cars. The ground floor is therefore dedicated to parking, an outdoor lounge punctuated by a vertical garden, and a small entry lobby that directly leads to the central staircase and lift.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-10.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-10 - BluPrint")The central grand staircase was designed to function as a circulatory space and double as a social space. “Due to its width, the staircase can accommodate students passing thru and can be used as an amphitheater for pop-up huddles and lectures, creative shows, or even simple hang-out sessions of students,” said Buensalido + Architects. The firm adds that after establishing the central feature, the classrooms were simply fit in the leftover space most efficiently.The interior of the building was then decided to have an industrial aesthetic direction to stay within the cost limit. “This strategy not only worked well to keep the costs down, but to also show the history of the building. Old and new utilities are exposed, construction joints between original and new structures are left visible, and even the additional steel retrofitting members that reinforce the old concrete frame are seen,” explains the architects.

Notice the low ceiling on the second floor. According to the architects, the second floor was a mezzanine level before the retrofit, which explains its low ceiling. “We stripped away the ceiling off of this level to gain precious height space and exposed the structural and utilitarian aspects of the building and designed around it,” bares the architects. Now, the second floor is utilized as the main common space, with a double-height main reception, a student lounge, a library, and a cafeteria, distributed around the central core.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-4.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-4 - BluPrint")Buensalido + Architects created a consistent visual language throughout the building and a sense of movement through the abstraction of indigenous Filipino weaving patterns in a series of vibrant wood strips on the walls and ceilings, starting and ending at various accesses and acting as a navigation tool.On the third level are the administrative offices, faculty, and employee lounges. The fourth and fifth floors are dedicated to 17 different classrooms: lecture rooms, creative studios, and computer laboratories enough to accommodate over 1200 students. On the topmost level is the gym that doubles as a space for various college events and parties, and a mezzanine level for its bleachers.

**READ MORE: [God, Man, Nature: Amara Chapel by Buensalido+Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/amara-chapel-buensalidoarchitects/)**

## Breathing rooms

“Since the old building maximized the lot, there’s little to no outdoor spaces as it was. So, in the absence of outdoor areas, we strategically scattered public spaces within the building to offset this,” says Buensalido + Architects.

On the ground level, a small outdoor lounge area with green walls is provided for students and visitors just outside the main entrance. Hallways on typical classroom floors were planned to be wide to easily transform as lounge areas or student exhibition venues. The top-level is fully covered with a roof to shield the users from the elements and naturally ventilated through storm louvers (with a low velocity, low energy consuming big-ass fan to augment air movement). It is currently used as a multipurpose space: a gym, an extension of the cafeteria, a student lounge, and even as an event space for student assemblies, launches, and the like.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit B+A](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-5.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-5 - BluPrint")A library on the second floor## Adapting to the new normal

“We completed the building before the pandemic broke out, and no-one foresaw the disruption of COVID-19,” Buensalido+Architects replies when BluPrint asked how ready is the new CIIT Philippines campus for the new normal. “So, we didn’t design the building with a pandemic scenario in mind, but it does have a few features that can adapt to it.”

The architects said that the tight nature of the site and the parking requirements forced them to have two lobbies—a small one on the ground floor, and a larger one on the second. “It was not our intention, but we imagine that the smaller lobby at the ground could easily be converted into a transitory area where students’ temperature could be taken or even converted into a sanitation station before being allowed to proceed up to the main campus,” the architects explain.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-6.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-6 - BluPrint")Main reception area![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-7.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-7 - BluPrint")Library-caféBuensalido + Architects also cited the toilets that were designed as universal single-user toilets, which they imagine would be useful now as it eliminates the person to person contact within the confines of the toilet. This type of layout, according to the architects, can be beneficial also for the operations as CIIT Philippines can choose to create a shifting schedule so that the inactive toilets can be sanitized properly.

**YOU MIGHT LIKE: [Jason Buensalido and his search for contemporary Filipino identity for architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/jason-buensalido-contemporary-filipino-design/)**

Another example the architects mentioned was the library-reception-café, which is probably the most active area in the building in terms of student social interactions and duration of stay, according to them. “We envisioned this level to have an open layout, where the spaces can free-flow to each other, and therefore can easily adapt and be switched around to accommodate the changing needs of the school,” explains Buensalido + Architects. “All hallways are naturally ventilated, facilitating constant air movement, and would lead to pocket-sized lobby/lounges per floor, but can easily serve nicely as spillover learning spaces if needed. We also designed the main staircase to be wider than usual so that it can function as seating on regular days, but allow for two-way traffic while allowing physical distancing to happen during a pandemic.”

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit B+A](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-8.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-8 - BluPrint")Mezzanine-bleachers on the top level## ‘Optimistic architecture’

While the vicinity used to be primarily a residential neighborhood, the majority of the area, more so the main road where the site is, has been converted into a commercial zone. Buensalido + Architects said this gentrification allowed a few buildings to go taller than the two-story houses that are popping up sporadically to four, six, and a few eight stories. The architects add, “Because of this, the context and scale of the buildings in the area are actually already changing, and CIIT just happened to be one of the first ones to build tall to maximize the allowable FAR (floor area ratio). So in a way, in terms of scale and sense of place, the project also hopes to set the tone for future developments in the area.”

Buensalido + Architects said this optimism and positivity—this idea of hope is what the firm believes Filipino architecture should also be about. “Through expressive forms, vibrant colors, and an assertive presence, we hope to approximate a celebratory character in architecture that serves as an emotional motivation and an urban renewal strategy,” the architects further.

![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-lot-plan.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-lot plan - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-front-elevation.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-front elevation - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-Ground-FLoor.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-Ground FLoor - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-second-floor.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-second floor - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-Typical-Classroom.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-Typical Classroom - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-deck-plan.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-deck plan - BluPrint")![BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido + Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BluPrint-Architecture-CIIT-retrofit-BuensalidoArchitects-Bleachers-plan.jpg "BluPrint Architecture CIIT retrofit Buensalido+Architects-Bleachers plan - BluPrint")The architects hope that the Interweave Building would “set a celebratory precedent and an uplifting tone that others may echo as well in developing their properties” instead of looking outside and importing foreign styles that do not “necessarily appropriate to our context due to the difference of culture and climate, and is often implemented as a poorly implemented copy of something else.”![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Interweave Building in Quezon City? 

The Interweave Building is the main campus of CIIT College of Arts and Technology in Quezon City, Philippines. Originally a 1980s commercial structure abandoned for years, it was retrofitted by Buensalido + Architects and Aecon Builders Co. into a seven-story adaptive-reuse campus for over 1,200 students.

### Who designed the CIIT Interweave Building? 

The CIIT Interweave Building was designed by Buensalido + Architects as the façade architect and designer of key public areas, in collaboration with Aecon Builders Co. as the architect-of-record handling planning and detailed drawings. The two firms worked together on the adaptive-reuse retrofit project.

### What inspired the Interweave Building’s façade design? 

The Interweave Building’s perforated aluminum façade was inspired by indigenous Filipino weaving patterns from the Maguindanaoan, T’boli, and Yakan tribes. Buensalido + Architects abstracted commonalities in patterns, shapes, colors, and edges into a vibrant geometric second skin that asserts Filipino identity in modern architecture.

### How was the Interweave Building retrofitted from four floors to seven? 

The existing four-story building was gutted to its structural bones—foundations, columns, beams, and slabs—then reinforced. New concrete stiffeners wrapped the existing columns to extend upward, while double steel beams flanked each concrete beam as bracing. This allowed three additional floors to be built atop the original structure.

### How does the Interweave Building adapt to post-pandemic campus needs?

Interweave Building features two lobbies usable for temperature checks and sanitation, universal single-user toilets that reduce contact, naturally ventilated hallways with pocket-sized lounges, and a wide central staircase that accommodates physical distancing. These features were unintentional but well-suited to post-pandemic campus operations.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Industrial, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Buensalido Architects, CIIT Philippines, Education, Institutional Architecture, Interweave Building, Philippines, Retrofit

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### [Tondo's Old Tutuban Main Station goes from rail to retail](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/tutuban-station-retrofit-ayala/)

**Published:** April 24, 2018
**Author:** Karl Bautista

**Content:**

Many train commuters know the Tutuban Main Station as the unremarkable concrete building along Mayhaligue Street in Tondo that serves as the main terminal and executive offices of the Philippine National Railways. What they don’t know is a block away, a much older and grander building dating to the late 19th century used to carry the title. Before it became the centerpiece of the 20-hectare [Tutuban Center](https://www.tutuban.com.ph/) developed in 1993 by [Prime Orions Philippines](https://www.primeorion.com/), it served as the main terminal of the country’s first railroad network.

As part of an ambitious project of the Spanish colonial government, it was instrumental not only in [transporting Filipinos](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/jeepney-legacy/) across Luzon but also in developing provinces outside the economic center of Manila. Upon acquiring the company in 2016, Ayala Land set in motion the much needed clean up and [retrofitting](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tvap-adaptive-bayleaf/) of the seedy old mall and heritage structure, and the redevelopment of the environs.

![bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-1 - BluPrint")Renovation of the Bonifacio Plaza in front of the Tutuban Main Station is ongoing to provide shopperw with a pleasant outdoor congregation place. Ayala cleared the sidewalks and plaza of street vendors who occupied spaces reserved for pedestrians. Lighting and landscape improvements not only brought out the statue of Bonifacio but also provided a forecourt with a clear line of sight of the [historic building](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/mementos-from-the-past-the-importance-of-heritage-buildings/) from Recto Avenue.## Colonial railways

The *Ferrocarriles en la Isla de Luzón* (Railways of the Island of Luzon) were coneived through a royal decree by King Alfonso of Spain in 1875 ordering the Office of the Inspector of Public Works to craft a railway plan for Luzon. The following year, Spanish engineer Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro submitted his proposal for a network of three [railroad lines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rail-systems-mini-metros/) 1,730 kilometers long, connecting the northern and southern provinces outside Manila. Ayala Land senior vice president and chief urban planner Dr. Arturo Corpuz, in his book *The Colonial Iron Horse: Railroads and Regional Development in the Philippines, 1875-1935*, describes the project as “the single most important infrastructure built in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period that was not initiated by the Church.”

![bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-5 - BluPrint")A dilapidated station operated by the Philippine National Railways. Photographed by John Ward on June 6, 1987.The first of the three lines was the 192-kilometer Manila-Dagupan line, which served the northern part of Luzon. The Spanish colonial government first granted the concession of the railway line to Don Edmundo Sykes in 1887 before transferring it a month later to Don Carlos Bertodano of the Manila Railroad Company or MRRCo. The main *estación de ferrocarril* in Tondo, the Tutuban Main Station, designed by Spanish architect Juan Jose Hervas, was completed in the same year.

The two-storey building, which stands to this day, adheres to the stylistic idiom of the *[bahay na bato](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-bahay-na-bato-architecture-300-years-in-the-making/)*. Instead of stone, the ground floor is made of concrete with [brickwork](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vigan-fernando-zialcita/) veneer, the material prescribed by British Railway standards, while the upper floor is made of wood supported by riveted steel columns with acanthus capitals. Its corrugated galvanized iron roof with a gable wall at the center has wide eaves with stylized roof exhausts and is supported by wooden roof brackets with fretwork. The sliding *persiana* windows on the upper floor are shaded by *media agua* or window canopies. Wooden panels or *bandehado* replace the *ventanillas* and *espejo*. A deep skirt roof runs around the ground floor providing sidewalk shading.

**READ MORE: [Art Deco Laperal Apartments retrofitted, now a student dorm](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/)**

The construction of the railroad stretching all the way to Dagupan took four years. Materials for the rails, switches, and cast iron components were imported from England, the timber and railroad ties from Australia. The rail line partially opened in 1891 and began full operations three years later. With the first screeches and whistles of the iron-clad steam locomotives, land travel in the Philippine Islands changed. The railway provided Filipinos a convenient mode to travel long distances, and triggered the growth of landlocked regions along the trains’ route. According to Corpuz, the railway facilitated not only the transportation of people but also the movement of products of industry.

![bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-4 - BluPrint")Provincial and city buses of German Espiritu Liner wait outside the train station.The growth was short-lived. In 1892, a year after the line opened, Andres Bonifacio led an uprising against Spain and commandeered the railways. In 1896, the Americans took the Philippines from Spain. Filipino fighters continued their armed resistance against a new and more powerful enemy but were easily overcome. With the revolution quelled, the train system resumed operations under the American colonizers. Unfortunately, during World War II, more than 50 percent of the railroads were destroyed. Despite rehabilitation and the shift from steam to diesel trains, the rail network (renamed the Philippine National Railways in 1964 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4156) was soon forgotten as buses and trucks took over with the construction of the Pan-Philippine highway.

## Looking after the place

“We have no intention of demolishing the old station or to put up new constructions. As a responsible developer, we want to keep the historical aspect of the structure, so we focused on upgrading its utilities such as the roof’s waterproofing and insulation, drainage system, air-conditioning, lighting, and security,” says architect Mihlgrace Samonteza of [Ayala Land](https://www.ayalaland.com.ph/). “Thoughtful elements that are a signature of Ayala malls such as clean restrooms, concierge stations, LED lighting, and wayfinding signage were some of the significant improvements.”

Focusing its efforts on the visual elements and façade improvement of the Tutuban Center, Ayala Land consulted conservation architect [Augusto Villalon](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/juan-luna-building-restoration/) of the Cultural Heritage Resources Associates, Inc. Scraping off layers of paint, Villalon’s team discovered the original colors of the old station. Using this palette, they repainted the structure to bring it back to its original appearance. They suggested specific types of wood and bricks to replace the deteriorated parts of the building.

![bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-6 - BluPrint")In compliance with the standards of the British Railways, makers of the world’s first locomotive trains, the stations along the Manila-Dagupan line were made of brick and wood. These stations also functioned as the office of the stations masters. Catering to hundreds of travelers, the stations became vibrant commercial hubs in their respective provinces.

Despite the changes, Samonteza says Ayala won’t disrupt the retail ecosystem of Tutuban, which connects small and medium enterprises, wholesalers, and bargain hunters. They are keeping the traditional night market, a retail concept Tutban pioneered in the Philippines. As soon as the mall closes, accredited merchandisers set up their stalls around the historic station. By six in the evening, the perimeter roads are closed to vehicles so people can shop until midnight.

About 300 CCTV cameras were installed and more than a hundred security personnel are deployed to guard the area. Ayala wanted Tutuban to maintain its appeal to the broader market so as not to crowd out the community that has made it a place for family bonding and leisure.

According to Samonteza, her team organized the merchandisers into zones or clusters, established clear rules and expectations for tenants, and upgraded the facilities to provide a safe, clean, and enjoyable environment for shoppers.

“We decided to retain the market and the stalls because these were already part of the DNA of Tutuban and we don not want to disrupt that. Conservation isn’t always about major interventions. It is a matter of looking after a place to retain its historical and social significance for the enjoyment of the community it serves.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Volume 1 2017. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

![bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land-3 - BluPrint")Standing at the plaza in front of the Main Station is a monument of Andres Bonifacio erected by the National Historical Institute (NHI) in 1971. The NHI marker states Bonifacio was born at the site before the station was constructed. Historian Pio Andrade Jr. rebuffs this statement in an article in Inquirer, claiming the revolutionary hero was born in nearby Binondo.**READ MORE: [A Fitting Retrofit: The Restoration of Manila Cathedral](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/the-restoration-of-manila-cathedral/)**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the history of Tutuban Main Station in Tondo, Manila?

Tutuban Main Station is the historic terminal of the Philippines’ first railroad network, the Manila-Dagupan line. Completed in 1887 and designed by Spanish architect Juan Jose Hervas, it was built as part of a colonial railway project ordered by King Alfonso of Spain in 1875. It later became the centerpiece of Tutuban Center, redeveloped in 1993 and acquired by Ayala Land in 2016.

### What architectural style is the Tutuban Main Station built in?

Tutuban Main Station follows the stylistic idiom of the bahay na bato, a traditional Filipino-Spanish architectural style. Its ground floor is made of concrete with brickwork veneer per British Railway standards, while the upper floor features wood supported by riveted steel columns with acanthus capitals. Notable details include corrugated iron roofing, sliding persiana windows, media agua canopies, and decorative fretwork.

### How did Ayala Land restore the Tutuban Main Station?

Ayala Land focused on facade improvement and utility upgrades, including roof waterproofing, drainage, air-conditioning, and LED lighting. Conservation architect Augusto Villalon of Cultural Heritage Resources Associates, Inc. was consulted to uncover and restore the station’s original color palette. Deteriorated wood and brick elements were replaced using historically appropriate materials without altering the building’s heritage character.

### What was the Manila-Dagupan railway line and why was it significant?

The Manila-Dagupan line was the Philippines’ first railroad, stretching 192 kilometers and connecting Manila to the northern provinces of Luzon. Completed in 1894, it transformed land travel, facilitated trade, and spurred regional economic growth. Historian Arturo Corpuz described it as the single most important infrastructure built in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period outside of Church-initiated projects.

### What makes Tutuban Center’s retail and heritage conservation approach unique?

Ayala Land preserved Tutuban’s community character by retaining its traditional night market—a retail concept the mall pioneered in the Philippines—alongside accredited vendors and small enterprises. Rather than displacing existing commerce, the redevelopment organized vendors into zones, upgraded facilities, and improved safety. This approach reflects a conservation philosophy focused on maintaining a place’s historical and social significance for the community it serves.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Architecture, Augusto Villalon, Ayala Land, Ayala Malls, Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro, Dr. Arturo Corpuz, Juan Jose Hervas, Manila, Mihlgrace Samonteza, Philippine National Railways, Prime Orions Philippines, Retrofit, Tondo, Tutuban, Tutuban Center, Tutuban Main Station

---

### [The MLR Polo Pavilion: A Golden Glory Portraying The Filipino's Resilience](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-mlr-polo-pavilion-a-golden-glory-portraying-the-filipinos-resilience/)

**Published:** September 8, 2022
**Author:** Carisa Magno

**Content:**

The Filipino *bahay kubo* existed long before any of the foreign occupations that profoundly impacted Philippine architecture. It is constructed from native materials like nipa (a type of palm fiber), grass, local wood, and bamboo. The *bahay kubo* may not have been the most durable shelter, especially during typhoons, but in one way or another, it helped builders understand how each material performed.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-MLR-Polo-Pavilion4.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - MLR Polo Pavilion4 - BluPrint")One of the more resilient local materials used in the hut’s construction is bamboo, which has been developed over time to serve more creative purposes. It is inexpensive, requires less energy during construction, has built-in insulation, and is incredibly durable and flexible when properly treated. Since it is a renewable natural resource that grows faster than trees, it is a sustainable material that can be used for a variety of purposes. Aside from being used as a construction material, it has found extensive application in the trade industry, like furniture, textiles, paper goods, and even musical instruments.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-MLR-Polo-Pavilion5.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - MLR Polo Pavilion5 - BluPrint")There has been a dramatic increase in the number of commercially available bamboo products in recent years. Due to its biodegradability, bamboo has been demonstrated to be a practical substitute for plastic as the world fights to reduce waste pollution. As a building material, bamboo has proven to be a great alternative to timber. The advantages of using bamboo lie in its tensile strength, weight, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, the material’s high silicate acid component makes it capable of withstanding high temperatures. Being elastic, it can be used as a viable alternative to other construction materials in seismically active regions.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-2022-In-Article-Portrait-MLR-Polo-Pavilion.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Portrait) - MLR Polo Pavilion - BluPrint")Sangay Architects is one of the architectural firms in the Philippines that has been a vocal advocate for bamboo construction. The firm promotes innovative and contemporary ways of building with bamboo. The company promotes [modern vernacular](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/) Filipino design by incorporating culturally significant and locally abundant materials like bamboo into their creations.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-MLR-Polo-Pavilion.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - MLR Polo Pavilion - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BP-2022-In-Article-Landscape-MLR-Polo-Pavilion2.jpg "BP 2022 - In Article (Landscape) - MLR Polo Pavilion2 - BluPrint")With an extensive portfolio showcasing creative utilization of the local material, it is no doubt they were chosen to construct the MLR Polo Pavilion. They were given instructions to design a venue for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, specifically for the use of VVIPs like the Sultan of Brunei and the King of Malaysia. The team was tasked with designing a building that would spark feelings of national pride among Filipinos, and they succeeded. The finished bamboo pavilion glowed with golden splendor, but its very air was one of modesty. It came to symbolize the resilience of the Filipino people—it bends but does not break.

Discover more about how Sangay Architect used the “poor man’s timber” in the MLR Polo Pavilion.

Download your copy now! Click on the [link](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=bluprint) for BluPrint Vol. 2 2022: THE ART OF MAKING.

*Photos by Marc Go*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the MLR Polo Pavilion?

The MLR Polo Pavilion is a bamboo structure designed by Sangay Architects for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. Built as a VVIP venue for dignitaries including the Sultan of Brunei and the King of Malaysia, the pavilion was designed to evoke national pride and became a celebrated example of modern Filipino vernacular architecture.

### Who designed the MLR Polo Pavilion and why was bamboo used?

The MLR Polo Pavilion was designed by Sangay Architects, a Philippine firm known for advocating bamboo construction and modern vernacular design. Bamboo was chosen for its tensile strength, natural insulation, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. As a fast-growing renewable material, it aligns with the firm’s philosophy of using culturally significant and locally abundant resources in contemporary architecture.

### Why is bamboo considered a sustainable building material in the Philippines?

Bamboo is sustainable because it grows faster than timber, requires less energy during construction, and is fully biodegradable. In the Philippines, it is locally abundant and inexpensive. Its high silicate acid content makes it fire-resistant, while its elasticity makes it a viable alternative to conventional materials in seismically active regions—making it ideal for a typhoon- and earthquake-prone country.

### What is modern vernacular architecture in the Philippine context?

Modern vernacular architecture in the Philippines refers to contemporary design that incorporates culturally rooted and locally sourced materials—such as bamboo, nipa, and native wood—into buildings that meet present-day standards. Firms like Sangay Architects champion this approach to preserve Filipino cultural identity while promoting sustainable and climate-responsive construction practices.

### What does the MLR Polo Pavilion represent for Filipino architecture?

The MLR Polo Pavilion represents the resilience and ingenuity of the Filipino people through the use of bamboo—a material rooted in the traditional bahay kubo. Its golden appearance projected dignity and national pride during a major international event, while its construction demonstrated that locally sourced, sustainable materials can produce world-class architectural results.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Design, Heritage, Manila

---

### [The Finance Centre is a tonic to the rest of BGC's skyline of glass cuboids](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-finance-centre/)

**Published:** October 28, 2019
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** Gensler's third collaboration with AIDEA and Daiichi Properties is their latest in raising local office developments to a global standard

**Content:**

As the installation of the unitized curtain wall panels gradually cloaked the concrete structure if The Finance Centre during its construction, onlookers were witnessing the rise of something they had not seen before. The new 42-story skyscraper, whose profile can be read like a capped pair of parentheses, is a tonic to the rest of Bonifacio Global City’s (BGC) already busy skyline of glass cuboids. However, everyone involved in the project—the developer, [Daiichi Properties](https://daiichiproperties.com/) in collaboration with international firm [Gensler](https://www.gensler.com/) and local partner [Aidea, Inc.](https://www.aidea.com.ph/)—collectively thought it was the best place to build the edifice. Rey Fuentez, Daiichi vice president of the project management group, said that Daiichi worked with Gensler to develop an iconic design for BGC, one which at first glance may perhaps resemble something similar to the ‘Gherkin’ in London. Even for a highly-developed district like BGC, this was a tall order indeed.

For the third consecutive time in 2018, the World Architecture 100 names Gensler as the number one firm in building design, while Aidea received honors by ranking 47th in the world by the same survey. Given their impressive portfolio and massive achievements in the field of design and architecture, they were tasked by Daiichi Properties to uphold its mantra of becoming what Fuentez declares as “the benchmark for the local real estate sector.” The Finance Centre is the third project that the trio has teamed up for within the business district and, along with their previous developments—One World Place (completed 2015) and One World Plaza (completed 2017)—they have each scooped the Asia Pacific Property Award for Five-Star Best Office Development in the Philippines. The collaboration between the said parties appears to be leaping ever forward and shows no signs of abating—a fourth is already on the way.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-1 - BluPrint")The entrance plaza is covered by a large triangular canopy mimicking the shape bound by the building and the site boundary. The plaza was already intended to be used as a public park by BESC (Bonifacio Estate Services Corporation) as part of the overall strategy for open spaces within the BGC estate. In coordination with BESC, Daiichi Properties decided to adopt and develop the park and incorporate it into the overall building design.## **Beyond the** status **quo**

Fuentez made it clear that while each project contributes a wealth of transferable knowledge for future projects, the developer is intent on not churning out formulaic office developments. “Since we have standardized the design processes and details from our previous projects, it makes it easier for us to set our expectations higher and incorporate improvements for a new project,” Fuentez explains. As the project nears full completion at the time of writing, The Finance Centre is already shaping up to be the world-class office development the above accolades and pedigree involved are indicative of.

Located on a double wedge-shaped 5123-square-meter lot with two open corners, the developer immediately sa the opportunity to build something bigger and taller. The massing of the building could be made freer of the constraints of building right up against another high-rise (or two, as is typically the case in BGC). The lower eight-story block, which will contain commercial establishments, pinches inward together with the base of the tower to form a generous triangular plaza.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-2 - BluPrint")The north and south lobbies are identical and allow the building to be entered from either the plaza or 25th Street, respectively. Aleksandar Sasha Zeljic, design director at Gensler Chicago office was particularly pleased with the outcome of the lobby design. The downward curving ceiling soffit bends into the lift lobby and, thereby, completes the overall building shape.![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-4 - BluPrint")The strategic placements of the black and white slats on the soffit provides a visual tension to the spaceA diagonal stainless steel strip across the plaza demarcates the actual site boundary, while the rest of the public realm beyond this is owned by BGC, totaling an open area of 1700 square meters. The developer was keen, however, to complete the works on both sides to the same specification of hard landscaping to promote the use of openness of the space to all. Aleksandar Sasha Zeljic, principal and design director at Gensler, expresses his delight at the engagement the plaza creates as a result: “We wanted to make sure the plaza is an extension of the larger network of green spaces in BGC and supports the community, not just tenants in the building.” One can logically trace a similar gesture made at the front of the World Plaza, albeit at a larger scale here.

**READ MORE: [Menarco Tower leads the way with wellness-oriented design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/menarco-tower-well-leed/)**

Furthermore, the roof deck on the 8th floor gives the occupants of the building an additional amenity and is a great vantage point from which to appreciate the views across BGC. Both the building and the locale benefit from these shrewd moves which help the building to breathe, even in spite of future development on adjacent sites. The restraint of not building to the edge of the lot was not one of preference but determined by a given maximum floor area ratio of the lot to establish the gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 61,000 square meters to be built. The advantage of the double lot meant that the project team could exercise freedom in how they could design the rest of the urban space once the quota was met—a luxury that other developers do not usually have in BGC. The calculations to achieve maximum efficiency and meeting the requirement for leasable floor space gave the architects the testbed from which they could strive for a more iconic form. Meeting the GFA was never in question; the savings made from the efficiencies could, then, be better spent on high-quality architectural finishes and the quality of the space itself.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-6 - BluPrint")The curved structure atop the building encloses the topmost mechanical services level. Although the space would make for a premier observation deck, the intense tropical heat means the level better serves as a mechanical exhaust area## Working up the standards

Daiichi Properties believe that one of the keys to any company’s success is talent retention, and to provide the best office environment for tenants to do so forms the underlying design principle for all of the company’s projects. With The Finance Centre, its clients commonly requested an ample floor-to-ceiling height of about 2.8 meters and as is the trend today with millennial-type office spaces, exposed ceilings baring all utilities. A destination dispatch system for elevators, which groups passengers heading to the same level in the same elevator, was also a high priority for tenants to reduce waiting and travel times.

Back-of-house needs included the provision of backup power in the event of power loss. The use of a variable refrigerant flow system for air conditioning also offers the occupants the flexibility of switching the air conditioning on or off as required, without having to rely on a centralized control system.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-5 - BluPrint")An aerial view of the front landscape shows the attractive geometric patterns achieved by the constructionAlthough we were not able to visit a typical office space of a current tenant, one could already get a sense of space at the upper levels, in which the ceiling height was much higher to compensate for the tighter floor plate. The variety of office space gives The Finance Centre an appeal to prospective companies that an identical floor plate throughout simply would not have.

The architects and developer revealed that the final outcome of the building came after a rigorous design process in which three different forms were developed. The first two options were towers of a more conventional nature, blocky, and not too dissimilar to its BGC counterparts. The options were modeled in Rhino with Grasshopper, which allowed the architects to make inputs with a generative algorithm plug-in called Galapagos, and hence “iterate and refine an almost infinite number of form variations,” elucidates Zeljic. Due to the restriction of the GFA, the first two options were shorter in height and fewer in levels, while the elliptical form of the third option, having smaller floor plates toward the base and the apex, meant that the building could be much taller.

So much so, with the GFA of the office space already being met by the chosen form, the developer and architects could insert two mechanical floors at levels 19 and 35, in addition to the ones o level 8, which is above the car parking, and the roof deck.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-7 - BluPrint")A night view of The Finance Centre whose west elevation faces the Maybank Performance Arts Center and the plaza beyond. As seen here, 26th Avenue runs along the left of the lot, which is in a prime location as a gateway to BGC proper via McKinley Parkway.In parallel to generative form-making, Aidea used a Revit BIM (Building Information Modelling) model to coordinate inputs from all the project’s partners and consultants. The base model was then used as a platform to feed other types of analytic parameters and visual-related outputs—Autodesk Vasari, Ecotect, and Integrated Environmental Analysis—was used for energy analysis, while a combination of 3D Studio Max, V-Ray, and Octane was used for visualization.

**READ MORE: [Alex Medalla ditches CAD and BIM in designing an apartment annex](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/alex-medalla-apartment-annex/)**

The collaboration between Gensler and Aidea on multiple projects was symbiotic in terms of what each party could bring to the table. Gensler holds the Revit BIM process in high regard and Aidea was keen to learn from the standards, despite the latter having already used BIM for six years when they first partnered on One World Place in 2011. On the other hand, Gensler was pleasantly surprised to learn the fastidiousness to which Aidea would resolve all aspects of a design by drawing every item to the last detail. Rhys Carlo Abon, project architect at Aidea, spoke admirably about Zeljic’s care of duty on the project well beyond Gensler’s remit had finished.

![bluprint architecture the finance centre](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-the-finance-centre-8 - BluPrint")One of the key massing moves was to pull the tower away from the neighboring tower of at least 180 meters to the east. This was largely informed by carrying out wind tunnel testing, whereby a scale model of the building as well as its context of 500-meter radius was built to simulate wind patterns around the site. The results revealed that prevailing winds passed through a portion of the site which would be best suited for the mechanical systems, and for tenant amenity and outdoor dining. They also guided where the openings should be on the ground floor.Zeljic would call Abon in the middle of the night to flag up a detail built differently to what had been specified, spotted on an image of the building found on the internet, and urge for the project team to rectify it in order to keep the overall vision intact. It is this work ethic and passion that Fuentz feels obliged to reciprocate and make sure that both the architects, as well as the tenants, are happy with the end product.

Already pre-certified LEED Gold, the building has been designed with attracting multinational companies in mind, who seek for this global certification as a minimum when looking to set up an office. But rather than just utilizing the aforementioned simulation programs to achieve the baseline, Gensler proposed that the building could better mitigate the tropical solar gain and monsoon rains by installing a unitized ‘shingle’ curtain wall panel. “We used a highly reflective double glazed panel with low emissivity coating, which helps keep the heat out and reduces the glare while allowing the entry of daylight,” describes Zeljic. Similar to the way a traditional shingle tile roof works, the overlapping panels minimize the problem of water entering at any joint while the triangular vertical fins provide shading across the curved façades. The first of its kind in the Philippines, this system appears to be one of the better attempts of a high-rise at handling the tropical climate’s diurnal and seasonal extremes.

**READ MORE:** [**Localizing green buildings: Will BERDE take the LEED?**](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/berde-take-leed/)

## An aligned approach

When asked why Daiichi Properties likes working with Gensler, Fuentez seems to find it tricky to narrow it down to just one thing that sets them apart from other firms. He highlights its work ethic to achieve the highest possible standard as being second to none. Fuentez and Abon agree that all of their viewpoints are aligned and that this forms a strong basis upon which to strive for the best office development they can produce. When a particular detail is not met to the expectations of either the architect or the developer, the other members of the project team are willing to share in the setback and take the necessary steps to rectify a situation. Fuentez elaborates, “Although we’ve had contrasting opinions from time to time, the team is willing and open to come up with a positive and collaborative solution to the design challenges.” With less than a quarter of the leasable office space occupied as of Q4 2018, Fuentez is casting his eyes on 2019 as being a year in which its current and prospective tenants will further reveal the value and qualities of the architectural design. As they would have you believe, the design prowess of the project team is only as good as their last building. Judging by the quality of the building as it readies for the next financial year, there’s more to come from the Finance Centre.![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article was first published in BluPrint Volume 4 2018. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon and Owen Raggett*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is The Finance Centre in BGC?

The Finance Centre is a 42-story elliptical skyscraper in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, developed by Daiichi Properties and designed by global firm Gensler in partnership with local architect Aidea, Inc. It offers approximately 61,000 square meters of gross floor area and stands out as one of BGC’s most architecturally distinctive office towers.

### Who designed The Finance Centre in Bonifacio Global City?

The Finance Centre was designed through a collaboration between Gensler, one of the world’s top-ranked architecture firms, and Aidea, Inc., a Manila-based architectural firm ranked 47th globally by the World Architecture 100 in 2018. The project was developed by Daiichi Properties and is the third joint office development the three parties have completed in BGC.

### What makes The Finance Centre’s curtain wall system unique in the Philippines?

The Finance Centre uses a unitized shingle curtain wall system—the first of its kind in the Philippines. The overlapping panels feature highly reflective double-glazed glass with low-emissivity coating to reduce heat gain and glare. Triangular vertical fins provide shading across the curved facades, while the shingle design minimizes water infiltration during monsoon season.

### Is The Finance Centre in BGC LEED certified?

Yes, The Finance Centre is pre-certified LEED Gold, meeting the international green building standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification was a deliberate design goal to attract multinational tenants who require LEED Gold as a baseline when selecting office space in the Philippines and across the Asia Pacific region.

### How was The Finance Centre’s elliptical form developed?

The design team explored three distinct building forms using Rhino and Grasshopper, a parametric modeling platform with a generative algorithm plug-in called Galapagos. The elliptical form was selected because its tapered floor plates at the base and apex allowed the tower to reach greater height while still meeting the required gross floor area, enabling a taller and more iconic structure than the conventional box alternatives.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Aidea, Bonifacio Global City, Daiichi Properties, Gensler, Philippines, The Finance Centre

---

### [The Battle for the Tallest Building in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-battle-for-the-tallest-building-in-the-philippines/)

**Published:** February 21, 2024
**Author:** Albert Aycardo

**Content:**

The skylines of the Philippines boasts its own blend of unique architectural designs infused with state-of-the-art engineering. Here, we delve deeper into the country’s architectural journey, presenting a list of the Philippines’ tallest buildings. As developers push limits, their projects continually move closer to the heavens.

From the numerous business districts of Metro Manila to the growing cities across the archipelago, these structures are symbols of economic progress and industrial strength. We explore the pros and cons of skyscrapers and trace the history of the tallest buildings in the Philippines.

## History of the Tallest Buildings in the Philippines

![Sketch of Manila Hotel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-new-phases-and-faces-8-1024x724.jpg "bluprint-new-phases-and-faces-8 - BluPrint")It all began with the completion of the Manila Hotel in 1912. Although not a skyscraper by modern standards, it was one of the first buildings to dominate the Manila skyline. However, the first building officially considered a skyscraper was the Insular Life Building in Makati. Completed in 1962, it was considered the tallest building in the Philippines at the time, standing at 10 stories high. This marked the beginning of Philippine cities’ vertical expansion.

The evolution from the Insular Life Building to today’s towering skyscrapers reflects the Philippines’ growing economic stature and architectural ambition. Beyond being tall structures of steel and glass, each new skyscraper represents the country’s resilience, creativity, and forward-looking vision.

## Pros and Cons of Skyscrapers

In densely populated urban areas, skyscrapers maximize the use of limited land, accommodating more people and businesses within a smaller footprint. Furthermore, skyscrapers push the boundaries of engineering and design, contributing to technological advancements and architectural beauty.

On the flip side, skyscrapers require significant resources for construction and operation, contributing to carbon emissions and energy consumption. They can exacerbate the urban heat island effect, leading to higher temperatures in cities. And finally, high-rise living can sometimes lead to a sense of isolation among residents, affecting community interaction.

## The Challenges of Going Vertical

![Building being constructed in Bonifacio Global City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bluprint-commentary-architecture-photography-1-724x1024.jpg "bluprint-commentary-architecture-photography-1 - BluPrint")The BGC skyline[The Philippines faces unique challenges in constructing skyscrapers, primarily due to its geographical and socio-economic context. ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/tall-buildings-geronimo-v-manahan/)Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is prone to earthquakes, requiring advanced engineering to ensure building safety. Frequent typhoons demand robust construction to withstand high winds and heavy rainfall. And the cost of constructing earthquake and typhoon-resistant buildings can be prohibitive.

As you’ll notice, the tallest buildings in the Philippines mostly peak at around 250 meters, facing a unique set of constraints that are not solely architectural, but also geographical, regulatory, and economic in nature. Several key factors influence the height limit for skyscrapers in the Philippines.

While there’s no single law or regulation that caps building heights at 250 meters, a combination of factors related to safety, economics, and practicality play a crucial role. Advances in construction technology and changes in regulatory frameworks may influence future trends in building heights.

There are airspace restrictions in place to ensure the safety of air travel. Buildings within certain areas, especially those near airports like Makati and BGC, are subject to height restrictions to prevent interference with flight paths. Municipalities and cities also have their zoning ordinances that may limit building heights based on various considerations, including urban planning goals, infrastructure capacity, and the preservation of historical sites.

## Reaching New Heights

The following edifices have all claimed the title of tallest building in the Philippines during their lifespan. They continue to adorn our urban skylines with their impressive feats of height and engineering. These landmarks serve as reflections of continuous progress and the ever-increasing demand within our urban environments.

## Horizons 101 Tower 1 – 186 meters

An honorable mention, Tower 1 of the Horizons 101 holds the title as the tallest building outside of Metro Manila in the country. Developers Taft Properties Development designed this condominium complex to have 2 towers in total. Tower 1 reaches a height of 186 meters with 55 floors, while Tower 2 stands at 168 meters with a total of 46 floors. The name Horizons 101 derives from the total number of floors in both towers, summing up to 55 + 46 = 101.

## Robinsons Equitable Tower – 175 meters

![Profile of skyscraper Robinsons Equitable Tower](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Robinsons-Equitable_PCI_Bank_Tower_Ortigas_Center_Panoramio.jpg "Robinsons-Equitable_PCI_Bank_Tower_Ortigas_Center_Panoramio - BluPrint")Photo by *Ronx Ronquillo*Robinsons Equitable Tower briefly held the title of the tallest building in the Philippines from 1997 to 1998. It reached completion in 1997 and stands at 175 meters (574 feet) tall. Architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) master planned the building, while Philippine architectural firm W.V. [Coscolluela](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/succeeding-success-coscolluela/) & Associates designed it. The original plans were for a 40-story building based on the Robinsons Galleria Complex. However, it underwent a change in design and became a taller office building.

The building’s exterior features green-shaded aluminum high-performance glass curtain walls and punched windows. A sleek cylindrical portion of the structure sits along the corner of ADB Avenue and Poveda Drive. A noticeable rooftop crown, along the rounded edge of the building, breaks the monotony of the building’s form factor.

## Rufino Pacific Tower – 200 meters

![Facade of skyscraper Rufino Pacific Tower](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/May_14_2005_-_Rufino_Tower.jpg "May_14_2005_-_Rufino_Tower - BluPrint")Photo by Jon Voltaire B. AquinoRufino Pacific Tower, more commonly known as Rufino Tower or Rufino Plaza, was the tallest skyscraper in the Philippines from 1994 to 1997. It retains its status as the tallest steel-framed building in the country with 41 stories that measure up to a total of 161 meters. Including its eight-story radio tower, the building reaches a total height of 200 meters. The original building on the site, V.A. Rufino Building, now serves as the new tower’s podium.

The building features an all-glass design made with double glazed windows. Materials such as natural stone, glass, and metal encase its interiors. It hosts Little Green Hub, Makati’s first “green & boutique” business center, which caters to start-up and early-stage companies.

## Petron Megaplaza – 210 meters

![Facade of skyscraper Petron Megaplaza](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/April_18_2005_-_Petron_Mega_Plaza.jpg "April_18_2005_-_Petron_Mega_Plaza - BluPrint")Photo by Jon Voltaire B. AquinoThe Petron Megaplaza previously held the title as the tallest building in the Philippines until the PBCom Tower was topped-off. American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, designed the building. Megaworld Corporation developed and owns the Petron Megaplaza. The building stands at 45 stories tall, 210 meters from the ground, and is currently the 9th tallest building in the country as of this writing.

The facade contains a wide curtain of glass contrasted by a sleek set of windows that extend throughout the building’s vertical axis. Furthermore, the topmost floors of the building are of a smaller footprint which adds a play of depth to the buildings. The structural design of the structure was planned by local engineering firm Aromin + Sy & Associates and Arup, an international engineering company. Construction was undertaken by D.M. Consunji, Inc., one of the largest general contractors in the country.

## PBCom Tower – 259 meters

![Facade of PBcom skyscraper](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/900px-Pbcom_Tower_March_2019.jpg "smart - BluPrint")PBCom Tower, more commonly known as The Philippine Bank of Communications Tower, holds the official ranking as the second tallest building in the Philippines. It held the title of the tallest building in the Philippines for 16 years. Standing at a total ground to architectural top height of 259 meters, it comprises 52 storeys, including an 8-level radio tower.

GF & Partners Architects, a local architectural firm, collaborated with international architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, to design the building. Samsung Construction Company Philippines, Inc., handled construction in 1997 and finished the project in 2000.

The PBCom tower’s design includes a multitude of building technologies and features. The use of tinted insulation vision glass controls heat and sound. The full height openings and wide panels provide full-height glazing that frame spectacular views of the cityscape. Green spaces, such as a landscaped garden within its podium, add an element of nature to contrast against this towering structure.

## Metrobank Center – 318 meters

![Metrobank Center Skyscraper in Philippines](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/900px-Grand_Hyatt_Manila_Federal_Land_Tower_BGC_Taguig2018-06-04.jpg "900px-Grand_Hyatt_Manila_Federal_Land_Tower_BGC_Taguig2018-06-04 - BluPrint")Taking the number one spot on our list, Metrobank Center is currently the tallest building in the Philippines as of this writing. The building’s pinnacle height reaches 318 m with a roof height of approximately 259.1. Federal Land revealed the plans for this project back in March 2011 as part of their Grand Central Park mixed-use complex. It took 5 years to complete the skyscraper.

Hong Kong based firm Wong & Ouyang, along with Casas Architects, designed the Metrobank Center. Engineering firm Arup handled the wind, structural, and seismic engineering of the building, devising a damp outrigger system for seismic and wind resistance. Concrete outrigger walls were installed on the Metrobank Center’s two mechanical floors.

The Metrobank Center connects with the Grand Hyatt Residences, a 45-storey condominium skyscraper, through a common podium. The Grand Hyatt Manila occupies the top 25 floors of the building. It features 461 guest rooms and hosts three main restaurants: The Grand Kitchen, No. 8 China House, and The Peak. Another residential tower in the complex is the 50-storey Grand Hyatt Residence South Tower.

The race to reach the sky redefines our urban living and working spaces. These skyscrapers are symbols of the Philippines’ economic growth, architectural prowess, and vision for the future. As the country’s skyline continues to evolve, so too will the ambition and innovation of its architects and developers, pushing the boundaries of design and technology.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the tallest building in the Philippines?

The tallest building in the Philippines is the Metrobank Center, located at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

### How many floors is the tallest building in the Philippines?

The Metrobank Center is a 66-story building, standing at 318 meters.

### What is the first skyscraper in the Philippines?

The first skyscraper in the Philippines is the Insular Life Building, which was built in 1962 in Makati.

### Which buildings have held the title of tallest in the Philippines?

Several buildings have held the title over the decades. The Rufino Pacific Tower held it from 1994 to 1997, followed by the Robinsons Equitable Tower from 1997 to 1998, then Petron Megaplaza until the PBCom Tower took over and held it for 16 years. The Metrobank Center, completed in 2016, currently holds the record at 318 meters.

### What engineering challenges are unique to building skyscrapers in the Philippines?

Building skyscrapers in the Philippines requires addressing seismic activity, typhoon-force winds, and humid tropical conditions. The Metrobank Center, for example, uses a damp outrigger system engineered by Arup for seismic and wind resistance. The high cost of constructing disaster-resilient structures, combined with airspace and zoning restrictions, makes vertical construction significantly more complex than in other countries.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Industrial, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Skyscraper

---

### [Can Malls Become Our New Public Squares? Balancing Profit and Social Responsibility](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/malls-public-squares-reconfiguring-social-spaces/)

**Published:** March 7, 2024
**Author:** Elle Yap

**Content:**

Commercial establishments have taken over the country’s landscape over the past few decades. Metro Manila alone is littered with gigantic malls, old and new, catering to different demographics. They provide centralization across the city, allowing people unprecedented access to consumer products that would be deemed unavailable in the past.

Everything you need is in a mall, and it’s easy to enjoy the convenience you experience across the board. Giant chapels are a thing of the past; it’s retrofitted to a big corner of the mall. Need to renew your passport or driver’s license? It’s just a stone’s throw from a McDonald’s or a *tiangge*. But while malls offer a one-stop shop for everything from groceries to shoes and books, their widespread presence has significantly reduced the availability of public spaces for people to enjoy.

![wta one mall waf 1 high res.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wta-one_mall_waf_1_high-res.jpg "wta one mall waf 1 high res - BluPrint")WTA One Mall.We sculpted our society towards the mall to the point they’ve become *the* public squares of a community. And as people become more reliant on them, much of their effect in society goes largely ignored. Building one requires a huge amount of resources. Sometimes, they literally [destroy the environment](https://www.rappler.com/nation/227842-supreme-court-stops-sm-baguio-cutting-more-trees/) around them.

They’re also a major energy sink and a produce a significant amount of waste within a concentrated area. Often doubling as transportation hubs, they’re magnets for noise, air, and light pollution. So how does this takeover of giant commercial and retail establishments affect the way we communicate as communities?

## **Consumerist Citizenship**

![Consumerist Citizenship](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BluPrint-AIDEA-1.jpg "BluPrint-Interview-AIDEA-1 - BluPrint")AIDEA’s design for Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City, Philippines features a six-block commercial development with an inward orientation toward an 800-meter-long and 40-meter-wide central landscaped open space. Photo from AIDEA website.Much of today’s urbanized landscape revolves around spending and commerce. Fan communities like Swifties or the BTS Army show their loyalty through what they consume—concert tickets, multiple copies of an album, even photo cards of their favorite artists. Meeting friends involves choosing what coffee shop or restaurant to frequent. Errands are easier to run for families when everything is in the same place.

In this ideal, the mall becomes a central public square. It’s where you buy things and, by default, where people assemble. But unlike parks or traditional public spaces, access to the mall requires you pay rent in some shape or form.

A [paper by Malcolm Voyce](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1440783306066727) calls this “consumerist citizenship” stating, “The outcome of these practices is a form of property that is neither public nor private, but which is best seen as ‘mass public property’ or ‘quasi-public property’.”

It’s the privatization of space where people are broadly drawn by consumption and the illusion of choice. “Large tracts of property and land that was previously publicly owned are now controlled – and policed – by private corporations, though such land continues to appear to have a public character.”

## **Democratizing Space**

![Old Tutuban Main Station goes from rail to retail](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land.jpg "bluprint-architecture-retrofit-tutuban-mall-ayala-land - BluPrint")Tutuban sits adjacent to Divisoria and Binondo, two major shopping districts in downtown Manila. The Tutuban Center is composed of the historic Tutuban Main Station now called the Tutuban Centermall, a separate three-storey Prime Block mall to the right, and a mall extension connected to the back of the old structure.The treatment of malls as public squares comes as a reaction to the lessening of actual public spaces. There are significantly less parks, markets, and other open spaces where people can just hang out and relax. The most significant public spaces available in the country are Luneta and Quezon City Circle, both of which are inaccessible to much of the mega city’s population.

## Reimagining Malls as Public Squares

Recognizing this shift, malls need to reimagine their business model to integrate public spaces fostering community. This might involve improving public accessibility, offering dedicated relaxation areas, or simply creating spaces where people can exist and connect outside the pressure to consume.

![13053 One Ayala View from Glorietta Park](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/13053-One-Ayala-View-from-Glorietta-Park.jpg "13053 One Ayala View from Glorietta Park - BluPrint")13053 One Ayala View from Glorietta ParkBeyond offering convenience, the proliferation of malls also highlights the critical need for green public spaces. These open areas, regardless of their free or paid access, provide invaluable opportunities for people to engage in activities beyond spending. They can participate in sports, enjoy picnics, or simply find respite under the stars. Green public spaces offer a vital platform for relaxation and community interaction, serving as a model that malls could potentially emulate by incorporating elements like rooftop gardens or open-air seating areas.

Many establishments across the country are already adopting such measures. Places like Robinsons Magnolia or Estancia Mall devote a significant portion of their places towards green spaces in their developments. Malls like UP Town and Bonifacio Global City High Street integrate their shops around expansive green spaces, fostering walkable and open areas for relaxation, even without making a purchase.

## **The Future** of Malls

![A photograph of Rizal Park. Photo by LemuelSalibio. Source: Wikimedia Commons.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MNL_Rizal_Park.jpg "MNL_Rizal_Park - BluPrint")A photograph of Rizal Park. Photo by LemuelSalibio. Source: Wikimedia Commons.The mall as a public space is, of course, an intentional move by companies to drive customers to their establishments. However, when they fail to fulfill this function, they become “dead malls,” a growing problem in U.S. suburbs. The rise of online shopping is often blamed, suggesting consumers see malls as less essential.

While attracting customers is good business, the key difference is that true public spaces like squares are accessible to everyone, regardless of income. These spaces host community programs and often prioritize pedestrians over cars, creating a more vibrant and inclusive environment.

Examples like BGC High Street demonstrate the possibility of [creating large commercial areas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/) that also function as vibrant public spaces. However, the challenge remains for companies to find a balance between achieving profit and fulfilling their responsibility to create inclusive spaces where people can simply coexist.

In the Philippines, malls have, for better or worse, become like our public squares. Considering this reality, the way companies approach this responsibility can significantly impact the country’s future development.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why are malls considered public squares in the Philippines?

Malls are considered public squares in the Philippines because they have become the primary gathering spaces in urban areas. With limited parks and open public spaces in Metro Manila, malls serve as de facto community hubs where people assemble, socialize, and run errands — even though access implicitly requires spending.

### What is “consumerist citizenship” and how does it apply to Philippine malls?

Consumerist citizenship refers to a condition where participation in civic life is mediated through consumption. In the Philippine context, malls function as quasi-public spaces controlled by private corporations, creating an illusion of open access while subtly requiring people to spend in order to belong and participate in community life.

### What Philippine malls have successfully integrated public green spaces?

Several Philippine malls have successfully integrated public green spaces into their developments. Bonifacio High Street in BGC features an 800-meter central landscaped open space. UP Town Center and Robinsons Magnolia also devote significant areas to greenery, encouraging walkability and community interaction beyond pure retail consumption.

### What are “dead malls” and could it happen in the Philippines?

Dead malls are commercial centers that have lost foot traffic and commercial viability, a growing problem in U.S. suburbs largely attributed to the rise of e-commerce. In the Philippines, the risk exists if malls fail to evolve beyond retail into genuine community spaces, making social programming and green integration critical to their long-term relevance.

### How can Philippine malls better serve as inclusive public spaces?

Philippine malls can become more inclusive by improving free public accessibility, dedicating areas for non-commercial relaxation, incorporating rooftop gardens and open-air seating, and hosting community programs. Models like BGC High Street show it is possible to build large commercial developments that also function as vibrant, walkable public spaces for all income levels.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture, BGC High Street, Malls, Metro Manila, Philippines

---

### [The 11 Core Frameworks of a BERDE Certification](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/)

**Published:** August 25, 2023
**Author:** Shan Arcega

**Content:**

Sustainability and green building shouldn’t just be add-ons to buildings. They must be mandatory to create communities that will still function well. That and they wouldn’t add to the climate crisis we’re currently facing. This is the basic gist that designer and architect [Carol Karthe](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/aman-sinaya-embracing-materiality-nature-and-slow-living/) mentioned during an interview regarding the sustainable and eclectic residential home–[The Birdhouse in Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/designed-for-the-free-spirit-by-the-free-spirit/).

When it comes to sustainable building, the industry has a wide variety of certifications that announce how environmentally-friendly a building is. From the [U.S. Green Building Council](https://www.usgbc.org/), there’s the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification–the world’s most widely used green building rating system. With a LEED certification, people are assured that a building is healthy, efficient, and cost-saving.

Here in the Philippines, we have our own set of green organizations. So far, these include The Green Architecture Movement (GAM) of the United Architects of the Philippines, and Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP). These two are non-profit organizations. The Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) meanwhile is the country’s own green building council.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/seven-neo-1.jpg "seven neo 1 - BluPrint")*Seven/NEO is a symbol of peak excellence in real estate with its sustainable design.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/seven-neo-2.jpg "CS Designs - BluPrint")*Seven/NEO was named Highly Commended Best Commercial Architectural Design for Office in the 2014 Philippine Property Awards and 5 Star Best Commercial High-rise Development in the 2016 International Property Awards Asia Pacific.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/seven-neo-3.jpg "CS Designs - BluPrint")*Alongside a design focused on sustainability, Seven/NEO also has a design that seems to hinge on elegance and strength.*

The local counterpart for LEED meanwhile is a Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) certification. Currently, there are two BERDE technical manuals by the PhilGBC. BERDE for New construction and BERDE for Existing Buildings. Both give details regarding the standards that each building will be measured against. BERDE is also the world’s first rating system that considers heritage conservation.

## **BERDE’s Core Framework**

BERDE has four major rating schemes–new construction, retrofits and renovations, operations, and existing buildings. But what are the 11 core frameworks essential in developing a green building project under BERDE? There are several things to note regarding the core framework but here’s just a bit of information about them.

## ***Management***

Focuses on the sustainable processes and practices that identify the most cost-effective and sustainable strategies for the project. Here, the owner of the project must note that a certified Green Building Professional (GBP) works with them. It also identifies the most sustainable and cost-effective strategies in the design, construction, and operations.

## ***Use of Land and Ecology***

This promotes effective site selection alongside the mindful use of the land. It also takes note of how much negative impact against the local ecology is reduced.

## ***Energy***

To manage, reduce, and eliminate the excessive use of energy in the project. This evaluates the implementation of renewable energy in the project.

## ***Water***

This category checks if the project effectively manages and reduces the overall water demand. Here, details like water consumption reduction, greywater reuse, and effective rainwater harvesting are considered.

## ***Waste***

This considers if the project properly manages solid waste to reduce whatever waste is generated during the project. By effectively managing waste at the source, there’s a lesser need for waste infrastructure and financial payments to manage waste among many other things.

## ***Materials***

This checks whether the project uses green and local materials. Green materials don’t just lessen environmental impact. They also improve indoor environment quality.

## ***Transportation***

Traffic is also considered by BERDE certifications. This considers if the project uses sustainable transport strategies to help reduce traffic congestion around the project.

## ***Health and Wellbeing***

The users are the most important factor in all projects. This considers if the building improves productivity and comfort while addressing the building’s impact on the users’ well being.

## ***Emissions***

This checks whether the project use materials and products that reduce emissions contributing to global warming and climate change. Here, the Green House Gas (GHG) inventory is checked alongside the implementation of refrigerant policies.

## ***Community Engagement***

This checks whether the project involves the community in the project. It sees if the project helps create a distinct identity and uses green building features for the community’s betterment.

## ***Economic Opportunity***

This category checks if the project helps create green jobs and supports local business and individuals.

So far, an example of one of the most popular buildings with a five-star BERDE certification is Seven/NEO which flaunts an award-winning sustainable design. With projects like these taking the forefront, the future could have more structures that mimic or may even come out better than the ones we have now.

Photos by Ed Simon

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is BERDE certification in the Philippines?

BERDE, or Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence, is the Philippines’ own green building rating system administered by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC). It measures a building’s environmental performance across 11 categories and is notably the world’s first rating system that incorporates heritage conservation as a standard.

### What are the 11 core frameworks of BERDE certification?

The 11 core frameworks of BERDE certification are: Management, Use of Land and Ecology, Energy, Water, Waste, Materials, Transportation, Health and Wellbeing, Emissions, Community Engagement, and Economic Opportunity. Each framework evaluates how sustainably a building is designed, constructed, and operated across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

### What is the difference between BERDE and LEED certification?

LEED is a global green building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and the world’s most widely used rating system. BERDE is the Philippine equivalent, developed by the PhilGBC to reflect local conditions and standards. A key distinction is that BERDE is the only rating system in the world that considers heritage conservation as part of its framework.

### Which buildings in the Philippines have a five-star BERDE certification?

Seven/NEO is one of the most prominent buildings in the Philippines with a five-star BERDE certification. It was also recognized as Highly Commended Best Commercial Architectural Design for Office at the 2014 Philippine Property Awards and awarded 5 Star Best Commercial High-rise Development at the 2016 International Property Awards Asia Pacific.

### Why is sustainable design important in Philippine architecture?

Sustainable design is essential in the Philippines to address the climate crisis, reduce energy and water consumption, and build resilient communities. Architect Carol Karthe emphasizes that green building should be mandatory—not optional—so that structures contribute positively to the environment and remain functional for future generations in a country highly vulnerable to climate change.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** BERDE certification, Sustainability

---

### [Reimagining the heart of Manila through the visions of our future architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/reimagining-the-heart-of-manila-through-the-visions-of-our-future-architects/)

**Published:** January 19, 2022
**Author:** Joy Celine Asto

**Content:**

No one can doubt Manila’s prestige as the Philippines’ cradle of culture and history. However, it’s also evident that the city remains in dire need of an urban planning upgrade worthy of its status as the country’s capital. This is why it’s always interesting to see how the next generation of architects and designers are reimagining the city. More than how the buildings and structures will look like, how will future urban design change and uplift the city?

[Daniel Burnham](https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a1091-daniel-burnham-15-iconic-projects/)’s [1905 urban plan for Manila](https://burnhampi.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/the-plan-manila/) still remains a source of inspiration and heartache for today’s architects and urban planners. So, it’s not surprising that architecture educators and students continue to turn to his vision for exploring urban design ideas and concepts.

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/BurnhamPlanOf-Manila.jpg/938px-BurnhamPlanOf-Manila.jpg)Photo via [Wikimedia Commons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BurnhamPlanOf-Manila.jpg)The latest of these explorations was the September 2021 Daniel Burnham exhibition hosted by the Center for Campus Art of the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, and curated by CCA Director Gerry Torres. Guided by their professor, Architect [Jim Caumeron](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jim-caumeron-treehouse/), Benilde architecture students proposed their “visions of a gentler city” following discussions on Burnham’s plan.

“The Manila of 1904, when Burnham first visited, is a distant version of the city today. It has gone through cataclysmic episodes in its history, notably the devastation of World War 2 and the hurried process of its reconstruction,” Torres noted on the problems that now challenge design ideas for Manila. “The post-war years have not been kind either, when it was abandoned, unplanned, and abused.”

The project was initially planned to cover all the areas mentioned in Burnham’s Manila Plan. Due to the constraints of their 13-week online classes, Caumeron and his students decided to focus on Manila City Hall areas and the Moslem Community across Pasig River. According to Caumeron, their goal was to build a modern city that prioritized the people, enriching their lives and providing a comfortable environment.

“We percolated ideas on the immediate public areas such as the Intramuros Golf Course, Liwasang Bonifacio, Mehan Garden and Arroceros Forest Park so that they can be enjoyed better by everyone. One of the highlighted objectives is to dignify the remaining heritage buildings in the site, not just because of its historical value but because of the symbols they represent — authority and culture.”

Below are three of the most interesting presentations for the project’s reimagining of the heart of Manila.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-10.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (10) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-8.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-7.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (7) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-6.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-9.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (9) - BluPrint")

## Manila as a Patchwork City

For their vision, Jericho Fabico and John Francis Martin envisioned Manila as a patchwork city comprised of communities with different programs, making each area more intuitive. They also integrated more public spaces, pedestrian access, and recreation areas around the well-known landmarks and districts. Thermal comfort for public spaces, traffic choke points, transportation hubs, and spacious residential areas were also included in their key considerations for their plan.

Following Burnham’s original plan, they also moved civic and government centers closer together in the Manila City Hall area. This, they noted, would make related government services more accessible and convenient. Meanwhile, commercial centers nearby would provide entertainment for visitors of the government offices, while a university belt would cover student needs.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-5.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-2.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-3.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-4.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (4) - BluPrint")

## Manila as a Multigenerational City

The plan of Andre Abacahin and Carlos Antonio Buencamino centered on creating major points of interest and nodes on distinction based on their function and use in the area. As with the patchwork concept, these locations would serve different functions. However, they would still be connected by carefully mapped out roads, pedestrian access, and sub-areas that are comfortable to navigate.

Inspired by Burnham’s plan, they decided to make public and private spaces distinct from each other in both the design and usage of space. Civic spaces and heritage structures, for example, would feature more open and spacious layouts so their Neo-Classical designs would stand out. Meanwhile, residential and private areas would be more compact and intimate to reinforce the sense of community.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-11.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (11) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-12.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (12) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-13.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (13) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-14.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (14) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BP-2022-Website-In-Article-Photo-Reimagining-the-heart-of-Manila-15.jpg "BP 2022 Website-In-Article Photo (Reimagining the heart of Manila) (15) - BluPrint")

## Manila as a Tropical City

Tracie Bejar and Kevin Nuñez drew inspiration from Manila’s tropical climate, just as Burnham did in his 1905 plan. Their also echoed his idea to provide structure to the city while complementing the natural geography carved by the Manila Bay and the Pasig River. Without paying attention to the role of nature, they said, the city is vulnerable to the harsh tropical environment and the [Urban Heat Island Effect](https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect).

All these considerations prompted them to reimagine Manila as a green, tropical city that places value on heritage spaces and their connection to Filipinos and the natural environment. They also wanted these spaces to interact with the surrounding relevant structures and residential communities while optimizing land strengths. Green spaces, sprawling public areas, and elevated spots complete the tropical charm.

Check out the [Center for Campus Art’s website](https://www.benildecampusart.com/exhibit/taft-and-the-burnham-plan) and Jim Caumeron’s [Archi Lablife Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUs_7Yn_sSGPYZVj-sTjQBQ/videos) to see the rest of the plans and projects featured in the exhibit.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What was the Daniel Burnham 1905 Manila Plan?

The Daniel Burnham Manila Plan was an urban blueprint commissioned in 1904 and presented in 1905, envisioning Manila as a grand, organized capital city. It proposed civic centers, parks, and a road network inspired by Washington D.C., and remains a foundational reference for Filipino architects and urban planners today.

### What was the 2021 Burnham exhibition at De La Salle-Benilde?

The 2021 Daniel Burnham exhibition was hosted by the Center for Campus Art at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in September 2021. Curated by Gerry Torres and guided by Architect Jim Caumeron, it showcased Benilde architecture students’ urban design proposals reimagining Manila’s civic core.

### What areas of Manila did the Benilde students focus on in their urban redesign?

The students focused on the Manila City Hall area and the Moslem Community across the Pasig River. Key sites included the Intramuros Golf Course, Liwasang Bonifacio, Mehan Garden, and Arroceros Forest Park, with an emphasis on dignifying heritage structures and improving public spaces for all residents.

### What are the three student urban design concepts for Manila?

The three concepts are Manila as a Patchwork City, envisioning distinct, intuitive communities; Manila as a Multigenerational City, organizing spaces by function and connectivity; and Manila as a Tropical City, prioritizing green infrastructure and climate-responsive design inspired by Manila’s natural geography and tropical environment.

### How does the Urban Heat Island Effect relate to Manila’s urban planning challenges?

The Urban Heat Island Effect refers to elevated temperatures in dense urban areas due to heat-absorbing surfaces and lack of greenery. In Manila’s case, students Tracie Bejar and Kevin Nuñez highlighted it as a key risk when natural elements are ignored, advocating for green spaces and tropical design strategies to keep the city livable.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Civic, Commercial, Concept, Heritage, Interiors, Offices

**Tags:** architecture studies, Manila, Urban Design, Urban Planning

---

### [Art Deco Laperal Apartments retrofitted, now a student dorm](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/laperal-apartments-retrofit/)

**Published:** August 18, 2021
**Author:** Carla Gamalinda

**Excerpt:** The newly refurbished Laperal Apartments on C.M. Recto Avenue tells us not to give up on Manila just yet

**Content:**

For someone used to walking under the dark, soot-covered arcades of Recto Avenue at night, passing by a gleaming, well-lit walkway under the newly renovated [Laperal Apartments](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/youniversity-suites-aims-to-raise-the-standards-of-student-living/) comes as a pleasant surprise. Stretching 80 meters, its arcade has become once more a safe, clean, and walkable public space for pedestrians, a far cry from the filthy state the current owners found the 70-year old Art Deco building in.

The owners, a couple in the appliances business, had been scouting for historic buildings in Manila to conserve for their first commercial real estate venture. They had had unsuccessful dealings with heritage property owners who were all too quick to sell their buildings to the highest bidders only to see them torn down. Upon learning of the [Laperal](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/preserving-heritage-embracing-hospitality-the-renaissance-of-the-laperal-mansion-in-malacanang/) Apartments, the couple reached out to the heirs of the original owners, Benjamin Laperal and his sister, both nonagenarians.

![The Laperal Apartments before the renovation | Photo courtesy of the owners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Lapreal-before-1.jpg "Lapreal before 1 - BluPrint")The Laperal Apartments before the renovation | Photo courtesy of the owners![San Sebastian College Recoletos](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-5.jpg "Laperal after 5 - BluPrint")The Laperal Apartments stands along front of San Sebastian College Recoletos. Its location within the university belt makes it an ideal place for a student dormitory. Three bands of steel were added to the façade to hide unsightly rows of air conditioning units. The new owners and their architect were reluctant to do so, but in the end, they felt it was more respectful of the building.![The 80-meter arcade before the renovation](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-arcade-before.jpg "Laperal arcade before - BluPrint")The 80-meter arcade before the renovation | Photo courtesy of the owners![street with Art Deco-inspired grillwork](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-4.jpg "Laperal after 4 - BluPrint")The newly renovated arcade of Laperal is now fenced off from the street with Art Deco-inspired grillwork. The walls were painted a fresh coat of antique white and fitted with soft lighting fixtures to make the walkway feel safe and welcoming at night. The owner posted three security guards to watch over the place 24/7 and keep peddlers and pickpockets away.Securing the title was the easy part. After the sale, they found themselves fighting tooth and nail to drive out the trespassing vendors colluding with corrupt public officials illegally renting out the abandoned space. Before they were finally evicted, the tenants defaced and looted the building of its wrought iron stair balusters, windows, and doors.

Undeterred, the couple sought to save the four-storey building and turn it into a student dormitory with commercial spaces on the ground floor. They hired architect Patrick Apacible to lead the renovation project. Apacible set out to trace the original architect and find old pictures and plans of the building. Unsuccessful, he relied on the recollection of one of Laperal’s old tenants, Gina Navarro of the famous Estrel’s Caramel Cakes. For 50 years, Navarro’s family occupied a unit on the second floor of the apartment. By her account, their neighbors would wake up to the pleasant smell of freshly baked homemade cakes wafting through the corridors all the way up to the fourth floor. She described the building as having tall narra doors, staircases with intricate Art Deco grillwork, and freestanding enamel and cast-iron tubs inside bathrooms fitted with 1950s ceramic subway tiles.

![cast-in-place concrete walls](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-3.jpg "Laperal after 3 - BluPrint")According to Apacible, the original cast-in-place concrete walls were so strong it would have taken months just to embed the water and electrical lines. They deliberately left the utility lines running through the ceiling exposed to maintain the three-meter ceiling height.![Sturdy steel doors and stainless steel grills](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-1.jpg "Laperal after 1 - BluPrint")Sturdy steel doors and stainless steel grills were installed to ensure the resident students’ security. Residents can unlatch and open the window behind the grills to view the corridor or speak with people without opening the door to their apartment.Despite heavy deterioration, Apacible saved as much as he could of the original building. It would have been cheaper to demolish and build anew, but the clients were determined to maintain the building’s heritage value. The Laperal Apartments had a straightforward plan with generously sized rooms along a single-loaded corridor.

There were three staircases, one in the middle, and two at the ends of the building. Apacible worked around the existing walls and replanned the spaces to accommodate six retail spaces on the ground floor and 29 air-conditioned en suite dormitory units of varying sizes on each of the upper floors. For him, the biggest challenge was retrofitting the building’s utilities. The walls were made of solid, cast-in-place concrete with oversized rebars. Embedding the utilities was not an option, so he decided to leave the pipes exposed, lending an industrial character to the interiors.

The Laperal Apartments, rebranded as [Youniversity Suites](https://www.facebook.com/YouniversitySuites/), will provide its tenants more than a place to sleep. The clients envision the building as a residential and recreational hub for its community. On 13 February 2018, they officially opened the 14-storey dormitory and a four-storey commercial building called L.A. Village at the back of the old structure. “The whole development should function as a continuation of the students’ education; it must help them set their minds in a state of concentration for studies and provide the tools for them to become their best selves,” says Apacible.

**READ MORE: [Old Jaro city hall in Iloilo restored and now National Museum satellite](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/jaro-city-hall-restored/ "Old Jaro city hall in Iloilo restored and now National Museum satellite")**

![Laperal Apartments, now known as Youniversity Suites](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-2.jpg "Laperal after 2 - BluPrint")The Laperal Apartments, now known as [Youniversity Suites](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/youniversity-suites-aims-to-raise-the-standards-of-student-living/), is a co-ed dormitory. Male and female friends can be assigned a shared room upon their request. According to the owners, the gender-neutral policy is designed specifically for those who identify with the LGBT community and who may feel more comfortable sharing a room with the opposite gender. Each dormer gets a study table and chair, bed and beddings, cabinet, and shelf space.![student's lounge on the top floor of the L.A. Village](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-opening-2.jpg "Laperal opening 2 - BluPrint")The student’s lounge on the top floor of the L.A. Village## Streamlined Art Deco

Built in 1946, the Laperal Apartments represents Manila’s post-war architecture, just as the city was rising from the ruins of World War II. After the Battle of Manila in 1945, the glittering “Paris of Asia,” which used to be dotted with Spanish Colonial, Beaux-Arts, and [Art Deco buildings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/5-art-deco-buildings-of-retro-manila/), was barely recognizable. It was a period of emotional havoc. The nation had to muddle through emerging communist activity and an economy marred by desperate foreign policies. Despite all these, a semblance of normalcy was felt a year later when stores opened in batches along Avenida Rizal and its side streets. People flocked the city in search of jobs. Consequently, demand for housing increased and real estate prices in Manila quickly doubled their pre-war rates. Laperal Apartments was one of the buildings that emerged, signaling the recovery of Manila.

![the atrium of the new Youniversity Suites.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-after-8.jpg "Laperal after 8 - BluPrint")Looking up at the student dormitory corridors from the atrium of the new Youniversity Suites. Detailed grill-work evoke the original Art Deco design of the Laperal Apartments.Telling of the austere economic times and the psyche of the people, Laperal’s architecture was streamlined, limiting the use of geometric ornamentation to square studs on the façade and simple bands on the arcaded columns. Compared to the extravagant Art Deco variant of the 1920s, the post-war strain was almost spartan. A decade after Laperal was built, the area was once again teeming with students from the newly reopened schools, and the streets were alive with cinema palaces, fashion boutiques, pizza places, ice cream parlors, photo studios, and shoe shops. Downtown Manila fully recovered as a thriving economic center until it was eclipsed by the sprouting Makati financial district in the 1960s.

## Sustaining social value

Despite looking like the oddball of Recto Avenue now, the new owners of the Laperal Apartments are keen on preserving the district’s social value. Collaborating with the Save San Sebastian Foundation, they are organizing sustained year-round programs to be hosted in the Laperal arcade and other heritage sites in Manila. The plan includes hosting fundraising dinners and a Santa Cruzan, and participating in several community events like the Q Festival (Quiapo) celebrated four times a year, hoping to get participation from the surrounding schools, and consequently, convincing the city government Recto Avenue is worth saving.

![Youniversity Suites and L.A. Village](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-opening-1.jpg "Laperal opening 1 - BluPrint")The grand launch of the Youniversity Suites and L.A. Village last 13 February 2018 featured a performance by local band Up Dharma Down.The Laperal Apartments is pioneering hope for Recto Avenue as it has done 70 years before. By helping the people look at the place with the dignity it deserves, the blighted district might just get another shot at life. In the spirit of post-war Manila—of reinventing and hoping—we hope the rest of the nation would soon follow suit. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")![Laperal T1 FRONT ELEV NO LABELa 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-T1-FRONT-ELEV-NO-LABELa-1.jpg "Laperal T1 FRONT ELEV NO LABELa 1 - BluPrint")

![Laperal T1 REAR ELEV NO LABELa 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Laperal-T1-REAR-ELEV-NO-LABELa-2.jpg "Laperal T1 REAR ELEV NO LABELa 2 - BluPrint")**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 1 2017. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Laperal Apartments in Manila?

The Laperal Apartments is a four-storey Art Deco building on Recto Avenue in Manila, built in 1946 during the city’s postwar reconstruction. Originally a residential apartment complex, it has been renovated and rebranded as Youniversity Suites, a co-ed student dormitory serving the nearby university belt.

### What is Youniversity Suites and where is it located?

Youniversity Suites is the rebranded name of the historic Laperal Apartments, located along Recto Avenue in Manila in front of San Sebastian College Recoletos. It operates as a co-ed student dormitory with 29 en suite units, six ground-floor retail spaces, and a companion commercial building called L.A. Village.

### Who renovated the Laperal Apartments and what was the design approach?

Architect Patrick Apacible led the renovation of the Laperal Apartments. Faced with solid cast-in-place concrete walls, he left utility pipes exposed to preserve the original three-meter ceiling height. The design balanced heritage conservation with modern dormitory needs, retaining Art Deco details like grillwork while adding contemporary security features.

### What makes the Laperal Apartments significant to Manila’s architectural history?

The Laperal Apartments represents Manila’s postwar architectural recovery. Built in 1946, just a year after the devastating Battle of Manila, it exemplifies Streamlined Art Deco — a restrained, geometric style that reflected the austerity of the era. It is one of the few surviving postwar heritage structures along Recto Avenue.

### What community programs are associated with the Laperal Apartments renovation?

The new owners of the Laperal Apartments are working with the Save San Sebastian Foundation to activate the restored arcade and surrounding heritage sites. Planned programs include fundraising dinners, a Santa Cruzan, and participation in community events like the Quiapo Festival, aimed at revitalizing Recto Avenue’s cultural identity.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Industrial, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Arcade, Art Deco, Dormitory, Laperal Apartments, Manila, Patrick Apacible, Recto Avenue, Retrofit, Student, University

---

### [Playful Pursuits: The W City Center in BGC](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/playful-pursuits-w-city-center/)

**Published:** October 8, 2019
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Excerpt:** CAZA fuses the modern office building with the Filipino brand of fun in the W City Center.

**Content:**

What used to be known as the grassy fields of a former military base, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has transitioned to become one of the Philippines’ premier financial districts since 2013. As it seamlessly weaves into its mix an upwardly mobile lifestyle, it has become the canvas both professional designers and street artists want to leave their mark on. Just as Escolta was the playground of Art Deco and Makati of the Brutalism, BGC is undeniably shaping up to be the place future historians will scrutinize to understand and, hopefully, define the Filipino architecture of the 21st century.

The W Group already had an impressive portfolio of office towers within BGC—W Tower, W Highstreet, and W Fifth Avenue to name some— when they started talks with [CAZA Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/author/caza-architects/). Founded by Wee Lee Hiong, the company sought the services of the Brooklyn-based firm with offices in Manila and Bogota, to develop a premier BPO tower on the corner of 30th Street and 7th Avenue. Francis Wee, W Group’s head of real estate, turned to Carlos Arnaiz, CAZA’s principal, to actualize the company’s vision of an efficient building that will attract next-generation BPOs. The result is what we now know as the W City Center.

![W City Center - BGC](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-1.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-1 - BluPrint")Created by the collaboration of BGC real estate company and design firm CAZA, the W City Center is fronted by the park and running track on 30th Street, which means that this view will remain unobstructed and the building will retain its iconic prominence.TOAs we face a future where artificial intelligence takes care of most of our transactional tasks, service providers who are evolving with the Fourth Industrial Revolution are ever more reliant on creatives and analysts as their competitive edge. Although the price point is part of the criteria for selecting a space, these tenants look for value beyond the bottom line. “The future of working requires offices to be desirable and engaging spaces,” says Arnaiz.

The conceptualization of W City Center began with a review of the history of office buildings, which led Arnaiz and his team to further study the skyscrapers of the 1950s. Sleek glass boxes dominated Chicago and New York’s skylines because of their resonance with modern corporate values and culture. Thus, the beloved glass curtain wall, which we still see in BGC and Makati today, was a definitive starting point.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-2.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-2 - BluPrint")The rectilinear west and south facade of the W City Center stands on a swooping podium level. The podium contains parking floors which are fully naturally ventilated by the perforated aluminum walls, while heat gain is regulated courtesy of the same material.“Since we knew that this was going to be for a new breed of BPOs, which was then just arriving in the Philippines, we asked: how do we merge ‘corporate’ with the local identity of a place?” he shares. “That form you see now is a hybrid between the modern office tower and this tropical playful character of the Philippines, which is relaxed and less serious,” he continues. The development is made up of a total of 29 stories, and 55,000 square meters of premium office space.

![W City Center balcony](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-3.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-3 - BluPrint")The view from one of the balconies presents BGC as a booming commercial district as evidenced by the neighboring skyscrapers. The buildings form an interesting visual of intersecting lines softened by the curvature of the protrusion.The rectangular tower stands on a lot that measures 3700 square meters, with typical floor plates at 3090 square meters. The monotony of glass on the building’s skin is given a refreshing break courtesy of the mullions of perforated aluminum. These perforations attractively frame windows and views, but also serve to heighten the energy efficiency of the structure—they reduce heat gain inside the building. Its west facade, which one can see from the high street cinemas is rectilinear, an homage to the modern office tower. This is also the side where the drop-off point and lobby are located. Vehicular access is tucked ‘behind’ the building at Lane B, which frees up other sides of the building for more pedestrian activity.

On a portion of the basement and on the ground level beneath the staggering podium whose overhang forms an arcade is a series of shops. Employees from the building, those walking by, and even those alighting from their commutes in the bus stop nearby shuffle in and out of the cafes and restaurants, making the building pulsating with energy throughout the day.

![W City Center facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-4.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-4 - BluPrint")W City Center’s façade as seen from 31 Street is a toast to [Filipino modern architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-filipino-architecture-reshaping-tradition/).On the southeast side of the building is park that allows the structure to breathe Moreover, this pocket of open space makes it possible for people to marvel at the structure, and it also ensures that the line of sight from that angle will remain unobstructed. CAZA placed the W City Center’s most notable feature on the east facade—a ripple formed by a series of cascading balconies. The different floors, as they were designed, were impressed with gradual and concentric circles. On a finer level of detail, the ceramic frits that frame all the widows are red on this wave; they are beige on the rest of the building. The effect is an expressive and striking geometry atypical of an office building today. It is immediately recognizable from the east of High Street, through the gap between two towers as one approaches it from the north, and even from a plane descending to land in the Manila airport.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-5.jpg "BluPrint-Architecture-WCityCenter-5 - BluPrint")Looking down at the cascading balconies. From here, one will notice the red details on the window frames, which are ceramic frits that help reduce heat gain.W Group and CAZA set out to attract prominent and future-ready BPOs—and they achieved their goal. The W City Tower is now the home of the fun quirky spaces of global tech giant’s Manila office, the distinctly red branding of a Fortune 500 Healthcare solutions provider, and extensions of Globe Telecom. With such tenants, it is easy to conclude that this iconic building is built to become a game-changer.

**This article was first published in BluPrint Volume 4 2018. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Photographed by Frank Callaghan*

**READ MORE:** [The Bench HQ Tower is Featured in the Forthcoming Future Office Buildings Book by Booq Publishers!](https://bluprint-onemega.com/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is W City Center in BGC?

W City Center is a 29-story premium BPO office tower located at the corner of 30th Street and 7th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Manila. Designed by CAZA Architects for W Group, it offers 55,000 square meters of office space blending modernist and tropical Filipino design.

### Who designed W City Center in Bonifacio Global City?

W City Center was designed by CAZA Architects, a Brooklyn-based firm with offices in Manila and Bogota, founded by Carlos Arnaiz. The project was commissioned by W Group, a BGC-based real estate developer, to create a next-generation BPO tower.

### What makes W City Center’s architecture unique?

W City Center is distinguished by its east facade’s cascading balconies forming a ripple pattern, perforated aluminum mullions that reduce heat gain, and red ceramic frits on the wave-side windows. The design merges the sleek corporate glass tower tradition with the relaxed, tropical character of Filipino architecture.

### What tenants occupy W City Center BGC?

W City Center houses the Manila offices of a global tech giant, a Fortune 500 healthcare solutions provider, and extensions of Globe Telecom. The tower was purpose-built to attract prominent, future-ready BPO and technology companies seeking distinctive, high-quality office environments.

### How does W City Center contribute to BGC’s urban landscape?

W City Center enhances BGC’s streetscape through ground-level retail arcades, pedestrian-friendly open spaces, and a southeast pocket park that keeps sightlines open. Its iconic east facade is visible from High Street and even from aircraft approaching Manila, making it a defining landmark of the district.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Cafes, Commercial, Concept, Industrial, Interiors

**Tags:** Filipino Architecture, Office Building

---

### [The politics and problems of placemaking in the Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/placemaking-in-the-philippines/)

**Published:** March 14, 2018
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Excerpt:** Ever craving perfection in the public realm, the long-suffering Paulo Alcazaren calls all his projects “a limited success”

**Content:**

We’re seated outside Coffee Bean beside Ortigas Park, a patch of green sandwiched between two of Ortigas Center’s oldest towers. Noon and night, the scene is the same. Office workers walk hurriedly along the path edging the green that lets them cut through from Ruby Road to Emerald (now F. Ortigas, Jr. Road), then Garnet.

People walk the path to get to somewhere, and people sit because they can. It is the most pleasant place to do so in Ortigas CBD where you don’t have to buy something first or show the guards you have official business being there. The place was ‘made’ many years ago by [Paulo Alcazaren](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/first-eds-note-paulo-alcazaren/), who has been practicing placemaking in the Philippines and abroad for close to four decades. His landscape architecture and urban design firm, [PGAA Creative Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/good-design-award-philippines-2019/), is design consultant for the improvements of Pasig City CBD.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-ortigas-2.jpg "Placemaking-ortigas-2 - BluPrint")It was the dying wish of the Ortigas family matriarch that the 600-square-meter Ortigas Park remain a park in perpetuity for the people living and working in Ortigas Center to enjoy. Without this little stretch of park cutting through from Ruby Street to Emerald, the walk to the office for many people coming from the MRT on EDSA into the center of the CBD would be twice as long. Photographed by Ron Mendoza“The process of placemaking in the Philippines or Metro Manila context is problematic,” Alcazaren dives into the interview, answering one of several questions emailed to him days before. “I’ve been in a lot of workshops with local communities like the Urban Design Initiative in Makati, which aims to improve the capacity of local barangays to envision and build these places. Often, these workshops are inadequate in duration and context. The one in Makati (and I believe in QC) are good starts, but there’s little follow through, and barangay officials are limited by their three-year terms. They all look for low-hanging fruit projects, when the problems of sustainable urban placemaking are of a larger scale and longer term.

“Many of these longer termed, larger scaled solutions require drastic physical changes in urban fabric and the governance framework of the places that need ‘fixing.’ Many of these barangays are also informal settlements, which bring a whole new set of challenges, mainly the lack of actual space needed to create the public realm—parks, plazas, sidewalks. It is the public realm that is the essential glue for place making. It is the yang to architecture’s—the building’s—yin. There is no balance in urban compositions if you do not have both in pleasing and functional proportions.

“Of course, in private developments, you may have more opportunities for good placemaking, but these spaces are quasi-public; and placemaking in this context is an excuse to channel people to malls or F&B—not necessarily a bad idea, but often, if these ‘places’ are successful, then greed for more profit sees whatever there is of the public or quasi-public realm shrink to token patches of green or plazas no larger than a traffic island. Think Eastwood.”

We sip coffee and I ask Alcazaren to backtrack and define first what successful placemaking is.

**BluPrint: According to [Project for Public Spaces](https://www.pps.org/), an New York-based non-profit org that has worked with 2,000+ communities worldwide on revitalizing public spaces, “Great public spaces are those where celebrations are held, social and economic exchanges occur, friends run into each other, and cultures mix. They are the ‘front porches’ of our public institutions—libraries, field houses, schools. When theses spaces work well, they serve as the stage for our public lives.” Do you agree?**

Alcazaren: Public libraries—what that? Museums and libraries here are fronted by parking lots, or isolated in fenced-off compounds with little free access. Again, unless these spaces are quasi-public, there is little by way of space or upkeep to keep these spaces civilised or just clean. I’m currently running a project to document Manila’s old plazas and they are wonderful spaces, but ill-designed with layers of *borloloy* and bad urban design, and abandoned in terms of maintenance, ill-lit, and not safe.

There are good places and bad places. The bad places are the ones that don’t engender good social interaction. That don’t integrate the building and the spaces in the building with the outdoors and spaces outdoors. People want to be with other people. Nobody wants to be alone. Even those who want to be alone, want to be alone with other people around them. The concept of anonymity in a crowd is something that people in Paris look for—you feel part of the city, but enjoy the privacy of your own space. There are rules for people in public spaces. And there are different rules for different cultures, so you have to understand culture, behavioral psychology.

Place makers—urban designers and landscape architects—need to be adept at urban sociology. Essentially, you have to be good observers to design a place. But first, of course, you have to experience a good place. One of the advantages of travel is you get to experience different kinds of places.

## So a good place is? 

Where you can interact with people with a set of rules that you understand. It must be people-friendly. You don’t have extraneous elements like cars. And if you do, then the cars have to follow rules, which happens in Italian piazzas—the cars slow down for people instead of the other way around.

A good city is a story told. You’re being told the story as you experience it, as you walk it. It must be a walking experience. At the pace that you’re walking, you interact, you experience, and the experience is pleasurable. If you had to walk from one end of Emerald Street to another, and there were no cafés, no life, and everybody entered through the back of the buildings, you’d have a row of blank façades that are cold and alienating. Also not secure. Like the old Makati, which had nothing at the ground level—nobody walked there at night. The best places are those that have activity at the ground level.

Emerald followed the bad example of Ayala in being a much too long street with no mid crossings that allow pedestrians to cross through to the next street. Makati’s blocks are too long, with no mid-block crossings, because the planners thought everyone would come in cars and park in the back. If we didn’t have Ortigas Park, everyone would have to go to the very end of Emerald to get to the other streets parallel to it, because most buildings don’t allow people to cross through.

## How long should blocks be?

Like a New York City block—80 meters. And they put alleys and alternate streets so people have more options to get in and out across town. One block here is about 120, 130 meters long.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-EMERALD-AVE-SECTION-BEFORE.jpg "Placemaking-EMERALD-AVE-SECTION-BEFORE - BluPrint")Section drawing of F. Ortigas Road (formerly Emerald Street) as built. Alcazaren wanted to widen the 4.5 meter sidewalks to 6 meters, which would narrow the road on each side of the island down from 9 to 7.5 meters. The Ortigas Center Association, Inc. (OCAI) refused, although Alcazaren argued that the lane widths were well within international standards.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-EMERAL-AVE-SECTION-AFTER.jpg "Placemaking-EMERAL-AVE-SECTION-AFTER - BluPrint")Section drawing of F. Ortigas Road with proposed improvements. As a compromise, the OCAI agreed to the the removal of the 3-meter wide island, allowing the sidewalks to be widened.## **What was the impetus behind the work on Emerald?** 

Improving pedestrian mobility reduces the need to take shuttles and cars. A lot of people need to walk from the MRT \[ADB Station\] to the buildings here. Yet because of the bad connectivity, they still take the jeeps and FXs to go to Garnet. So the whole point of improving streetscape is to reduce the friction to walk. Ideally, you walk on wide, well-paved, well-lit sidewalks, which use shade tree planting. I got a lot of flack for not using shade trees, but we couldn’t plant anything bigger because of the utilities—fiber optics—underground. There are utilities running all over the place, and shade trees require much larger spaces for their root balls. For the most part of the day, the street has shade because of the two rows of buildings.

Now the sidewalks on Emerald were wider than most, but it can never be too wide, especially with buildings this high. We’re looking at sidewalks five plus meters wide, like Ayala, in order to meet the carrying capacities in proportion to building height. There’s a proportion, which we never follow. Look at the rest of Manila. There are no sidewalks, but your buildings are 30 stories, so the streets are shared by cars and people. Other basic requirements: good pavement, para hindi ka matapilok, and good lighting—although here they put sodium, which is good because it increases contrast, but it’s for highways.

## **Wasn’t the intent to make Emerald pedestrian-friendly, especially on weekends?**

Exactly. We could have doubled the sidewalks, and not lose carrying capacity for cars. I had a hard time convincing OCAI (Ortigas Center Association, Inc.) to widen the the sidewalks. The street lane widths are 4.5 meters. In Europe, for 100 kph traffic, the lanes are 9 feet—3 meters wide. So I said, let’s remove the island, we gain a meter, and that’s how we convinced them [to widen the sidewalks.](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/manila-inclusive-street-design/)

## **Why are there railings?**

Kasi meron sa Ayala. Kung anong meron sa Makati, everyone wants. But Ayala is a different situation from Ortigas. Ayala Avenue is a thoroughfare with heavy traffic, and for safety reasons, the railings can be justified. Studies have shown in areas of lighter traffic, railings have no use. If the railings were not here, then on the weekends, when Emerald is car-free, everything would be a public space.

### **They’re hateful.**

Yeah, it’s bad. It eats so much of the first foot of space. But the good thing is, eventually, it’s easy to cut off. Cut it off, put it on poles, you have a trellis! I’ve actually given that proposal!

Placemaking is political. For this project, we needed OCAI’s approval because this street is essentially private. They wanted that flying bird railing design because they paid for that logo ten years ago. Ayala, they gave the street to government, so it’s a national road—that’s why the paving is bad. But the sidewalks are under Makati Commercial Estate Association, and MACEA has a fund to which members all contribute.

Fixing Ayala’s sidewalks cost 250 million. We removed the acacias, replaced them with ditang, moved the planters to the edge, and then spent 100 million re-configuring utilities underneath. Making places is not cheap. It’s also technically difficult. People think all you do is widen the sidewalk and plant some nice plants. It takes as much effort in design and engineering as building buildings. Construction is another issue.

The biggest problem with placemaking in the Philippines is a lot of infrastructure that involves streets are designed by engineers and built by contractors who have no experience in making places. It’s like giving a writer an outline, and then being floored by the result because *jejemon* comes out—like those railings, which weren’t part of our design. They have experience only in making streets—*crudo* yan. For them, detailing is not important, because you don’t step down from your car. But in a sidewalk like this, even one fourth of an inch matters.

Take the ramps for PWD. Initially, they just chopped them out of the sidewalk. No can do! The ramps must slope down from the sides and transition gradually. What we have now are world-standard PWD ramps.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-EMERAL-AVE-SECTION-AFTER2-hi-res.jpg "Placemaking-EMERAL-AVE-SECTION-AFTER2-hi-res - BluPrint")The bollards in the middle of the road are retractable, allowing the community to hold street festivals and parades, and thus creating for Ortigas CBD its missing central avenue (think Las Ramblas in Barcelona). The street would be able to accommodate 18,000 people, says Alcazaren.## **Have you removed all those ugly mismatching light posts on Roxas Boulevard?**

Yes, they’re going to be donated to the inner districts.

## **Donated! Must we inflict them on others?**

The big problem in all of these things is lack of stakeholder engagement. In contrast, the good thing about the Esplanade in Iloilo is that Senator Franklin Drilon made sure there was stakeholder engagement.

## **How did Drilon secure that for the Esplanade?** 

He asked us to make three schemes. We met with all the stakeholders in Iloilo two or three times a year, we ask them what they needed, what they preferred. For the contractors, we gave them a one-day workshop. We showed them examples of nice places—although the people they sent weren’t involved in the project, they just came for the free lunch. But it’s a success because everybody loves it—a limited success. What you see is around 50% only of our design input.

The contractor got the free-flowing curves, but they thought it was a road and put curbs. A walkway does not have curbs! Curbs contain the water and direct it into drains. The ideal pedestrian walkway with planters on the sides is you drain the water to the planters so that the plants get the water! It’s so basic that we just hit ourselves on the head. So my next cycle of talks when I go back there is “Lessons learned.”

## **Why do they have to “get it?” Why can’t they just follow plans?** 

That’s what Senator Drilon says. It goes down to people not understanding what placemaking is. The purpose of placemaking is to create places enjoyed by people. We’re not building a road, we’re building an esplanade, where people are supposed to walk for pleasure. Then there’s the usual problem of government bureaucracy and making do. When we first checked the planting, it was all really ridiculous stuff. Instead of 6-meter trees, they were barely one meter. Everything was rejected. We asked the subcontractor, and he said he was given only 300,000 pesos for a first installment out of a multi-million peso order. Of course he could not find anything to fit the bill.

I got a lot of flack for not planting endemic species. I said, show me where I can get endemics of the size that we specified, and we’ll put them in. All the suppliers and contractors say they can’t find them because nobody grows them. And if we do find them, the people’s expectations have to be managed. They will take 15 years to grow. So the compromise is, as with park and building design, you have an initial planting that is with fast growing trees, and then you plant the longer-term endemic trees in between.

People also don’t realize that you have to compromise between the needs of the trees and the needs of the people using the space. Like, they’ll say, “O, bakit ang tigas tigas na naman? Bakit ang lapad lapad ng Esplanade?” Because at peak loads, you have thousands of people running up and down that thing.

That’s also the criticism I get when I design plazas. *Ang tigas tigas!* But if you go to Paris, everything’s paved. It’s just the trees that come out of the pavement because the plaza has to accommodate events, and when you design a plaza, it must be able to contain a target number of people. Ideally, a good city plaza must be able to contain two or three thousand people. Slightly larger plazas, between five and six thousand. And then after that, ten. This has to be connected with a network of spaces that contribute to a program of use of public space.

Now, you can build plazas and public spaces, but if you don’t have people to manage them, then they will not be pleasurable. The software is the ability to manage the spaces and the hardware. There must be an authority. And you will also find that you will have to educate the people that use the spaces. When we design outside spaces, I tell the developer, “I want to talk to the eventologist.” There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the way events are held in different places. And yet the developers don’t see the need to get all of this feedback to the designers.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-Iloilo-Esplanadeground6.jpg "Placemaking-Iloilo-Esplanadeground6 - BluPrint")The Iloilo River Esplanade stretches 1.2 kilometers long. Because of its success, PGAA was asked to design two extensions. Phase 2, an additional 2.6 kilometers, was completed. Phase 3, which will include a river promenade and park for skateboarders, is under construction.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-Iloilo-Esplanadeground3.jpg "Placemaking-Iloilo-Esplanadeground3 - BluPrint")The Esplanade is the longest linear park in the country, and is becoming a sanctuary for birds and fish in the area.**Would you consider the Esplanade your biggest success?**

Like I said, limited success.

## **What would make it a bigger success?**

If the owners of the land, those who develop along the Esplanade, would open out to the public spaces. It has to be a string of pearls. We have the string, but where are the pearls? They are the public spaces around which you cluster your buildings, where you entice people to go into your development.

I’m trying to convince the local government and developers to spend money to create an interface. What’s there now is a ditch. I said, let’s put steps, let’s make a nice interface, so people can get to the Esplanade through the restaurants. But no, they won’t have it, they treat everything as private. They don’t see the opportunities for integrating spaces. Space as a concept and its translation physically, in urban design and landscape architecture, is totally beyond people’s imaginations and understanding. Thankfully, there is one small row of restaurants that used to face Smallville \[a subdivision\] that now opens to the Esplanade.

The biggest story with the Esplanade is before we started, the cost of property was P2,000 to P3,000 per square meter. Now it’s P20,000 per square meter. That’s the classic result of good placemaking.

## **Were there informal settlers in the area before?**

Yes, they were relocated.

### **So there was gentrification, in effect.**

Except that Drilon was able to relocate them fairly near, and with good packages, so no one complained. And a lot of the informals were actually not poor people. The easement had been usurped by beer gardens owned by some of the *konsehal.* It was not as big a problem as Manila. That’s why Iloilo is a success, a lot of their urban problems are fairly small compared to Manila. [The success of Philippine cities will come mostly from secondary cities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/revitalizing-downtown-iloilo/) like Naga, Iloilo, and hopefully, Bacolod because the scale of their problems is not insurmountable, and politically, everyone is aligned, unlike in Metro Manila.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-Iloilo-IRH-BBQ-SDP-w-KEYPLAN.jpg "Placemaking-Iloilo-IRH-BBQ-SDP-w-KEYPLAN - BluPrint")Near Iloilo Bridge, Esplanade’s Phase 1 starts with a parking area and drop off. If one were to walk the length of the Esplanade and back, that would make 2.4 kilometers.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Placemaking-Iloilo-HIRES-IRH-PLAZA-SDP-w-KEYPLAN.jpg "Placemaking-Iloilo-HIRES-IRH-PLAZA-SDP-w-KEYPLAN - BluPrint")At the other end of the promenade, near Carpenter’s Bridge, is a paved plaza with a gazebo. A seatwall under a string of palms separates the hardscape from the softscape, and provides seating for park goers.## **Why aren’t planners, architects and landscape architects more aware of the need for placemaking?** 

People concerned with design seem to care only that the design looks good, and not how it will be enjoyed by people.

The education is incomplete. The focus of Landscape Architecture has gravitated to planting design, and no longer spatial design or urban design. We don’t specify plants, we design spaces outside the building. Architects care even less about spaces outside the building. They are trained to design the structures to contain spaces inside, and most of the structures themselves are designed as iconic, one-off pieces.

Why do I bring that up? Buidings are like nice words, but they do not a sentence make. They do not a paragraph or story build. For us to create sentences and paragraphs and stories, the buildings must talk to each other. They must respect each other, which doesn’t preclude that you give each one a distinctive design or specificity. But it’s following a certain set of urban design rules.

For example, your ground floor height must reach a certain level, which is higher than the second level. You have transitions every five or ten stories, in terms of cornice lines, which you can see in Paris. Your fenestration can be different, but your cornice lines will meet at certain points.

In Singapore, they have what they call envelope control. In the US, the urbanists call it form-based urban design. *Yung higis ng gusali* follows a certain envelope. You wouldn’t have a Frank Gehry in a situation like that because all he’s after is ridiculous shapes, which really are grating to the senses, and complete failures in terms of placemaking.

## **How so?**

The Disney buiding. Wonderful piece of sculpture. Great for a coffeetable. But it did nothing to boost the city life nor the economy of the district. Why? Because after performances, the people would go down to the basement parking and drive back home. No diners would cross the empty plaza to get to whatever establishments were across the way. It was completely placemaking unfriendly. Compare that to Freedom Square in Melbourne, which allows for activity at the ground level. I hate the architecture, but it’s a lively place because it’s connected to life at the ground level.

That’s what a lot of architects who’re tasked to design building complexes fail to do—to understand the importance of life at the ground level. A lot of them here follow the mistake of the mid-century towers of New York that offset from the road and put large plazas devoid of landscape or furniture. The developers were encouraged to do that because they got incentives to create plazas for light and air. But the owners didn’t want people to linger, so they told the architects, “Don’t put furniture.” A piece of sculpture, yes. So you have a generation of buildings designed with a tower and a windswept plaza, which is being followed here. The Zuellig is a classic example of a technically excellent tower but its plaza is useless to anyone because the security guards won’t allow people to linger.

## **A good looking place is dead without people.**

Exactly. Let me paraphrase Jan Gehl: “An endless number of green buildings does not a sustainable city make.” If you want to read up on placemaking, read Jan Gehl, Jane Jacobs, James Howard Kunsler or Christopher Alexander. They all believe that places must be designed for people, and that without people, there can be no sense of place. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 5 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is placemaking and why does it matter in Philippine cities?

Placemaking is the process of designing public spaces — parks, plazas, sidewalks, and streetscapes — that foster social interaction, pedestrian activity, and community life. In the Philippine context, it matters because most cities lack adequate public open space, forcing residents into car-dependent environments. Without well-designed public realms, urban life becomes fragmented, unsafe, and socially isolating.

### What are the biggest challenges to successful placemaking in the Philippines?

According to urban designer Paulo Alcazaren, the key challenges include short barangay terms that prevent long-term planning, informal settlements that leave no room for public space, and the privatization of quasi-public areas that shrinks usable green space over time. Infrastructure projects are also frequently designed by engineers with no placemaking experience, resulting in poorly detailed streetscapes that prioritize vehicles over people.

### What makes the Iloilo River Esplanade a model for Philippine urban design?

The Iloilo River Esplanade, designed by PGAA Creative Design, is the longest linear park in the Philippines and transformed property values in the area from roughly ₱2,000–₱3,000 per square meter to ₱20,000 per square meter. Its success stemmed from sustained stakeholder engagement, political alignment under Senator Franklin Drilon, and a design that prioritized pedestrian pleasure over vehicle movement — though contractor misinterpretations limited its full potential.

### What does a good public space look like according to urban design principles?

A good public space is people-friendly, walkable, and active at the ground level. It must accommodate social interaction under rules that feel natural to the local culture, offer shade, seating, and lighting, and be connected to a network of adjacent spaces. Urban designer Paulo Alcazaren, citing Jan Gehl and Jane Jacobs, emphasizes that without people actively using a space, no sense of place can exist — regardless of how well-designed the architecture around it may be.

### Why are Philippine city blocks considered too long for pedestrian-friendly urban design?

Philippine city blocks typically run 120 to 130 meters — significantly longer than the internationally recommended 80-meter standard used in New York City. Without mid-block crossings or through-access between buildings, pedestrians are forced to walk long detours to reach adjacent streets. This discourages walking, increases reliance on jeepneys and FX vehicles, and undermines efforts to create connected, people-centered urban environments.5

**Categories:** Architecture, Cafes, Commercial, Interiors

**Tags:** Iloilo, Iloilo Esplanade, Landscape Architecture, Ortigas, Ortigas CBD, Paulo Alcazaren, PGAA Creative Design, Placemaking, Urban Design

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### [Localizing green buildings: Will BERDE take the LEED?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/berde-take-leed/)

**Published:** August 6, 2018
**Author:** GABY ALEGRE

**Excerpt:** On developing our own green building rating system

**Content:**

Living in the Philippines, we have no choice but to adapt to the unrelenting onslaught of typhoons and monsoon rains—*Milenyo* and *Ondoy* have proven that. Yet it seems that most of us are intent on building concrete boxes around ourselves to keep nature out—not working with it but against it.

Thankfully, we’ve caught on to the green building movement, with various green organizations in the building industry laying the foundations brick by brick. The Green Architecture Movement (GAM) of the United Architects of the Philippines, and Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP) are two of the non-profit organizations that have been pushing for sustainability locally. These, along with the recognition of our own green building council— PhilGBC or the Philippine Green Building Council—as part of a global network of green building councils, are positive signs of sustainable design and building initiatives in the country.

Green building rating tools, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in the US, have been established by GBCs all over the world to advocate for sustainability in the built environment. The popularity of LEED has created quite a market for green building practices, with the prestige of being LEED-certified reaching even our side of the world. The Philippines had 19 LEED registered projects, as of 2011, with the Zuellig building in Makati gunning for Gold Level certification (the other levels are: Certification, Silver and Platinum).

**READ MORE: [LEED the game: A look into the green building rating system](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/leed-game-green-building-rating/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/BERDE-nuvali-1.jpg "BERDE-nuvali-1 - BluPrint")OneEvotech in Nuvali, although LEED Silver Certified, underwent the whole BERDE assessment for Existing BuildingsThe question is, why develop our own rating tools when we can adapt an established system like LEED? Or if tropical conditions are of concern, why not rating systems for the tropics like Singapore’s BCA Green Mark or Hong Kong’s BEAM? But not only do distinct environmental concerns enter the picture, economic and social concerns also prompt the need for a rating system designed especially for our context. Enter [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/), or Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence.

[BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) is a green rating tool established by a consensus of professionals from the building industry, spearheaded by the PhilGBC. There are currently two [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) technical manuals—[BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) for New Construction and [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) for Existing Buildings, which detail the standards that each building
project will be measured against. Christopher dela Cruz, chairman of PhilGBC says, “What the scheme measures is above and beyond existing building standards and codes.”

PhilGBC has brought in TÜV Rheinland, a third-party professional certification body, to ensure the credibility and impartiality of the [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) professionals who will implement the system. TÜV Rheinland’s presence reduces the possibility of bias or conflict of interest that could be introduced if the PhilGBC, whose members are also in the building industry, applied the rating system themselves.

Training for [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) professional assessors held by the PhilGBC and TÜV Rheinland began in 2011. They are open to anyone who holds a four or five-year degree related to construction, project, or environmental management and has five years of work experience in the industry. Then they would need to enroll in the five-day training course and pass the examination and undergo assessor training to become a [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) professional.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/BERDE-EB-Pilot-Ayala-Tower-One.jpg "BERDE-EB-Pilot-Ayala-Tower-One - BluPrint")The BERDE pilot projects for Existing Buildings include the Ayala Tower One. Image courtesy of PhilGBC“There is a lot of ‘greenwashing’ nowadays, but with [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) it is very clear,” says TÜV Rheinland’s Chief Operating Officer, Tristan Loveres. “In order to qualify for [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certification, a structure must first meet the local and national government building and environmental requirements,” adds Loveres. Then, the two [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) technical manuals list comprehensive standards— management, land use and ecology, water, energy, transportation, indoor environment quality, materials, emissions, waste management, heritage conservation and innovation—that building projects need to meet to attain [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certification.

Key features of the [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) system are its on-site walkthrough evaluations, annual surveillance, and a five-year shelf life. Building projects would need to reapply for certification every five years—to avoid underperforming [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/)-certified buildings. [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) is concerned with the evaluation of the entire building process, from design conception to construction, operation and upkeep.

The difficulty, as with most sustainability initiatives, presents itself in the either-or question of short-term practicality versus sustainability: Do we prioritize environmentally responsible building practices that do not seem workable in our debt-ridden economy and the state of poverty of the country? The process of vying for [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certification is in itself quite costly, with the manpower and expense of evaluations and reevaluations that property developers will shoulder (and pass on to their buyers). This, along with high start-up costs and the need for creative solutions, investing in green building technology— solar panels, green roofing and graywater systems—may seem daunting at first. That, however, would be offset by lower energy expenditure and water efficiency—cost savings in the long run. And, it remains a concrete way that we can begin to take significant steps towards sustainability—steps that climate change experts say the world cannot take soon enough.

The [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) pilot project for New Construction is the Net Metropolis, 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City by the Net Group, of which Net Lima is the first building. The Net Group brought in Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture + Design, a firm known for their green design philosophy. The Net Metropolis is a three-tower compound, and Net Lima, the first constructed building, will utilize green “firsts” in the Philippines. Oppenheim introduces a high performance glass curtain wall to counter heat gain and make use of natural light; cold air recycling; harvesting of water from the air conditioning units (for landscaping and cleaning); along with other innovative green features.

**READ MORE: [The Net Metropolis in BGC champions BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/grading-green-berde/)**

![The gills on the south and west-facing walls of Net Lima let slivers on sunlight inside while still shielding the interiors from view.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9V5A8278-Net-Lima-featured-Marc-Go.jpg "9V5A8278 Net Lima featured Marc Go - BluPrint")The gills on the south and west-facing walls of Net Lima let slivers on sunlight inside while still shielding the interiors from view. Photo by Marc GoAyala Land has enrolled eight of their properties—Nuvali EvoLiving in Laguna, Greenbelt, UP Ayala Techno Hub, Ayala Tower One in Makati, among others—as pilot projects for [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) for Existing Buildings. The De La Salle University’s Henry Sy, Sr. Centennial Hall will also be the pilot project for [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) for Universities, and PhilGBC is eyeing future prospects— [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) for communities, hospitals and commercial establishments.

The [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) rating system is voluntary, and the PhilGBC wants it to remain so. Associate Director for Residential Properties Erickberth N. Calupe is working closely with TÜV Rheinland and PhilGBC. “The fear is whether it will fly or not. Right now, we’re tapping various industry players, and with the involvement of Ayala and Net Group,” he says, it seems [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) will continue to garner positive response. As for government participation, they are still hoping for tax incentives for green buildings, and invite local governments adopting the rating tool, to follow the lead of the Quezon City local government’s green building ordinance.

The [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) Technical Working Group is very clear in pinpointing priority areas. LEED grants certifications based on pre-determined standards—site sustainability, water efficiency, interplay between energy and the atmosphere, utilization of materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design and regional priority. This is where the importance of context comes in. In the Philippines, priority is placed on land use, access to water and to mass transportation.

Says Loveres: “If it’s a green building but is inaccessible, or if you’re tearing down a 400-year old church just to come up with a green building—what about heritage conservation?” Distinct environmental and socio-economic conditions play significant roles in a rating system, as evident in [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/)’s weighing tool. The Philippines is characterized by extremes—hot and wet weather conditions; the widening gap between few car-owners and countless commuters, and expansive, exclusive subdivisions versus cramped communities of informal settlers. These are just a number of considerations in developing a rating system for us that define priority areas relevant to our specific context.

**READ MORE: [What St. Mark’s Basilica taught me about sustainability](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/sustainablility-st-marks-basilica/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/BERDE-nuvali-2.jpg "BERDE-nuvali-2 - BluPrint")Nuvali EvoLiving Center in LagunaWill efficient land use, stormwater management, and access to mass transit prove to be weightier than LEED priorities of indoor air quality in our country? We wonder how [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certified buildings will perform compared to LEED certified buildings. Is there a chance of a LEED certified building failing to acquire [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certification because of our differing priorities? We can only wait and see. In the meantime, both PhilGBC and TÜV Rheinland seem keen on the fact that the system is open for consultation and criticism, and rightly so. And as [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) is still in its early stages, we hope that building projects follow through on what earned them their [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) certifications.

Ultimately, having a green building rating system leaves less room for mediocrity. In pushing for green design and building practices, the mission is to fulfill most, if not all categories not just for the prestige that comes with a higher star rating, but for a greener, more sustainable future. Faced with the urgent need for sustainability initiatives to respond to the reality of global climate change, the [BERDE](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-11-core-frameworks-of-a-berde-certification/) rating tool, a tool that tries to address specific Philippine conditions, could be the start of mainstreaming of greener practices in the built environment in our country. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Special Issue 2 2011. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

*Photographed by Paulo Alcazaren*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is BERDE in green building? 

BERDE, which stands for Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence, is the Philippines’ national green building rating system. Established by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC), it measures buildings against standards covering energy, water, materials, land use, emissions, waste, and heritage conservation specific to Philippine conditions.

### How is BERDE different from LEED? 

BERDE differs from LEED by prioritizing concerns unique to the Philippines, such as land use, access to mass transportation, and heritage conservation. While LEED is a globally standardized system from the US, BERDE accounts for tropical climate conditions and socio-economic realities specific to the Philippine context.

### Who developed the BERDE rating system? 

The BERDE rating system was developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) through consensus among professionals in the local building industry. Third-party certification body TÜV Rheinland was brought in to ensure credibility and impartiality, training assessors and validating the rating process to prevent bias.

### What are the BERDE pilot projects in the Philippines? 

BERDE pilot projects include Net Lima in Bonifacio Global City for New Construction, and Ayala Land properties such as Ayala Tower One, Greenbelt, UP Ayala Techno Hub, and Nuvali EvoLiving for Existing Buildings. De La Salle University’s Henry Sy Centennial Hall pilots BERDE for Universities.

### How do you become a BERDE-certified assessor? 

To become a BERDE professional assessor, candidates need a four or five-year degree in construction, project, or environmental management, plus five years of industry experience. They must then complete a five-day training course conducted by PhilGBC and TÜV Rheinland and pass an examination and assessor training.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Heritage

**Tags:** BERDE, Green Architecture, Green building, Rating system, Sustainability, Sustainable Architecture

---

### [These are 7 historic commercial landmarks you should know about](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/ph-historic-commercial-landmarks/)

**Published:** December 10, 2018
**Author:** Ar. Adrian Tumang

**Content:**

Landmarks structure environments, therefore, forming cognitive anchors, markers, and reference points for orientation—ultimately helping people orient themselves in a physical space. Landmarks are seen in sketches, in descriptions of meeting points, in brochures, or simply, in the images the mind expresses as memory. The significance and spatial cognition of these are well captured by commercial buildings that make up a large portion of human-made surroundings. Serving as a platform for most of the country’s major industries, centers of commerce provide the general public with areas they can work, shop, and socialize in. They are not just landmarks, but also geographic objects that construct human mental representations of space. These seven commercial landmarks were once epicenters of movements, and all were recognized and understood for what they are.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-1.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-1 - BluPrint")Crystal Arcade by Andrés Luna de San Pedro

## 1. Crystal Arcade

Inspired by Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace in London, the Crystal Arcade was a celebrated building in Jazz Age Manila and the predecessor of the modern mall. Known for its grand lobby with a double-curved staircase and skylight, it was built in 1932 in the Streamline Moderne style, a later variation of Art Deco, by Andrés Luna de San Pedro, a Paris-educated Filipino architect who frequently designed for high society.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-7.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-7 - BluPrint")Mariano Uy-Chaco Building by Samuel E. Rowell## 2. Mariano Uy-Chaco Building

The six-storey Mariano Uy-Chaco Building in Binondo was completed in 1914, and served as headquarters for the hardware company Uy-Chaco and Sons, which imported and distributed US products. An Art Nouveau building, it has an ornamental clock tower crowned by a bell-shaped cupola. It was designed by Samuel E. Rowell, an American architect who practiced in pre-war Manila, a time when multi-level commercial buildings were gaining popularity. Today, it houses the Philtrust Bank.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-5.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-5 - BluPrint")Tutuban Center Mall by Juan José Hervas## 3. Tutuban Center Mall

Designed by Spanish architect Juan José Hervas in the *bahay na bato* style in 1887, Tondo’s [Tutuban Station](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/tutuban-station-retrofit-ayala/) was the main terminal for northbound trains of the 192-kilometer Manila-Dagupan *ferrocarril* or railway line. The station was later converted into Tutuban Center Mall for retailers and wholesalers in Divisoria. Ayala Land acquired it in 2015 with plans of turning it into one of its signature lifestyle malls.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-2.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-2 - BluPrint")El 82 Bazaar by Arcadio Arellano## 4. El 82 Bazaar

Built in 1911, El 82 Bazaar in Binondo was owned by Chinese merchant and community leader Don Ramon Ongpin, who transferred his business from Calle Colon to this Classical Revivalist building at Plaza de Calderon de la Barca. Its *maestro de obras* Arcadio Arellano, served as the first Filipino architectural advisor for the American colonial government before venturing into private practice with his more prolific architect brother.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-6.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-6 - BluPrint")Paco Municipal Market by William Edward Parsons## 5. Paco Municipal Market

Also built in 1911 by William Edward Parsons, an American architect appointed by [Daniel Burnham](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/who-was-daniel-burnham-recalling-his-works-in-the-country/), the Paco Municipal Market along the banks of Estero de Paco was the prescribed market model replacing unsanitary bamboo and thatch marketplaces with dirt floors. The Mission Revivalist building was open on all sides for natural light and ventilation, and its concrete floors could be hosed down.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-8.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-8 - BluPrint")Virra Mall by José Maria V. Zaragoza## 6. Virra Mall

The Space Age inspired by some of the best post-war buildings in the Philippines, and among them was Virra Mall in Greenhills. Built in 1975, its defining feature was its futuristic glass-tube enclosed escalators. José Maria V. Zaragoza, the modernist Filipino architect who designed this mall is best remembered for his outstanding mid-century Catholic churches, such as the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. He was proclaimed National Artist for Architecture in 2014, an honor conferred posthumously in April 2016.

![commercial landmarks](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bluprint-commercial-landmarks-4.jpg "bluprint-commercial-landmarks-4 - BluPrint")Heacock Building by Tomas Fernandez Arguelles## 7. Heacock Building

The Heacock Building, completed in 1931, was home to the popular Heacock’s Department Store. One of the largest and most modern stores in the country during the American period, it was equipped with a photoelectric door and pneumatic tubes. It was designed by Tomas Fernandez Arguelles, a well-known public works administrator and Manila councilor who lobbied for the Building Code of Manila. The *maestro de obras* earned his architecture license under the Engineer and Architects Law of 1921, and later established a partnership with Fernando Ocampo. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 3 2016. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

**READ MORE: [Evening Narratives: Escolta and its modern communities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/escolta-street-and-modern-communities/)**

*Article Credits:*

*Written by Adrian Tumang*

*Introduction and edits by Arielle Abrigo*

*Illustrations by Cesar G. Ramirez Jr.*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the most historic commercial buildings in the Philippines?

Among the most historically significant commercial landmarks in the Philippines are the Crystal Arcade, Mariano Uy-Chaco Building, Tutuban Station, El 82 Bazaar, Paco Municipal Market, Virra Mall, and the Heacock Building. Built between 1887 and 1975, these structures reflect the country’s architectural evolution from Spanish colonial and American colonial periods through mid-century modernism.

### What is the Crystal Arcade and why is it historically significant?

The Crystal Arcade was a celebrated commercial building in Jazz Age Manila, built in 1932 by Paris-educated Filipino architect Andrés Luna de San Pedro. Inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, it featured a grand lobby with a double-curved staircase and skylight, and is considered the predecessor of the modern Philippine mall. It was built in the Streamline Moderne style, a later variation of Art Deco.

### Who designed Tutuban Station and what has it become today?

Tutuban Station was designed by Spanish architect Juan José Hervas in 1887 in the bahay na bato style. Originally the main terminal for the Manila-Dagupan railway line, it was later converted into Tutuban Center Mall, serving retailers and wholesalers in the Divisoria area. Ayala Land acquired the property in 2015 with plans to redevelop it into a signature lifestyle mall.

### What made the Heacock Building notable during the American colonial period?

The Heacock Building, completed in 1931 and designed by Tomas Fernandez Arguelles, was home to Heacock’s Department Store — one of the largest and most modern retail establishments in the Philippines during the American period. It was notably equipped with a photoelectric door and pneumatic tube system, technological innovations that were rare in the country at the time.

### Who was José Maria V. Zaragoza and what is his connection to Virra Mall?

José Maria V. Zaragoza was a modernist Filipino architect best known for his outstanding mid-century Catholic churches, including Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. He designed Virra Mall in Greenhills, completed in 1975, which became iconic for its Space Age aesthetic and futuristic glass-tube enclosed escalators. Zaragoza was posthumously proclaimed National Artist for Architecture in 2014, with the honor formally conferred in April 2016.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architects, Architecture, Commerce, Commercial Landmarks, Crystal Arcade, El 82 Bazaar, Heacock Building, Mariano Uy-Chaco Building, Paco Municipal Market, Tutuban Center Mall, Virra Mall

---

### [Get to know the Architects, Designers, and Artists of the #NewPH](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/architects-designers-newph/)

**Published:** July 1, 2021
**Author:** Germaine Dilay

**Content:**

**The [month of independence](https://malacanang.gov.ph/category/independence-day/) celebration may be coming to an end, but the journey to the #NewPH continues. In this journey, every Filipino has a role to play.**

\#NewPH Architects, Designers, and Artists take the lead in advocating for more sustainable, quality and environmentally friendly structures in the country. Get to know the notable personalities and their background, to better appreciate the true essence of Filipino Designs – designing for the needs of Filipinos and continuously elevating the existing national design standards.

## \#NewPH Ar. Ed Calma

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ed.jpg "ed - BluPrint")Architect [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lee-residence-elevated-perspectives-by-ed-calma/) has been one of the most sought-after architects in the Philippines. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute and Columbia University School of Architecture in New York. Though following the footsteps of his father in the field of architecture, he has successfully established his own mark in the industry with Eduardo Calma Architecture & Interior Design. As one of the Country’s pioneers of modern architecture, Architect Calma has truly set the precedence in innovating open floor plan concepts, setting him apart from many designers today.

Profile reference: www.designsligna.com

## \#NewPH Ar. Jason Buensalido

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/buensalido.jpg "buensalido - BluPrint")Growing up, [Ar. Jason Buensalido](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jason-buensalido/ "Ar. Jason Buensalido") had a wide range of interest in art like painting, drawing, fashion, and comics. From industrial drafting, he found his passion for drawing that eventually lead him to take up architecture in UST, and afterwhich – a course in Urban Geographies under the Architectural Association Global School in Singapore. In 2006, Buensalido + Architects was established – with a design style that embodied the concept of modernizing filipino Architecture.

## \#NewPH Ar. Gelo Manosa

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gelo.jpg "gelo - BluPrint")Ar. [Gelo Manosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/succeeding-success-bobby-gelo-manosa/) started his career early at Francisco [Manosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/architects-designers-newph/) and Partners. From Junior Architect, he then became a Senior Associate and MIS Head. While his father, Francisco Manosa is well known for Philippine Aesthetic and Traditions, Ar. [Gelo Manosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/how-to-achieve-a-goal-challenging-architecture-then-and-now-with-arch-gelo-manosa/) has continued the legacy of his father by further advocating for green buildings in the Philippines. He is a strong supporter of incorporating sustainability in design. Now, Manosa leads Manosa & Co as CEO, travelling the world to look into sustainable structures and related best practices.

Profile reference:Anna M. Rosete of ANC

## \#NewPH Ar. Paul Pena

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/paul.jpg "paul - BluPrint")Though Ar. Paul Pena’s impressive working relationship with his father is known to many, his career did not start under the firm established by his father Mike Pena. Ar. Paul Pena started his career working for a multinational company – and eventually moved to work for his father when he passed the National Board Exam for Architecture. Today, Pena aims to expand the family business, Fitnesscape Creative Studio and focus on mid-to-high residential structures while promoting Filipinism through Modern Philippine Designs.

## \#NewPH Ar. Anthony Nazareno

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/anthony.jpg "anthony - BluPrint")Another Master of modernized filipino Architecture, Ar Nazareno was a graduate of the California College of the Arts. He started his design career in San Francisco with celebrated modernist architect Jim Jennings. He later joined Li-Saltzman, a leading New York architecture firm specializing in the preservation and conservation of landmark architecture. Today he and his team at NGDC continue to work on projects globally using unique and efficient solutions in Architecture and Interior Design.

Profile reference: www.ngdc.design

## \#NewPH Ar. Denise De Castro

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/denise.jpg "denise - BluPrint")Ar. Denise De Castro took her interdepartmental liberal arts courses at Wellesley College, and eventually got technical courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She moved forward by taking up her masters at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Now, Castro runs her firm, [DEQA Design Collaborative](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/women-run-design-denise-de-castro/), becoming one of the admirable women of Architecture.

“In our age of gender fluidity and neutrality, we have to move past the dualities of male and female and acknowledge a larger spectrum. We need to engage all of humanity, in all its forms and permutations, for the equal treatment of all as a global society in the 21st century.” – Ar. Denise De Castro

## \#NewPH IDr. Ivy and Cynthia Almario

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/almarios.jpg "almarios - BluPrint")[IDr. Ivy and Cynthia Almario](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/moda-internis-presents-the-masters-touch-design-detail/ "IDr. Ivy and Cynthia Almario") paved their mark to be country’s dynamic duo in the interior design industry. After an extensive 15 years of experience in Los Angeles, Atelier Almario was established to cater to the Philippine Market. The tandem of Ivy and Cynthia has gained several commendations from clients and the designers’ community for their exquisite taste and flawless execution of elegance timelessly among their projects.

## \#NewPH IDr. Cyndi Beltran

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cyndi.jpg "cyndi - BluPrint")IDr. Cyndi Beltran is a Parsons School of Design Graduate for continuing education in Design & Management. Prior to this, Beltran accomplished her degree in Interior Design in University of Santo Tomas, Manila. She is known in the industry as a visionare, the woman behind the brand Moss Manila Interior+ Events design House which created magnificent fashion events with clients such as Hermes, Bvlgari and Cartier. Beltran is yet again another outstanding Filipina Professional that shows her creativity through her new platform with “Mr. and Mrs. B” shown in you Youtube showcasing her work as a designer.

Profile reference: www.mossmanila.com

## \#NewPH Jinggoy Buensuceso

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/jinggoy.jpg "jinggoy - BluPrint")Jinggoy Buensuceso is one of the most inspiring artist stories ever featured here. Coming from a history of making knuckledusters for a gang in the province to being a successful visual artist and well-known sculpture in the Philippines. His artwork tells memorable stories of oneself, culture, and lifestyle. His style is manifested through clean lines and organic forms. His expertise includes working with metal, wood, and cement.

Profile reference: https://jinggoybuensuceso.com/

## \#NewPH Ar. Manolet Garcia

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/manolet.jpg "manolet - BluPrint")Ar. Manolet Garcia is a regular host for BluPrint Conversations segment. In 1995, Garcia established his firm Manolet Garcia Architects which worked on residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Garcia was also a member of the academe, three years prior to the establishment of his firm. He was a lecturer in the Philippine School of Interior Design, and DLS-CSB. In 2016, he continued to showcase Filipino Excellence through his satellite offices in Singapore, Penang, and Malaysia.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the #NewPH movement in Philippine design? 

The #NewPH movement is a Filipino design advocacy that brings together architects, interior designers, and artists working toward more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and culturally rooted structures in the Philippines. Its members elevate national design standards while addressing the real needs of Filipinos through their work.

### Who is Ed Calma in Philippine architecture? 

Ed Calma is one of the Philippines’ most sought-after architects and a pioneer of modern Philippine architecture. A graduate of Pratt Institute and Columbia University, he leads Eduardo Calma Architecture & Interior Design, known for innovating open floor plan concepts that set him apart from contemporaries.

### What is Buensalido + Architects known for? 

Buensalido + Architects, established by Jason Buensalido in 2006, is known for its design philosophy of modernizing Filipino architecture. Buensalido studied at the University of Santo Tomas and later took a course in Urban Geographies under the Architectural Association Global School in Singapore.

### Who are Ivy and Cynthia Almario? 

Ivy and Cynthia Almario are sisters and partners behind Atelier Almario, considered the Philippines’ dynamic duo in interior design. After 15 years of experience in Los Angeles, they established their firm in the Philippines, earning praise for timeless elegance and flawless execution across their projects.

### How is Gelo Manosa continuing his father’s architectural legacy? 

Gelo Manosa, CEO of Manosa & Co, continues the legacy of his father Francisco Manosa, known for championing Philippine aesthetics and traditions. Gelo advocates for green buildings in the Philippines and travels globally to study sustainable structures and best practices that he applies to his work.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Commercial, Concept, Industrial, Interiors, Offices

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### [7 Historic hotels in Metro Manila that served guests more than just room service](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/7-historic-hotels-in-manila/)

**Published:** September 20, 2019
**Author:** Patrick Kasingsing

**Excerpt:** The storied walls of these seven historic hotels in Manila were designed by notable Filipino, Spanish, and American architects

**Content:**

If walls could speak and if only the walls still stood today, these local hotels would be among our historians’ best friends. Few stood the test of Philippine politics and greed, and fewer still remain glorious today. Even so, the events that occurred within the confines of these seven historic hotels designed by notable architects, Filipino and foreign, live on in whispered and recorded accounts by guests, both welcome and unwelcome.![bluprint name the architect historic hotels](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-5.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-5 - BluPrint")

## 1 | Hotel de Oriente by Juan Jose Huervas y Arizmendi

Known as the country’s first luxury hotel, the Hotel de Oriente designed by Juan Jose Huervas y Arizmendi*,* occupied a prime spot in Binondo, Manila in 1889. It fronted Binondo Church and stood next to La Insular Cigarette and Cigar Factory (also designed by the hotel’s architect). One distinguished guest of the hotel was Dr. Jose Rizal, who stayed at Room No. 22 in 1892. It served different institutional functions during the American occupation until it met its end during the Japanese invasion of Manila. The hotel was resurrected as a replica in the [Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar](https://www.lascasasfilipinas.com/) in Bataan and served as a conference venue for the delegates of the APEC last June 2015.

**READ MORE: [For Whom the Bell Tolls: PH heritage landmarks left in ruins](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-philippine-heritage-landmarks/)**

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![intercontinental hotel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-4.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-4 - BluPrint")

## 2 | The Intercontinental by Leandro Locsin

Holding the distinguished “No. 1, Ayala Avenue” address is The Intercontinental Manila, one of the oldest five-star hotels in the country, and only the second Asian branch of the Intercontinental chain when it opened in 1969. In yet another example of how local luxury hotels seem to attract rebellion attempts, army troopers made use of the hotel’s strategic location to fend off rebels in an attempted *coup d’etat* in 1989. Sadly, like the Mandarin Oriental, the owners have decided to close the aging hotel designed by National Artist for Architecture [Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/emerson-coseteng-house/).

**READ MORE: [Forging Modernism: The early years of Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/)**

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![manila hotel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-2.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-2 - BluPrint")

## 3 | Manila Hotel by William Parsons, Andres Luna de San Pedro, and Leandro Locsin

[The Manila Hotel](https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/) has a history as storied and colorful as the city it was named after. It famously served as General MacArthur’s residence during his tenure as a military advisor to the Commonwealth and was the lodging of choice for personalities such as writer Ernest Hemingway, the Beatles, and former US President John F. Kennedy. The Grand Dame, designed by William Parsons, Andres Luna de San Pedro, and [Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/succeeding-success-lindy-and-andy-locsin/), survived being razed by the Japanese in the Battle of Manila and was lavishly renovated under the Marcos administration, which greatly expanded its size. It was also ground zero for a short-lived *coup d’etat* attempt by Marcos loyalists in 1986.

**READ MORE: [Here’s how 5 architects designed their first mark in architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/name-the-architect-first-project/)**

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![bluprint name the architect historic hotels](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-1.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-1 - BluPrint")

## 4 | The Peninsula Manila by Gabriel Formoso

The first branch of this distinguished hotel chain outside of Hong Kong, [The Manila Peninsula](https://www.peninsula.com/en/manila/5-star-luxury-hotel-makati) needed no introduction when it opened in 1967. The Brutalist building designed by Gabriel Formoso has two wings, with an iconic fountain upfront. The lobby was picturesque, with a large ceiling sculpture by National Artist [Napoleon Abueva](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/napoleon-abueva-house-studio/). In 2007, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his supporters stormed the hotel and demanded the resignation of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. An armored personnel carrier broke through the lobby doors and windows during the siege, which resulted in pricey damage to the hotel and a damage suit filed by its manager.

**READ MORE: [The Bayleaf – from rundown building to four-star hotel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tvap-adaptive-bayleaf/)**

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![bluprint name the architect historic hotels](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-7.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-7 - BluPrint")

## 5 | Luneta Hotel by Salvador Farre

[The Luneta Hotel](https://www.thelunetahotelmanila.com/)‘s beautiful French Renaissance architecture and romantic location betrays a tumultuous past. After the hotel survived heavy bombardment in World War II, it served as a brothel and makeshift ward for the American G.I.s. After the war, the hotel designed by Salvador Farre was unable to regain its reputation, falling into despair and closing down in 1987. It was restored and re-opened in 2014.

**READ MORE: [Playing Favorites: 5 architects and their favorite materials](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-5-architects-favorite-materials/)**

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![mandarin hotel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-3.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-3 - BluPrint")

## 6 | Mandarin Oriental by Leandro Locsin

The Mandarin Oriental designed by [Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/2-national-artists-for-architecture-met-manila/) has been turning heads since opening in 1976 to host the IMF and World Bank annual meet. A Brutalist “fortress” in a prominent Makati lot, its form appears to be inspired by the folds of a fan. It also played host to the 1998 Presidential Debates that pitted Joseph Estrada, Imelda Marcos, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and other candidates against each other. After four decades of service, the hotel was closed and demolished, despite the protests of heritage and architecture enthusiasts. A new Mandarin, however, will reopen in a new location at the northern tip of the [Ayala Triangle](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/mcmicking-memorial-makati/) by 2020.

**READ MORE: [Here are the new phases and faces of 8 structures](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/here-are-the-new-phases-and-faces-of-8-structures/)**

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![admiral hotel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-6.jpg "bluprint-name-the-architect-historic-hotels-6 - BluPrint")

## 7 | Admiral Hotel by Fernando Ocampo

The Admiral Hotel designed by [Fernando Ocampo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mundo-ni-maestro-escolta/) was the place to be for the Manila elite back in its heyday. It opened as the Admiral Apartments in 1939 with former President Manuel L. Quezon as guest-of-honor. For a time, it was the [tallest building in Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/the-battle-for-the-tallest-building-in-the-philippines/), even used as a landmark by sailors entering Manila Bay. Like the neighboring Luneta Hotel, it had multiple functions, serving as the headquarters for the Japanese and Americans at different points during the war. The building was sold by its owners, the Lopez-Aranetas, to a condominium developer in 2009, and was promptly demolished in 2014 because of structural integrity issues. It was rebuilt as a boutique hotel managed by the Accor chain, completed in 2017.

**READ MORE: [These are 7 historic commercial landmarks you should know about](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/ph-historic-commercial-landmarks/)**

**This article is first published in BluPrint Volume 1 2016. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

*Article Credits:*

*Introduction by Denny Mata*

*Illustrations by Cesar G. Ramirez, Jr.*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the oldest hotel in the Philippines? 

The Hotel de Oriente, designed by Juan Jose Huervas y Arizmendi and opened in 1889 in Binondo, Manila, is considered the country’s first luxury hotel. Dr. Jose Rizal famously stayed in Room 22 in 1892. The original was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Manila.

### Which historic Manila hotels were designed by Leandro Locsin? 

National Artist Leandro Locsin designed three historic Manila hotels: The Intercontinental Manila (1969), the Mandarin Oriental Manila (1976), and he also contributed to the Manila Hotel alongside William Parsons and Andres Luna de San Pedro. His Brutalist forms became signatures of mid-century Philippine luxury hospitality.

### Why was the Mandarin Oriental Manila demolished? 

The Mandarin Oriental Manila, opened in 1976 and designed by Leandro Locsin, was closed and demolished after four decades despite protests from heritage advocates. A new Mandarin Oriental is planned for the northern tip of the Ayala Triangle, with reopening originally targeted for 2020.

### What happened at The Peninsula Manila in 2007? 

In 2007, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his supporters staged the Manila Peninsula Siege, demanding the resignation of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. An armored personnel carrier breached the lobby, causing significant damage to the Gabriel Formoso-designed Brutalist hotel and prompting a lawsuit from its management.

### Which famous personalities stayed at the Manila Hotel? 

The Manila Hotel hosted General Douglas MacArthur as his official residence during his time as military advisor to the Commonwealth. Other notable guests include writer Ernest Hemingway, The Beatles, and former US President John F. Kennedy, cementing its reputation as the Grand Dame of Philippine hospitality.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage

**Tags:** Architect, Architecture, Historic Hotels, Hospitality, Hotel, Name the architect, Philippine Architect, Philippine architecture

---

### [The World Architecture Festival 2019 shortlists Alero Design Studio of Baliwag, Bulacan, Philippines](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/waf-2019-shortlists-jesy-cruz-jaemi-cruz-alero-design-studio/)

**Published:** July 22, 2019
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Content:**

When Jesy and Jaemi Cruz present their entry at the World Architecture Festival 2019 at Amsterdam in December, they will be among 2400 architects and designers attending the event to witness the selection of the prestigious Building of the Year award. Every year, some 6000 entries are submitted from around the world to the global competition. A jury narrows the entries down to a shortlist of 500 finalists, who compete in 35 different categories. Category winners then vie for three major awards: Future Project of the Year, Small Project of the Year, and Building of the Year.

Apart from Jesy and Jaemi Cruz’s Baliwag Community Center, the WAF 2019 has shortlisted three other Filipino entries: [Infinity House by Carlo Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/carlo-calma-explains-the-design-of-his-infinity-house/), [Cor Jesu Oratory by Kenneth Cobonpue and Zubu Design Associates](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/waf-shortlists-kenneth-cobonpue-and-zubu-design-associates-cor-jesu-in-cebu/), and [Sagip Kalinga by John Ryan Santos + Partners](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/john-ryan-santos-partners-shortlisted-waf-2019/).

Jesy and Jaemi Cruz are partners and founders of the architecture and design firm, Alero Design Studio. They also work for the family-run business, MSC Construction in San Rafael, Bulacan, as principal architect and interior designer. Jesy owns a hardware store as well as a furniture store called Arterior, in Kapitolyo, Quezon City.

Below are the text and images of the Baliwag Community Center, that Jesy Cruz and Jaemi Cruz submitted to the WAF earlier this year, which the organizers have shortlisted for the [Future Building-Civic](https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/future-projects-civic) category. The text has been edited for publication.

![Large community center with slanted roofs overlooking a small lake.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1-hero-shot_low-res-1024x576.jpg "1 hero shot_low res - BluPrint")## *Baliwag Community Center*

*Situated in the municipality of Baliwag in northern Bulacan, the Baliwag Community Center will be the first publicly-funded community center of the municipality. The 4,307-square-meter multi-purpose structure encloses an integrated functional indoor park equipped with meeting pods, gallery halls, and promenade terraces. The complex is envisioned to be the premier hub for the people of Baliwag to converge, trade, and thrive.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/5-exterior-5_low-res-1024x576.jpg "5 exterior 5_low res - BluPrint")View of the Baliwag Community Center from the rotunda of the main entrance. Jaemi and Jesy Cruz mimic the traditional weaving of Baliwag’s Buntal hats for the Center’s roofing system. ## *Weaving Baliwag’s cultural heritage* 

*Baliwag town made a name for itself from its famous Buntal hats. Made of fiber from Buri palm stalks, the material is woven in zigzag chevron patterns. We drew inspiration from the handicraft, which represents not only the Baliwagueños’ livelihood, but also their hard work, passion, and artistry.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2-exterior-2_low-res-1024x576.jpg "2 exterior 2_low res - BluPrint")Jaemi and Jesy Cruz designed a 4,307-square-meter multi-purpose structure which houses an integrated functional indoor park, with meeting pods, gallery halls, and promenade terraces. *As seen from the entrance rotunda, the roofing system mimics the traditional Buri weaves through a layering angled forms. We used elements of the Filipino vernacular house, the bahay kubo, to make the structure feel like home. These include the ventanilla (small vents near the floor and ceiling of our heritage houses that assist cross ventilation), which we interpreted as light and air shafts on the ceiling. Then, there’s the tukud (the columns that hold the bahay kubo above the ground), as seen in the building’s structural columns, which also function aesthetically.*

![rendering of Baliwag Community Center with slanted roofs and brick facades.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/4-exterior-4_low-res-1024x576.jpg "4 exterior 4_low res - BluPrint") Jaemi and Jesy Cruz used Baliwag town’s famous Buntal hats as the main inspiration for the design concept *The façade is a composition of jalousie windows, terracotta bricks, and hollow terracotta blocks, which the townspeople will perceive as welcoming and relatable. The jalousie windows are economical and eco-friendly, allowing the free passage of light and air. The hollow terracotta blocks, meanwhile, serve as dividers without closing off airflow and visibility, keeping the exterior and interior spaces united.*

![Interior of rendering of Baliwag Community Center with high ceiings and wide open spaces.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/7-interior-1_low-res-1024x576.jpg "7 interior 1_low res - BluPrint")## *Our design strategy*

*Our primary considerations were cost and space efficiency. The structure is a mix of pods, halls, and decks co-existing in a complex with minimal partitions, reducing the use of artificial light. The open layout aids passive cooling, allowing hot air to rise up and out the dual roofing clefts. These roofing clefts are composed of a lower layer enclosed in glass panels, allowing natural light to pass through, while the upper layer is outfitted with louvers to dispel hot air. Foliage interspersed in the complex integrates the indoor and outdoor environments and creates a relaxing ambiance.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/8-interior-2_low-res-1024x576.jpg "8 interior 2_low res - BluPrint")Jesy and Jaemi Cruz took inspiration from old Filipino town plazas, welcoming people into the open court. ## *Dynamic flow in an inclusive layout*

*The structure is accessible from three main areas. The first is the central rotunda, the second is via an irrigation canal, and the third is via an access road from the Malasakit Care Center.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/3-exterior-3_low-res-1024x576.jpg "3 exterior 3_low res - BluPrint") According to Jesy Cruz, hot air will not accumulate within the structure but exhaust through dual roofing clefts. *Taking inspiration from old Filipino town plazas, the design team endeavored to create an inclusive environment, welcoming people of different ages and interests into the open court.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/9-interior-3_low-res-1024x645.jpg "9 interior 3_low res - BluPrint")Multi-level decks comprise the Promenade Terraces, which will be used to host assemblies of 1200 people, as well as small gatherings of friends. *On the upper floors, meeting pods sit atop galleries, promenade areas, and halls to provide breathing spaces for installations and exhibitions.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/11-multipurpose_low-res-1024x576.jpg "11 multipurpose_low res - BluPrint")*The large, open-air Community Hall employs folding partitions for flexibility of use. Adjacent to it are rooms housing the back office, kitchen, audio-visual equipment storage, and a green room.*

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/10-accent-wall_low-res-1024x695.jpg "10 accent wall_low res - BluPrint") At the entrance fronting the canal, guests are greeted by a feature wall with mudbrick hand imprints of the laborers, masons, and painters, and Buntal hat weavers who contributed to the design and construction of the Center. *At the center of the structure, the Promenade Terraces serve as a junction of multiple access points. Its multi-level decks may hold bazaars, expositions, and assemblies of up to 1,200 people. It will be an excellent venue for the town’s annual Buntal Hat parade and other festivities beloved by the proud, friendly, and poetic people of Baliwag.*

Watch out for more stories on Filipino and ASEAN WAF shortlisted architects and designers. We will also be posting exclusive images of the competition they face in their categories.

*Images courtesy of Alero Design Studio*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Baliwag Community Center? 

The Baliwag Community Center is a 4,307-square-meter multi-purpose civic complex in Baliwag, Bulacan, designed by Alero Design Studio. It houses meeting pods, gallery halls, and promenade terraces capable of hosting assemblies of up to 1,200 people, serving as the town’s first publicly-funded community hub.

### Who designed the Baliwag Community Center? 

The Baliwag Community Center was designed by Jesy Cruz and Jaemi Cruz, partners and founders of Alero Design Studio. They also work at the family-run MSC Construction in San Rafael, Bulacan, as principal architect and interior designer respectively, and operate Arterior furniture store in Kapitolyo.

### What inspired the Baliwag Community Center’s design?

The design is inspired by Baliwag’s famous Buntal hats, woven from Buri palm fiber in zigzag chevron patterns. The layered roof mimics this traditional weave, while bahay kubo elements like ventanilla vents and tukud columns reinforce a familiar Filipino vernacular identity throughout the structure.

### Which Filipino projects were shortlisted at WAF 2019? 

Four Filipino entries were shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival 2019 in Amsterdam: the Baliwag Community Center by Alero Design Studio, Infinity House by Carlo Calma, Cor Jesu Oratory by Kenneth Cobonpue and Zubu Design Associates, and Sagip Kalinga by John Ryan Santos + Partners.

### How does the Baliwag Community Center stay cool without air conditioning? 

The building uses passive cooling through an open layout and dual roofing clefts. Hot air rises and exits through louvered upper layers, while glass-paneled lower layers admit daylight. Jalousie windows and hollow terracotta blocks support airflow, reducing dependence on artificial cooling and lighting throughout the complex.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Civic, Concept, Heritage

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### [Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 1)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-1/)

**Published:** April 20, 2018
**Author:** Edson Cabalfin

**Excerpt:** How and why was the idea of the vernacular used in articulating Philippine national identity in modern architecture?

**Content:**

During the last century, modern architecture has been emblematically enmeshed with discourses of nationalism as it has been used as symbols of new nations. Countries such as Australia, Canada, Nigeria, India and Papua New Guinea have aggressively promoted a national architectural style to communicate their nation’s political sovereignty.1 Modern architecture participates in the nationalist discourse by being both a cultural artifact, that is, by being a product of nationalism, and a cultural device, that is, being a medium of propagating nationalism.

By being both an agent and a product of nationalism, we can come to understand architecture not merely as a finished product that we see and experience, but more importantly recognize it as an active participant in the formation of our consciousness as national subjects.

One strategy in expressing a distinct national character is through the idea of the “vernacular” in architecture. Vernacularization is understood in this case as a general approach of localizing architecture by alluding to indigenous social, cultural, political and historical contexts. Through vernacularization, a foreign concept is made understandable to the local audience by referring to familiar local materials and ideas.

**READ MORE: [A manifesto for architecture education in the 21st centur](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/architecture-education-cabalfin/)y**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernaculr-parsonsschoolhouse.jpg "Native-vernaculr-parsonsschoolhouse - BluPrint")A reinforced concrete schoolhouse by William Parsons, made in the early 20th century (Image from Arkitektura: An Essay on the American Colonial and Contemporary Traditions in Philippine Architecture)The term “vernacular” is often equated with things endemic and indigenous to a specific place and context.2 In this article, I have attempted to trace and map out the process of vernacularization as a strategy used in expressing the national character of modern architecture in the Philippines. Here, I have tried to inspect the methods and means of using an idea of vernacular by different agents. I will be referring to two historical periods: first, the American-colonial period from 1900 to 1945; and second, the Post-Independence/Post- World War II period from 1946 to 1998.

The following questions were posed: How and why was the idea of the vernacular used in articulating Philippine national identity in modern architecture? What were the similarities and differences of concepts of vernacularization in architecture by different agents throughout twentieth century Philippines? And, what are the implications of these strategies in the debates of the production of architecture and identity?

In coming to terms with modernity and nationalism in architecture, I argue that using the idea of “vernacular” is not an unproblematic and a neutral strategy, but rather, that vernacularization in modern architecture is a highly politicized and biased operation.

**READ MORE: [What was Vigan like before the UNESCO Heritage fame?](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vigan-fernando-zialcita/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-Vernacular-Manila-Hotel-Lobby-Parsons.jpg "Native-Vernacular-Manila-Hotel-Lobby,-Parsons - BluPrint")Lobby of Manila Hotel by William Parsons (Photo courtesy of Dr. Gerard Lico)

## Pre-1945: American colonialism and architecture

Americans during the first half of the twentieth century used urban planning as a means of establishing colonial control in the Philippines. [Daniel Burnham](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/who-was-daniel-burnham-recalling-his-works-in-the-country/), the famed architect and planner who designed Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco, was asked to redesign the capital city of Manila in 1905.3 Under his plan, Manila became a rationalized and organized system of circulation networks, activity zones and open spaces that emphasized efficiency, order and progress, following closely the principles of the City Beautiful Movement.

After Burnham finished the plan, the substantiation of the new urban order was passed on to William Parsons, who was hired as the Chief Consulting Architect of the Philippine Bureau of Public Works.4 He was then tasked to create a new architectural imagery for the Manila cityscape. For the official structures he focused on Neo-classical structures that followed Greco-Roman models. While working on the new civicbuildings, Parsons may have heeded Burnham’s initial assessment of Manila’s Spanish colonial architectural heritage as: “…especially interesting and in view of their beauty and practical suitability to local conditions could be profitably taken as examples of future structures.”5

We can safely conclude that Burnham and Parsons shared the view that the existing Spanish colonial architecture is considered indigenous; therefore, it is something that is to be preserved, and more so, serve as inspiration for future designs. Indeed, Parsons’ architectural schemas of major public structures in the archipelago, such as the Philippine General Hospital (1910), Manila Hotel (1912) and University of the Philippines in Manila (1913) were distinctively Spanish in detail but Neo-classical in overall form. Generally, these hybridized civic buildings represented modernity, progress and democracy—a constant reminder of the supposed benevolence of the American colonial rule.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-Imperial-Frames16-PGH-Parsons.jpg "Native-vernacular-Imperial-Frames16-PGH-Parsons - BluPrint")Philippine General Hospital by William Edward Parsons, 1910 (Photo courtesy of Dr. Gerard Lico)Another aspect of this vernacularization was Parsons’ emphasis on the tropical climate. His responses were very practical. Parsons invested in the combination of conch-shell/ louvered window systems patterned after Spanish-colonial houses found in the Philippines.6 The Gabaldon schoolhouse, for example, which was the prototype for all schoolhouses built during the American-colonial period, is significantly open on all sides but covered with the capiz shell-louver window system. These very tropical responses came to be Parsons’ signature style throughout his career in the Philippines.7

In the 1920s and 1930s, architects who were trained in the United States and Europe came back to the Philippines and served under the Bureau of Public Works. Among the notable structures that use vernacularization during this time were inspired by the Art Deco style. The Art Deco style, which was popular in Europe in the early part of the twentieth century, emphasized classical composition and at the same time used stylized and abstracted ornamental forms.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-Juan-Arellano-Met-Theater-Estan-Cabigas.jpg "Native-vernacular-Juan-Arellano,-Met-Theater,-Estan-Cabigas - BluPrint")Ceiling detail of the Metropolitan Theater of Manila by Juan Arellano (Photographed by Estan Cabigas)[The Metropolitan Theater](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/manila-metropolitan-theater-a-treasured-edifice-of-culture-and-the-arts/) of Manila, designed by Juan Arellano in 1938, was a hybrid of Beaux Arts classicism and tropical Art Deco. Focusing on Philippine flora and fauna, Arellano rendered the classical building in tropical motifs such as bananas, mangoes, birds-of-paradise flowers and bamboo.

The Capitol Theater, built in the late 1930s, also features on its façade rural tropical scenes—Filipino women garbed in traditional lowlanders’ costume are the central symbols in the façade. Thus, Filipino designers at this time were consciously appropriating imagery and icons that they believed were representative of Philippine culture.8

## Post-1945: Post-coloniality and architecture

After the historic declaration of independence from the United States in 1946, the period after World War II signaled renewed
interest in things Filipino. The idea of “Filipino,” whether in the arts, literature, history, sciences and technology, stood out as the rallying point for nationalist movements. At that time, being Filipino meant having a distinct and essential national culture different from other world cultures.

During the 1960s and the 1970s, under the rule of the Marcoses, architecture was seen as an avenue for Filipino-ness. First Lady Imelda Marcos, for example, advocated a return to supposedly folk cultures as means of achieving a genuine national Filipino identity.9 In architecture, this quest for national identity was embodied in the search for a Philippine national style.

Experimentation with the national style usually highlighted literal reinterpretations of forms from indigenous architecture. Roof forms, because of their high visibility, were usually the first to be borrowed. The roof shape of the National Arts Center in Laguna and the Transfiguration Chapel in Bukidnon, both by [National Artist Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/), derives its overall scheme from Cordilleran architecture found in the northern part of the archipelago. These two buildings were inspired from the Ifugao *fale*, a one-room house found in the Mountain Provinces that features a steep roof.

![National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling, Laguna by Leandro Locsin, built in 1976 (Photographed by Akio Kawasumi, from The Architecture of Leandro V. Locsin).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-nationalartcenter.jpg "Native-vernacular-nationalartcenter - BluPrint")National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling, Laguna by Leandro Locsin, built in 1976 (Photographed by Akio Kawasumi, from The Architecture of Leandro V. Locsin)Indigenous architectural details and ornaments are also sources of inspiration. The gable horn called *tajuk pasung* found in Tausug houses in the southern part of the Philippines became a popular motif during the 1960s. These gable roof extensions, sometimes alluding to the horns of water buffaloes, served as protective symbols common among Austronesian and Southeast Asian cultures.10 This method of appropriation is evident in structures such as the Max’s Restaurant, by Franscisco Fajardo here the *tajuk pasung* was stylized, almost flattened but nevertheless recognizable, and applied in multiple locations. The restaurant, however, also owes much of its architectural vocabulary to the Polynesian-inspired architecture that was popular in the United States during the 1960s.

The vernacular is also appropriated through literal interpretations of symbols or objects. The Otillo Arellano-designed [Philippine Pavilion](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/ramon-lopez-royal-pineda-marian-pastor-roces-preview-of-bangkota/) at the 1964 New York World’s Fair derives its roof idiom from the wide-brimmed hat called *salakot*. The hat, made of indigenous materials, was equated in this instance with Filipino industriousness. In this particular translation, the grass hat was transformed into metal and raised on stilts, as if hovering above the ground.11

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-BPVol4_ID_max-1.jpg "Native-vernacular-BPVol4_ID_max-1 - BluPrint")Max’s Restaurant, Quezon City by Francisco Fajardo, built in the 1960s (Image courtesy of Joseph Baron Sawit and Bobby Simborio)![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-2-philippine-pavilon.jpg "Native-vernacular-2-philippine-pavilon - BluPrint")The Philippine Pavilion by Otillo Arellano at the 1964 New York World’s Fair (Image courtesy of the UP College of Architecture)Architect Francisco Mañosa also attempted to develop a “Filipino look” in his designs by focusing on indigenous materials. The Coconut Palace, as its name suggests, explores and exploits the various applications of materials derived from the coconut tree.12 In another project, the Pearl Farm resort, Mañosa focused on bamboo as the primary material for the beach pavilions. The roof forms probably took its cue from the houses of the Isneg people in the northern part of the Philippines, which made use of overlapping split bamboo nodes.13 Bamboo, like the coconut, is indigenous, pervasive and endemic to the Philippines.

Still another source of inspiration is derived from indigenous geography and geology. The Banaue Rice Terraces was the starting point for the Mañosa brothers when they designed San Miguel Corporation Main Headquarters. The visual imagery is uncanny. The office building is characteristically terraced in its form with plants surrounding the windows: it was a reinterpretation of Philippine land forms in glass, steel and concrete.

Other approaches of vernacularization avoid literal interpretations of forms and instead extract abstract concepts. For example, Leandro Locsin designed the Cultural Center of the Philippines with the floating masses concept in mind.14 Drawing from images of indigenous houses lifted above the ground via stilts, Locsin stylistically abstracts this floating quality through the interplay of large concrete masses and glass walls. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**CONTINUE READING: [Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 2)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/)**

## ENDNOTES

**1 See works by Lawrence Vale, *Architecture, Power and National Identity*, New Haven, CT and London, Yale University Press, 1992 and Sibel Bozdogan, *Modernism and Nation Building: Turkish Architectural Culture in the Early Republic*, Seattle and London, University of Washington Press, 2001.**

**2 For a more extended discussion of the implications of “vernacular” as a category in architecture, see Mete Turan (ed.), *Vernacular Architecture: Paradigms of Environmental Response*, Aldershot, UK, Avebury, 1990.**

**3 Thomas Hines, *Burnham of Chicago: Architect and Planner*, New York, Oxford University Press, 1974, pp. 197-216.**

**4 Thomas Hines, “American Modernism in the Philippines: The Forgotten Architecture of William Parsons”, *Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians*, Volume 32, Number 4, December 1973, pp. 316-326.**

**5 Daniel Burnham, “Report on Proposed Improvements at Manila” *Proceedings of the Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the American Institute of Architects*, Washington, 1906 as cited in Thomas Hines, op.cit, p. 320.**

**6 For an extended discussion of Spanish-Colonial houses in the Philippines, refer to Fernando Zialcita and Martin Tinio, *Philippine Ancestral Houses (1810-1930)*, Quezon City, GCF Books, 1980, and for Spanish-colonial churches, refer to Regalado Trota Jose, Jr., *Simbahan: Church Art and Architecture in Colonial Philippines*, 1565-1898, Makati, Ayala Foundation, Inc., 1991.**

**7 [Paulo Alcazaren](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/placemaking-in-the-philippines/), “The American Influence on the Urbanism and Architecture of Manila (1898-1952)”, Unpublished M.A. Thesis, National University of Singapore, 2000.**

**8 Edson Cabalfin, “Art Deco Filipino: Power, Politics and Ideology in Philippine Art Deco Architectures”, Unpublished M.S. Thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2003.**

**9 Imelda Marcos, “Paths to Development, Manila, National Media Production Centerm 1981, pp.36-37 as cited in Gerard Lico, *Edifice Complex: Power, Myth and Marcos State Architecture*, Quezon City, Ateneo De Manila University Press, 2003, p. 41.**

**10 Roxana Waterson, *The Living House: An Anthropology of Architecture in Southeast Asia*, New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1997, pp. 7-11.**

**11 Otillo Arellano, “Philippine Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, 1964-1965” in *Philippine Architecture and Building Journal*, Volume 3, Number 2, 1961.**

**12 Gerard Lico, *Edifice Complex: Power, Myth and Marcos State Architecture*, Quezon City, Ateneo De Manila University Press, 2003, pp.116-120.**

**13 Rodrigo Perez III, Rosario Encarnacion-Tan and Julian Dacanay, Jr., *Folk Architecture*, Quezon City, GCF Books, 1989, pp. 30-41.**

**14 Winand Klassen, *Architecture in the Philippines: Filipino Building in a Cross-Cultural Context*, Cebu City, San Carlos University Press, 1986, pp. 193-195.**

**A version of this article was first published in [DOCOMOMO](https://www.docomomo.com/) Journal No. 34 (Paris, France: International Working Party for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement, March 2006) and was first presented at the Seventh International Conference on Philippine Studies held at Leiden, the Netherlands, June 2004.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is vernacularization in Philippine architecture?

Vernacularization in Philippine architecture refers to the strategy of localizing modern building design by drawing from indigenous Filipino materials, forms, symbols, and cultural contexts. It is a politically charged process used by different agents — colonial rulers and Filipino architects alike — to assert or construct a distinct national identity through the built environment across the twentieth century.

### How did American colonial architects apply vernacular design in the Philippines?

American colonial architect William Parsons incorporated vernacular elements into civic buildings by referencing Spanish colonial architecture — which Americans considered indigenous — and adapting to the tropical climate through capiz shell and louvered window systems. Structures like the Philippine General Hospital, Manila Hotel, and the Gabaldon schoolhouse reflect this hybrid approach, blending Neoclassical form with locally familiar materials and spatial responses.

### How did Filipino architects express national identity through architecture after independence?

After independence in 1946, Filipino architects sought a distinct national style by reinterpreting indigenous architectural forms, materials, and symbols. National Artist Leandro Locsin drew from Cordilleran roof forms; Francisco Mañosa explored coconut and bamboo materials; and Otillo Arellano transformed the salakot hat into the roof of the Philippine Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair — each translating Filipino cultural identity into modern architectural language.

### What role did the Marcos era play in Philippine architectural nationalism?

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Marcos administration actively promoted architecture as a vehicle for Filipino national identity. First Lady Imelda Marcos advocated a return to folk and indigenous cultures as the foundation for a genuine national style. This spurred architects to experiment with literal reinterpretations of indigenous roof forms, ornamental motifs like the tajuk pasung, and regional building traditions from the Ifugao, Tausug, and Isneg communities.

### What are examples of vernacularization in famous Philippine buildings?

Notable examples include the National Arts Center in Laguna and the Transfiguration Chapel in Bukidnon by Leandro Locsin, both inspired by the steep-roofed Ifugao fale; the San Miguel Corporation Headquarters by the Mañosa brothers, which reinterprets the Banaue Rice Terraces in glass and concrete; and the Cultural Center of the Philippines by Locsin, which abstracts the concept of indigenous stilt houses into floating concrete masses.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Heritage, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** Architecture, Capitol Theater, Colonial, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Daniel Burnham, Edson Cabalfin, Francisco Mañosa, Franscisco Fajardo, Gabaldon schoolhouse, History, Imelda Marcos, Juan Arellano, Leandro Locsin, Modernism, Nationalism, Philippines, Post-colonial, Vernacular, William Parsons

---

### [Design Better Extended: ArchHIVE proposes to revive the Manila Baywalk connection](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/archhive-manila-baywalk/)

**Published:** January 15, 2018
**Author:** The ArchHIVE Team

**Excerpt:** Transforming the lackluster promenade into a vibrant and sustainable community space 

**Content:**

As the Philippines’ capital, Manila is home to many of government offices and historical landmarks , and a dense population. Poems have been written and songs sung about Manila Bay’s spectacular sunsets. Up until the 1980s, Manila Baywalk, a seaside promenade along Roxas Boulevard, was one of the most popular destinations in Metro Manila for sunset viewing. The baywalk is a two-kilometer pedestrian corridor that links the venerable Manila Hotel, historical Luneta Park, iconic Cultural Center of the Philippines, museums, government offices, exhibition and conference facilities, hotels, and restaurants.

With the “Buhayin ang Maynila” program of the early 2000s, the baywalk became a popular venue for open bars and restaurants. But after several years of operation, the establishments were ordered to move from the site for the violation of laws and the alleged promotion of prostitution. In 2011, a storm surge hammered the coastline of Manila Bay. Consequently, the pavement, the seawall, and breakwater were severely damaged and required another major renovation.

![baywalkcur1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalkcur1.jpg "baywalkcur1 - BluPrint")Since Baywalk became an un-programmed and unprofitable open space, its maintenance relies solely on the local government budget, which Manila City has not seen fit to allocate to the famous waterfront’s upkeep.

![baywalkcur3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalkcur3.jpg "baywalkcur3 - BluPrint")Many people visit the baywalk to exercise in the morning and the afternoon for the sunset view. But the waterfront is almost empty the rest of the day. Its open spaces are heavily greened and suggest no other recreational activities. Though Manila Baywalk once hosted entertainment bars and restaurants to draw more traffic, it was believed that the activities promoted prostitution. Bars and restaurants were relocated along the Roxas Boulevard service road and no longer have direct engagement with the waterfront. Now, the baywalk remains an un-programmed open space.

Today, the baywalk faces another problem: informal settlers and kiosks have sprouted. The Manila government claims limited financial capacity and, judging by the state of their public spaces, seems to pay little attention to the maintenance of such spaces.

## Design Objectives

Rejuvenating Manila Baywalk would enhance local and foreign tourism, connect the community, and reinstate the site as a source of enjoyment and pride instead of disgust and shame. A redesign of the Manila Baywalk must be comprehensive to address the social, economic, and environmental issues of the waterfront promenade and end the problem-solution-problem cycle. ArchHIVE’s proposal aims to achieve the following:

- Promote the baywalk as a significant tourism corridor to other destinations of Manila by providing access to different transport modes.
- Accommodate profitable urban activities.
- Create an appealing, enjoyable, and storm-resilient waterfront.

![baywalk2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk2.jpg "baywalk2 - BluPrint")Four nodes along the Baywalk are strategic locations for restaurants and other support facilities like bathrooms. Footbridges will also be provided at these points to better connect them to the other side of Roxas Boulevard.

![ArchhivebaywalkSection 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ArchhivebaywalkSection_2.jpg "ArchhivebaywalkSection 2 - BluPrint")

![baywalk8](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk8.jpg "baywalk8 - BluPrint")Between the nodes are open spaces dedicated to pedestrian leisure and recreation. Each segment is themed according to the adjacent district being supported. The northern segment of baywalk is for Arts and Culture since destinations in this area are mostly museums and heritage landmarks. The central segment dedicated to the high-density commercial district will have spaces for gathering. The southern portion is for play and passion since the destinations at this part of the city are sports facilities and theaters for performing arts. The whole stretch offers experiences mirroring the city.

## Manila’s center line

We derive inspiration from the Quezon Memorial Circle, an existing urban park. Quezon Memorial, located at the center of the elliptical road in Quezon City, is accessible through different transport modes including the future MRT-7 line. It has been the venue for recreational activities in the city. 8,000 people go to Quezon Memorial Circle on weekdays and 12,000 on weekends. Recreational facilities and urban necessities were pl aced and have been generating 3 million pesos in monthly income. Rather than treating Manila Baywalk as an edge, the success of Quezon City Memorial Circle can be replicated at the waterfront so it can be maximized as “Manila’s Center Line” for recreation.

![baywalk3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk3.jpg "baywalk3 - BluPrint")

![ArchhivebaywalkSection 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ArchhivebaywalkSection_1.jpg "ArchhivebaywalkSection 1 - BluPrint")

## A comprehensive vision

Developing the waterfront cannot be done by a single solution. Realization must come into phases and gradual development. Each phase has its vision to realize, but, taken together, the steps will ensure long-term benefits.

![baywalkcur2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalkcur2.jpg "baywalkcur2 - BluPrint")Visiting Manila Baywalk usually involves walking hundreds of meters from the closest train station, or riding a car or taxi. Access by jeepney multicab is available only at the southern tip of waterfront within the compound of CCP complex, but this transport mode is barely used by commuters. Tourists sometimes opt to ride the kalesas (horse-drawn carriages), a novel experience by the bay.

### Vision 1: An intermodal transport Corridor

To bring it to its full potential, Manila Baywalk should first establish new connections. By providing new transport options and creating new nodes along its stretch, the baywalk will become more accessible. Transforming it into a multimodal corridor to significant places in Manila, the new Manila Baywalk will not only serve as Manila’s balcony overlooking sunset along its bay but also a passageway to iconic destinations in the city: the Mall of Asia Complex, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Ocean Park, and the future Manila CBD adjacent to Baseco Compound. Connecting them via water taxi will not only improve the mobility of people but will also offer a unique Manila Bay experience. A new electric jeepney route will also be available.

![baywalk6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk6.jpg "baywalk6 - BluPrint")A view of the footbridge connecting the parallel areas of the proposed Manila Baywalk.

![baywalk4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk4.jpg "baywalk4 - BluPrint")

### Vision 2: An engaging public space

After the enhancement of waterfront connections to other destinations, Baywalk should establish a sustainable source of income for its operation and maintenance. It must redefine itself and change its focus from merely being Manila’s balcony for sunsets to an active space for the community. With this vision, the baywalk will host new urban amenities and activities. There will be defined spaces for promotions, gatherings, recreation, and other programs. Apart from this, the service road of Roxas Boulevard will be given wider sidewalks to become a promenade which will be beneficial to existing building programs like stores and restaurants.

![baywalk5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk5.jpg "baywalk5 - BluPrint")

![baywalk7](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk7.jpg "baywalk7 - BluPrint")Material recovery facilities will be located on both ends of Manila Baywalk, where most waste usually piles up.

![ArchhiveBaywalkSection 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ArchhiveBaywalkSection_4.jpg "ArchhiveBaywalkSection 4 - BluPrint")

### Vision 3: A resilient and sustainable waterfront

The new plan of Manila Baywalk is designed to disseminate the force of the extreme waves. The straight path walk will also serve as a wider drain for the overflows of Manila Bay – collecting the water faster and delivering it back to the sea. Solid wastes floating from the bay and the wastes from establishments will be collected and segregated at the provided material recovery facilities.

![baywalk9](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk9.jpg "baywalk9 - BluPrint")

![baywalk10](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/baywalk10.jpg "baywalk10 - BluPrint")

---

**This proposal for the Manila Baywalk by ArchHIVE is an extension of BluPrint’s latest book venture called *Design Better: 21 Proposals by 100 Designers to Provoke Discussion and Debate*. The book is available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is Manila Baywalk located and why is it significant? 

Manila Baywalk is a two-kilometer pedestrian promenade along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, connecting the Manila Hotel, Luneta Park, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Once celebrated for its spectacular Manila Bay sunsets, it remains a symbolic waterfront tied to the city’s cultural and historical identity.

### What is ArchHIVE’s “Center Line” concept for Manila Baywalk? 

ArchHIVE’s “Center Line” concept reframes Manila Baywalk as the city’s central recreational spine rather than its forgotten edge. Inspired by Quezon Memorial Circle’s success with 8,000 daily visitors and three million pesos in monthly income, the idea positions the baywalk as Manila’s primary public destination.

### What are the three visions in ArchHIVE’s Manila Baywalk proposal? 

ArchHIVE’s three visions for Manila Baywalk are: an intermodal transport corridor linking iconic Manila destinations, an engaging public space with sustainable income streams, and a climate-resilient waterfront designed to manage storm surges and waste. Each phase builds on the previous to ensure lasting impact.

### How will ArchHIVE’s plan improve transport access to Manila Baywalk? 

ArchHIVE proposes connecting Manila Baywalk to the Mall of Asia Complex, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Ocean Park, and the future Manila CBD through water taxis and a new electric jeepney route. Footbridges will also link the baywalk across Roxas Boulevard to nearby districts.

### How does ArchHIVE plan to make Manila Baywalk storm-resilient? 

ArchHIVE designs the new Manila Baywalk to disperse extreme wave forces along a straight path that doubles as a drainage channel. This collects Manila Bay overflows quickly and returns water to the sea, while material recovery facilities at both ends manage waste and protect water quality.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Restaurants

**Tags:** ArchHIVE, Design Better, Design Concept, Manila Baywalk, Promenade, Tourism, Waterfront

---

### [Magnificent views of Mt. Makiling in 8x8's MV House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/8x8-mv-house/)

**Published:** December 15, 2017
**Author:** Jim Caumeron

**Excerpt:** “Framing views” is an overused description in design concepts, but in this case, it is an understatement

**Content:**

There are two common tendencies when it comes to designing houses in local subdivisions: First is to follow the subdivision’s building regulations while working around the prescribed theme to inject a sense of individuality. The result is an eclectic fusion of architectural styles. Second is to completely reject the village theme, and more often than not, the building regulations as well, for the purpose of standing out. The result is anarchy. Either way, no one seems to mind. Majority of homeowners kiss their ridiculously affordable construction bonds goodbye for the distinction of having their very own Miesian-Zahan-Mediterranean-Pinoy house. The MV House in Laguna by 8×8 Design Studio is a different story.

![The most visible part of the MV House at street level is a volume encasing another volume](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_7621.jpg "MV MG 7621 - BluPrint")The most visible part of the MV House at street level is a volume encasing another volume, the main living areas. Different materials were used to code areas like the outer shell and inner shell, or specific parts like the garage and main door. Gestures like a slanting wall and vertical louvers were used to conceal private areas without deviating from the dominant language of the design.![MV MG 7885](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_7885.jpg "MV MG 7885 - BluPrint")The elegant frontage does to use architectural spectacle to impress. The volume sits quietly against a mountain backdrop. The design does not use a fence but still ensures the security and privacy of its users while revealing its architecture to the street.Visitors don’t need profound rationalizations or jargon in order to be impressed with the architecture, which is straightforward inside out. Its young designers, [Adrian Alfonso and Pearl Robles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/muhon-venice-biennale/), have been earning a name for themselves for their systematic design strategy. Simply put, they analyze the needs of the client, and program or plan the spaces of the house according to those needs, while addressing tropical and site-specific conditions. Alfonso and Robles were initially daunted by the sloping site that drops 18 meters below the main road.

![MV MG 7671](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_7671.jpg "MV MG 7671 - BluPrint")The heart of the active space looks out to a view. An incised roof is revealed throughout the ceiling, adding natural light to the living room.![MV HOUSE SECTION 01](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV-HOUSE-SECTION-01.jpg "MV HOUSE SECTION 01 - BluPrint")

Ultimately, the project became an exercise in exploring vertical configurations, and how to take advantage of its dream setting, with its views of majestic Mt. Makiling, a city skyline and a lake from afar. With the owners being retirees, Alfonso and Robles segregated the zones into two distinct volumes: a volume where the users will spend most of their time, and another volume for ancillary spaces.

\[one\_third padding=”0 20px 10x 0″\]

![MV MG 7679](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_7679.jpg "MV MG 7679 - BluPrint")The incised roof highlights the entrance and informally defines the movement zone of the living area. This zone also leads to the balcony.The arrival experience is less ceremonial than it is practical—one has to go through the garage to reach the front door and onto the main living space, where one is reminded that the house’s location makes it truly special. The main living space is on the upper level and includes the living, dining, kitchen areas and bedrooms of the client. The integration of kitchen, counter and dining components into one contiguous area that expands into the living area suggests a modern and casual lifestyle that I did not expect from what I knew of the owners.

The mystical Mt. Makiling makes its presence known in almost all the areas of the home—Alfonso and Robles have created a house that is an excellent ‘viewfinder’ for its appreciation. The living space expands out to a generous balcony space where one can soak in breathtaking views of the mountain. “Framing views” is an overused description in design concepts, but in this case, it is an understatement—the house directs one’s attention to its object of adoration and unreservedly glorifies it.

![MV COMPO 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV-COMPO-1.jpg "MV COMPO 1 - BluPrint")Left: The shared space between the two bedrooms have a view of the greenery outside. Right: The bedroom enjoys the view and is a comfortable space any time of the day because of the long roof overhang.The mountain view is shared by the ancillary volume underneath, which is comprised of service and utility areas and special spaces. Two combinable guest rooms expand to a lanai that opens to the same views as the balcony above. Since a lawn area isn’t possible because of the steeply sloping site, it is here that a successful integration of interior and exterior spaces is achieved. The lanai is convertible into a space for entertaining guests, and is breezy and surrounded by window screen panels that allow air to flow through to the interior.

![MV MG 7930](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_7930.jpg "MV MG 7930 - BluPrint")The outer shell as an eave space generates a balcony program that allows one to enjoy the outdoors.Without meaning to garnish my observations with a slew of design jargon, I’d like to call attention to 8×8’s use of shell tactics in the design:

The two main volumes can be perceived as encased by another volume that acts as secondary shell. This shell system works in three ways: as a protective element, as an informal space generator, and as a secondary, expressive and functional screen. The two masses are stacked one upon the other. The program above has a wider footprint, providing an overhang over the floor below, protecting the lanai from sun and strong rain—a smart answer to Philippine climate conditions that dictate that Filipino houses should always have long eaves and a steep roof slope.

![MV COMP 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV-COMP-2.jpg "MV COMP 2 - BluPrint")Left: Between the two volumes, the interstitial space where the staircase and hallway leading to the services area feels like both an indoor and outdoor space. Right: The lanai at the lower floor is naturally ventilated and can function as a secondary dining space for bigger crowds.These two volumes are differentiated by contrasting finishes. Alfonso refers to the structural components as arms holding up the two masses together. The columnation, or system of columns, enables the house to expand in the future and has decorative diagonal bracings that provide a sense of movement to the structure. The entire structure can be perceived as a volume within a volume, a strategy that is as clear as the outcome, intelligent, uncomplicated and pragmatic. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [Jim Caumeron guts a house to build a treehouse inside](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jim-caumeron-treehouse/)**

![MV MG 8002](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MV_MG_8002.jpg "MV MG 8002 - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 2 2014. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed the MV House in Laguna?

The MV House in Laguna was designed by Adrian Alfonso and Pearl Robles of 8×8 Design Studio. The young Filipino architects are known for their systematic design approach, analyzing client needs and tropical site conditions before programming spaces, an ethos clearly reflected in this hillside retreat.

### What is the volume-within-volume concept used in the MV House?

The volume-within-volume concept refers to 8×8 Design Studio’s strategy of encasing the main living areas inside a secondary outer shell. This shell acts as a protective layer, generates informal balcony spaces, and functions as a functional screen, providing privacy without the need for a perimeter fence.

### How does the MV House respond to the Philippine tropical climate?

The MV House uses long roof overhangs, a stacked massing strategy, and naturally ventilated lanai spaces to manage sun and rain. Window screen panels allow airflow into the interiors, while the upper volume’s wider footprint shields the lower floor, addressing tropical conditions through passive design strategies.

### What views does the MV House frame?

The MV House frames panoramic views of Mt. Makiling, a distant lake, and a city skyline from its hillside Laguna location. The balcony of the main living level and the lanai of the lower guest level both open directly toward the mountain, glorifying it as the home’s focal point.

### Why is 8×8 Design Studio’s approach considered systematic?

8×8 Design Studio, led by Adrian Alfonso and Pearl Robles, follows a systematic approach by first analyzing client needs, then programming spaces around those needs while addressing tropical and site-specific conditions. This results in pragmatic, intelligent designs free of architectural spectacle or unnecessary jargon.

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** 8x8 Design Studio, Adrian Alfonso, Architecture, Laguna, Mountain, Mt. Makiling, Pearl Robles, Residential, Views

---

### [National Museum of the Philippines Chooses Galicia-Periquet Tandem to Work on the National Museum of Natural History](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/the-national-museum-of-natural-history-how-it-began/)

**Published:** October 1, 2017
**Author:** Nick Ramos

**Excerpt:** Restoration and bold innovation beget signs of life in the old DOT building

**Content:**

In a culture where the wholesale destruction of built heritage is rampant, Dominic Galicia’s mixture of restoration and bold innovation for the National Museum of Natural History may yet change perceptions about the role old buildings can play in the creation of tomorrow’s Manila.

![National Museum of Natural History exterior render](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-2.59.57-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.57 PM - BluPrint")One of Antonio Toledo’s twin Corinthian daughters at the Agrifina Rotunda will become the National Museum of Natural History. The winning competition entry by Dominic Galicia and Tina Periquet pays great respect to the famous Neoclassical landmark. It also provides new, exciting spaces that will celebrate the rich and diverse flora and fauna found in the archipelago. Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia architectsCities celebrate their past by preserving significant buildings that mark their history. Preparations for such a celebration are underway at the Department of Tourism building. The old edifice is buzzing with activity as it undergoes the most ambitious retrofit and adaptive reuse in the country. It becomes the new Museum of Natural History. The DOT building, originally the Department of Agriculture building, will join its twin across the Agrifina rotunda, the Museum of the Filipino People (once the Department of Finance Building) and the recently completed National Gallery of Art (formerly the Senate Building on Burgos Drive), in what is to become Manila’s Museum Cluster.

These three Neoclassical landmarks from the pre-World War II American colonial era form a stately civic ensemble on the eastern fringe of Rizal Park in Manila along Taft Avenue. Once fully realized, this heritage parcel that was one of the primary focal points of the [Daniel Burnham Plan for Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/reimagining-the-heart-of-manila-through-the-visions-of-our-future-architects/) of 1905 will no doubt provide welcome spatial relief from the densely congested urban landscape of the contemporary metropolis.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.02 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.00.02-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.02 PM - BluPrint")Artist’s rendering of the lobby entrance. Cooing breezes will induce the marble halls which reinstate the grandeur and timeless experience of Toledo’s design. Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia Architects In a closed competition, the board of trustees of The National Museum of the Philippines invited five architects to submit proposals for the DOT transformation. The organization awarded the project to the design team of architect Dominic Galicia and interior architect Tina Periquet. In preparation for their scheme, Galicia and Periquet garnered inspiration from the National Museum collection eventually arriving at DNA as a potent generator of concept and form.

The organization gave the design team full access to the original Toledo linen drawings from the National Museum archives. The online archive of Ohio State University contained images of the thesis project that he produced as an architecture student there. Galicia muses on the potency with which objects and texts can inform design. “The texts that you read are opportunities for you to get into a certain state of understanding. You go to a hundred sources, you look through books, you scour the net, and you talk to people, to start to build a context. When you start with *tabula rasa*, and you just use the material that comes with the project, it has an organic way of leading you from one insight or intuition to the next. The project begins to tell you what it wants.”

**READ MORE: [The National Museum of Natural History Inaugurated–Here’s your first look!](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/national-museum-natural-history-inauguration/)**

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.19 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.00.19-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.19 PM - BluPrint")Artist’s rendering of the entrance hall for VIPs. The interior decorative motifs based on the art of various indigenous peoples find an easy fit within the Neoclassical architrectural framework. Beyond being merely ornamental, these patterns will be an effective aid in way-finding around the different collections. Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia Architects![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.14 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.00.14-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.14 PM - BluPrint")Artist’s rendering of the ground level promenade. | Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia ArchitectsThe final building can only benefit greatly from an architect with the ability to “listen” to the original Toledo design, taking cues from it to formulate the most appropriate response. It is not fanciful to consider, therefore, that Toledo’s building finds its completion in Galicia’s interventions in response to the new program.

The winning scheme proposes a circular glass-and-metal canopy that shall crown the central courtyard of the building, creating a sheltered public space. Four steel box-section “tree trunk segments” will arc upward from a stepped base to support this new structure. A steel double helix spirals around a central scenic lift shaft. Rising six storeys above the courtyard’s floor, the double helix represents the shared DNA of all living things. It is the dynamic sculptural focus of the scheme.

![cropWing A cross section](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropWing-A-cross-section.jpg "cropWing A cross section - BluPrint")Wing A Cross section of the National Museum of Natural History | Courtesy of Dominic Galicia Architects![Wing B longitudinal section](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Wing-B-longitudinal-section.jpg "Wing B longitudinal section - BluPrint")Wing B longitudinal section of the National Museum of Natural History | Courtesy of Dominic Galicia ArchitectsThe Tree of Life is the physical and metaphorical center of the National Museum of Natural History. According to Galicia, “It distills into one symbol mankind’s primordial quest to understand his environment, a quest that was perhaps sparked by man’s first act of curiosity. A subtext to this is the double-helix DNA, the essential element of knowledge that the scientists of the National Museum of Natural History seek to mine with each specimen of flora or fauna that they collect.”

The tree in the context of a museum of this nature draws reference to Charles Darwin who sketched the Tree of Life. It demonstrate that all species on Earth are related and evolved from a common ancestor. When one considers that DNA carries the genetic information vital in the development and functioning of all known living organisms, the fusion of the tree form and the double helix cannot be more apt.

The eccentric polygonal shape of the plan responds to the unique conditions established by Daniel Burnham’s 1905 Plan for Manila. It originally saw the area as the country’s center of political power.

It is fitting that the area serves as the country’s museum center. The design team will restore the Neo-classical façades, both exterior and courtyard faces, as closely as possible to the original Toledo intent. They will also restore the interior spaces previously altered to suit the Department of Tourism’s needs to their original design, in preparation for their use as galleries. The team will reinstall the lost original building and decorative details. The deferential handling of the restoration and retrofit establishes authentic grounds for a clear uncluttered conversation between the past and the present.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/elev-C.jpg "- BluPrint")Elevation facing the streets of TM Kalaw and General Luna | Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia ArchitectsThree new low-key ground-level annexes—two walled gardens and one loading dock enclosure with terrace above—will subscribe to the grammar of the main structure, while manifesting a subtle architectural break that indicates that they are not original. Within these volumes, the design team will tuck away modern mechanical and other imperatives to leave Toledo’s grand architectural gesture largely uncompromised.

The exhibition galleries and offices form the edges of the courtyard and rise to six levels. The courtyard floor is dynamic, with the edges of the steps describing a tilted surface that encourages both motion as well as momentary repose. The dialog between the stoic interior elevations and the dynamic glass and steel arboreal canopy endows the space with a wonderful sense of architectural energy. The new architecture embodies a continuous flow of space, blurring the lines between inside and exterior. It is a physical reality with the capacity to reconnect people to nature, art, the city, each other, and even redefine the perception of these connections. It is an architectural celebration of space, light and life.

Ventilation for the courtyard—filtered and fostered mechanically—will come in through the large door and window openings that face Rizal Park, as well as the group entrance facing Kalaw Street. The air then escapes through the continuous meter-wide gap of the double roof structure that acts as the “gills” of the building. Whereas the galleries and corridors of the museum will have air conditioning systems to protect the collections. While natural ventilation for the courtyard, an expression of the fact that what will make this museum come alive is the people who visit it. It’s an enormous breathing space, a ravishing hub that visitors will return to again as they tour the museum’s galleries where each space presents a new surprise.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.31 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-2.59.31-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.31 PM - BluPrint")Due to the new role imposed upon the old structure, the design team will have to introduce reinforcements to manage what will be more demanding loads as well as to make the new museum code compliant.The central backdrop of the Tree of Life is the Green Wall. It shields the Curatorial Wing and the multi-level ramp system, while oxygenating the Courtyard. It is more than 400 square meters of foliage, one face towards the Courtyard and the other towards the ramps, representing a woven tapestry of all the greenery that is endemic to the archipelago. A plant specimen’s location on the Green Wall will replicate the varying light conditions relating to whether a plant is atop a mountain or near the dark rainforest floor.

The Tree of Life and the Green Wall provide the means for circulation between floors. A processional route begins beneath the stepped plinth. Visitors in groups of about a dozen or so will ascend the central glass lift that shoots up the center of the Tree of Life to the Fifth Floor Bridge that connects to the Toledo structure. From there, visitors can make their way down to the lower galleries by means of the system of ramps. Galicia further elucidates, “If one thinks of the museum as a book and likens each floor of the museum as a chapter in the book, then the Green Wall acts as the beginning and end of each chapter. It also suggests a cyclical return to the forest.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MG_9363.jpg "- BluPrint")The original interior stairs will readily provide guests with access to galleries on different floors without having to trace the processional route each time.There are varying degrees of cultural significance to the architecture of the existing structure, and the design intent responds accordingly. Clearly the most important are the elements that express Toledo at his most eloquent, namely the exterior and Courtyard façades, as well as Marble Hall and the various interior stairwells.

There are also several indications of post-war interventions, such as the conversion of the building from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Tourism. The organization can maintain some of these indications where they can serve to enrich the telling of the story of the building as part of the larger narrative of our nation.

The floor pattern of the Fourth Floor Gallery formerly containing the Cabinet Secretary’s offices, for example, could suggest the former space plan. The Ground Level corners of the Courtyard all contain decorative altars that contain the first letter of what could be the surname of a former cabinet secretary. Preserving at least one of these altars could serve an archaeological purpose.

The design team will modify or replace the areas where a post-war intervention does nothing to enrich the story. The sixth floor, for instance, was a recent addition as a manner more concerned with expediency rather than aesthetics. They removed the floor and replaced it with a new glazed volume—a mediating transparency that will allow the old and the new to stand apart from, yet coexist with, each other. This literal “clear storey” will house new executive offices, a library and function halls, and afford commanding views of the surrounding city and Manila’s famed sunset.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/LOW-RES-Ayala-Hall-2-with-whale-copy.jpeg "- BluPrint")Artist’s rendering of the Ayala Hall | Image courtesy of Dominic Galicia Architects

The team will restore the Marble Hall faithfully to the aim described by the original 1939 architectural drawings. Another important space will be the new Main Reception Hall (Ayala Hall) above the Group Entrance Hall. It will bring to fruition the architectural purpose suggested by the double-height arched windows on the exterior, combining two floors of corner rooms into one large airy space. The architectural decoration of this new space will be Neoclassical but rendered in a Filipino way, using decorative motifs of various indigenous communities, beginning with ethnic renditions of the Tree of Life, such as that of the Mangyan and the Maranao.

The designers will use ethnic designs depicting other aspects of the natural world in an elegant appropriation for pattern making and wayfinding.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.26 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-2.59.26-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.26 PM - BluPrint")The team carried out extensive restoration on the courtyard elevations, including all fine detail work. Dominic Galicia is emphatic about resurrecting the original Toledo intent to establish grounds for an authentic and clear architectonic exchange between his new interventions and the work of the old master. They have to take great care to employ the most compact construction machinery available to avoid having to cut larger openings than necessary on the building fabric.The National Museum of Natural History greatly extends the scope of Galicia’s work, which for the most part focuses on residences and churches. It reflects within his prior body of work, particularly in his churches, that rehearsals took place in preparation for this very moment. Galicia has the knack for recognizing the crucial insight of a project and allows a design to find its course to its logical and natural conclusion, permitting it to be all that it should.

Where another architect might indulge personal whims and permit the need to create a sensation to get in the way, Galicia knows the rewards that arise from nurturing ideas to germinate to full fruition. His sensitive and masterful handling of the National Museum of Natural History shows that equal parts of architectural bravery and a healthy submission and respect for the past can bestow upon a major historic building new life without losing the old fabric, its charm, and even its ghosts. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [The Juan Luna Building: A Riverside Palace Renewed](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/juan-luna-building-restoration/)**

---

## Who is Antonio Toledo?

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.47 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-2.59.47-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.47 PM - BluPrint")**ANTONIO TOLEDO** (1889 to 1972)

· One of the first government scholars or *pensionados* sent to study Architecture abroad

· Graduated with a degree in Architecture from Ohio State in 1911

· First worked at the Bureau of Public Works as a draftsman for William Parsons in 1911

· Promoted to supervising architect in 1915

· Became consulting architect in 1938 until his retirement in 1954

· One of the pioneer professors of Mapua Institute of Technology founded by fellow *pensionado* Tomas Mapua. He taught there until 1967

**Best known projects:**

Department of Finance Building, Department of Agriculture Building, Manila City Hall, Bureau of Customs, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Leyte Provincial Capitol

---

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 1 2015. Edited for Bluprint online.**

*Photographed by Ed Simon*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the National Museum of Natural History in Manila?

The National Museum of Natural History is housed in the former Department of Tourism building along Taft Avenue, Manila — one of three Neoclassical landmarks forming Manila’s Museum Cluster near Rizal Park. Redesigned by architect Dominic Galicia and interior architect Tina Periquet through adaptive reuse, it celebrates the Philippines’ rich and diverse natural heritage, flora, and fauna.

### Who designed the National Museum of Natural History and what inspired the concept?

The museum was designed by architect Dominic Galicia and interior architect Tina Periquet, selected through a closed competition by the National Museum of the Philippines board of trustees. Their concept was inspired by the museum’s natural history collection, with DNA serving as the central generator of form — expressed through the Tree of Life, a six-storey steel double-helix structure at the heart of the building.

### What is the Tree of Life inside the National Museum of Natural History?

The Tree of Life is the sculptural and conceptual centerpiece of the museum — a six-storey steel double-helix structure rising from the central courtyard beneath a circular glass-and-metal canopy. It references Charles Darwin’s Tree of Life sketch, symbolizing that all species share a common ancestor. It also serves as the building’s primary vertical circulation route, housing a central scenic glass lift.

### How did Dominic Galicia approach the restoration of the Neoclassical building?

Galicia restored the building’s Neoclassical facades, Marble Hall, and interior stairwells as faithfully as possible to the original vision of architect Antonio Toledo, referencing original 1939 linen drawings from the National Museum archives. New additions — including ground-level annexes, a glazed sixth floor, and the Tree of Life — were designed to be clearly distinguishable from the original fabric while maintaining respectful architectural continuity with the historic structure.

### Who was Antonio Toledo and what is his significance to Philippine architecture?

Antonio Toledo (1889–1972) was one of the Philippines’ first government-sponsored architecture scholars, or pensionados, graduating from Ohio State University in 1911. He rose to become Consulting Architect at the Bureau of Public Works and designed landmark civic buildings including the Department of Agriculture Building — now the National Museum of Natural History — Manila City Hall, the Bureau of Customs, and the Cebu and Leyte Provincial Capitols.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Heritage

**Tags:** Antonio Toledo, Architecture, Dominic Galicia, Manila, National Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Natural History, Tina Periquet

---

### [SoFA Design Institute Empowers Students to Design New Campus](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/sofa-design-institute-empowers-students-to-design-new-campus/)

**Published:** August 30, 2024
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

SoFA Design Institute’s new campus at the Proscenium in Rockwell Center takes a bold departure from traditional design education. In crafting their new space, the school entrusted its own students with the design of their own learning environment. This innovative approach, rooted in the SoFA method, resulted in a space that is as much a reflection of the students’ aspirations as it is the school’s philosophy.

Founded in 2007 by Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Loralee Baron-Soong, SoFA ranks among the top choices for design education in the country. They offer CHED-accredited 4-year programs in Interior Design and Fashion, along with a variety of short courses and non-degree programs.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-01.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-01 - BluPrint")SoFA Design Institute founders Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Loralee Baron-Soong.The SoFA method, a cornerstone of the institute’s curriculum, emphasizes a four-step creative process: idea generation, conceptualization, design language, and output. The students applied this method to the campus design, transforming the space into a tangible representation of their creative journey.

## Carte Blanche

![SoFA Design Institute Empowers Students to Design New Campus.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-28.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-28 - BluPrint")Initially, the students were only involved in a small part of the project. SoFA professors and [Symplex Studios](https://www.instagram.com/symplexstudios.ph/) co-founders, Dana Manimbo and Kenneth Balthazar, served as mentors throughout the process, from concept to execution.

According to Manimbo, “It wasn’t a full-blown project at first, but it developed because we saw the students’ designs and initiatives had so much potential, and it shaped the campus into what it is today.”

Central to the students’ vision was the concept of “carte blanche”. Like an artist starting with a pristine surface, the students sought to create a blank canvas devoid of preconceived design elements. This allows future occupants to imprint their own creative mark. SoFA’s minimalist approach is evident in the campus’ clean lines and neutral palette, providing a versatile backdrop for diverse design expressions.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-22.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-22 - BluPrint")Mika, one of the participants, described the school as a “vessel” for creativity, inspiring the minimalist, white design of the campus.

“When we researched the concept, we realized that every creative begins with something blank, like paper, canvas, or fabric. From there, we used the SoFA method to create an open space for each student or anyone interested in SoFA,” she said.

“We challenge our students to really craft and create their own design language, create their own world of design that is personal to them,” Aranaz-Alunan said. “That it comes from their inner values, their inner stories, and \[they\] use that in their design work in order to impact the world to impact society and hopefully to also change the way humanity lives and operates.”

## A Space that Mirrors the Creative Process

![SoFA Design Institute lobby with curved walls and reception desk.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-27.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-27 - BluPrint")SoFA’s lobby encapsulates the campus’ motif of curved lines and doubles as an exhibition space for the students’ work.The campus layout itself mirrors the creative process, which begins at the lobby. This also serves as a display area for the students’ work. The students wanted to incorporate the fluidity and softness of fabric into the design as a nod to the institute’s fashion program. To achieve this, they used curved lines and shapes for the benches and the lobby’s information desk. Similarly, the curved glass elements in the classrooms and facade reflect the flowing nature of fabric.

![A sign that reads "Think Tank"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-12 - BluPrint")![SoFA's Think Tank is a conference room lit with a Kenneth Cobonpue chandelier.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-14.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-14 - BluPrint")Off to the side is the Think Tank; an enclosed space dedicated to focused brainstorming. This is where idea generation takes place. It’s designed to foster a concentrated atmosphere, allowing students to delve deep into their creative processes. The long conference table, lit by a Kenneth Cobunpue chandelier, creates an environment conducive to group work.

![SoFA's Learning Center, which contains books, swatches, and other resources for students.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-19 - BluPrint")

![SoFA's Learning Center, which contains books, swatches, and other resources for students.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-16.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-16 - BluPrint")

![SoFA's Learning Center, which contains books, swatches, and other resources for students.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-18.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-18 - BluPrint")

As you move deeper into campus, you come upon the Learning Center. This houses a collection of design books, magazines, and digital resources, while also providing areas for research, study, and group work. It also marks the second step in the SoFA method: conceptualization.

## Interior Design and Fashion Labs

![SoFA's Fashion Lab,  equipped with sewing machines and work tables, provide students a place to execute their ideas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-08 - BluPrint")SoFA’s Fashion Lab, equipped with sewing machines and work tables, provides students a place to execute their ideas.Classrooms are located in the back. The fashion lab, tailored to the needs of fashion students, features sewing machines, cutting tables, and display areas for showcasing garment designs. The lab mimics a professional fashion studio, providing students with hands-on experience and industry-standard equipment.

The interior design lab is a practical space equipped with drafting tables. Designed to facilitate the design process, the lab’s layout encourages collaboration, with ample space for group projects and peer reviews. These spaces aim to create an area conducive to developing the students’ design language.

## A Collaborative Space

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-07.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-07 - BluPrint")One of the main features of SoFA Design Institute’s campus is the Collab Space; a flexible area designed to accommodate a variety of activities, including exhibitions and photo shoots. It’s a place where students can collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, network with professionals, and is also available for hosting events.

The culmination of the creative process comes full circle here and in the campus’ other display areas. Here, students exhibit their finished works, representing the final stage of the SoFA Method–output. This reinforces the idea of the campus as a platform for showcasing talent and inspiring future generations of designers.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-20.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-20 - BluPrint")Beyond individual expression, the campus fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. The integration of fashion and interior design elements further demonstrates the school’s commitment to their philosophy in practice.

Students have access to the tools and knowledge to refine their designs, with dedicated spaces allowing for specialized exploration. The Learning Center and classrooms facilitate the development of ideas into concrete concepts. Shared areas, such as the Think Tank and Collab Space, encourage students from different disciplines to work together, enriching the learning experience.

## Student Empowerment and Vision for the Future

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-03.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-03 - BluPrint")The design team behind SoFA’s new campus.This student-led project proved to be a transformative experience. Those involved gained invaluable experience in project management, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. It also instilled in them a sense of ownership and pride in their creation.

Due to its success, Balthazar and Manimbo established the Society for Empowerment in Education and Design (SEED) to ensure more students gain hands-on experience.

“This SoFA campus is a testament to what we can do,” Balthazar asserts. “We want to replicate this for future design leaders.”

Looking ahead, the students and faculty see the campus as a dynamic space, evolving with the changing needs of the design industry. They aim to attract students, designers, and industry professionals from across the country, making it a hub for creativity and innovation.

## Painting the Canvas

The building’s minimalist design serves as a blank canvas for students to discover their own creative inspirations. Aranaz-Alunan hopes the walls will soon be filled with vibrant colors and student artwork.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-09.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-09 - BluPrint")“It really is meant to be a backdrop for the creative work of the students,” she said. “Eventually we would invite students and welcome students should they wish to paint on a wall because we feel that the place has to evolve. The school, the campus space really has to be exactly… like a blank canvas… so you can play and explore your ideas.”

Aranaz-Alunan sees the new campus as a springboard for SoFA’s evolution. “It’s just the starting point,” she says. “We’re excited about the possibilities for future design courses and campus development.”

The SoFA Rockwell campus stands as a powerful example of student agency and the transformative potential of design education. It’s a space where creativity is nurtured, and future design leaders are forged.

These spaces collectively create a dynamic and inspiring learning environment that supports the holistic development of design students. By integrating theory and practice, the SoFA Design Institute’s new campus empowers students to become creative problem-solvers and innovative designers.

![SoFA Design Institute Empowers Students to Design New Campus.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-SOFA-13.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (SOFA)-13 - BluPrint")*Photographed by Ed Simon.*

**Read more:** [KaPAMANA: ARTEFINO 2024 Shares Philippine Heritage Through Craft and Artistry](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/kapamana-artefino-2024-shares-philippine-heritage-through-craft-and-artistry/ "KaPAMANA: ARTEFINO 2024 Shares Philippine Heritage Through Craft and Artistry")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is SoFA Design Institute and where is its new campus located?

SoFA Design Institute is a CHED-accredited design school in the Philippines, founded in 2007 by Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Loralee Baron-Soong. It offers four-year programs in Interior Design and Fashion, along with short courses. Its newest campus is located at the Proscenium in Rockwell Center, Makati, and was notably designed by the school’s own students.

### Who designed the SoFA Design Institute’s Rockwell campus?

The SoFA Rockwell campus was designed by SoFA’s own students, guided by mentors Dana Manimbo and Kenneth Balthazar of Symplex Studios. What began as a limited student involvement expanded into a full campus design project after faculty recognized the exceptional quality and potential of the students’ concepts, resulting in a space that directly reflects the school’s four-step creative methodology.

### What is the SoFA Method and how does it shape the campus layout?

The SoFA Method is a four-step creative process comprising idea generation, conceptualization, design language, and output. The campus layout mirrors this sequence — beginning at the lobby and Think Tank for idea generation, moving through the Learning Center for conceptualization, into the labs for developing design language, and culminating in the Collab Space where finished works are exhibited as final output.

### What is the design concept behind SoFA Design Institute’s Rockwell campus?

The campus is built around the concept of “carte blanche” — a blank canvas that invites students and future occupants to imprint their own creative identity. This is expressed through a minimalist white palette, clean lines, and curved forms inspired by the fluidity of fabric. The design intentionally avoids preconceived aesthetic elements, positioning the space as a neutral backdrop for evolving student expression.

### What facilities are available at SoFA Design Institute’s Rockwell campus?

The SoFA Rockwell campus includes a lobby that doubles as an exhibition space, a Think Tank for focused brainstorming, a Learning Center with design books and digital resources, a Fashion Lab with sewing machines and cutting tables, an Interior Design Lab with drafting tables, and a flexible Collab Space for exhibitions, photo shoots, and interdisciplinary events — all designed to support the full arc of the creative process.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Design, Interior Design, Philippines, SoFA Design Institute

---

### [Revitalizing the Pasig River to Transform Manila's Social Fabric](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/pasig-river-urban-development-by-wta-and-pgaa/)

**Published:** February 1, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

As it weaves through the heart of Metro Manila, the Pasig River plays a significant role in the Philippines. Historically, it served as a vital trade route during the pre-colonial era, shaping the development of settlements along its banks. Today, the river symbolizes the interconnectedness of diverse communities, reflecting the city’s complex social fabric. The Pasig River rehabilitation project aims to revitalize the river’s ecosystem, create accessible green spaces for the community, and foster sustainable urban development along its banks.

Urbanization and industrialization, however, greatly affected the quality of the river over the years. Despite facing environmental challenges, efforts to rehabilitate the Pasig River resonate with a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and community well-being. It’s a focal point for community engagement. Now, various initiatives aim to revive its ecological health and promote sustainable practices.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective29.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)29 - BluPrint")The showcase area spans almost 500 meters behind the Manila Central Post Office buildingThe latest initiative to restore the landmark’s glory is the “Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli.” This is a comprehensive, multi-agency urban renewal project spearheaded by the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD). Executive Order 35 mandates the rehabilitation of the Pasig River to its original pristine condition. Chaired by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, the project aims to transform Pasig River into a center of economic activity and tourism. It will also promote transportation connectivity in Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces. The agency collaborated with [WTA Architects and Design Studio](https://wtadesignstudio.com/) and [PGAA Creative Design](https://pgaacreativedesign.com/) to create the masterplan for the urban development project.

## **Giving Birth to New Public Space** Along the Pasig River

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-December-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective-7.jpg "BluPrint-2024-December-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)-7 - BluPrint")The proposed Pasig Rehabilitation project will cover the full length of the river.Manila ranks first in the Population Density by City 2024 report by the World Population Review. The country’s capital has a population density of approximately 119,600 per square mile, or 46,178 persons per square kilometer, the report reveals.

Having more public spaces in dense cities like Manila is crucial as they provide essential breathing room amid the urban hustle. These spaces offer residents a retreat from crowded environments, fostering community interaction, physical activity, and mental well-being. Additionally, public spaces contribute to improved air quality, enhanced aesthetics, and a sense of shared identity. Ultimately, it creates a more livable and sustainable urban landscape.

In January 2024, the showcase area of the Pasig River Urban Development project had its inauguration led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. It spans almost 500 meters behind the Manila Central Post Office building. But according to William Ti, Principal Architect of WTA Architects and Design Studio, this is just the first phase.

“One of the main goals of this project is to create an unimpeded pedestrian and cycling lane that would connect all the cities along the river,” Ti shares. He emphasizes the importance of having a space where one can enjoy a comfortable walk. “It definitely improves the quality of life of everyone who lives along the river because now you can always have a space in your everydays,” he adds.

## Fulfilling a Public Need

![an aerial view of the new esplanade along the Pasig River.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective10.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)10 - BluPrint")Since the launch of the showcase area, it shows how people craved for a new public space this size since the Rizal Park. Local residents and those from nearby cities gather along the esplanade admiring the new view of the city’s skyline while cyclists pass through from both ends. Ti emphasizes that this is one of the benefits of this project. It encourages people to go out and engage with each other, especially those who don’t have access to open spaces.

Moreover, Paolo Alcazaren, Principal Architect of [PGAA Creative Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/good-design-award-philippines-2019/), explains this project can bridge the gap between from where we are now to where we should be. This correlates with Manila having the lowest open space per capita of any major cosmopolitan city in the world. Alcazaren expounds that it’s way below the required minimum of nine square meters per person based on the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

## **On Designing The Pasig River’s Masterplan**

![A view of the Manila Central Post Office along the Pasig River.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective32.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)32 - BluPrint")The Pasig River Urban Development project will cover the 26-kilometer stretch of the river. In total, Ti and Alcazaren reveal that the project will be approximately 50 kilometers divided into two for both sides. Part of the plan is to build recreational and wellness amenities, including [public parks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/what-every-good-public-park-needs/), jogging paths, and bike lanes.

![photo of Architect William Ti and Paolo Alcazaren on the esplanade.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective23.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)23 - BluPrint")William Ti of WTA Architects and Design Studio and Paolo Alcazaren of PGAA Creative DesignAs urban designers, Ti and Alcazaren faced several challenges when working on this ambitious project. A major one is dealing with the dwellers in the area. To address this, Ti says part of the plan is to create two new housing communities at both ends of the river. “You’re not relocating the people, but you’re rehousing them within the city still. They would still have adequate access to their jobs,” he shares.

Another challenge for the designers is dealing with sections where landowners built up to the edge of the river banks. Alcazaren explains they had to address how they can connect each section that has no space. Their solution is to build piers over the river, thereby expanding the banks in these sections by up to six meters.

## Addressing the Environmental Impact

![An aerial view of the esplanade along the Pasig River next to the Manila Central Post Office.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective44.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)44 - BluPrint")The team also collaborated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other departments to safeguard the project’s environmental impact. Under EO 35, specific committees are in-charge of maintaining the Pasig River. Ti and Alcazaren also hope there will be another agency to enforce its upkeep.

The Pasig River stands as more than a waterway. It is a testament to the historical roots and dynamic resilience of Metro Manila. The ongoing Pasig River rehabilitation holds the promise of revitalizing this iconic river. It’s an ambitious and visionary masterplan crafted by WTA Architects and Design Studio and PGAA Creative Design. The aim is to address the pressing need for more public spaces in the densely populated Manila.

The Pasig River Urban Development project serves as a beacon of hope for a city seeking to bridge the gap between its current state and a more sustainable, livable future. The endeavor symbolizes a collective commitment to environmental stewardship, community well-being, and the creation of public spaces that truly enrich the social fabric of Metro Manila.

![An aerial view of the esplanade along the Pasig River next to the Manila Central Post Office.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective39.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)39 - BluPrint")![An view of the esplanade along the Pasig River next to the Manila Central Post Office.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective40.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)40 - BluPrint")![An view of the esplanade along the Pasig River next to the Manila Central Post Office.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-January-IN-ARTICLE-BP-Perspective49.jpg "BluPrint-2024-January-IN ARTICLE-(BP Perspective)49 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BluPrint-2024-December-COVER-BP-Webzine-1.jpg "BluPrint-2024-December-COVER-(BP Webzine)-1 - BluPrint")Photos by Ed Simon

Read more: [GRASS launches the first biodiverse reforestation in Pasig City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/grass-launches-first-biodiverse-reforestation-green-city/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Pasig River Urban Development project?

The Pasig River Urban Development project, known as “Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli,” is a multi-agency urban renewal initiative under Executive Order 35, chaired by the DHSUD. It aims to rehabilitate the full 26-kilometer stretch of the Pasig River into a continuous public corridor with parks, bike lanes, jogging paths, and housing — transforming it into a center of tourism and economic activity in Metro Manila.

### Who are the architects behind the Pasig River rehabilitation masterplan?

The masterplan was developed by WTA Architects and Design Studio, led by Principal Architect William Ti, in collaboration with PGAA Creative Design, led by Principal Architect Paolo Alcazaren. Both firms worked under the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD) alongside government agencies including the DHSUD and DENR.

### How much of the Pasig River will the rehabilitation project cover?

The Pasig River rehabilitation project covers the full 26-kilometer length of the river, with development planned on both banks — totaling approximately 50 kilometers of continuous riverfront. The first showcase area, spanning nearly 500 meters behind the Manila Central Post Office, was inaugurated in January 2024 and serves as the project’s first completed phase.

### Why does Manila need more public open space along the Pasig River?

Manila is the world’s most densely populated city, with approximately 46,178 persons per square kilometer, and currently has the lowest open space per capita of any major cosmopolitan city globally — far below the WHO minimum of nine square meters per person. The Pasig River project directly addresses this deficit by creating accessible green corridors, esplanades, and recreational spaces for residents across Metro Manila.

### How does the Pasig River project address the displacement of riverside communities?

Rather than relocating riverside dwellers outside the city, the project plans to rehouse affected communities in two new housing developments at both ends of the river. This approach ensures residents maintain proximity to their workplaces and social networks. In sections where private landowners have built to the river’s edge, architects designed elevated piers extending up to six meters over the water to maintain a continuous public pathway.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Heritage, Top Story

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Heritage, Manila, Philippines, Sustainability

---

### [Museum of the Future: An Exceptional Visionary Building Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/museum-of-the-future-an-exceptional-visionary-building-design/)

**Published:** February 22, 2022
**Author:** Maria Rebecca Abaya

**Content:**

Building design at its visionary best engrosses, thrills, and inspires in architecture. It should possess an ineffable quality that embodies design intelligence, connection to place, and above all, imagination. Admired not only from afar are the structures in these modern times. It is not also about shaping and planning functional public spaces but also about creating an icon. True in the Dubai scene recently launching the “Museum of the Future.” Another iconic building that captivates the unfailing emirate’s skyline. Said to be one of the world’s complex structures, yet it’s also one of the most beautiful buildings worldwide. The futuristic torus-shaped concept is awe-inspiring that isn’t enough for just eye-lingering but should be understood and experienced.

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-1.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (1) - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/how-the-expo-2020-dubai-can-create-a-brighter-future/)## The Futuristic Structure

Nestled in the heart of Dubai’s main arterial highway, the road, and the metro passengers will not miss this unique manifestation of the collaboration between man and machine. A second look is not enough. As its name speaks for itself, The Museum of the Future is a futuristic building representing “humankind in all its strength, creativity, and unmatched ability to exist within its surroundings,” explained Dubai Media Office (DMO).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-5.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (5) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-10.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (10) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-7.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (7) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-11.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (11) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-13.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (13) - BluPrint")

The bold torus-shaped building captures the perpetual energy of the city. It comprises three main parts: the green hill, the main building, and the void. Killa Designs and Buro Happold developed the designs and structural details with one aim in mind, making it one of the “most advanced buildings in the world.” The green hill elevates the building above the metro line to enjoy greenery while engaging with the museum. According to Killa Designs, it is uncommon in the areas of ultramodern facilities habitat. The Greenhill also represents the earth’s rootedness in place, time, and history. The main building’s exterior is clad stainless steel achieving the LEED platinum status. The museum exemplifies a new digital design approach by using BIM holistically at every stage.

## Details and Interiors

Wrapped and cut with Arabic calligraphy is the stainless steel in the facade. These also serve as windows of the building. The said calligraphy is a poem of Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed about his vision for the city’s future. It is a catalyst for pioneering ideas and inventions and inspiration to those who visit the building to “innovate, create and discover.” Mainly seen also at the interior’s upper floors are the Arabic calligraphy which is a dedication to humanity’s strength, artistry, and passion for the art. The elliptical void in the middle stands for innovation and is the unwritten future into which humanity and the world can look forward to. It means the unburdened time ahead of us and an inspiration to drive today’s innovators.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-9.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (9) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-8.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (8) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-6.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (6) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-4.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (4) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-3.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (3) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-2.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (2) - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-17.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (17) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-14.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (14) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-15.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (15) - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BP-2022-In-Article-Photo-Museum-of-the-future-16.jpg "BP 2022 In-Article Photo (Museum of the future) (16) - BluPrint")The Museum of the Future is a 78-meter-high structure with six exhibitions and one administration floor above a 3-story podium. Moreover, an F&B deck, auditorium, retail, parking, and services are also available within the premises. These facilities are set to open to the public this February 22, 2022. A futuristic building and artistic beacon in Dubai yet a low carbon civic building that sets a new benchmark for parametric design and passive solar architecture—a true union of social and environmental responsibility of UAE’s aesthetic ambition.

*Photo Credits: Ar. Kern Parangan, Kaleej Times, Killa Designs, CNN, and MOTF©*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the Museum of the Future in Dubai?

The Museum of the Future is a 78-meter-tall torus-shaped landmark in Dubai, opened on February 22, 2022. Designed by Killa Design with structural engineering by Buro Happold, it houses six exhibition floors, an F&B deck, auditorium, and retail spaces. It is widely regarded as one of the most complex and visually striking buildings in the world.

### Who designed the Museum of the Future and what was their vision?

The Museum of the Future was designed by Killa Design in collaboration with Buro Happold. Their shared goal was to create one of the most advanced buildings in the world — a structure that represents human creativity, strength, and adaptability. The design uses BIM holistically across every stage, setting a new benchmark for parametric and passive solar architecture.

### What does the Arabic calligraphy on the Museum of the Future mean?

The Arabic calligraphy wrapping the museum’s stainless steel facade is drawn from a poem by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, expressing his vision for the city’s future. The inscriptions serve a dual purpose — functioning as the building’s windows while conveying a message of innovation, creativity, and humanity’s potential to shape what lies ahead.

### What is the significance of the elliptical void in the Museum of the Future?

The elliptical void at the center of the torus form symbolizes the unwritten future — an open space representing boundless possibility and the innovations yet to come. It is intentionally left undefined, serving as a visual and conceptual invitation for today’s creators and thinkers to imagine and build the world ahead without constraint.

### What sustainability features does the Museum of the Future have?

The Museum of the Future achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest standard in green building design. Its stainless steel facade incorporates passive solar design strategies, while the green hill elevating the structure above Dubai’s metro line promotes urban greenery in a dense, ultramodern environment. The building demonstrates that civic architecture can balance aesthetic ambition with environmental responsibility.

**Categories:** Architecture, Arts &amp; Culture, Civic

**Tags:** Architecture, Details, Futuristic, Modern

---

### [IP Santos: A legend in his own right](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/i-p-santos-a-legend-in-his-own-right/)

**Published:** January 29, 2020
**Author:** Maita Quiocho

**Excerpt:** IP Santos' landscapes were linear (or architectural), with abundant use of concrete, softened by a mix of patterns, textures, and materials.

**Content:**

*Editor’s note: Today is the sixth death anniversary of Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr., a National Artist for Architecture and the Father of the Father of Modern Philippine Landscape Architecture.*

---

When one gazes at a glass-domed commercial complex or a cluster of high-rise residential towers, one rarely notices the greenery that surrounds it. What most people fail to realize is that without the surrounding landscape, the scene would not be as picturesque, nor would it seem as complete.

Landscape architecture complements any edifice. It adds color and life to what may seem drab or nondescript. This is why it is so essential to the outcome of any architectural project. And no one knows this better than I.P. Santos, one of the pioneers in this field.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/bluprint-landscape-architecture-ip-santos-3.jpg "bluprint-landscape-architecture-ip-santos-3 - BluPrint")Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr. (September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014) photographed by Ed SimonIldefonso P. Santos, Jr. was an architect by education, an artist in his passion, and a landscape architect by profession. These were the influences that bear an imprint on his works. His landscapes were linear (or architectural), with abundant use of concrete. But these were softened by a mix of patterns, textures, and materials, obtaining the “*malamig sa mata*” effect of which he so often spoke. The integration of local art pieces to his landscape was essential—an expression of our culture, as he would say. The use of mass plantings in his softscapes was his trademark, creating a visual feast of colors and textures.

**READ MORE: [Creating beauty for others: IP Santos’ work philosophy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/i-p-santos-a-legend-in-his-own-right/)**

According to Santos, the field of landscape architecture is relatively “young” in the Philippines, with a huge potential to grow. “I feel there is still a lot of opportunities to develop local landscape architecture. There is always something new to discover,” he said. “We are so rich in natural resources, so we must make use of these local materials as much as possible.”

![77 cities to receive Green Green Green budget for public space projects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Green-green-green-burnham-park.jpg "Green-green-green-burnham-park - BluPrint")Burnham Park in Baguio is another landscape project by IP SantosUnfortunately, Santos said that most landscape architects here tend to use imported materials instead of researching and using those of the homegrown variety. “They should not stop and accept things as they are. They must try to go beyond that,” he urged. “Filipinos do not appreciate what we have. We should learn to make maximum use of local materials.”

“For instance, the jade vine, which is very much ignored here, has been used in Java, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. You see this used in other countries, along with other plants that are available locally,” Santos revealed. In fact, he related, his former boss in the US once asked him to send cuttings of the vine for a project in Hawaii.

!['Green Green Green' budget for more public space in PH cities'Green Green Green' budget for more public space in PH cities](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1200px-View_from_the_pathway_Paco_Park.jpg "1200px-View_from_the_pathway_Paco_Park - BluPrint")View from the pathway at Paco Park, Manila | Photo by Angelyn Marquez via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0“Take the *bandera española*, for example. I was the first to use this in the Philippines. In those days, no one made use of this plant, although now it is widely used (in landscaping). Or the periwinkle and yellowbell. Now they are becoming popular, but I was the first to use these a long time ago,” he continues.

**READ MORE: [LOOK: Collaborative works of 2 National Artists for Architecture at MET Manila](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/2-national-artists-for-architecture-met-manila/)**

Moreover, Santos added, “We have new technology, so we must use that.” He also suggested that travel is important for those in the same field in order to see how things are done in other parts of the world. “Travel is always a requirement, so you must go out and explore to become well rounded.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-2-sanmiguel2.jpg "Native-vernacular-2-sanmiguel2 - BluPrint")San Miguel Corporation Headquarters, Ortigas Center, Pasig by Manuel Jr., Jose and Francisco Mañosa, constructed in the 1980s. Landscape design by IP Santos. (Photographed by Paulo Alcazaren)No doubt, his working experiences abroad and his extensive travels were partly responsible for his success.

Fourteen years after he established his landscape architectural firm, Santos founded the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects in 1977. As of writing, he remained active in this organization. He also continued to teach for the Landscape Architectural Program at the University of the Philippines.

Through the years, it became a well-known fact in the profession that I.P. Santos had a special way of dressing. But gone were the days when he would walk in with clas dangling on his neck. The artist, we would like to say, has mellowed. His dreams, though, continued to be big, as he undertook the publication of a book that covered his works through the years. He called it his last hurrah. We would like to call it another beginning.

**This article was first published in BluPrint Volume 1 1999. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who is Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. and why is he significant in Philippine architecture?

Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. (1929–2014) is recognized as the Father of Modern Philippine Landscape Architecture and a National Artist for Architecture. He pioneered the use of indigenous plants and local materials in landscape design, founded the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects in 1977, and shaped generations of practitioners through his teaching at the University of the Philippines.

### What was IP Santos’ design philosophy in landscape architecture?

IP Santos pursued a design approach he described as “malamig sa mata” — visually cooling and restful. His landscapes were architectural and linear, often using concrete softened by mass plantings, varied textures, and locally sourced materials. He consistently integrated Filipino cultural elements and indigenous plants to create outdoor spaces that were both functional and deeply rooted in local identity.

### What local plants did IP Santos introduce to Philippine landscape architecture?

IP Santos was among the first to introduce plants like bandera española, periwinkle, and yellowbell into Philippine landscape design — species that are now widely used in the industry. He also advocated for the jade vine, a native plant largely overlooked locally despite its use in gardens across Java, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hawaii.

### What are some notable landscape architecture projects by IP Santos in the Philippines?

IP Santos completed landmark landscape projects across the Philippines, including Burnham Park in Baguio City, Paco Park in Manila, and the grounds of the San Miguel Corporation Headquarters in Ortigas Center, Pasig. His body of work spans commercial, institutional, and public spaces, all unified by his signature use of mass plantings and locally sourced materials.

### What legacy did IP Santos leave for Philippine landscape architecture?

IP Santos left a foundational legacy by establishing the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects in 1977 and developing the Landscape Architecture program at the University of the Philippines. His advocacy for indigenous plants, local materials, and cultural expression in design elevated landscape architecture as a distinct and respected profession in the Philippines, earning him the title of National Artist.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Heritage

**Tags:** Father of Modern Philippine Landscape Architecture, I.P. Santos, Ildefonso P. Santos, IP Santos, Landscape Architecture, Philippine Landscape Architecture, Philippines

---

### [How We Lose 3.5 Billion Pesos a Day to Manila Traffic](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/how-we-lose-3-5-billion-pesos-a-day-to-manila-traffic/)

**Published:** October 20, 2025
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Filipinos spend a significant amount of their time waiting. In 2023, the average Filipino lost nearly five full days—a total of 117 hours—to Manila traffic, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For sociologist Barry Schwartz, he believes that delay and congestion are relevant to the analysis of social systems. The duration in which we wait, for instance, reveals the distribution of power within a system.

With road transport accounting for 98% of passenger traffic, car-centric infrastructure dominates the country’s transport networks. For the 94% of Filipino households that don’t own a car, the only option for mobility is public transportation. This involves commuters squeezing into train cars like sardines, forcing a fourteenth passenger into jeepneys built for thirteen, and lining up on the sides of highways just to stand on a bus all the way home.

![EDSA Kamuning flyover.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/edsa-kamuning-flyover-reopening-august-15-2024-004-scaled-1.webp "edsa-kamuning-flyover-reopening-august-15-2024-004-scaled - BluPrint")EDSA Kamuning Flyover. (Photograph from Jire Carreon at Rappler).The way we wait is a reflection of how different members of society perceive and fulfill their needs. In the Philippines, the architecture of waiting presents underlying structures of power that prompt us to ask ourselves: how and why do Filipinos wait?

# **A Place of Waiting**

Filipino commuters wake up early in the morning to account for their commute, which can either take 45 minutes or 2 hours, depending on the day. These increments of time accumulate into days lost. According the [Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA](https://www.jica.go.jp/english/overseas/philippine/information/press/2024/rdsigningctmp02212025.html)), waiting incurs significant personal costs for individuals and the overall system, estimated at 3.5 billion pesos per day, . This is projected to increase to 5.4 billion pesos by 2035 if no intervention is conducted.

Robert Siy, a columnist and sustainable mobility advocate, shares that the adverse effects of waiting can be mitigated by enhancing the waiting environment and reducing waiting times. For him, good public transportation includes these features: predictability, reliability, and frequency.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/468731808_381122928419490_1654236081794559588_n.webp "468731808_381122928419490_1654236081794559588_n - BluPrint")Robert Siy. (Photograph from Keep the Change Youth Policy Lab). During an inspection of Commonwealth Avenue, a major highway colloquially known as the “Killer Highway,” Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez addressed such issues. Commuter concerns such as “long waiting times, irregular PUV (public utility vehicles) headways, overcrowding, and unsafe boarding conditions” were indicated.

Lopez remarks, “If there are 3,972 PUVs here, why are so many people still lining up? We have to do something more.” He urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to take immediate action against the lack of public transportation.

Siy expresses similar sentiments, stating that the basic requirement of public transportation is a set maximum queuing time, which is directly proportional to the capacity available. Sufficient capacity ensures shorter waiting times for passengers. Siy states, “The most convenient type of service is one where you don’t even need to know the schedule.”

However, since waiting remains an inescapable part of commuting, the transparency of passenger information is vital in ensuring the quality of public transportation. This includes having access to departure and arrival information, and train or vehicle tracking. These features provide passengers with a sense of predictability, allowing them to have agency over their time.

![Inside this Taipei Metro Station, passengers can clearly track the train's whereabouts, including its arrival and departure times.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20221111_1.webp "20221111_1 - BluPrint")Inside this Taipei Metro Station, passengers can clearly track the train’s whereabouts, including its arrival and departure times. (Photograph from AUO Corporation).Every system must determine how various members of society are given their goods and services, and their needs are prioritized and satisfied. Other than the waiting time, the spaces in which we spend our time waiting impact our temporal experiences. Areas designed for waiting are affective spaces that create a reciprocal relationship between emotion and space.

Architecture can then be mobilized to design waiting areas that evoke certain emotional responses. Implementing features such as shelters and comfortable seating makes for dignified travel. The former can protect passengers throughout changes in weather conditions, while the latter can alleviate discomfort.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pexels-skitterphoto-546344-edited-scaled-1.webp "pexels-skitterphoto-546344-edited-scaled - BluPrint")Passengers can sit as they wait for their train in this station in the Netherlands. (Photograph from Skitter Photo).Even simple additions like restrooms, water dispensers, and air-conditioned spaces can further enhance the waiting experience of commuters. These features ensure that all passengers are treated with safety, respect, and care. As such, it is important to acknowledge mobility as a fundamental right.

Siy asserts, “If you have a barrier to travel, then you cannot exercise other fundamental rights and freedoms, like the freedom to adequate healthcare, education, and pursue a decent livelihood. You will be denied these rights if you are denied travel.”

# **Barriers to Dignified Travel**

The waiting experience exacerbates the already existing challenges and inequality that marginalized people face. Social stratification manifests itself in the duration and manner in which Filipinos wait. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife taking a helicopter to attend a Coldplay concert illustrates the matter.

Amidst the backlash, the president’s security group defended this decision by stating that Manila traffic created by the “unprecedented influx of 40,000 individuals early attending a concert” was a security threat to the president. Tucked deep in the suburbs, one could experience travel time of 2 hours or more from Metro Manila to the Philippine Arena. This 32-kilometer helicopter ride from the Presidential Palace would’ve only taken a matter of minutes.

![President Marcos' chartered helicopter.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/249f678c-fdba-416e-a710-a2ffd1077f49_cc1c8722.webp "249f678c-fdba-416e-a710-a2ffd1077f49_cc1c8722 - BluPrint")President Marcos’ chartered helicopter landing at the Philippine Arena. (Photograph from X: @pistonph).Meanwhile, commuters are relegated to the margins of the city. Turning public service into a business has led to the deprioritization of our needs, including inclusive mobility. In the current system, the safety and well-being of the nation’s leader going to a concert justifies his use of national resources.

Contrarily, the decades-long plight of the Filipino commuters has not warranted nationwide developments on inclusive mobility and transport infrastructure. Here, persons with disabilities face greater barriers to dignified travel. The continuous construction of footbridges demonstrates this issue.

The Kamuning footbridge, dubbed Mount Kamuning, drew negative attention due to its blatant disregard for accessibility. Footbridges are car-centric infrastructures that allow cars to move faster at the expense of pedestrians. “When you eliminate ground-level pedestrian crossings, you create an insurmountable barrier for many of the population,” Siy remarks.

![Kamuning Bridge at EDSA.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/footbridge-01.webp "footbridge-01 - BluPrint")This footbridge was dubbed Mount Kamuning due to its height and inaccessibility. (Photograph from Rappler).Existing laws like BP 344 mandate that infrastructure must be accessible to persons with disabilities. These include wide sidewalks, tactile paving, elevators, and ramps—all of which create a better waiting experience. “Accessibility is linked to the right of every person to be able to move around independently, regardless of their physical capacity,” states Siy.

To provide government officials with a deeper understanding of these challenges, Acting Secretary Lopez recently mandated DOTr and LTFRB officials to commute at least once a week. Siy quips, “What we find a little bit ridiculous is that they are now declaring, ‘Oh, it’s so difficult pala.’ As if this is something \[that\] became their realization only today. If I were the Secretary of Transportation, I would not give LTFRB staff the option of using their own transportation. It’s your job to understand the public transport availability—any issues faced by passengers and customers, you should be aware of.”

While this mandate is a small shift towards change, there is still a perception of optionality when it comes to the provision of public transportation. It is not viewed as an essential function by any part of government, with the regulatory board lacking a sense of responsibility to ensure its adequacy and sufficiency. Siy traces this perception back to the privatization of public services.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Have-you-tried-walking-on-EDSA-for-22km-01-1.webp "Have-you-tried-walking-on-EDSA-for-22km-01 (1) - BluPrint")The Move as One Coalition walked on EDSA for 22 kilometers. (Photograph from George Buid).Throughout history, public transportation relied on private initiatives, as franchises were driven by private operators and businesses. This practice continued well into the current system. The concept of public transportation as an obligation of the government never entered into the cultural mores. Now, people are experiencing the consequences of its decades-long neglect.

“If you are a person with disability, I guess the message you get living in the Philippines is, well, that is your lot in life, therefore, you have to contend with it, right?” Siy laments.

# **Accountability and Change**

For those who can afford to, the liminal experience of waiting can be escaped. Forgotten and delayed public infrastructure projects can be amended by buying two or more cars to avoid color coding, or even moving closer to work. Delay and congestion become mere inconveniences instead of everyday struggles.

But most people cannot escape such realities. Presently, there is a disjuncture between law and policy, and the lived experiences of commuters. The government has failed to create attractive waiting environments, making the journey between points A and B a grueling feat.

For Siy, one way to mitigate the issue is to establish a shift in cultural mindset. When he went overseas, he noticed that on every sidewalk, despite not seeing anybody use them, there were tactile pavings for the blind. “Here, this is where we get into debates about different types of infrastructure. Some people will say, ‘Well, *hindi naman ginagamit kaya tanggalin na lang natin*.’”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bike-Lane-7.webp "Bike-Lane-7 - BluPrint")Photograph from Leonardo Manugubat

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Amsterdam-Infrastructure-5-scaled-1.webp "Amsterdam-Infrastructure-5-scaled - BluPrint")Photograph from the Dutch Cycling Embassy

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/4f05cce8-ab9a-11ea-bf1b-7541df8028ff_image_hires_204611.webp "4f05cce8-ab9a-11ea-bf1b-7541df8028ff_image_hires_204611 - BluPrint")Photograph from the South China Morning Post

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/4368.webp "4368 - BluPrint")Photograph from Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Siy cites an important statistic, which states that approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. And at any given point in time, anybody can develop any form of disability. “When we fail to deliver accessible public transport, when we fail to deliver accessible sidewalks or buildings, then we are placing a barrier in front of those people,” Siy states.

It is then necessary to demand accountability from officials whose jobs are to secure such measures. Sustainable transport options like walking, cycling, and public transit are vital in taking over our roads. In turn, we take back time lost.

“*Hindi natin masusulusyunan ang isyu ng trapik kung hindi maririnig ang boses ng pinakamalaking sektor na gumagamit ng kalye*,” states Kiko Pangilinan in a 2019 press release. Six years later, it remains true.

If car ownership is a privilege that only 6% of Filipino households can afford, then inclusive mobility is a human right that should be prioritized. If Filipinos are required to work and go to school to sustain themselves, then it is imperative to provide them with a reliable means of transportation. This includes well-designed spaces for waiting that allow for the shift in the meanings we attribute to waiting.

**Read More:** [Disability Architecture: Ar. Jaime Silva on the Push for Accessible Spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/disability-architecture-jaime-silva-interview "Disability Architecture: Ar. Jaime Silva on the Push for Accessible Spaces")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why does Manila traffic cost the Philippine economy 3.5 billion pesos daily?

According to JICA, the 3.5 billion peso daily loss stems from the massive drain on productivity, increased fuel consumption, and health costs associated with extreme congestion. With road transport accounting for 98% of passenger traffic, the system’s heavy reliance on car-centric infrastructure forces the 94% of non-car-owning households into inefficient public transport, leading to an average of 117 hours lost per commuter annually.

### How can architecture improve the dignity and experience of the Filipino commuter?

Architecture can be mobilized to transform waiting areas into affective spaces that prioritize commuter dignity. Key features include weather-protected shelters, comfortable seating, and essential amenities like restrooms and water dispensers. By treating mobility as a fundamental human right, design interventions such as air-conditioned waiting zones and accessible hubs can alleviate the physical and emotional toll of long transit delays.

### What are the primary barriers to “dignified travel” for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Manila?

The primary barrier is car-centric infrastructure, such as steep, inaccessible footbridges (e.g., “Mount Kamuning”). These structures prioritize vehicle flow over pedestrian accessibility. To ensure dignified travel, urban design must adhere to BP 344, incorporating wide sidewalks, tactile paving, elevators, and ramps. Accessibility allows all citizens to move independently, which is essential for exercising rights to healthcare and education.

### How does “predictability” via technology mitigate the adverse effects of traffic?

Predictability is a pillar of good public transportation. Implementing passenger information systems—including real-time vehicle tracking and arrival/departure displays—gives commuters agency over their time. When passengers have access to transparent data, the psychological stress of waiting is reduced. As sustainable mobility advocate Robert Siy notes, the most convenient service is one where the passenger doesn’t even need to memorize a schedule.

### Why is “inclusive mobility” considered a human right in urban planning?

Inclusive mobility is a human right because travel is a precondition for exercising other freedoms. If a citizen cannot access reliable transport, they are effectively denied access to decent livelihoods, education, and healthcare. Transitioning from a profit-driven, privatized transport model to a government-led, inclusive system ensures that roads serve the 94% of Filipinos who rely on public transit rather than the car-owning minority.

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Benilde Aseana City Campus](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1-benilde-aseana-feature-image.webp "1-benilde-aseana-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/de-la-sallecollege-of-saint-benilde-aseana-city-campus/) 

### [Benilde’s New Aseana Campus Interweaves Learning and Creativity ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/de-la-sallecollege-of-saint-benilde-aseana-city-campus/)

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) will open its new campus in Aseana City, Parañaque. Occupying a 3,845-square-meter site, the new development signals a fresh chapter for the college, where architecture becomes an active part of how students learn, create, and connect. The campus will be named after the late Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr., \[…\]

 [![UP Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/upv-featured-image.webp "upv-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-the-upv-museum-of-art-and-cultural-heritage-became-a-model-of-adaptive-reuse/) 

### [How the UPV Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage Became a Model of Adaptive Reuse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-the-upv-museum-of-art-and-cultural-heritage-became-a-model-of-adaptive-reuse/)

Designed by renowned architect Juan Arrellano, this Commonwealth-era structure was completed in 1935. The building was turned over to the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in 1947, with long-standing plans of converting it into a museum. The UPV Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage (UPV MACH) now functions as a university museum with eight \[…\]

 [![CWC Talk: Resilience by Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CWC-Talk.webp "CWC Talk - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/resilience-by-design-the-cwc-design-center-and-the-urban-land-institute-philippines/) 

### [Resilience by Design: The CWC Design Center and the Urban Land Institute Philippines Discuss Strengthening Cities, Buildings, and Communities](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/resilience-by-design-the-cwc-design-center-and-the-urban-land-institute-philippines/)

The CWC Design Center (CDC), along with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines, hosted its Resilience by Design: Strengthening Cities, Buildings, & Communities event. The event invited Architect Eric Manuel of ARCH Capital, Architect Gelo Mañosa of Mañosa & Co., and Oliver Chan of Arthland as panelists. Aptly named, the event discussed how good design \[…\]

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### [In Conversation with the Past: A Look Into Adaptive Reuse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/in-conversation-with-the-past-a-look-into-adaptive-reuse/)

Over the past decades, adaptive reuse has been utilized as a sustainable alternative for the built environment. It involves repurposing existing buildings for a new use, allowing the past to remain while serving a modern purpose. Here, structures facing potential demolition or no longer serviceable are seen as sources of raw materials for new projects. \[…\]

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Metro Manila has faced rapid urbanization over the past decades, establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing megacities. The region comprises 16 cities and 1 municipality, totaling 17 local government units. With over 13 million people currently living in the area, its population density is approximately sixty times higher than the entire country. In 2016, \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Traffic

---

### [BUDJI+ROYAL reinterprets vernacular landscapes for Clark International Airport](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/budjiroyal-new-clark-international-airport/)

**Published:** April 27, 2018
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Excerpt:** BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design's centerpiece for the future Clark aerotropolis heralds Modern Filipino culture

**Content:**

As Clark is being groomed as an aerotropolis, it’s only fitting that the city’s airport gets a new addition. Under the Build, Build, Build program, the P9.36-billion development of the new Clark International Airport (CIA) terminal, by architecture and design duo Architect [Royal Pineda](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/genteelhome-x-royal-pineda-championing-modern-filipino-craftsmanship/) and Designer [Budji Layug](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/budjiroyal-natural-symphony-inside-home/) of BUDJI+ROYAL, now has an image Filipinos can expect to become reality in June 2020.

![bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-2 - BluPrint")Aerial view of the new terminal building that is almost the same size as the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal.Expected to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila and envisioned to be a major Philippine gateway upon full development, the new Clark International Airport terminal covers 101,977 square meters for its Phase 1 with an estimated capacity of eight million passengers per annum.

**READ MORE: [Panorama Drama: BUDJI+ROYAL’s M House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/panorama-drama-budjiroyal-m-house/)**

The new CIA building is framed by the trees lining the Tropical Plaza, where people can welcome and send-off their friends and families in the gardens and restaurants. The plaza celebrates the closeness and warmth of Filipino ties. Even before arriving at the plaza, the airport’s undulating roof can be seen sitting proudly atop a predominantly metal, lahar concrete, and glass building façade.

![bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-3 - BluPrint")Profile of cut bamboo has slits of skylights to let in more natural light to the interior.BUDJI+ROYAL, known for its design advocacy of “[Modern Filipino Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-filipino-architecture-reshaping-tradition/)+Design,” takes cues from the way we live today, our tropical climate, and creates a strong sense of place. Central Luzon region’s landscape of plains surrounded by mountain ranges is reinterpreted in the new terminal building’s undulating form, portraying the poetry of the three major land masses surrounding the province of Pampanga: Mt. Arayat, Mt. Pinatubo, and the Zambales Mountain Range. Warmer and tropical tones are used to make the terminal building itself cohesive with the landscape.

![bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-5 - BluPrint")Inside the airport building, exposed glulam and structural members celebrate the nostalgia of the *parol* or star lantern, a product that Pampanga is famous for, with a height of 20 meters at its center.The long span metal and glue laminated timber make up the structure, the latter steadily gaining more value in design and construction with its innovative engineering and tropical aesthetic, and cost-competitiveness. The terminal ceiling is an interpretation of *parol* and *capiz* grids, strengthening local cultural identity. The interiors complement its refreshing and permeable architecture.

**READ MORE: [Tropical resort vibe in the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/mactan-cebu-international-airport-terminal-2/)**

Opposite the ceiling, the flooring will be of locally sourced material, *lahar* or the volcanic debris from Mt. Pinatubo, fashioned in a terrazzo or marble finish. The understated flooring creates an elegant complement to the grandeur of the roof. According to BUDJI+ROYAL, the use of lahar is an ode to the Filipinos’ resiliency, rising from the ashes of the June 1991 eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo. The lahar concrete material will also be the “architectural fiber” of the New Clark City and the airport.

![bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-6 - BluPrint")The floor to ceiling glass panels allow unobstructed view of the aircrafts with the panoramic Pampanga landscape as backdrop. Notice also the dark flooring made of lahar—a contrast to the light color of the glulam ceiling.Instead of solid concrete walls, the new building’s façade will be made of glass and metal to give a sense of lightness and openness, and expose the expansive views of the mountains and the plains. This feeling of tropicality and permeability is another responsive design that BUDJI+ROYAL aims to incorporate in their projects.

**READ MORE: [3 Build, Build, Build infra projects to develop alternative Luzon growth hubs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/3-infra-projects-luzon-growth-hubs/)**

“Apart from the architecture, we want to celebrate the culture of Filipinos—we greet and send off our loved ones. So the planning takes into account the comfort of well-wishers and greeters,” says Layug in [an interview with Inquirer.net](https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/290683/new-clark-airport-introduce-modern-filipino-design-budjiroyal-firm/).

“The plan reflects the warmth of Filipinos,” says Pineda in the same interview. “This concept was an offshoot of our rehabilitation of Naia 1 in 2011. We are bringing this concept as our main DNA in what makes the Filipino airport distinct. Present your culture beautifully and efficiently so that the world will appreciate it.”

As complementary infrastructure to the New Clark City, the airport is seen to boost Philippine tourism and exhibit [Philippine vernacular architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/) to both local and foreign audiences. The airport is also endorsed as one of Central Luzon’s main growth hubs alongside the Philippine National Rail (PNR) North 2 Project that will connect Malolos, Bulacan, CIA, and Clark Green City (a masterplanning collaboration between BUDJI+ROYAL and AECOM).

![bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-new-clark-intl-airport-budjiroyal-4 - BluPrint")***Visit*** [***www.budjiroyal.com***](https://www.budjiroyal.com) ***for more information.***

---

**DESIGN TEAM**

**Owner: Republic of the Philippines
Project Funding: [BCDA Corporate Funds](https://www.bcda.gov.ph/)**
**Developer/Contractor: Megawide-GMR Consortium
Operations: Private Operations (Separate Selection Process)
Architecture: BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design in collaboration with Integrated Design Associates, Ltd. (IDA-HK)
Implementation Structure: Turnkey (EPC) + O&M PPP**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who designed the new Clark International Airport terminal?

The new Clark International Airport terminal was designed by BUDJI+ROYAL Architecture+Design — the creative duo of Architect Royal Pineda and Designer Budji Layug — in collaboration with Integrated Design Associates, Ltd. (IDA-HK). The design reflects their advocacy for Modern Filipino Architecture, drawing from Central Luzon’s landscape and cultural identity.

### What is the design concept behind the Clark International Airport terminal?

The terminal’s design is inspired by the three mountain ranges surrounding Pampanga — Mt. Arayat, Mt. Pinatubo, and the Zambales Range — expressed through an undulating roof form. Interiors reference the iconic parol star lantern and capiz grids, while lahar volcanic material from Mt. Pinatubo is used for flooring as a symbol of Filipino resilience.

### What materials were used to build the new Clark Airport terminal?

The terminal uses a combination of glass fiber reinforced metal, glue laminated timber (glulam), and lahar concrete sourced from Mt. Pinatubo’s volcanic debris. The glulam ceiling evokes the parol lantern, while lahar flooring is finished in terrazzo or marble — grounding the modern structure in local materials and regional history.

### How big is the new Clark International Airport terminal?

Phase 1 of the new Clark International Airport terminal covers 101,977 square meters, with an estimated capacity of eight million passengers per year. It is comparable in scale to the Hong Kong International Airport Terminal and is designed to help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

### What role does Clark International Airport play in Philippine infrastructure development?

Clark International Airport is a key component of the Philippines’ Build, Build, Build program and serves as complementary infrastructure to New Clark City. It is positioned as a major alternative gateway to Manila, supporting Central Luzon’s growth alongside the PNR North 2 rail project connecting Malolos, Bulacan, and Clark Green City.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Architecture, Budji Layug, Budji+Royal, Central Luzon, Clark, Clark Airport, Clark International Airport New Terminal Building, New Clark City, Pampanga, Royal Pineda

---

### [A Tribute to the Sea: The AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/a-tribute-to-the-sea-the-amosup-maritime-museum-and-sports-center/)

**Published:** August 15, 2024
**Author:** Rick Formalejo

**Content:**

In the heart of Manila City, the AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center, designed by JOG + Architects, stands as a thoughtful tribute to the Philippines’ rich maritime heritage. The Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) developed this structure. Founded in 1960, the establishment of AMOSUP aims to address the needs of Filipino seafarers. This building reflects the country’s enduring seafaring tradition and the union’s dedication to its members. By blending innovative design with functional spaces, the complex serves as both a cultural hub and a center for health and wellness. It captures the fluidity and power of the sea that has shaped the lives of Filipino seafarers.

## **Designing with the Sea in Mind**

The design of the AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center draws deep inspiration from the sea. This element has shaped the lives and careers of Filipino seafarers for generations. The building’s undulating facade, reminiscent of the flow of water, creates an organic, dynamic exterior. It captures the eye and evokes the movement of the ocean. This fluid design language stands out visually and also symbolizes the union’s maritime roots and ongoing commitment to the seafaring community.

![The AMOSUP building render.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-01.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-01 - BluPrint")![The AMOSUP completed building.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-08.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-08 - BluPrint")The building’s wave-like facade mimics the flow of water, creating an organic and dynamic exterior that captivates and evokes the ocean’s movement.

Moreover, a key feature of the building’s design is its passive cooling system, cleverly integrated between the wave-like facade elements. This system, inspired by the Venturi Effect, allows the building to “breathe” by optimizing airflow. As a result, the interiors remain cool and comfortable despite the tropical climate. Additionally, using glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) in the facade enhances the building’s durability and aesthetic appeal. It also contributes to energy efficiency.

## **Museo Marino: A Journey Through Maritime History**

At the heart of the complex lies Museo Marino, AMOSUP’s maritime museum. It immerses visitors in the world of seafaring. The [museum engages and educates with interactive exhibits](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/mona-gallery-admits-to-fake-picassos/) that bring the Philippines’ storied maritime history to life. These exhibits feature detailed replica model ships, nautical artifacts, and porthole-inspired viewing windows. They offer glimpses into the life of a seafarer.

![Museo Marino: Dive into the Philippines’ maritime history with interactive exhibits and detailed replicas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-39.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-39 - BluPrint")Museo Marino: Dive into the Philippines’ maritime history with interactive exhibits and detailed replicas.![AMOSUP Marine Museum interior shot.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-38.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-38 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP nautical artifacts](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-34.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-34 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP’s complex at Museo Marino features interactive exhibits and nautical artifacts that bring seafaring history to life.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-31.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-31 - BluPrint")AMOSUP’s complex at Museo Marino features interactive exhibits and nautical artifacts that bring seafaring history to life.![replicas of different boats on display](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-30.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-30 - BluPrint")![seafaring artifacts display](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-25.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-25 - BluPrint")![seafaring artifacts display](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-24.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-24 - BluPrint")![the AMOSUP exhibit](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-22.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-22 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP exhibit display](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-21.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-21 - BluPrint")![Step into the world of seafaring at Museo Marino, featuring replica ships and porthole-inspired windows for an immersive maritime experience.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-13.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-13 - BluPrint")Step into the world of seafaring at Museo Marino, featuring replica ships and porthole-inspired windows for an immersive maritime experience.![A vibrant boat hull serves as the museum’s centerpiece, guiding visitors through an immersive maritime journey.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-10.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-10 - BluPrint")A vibrant boat hull serves as the museum’s centerpiece, guiding visitors through an immersive maritime journey.![The museum’s glass floors reveal the pool area below, enhancing the sense of being surrounded by water.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-27.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-27 - BluPrint") The museum’s glass floors reveal the pool area below, enhancing the sense of being surrounded by water.One of the museum’s most striking features is its ornamental focal point—a brightly colored boat hull. This focal point draws visitors’ eyes and guides them along the exhibit path. The installation, combined with the museum’s glass floors revealing the pool area below, creates a powerful sense of immersion. Visitors feel as though they are surrounded by water. Consequently, the design seamlessly blends themes of the sea and seafaring with modern architectural elements. It creates a space that is both educational and evocative.

## **A Hub for Health and Wellness**

Beyond its role as a cultural landmark, the AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center also functions as a hub for [physical fitness and wellness](https://allure.ph/wellness/move-better-live-better-10-physical-fitness-benefits-that-you-will-actually-feel/ "physical fitness and wellness"). It provides AMOSUP members with world-class sports facilities. The sports center includes a competition-grade basketball court, fully equipped gyms, saunas, and a 25-meter swimming pool. All these elements are designed to promote the health and well-being of the union’s members.

![a competition-grade basketball court](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-19.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-19 - BluPrint")The AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center blends cultural significance with top-tier fitness facilities, including a competition-grade basketball court and fully equipped gyms.![basketball court at AMOSUP building](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-20.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-20 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP's basketball court ](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-02.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-02 - BluPrint")![The 25-meter pool in AMOSUP](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-06.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-06 - BluPrint")Beyond its cultural role, the sports center provides world-class amenities, supporting the physical fitness of AMOSUP members with a 25-meter pool and more.![The pool area with wave-like ceiling](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-05.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-05 - BluPrint")![The pool area features waveform ceiling ornaments that echo the maritime theme, enhancing the sports center’s cohesive design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-AMOSUP-04.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (AMOSUP)-04 - BluPrint")The pool area features waveform ceiling ornaments that echo the maritime theme, enhancing the sports center’s cohesive design.Notably, the pool area stands out with waveform ceiling ornaments that reflect the building’s overall maritime theme. Furthermore, the sports facilities offer more than recreational opportunities. They also serve as a space where seafarers can maintain their physical fitness—an essential aspect of their demanding profession. Thus, the sports center represents AMOSUP’s holistic approach to member welfare, acknowledging that physical health is just as important as professional development and education.

## **A Legacy of Support and Innovation**

![AMOSUP museum details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-20.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-20 - BluPrint")![nautical equipment](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-17.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-17 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP museum details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-37.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-37 - BluPrint")![AMOSUP museum details](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/BluPrint-2024-August-In-Article-Marina-Museum-36.jpg "BluPrint 2024 August In-Article (Marina Museum)-36 - BluPrint")The AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center embodies AMOSUP’s ongoing commitment to its members. It reflects the union’s history of advocacy and support since 1960. The building’s wave-inspired design and advanced facilities testify to the union’s vision of merging tradition with modernity. By honoring maritime history while addressing contemporary needs, the complex ensures to celebrate and to preserve the legacy of Filipino seafarers. Ultimately, it serves as a daily reminder of AMOSUP’s enduring role in supporting its members through their professional journeys and personal well-being. This, in turn, reinforces its significant contribution to the maritime community.

Photos by Ed Simon and Bien Alvares

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center?

The AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center is a landmark building in Manila designed by JOG + Architects for the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines. It serves as both a cultural institution honoring Filipino seafarers and a wellness facility offering world-class sports amenities to AMOSUP members.

### What is Museo Marino and what can visitors see there?

Museo Marino is the maritime museum housed within the AMOSUP complex. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, detailed replica model ships, nautical artifacts, and porthole-inspired windows. A signature feature is a brightly colored boat hull centerpiece, while glass floors reveal the pool area below, creating a full maritime immersion experience.

### What architectural features make the AMOSUP building unique?

The AMOSUP building features an undulating, wave-like facade made from glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). It incorporates a passive cooling system inspired by the Venturi Effect, which optimizes airflow to keep interiors comfortable in Manila’s tropical climate — making it both visually distinctive and energy-efficient.

### What sports and wellness facilities does the AMOSUP Sports Center offer?

The AMOSUP Sports Center provides members with a competition-grade basketball court, fully equipped gyms, saunas, and a 25-meter swimming pool. The pool area features waveform ceiling ornaments that tie into the building’s maritime theme, reinforcing AMOSUP’s holistic approach to member health and professional welfare.

### Who designed the AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center in Manila?

The AMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Center was designed by JOG + Architects and developed by AMOSUP, a union founded in 1960 to serve Filipino seafarers. The design reflects the Philippines’ deep seafaring heritage, blending maritime symbolism with modern architectural innovation and sustainable building techniques.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Architecture, maritime museum, Museum, Sports Complex, Sustainability

---

### [A Building Worthy of a Formula Racetrack](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/a-building-worthy-of-a-formula-racetrack/)

**Published:** November 20, 2022
**Author:** Anjelika Orui

**Content:**

As the capital and second most populated city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi has radically transformed in the past decade. In Abu Dhabi, nature has an extensive effect on the landscape and people. The light, temperature and color of the environment, in conjunction with continuous technological advancements and cultural diversity add dynamism to the city. These impressions area translated into the design inspiration for the race track area, reflecting the motorsport theme, to create spaces full of dynamism and energy.

[![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina5.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)5 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/lusail-stadium-qatars-largest-stadium-to-host-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-games/)The second Formula One track to be built in the Middle East, following Bahrain, Yas Marina Circuit was designed to be the Middle Eastern version of Monaco. Venue of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, this modern and impressive race track is built on Yas Island about 30 kilometers east of Abu Dhabi’s city center.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina12.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina10.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)10 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina11.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)11 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-PORTRAIT-Yas-Marina2.jpg "BP 2022 PORTRAIT (Yas Marina)2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina9.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)9 - BluPrint")

The circuit was designed by Herman Tilke, a well-known designer of F1 circuits and a racecar driver himself. Having been completed in 2009, the circuit was first driven by Bruno Senna, with the first organized event being the two-day GP2 Asia test, held the weekend before the first Grand Prix.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina) - BluPrint")

Having been constructed on a man-made island, It is believed to be the most expensive circuit in history at a reputed cost of $1 billion. Needless to say, it lacks nothing in terms of facilities. The technologically-advanced circuit features five fully-covered grandstands, a 227-berth marina and the first hotel to have been built over a Formula One circuit. Its twenty-one corners twist through the island off the Abu Dhabi coast, pass by the marina, and continue through the hotel with several long straights and tight corners.

One of the most iconic features of Yas Marina Circuit is the futuristic profile of the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island Hotel designed by Asymptote Architecture. Of architectural and engineering significance is the main feature of the project, a 217-meter expanse sweeping curvilinear form and a curvaceous roof containing more than 5,300 diamond-shaped steel panels that evoke the tessellated patterns found in traditional Islamic architecture. The characteristic of this development embodies the firm’s pursuit of “technological elegance” — to translate abstract mathematical models into physical structures.

The hotel contains two elliptical towers linked together by a steel and glass bridge, constructed as a *monocoque*-sculpted object passing above the Formula 1 track that makes its way through the building complex.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina4.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)4 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina2.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)2 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina13.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)13 - BluPrint")

The building has two skins: The inner curtain is a conventional acoustic insulation that muffles the roars of the race cars, while the outer “grid shell” breaks the sunlight and generates a stack cooling effect.

At dusk, the grid shell becomes a light source of its own with 5,800 LED luminaires — each containing 144 bulbs— mounted in the vertices of the lattice meshwork. These panels enable the façade to be a medium for sequenced lighting and moving imagery, adding to the racetrack atmosphere and the hotel’s brand image. Frits in the glass panels reflect the light sources outward, balancing the perceptibility without compromising the transparency from within.

This Grid-Shell component envelops the building in an atmospheric-like veil, fusing the entire complex together while providing spectral reflections that play against the surrounding sky, sea and desert landscape.

The architecture as a whole “performs” as both an environmentally responsive solution as well as an architecture of spectacle and event. The entire jewel-like composition responds visually and tectonically to the landscape, thus creating a distinct and powerful sense of place and a breathtaking backdrop to the Formula 1 races.

An architectural landmark embodying key cultural influence and aesthetics, with forms associated with speed, movement and spectacle, The Yas Hotel is designed to be a significant destination on Yas Island for Abu Dhabi and the UAE at large.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BP-2022-LANDSCAPE-Yas-Marina3.jpg "BP 2022 LANDSCAPE (Yas Marina)3 - BluPrint")Hani Rashid, principal of Asymptote Architecture describes the architecture as:

> “A perfect union and harmonious interplay between elegance and spectacle. The search here was inspired by what one could call the ‘art’ and poetics of motor racing, specifically Formula 1, coupled with the making of a place that celebrates Abu Dhabi as a cultural and technological tour de force.”

In addition to Formula One, the circuit has also hosted the short-lived FIA GT1 World Series, rounds of GP2 Asia and the full GP2 Series and overseas rounds of the V8 Supercar Championships, while 2012 saw the creation of a 12 Hour race for GT and sports cars.

*Photo credit to Arup, Asymptote Architecture and Bjorn Moerman*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island Hotel and who designed it?

The W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island Hotel is an iconic architectural landmark straddling the Formula 1 circuit at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It was designed by New York-based Asymptote Architecture, led by principal Hani Rashid. The hotel is celebrated for its sweeping grid-shell facade, dual elliptical towers, and a steel-and-glass bridge that passes directly over the F1 track.

### What makes the Yas Marina Circuit unique among Formula 1 tracks?

Yas Marina Circuit, completed in 2009 and designed by F1 circuit specialist Herman Tilke, is widely considered the most expensive racing circuit ever built at a reported cost of $1 billion. It is the first circuit in history to have a hotel built directly over the track, features five covered grandstands and a 227-berth marina, and was conceived as the Middle Eastern equivalent of Monaco.

### What is the grid-shell facade of the W Abu Dhabi Hotel made of?

The grid-shell facade spans 217 meters and comprises more than 5,300 diamond-shaped steel panels, evoking the tessellated geometric patterns found in traditional Islamic architecture. At night, 5,800 LED luminaires mounted within the lattice vertices transform the entire facade into a dynamic light display, enabling sequenced lighting and moving imagery that amplifies the racetrack atmosphere.

### How does the W Abu Dhabi Hotel’s design respond to its environment?

The hotel features a dual-skin system: an inner curtain wall for acoustic insulation against race car noise, and an outer grid shell that diffuses sunlight and generates a passive stack-cooling effect. The jewel-like facade also produces spectral reflections that interact with the surrounding sky, sea, and desert, making the building both environmentally responsive and visually spectacular.

### What architectural concept inspired the design of the Yas Island Hotel?

Asymptote Architecture describes the hotel as a pursuit of “technological elegance” — translating abstract mathematical models into physical structures. The design draws inspiration from the speed, movement, and spectacle of Formula 1 motorsport, combined with the cultural and technological ambitions of Abu Dhabi. The result is a landmark that functions simultaneously as an engineering achievement, a cultural statement, and an architectural spectacle.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

---

### [CC House: A Modern Filipino Family Haven](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/cc-house-a-modern-filipino-family-haven-by-lidu/)

**Published:** January 29, 2025
**Author:** Katherine Lopez

**Content:**

Living Innovations Design Unlimited, Inc. (LiDU) is known for creating minimalist, free-flowing spaces tailored to their clients’ personalities and preferences. The CC House, one of the firm’s projects in Iloilo, is a perfect example of this design aesthetic. Created for a young family, the house features open spaces, an airy feel, and warm, cozy interiors.

Isabella Robles Go, Principal Designer of LiDU, shares that the clients initially approached architect Paolo Valencia to design the house but expressed their desire for LiDU to handle the interiors. Go notes that her design firm has consistently worked harmoniously with Valencia on various projects. The clients were also familiar with LiDU’s design approach, allowing the creation of this family home to proceed seamlessly.

## **Fluid Layouts and Family-Oriented Features**

![CC House: Modern Filipino Family Haven](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-LIDU-1.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - LIDU)-1 - BluPrint")The exterior of the house exudes a contemporary Filipino vibe with the use of Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) fluted panels and marble cladding. Wide eaves help shade the house from the harsh sunlight, creating comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces. Rock gardens flanking the front door create a welcoming entrance while incorporating a minimalist touch of greenery at the facade.

In the foyer, a Katrina Cuenca artwork and Kenneth Cobonpue chairs give a hint of the homeowners’ penchant for Filipino art and design. A *baul—*an heirloom piece handed down by the lady of the house’s mother—gives character to the space. Opposite this vignette, a console table and shelves house the family’s travel finds. This is also where the homeowners can display knickknacks and art pieces they will acquire in the future. Meanwhile, a discreet room functions as a shoe closet, where the family can leave everyday footwear instead of bringing them inside the house.

![CC House: Modern Filipino Family Haven. Choosing locally sourced furniture­ —like the chairs, sofa, and coffee table from OMO Furniture by Milo Naval—is one way LiDU promotes sustainability.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-LIDU-3.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - LIDU)-3 - BluPrint")
Choosing locally sourced furniture­ —like the chairs, sofa, and coffee table from [OMO Furniture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/omo-furniture-innovating-filipino-design-with-sustainability/) by Milo Naval—is one way LiDU promotes sustainability.An atrium anchors the living area and from this spot, one can see the hallway leading to the bedrooms. The high ceiling also makes the space look expansive, giving the home LiDU’s signature *maaliwalas* interiors. Tiles that resemble natural stone deck the walls, creating texture without deviating from the clean, minimalist aesthetic.

## **Designing for Functionality and Comfort**

Aside from being a warm, cozy home that the family desires, the CC house also prioritizes comfort for its residents. Go explains that all the doors and windows can be fully opened to allow fresh air in, ensuring well-ventilated interiors. The living and dining areas feature glass sliding doors that can be closed when only one area is in use, enabling more efficient cooling and reducing the strain on the air conditioner—all while maintaining the openness of the layout.

![CC House: Modern Filipino Family Haven. A high ceiling gives the living space an expansive, airy feel. From this area, one can see the hallway that leads to the rooms upstairs.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-LIDU-4.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - LIDU)-4 - BluPrint")
A high ceiling gives the living space an expansive, airy feel. From this area, one can see the hallway that leads to the rooms upstairs.Functionality is also a priority. Go says when they design spaces, they ask their clients to visualize themselves using the space, walking them through the areas to determine the right layout flow. “We really make sure that they can enjoy the spaces,” the interior designer shares.

## **Versatile Design for Personalization**

Go envisions the CC house becoming cozier as the family settles in and makes it their own. “Right now, it’s very clean \[and\] minimalist. But maybe the decor, the art pieces will evolve,” Go predicts, adding that the homeowners can also rearrange the furniture easily because of the open layout.

![CC House: Modern Filipino Family Haven. The exterior of the house features Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) and marble cladding, achieving a contemporary Filipino aesthetic.
](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-LIDU-2.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - LIDU)-2 - BluPrint")
The exterior of the house features Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) and marble cladding, achieving a contemporary Filipino aesthetic.The designer also looks forward to seeing the family add more pieces to their budding art collection and display more mementoes. The beauty of LiDU’s design lies not just in the comfortability and functionality of the areas but also in the flexibility of the spaces. “The colors will change, the \[furniture\] orientation will change, but the soul of the house will still be there,” Go says.

Get the full article in BluPrint Volume 2, available via the [sarisari.shopping website](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-volume-2), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.42905f53oYtyra&itemId=4456214334&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are available for download via [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [S Residence: Shelter in Place](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/s-residence-shelter-in-place/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the architectural style and design philosophy of the CC House?

The CC House features a contemporary Filipino aesthetic characterized by a minimalist, “maaliwalas” (airy) design philosophy. Designed by LiDU and Paolo Valencia, the home focuses on fluid layouts, high ceilings, and an open atrium that promotes natural light and cross-ventilation, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

### How does the CC House incorporate sustainability into its design?

Sustainability is integrated through the use of wide eaves for natural shading and the selection of locally sourced furniture from OMO Furniture by Milo Naval. Additionally, the home utilizes glass sliding doors to compartmentalize cooling zones, which reduces the overall load on air conditioning systems while maintaining the home’s visual openness.

### What specific materials were used for the exterior and interior of the home?

The exterior utilizes Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) fluted panels and marble cladding to achieve a modern look that withstands the tropical climate. Inside, the walls are decked with tiles that resemble natural stone to provide texture, complemented by heirloom pieces like a traditional baul and contemporary Filipino artworks by Katrina Cuenca.

### How does the layout of the CC House prioritize family functionality?

The layout was developed by walking the clients through their daily routines to ensure a logical flow. Key functional features include a dedicated shoe closet in the foyer to keep the main living areas clean and a versatile open layout that allows the family to rearrange furniture and art as their needs evolve over time.

### How is the “Contemporary Filipino” identity expressed in the interior design?

The identity is expressed through a curated mix of modern minimalism and local heritage. This includes featuring iconic pieces from Filipino designers like Kenneth Cobonpue and Milo Naval, alongside personal heirlooms and rock gardens that reflect the minimalist greenery often found in high-end Filipino residential architecture.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Building a Piece of Paradise by the Sea: Bihing Tahik Resort](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/building-a-piece-of-paradise-by-the-sea-bihing-tahik-resort/)

**Published:** September 8, 2025
**Author:** Joy Celine Asto

**Content:**

Tucked in the coastal municipality of Bongao is a piece of paradise called Bihing Tahik. While resorts dot the coastline of Tawi-Tawi, it easily stands out for the unique silhouette that complements the natural beauty of its surrounds. At the heart of its design is the owners’ vision to connect the space with nature and the island’s culture, and the dedication of architect Deo Alrashid Alam and his design firm DADA to bring it to life.

![Façade of the Bihing Tahik Resort](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/bihing-tahik.webp "bihing tahik - BluPrint")Architect Deo Alam and his team drew inspiration from the sturdy shell of giant clams for the undulating roof structure of Bihing Tahik’s rooms and villas.“The design for this project really started with understanding the name ‘Bihing Tahik,’ which comes from the Sama tribe and means ‘by the sea.’ My team and I dove deep into the history and culture of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and were inspired by the giant clams found in the surrounding waters,” Alam begins on the inspiration behind the project.

## **Turning to Nature and Heritage**

Nature is never short of design ideas and concepts that spark unique architectural approaches and elements. Alam and his team knew the giant clam is one such example. “We chose this shape not just because it looks great but also for its structural benefits, allowing us to innovate while keeping stability in mind.”

![Pathwalk towards a villa.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2-2-scaled.webp "2 - BluPrint")The seaview engulfs visitors as they traverse the walkpath towards the villa.Another major aspect of the owners’ vision was to show that the island’s people can handle complex projects. In response, DADA crafted a design that celebrates not only the island’s beauty and heritage, but also highlights local talent and skills. As part of curating the furniture, fixtures, and objects within the property, the team sourced furniture from a nearby island further south which shares the same cultural heritage as Tawi-Tawi. Locally sourced rattan also played a role in the interior design, while a type of wood that turns black when wet served as a functional and durable material ideal for structures surrounded by water.

![Bedroom inside the villa](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/3-1-1-scaled.webp "3 (1) - BluPrint")The architecture inspired by clams is reflected in the curved design of the room’s roof structure.“To my surprise, the designs that emerged from this process were truly authentic. I learned that when we draw from the heart rather than just the mind, we create something that genuinely reflects who we are,” Alam muses. “This approach not only shapes the architecture but also enhances the experience of those who use the spaces, allowing them to connect more deeply with the culture and environment.”

![BluPrint Celebrates 25 Years with "Design Conversations".](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Featured-Image-Design-Conversations-scaled.webp "Featured Image-Design Conversations - BluPrint")***This article has been abridged for digital publication.*** Read the full story behind Bihing Tahik Resort by ordering your copy of BluPrint’s “Design Conversations” at[ Sari Sari Shopping](https://sarisari.shopping/collections/bluprint-issues/products/bluprint-design-conversations),[ Shopee](https://shopee.ph/BluPrint-Design-Conversations-i.123380895.40800252445), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/pdp-i5078661845-s29986383300.html?spm=a2o4l.10450891.0.0.c8131933POvb3K&search=store&mp=3). E-magazines are also available for download [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/optimistic-architecture/) or through [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Dive into the captivating world of architecture, interiors, and arts & culture by getting exclusive digital access to BluPrint’s past and upcoming issues. Click [here](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/) to find out more.

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [Pflieder Residence: A Clay Cocoon by Lor Calma and Partners](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/pflieder-residence-a-clay-cocoon-by-lor-calma-and-partners/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do the giant clam-inspired roof structures handle the tropical seaside environment?

The undulating roof design, modeled after the giant clam’s shell, provides both structural stability and natural aerodynamic properties against coastal winds. By mimicking these organic curves, Architect Deo Alam ensures the villas offer a unique silhouette that remains durable and resilient against the harsh elements of the Tawi-Tawi coastline.

### What specific local materials are used to ensure the resort’s longevity near the water?

The resort utilizes a specialized type of local wood that naturally turns black when wet, a characteristic that enhances its durability and aesthetic appeal in high-moisture areas. Additionally, locally sourced rattan is integrated into the interiors, grounding the structure in the island’s natural resources while ensuring the materials can withstand the humid sea air.

### How does the Bihing Tahik Resort design incorporate Tawi-Tawi’s Sama culture?

The name “Bihing Tahik” translates to “by the sea” in the Sama language, reflecting a deep-rooted connection to the maritime heritage of the Bongao municipality. This cultural integration extends to the interior curation, featuring furniture sourced from nearby southern islands and local craftsmanship that celebrates the talent and identity of the indigenous people.

### What is the significance of the undulating roof silhouette for the guest experience?

The curved, clam-like roof structures are designed to foster a psychological and physical connection between the guest and the surrounding marine environment. By moving away from rigid, traditional lines, the architecture creates a “piece of paradise” feeling that allows visitors to feel immersed in the organic shapes of the sea while enjoying modern comforts.

### What was the primary goal behind the collaboration between DADA and the resort owners?

The project aimed to prove that the local people of Tawi-Tawi are capable of executing complex, world-class architectural designs without relying solely on outside influence. By combining Architect Deo Alam’s technical expertise with local skills and heritage-driven concepts, the resort serves as a showcase of regional talent and authentic Filipino hospitality.

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Atua Midtown Cebu City](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/atua-midtown-cebu-city.webp "atua-midtown-cebu-city - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/atua-midtown-cebu-city-a-creative-community-for-artists-and-entrepreneurs/) 

### [Inside Atúa Midtown: Cebu’s Creative Community for Artists and Entrepreneurs](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/atua-midtown-cebu-city-a-creative-community-for-artists-and-entrepreneurs/)

Within a two-building commercial complex organized around a central courtyard, an unexpected layout unfolds. The shops are small and quaint, uniformly sized, and directly face one another like apartment units. This is Atúa. Related Reading: Creative Placemaking: Designing Public Spaces that Reflect Shared Memory What used to be a functioning hotel in the early 1990s, \[…\]

 [![Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna by TAYO Architecture & Design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/featured-image-balai-bai.webp "featured-image-balai-bai - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/balai-bai-nature-centered-resort-laguna/) 

### [Balai Ba’i: A Tropical Modernist Resort in Laguna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/balai-bai-nature-centered-resort-laguna/)

Designed by TAYO Architecture & Design, Balai Ba’i is a 900-square-meter resort located in Los Baños, Laguna. The owners wanted to evoke the same calm and craftsmanship found in Bali, Indonesia, while celebrating the natural beauty of the Philippines. As advocates of a distinct tropical-modernist approach, TAYO designed a resort that responds to its local \[…\]

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### [SM Laoag and the Architectural Proof That Filipinos Deserve Better Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/sm-laoag-and-the-architectural-proof-that-filipinos-deserve-better-design/)

For decades, the standard SM mall design was a functional, air-conditioned box—efficient, pervasive, but largely without context. In the historic, sand-dune-framed city of Laoag, that formula has been decisively reimagined. Royal Pineda + designed SM Laoag as a proof of concept that true, high-quality, place-specific architecture is possible even under the stringent budget and commercial \[…\]

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### [Stream Office: Fluid Biomorphic Design in Zhuhai](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/stream-office-fluid-biomorphic-design-in-zhuhai/)

The modern corporate workplace is often synonymous with rigid, rectilinear forms—a sterile grid of glass and steel. However, at the intersection of Zhuhai and Macao, designer Kris Lin and his team at Kris Lin International Design have deliberately rejected this corporate norm. The Stream Office, a new business highland cover, is an architectural and interior \[…\]

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### [Iwado Base: A Gentle Topography](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/iwado-base-a-gentle-topography/)

Designed by ISHIKAWASAMBO, in collaboration with Atelier Implexe, IWADO BASE is an outdoor facility that brings nature and people together. Tucked within a UNESCO Global Geopark, the owner envisioned revitalizing the region through an attractive complex that would reimagine the outdoor experience. Ryo Ishikawa and Mars Sambo, the duo behind the architecture firm responsible for \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Heritage, Philippines, Resort, Sustainability

---

### [Brutalist Architecture in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Analysis](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/brutalist-architecture-in-the-philippines-a-comprehensive-analysis/)

**Published:** September 6, 2025
**Author:** Chad Rialp

**Content:**

The emergence of brutalist architecture in the Philippines during the mid to late 20th century marked the country’s engagement with international architectural movements. Architects in the Philippines, exposed to international publications and architectural discourse, would have been aware of and influenced by the rise of brutalism in Europe and other parts of the world. However, the adoption of this international style in the Philippine context was not a simple replication.

Instead, local architects critically engaged with its principles, adapting them to the specific environmental and cultural nuances of the archipelago. The unique characteristics of Philippine brutalism reflect a synthesis of international architectural ideas and local realities. They hint at modifications made to suit the tropical environment and incorporate elements of the local cultural context. Understanding this initial adaptation is crucial for appreciating the distinctive evolution of brutalism within the Philippines.

## **Defining Brutalism**

Brutalism flourished from the 1950s to the 1970s, characterized by stark, monumental forms and the unapologetic use of raw materials, most notably béton brut, or raw concrete. The term itself originated from the French phrase popularized by Swiss architect Le Corbusier. It speaks to the style’s emphasis on the inherent qualities of construction materials, left exposed rather than concealed or embellished.

Core characteristics of brutalist architecture include a deliberate display of structural elements. These often feature repetitive modular units that create a sense of scale and mass. This architectural approach often reflects an ethical stance. It prioritizes honesty in materials and a functional expression of the building’s purpose over purely aesthetic concerns.

The emphasis on raw materials and exposed structure depart from the ornamentation prevalent in earlier architectural styles. Brutalism signalled a shift towards a more direct and utilitarian approach to design. This focus on fundamental building blocks suggests a desire for authenticity and a celebration of the inherent textures and forms of construction materials.

## **Brutalism in the Philippines: Context and Influences**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/FEATURE-PHOTO-PICC.jpg "FEATURE PHOTO PICC - BluPrint")The period following World War II presented the Philippines with the immense task of reconstruction and modernization. The devastation caused by the war necessitated widespread rebuilding of infrastructure and the creation of new civic and residential structures. In this context, brutalism, with its emphasis on efficiency, monumentality, and the readily available material of concrete, may have been perceived as a fitting architectural language to express national progress and strength in the post-war era.

The desire to project an image of a modern and forward-looking nation likely contributed to the adoption of architectural styles seen as contemporary and technologically advanced. Concrete was already becoming a symbol of modern construction capabilities. This focus on rebuilding and establishing a new national identity likely made the bold and modern aesthetic of brutalism appealing.

Beyond the immediate post-war needs, the global rise of brutalism in the mid-20th century significantly influenced architects in the Philippines. This period saw prominent international figures championing the style, with their seminal works serving as inspiration and models for architects worldwide. The Philippines, like many other nations, was part of this global architectural discourse, with local architects seeking to align themselves with international developments and innovations in design.

The adoption of brutalism in the Philippines should therefore be understood as part of a broader global phenomenon. It reflects the interconnectedness of architectural ideas and the desire of local practitioners to engage with contemporary architectural movements. Architectural knowledge and styles often disseminate across national borders through various channels, including publications, educational institutions, and the movement of architects themselves. All this likely contributed to the spread and adaptation of architectural trends like brutalism.

## **The Indelible Mark of Leandro V. Locsin**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PICC.jpg "PICC - BluPrint")The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) by Leandro LocsinAmong the key figures who shaped the architectural landscape of the Philippines during the latter half of the 20th century, National Artist Leandro V. Locsin stands out as a dominant force in the realm of brutalist architecture. His architectural philosophy, characterized by a profound understanding of form and space, found powerful expression through the use of monumental forms and the tactile quality of concrete.

Locsin’s signature style often involved the creation of seemingly floating volumes and the interplay of massive geometric elements. And his work left an indelible mark on the Philippine built environment. Iconic examples of his brutalist works include the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) (1969) and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) (1976), both located in Manila. These structures, with their imposing concrete masses and powerful presence, exemplify the core tenets of brutalist design as interpreted by Locsin.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-CCP-2.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (CCP)-2 - BluPrint")His other notable Brutalist works, such as the National Arts Center (1976) in Mt. Makiling and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) (1977) in Tagaytay, demonstrate a thoughtful integration of monumental concrete forms with the natural landscape.

![National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling, Laguna by Leandro Locsin, built in 1976 (Photographed by Akio Kawasumi, from The Architecture of Leandro V. Locsin).](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-nationalartcenter.jpg "Native-vernacular-nationalartcenter - BluPrint")National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling, Laguna by Leandro Locsin, built in 1976 (Photographed by Akio Kawasumi, from The Architecture of Leandro V. Locsin)Prominent commissions for significant national buildings suggest that brutalism was not merely an aesthetic preference. It was also a style favored for representing national identity and hosting important cultural and political events. The monumentality and imposing presence of Locsin’s brutalist creations conveyed a sense of power and permanence, aligning with the aspirations of a developing nation.

## **Zaragoza, Formoso, Ramos, and Luz**

While Locsin may be the most celebrated proponent of Philippine Brutalism, a cadre of visionary architects contributed to this architectural era, shaping the nation’s civic, commercial, and residential spaces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BP-Jean-De-Castro-Meralco-Tower.jpg "BluPrint-Practice-JeandeCastro-Meralco Tower - BluPrint")In 2011, ESCA was commissioned to inspect the Lopez Building and Technical Services Building of the Meralco headquarters for structural retrofitting. The project covered a floor area of approximately 41,340sqm for the main edifice and 16,420sqm for the annex.The Brutalist landscape of the Philippines is far richer than the work of a single architect. In Pasig City’s business district, the Meralco Building (1969), designed by Jose Maria Zaragoza, yet another National Artist for Architecture, stands as an early and prominent example of Brutalist principles applied to a commercial structure, with its strong vertical lines and textured concrete facade. Zaragoza also designed the unique Commercial Bank and Trust Company Building (1969) in Escolta, Manila, a semi-dome structure recognized as an Important Cultural Property.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DocomomoJournal57_2017_GLico-GSIS.webp "DocomomoJournal57_2017_GLico-GSIS - BluPrint")Other key figures include Gabriel Formoso, the architect behind The Peninsula Manila (1976), a landmark hotel in Makati that originally featured a grand Brutalist fountain. The GSIS Building (1986) in Pasay, designed by Jorge Y. Ramos and Associates, draws inspiration from the Banaue Rice Terraces, translating the ancient agricultural marvel into a modern concrete form that currently houses the Philippine Senate.

The Ramon Magsaysay Center (1967) in Malate, Manila, a work by Alfredo J. Luz and Associates with consultants Pietro Belluschi and Alfred Yee Associates, is another significant example of the era’s architectural prowess. Further afield, the Pasig Revolving Tower (1974), designed by Architect Edward Medina, stands as a rare Asian example of a Brutalist tower with a revolving restaurant.

## **Brutalism and the Marcos Regime**

The presidency of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1986) was a period of significant political and cultural developments in the Philippines. During this time, brutalist architecture, with its monumental scale and imposing presence, appeared to align with the regime’s image of power, progress, and national ambition. The visual weight and grandeur of brutalist structures could have been seen as an architectural manifestation of the government’s authority and its aspirations for national development. This potential alignment between the aesthetic of the regime and the visual language of its public buildings suggests a deliberate choice to project an image of strength and modernity.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/RM-center-elev.jpg "RM-center-elev - BluPrint")In a city where urbanistic cupidity is the norm, Ramon Magsaysay Center’s plaza is a rare demonstration of civic largesse. Its paving reflects the tower’s massive pillars, doubling their height and seeming to carry the building even higher.The concentration of such large-scale brutalist projects during this period indicates a significant investment in public infrastructure and cultural institutions, reflecting the priorities of the Marcos administration. The selection of brutalism for these important national buildings implies a conscious decision to associate this architectural style with the image and aspirations of the nation, serving as prominent landmarks that shaped the urban landscape.

However, brutalist architecture is not without its critics. Some perceive its starkness and emphasis on raw concrete as cold, impersonal, or even authoritarian. In the context of the Marcos regime, these criticisms might be interpreted in different ways. While some might view the monumental scale and imposing nature of these buildings as symbols of national pride and progress, others could see them as reflections of the authoritarian tendencies of the government.

The visual characteristics of brutalism – its scale, its use of raw concrete, its often imposing forms – can evoke different emotional responses and interpretations depending on one’s perspective and historical context. The legacy of this architectural style in the Philippines inevitably intertwines with the complex and often debated history of the Marcos era.

## **Tropical Brutalism**

Characterized by a tropical climate, the Philippine archipelago presents unique challenges for building design and material choices. High temperatures, persistent humidity, heavy rainfall, and intense sunlight are significant factors that architects must consider to ensure the comfort, durability, and longevity of their structures. These climatic conditions impact everything from thermal performance and ventilation to material degradation and maintenance requirements. The harshness of the tropical climate necessitates careful consideration of material properties and building orientation to mitigate the negative effects of heat and humidity.

![Casa Borbon, a vacation villa in the style of tropical brutalism.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/casa-borbon-10.jpg "casa borbon 10 - BluPrint")Casa Borbon, a vacation villa in the style of tropical brutalism by Cali Architects.In response to these challenges, architects in the Philippines who embraced brutalist principles often employed specific design strategies to adapt the style to the local climate. One common approach involved the use of deep-set windows and various sun-shading devices, such as louvers and overhangs, to minimize the amount of direct sunlight entering the interior spaces, thereby reducing solar heat gain.

The incorporation of natural ventilation was another crucial adaptation, with architects strategically placing openings and designing airflow pathways to promote cross-ventilation and help regulate indoor temperatures and humidity levels. Furthermore, some architects explored the use of locally sourced materials or experimented with modifications to concrete mixes to enhance their durability in the humid tropical conditions.

### **Adapting Form and Materiality to the Philippine Climate**

Integrating courtyards and green spaces within or around brutalist structures also served as a way to provide shade, improve the local microclimate, and create more comfortable and livable environments. These adaptations demonstrate a thoughtful engagement with the local context, moving beyond a purely stylistic application of international brutalist trends.

Concrete, brutalism’s quintessential material, presents both advantages and challenges in a tropical climate. Its inherent thermal mass helps moderate indoor temperatures by absorbing and slowly releasing heat. However, its susceptibility to moisture absorption also leads to issues like mold growth and structural damage if not properly addressed.

It’s important to consider these factors when selecting and detailing concrete and employ specific techniques or treatments to enhance its performance and durability in the face of constant exposure to the elements. The long-term performance and weathering of concrete in the tropical climate can also contribute to the unique aesthetic character of these buildings over time, as the material interacts with the environment.

## **The Imperative of Preservation**

The preservation of brutalist architecture in the Philippines faces a multitude of challenges. One significant hurdle is negative public perception, which stems from the style’s perceived austerity or its association with a specific political era. This lack of widespread appreciation can make it difficult to garner support for preservation efforts.

Furthermore, the inherent maintenance requirements of concrete structures in a tropical climate can be costly and complex. The rapid pace of development in many urban areas of the Philippines also poses a threat, with brutalist buildings seen as outdated or underutilized, leading to pressure for their demolition to make way for new construction. Additionally, there may be a general lack of awareness or understanding regarding the historical and architectural significance of these buildings, further hindering preservation initiatives.

Despite these challenges, there are ongoing efforts and initiatives aimed at preserving brutalist architecture in the Philippines. Architectural organizations and heritage conservation groups are increasingly recognizing the historical and cultural value of these structures and are undertaking documentation and research projects to raise awareness. Most recent are the rehabilitations of the CCP and PICC.

Advocacy efforts are also underway to promote the appreciation and protection of significant examples of Philippine brutalism. In some cases, architects and developers explore adaptive reuse, which involves repurposing existing brutalist structures for new functions while respecting their original architectural integrity.

There is also a growing movement to identify and potentially list significant brutalist buildings as heritage sites, which could provide them with a greater level of protection under national and local laws. Successful preservation often requires collaboration among architects, historians, government agencies, and the public to ensure the long-term survival of these buildings.

## **The Modern Revival**

Decades after its mid-century heyday, Brutalism is experiencing a quiet renaissance in the Philippines. Contemporary architects are re-examining the style’s core principles, drawn to its material honesty, sculptural potential, and inherent strength. This renewed interest, often termed “Neo-Brutalism,” is not merely a nostalgic revival but a modern reinterpretation, adapting the aesthetic for a new generation while continuing the tradition of “Tropical Brutalism.”

This resurgence is particularly evident in private residences, where architects are exploring raw concrete’s capacity to create powerful, minimalist, and livable spaces that harmonize with the country’s lush environment.

In a departure from the monolithic and heavy fortresses often associated with historical Brutalism, a new wave of Filipino architects is redefining the style’s boundaries. They retain the style’s honest use of raw concrete but integrate a generous amount of glass and steel, creating dramatic cantilevered volumes that feel both massive and surprisingly light.

### **A Neo-Brutalist Resurgence**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JAR_4708a.jpg "JAR_4708a - BluPrint")This contemporary approach challenges the very definition of a Brutalist building. Where traditional Brutalism often emphasized solid, impenetrable masses, these architects craft structures that are porous and interactive. For instance, **Jagnus Design Studio**, guided by a philosophy of “form follows feeling,” utilizes raw concrete not to enclose, but to frame spaces that “breathe.” Their designs often feature imposing concrete shells punctuated by vast glass walls and openings, dissolving the barrier between the robust structure and the surrounding environment. This creates a dynamic interplay between groundedness and openness, a signature of this modern movement.

![BluPrint Architecture Hillside Revival LLG Architects](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BluPrint-Architecture-Hillside-Revival-LLG-Architects-header-1024x569.jpg "BluPrint Architecture Hillside Revival LLG Architects-header - BluPrint")The existing retaining walls, varying from 400 to 500 millimeters, have carved this uniquely situated lot high up in Nivel Hills, affording the clients a prime view over the neighborhood. The retaining wall bounding the lower garden and swimming pool drops approximately seven meters.Similarly, LLG Architects’ “[Hillside Revival](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/hillside-revival-llg-architects/)” project showcases this subversion. The residence balances raw, unfinished concrete surfaces—a clear nod to Brutalist materiality—with expansive glazing and warm wood accents. The result is a home that feels both raw and refined, protective and welcoming, demonstrating a clear evolution from the austere monuments of the past.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BluPrint-2024-July-In-Article-Jim-Caumeron-53.jpg "BluPrint 2024 July In-Article (Jim Caumeron)-53 - BluPrint")Through House by Jim Caumeron.The work of Jim Caumeron, such as his ‘[Through House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/through-house-a-home-that-transcends-traditional-boundaries/)‘, masterfully plays with this concept of porosity. He uses solid concrete walls to direct views and create privacy, but then perforates the structure with strategic voids and floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing light, air, and nature to permeate the living spaces. The effect is less of a single, heavy object and more of a curated collection of volumes and openings.

Another prime example is [Casa Borbon](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/casa-borbons-unique-tropical-brutalism-is-a-study-in-concrete/) in Batangas, designed by Amon Cali of Cali Architects. Explicitly described as a neo-brutalist structure, the house is conceived as a habitable sculpture. Its strong, geometric lines, extensive use of raw concrete, and large overhangs are direct descendants of the Brutalist ethos.

![An infinity pool at Parallel, with an open courtyard made of concrete in Tanauan, Batangas.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parallel_2-scaled.jpg "Parallel_2 - BluPrint")Parallel, Tanauan, Batangas.This reinterpretation is also beautifully captured in the [Parallel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/living-in-parallel-a-private-sanctuary-in-tanauan-batangas/) in Tanauan, Batangas. The property consists of two massive, board-formed concrete villas running parallel to each other. While the materiality is unapologetically Brutalist, its function is one of openness. The parallel forms act as a colossal frame, curating breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and Taal Lake. Instead of an imposing fortress, the raw concrete creates a serene, private sanctuary where the structure’s strength is softened by the lush greenery it embraces, perfectly illustrating the dialogue between mass, nature, and human-centric design that defines this contemporary movement.

These modern examples demonstrate that the spirit of Philippine Brutalism is not confined to the monumental structures of the past. By embracing raw concrete and bold forms, contemporary architects are forging a new path, proving the style’s enduring relevance and its unique suitability for the archipelago’s landscape and climate.

## **Philippine Brutalism’s Legacy and Contemporary Relevance**

Love it or hate it, Brutalist architecture in the Philippines represents a significant and provocative chapter in the nation’s architectural story. The original movement’s principles of structural honesty and material expression left a lasting impact, fostering a deeper appreciation for functional, unornamented design.

While the dominance of the monolithic “fortress” has waned, the core tenets of Brutalism are experiencing a dynamic resurgence. The heavy, imposing forms of the past are giving way to structures that, while still celebrating raw concrete, are also porous, light, and deeply connected to their tropical environment.

This evolution marks a shift in focus from the monumental to the human. In a multitude of contemporary residences, raw concrete frames intimate spaces and curates views, dissolving the barrier between indoors and out. It retains the material honesty and strength of its predecessor but embraces a newfound sense of openness and warmth.

Looking ahead, these Brutalist principles, both old and new, hold profound relevance. The focus on durable, long-lasting materials like concrete speaks directly to modern concerns of sustainability and resilience, reducing the need for frequent replacement. Furthermore, the style’s adaptability—from the civic grandeur of its first wave to the human-centric focus of its current form—offers invaluable lessons.

As the Philippines continues to navigate the complexities of climate change and rapid urbanization, the enduring and evolving legacy of its Brutalist heritage provides a powerful and insightful guide for shaping the built environment of tomorrow.

**Read more:** [Brutalism: This Architectural Prodigy Is Far From Gone](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/brutalism-this-architectural-prodigy-is-far-from-gone/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What defines Brutalist architecture in the Philippines compared to the international style?

While international Brutalism focuses on raw concrete (béton brut) and monumental forms, Philippine Brutalism is characterized by “Tropical Brutalism.” Local architects adapted the style to the archipelago’s high humidity and heavy rainfall by incorporating deep-set windows, sun-shading louvers, and strategic openings for natural ventilation. This synthesis ensures that the massive concrete structures remain functional and comfortable within a tropical climate.

### Which architects were most influential in bringing Brutalism to the Philippines?

National Artist Leandro V. Locsin is the most prominent figure, known for iconic structures like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the PICC. Other visionary contributors include Jose Maria Zaragoza, who designed the Meralco Building, and Jorge Ramos, whose GSIS Building was inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces. These architects moved beyond mere replication, using concrete to express national identity and modern progress.

### Why was Brutalist architecture so prevalent during the Marcos regime?

The Marcos administration utilized Brutalism’s monumental scale and “honesty in materials” to project an image of national strength, permanence, and modernization. The heavy, imposing nature of these concrete landmarks served as a visual manifestation of government authority and rapid infrastructure development. Today, these buildings remain significant yet debated symbols of that specific political and cultural era.

### How do architects prevent concrete decay and mold in a tropical environment?

To maintain the “perfect texture” of raw concrete in the Philippines, architects must address moisture absorption, which leads to mold and structural damage. Modern techniques include using specific concrete mixes for higher durability, applying protective treatments, and designing integrated drainage systems. Additionally, incorporating green spaces and courtyards helps regulate the microclimate around the building, reducing the long-term weathering effects of persistent humidity.

### What is “Neo-Brutalism” and how does it differ from the original movement?

Neo-Brutalism is a contemporary revival that subverts the traditional “heavy fortress” aesthetic by integrating glass, steel, and light. Unlike the solid, impenetrable masses of the 1960s, modern Filipino Neo-Brutalist designs—like those by Jim Caumeron or Jagnus Design Studio—are porous and interactive. They maintain the honesty of raw concrete but use it to frame views and create breathable, human-centric spaces that feel both massive and light.

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![iPAMANA SoFA Design Institute Event Mirare Credenza](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sofa-ipamana-event-feature-image-scaled.webp "sofa-ipamana-event-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/sofa-design-institute-ipamana-furniture-exhibition/) 

### [iPAMANA: SoFA Design Institute Students Reinterpret Filipino Heritage Through Furniture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/sofa-design-institute-ipamana-furniture-exhibition/)

What happens when furniture becomes a medium for preserving culture? At SoFA Design Institute‘s iPAMANA: Honoring Filipino Stories Through Furniture exhibition, thirteen Furniture Design students explored how contemporary design can reinterpret Filipino heritage for a new generation. Presented on July 5, 2026, the exhibition challenged its emerging designers to look beyond convention, developing furniture rooted \[…\]

 [![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kawayan-Eco-Park-Featured-Image-2.webp "Kawayan-Eco-Park-Featured-Image-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/what-the-uap-obra-2026-winners-reveal-about-philippine-architecture/) 

### [What the UAP OBRA 2026 Winners Say About the Direction of Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/what-the-uap-obra-2026-winners-reveal-about-philippine-architecture/)

Architecture awards often document more than just individual achievements. They also recognize the work, effort, and vision behind any architecture project, revealing the priorities, values, and trajectories of a profession at a given moment. The United Architects of the Philippines’ (UAP) OBRA continues to serve as one such marker, recognizing practitioners whose contributions help shape \[…\]

 [![PICC Sets a New Standard for Philippine Heritage Preservation.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PICC-Featured-Image.webp "PICC Featured Image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/picc-sets-a-new-standard-for-philippine-heritage-preservation/) 

### [PICC Sets a New Standard for Philippine Heritage Preservation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/picc-sets-a-new-standard-for-philippine-heritage-preservation/)

As it nears its landmark 50th anniversary, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) firmly secures its place as an architectural titan. A designated National Cultural Treasure (NCT) designed by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin and completed in 1976, this Brutalist icon recently experienced a monumental act of stewardship: a surgically precise overhaul executed in a \[…\]

 [![Hand-painted murals by Davao-based artists adorn the walls, telling a story of the region’s natural and cultural heritage.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elle-Feature-Cover-1-4.webp "Elle - Feature Cover (1) - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/kukun-food-hall-a-taste-of-mindanao/) 

### [Kukun Food Hall: A Taste of Mindanao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/kukun-food-hall-a-taste-of-mindanao/)

Every August, the city of Davao blooms in a celebration of life. The streets blossom with colors and come alive with music, dances, and parades, painting a portrait of the locale’s cultural heritage. This week-long festival known as Kadayawan is the Davaoeños’ way of paying tribute to the gifts of life and nature, the bountiful harvest \[…\]

 [!["The Value of Chocolate" by WTA Architecture and Design Studio Named FAV 2025 Finalist.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Feature-Cover-The-Value-of-Chocolate-scaled.webp "Feature Cover-The Value of Chocolate - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/the-value-of-chocolate-by-wta-architecture-and-design-studio-named-fav-2025-finalist/) 

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In anticipation of the Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) 2025 on June 10-15, WTA Architecture and Design Studio stands among the 10 finalists to transform iconic landmarks in Montpellier, France. Revolving around the theme of “La Gourmandise,” the San Juan-based team will showcase “The Value of Chocolate” at the 15th century private mansion Hôtel de \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Heritage, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Brutalism, Brutalist architecture, brutalsim, Design, Heritage, Philippines

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### [Beauty in Subtlety by Nazareno Architecture + Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/beauty-in-subtlety-by-nazareno-architecture-design/)

**Published:** January 23, 2025
**Author:** Katherine Lopez

**Content:**

When you think of Makati City, the image of a bustling financial district and an active metropolitan lifestyle often comes to mind. But situated in one of its gated communities is a house that flourishes not just in the calmness of its surroundings but also in its quiet architecture. This abode, designed by Nazareno Architecture + Design, was built for a senior couple and their visiting children and grandchildren.

![Beauty in Subtlety by Nazareno Architecture + Design. Large glass windows allow the residents to enjoy the outdoor view while inside the house.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Balete-2.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Balete)-2 - BluPrint")
Large glass windows allow the residents to enjoy the outdoor view while inside the house.“I wanted to, at that point in our practice, create a house with a strong, solid form that was still very much within the language that I like doing, which is very orthogonal in nature,” Anthony Nazareno, Principal Architect and Designer of Nazareno Architecture + Design, shares. “I wanted to create something strong enough in form that was just almost devoid of any cladding material. We wanted a house that had a very quiet exterior to it.”

Nazareno has worked with this family for quite some time now. Their relationship began when the family reached out to him after seeing one of his projects featured in an issue of BluPrint magazine. From that encounter, Nazareno has designed the son’s house, the patriarch’s house, and this multigenerational home where even the family’s 100-year-old Ah Ma will stay.

## **Simple But Impactful Design**

The house’s gate and facade are done in a palette of light gray and white. “I would imagine your first chance looking at the house, what you saw was just a painted house. You couldn’t really see the cladding because most of it was on the sides. I wanted you to be drawn by that. I wanted you to be drawn by that quietness,” Nazareno describes.

![Beauty in Subtlety by Nazareno Architecture + Design. Nazareno shares that the living area is designed for entertaining, with the pieces intended to be used, not merely showcased.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Balete-4.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Balete)-4 - BluPrint")
Nazareno shares that the living area is designed for entertaining, with the pieces intended to be used, not merely showcased.Straight lines also dominate the exterior of the house, which are in keeping with its clean aesthetic and modern style. Ceppo Di Gre claddings adorn certain portions of the exterior, injecting just the right touch of variety and texture without disturbing the structure’s understated design.

## **Refined Spaces**

Nazareno’s firm was also tasked with shaping the interiors. He noted that the couple wanted the interior spaces to have a clean look, just like the exterior. By using light ash wood veneer, Nazareno succeeded in maintaining a fresh aesthetic throughout, even with the extensive cladding.

![Beauty in Subtlety by Nazareno Architecture + Design. A round, 12-seater dining table sits in the main dining area—perfect for entertaining a large group.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Balete-3.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Balete)-3 - BluPrint")
A round, 12-seater dining table sits in the main dining area—perfect for entertaining a large group.The furniture pieces are mostly white and light gray, with a few black pieces here and there. This tone-on-tone color scheme gives the house a curated feel—a tasteful choice of pieces and materials that spell quiet luxury.

Nazareno also added that the homeowners, who are advanced in age, do not like clutter, hence the big storage rooms in the house for the things they have accumulated over the years.

## **Enduring Appeal**

![Beauty in Subtlety by Nazareno Architecture + Design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-Balete-1.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2 - Balete)-1 - BluPrint")“I’m hoping it will age well,” answers Nazareno when asked about how he thinks the house will fare in the years to come. “Number one, the materials that we used here outside and \[inside\] should stand the test of time in terms of the quality and sturdiness of it. In terms of design, I have always been part of the school of thought that modern architecture and modern design stand the test of time as much as any design style.”

With the house’s quiet architecture, quality of the materials used, and a refined touch in the interior spaces, there is no doubt that this family residence will remain the visual marvel that it is now, even as decades go by.

Read the full story by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, available via the [sarisari.shopping website](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-volume-2), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.42905f53oYtyra&itemId=4456214334&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are available for download via [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

Photographed by Ed Simon.

**Read more:** [A Serene Mountain Retreat by Fitnesscape Creative Studio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/a-serene-mountain-retreat-by-fitnesscape-creative-studio-inc/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the architectural philosophy behind this Makati residence?

Anthony Nazareno designed the home with a “quiet architecture” philosophy, focusing on strong, solid, and orthogonal forms. The goal was to create a house with an understated exterior—devoid of excessive cladding and finished in a light gray and white palette—that flourishes through its simplicity and clean, modern lines.

### How does the design accommodate a multigenerational family?

The house was specifically built for a senior couple, their visiting children, grandchildren, and their 100-year-old matriarch. The layout prioritizes accessibility and ease of movement, while large storage rooms were integrated to house years of accumulated belongings, satisfying the homeowners’ preference for a clutter-free, minimalist environment.

### What materials were used to achieve the home’s refined interior aesthetic?

The interiors maintain a fresh and curated feel through the extensive use of light ash wood veneer and a “tone-on-tone” color scheme. High-quality Ceppo Di Gre cladding was used on select exterior portions to add texture, while the interior furniture features a sophisticated mix of white, light gray, and black pieces to evoke a sense of quiet luxury.

### What are the key features of the social spaces in the home?

The living area is designed for authentic entertaining, featuring furniture meant to be used comfortably rather than just displayed. A centerpiece of the home is a large, round 12-seater dining table, which serves as the primary gathering hub for the family’s large multigenerational dinners and social events.

### How does the architect ensure the home will age well over time?

Architect Anthony Nazareno believes that modern architecture stands the test of time through the use of sturdy, top-notch materials and a timeless design language. By avoiding passing trends and focusing on high-quality finishes and streamlined forms, the residence is built to remain a visual marvel for decades to come.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Manila, Philippines, Residential

---

### [Choosing the Right Architecture School in the Philippines: Top Institutions and Their Unique Offerings](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architecture-school-in-the-philippines/)

**Published:** July 25, 2025
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Every line an architect draws holds the power to shape the future—to define our city skylines and the intimate character of our homes. This journey from ambition to impact begins with a foundational choice: finding the best architecture school in the Philippines that suits their needs.

With the large selection of universities in the country that offer architecture programs, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. However, a better understanding of what each institution offers can help prospective students make an informed decision. For those who are searching for their university of choice, we have curated a list of well-respected universities that offer a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. This guide aims to help prospective students make an informed decision by highlighting top institutions and their unique offerings.

## **University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD)**

![Architecture School, University of Diliman Campus.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UP-PLAZA.webp "UP PLAZA - BluPrint")Image from: UP Media and Public Relations OfficeFounded in 1908, the University of the Philippines (UPD) is the country’s national university. Consistently ranked as the number one university in the country, it’s a leading educational institution that provides quality education for its students. This includes its highly-regarded College of Architecture.

The university’s architecture program is structured as a ladder-type curriculum, which provides students with a learning environment where progress occurs sequentially. Each course builds upon each other that begin with introductory courses that develop the technical skills of the students. The program offers a diverse set of courses, such as teaching students mixed media approaches for architectural presentations and a historical and theoretical study on local and global architecture.

After three years, students earn a Certificate in Building Technology (CBT). Upon completion of the five-year program, students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. The program adopts a holistic approach, integrating diverse science-based training with insights from various community sectors. It aims to equip students with an education that is on par with international standards.

The university consistently produces a 100% passing rate for first-time examinees of the Philippine Licensure Examination for Architects (ALE), including the latest in June 2025. The university consistently produces top-ranking examinees, with four individuals securing spots in the top 10 during the January 2024 exam.

## **University of Santo Tomas (UST)**

![Architecture School, University of Santo Tomas Facade.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MIKE-8552-scaled.webp "MIKE-8552 - BluPrint")Image from: Michael Angelo Reyes, The VarsitarianThe University of Santo Tomas (UST), founded in 1611, is recognized as the oldest university in the country. Established in 1930, their college of architecture offers a five-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture, designed to prepare students to become *glocal* architects.

The program provides students with the fundamentals of design knowledge, from residential and commercial structures. For the Design and Building Technology courses, there is a Faculty-Student ratio of 1:23 to ensure that the students’ creativity and skills are properly honed. By the end of their third year, students will select one of the three available specialization tracks, namely: Heritage Conservation, Environmental Management Planning, or Landscape Architecture.

To certify students’ understanding of the program, an Architecture Midterm Aptitude Comprehensive Examination (AMACE) and an Architecture Review Course are given to fourth-year and fifth-year students, respectively. Established in 2011, the AMACE serves as a crucial assessment of student knowledge retention in preparation for the ALE, directly impacting their progression to the fifth year. Failure to pass this exam prevents students from advancing.

Committed to fostering competence, commitment, and compassion, the curriculum is designed to progressively build students’ knowledge and skills throughout each year of study, aligning with the institution’s core learning outcomes. In pursuit of developing glocal architects, the university also has relationships with foreign universities, which provide students with international exposure. Students shall apply all of their learning in their thesis project during their final year of studies.

The university ranked as the second top-performing school in the June 2025 ALE. The college recorded a 94.17% passing rate, with 94 students passing the exam and earning 4 new Thomasian topnotchers.

## **Mapúa University**

![Mapúa University Facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mapua-University.webp "Mapua University - BluPrint")Image from: Mapúa UniversityMapúa University, a well-regarded institution for engineering and technology, offers an architecture program designed to provide students with a comprehensive education focusing on contemporary architectural challenges, including urban planning and sustainability.

The curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with practical application, integrating “cutting-edge technology, sustainable design principles, and cultural sensitivity.” This ensures that graduates are prepared to handle the complexities of the modern world.

Core subjects comprise design and planning, architectural history, building technology, environmental systems, and professional practice. The program provides exit exams for certain courses, such as the Theory of Architecture and Professional Practice Exit Exams, usually prerequisites for other courses. As such, these exams are a way to ascertain the students’ knowledge and preparedness for professional practice.

The university ranked as the top-performing university in the June 2025 ALE with a recorded 98.41 passing rate.

## **University of San Carlos (USC)**

![University of San Carlos Facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/University-of-San-Carlos-3.webp "University-of-San-Carlos-3 - BluPrint")Image from: The National Historical Commission of the PhilippinesThe University of San Carlos is one of the most notable universities in Cebu City. The architecture program, housed under the School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design, aims to produce graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of design and aesthetics. It also develops students’ understanding of the technical aspects involved in construction and materials.

Applying a multidisciplinary approach to architecture, the department targets the environmental aspect involved in architecture while honing its students’ ability to practice in both global and local settings. The curriculum consists of core courses, professional courses, and electives.

The School of Architecture houses the Conservation and Heritage Research Institute and Workshop (CHERISH). The institute is a “Cebuano Community that values and conserves its built heritage for future generations.” Through the opportunities it provides, students are enabled to apply their academic knowledge to local issues.

The university earned a 75% passing rate in the June 2025 Philippine Licensure Examination for Architecture, surpassing the national passing rate of 65.16%.

## **Far Eastern University (FEU)**

![The Architecture and Fine Arts Building of Far Eastern University.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/architecture-and-fine-arts.webp "architecture and fine arts - BluPrint")Image from: FEU Media CenterFar Eastern University has established itself as one of the leading universities in the country, offering a wide range of undergraduate programs across various fields. This includes a Bachelor of Science in Architecture under the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts.

The five-year program aims to equip students with a well-rounded education. Students are granted the opportunity to receive the following certificates once they’ve completed the prescribed courses for each: Certificate in Drafting Technology, Certificate in Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD), and Certificate in Building Technology and Utilities. These certificates provide students with specialized knowledge, expanding their career paths outside of university.

The program offers students three tracks to choose from, namely: Building Construction, Human Settlement, and Urban Design. The Institute places an emphasis on creating graduates with a “strong sense of socio-civic, cultural, and environmental responsibility” who are able to address challenges within local and global settings.

The university had a passing rate of 72.73% in the June 2025 ALE, with 72 out of their 99 examinees passing the exam.

## **Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU)**

![Ateneo de Davao University](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ateneo-de-Davao.webp "Ateneo de Davao - BluPrint")Image from: Ateneo de Davao UniversityStemming from humble beginnings as a parochial school, Ateneo de Davao University is now one of the leading educational institutions in the Philippines. The School of Engineering and Architecture was established to address the evolving needs of the time. Viewing architecture as a form of art, the program is concerned with the function, strength, and aesthetics of designing a structure.

Established in 1998, the program emphasizes a well-rounded curriculum combining technical skills, design, theory, history, and professional practice. Students get access to modern facilities such as drafting studios, architecture labs, and hybrid flexible classrooms. They also benefit from industry immersion, scholarships, and strong faculty expertise in areas including project management, BIM, and tropical design. The school encourages a community-oriented approach that integrates ethical leadership, cultural awareness, and service to address local and global architectural challenges.

The program consistently produces high passing rates and board exam topnotchers, making it a leading architecture school in Southern Philippines. Ateneo de Davao’s architecture program shapes architects who are technically competent and also socially responsible professionals, aligning with the university’s Jesuit mission. This makes the school a strong regional center for architectural education focused on cultivating ethical, competent, and community-engaged architects.

The university consistently exceeds the national passing rate for the ALE. For example, in January 2022, it was second among schools with 50+ examinees, with an 82.69% passing rate.

## **Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)**

![Overview of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Campus](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PUP-Campus.webp "PUP Campus - BluPrint")Image from: Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesThe Polytechnic University of the Philippines consistently ranks as one of the top universities in the country. Formerly a department under the College of Engineering, the college was granted independence and is now known as the College of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment.

The College underlines its role as a source of quality education for economically-challenged students. The five-year program, designed to align with job targets and opportunities that become available to students after each year of study, includes job opportunities once the entire program is completed. Through this, students can explore their viable options outside of university.

The university often exceeds the national passing rate for the ALE, achieving a passing rate of 93.33% in 2024. They have also achieved 100% passing rates for first-time examinees.

## **De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde**

![De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde Facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDA-Facade.webp "SDA Facade - BluPrint")Image from: De La Salle- College of Saint BenildeDe La Salle- College of Saint is known for its innovative and creative approach to higher education. The School of Design and Arts houses the Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a program designed to produce graduates who are “competitive and relevant agents of positive change.”

The program places a strong emphasis on the students’ ability to contribute to national growth through innovative design by identifying modern problems and proposing solutions driven by research and empathy. The program aims to challenge the status quo while remaining culturally sensitive—offering courses that discuss conservation policies and relevant laws in the practice of architecture.

Known for its progressive curriculum, the program encourages [design exploration](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/csbs-design-exploration-a-unique-approach-to-architecture-education/) among students by means of innovative and exploratory research to advance the architectural discipline and generate new architectural knowledge. The program also champions social innovation and human stories, tackling pressing issues at both local and global scales. One expected program outcome is that the development of revolutionary designs must be of significant contribution to the development of the environment.

Graduates are provided with a diverse career path upon graduation, including roles as urban planners, heritage conservationist, educators, and construction managers. It also aims to produce competent graduates who can enter the competitive world of architecture, excelling among the best in the ASEAN region in terms of design and business.

The university had an 86.05% passing rate in the June 2025 ALE, an increase compared to their last year’s June 2024 72.22% passing rate. The college also had an 86.9% passing rate for first-time takers.

## Find the Right Architecture School in the Philippines For You

As this guide demonstrates, the Philippines offers a diverse array of institutions, each with unique strengths, from ladder-type curricula and specialized tracks to multidisciplinary approaches and strong industry ties. By carefully considering their personal aspirations, learning preferences, and career goals, students can make informed decisions on their educational path. This, in turn, equips them to become innovative, competent, and socially responsible architects ready to contribute to both local and global challenges.

**Read more:** [How to Ace the Architecture Licensure Exam (ALE)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/how-to-ace-the-architecture-licensure-exam-ale/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) structure its architecture curriculum?

The University of the Philippines Diliman utilizes a ladder-type curriculum, which allows students to progress sequentially through increasingly complex courses. This modular approach begins with foundational technical skills and includes a milestone at the end of the third year, where students earn a Certificate in Building Technology (CBT). The full five-year program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, integrating science-based training with a holistic, community-centered perspective to meet international standards.

### What are the unique specialization tracks offered at the University of Santo Tomas (UST)?

At the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest university in the country, students select one of three specialized tracks at the end of their third year: Heritage Conservation, Environmental Management Planning, or Landscape Architecture. To ensure high standards of knowledge retention, the college implements the Architecture Midterm Aptitude Comprehensive Examination (AMACE) in the fourth year, which serves as a mandatory assessment that students must pass to advance to their final year of study.

### In what ways does De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde differentiate its architecture program?

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde focuses on a progressive, research-driven curriculum that emphasizes social innovation and human stories. The program encourages design exploration and exploratory research to challenge the status quo, requiring students to propose empathetic solutions to modern local and global problems. The curriculum is designed to produce “agents of positive change” who are prepared for diverse career paths such as heritage conservation, urban planning, and construction management within the ASEAN region.

### How do Mapúa University and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) prepare students for professional practice?

Mapúa University emphasizes the use of cutting-edge technology and sustainability, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application through specific exit exams in subjects like Theory of Architecture and Professional Practice to verify student readiness. Meanwhile, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines structures its five-year program to align with specific job targets and opportunities that become available after each year of study. This ensures that students, particularly those who are economically challenged, have viable career paths both during and after their university education.

### What distinguishes the architecture programs at USC, FEU, and Ateneo de Davao?

The University of San Carlos (USC) adopts a multidisciplinary approach and houses the CHERISH institute, which allows students to apply academic knowledge to local heritage conservation issues. Far Eastern University (FEU) offers specialized tracks in Building Construction, Human Settlement, and Urban Design, providing certificates in Drafting and CADD to broaden career options. Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) focuses on a Jesuit mission of ethical leadership, offering industry immersion and strong expertise in Tropical Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to serve the Southern Philippines.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

 [![The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-2-1.webp "the-church-of-our-lady-of-mount-carmel-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/) 

### [The Philippines at WAF: A Growing Presence in Global Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/philippines-growing-presence-global-architecture/)

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced its 2026 shortlist, with several Filipino practices earning recognition across a diverse range of categories. Across civic architecture, interiors, landscape, and future projects, this year’s selection reflects the breadth of work emerging from the Philippines and the continued participation of Philippine firms on one of the profession’s most \[…\]

 [![MQ Residence by Arkisens facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mq-residence-arkisens-5.webp "mq-residence-arkisens-5 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/) 

### [MQ Residence: Arkisens’ Layered-Terrain Home for Three Generations](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/mq-residence-idyllic-retreat-layered-terrain/)

Located in Paroc, Pampanga is MQ Residence—a tropical-modern private residential home designed by Marikina-based architecture firm Arkisens, spearheaded by principal architect and co-founder Ar. Edwin A. Rivera. The project sits on an 834-square-meter sloping site at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. Its design emphasizes the character of the landscape, from its horizontal cues to spaces \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture

**Tags:** Architecture, architecture schools, College, University

---

### [Architecture of Dining: The Restaurant Interiors We’re Still Thinking About](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architecture-of-dining-the-restaurant-interiors-were-still-thinking-about/)

**Published:** December 29, 2025
**Author:** Caryll Ong

**Content:**

Restaurants are spaces where their spatial design is as vital as their culinary offerings in terms of orchestrating the dining experience. This year, BluPrint explores restaurants whose interior designs have crafted unique dining spaces.

# **Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall**

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-6-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 6 - BluPrint")Tucked in SM Mall of Asia, Kiwami MOA redefines the traditional food hall by crafting a communal dining experience designed for tranquility. The food hall houses all of Standard Hospitality Group’s (SHG) beloved Japanese concepts: Ippudo, Yabu: House of Katsu, Koyo Handroll Bar, Hokkaido Soft Cream, Hannosuke, and Hachibei.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-8-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 8 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-9-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 9 - BluPrint")

Designed by the Architecture team at C+Y Design Studio, the space was formed to craft intimacy amidst a high-traffic commercial setting. The arboreal accents define the spatial design through the strategically placed Japanese maple trees that serve as the space’s visual anchors. Not only do they guide diners, but they also integrate an organic form that further drives the overall sense of tranquility.

Above each tree, an artificial skylight was placed to mimic natural daylight. Thus, it creates a brighter and more airy feel within the expansive space. In addition, features such as warm wood dominate the interior, offering natural comfort to diners. The acoustics are also carefully considered to mitigate the noise from the mall. All of these elements provide guests with a break from chaos.

![Kiwami MOA: A New Kind of Food Hall.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kiwami-MOA-3-scaled.webp "Kiwami MOA 3 - BluPrint")The food hall’s layout encourages interaction and discovery. The “theatrical kitchen” allows guests to observe the food preparation. By doing so, the space fosters a sense of connection to the food and the diner. Overall, for Kiwami MOA, its culinary offerings are just as important as the peaceful space it can provide within one of Southeast Asia’s largest malls.

# **Los Tacos: Authentic by Design**

![Los Tacos: Authentic by Design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Los-Taco-20.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Los Taco)-20 - BluPrint")Stemming from Chef Patrick Curitana’s own home, Los Tacos is now a 138-square-meter restaurant with seating for 52 guests. Guided by the principles of honesty and growth, the goal was to craft a space that embodies the ethos and the chef’s culinary philosophy. Designed by architect Brian Ver, the restaurant aimed to create an interior that flows with its menu.

The design prioritized natural finishes, including raw textures and organic finishes. This offers a sense of comfort and warmth, reflecting the simplicity of the food. The restaurant’s design draws inspiration from Oaxaca, Mexico, home of the *molinito* (corn mill), crucial for producing authentic *masa*. By utilizing natural, earthy tones and textures, the design pays tribute to the tradition of the ingredients and culinary methods used.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Los-Taco-18.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Los Taco)-18 - BluPrint")

![Los Tacos: Authentic by Design.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Los-Taco-13.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Los Taco)-13 - BluPrint")

Its spatial layout is divided into two sections: the dining area and the kitchen. Through this layout, diners can feel connected to their meal by observing the chef’s process and sensing the activity behind the scenes. As such, the restaurant’s central feature is the Chef’s table area, which uses a concrete finish to maintain simplicity. In doing so, it brings attention to the cooking process.

Los Tacos aims to redefine fine dining by offering an approachable and relaxed setting where patrons can enjoy elevated food.

# **Oak & Smoke: A Culinary Fusion of Fire and Flavor**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-14.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-14 - BluPrint")Situated in Salcedo Village, Oak & Smoke (O/S) is the creation of culinary duo Chef Anna Bautista and Chef Sean Jorgensen. Rooted in smoked meats, the restaurant has evolved into a fusion of Southern U.S. flair and Northern Californian finesse. Its allure lies in its open-flame cooking, with its interior design mirroring this culinary philosophy.

Designed by Andrew Trinidad of Headroom CDV Co., the space exhibits a contemporary design that complements the restaurant’s cuisine. Its design balanced the masculine and the feminine, pairing the dark hues ot blue, gray, and wood with subtly integrated floral patterns.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-12.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-12 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BluPrint-2024-October-In-Article-OakSmoke-11.jpg "BluPrint 2024 October In-Article (Oak&Smoke)-11 - BluPrint")

A striking nine-meter-long chandelier that mimics smoke is the focal point of the design. It runs the length of the dining room, creating a sense of grandeur. Further emphasizing the central role of fire in the restaurant’s culinary identity, visible firewood on the open kitchen walls was included.

In its layout, an open kitchen was integrated to provide guests with a view of the culinary behind the scenes. Alongside this, the bar was placed at the far end of the dining room to allow guests a full view of the interior design. Inside, guests are transported to a sensory experience that extends beyond food.

# **Fable Café and Lounge: Kenneth Cobonpue’s New “Cabinet of Curios”**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Fable-Restaurant-18.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Fable Restaurant)-18 - BluPrint")Internationally acclaimed designer Kenneth Cobonpue goes beyond the physical and into the experiential at the Fable Café and Lounge. Located in Bonifacio Global City, the café is an immersive and whimsical space that serves around 50 diners. Central to its design is the designer’s love for nature and storytelling, which shaped the café’s distinctive look.

The café and lounge are one of the spaces in Cobonpue’s 900-meter showroom. Inside, the designer’s interpretation of a fantasy world is brought to life. Features such as organic elements and symbolic forms surround the space to evoke a sense of wonder among guests. Furthermore, the designer experimented with materials while approaching functional elements with an imaginative flair. From handmade wire light fixtures to cutlery holders shaped like crocodiles, each design choice reflects his playful approach to the space.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Fable-Restaurant-24.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Fable Restaurant)-24 - BluPrint")

![Fable Café and Lounge: Kenneth Cobonpue's New "Cabinet of Curios"](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Fable-Restaurant-15.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Fable Restaurant)-15 - BluPrint")

Breaking away from the constraints of furniture design, the café and lounge are a canvas for his imagination. While the food and drinks originate from different parts of the world, each object within the space allows guests to transport themselves into another world.

# **Taupe: A Canvas for Food, Art, and Experience**

![Interiors of Taupe restaurant from another angle.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BluPrint-2025-February-In-Article-Toupe-41.jpg "BluPrint 2025 February In-Article (Toupe)-41 - BluPrint")Located in Bonifacio Global City, Taupe is named after the versatile grayish-brown hue. Due to its neutral and monochromatic tones, Executive Chef Francis Tolentino chose this color for the interiors to allow the food to be the main focus. His vision for the restaurant’s design was realized through architect Thea Domingo.

Architect Domingo wanted to capture the essence of Taupe’s cuisine and Chef Tolentino’s personal history of cooking with his grandmother. As such, she employed a design philosophy centered on roots, neutrality, and timelessness. This was achieved through sculptural materials like stone and glass, bespoke marble tables, and velvet chairs. Through which, she balanced hard and soft elements.

![Interiors of Taupe restaurant.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BluPrint-2025-February-In-Article-Toupe-52.jpg "BluPrint 2025 February In-Article (Toupe)-52 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BluPrint-2025-February-In-Article-Toupe-38.jpg "BluPrint 2025 February In-Article (Toupe)-38 - BluPrint")

Despite its neutral color palette, the tone-on-tone color scheme, decorative resin panels, and soft lighting all work together to create an elegant environment where the atmosphere is soft and serene. Functionality was also paramount, evidenced by a 60:40 dining-to-kitchen ratio and efficient space planning. This includes a show kitchen, full-height bronze mirrors, and an open ceiling for visual expansion, with material substitutions like resin for glass addressing challenges.

![Portion of Taupe restaurant where the bar and the show kitchen are seen.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BluPrint-2025-February-In-Article-Toupe-40.jpg "BluPrint 2025 February In-Article (Toupe)-40 - BluPrint")Highlights in the restaurant include the show kitchen, which lets diners watch the chefs in action, and the stairs ensemble, where guests love to take photos.Interactive elements like the stairs, a chef’s table, and a prominent bar, coupled with a medley of textures, varying heights, stone, glass, and strategic lighting, provide an elegant backdrop aimed at creating “timeless elegance” where guests can feel absorbed, connect, share stories, and fully experience the “culinary masterpiece”—an “experience within an experience.”

# **Incanta: An Enchanting Cave Dining Experience Within the City**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF0493-scaled.webp "_DSF0493 - BluPrint")Incanta, a unique bar and restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, offers a new dimension of dining. With its hand-sculpted, cave-like interior, it transforms the urban setting into an ambiance reminiscent of natural landscapes. Inspired by their travels, particularly an experience at The Cave in Bali, founders Sarah Genove-Uy and Ma. Cristine Caringal Melad envisioned creating a natural cave of their own in the city.

Aligning the concept with the Philippines’ rich geological landscape, they collaborated with architects Jeng Diaz and Angelo Blay. The owners and architects engaged with local artists to hand-sculpt the ridges and formations. Through which they were able to transform the 500-square-meter space into the restaurant it is today: a simple, minimalist space that blends architecture with nature.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF0657-scaled.webp "_DSF0657 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF0490-scaled.webp "_DSF0490 - BluPrint")

Its design is characterized by natural materials, curved shapes, and an earthy color palette. While the exterior is a pragmatic, box-like structure with undulating forms to maximize interior space, the inside impresses with a massive face sculpture in the vestibule. The main dining area is defined by faux ridges meticulously molded from Portland cement. These ridges are colored in a contemporary mocha mousse. Genove-Yu intentionally chose this color to achieve a minimalistic ambiance rather than a direct imitation of natural cave hues.

The restaurant’s striking moon chandelier, suspended from a high ceiling, features three distinct moods—solar, dusk, and lunar—to enhance the guest experience. The solar mood provides soft, diffused light, perfect for daytime dining. As dusk nears, the orange sunset glow transforms the space into a cafe with scattered starlight. In the evening, the lunar mode creates a dimmer, bloody red hue, shifting the atmosphere to a bar.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSF0583-scaled.webp "_DSF0583 - BluPrint")Incanta, already a unique dining destination in the Philippines, envisions continuous growth and evolution, planning to introduce new design elements and seasonal themes to keep the experience fresh.

# **The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar**

![The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ippudo-Ramen-Bar-Mar-20256788.webp "Ippudo Ramen Bar Mar 20256788 - BluPrint")Located in Uptown BGC, the Ippudo Ramen Bar opened its doors to the public early this year. Together with its long-time collaborator Standard Hospitality Group (SHG), Ippudo debuted its Ramen Bar concept through a modern space that converges heritage and innovation, its restaurant design reflecting a seamless balance between the past and present.

The design pays homage to Ippudo’s beginnings in the 80s, as it embraces a more minimalist and forward-thinking aesthetic. Its ramen bar counter acts as the design anchor of the space, providing diners with an open view of the kitchen. This is a nod to the traditional Japanese ramen shop. Meanwhile, design elements such as abstract shapes and a contemporary color palette of muted metallics and bold accents form a modern dynamism in the space.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ippudo-Ramen-Bar-Mar-20257855.webp "Ippudo Ramen Bar Mar 20257855 - BluPrint")

![The Design Story Behind the World’s First Ippudo Ramen Bar.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ippudo-Ramen-Bar-Mar-20256762.webp "Ippudo Ramen Bar Mar 20256762 - BluPrint")

To create an inviting and dynamic dining experience, the team prioritized balanced, indirect lighting—resulting in a softer ambiance and the spotlighting of the textures and warmth of the space. The designers also took into consideration the space’s acoustic design. Features such as textiles and timber finishes absorb sound, creating an intimate yet lively space that addresses the hollow echo seen in some modern spaces.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ippudo-Ramen-Bar-Mar-20257845_HDR.webp "Ippudo Ramen Bar Mar 20257845_HDR - BluPrint")Efficient seating was also established to maximize the space, accommodating both solo diners and those staying for a longer meal. Through its design choices, the Ipuddo Ramen Bar crafted a space designed for a memorable and engaging dining experience.

# **The Architecture of Dining**

Memorable dining experiences are crafted by both the restaurant’s culinary offerings and interior design. These architectural feats go beyond mere aesthetics, establishing an ambiance that moves along with culinary flavors and techniques, leaving behind a profound, lasting impression.

**Read More:** [Architecture of Dining: The Best Restaurant Interior Design of 2024](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/architecture-of-dining-the-best-restaurant-interior-design-of-2024/ "Architecture of Dining: The Best Restaurant Interior Design of 2024")

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does Kiwami MOA utilize “Biophilic Design” to solve the challenges of a high-traffic mall?

Kiwami MOA addresses “mall fatigue” through biophilic anchors. Architects at C+Y Design Studio used Japanese maple trees and artificial skylights that mimic natural daylight to create a sense of tranquility. Technically, this is supported by high-performance acoustic timber finishes that mitigate the ambient noise of the Mall of Asia, transforming a commercial food hall into a “zen” communal sanctuary.

### What is the “Oaxacan-inspired” material palette of Los Tacos?

The design by Brian Ver translates the simplicity of masa (corn dough) into architectural form. The palette relies on raw, organic finishes and concrete textures inspired by the molinito (corn mill) of Oaxaca, Mexico. The layout uses a 138-square-meter footprint divided into a dining area and a kitchen, centered around a concrete Chef’s table that strips away “fine dining” pretension to focus purely on the honesty of the ingredients.

### How does the lighting in Oak & Smoke and Incanta dictate the “Atmospheric Narrative”?

Both restaurants use lighting as a dynamic storytelling tool:
Oak & Smoke: Features a nine-meter smoke-mimicking chandelier that runs the length of the dining room, visually representing the restaurant’s open-flame cooking philosophy.
Incanta: Uses a “Moon Chandelier” with three distinct technical moods—Solar (diffused daytime), Dusk (orange sunset glow), and Lunar (bloody red bar mode). This allows the 500-square-meter “cave” to transition functionally from a cafe to an immersive bar without changing the physical furniture.

### What is “Taupe’s” design strategy for a “Neutrality-as-a-Canvas” concept?

At Taupe, the interior is intentionally monochromatic to prevent the architecture from competing with the food. Architect Thea Domingo balanced hard sculptural materials (stone, resin, marble) with soft elements (velvet, soft lighting). Technically, the restaurant utilizes a 60:40 dining-to-kitchen ratio and bronze mirrors to create “visual expansion,” ensuring the “experience within an experience” remains centered on the plate.

### How did Incanta achieve its “Cave” texture using modern construction materials?

While inspired by natural sea caves, Incanta’s interior is a feat of artisanal hand-sculpting. Local artists molded the ridges using Portland cement, which was then colored in a “mocha mousse” hue. This creates a minimalist, “geological” ambiance that avoids being a literal imitation of nature. The exterior is a pragmatic box, but the interior uses undulating forms to maximize spatial depth, proving that industrial materials can replicate organic, primeval environments.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture

**Tags:** Dining, Interior Design, Restaurant

---

### [Alviera: Ayala Land's Vision of Renewal, Harmony, and Legacy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/alviera-ayala-lands-vision-of-renewal-harmony-and-legacy/)

**Published:** January 14, 2025
**Author:** Denise Ayado

**Content:**

Nestled between the majestic mountain ranges of Zambales in the west and Mount Arayat in the east is a land filled with tales of resilience and of rebirth. At the center of this transformation stands Alviera, a 1,714- hectare estate envisioned as a model of modern living. Aptly named from the combination of Latin words “vie” and “terra”, Alviera is a land that brings life, and this development between Ayala Land and Leonio Land is not merely a physical transformation but a metaphorical one.

A narrative rooted in its past with a vision of an optimistic tomorrow, Bluprint envisions a future as Alviera becomes a portal of transformation— of what it is and what it could be, a gateway to a future where innovation and human experience converge, where sustainable living within an urban nature are not mere aspirations but shaped realities. In this special collaboration, Bluprint and Alviera encapsulate the essence of the phoenix- triumphantly rising from the ashes and bringing with it a new era of renewal and possibilities, delivering an inspiring space that sets a new benchmark for modern living.

## **Portals of Legacy: From Dreams to Foundations**

![Alviera: Ayala Land's Vision of Renewal, Harmony, and Legacy.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-10.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-10 - BluPrint")Centuries ago, Porac was Pampanga’s first established town, rich in Purac trees and fertile agricultural lands. However, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo reshaped the lush fields into stark barren terrain, leaving the community vulnerable. Despite the devastation, this tragedy became the bedrock for reinvention. Volcanic deposits raised the land, creating natural defenses against flooding, while human ingenuity and determination fortified it further with the construction of mega dikes. Today, this same land has transformed into a canvas of opportunity, embodying resilience and reinvention. As Clarissa Leonio-Asuncion, President and Director of Leonio Land, explained:

“The land has been in our family for generations. My grandfather deeply believed in its potential, my father expanded on it, and our generation is tasked with developing it and realizing its capacity.”

![The Leonio Land Board of Directors: Front row, from left: Clarissa Leonio-Asuncion, Leonardo L. Leonio; Back row, from left: Lawrence Conrad and Carlo Leonardo N. Leonio, Lady Claire L. Guiyab.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-25.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-25 - BluPrint")
Leonio Land Board of Directors: Front row, from left: Clarissa Leonio-Asuncion, Leonardo L. Leonio; Back row, from left: Lawrence Conrad and Carlo Leonardo N. Leonio, Lady Claire L. Guiyab.Leonio continued, “We thought to ourselves, because of the size and scale of this property, we had to partner with someone who shared our mission and values. Ayala Land was our only choice. They not only have the expertise for such a massive undertaking but also share our commitment to preserving the land’s natural beauty and legacy of responsible development. Ayala’s legacy of sparking progress aligns with our vision.”

## **Portals of Foundations: Catalyzing Nation Building**

![Aerial view of Alviera Country Club by Ayala Land.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-06.jpg "default - BluPrint")
Surrounded by vibrant green mountain ranges, the Alviera Country Club and the estate’s amenities—
pools, tennis courts, and City Kart tracks—work harmoniously with the natural landscape, creating a
perfect union of recreation and tranquility.At the heart of Alviera’s vision is integration—a seamless blend of living, working, and recreation. Surrounding ecosystems along the residential zones will be built to support vibrant employment opportunities through industrial zones. Complementary to it will be the commercial spaces, keeping the estate alive with the hum of daily activities from residents and local businesses. Specific to its location, Alviera has a local road leading to downtown Porac while a regional highway provides connectivity to the provinces of Mabalacat, Angeles, Subic, and Bataan.

With the presence of its commercial districts, industrial parks, university zones, retail establishments, country club, recreational areas, and the development of residential brands including Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, and Avida, the estate provides the much-needed work-liveplay balance that everyone is looking for.

Meean B. Dy, Ayala Land’s President and CEO, described, “Alviera is envisioned to become Central Luzon’s key regional growth center.” Being the most expansive estate in the region and the second in biggest estate by Ayala Land, Alviera is set to become a premier destination for a thriving and diverse community. “It is this potential that Alviera can leverage on to create a progressive, commercial business district within the growing economic corridor of Central Luzon—leveraging on government infrastructure projects and complementing existing competition,” Dy expanded.

## **Portals for Living and Well-Being: A Space to Flourish and Rediscover Joy**

![Alviera: Ayala Land's Vision of Renewal, Harmony, and Legacy.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-04.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-04 - BluPrint")At Alviera, joy and delight come from the harmonious fusion of nature, design, and meaningful experiences. Residences are not just structures, but urban sanctuaries designed to suit individual needs, complemented by distinct architectural features that speak volumes to the developer’s understanding of what living well truly encompasses.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-20.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-20 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-18.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-18 - BluPrint")

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-15-1.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-15 - BluPrint")

Surrounded by open grounds and a stunning mountain range, the Alviera Country Club (ACC) embodies well-being and connection. Its sweeping rooflines and glass walls invite the outdoors in, creating an immersive, tranquil setting. A highlight is the view from the pool—emerging from the water, guests are greeted by rolling mountains bathed in golden light, with sunsets painting the horizon in vibrant hues. This striking design by Leandro V. Locsin Partners captures the essence of convergence, offering a space where nature and architecture meet to foster moments of serenity and awe.

Alviera redefines luxury by focusing on experiences that inspire connection and well-being. Whether basking in the tranquility of the club’s design or embracing the excitement of adventure, every detail is crafted to create unforgettable moments. From serene poolside vistas to the thrill of exploration, Alviera offers a holistic experience that celebrates life’s beauty and the art of living well.

Aside from that, the estate also showcases a commitment to fostering skills, talent, and intellectual development. The presence of academic institutions, such as Miriam Colleges and the La Salle Botanical Gardens ensures that accessibility to education is not only made available to Alviera’s residents but also to those within surrounding areas and regions to alleviate reliance on urban centers and a strategic alternative to moving to the capital. The academic institutions’ designs prioritize human experience beyond just an institutional focus.

## **Portals of Tomorrow: Architecting the Future**

Alviera is not just a project but rather a movement, a prototype for what realistic and humanistic cities of tomorrow could become. The stunning cover image reveals a montage crafted through the combined advancement of AI and human creativity. A monumental wooden portal over the lush, rolling terrain, creating a striking interplay between geometric precision and the organic beauty of nature. The warm tones of the structure reflect the soft light of the setting sun, inviting viewers to journey down the winding road that disappears into its embrace.

![Alviera: Ayala Land's Vision of Renewal, Harmony, and Legacy.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Volume-2-23.jpg "BluPrint 2025 January In-Article (Volume 2)-23 - BluPrint")Symbolizing the union of past, present, and future, this image is an emotive metaphor for Alviera as a gateway to innovation and connectivity. Minimalist, yet striking, it grounds a visionary present with the sustainability of the future- where human ambitions thrive peacefully in the natural world. A speculative visualization of the future, this visualization demonstrates a harmonious workflow where human intervention and direction provided a level of intellectual emotiveness to soften the coldness of machine learning.

The montage captures Alviera’s identity as a portal of transformation—a development that invites everyone to step into a future where purpose, balance, and renewal are deeply valued, where architecture provides a frame for nature to take center stage and not conceal it, where progress and preservation coexist harmoniously, and where spaces and people can boundlessly grow emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It reflects a future where innovation does not come at the expense of nature and of man. Instead, it learns from both.

*This article has been abridged for the website.*

Photographed by Ed Simon.

![Alviera: Ayala Land's Vision of Renewal, Harmony, and Legacy, BluPrint Volume 2.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/BluPrint-2025-January-In-Article-Cover-Volume-2.jpg "BP 2024 Volume 2 Cover.indd - BluPrint")Read the full story by ordering your copy of BluPrint Volume 2, available via the [sarisari.shopping website](https://sarisari.shopping/products/bluprint-volume-2), [Shopee](https://shopee.ph/sarisarinewsstand), and [Lazada](https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/sari-sari-newsstand/?spm=a2o4l.pdp_revamp.seller.1.42905f53oYtyra&itemId=4456214334&channelSource=pdp). E-magazines are available for download via [Readly](https://ph.readly.com/products/magazine/bluprint?q=blupri), [Press Reader](https://www.pressreader.com/magazines/m/bluprint-9xwf), and [Magzter](https://www.magzter.com/PH/One-Mega-Group,-Inc./BluPrint/Architecture/All-Issues).

**Read more:** [Future Proof Architecture: A New Era of Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/future-proof-architecture-a-new-era-of-design/)

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### What is Alviera by Ayala Land?

Alviera is a 1,714-hectare mixed-use estate developed by Ayala Land and Leonio Land in Porac, Pampanga. It is designed as a model of modern living, blending nature, sustainability, and innovation into a vibrant community.

### Where is Alviera located in Pampanga?

Alviera is located in Porac, Pampanga, nestled between the Zambales mountain ranges and Mount Arayat. Its strategic location connects it to Angeles, Mabalacat, Subic, and Bataan, making it accessible to key cities in Central Luzon.

### Who are the developers behind Alviera?

Alviera is a joint development by Ayala Land, one of the country’s leading real estate developers, and Leonio Land, a family-owned company with deep roots in Pampanga. Together, they aim to transform the land into a progressive regional hub.

### What are the features and amenities of Alviera?

Alviera offers residential communities, industrial zones, commercial districts, schools, retail centers, and the Alviera Country Club. It combines leisure, business, and lifestyle amenities in a setting that balances modern design with natural landscapes.

### Is Alviera a residential, commercial, or mixed-use estate?

Alviera is a mixed-use estate. It integrates residential developments from Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, and Avida with commercial spaces, industrial parks, educational institutions, and recreational facilities, creating a balanced live-work-play environment.

 [![Banuas Lawod by Ejhay Durias AYDA International Awards Global Design of the Year](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2.webp "banuas-lawod-ayda-international-awards-global-designer-of-the-year-2 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/) 

### [Banuas Lawod: Reconnecting the Sama-Bajau With the Sea](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/banuas-lawod-sama-bajau-sea/)

Mindanaoan architecture student Ejhay L. Durias of the University of Mindanao made history after becoming the first Filipino to receive the AYDA International Awards’ Global Designer of the Year in the architectural category. His winning proposal, Banuas Lawod, an Aquaculture Community Hub, envisions a coastal settlement designed around the cultural identity and traditional livelihoods of \[…\]

 [![Sketch of Ayala Museum](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SM01-Ayala-Museum.webp "SM01 Ayala Museum - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/) 

### [Ayala Museum: From Brutalism to Contemporary Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/ayala-museum-architecture-makati/)

The Ayala Museum designed by the firm of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP) sits at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Legaspi Village, Makati. This is actually the second museum of the same name in the area. The original, which was designed by National artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin in \[…\]

 [![Architizer A+Awards 2026](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/architizer-awards-2026-feature-image.webp "architizer-awards-2026-feature-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/) 

### [Architizer A+ Awards 2026: Four Approaches to Environmentally Responsive Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/architizer-a-plus-awards-2026-winners/)

The projects recognized by Architizer’s 14th Annual A+Awards span architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, and sustainability. Organized by Architizer, one of the world’s largest online platforms for architects and design professionals, the A+Awards has grown in scale and international reach since its launch in 2013, drawing entries from more than 100 countries. Winners are selected \[…\]

 [![Agda Beach Villas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/agda-beach-villas-10-scaled.webp "agda-beach-villas-10 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/) 

### [Agda Beach Villas: A Coastal Retreat in Three Blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/agda-beach-villas-vbo-architects-agdangan-quezon/)

Overlooking Tayabas Bay, Agda Beach Villas occupies a one-hectare hilly property where the terrain descends toward the coast. Designed by VBo Architects + Engineers, the tropical retreat responds to the sloping terrain through villas and shared spaces oriented toward the surrounding landscape. Before construction began, Bocalid was drawn to the property’s steep terrain and secluded \[…\]

 [![Jia CURATED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jia-curated-1-featured-image.webp "jia-curated-1-featured-image - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/) 

### [Jia CURATED 2026: Nature Weave Arrives on Bali’s Pengembak Beach](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/jia-curated-2026-nature-weave-pengembak-beach-bali/)

After being set amongst the ruins of an abandoned theme park in the past years, Jia CURATED found a home on the shores of Pengembak Beach, Bali for this year’s installment. It’s a unique location with multiple natural features like Sanur’s coastline, pine and mangrove forests, and a stream—making nature an important participant for how \[…\]

 [![171 Residence by MCAL Design Studio facade](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1.webp "171-residence-by-mcal-design-studio-1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/) 

### [171 Residence: A Verdant Retreat Near A Vibrant City ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/171-residence-verdant-retreat-near-bgc/)

Just moments away from the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City is 171, a multi-level villa set on a 302-square-meter lot. M.CAL Architecture Design Studio, headed by Ar. Monique C. Albert-Lopez, built the residence as a minimalist modern sanctuary surrounded by landscaped gardens. This creative direction was drawn from the homeowners’ brief to create a \[…\]

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Design, Philippines, Residential

---

### [God, Man, Nature: Amara Chapel by Buensalido+Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/amara-chapel-buensalidoarchitects/)

**Published:** June 10, 2017
**Author:** Miguel R. Llona

**Excerpt:** A small but daring chapel in Cebu challenges preconceived notions of church architecture.

**Content:**

“We wanted a break from the predictable and to investigate other ways of encapsulating spirituality in the contemporary setting,” says [Jason Buensalido](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/jason-buensalido/). [The Amara Chape](https://www.archify.com/ph/project/the-parks-at-amara-chapel)l in Liloan, Cebu, is yet another example of Buensalido+Architects at its most experimental, regardless of typology.

The Parks at Amara is an Ayala Land Premiere community that prides itself on creating spaces where people “can breathe, play and celebrate.” The village’s tropical architecture reflects this direction, with houses and amenities opening out to lush greenery and sea views. The developer’s instruction was to create a village chapel that adheres to the community’s respectful stance towards nature.

## The Plan

The site is a triangular plot on the northern edge of the village, measuring 814 square meters. Buensalido noted that the pointed shape would be problematic for the usual rectangular or cruciform plan for churches. Furthermore, two sides of the lot are flanked by houses from outside the village, not exactly great views. There is however, a plus to the site, and its slight elevation. The lot allow for sea views and promotes peaceful meditation and fellowship in its quiet village corner location.

Since the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces was an important part of the brief, a rectangular plan was out of the question. “A rectangular plan would cut up the outdoor spillover spaces into smaller nooks, with awkward views of the altar,” explained Buensalido. “What we did, therefore, was to take our cue from the lot, and allow its boundaries to shape the footprint of the chapel.” The result is a 128-square meter triangular plan with ample outdoor space and a proper setback from the street.

**READ MORE: [Visayan Modernism: The Tinderbox by Alex Medalla](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/visayan-modernism-tinderbox-alex-medalla/)**

[![Buensalido Amara Chapel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Buensalido2.jpg "Buensalido2 - BluPrint")](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Buensalido2.jpg)There are openings in between the triangular walls, creating a diaphanous space. Wind passes through the gaps cooling the interior, with sunlight filtering through the gaps painting beautiful light streaks. A boulder of Mactan stone stands as the altar, and the wood accent wall behind it softens the interior. Trees and tall plants will hide the sight of roofs from the neighboring subdivision.## The Design

Buensalido+Architects envisioned a worship experience that would not only bring supplicants closer to God but to nature as well. The chapel would link the three elements of God, Man and Nature. These three elements were visualized as upright triangular sections. The base symbolizes man’s connection to the earth, and the two arms point heavenward joined in a gesture of reaching for God.

Constructing the chapel was more complicated than the simple triangular forms suggest. The original idea was to cast the walls in place as reinforced concrete shear walls. However, this would have created significant time delays. The scaffolding and supports would need to stay in place to hold the formworks for each wall while the concrete cures and reaches optimal strength. They scrapped the plan, opting for a method proposed by the contractor that would save time and cost. They pre-cast the wall panels offsite, then assembled them by tilting them up one by one and connecting them with a concrete beam.

While radically veering from the norm, the chapel is but a simple abstraction of typical church architecture. Buensalido took the spires and towers of Gothic churches and broke them down into their essential form, the triangle. What better symbol for the Holy Trinity, and man’s relationship with heaven and earth? The chapel’s transparency and lightness are welcoming. While inside, the congregation can enjoy the beauty of God’s handiwork outside. People are taught to believe that God is everywhere. In this new chapel, Buensalido+Architects has succeeded in translating this belief into material form. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

[![Buensalido Amara Chapel](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Buensalido3.jpg "Buensalido3 - BluPrint")](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Buensalido3.jpg)The differing heights and tilts of the walls make for quite a visual spectacle inside the chapel.![Amara-Chapel-front-elevation](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Amara-Chapel-front-elevation.jpg "Amara Chapel front elevation - BluPrint")

![Amara-Chapel-right--elevation](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Amara-Chapel-right-elevation.jpg "Amara Chapel right elevation - BluPrint")

![Amara Chapel section b](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Amara-Chapel-section-b.jpg "Amara Chapel section b - BluPrint")

***Originally published in BluPrint, Volume 5, 2015. Edits were made for BluPrint.ph***

*Photos courtesy of Ed Simon*

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, Buensalido+Architects, Cebu, Chapel, Church, Design, Jason Buensalido, Modern

---

### [Substance and Light: SpaceFabrik's Brise-soleil Residence](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/spacefabrik-brise-soleil-residence/)

**Published:** June 21, 2017
**Author:** Nick Ramos

**Excerpt:** A modernist tropical home provides an orthogonal oasis shielded from the chaos of metropolitan life.

**Content:**

Within one of the most highly urbanized cities of Metro Manila, a modernist tropical home by SpaceFabrik provides for its occupants an orthogonal oasis shielded from the chaos of metropolitan life.

While privacy was a major requirement for the house, creating lightness and permeability was also emphasized and presented a challenge. This brief enabled Stephanie Tan-Branquinho, principal architect of SpaceFabrik, the creative freedom to pursue her firm’s aesthetic. “The play of volumes is something one rarely sees in local residential architecture,” observes the architect. “Externally, it doesn’t take much to imagine the interior and where everything is—but you rarely see houses where the spaces are articulated and described by the enveloping volumes.”

Located in a gated community carved from hilly terrain, the house stands on a rectangular through lot that slopes down from west to east. Taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the site, Tan-Branquinho organized the house on four levels to benefit from the dual frontage. On the western edge of the property, a gray stone-clad wall and a white fence fabricated from metal angle bars strengthen the relationship of the residence with the street, and define its public and private spaces.

Beyond these barriers, only the two topmost floors, those occupied by the family, are discernable. An L-shaped plan contains these floors and allows for a garden towards which most of the interior spaces orient, and from which light, air and nature are introduced into the building. The dual axes set by the plan also dictate flow and spatial layout. The architectural intent can be more fully appreciated at the eastern elevation where the full building height is revealed and the relationships of the different zones become readily discernable.

The entire structure is divided horizontally to articulate hierarchy and function. The spaces designated for the sole use of the family are contained within the upper half. The inscrutable whiteness of the main residence asserts the abstract purity of its form. As a counterpoint, gray stone tiles endow the service block beneath with a tangible and weighty physicality.

SpaceFabrik is making a name for itself for innovative designs of recreational buildings and leisure complexes, as well as conceptual architecture. Tan-Branquinho trained at the Dessau Institute of Architecture am Bauhaus, Germany, and at Foster and Partners in London; therefore her pursuit of a Modernist ideal comes as no surprise. For her firm’s first fully detached house, the architect put a great deal of thought into how the services and utilities were to be delivered. A pitched roof hides behind a parapet to maintain purity of form. No guttering or downspouts are visible; no mess allowed to muddle the aesthetic clarity that she was after.

**READ MORE: [Old to Bold: LIMA Architecture Renovates An Aging Villa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lima-architecture-renovates-villa/)**

![SpaceFabrik brise-soleil residence: main door](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG_7061.jpg "MG 7061 - BluPrint")As seen through the open pedestrian gate of white metal angle bars, a travertine-clad wall directs one towards the tall timber main entrance door.

The main entrance is approached from the west. The sense of welcome usually offered in other homes via a sheltering overhang is deferred until after ingress. Instead, a travertine-clad wall that steps forth and slips past the tall and broad timber pivoted door ushers one in. Upon entry, a volume cantilevered above the foyer compresses vertical space to create a feeling of hospitable shelter. This sense of confinement is fleeting, however, as in the span of a few steps, space dramatically expands upward and outward into airy effulgence. An expansive double height space is the central area in the house towards which most rooms on both levels relate. A glass wall comprised of sliding doors below and windows above runs the full length of the space along its northern edge adjacent to the garden and pool. This allows the outside in, establishing a degree of intimacy with the natural surroundings, where the notion of greenery, water, sun and sky are omnipresent. The transition between the outdoor and interior spatial experiences is graceful and easy.

![SpaceFabrik brise-soleil residence: dining](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG_6971.jpg "MG 6971 - BluPrint")The predominantly white finish on the walls and soffits banishes any dark corners and maximizes the effectiveness of the gentle daylight that washes the interior through the glass wall. The interior assumes the color of the light depending on the time of day.

The design of the space makes it seem much larger than its actual area as one’s vision extends beyond the confines of the architecture. The vertical thrust at the heart of this open plan creates a dramatic contrast to the predominantly horizontal emphasis of the rooms beyond.

One of the ways SpaceFabrik designed for the prime concerns of their clients while addressing the realities of the site was by the use of *brise soleil*. These sun baffles protect the glass surfaces from direct sunlight, shade the interiors from glare, as well as secure privacy for the occupants without cutting them off from the views offered by the setting. Further, the vertical blinds crafted from lightweight aluminum panels provide surface relief from the rectilinear purity of the volumetric composition. Temporal rhythms likewise come into play as shadowy parallels mark the passing of time across interior surfaces. Opposing ideas such as opacity and permeability, revelation and concealment are successfully reconciled by means of simple devices that the architect feels are woefully underused in an environment for which they were specifically devised.

![SpaceFabrik brise-soleil residence: living area](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG_6952.jpg "MG 6952 - BluPrint")The aluminum brise soleil panels succeed in concealing the interior lives of the occupants from the outside world; reveal to the inhabitants views that can be enjoyed from the site; as well as minimize heat gain.

The twin tectonic elements of travertine-clad walls emphasize the prime axis of the building. These, in conjunction with the brise soleil, form thematic assemblages that bookend narrative routes through the house that begin at the front door and culminate at the rear in either the den or the masters’ bedroom directly above.

When architecture is this pared down, the bare essentials of design come into sharpest focus. When ornamentation is absent and articulation is kept to a minimum, human relationship with space and the elements that define it must be reinstated by other means. The consideration of scale, for instance, demands clever and sensitive handling when inherently descriptive elements such as steps and doorways are abstracted, hidden, or altogether nonexistent. SpaceFabrik succeeds resoundingly in meeting this challenge. At no instance does the double-height room feel awkward in its dimensions or the relationship it establishes with the rest of the house.

Every door stretches to the ceiling yet instead of a feeling of vertical exaggeration, the impression is that of walls sliding apart to permit passage, thus emphasizing familiar width. Scalar clues like this are given at a degree so subtle as to be largely perceived subconsciously. The discipline and finesse this aesthetic exacts can be unforgiving but the architect pulls it off.

> **The play of volumes is something one rarely sees in local residential architecture.**
> 
> **– Stephanie Tan-Branquinho**

The dual axes of the house plan set perpendicular to each other account for the highly pleasing spatial transitions from one space into another. These transitions from public to private and communal to personal are resolved by the subtle use of turns. Where floor finishes are consistent throughout each level and not so much as a threshold denotes the start of one space and the end of another, changes in direction, in increments of 90 degree angles, take on vital importance. Each turn works to prepare one for the experience of a new space. It is this that affords one the discovery of varied spatial experiences and views. Progression is handled masterfully throughout the house and is one of the keys to its pleasurable understanding.

![SpaceFabrik brise-soleil residence: mezzanine](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG_7078.jpg "MG 7078 - BluPrint")The mezzanine balusters were fabricated using the same steel angle bars as the outer fence. A subtle animation is created in the gradual rotation of each member. Wooden embellishments emphasize this dynamism, and motion is encouraged along the length of the balustrade.

Upstairs, the airiness of the tall living space and the relationship with the outside continues unimpeded. Ample storage is provided along the hall that connects the upstairs bedrooms. The quarters for the children are designed identically, each with its own bathroom. Every room is well appointed but not too self-contained so as to encourage gathering as a family in the communal areas downstairs.

The upstairs hall continues into the master bedroom with enough distance to create ample width for an *en suite* bathroom. Quiet retreat for the homeowners is facilitated by another turn. The room cantilevers 2.5 meters to the north, asserting its primacy within the composition. At the east, views toward the distant mountains and the mellow light of morning may be savored. The west end of the space overlooks the garden, pool and street beyond. The judicious use of brise soleil satisfies the clients’ preference not to be seen from without, yet to be able to watch over the children in the outdoor play areas.

An apartment for the household staff is located beneath the main residence floor. This self-contained unit is thoughtfully furnished with a dormitory, bathrooms, service kitchen, laundry, lockers and further storage areas. This block is accessed by a flight of stairs separate and offset from that of the house above. A door separates these two distinct areas and provides an added layer of security and privacy for the owners.

The placement of the garage at the low end of the slope does away with the back-of-house clutter that often plagues houses with frontal vehicle sheds. To one side of this open space is a self-contained flat for a driver.

The house has been lived in by the family for over a few months and has even withstood a powerful typhoon, which hardly made its presence felt indoors. It continues to provide tranquil comfort as the summer swelters.

![SpaceFabrik brise-soleil residence: ext and int](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG_7341.jpg "MG 7341 - BluPrint")All inside walls were initially to be uniformly finished in white but the design vocabulary was expanded for further clarity and articulation. Those surfaces made warm by wood veneer generally signal the private nature of the rooms within.

In the pursuit of crafting a dream home for a family, Stephanie Tan-Branquinho and SpaceFabrik utilized modernist principles to respond appropriately to context and user needs. Far from imposing modernism as stylistic costuming for a building, the architect acknowledges modernism as a way of life that has everything to do with delight, comfort, functionality and quality of living. It is a fine modernist structure that takes advantage of light, space, and nature to enhance the experience of the inhabitants. This sun-baffled residence is as pleasurably accommodating as it is thoroughly thought through. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![Spacefabrik-Molave-elevations](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Spacefabrik-Molave-elevations.jpg "Spacefabrik Molave elevations - BluPrint")![Spacefabrik-Molave-section](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Spacefabrik-Molave-section.jpg "Spacefabrik Molave section - BluPrint")**This story first appeared in BluPrint Volume 3, 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Manila, Residential, SpaceFabrik, Stephanie Tan-Branquinho, Tropical

---

### [Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/)

**Published:** June 28, 2017
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** BluPrint gathers contemporary Southeast Asian dwellings that work in hot and wet climates.

**Content:**

The [Tropical Architecture]() For The 21st Century book series by BluPrint features contemporary houses designed by Southeast Asian architects for Southeast Asian climates. These houses exemplify responses for their respective tropical climates, which have posed great challenges for architects who have strive to build for cool and comfort in the face of oppressive heat, humidity and rainfall. *Tropical Architecture For The 21st Century Volume 1* is BluPrint’s second book venture and the first under its Tropical Architecture series.

![Tropical Architecture For The 21st Century Volume 1 will be available in bookstores nationwide by the end of August 2017.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TropicalHouse_July2017_Cover.jpg "TropicalHouse July2017 Cover - BluPrint")

The 2017 volume gathers houses designed by renowned architects such as [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ed-calma-modern-minimalist-home/), Jorge Yulo, and Dominic Galicia from the Philippines; Ong&Ong of Singapore, and WHBC Architects from Malaysia. Future volumes will attempt to showcase Philippine architecture along with the best in the ASEAN region. These annual surveys will contain sharp analysis by BluPrint’s editorial team and stunning photography by Ed Simon, One Mega Group’s head photographer, supplemented by a whole host of other photographers in Asian design circles. The reviews are generously illustrated with floor plans, elevations, and air flow diagrams in order to highlight the reasons for each project’s compatibility in their specific locales.

![Tropical Architecture For The 21st Century](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/17blair069.jpg "17blair069 - BluPrint")Ong&Ong have remodelled a 1920s Singapore heritage shophouse to include an open plan and courtyard whose new ventilated spaces make family time a breeze. Photo courtesy of Ong&OngThe book launch will coincide with BluPrint’s 18th anniversary celebration at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City on 16th August 2017. The event promises to be an exciting gathering of the design industry’s top practitioners with Royal Pineda, Anna Sy, Jorge Yulo, [Ed Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/luck-is-on-our-side-scavolini-webinar-pre-event/), Dominic Galicia, Micaela Benedicto, and Benjamin Mendoza all giving talks.

Email One Mega Group’s circulation department via subscription@onemegagroup.com to order and reserve copies of *Tropical Architecture For The 21st Century Volume 1*. The book will be available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks by the end of August 2017. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, BluPrint, Book, Climate, House, Residential, Southeast Asia

---

### [Spot the art icons in this Gao painting](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/spot-icons-gao-regaza-painting/)

**Published:** August 1, 2017
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Content:**

![Feliciano House: Gao Regaza painting](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MG_8479_edited.jpg "MG 8479 edited - BluPrint")***Artopia* by Gao, an eight meter wide painting in one of the houses by Lor Calma & Partners featured in the ‘Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century’ book.**

## ARTOPIA 

Artopia is the title of Gao’s first one-man show, a series of paintings in monochromatic golden schemes. The title of each work ends in “ia,” such as *Artopia*, which is also the title of the largest piece in the collection. The painting, Gao says, is a culmination of his journey as a self-taught artist. It is a collage of over 80 famous paintings and portraits by artists Gao studied to discover what kind of artist he wanted to be.

Gao, born Edgar Aguilar Rezaga, is from Negros Occidental, a southern province of the Philippines. Gao is a veteran of art competitions, a consistent finalist in recognition programs and competitions of the Art Association of the Philippines, Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE), and Pasalamat Arts & Cultural Festival.

## Can you spot these famous works and artists in *Artopia*?

![Artopia by Gao Rezaga: Feliciano House by Lor Calma](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MG_8479_left-square.jpg "MG 8479 left square - BluPrint")Left section

![Artopia by Gao Rezaga: Feliciano House by Lor Calma](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MG_8479_middle-square.jpg "MG 8479 middle square - BluPrint")Middle section

![Artopia by Gao Rezaga: Feliciano House by Lor Calma](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MG_8479_right-square.jpg "MG 8479 right square - BluPrint")Right section

Full list of artists and works:

Francisco Goya | The Shootings of May 3rd 1808

*Rembrandt Hermenszoon Van Rijn | The Anatomy of Dr. Pulp*

Juan Luna | Spoliarium

*Auguste Rodin | The Thinker*

*Leonardo da Vinci | Mona Lisa*

*Titian | Bacchus and Ariadne*

*Jan Van Eyck | The Arnolfini Portrait*

*El Greco | The Burial of Count Orgaz*

*Peter Paul Reubens | Raising of the Cross*

*Vermeer | The Art of Painting*

*Giorgione | The Sleeping Venus*

*Jacques-Louis David | The Death of Marat*

*Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres | Napoleon en su Trono Imperial*

*Artemisia Gentileschi | Judith Slaying Holofernes*

*Pieter Bruegel | Tower of Babel*

*Salvador Dali*

*Michelangelo | The Creation of Adam*

James McNeill Whistler | Whistler’s Mother

*Guillermo Tolentino | Oblation*

*René* *Magritte | The Son of Man*

*Salvador Dali | Crucifixion (Hypercube Body)*

Henri Moore | Reclining Nude

*Gustav Klimt | The Kiss*

*Jasper Johns | Three Flags*

*Wang Guangyi | Materialist’s Art*

*Edvard Munch | The Scream*

*Frida Kahlo*

*Grant Wood | American Gothic*

Jackson Pollock

Zhang Xiaogang | Bloodline: The Big Family No. 3

*Yue Min Jun*

Nunelucio Alvarado

*Lucian Freud | Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, 1995*

*Roy Lichtenstein | Wham*

*Carl Fredrik Reutersward| Non-Violence*

*Roy Lichtenstein | POW!*

*Pablo Picasso | Guernica*

*Robert Indiana | LOVE*

*Ron Mueck | Untitled (Big Man)*

*Botticelli | The Birth of Venus*

Edgar Degas | The Little Fourteen-Year Old Dancer

Roger Van Der Weyden | The Descent from the Cross

Sandro Botticelli

Hieronymus Bosch

Giotto de Bondone

*John William Waterhouse | The Lady of Shalott*

Chris Mars (two groups)

*Francis Bacon*

Charlie Co | Midnight Madness

Sergei Chepik

Paul Cezanne

Philomena Williamson

Jean Michel Basquiat

*Michelangelo Buonarroti*

Raphael

Zdzislaw Beksinski

Ron English

*Max Ernst | Celebes (1921)*

*Leonardo da Vinci*

*Fernando Botero | Man on Horse*

Ang Kiukok

Maxx Beckman | The Night

*Thomas Eakins | The Agnew Clinic (1889)*

Nyoman Masriadi

*Mark Rothko*

Queen Elizabeth

*Antonello da Messina | Saint Jerome in his Study c. 1475*

Marcel Duchamp | Fountain

Jeff Koons | Balloon Dog

*Diego Velázquez | Las Meninas*

Lucas Cranach

*Caravaggio | Amor Vincit Omnia*

*Pieter Aertsen | The Adoration of the Magi c. 1560*

*Henri Matisse | Bathers with a Turtle*

Pierre Auguste Renoir

*Leonardo da Vinci | The Vitruvian Man*

*Michael Halsband | Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat with Boxing Gloves*

*Vincent Van Gogh | Self-Portrait*

*Winged Victory of Samothrace*

*Hokusai | The Great Wave of Kanagawa*

*Myron | The Discus Thrower*

*Michelangelo | Pieta*

Lucas Cranach

**Feliciano House by Lor Calma & Partners features in the ‘Tropical Architeture for the 21st Century Volume 1’ book.**

**Categories:** Arts &amp; Culture

---

### [Tips for better architecture photography](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/architecture-photography-tips/)

**Published:** August 1, 2017
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Content:**

Taking architecture photos requires a totally new set of moves from portrait, fashion, and food photography. Think of it as still life photography on a grander scale—capturing objects and, more importantly, the space that contains them, all at the mercy of the weather. Architect Benson Go, contributing photographer for [Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/ "Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1"), shares some tips for better architecture photography.

## Ocular

Pay the site a visit beforehand so you can already narrow down the different areas you want to set up in. If you are limited by time, at least walk through the entire place first so you can figure out the key spaces you need to photograph. Talk to the architect, designers, and end-users if you can. Understanding the design intention will help you plot your shots. This is an important step for commissions.

## Know East and West

Understand the orientation of the structure. If the designer is not present, ask the homeowners what direction their house faces (they usually know). If you are on your own, take out you phone and work your way to the compass app. Figuring where east and west is going to help you determine which portions of the structure capitalize on morning and afternoon sunlight.

## Schedule to chase the daylight

In the Philippines, you have golden windows for architecture photography. In the morning, it’s between sunrise and 10 am when the sunlight isn’t too harsh that it drowns details on facades. In the afternoon, it’s the 30 minutes leading to sunset when the sky is washed pink and blue. Schedule your exterior shots accordingly. Of course, you want to photograph the exteriors of the structure both in the gentle morning sunlight and dramatic dusk.

![BP BCG 3461 EDITED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP-BCG_3461-EDITED.jpg "BP BCG 3461 EDITED - BluPrint")![BP BCG 3525 EDITED](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP-BCG_3525-EDITED.jpg "BP BCG 3525 EDITED - BluPrint")## Keep your verticals vertical

If there is only one thing you can remember from this list, commit this to memory: keep your verticals vertical. Many swear by Photoshop (that’s alright) but there’s a higher chance for distorted photos, even with the perspective correction tools, if the verticals in your raw shots are not level. Try to get as much as you can in the shot as true to vertical as possible and save yourself some time in post-process.

![Bate vert 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bate-vert-1.jpg "Bate vert 1 - BluPrint")![Bate vert2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bate-vert2.jpg "Bate vert2 - BluPrint")![Bate vert3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bate-vert3.jpg "Bate vert3 - BluPrint")## Nimble tools

Lightweight and compact tripods are more flexible to work with. Not only do they stabilize your camera, they help you squeeze into corners for interior photos. They are also easier to pack up for travel.

![BP BCG 3419 EDITED 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP-BCG_3419-EDITED-1.jpg "BP BCG 3419 EDITED 1 - BluPrint")This interior shot was taken from the very corner of the room. Smaller equipment is ideal for the documenting of interior and unusually configured spaces.**B Residence by C|S Design Consultancy is featured in the ‘Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1’ book.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture photography, Benson Go, Photography

---

### [Punong: A nature-embraced family retreat by Ed Ledesma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/punong-ed-ledesma/)

**Published:** August 9, 2017
**Author:** Sibyl Layag

**Excerpt:** Ed Ledesma, one of the country’s top residential architects, developed Punong, a peaceful retreat home as a place where he and his family can find moments of solace out of their hectic schedules.

**Content:**

Punong, as the Ledesmas fondly call their vacation home, is Hiligaynon for “fishpond.” The 95-hectare property is comprised mostly of these, which, along with sugar, comprise the family’s chief business ventures. Its architect, [Ed Ledesma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/twin-house-ed-ledesma/), developed the compound as a place of solace for his family, away from the busy city.

Daughter Bing Ledesma-Benin and family have called Punong home since 2007, after moving in to manage the business. The property used to be just a collection of fishponds, a place where fish farm workers conducted their operations, with serviceable nipa huts for when visitors arrived.

![Punong main house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1630.jpg "BP JFO1630 - BluPrint")The main house has an open area underneath that houses a couple of living room setups composed of the Ledesma family’s old wood and rattan furniture. One can also find a handful of sculptures by Daniel dela Cruz, Ledesma’s favorite sculptor.

![Punong casitas](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1579.jpg "BP JFO1579 - BluPrint")The Punong casitas are all installed with Indian-style double doors, which Benin says Ledesma got from the Jo Liza antique shop. The otherwise simple structures are hidden behind verdant shrubs, bamboo plants, hanging vines and water elements that evoke a tropical-paradise feel.

**READ MORE: [Leandro V. Locsin Partners’ Ed Ledesma on Protégés](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lvlp-ed-ledesma-proteges/)**

Punong is a perpetual work in progress—a “family project,” Benin calls it. There was no master plan, the family didn’t sit down to discuss what they wanted; the place just grew organically to meet the growing family’s evolving needs. The compound’s charming casitas all used to be nipa huts, but when Ledesma’s wife said she was finding them difficult to maintain and that it would only get more so in the long run, Ledesma had the huts replaced with simple, box-type concrete structures.

The casitas, built years apart over time, are uncomplicated and undemanding, submissively allowing nature to creep, crawl, sprout, grow and propagate over, under, in between and around them in wild abandon—so much so that stairs, doors and walkways all but disappear into the encroaching branches, roots and vines. There are even bathroom setups—showers, toilets, bathtubs, sinks—hidden inside mossy stone walls and tangled upon knots of tree roots. Sculptures by Bacolod artists are strewn about in the grounds, in the most unexpected places. These kinds of surprises abound in Punong—they are visual chuckles, the architect giving the observer a playful wink.

![Ed Ledesma Punong casita](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1688.jpg "BP JFO1688 - BluPrint")When Ledesma visits his hometown Silay during his down time, he stays on the second floor of the casita where the kitchen is located. His area has its own lanai, and two enclosed sections house his bedroom and office. Benin says her father is planning to retire in Punong.

![Punong lap pool](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1647.jpg "BP JFO1647 - BluPrint")For her contribution to the Punong “family project,” one of the Ledesma sisters proposed the idea of building a lap pool beside the main house, completing the resort atmosphere and providing their children a fun venue for playtime.

In the middle of the compound is the main house, which looks exactly like a bahay kubo rendered in concrete: the enclosed second floor, with its large pyramidal roof, is supported not by walls, but concrete pillars, and the space underneath is used as an entertainment area.

The main house and the casitas are gathered round an open courtyard with various kinds of outdoor furniture, sheltered by a canopy of rubber, narra, mahogany and acacia trees. All around the compound, glinting in the sun, are sprawling fish ponds so wide that one would think the compound is actually an island in the sea. The ponds, mirror-like and separated from each other by dykes, highlight—even double—the vastness of Punong. Bird calls persistently puncture the silence, and the place is never without a breeze. “You know, if Punong were to be advertised, its tagline would easily be: ‘You want fresh air? Go to Punong!’” Benin says.

![The exterior of Lizzie's casita](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1732.jpg "BP JFO1732 - BluPrint")Daughter and architect Lizzie Ledesma’s casita is a five-minute walk from the main compound. Benin says the location is where Ledesma’s family used to hide during the Japanese period.

![BP JFO1755](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP_JFO1755.jpg "BP JFO1755 - BluPrint")Ledesma built Lizzie’s personal casita for her. The interiors are predominantly white and almost bare; only the most essential pieces, such as a sofa bed and bathroom fixtures, can be found inside the rooms.

The entire place was (and is still being) developed wholly by instinct; the placement of the casitas, their respective orientations, the simple look of the living quarters—overall, the confluence of Ledesma’s built environment and the lush, serene setting—is an interesting study in architectural intuition. Luxury getaways and resorts, featuring a mishmash of architectural styles that try too hard to compete for one’s admiration and attention, are a dime a dozen, but only a handful can match the organic and effortless feel of Punong, which was never built to satisfy marketing strategies or tourist numbers, but to help shelter and rejuvenate the family that calls it home.

Curiously, *punong* also means to enclose and confine, and can be a synonym for “quiet,” “calm,” “tranquil.” There is a veritable hush upon entering its grounds, and lingers even after one has left; indeed, it is *punong*. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![Punong site plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BP-Punong-site-plan.jpg "BP Punong site plan - BluPrint")

***This story was originally published in BluPrint, Volume 2, 2014. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.***

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Concrete, Ed Ledesma, Lizzie Ledesma, Punong, Residential, Silay

---

### [Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/house-number-17-edwin-uy/)

**Published:** August 10, 2017
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** Edwin Uy designs a lofty and environmentally sensitive house on Camiguin’s misty slopes

**Content:**

Nestled in the rain-drenched slopes of Camiguin’s Mount Hibok-Hibok is a tropical version of the Mid-Century Ranch House beloved of architects and the middle-class of the 1950s. The house is angular but relaxed, and evocative of the sleek, comfortable, and enjoyable airiness suffused with the clean lines of the International Style of the late Thirties, like those built by the great Austrian-American architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970) in the valleys and canyons of Southern California. Los Angeles Modernism was thus the inspiration behind House Number 17 in Camiguin designed by Edwin Uy, whose use of abstract geometry does not come at the cost of livability and environmental sensibility.

![The panel-shaped external pillars House Number 17](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_9027.jpg "BP MG 9027 - BluPrint")The panel-shaped external pillars screen noise from the garage (to the right) from entering the house and will oxidize handsomely.Perhaps inspired by Neutra’s sensitive use of cubistic lines and structural organization that he derived by comprehensively interviewing and “profiling” his clients’ needs, Uy has managed to integrate his Mid-Century modern design both to tailor to the client’s specifications of a retreat-style house with wide verandahs facing the sea below; as well as an environmental sensitivity to the site, which is on the slope of a dormant volcano, strewn with ancient volcanic boulders, and blessed with a thick canopy of trees.

![Two volcanic boulders at the end of the site](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8819.jpg "BP MG 8819 - BluPrint")Two volcanic boulders at the end of the site are left where they are, both inside and outside the house, bisected by a single glass pane by the front door.

It is the tranquility and abundance of nature that first drew the client to this 2,820 square meter lot. A former LA-based realtor and scuba diver, the client fell in love with the site, and believed in Uy’s vision of a house that felt like a resort, but is still a very private residence. The client finalized the site plan with Edwin in mid-2013, and House 17 was then constructed between September 2013 and December 2014.

“House Number 17 was designed to respect the existing terrain and landscape,” Uy relates, “and we did as much as we can to retain the natural boulders of the site. We also used the volcanic rocks on-site to create the facing materials you can see in the house, except for the concrete floors, which are finished with Sika EpoCem, which gives a highly polished white marbled effect to contrast the browns of the local stone.”

House 17 is approached via a sloping driveway, whose view of the main façade is punctuated by broad panels of volcanic stone-dressed walls forming a rhythmic pillar motif, allowing the house interior to peek through sleek rectangular fenestration framed by rectilinear lintels. Although the driveway is also faced in cut volcanic cobblestones, the façade panels are contrasted with smoothly polished volcanic stone embedding, which creates a lush contrast of textures. This is contrasted in texture by rust-brown mahogany timbers from nearby Bukidnon, which Edward uses as cladding in one of the entrance pylons, as well as the house’s rear façade. This creates an overall yin-yang effect between stone and wood external finish, both subscribing to local materials and workmanship, and recalling another Mid-Century theme, the [tsalet](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/the-tsalet-the-defining-home-of-american-colonial-philippines/)/bungalow timber and “crazy-cut” cladding of the late-Forties to Sixties.

![The entrance corridor is studded with glass jalousie windows](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8678a.jpg "BP MG 8678a - BluPrint")Glass jalousie windows along the entrance corridor allow breezes to circulate inside. Bukidnon mahogany timbers as cladding contrast with smooth white concrete finishes.

![The angled transition between garage and bedroom wing](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8711.jpg "BP MG 8711 - BluPrint")The angled transition between garage and bedroom wing is planted with a pocket bamboo garden, offering a natural break from the concrete, glass, and rectilinear forms.

Oriented towards the north-south axis that directs the sea breezes into and out of the structure, House 17 sits on an elevated platform that slopes down towards the sea on its west side, opposite to the east-facing driveway. Its horizontal mass is therefore anchored against this slope, which abuts to one side that creates space for a basement level gym and wine cellar to its west end. On the main level can be found the living room, dining room-kitchen wing to one axis; and the two bedrooms with toilet/baths, and powder room on the opposite axis, which bends in a tangent to join with the garage, its transition spaced by a bamboo mini-garden that one can see from the powder room. Totaling only 340 square meters for the living room-dining room wing as well as the bedroom wing, another 110 square meters were then added to create a large, airy verandah where house users can lounge facing the sea, and from where they can descend into the basement level.

![View of the living and dining areas from the verandah.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8895.jpg "BP MG 8895 - BluPrint")View of the living and dining areas from the verandah. Modernist furniture is complemented by the owner’s fossilized and antique wood collection.![The rug, Global Warming by nanimarquina](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bp_MG_8969.jpg "Bp MG 8969 - BluPrint")The rug, Global Warming by nanimarquina, shows a marooned polar bear on a shrunken patch of snow.![The eclectic Modern mix of chairs fills out the dining room set](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8694.jpg "BP MG 8694 - BluPrint")The eclectic Modern mix of chairs fills out the dining room set, which evokes Mid-Century accents like Jetson legs and Scandinavian functionalism. The paintings are by Jay Pacena II.Being environmentally sensitive meant that House Number 17 had to be naturally ventilated (the client insisted on not using air-conditioning except for the bedrooms). Edwin’s design solution was to create floor-to-ceiling fenestration using Mid-Century style glass jalousie windows that faced the sea breeze as well as the mountainside breeze, creating natural cross-ventilation on the inside. It also meant that the north-south orientation of the house was crucial in catching the breezes that blows in from the bedroom wing to the east; as well as the living room/kitchen wing to the west. Remarkably, the house uses electricity exclusively from its roof solar panels, and is completely off-grid sufficient, its solar batteries stored in banks at the garage. Water is also no problem, thanks to the mountain’s copious rainfall that is stored in filtered water tanks, and is so clean that you can drink it straight off the tap. Sensibly, the house also uses mostly LED bulbs and inverter appliances that keep power consumption low and maintenance-free for several years. A light tunnel in the basement also helps illuminate the gym and pedestrian walk underneath from the east side, while the pilotis-style pillars to the west side help catch the wind breeze and light for the verandah and gym. Wide roof eaves help keep rain from entering the house, and are framed in concrete box slabs to retain the clean lines all the way to the top side of the house.

![House Number 17 acquires a monumental dignity](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_8721.jpg "BP MG 8721 - BluPrint")House Number 17 acquires a monumental dignity with the use of pilotis pillars to hold up the generous eaves that shelter the living room verandah above and the lounge below.This environmental conservation sensibility extends to interior and detail accents as well. Edward retained several large boulders in the foyer area, and had the threshold custom-fit with a glass wall, providing a visual continuity between the outside and inside, and maintaining a “dialogue” with the primeval character of the site. A rug from nanimarquina titled Global Warming also exerts a compelling conversation on the environment in the living room, while a Jay Pacena painting evokes the multiplicity of Filipino identities that throbs warmly in this cool Mid-Century interior. House 17 is thus a stunning achievement of environmentally sensitive design, and evocation of Mid-Century Pinoy Modernity that the young Edwin Uy has wrought from the classic ranch house set on Camiguin’s misty slopes, a terrain and design solution not different from Richard Neutra’s 1929 masterpiece, the Philip Lovell House. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![House Number 17 plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_Vol2_2015_Architecture_EdwinUyCDO7.jpg "BP Vol2 2015 Architecture EdwinUyCDO7 - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Camiguin, Edwin Uy, Mid-century modern, Philippines, Residential, Tropical

---

### [Panorama Drama: BUDJI+ROYAL's M House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/panorama-drama-budjiroyal-m-house/)

**Published:** August 14, 2017
**Author:** Sibyl Layag

**Excerpt:** Its lighting fixture is the sun during daytime; the cooling system, the wind; and the wallpaper, nature.

**Content:**

We now live in an age where a house can function not only as a shelter from nature’s harsh elements, but also a platform from which one can view and admire the best of nature. Design firm Budji+Royal considers this viewpoint to be the cornerstone of their design style and aesthetic. “Nature always inspires,” as principal architect and president Royal Pineda expresses it. This philosophy comes through in one of the firm’s recent residential projects, the M House, situated in a 1,246-square meter lot in an exclusive village south of Manila.

![The garden is the main attraction of the M House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_5681-HDR.jpg "BP MG 5681 HDR - BluPrint")The garden is the main attraction of the M House, with the structure serving as the “frame” with which to view it. The L-shaped layout creates strategic vantage points for its occupants to appreciate the greenery, especially the *kalachuchi* tree in the middle of the garden.The design focuses on the concept of panorama, vistas and landscapes. In this house, there are no windows, only views. Its lighting fixture is the sun during daytime; the cooling system, the wind; and the wallpaper, nature. “Our starting canvas was a generous lot peppered with trees,” Pineda says. “It’s basically a garden waiting to be discovered and appreciated.”

![A wooden canopy coaxes visitors to the wide front door](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_5456.jpg "BP MG 5456 - BluPrint")A wooden canopy coaxes visitors to the wide front door, and creates a “grand, welcoming sense of arrival.” Bato negro (black stone) was the material of choice for the wall and walkway, acting as a counterpoint for the all-white house.

![M House stairs](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bp_MG_5376-HDR-1.jpg "Bp MG 5376 HDR 1 - BluPrint")A small pocket garden under the stairwell further shows the firm’s fondness for incorporating nature into the architecture.

He was glad to have convinced his client, a family of seven, to change their minds about clearing the property of trees. Apart from providing refreshing views, the trees screen off unwanted attention, noise and heat. The façade has also been given treatment for privacy through walls and landscaping to shield the homeowners from the prying eyes of passersby.

The heavier portions of the massing were pushed to the back, leading to a 606-square meter L-shaped footprint that puts the garden front and center. “When Royal first presented this design, I wondered why the garden was in front, because in our old house, it was located at the back,” shares the lady of the house. “He explained it to me by asking me to stand in the middle of the lot. ‘This is your garden, your party space,’ he said. ‘Here, you will see all the trees. If we put the party space behind, all you will see are the roofs of the neighbors. Do you want that? Just enjoy the trees and the sky!’”

**READ MORE: [Squared up and standing tall: MN House by Arkisens](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/mn-house-arkisens/)**

![M House living room](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_5491.jpg "BP MG 5491 - BluPrint")The philosophy of the firm is apparent in the living area. “The public spaces are open and transparent, encouraging communion with nature,” says Pineda.![M House foyer](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bp_MG_5488.jpg "Bp MG 5488 - BluPrint")The foyer is spacious, but instead of using it as a mere transition space, a small breakfast table surrounded by Kenneth Cobonpue’s Parchment chairs was set up there. The glass wall on the left gives the family a refreshing view of the pocket garden outside.Upon entering the house, “surprising reveals happen,” says Pineda. The front door opens to the spacious foyer that branches out toward the living area to the right, and the dining area to the left. The open and wallless spaces allow dwellers and visitors to commune with nature, and with each other. “We created strategic vantage points where the house and the gardens can be appreciated from a much wider, deeper range of views,” says Pineda. Another signature design element is a water feature, in this case one that flows from the massing of the master bedroom to the lap pool below.

As with most, if not all, of Budji+Royal’s residential works, the M House utilizes natural light. It is also equipped with automated lighting that controls light intensity and correspondingly adjusts energy consumption. The flooring is made of compacted grass/bamboo, which is resistant to mold growth and termite infestation, and the paint is of an organic plaster kind that does not contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Faucet flow and flush rates are optimized for water conservation. These environment-friendly systems are part of a design strategy the firm calls “practical luxury,” which makes use of modern energy-saving techniques and technologically advanced and eco-friendly materials.

![BP p92 99 10](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP-p92-99-10.jpg "BP p92 99 10 - BluPrint")Budji+Royal exercised restraint when it came to the form of the house, letting the elements of nature take center stage.![M House lanai](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BP_MG_5693-HDR.jpg "BP MG 5693 HDR - BluPrint")The lanai next to the living room is the family’s favorite spot, as it gives them the feeling of being in a resort. Because of the area’s orientation towards the west, a lap pool was positioned beside it to help cool the air during the afternoon. The *kalachuchi* tree helps block afternoon sunlight as well.Through the communion of architecture and nature, the M House makes for a relaxing residence for its inhabitants. Most importantly, it shows how architects can harness the elements to create a tropical house that suits the evolving lifestyle of the modern Filipino. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Budji Layug, Budji+Royal, Philippines, Residential, Royal Pineda, Tropical

---

### [Lessons on small design from WOHA (and Nick Joaquin)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/maybank-annex-woha/)

**Published:** September 13, 2017
**Author:** Joseph AdG Javier

**Excerpt:** Small platform + Intelligent design = Big impact

**Content:**

In 2012, top Singaporean design firm WOHA was chosen to design the annex building of Maybank Kim Eng Properties along North Canal Road at the border of Singapore’s Chinatown district. At 326 square meters, the site for the annex is small compared to the corner block occupied by the main building designed by Kenzo Tange. The brief was to design a boutique office, and rebuild the two shophouses demolished in the same site that were listed for their heritage value. These limitations allowed the designers to come up with a creative set of solutions that revealed their focused sensitivity and empathy to the building’s users and the public at large. While the design gestures were small, their impact on public behavior is compelling.

![NORTH CANAL 3 2013 PBH 004](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-3-2013-PBH-004.jpg "NORTH CANAL 3 2013 PBH 004 - BluPrint")A conversation is happening between the gray Kenzo Tange building and the bronze WOHA addition. With its soaring garden wall and fractal form that engages the public, it is clear who is dominating this conversation.

![NORTH CANAL 3 2013 PBH 009](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-3-2013-PBH-009.jpg "NORTH CANAL 3 2013 PBH 009 - BluPrint")Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority required that corners of buildings bound by three roads be splayed, or chamfered. It further required that buildings in this district have attic floors, allowing this language of chamfering to be expressed on the horizontal plane as well.

---

*Filipino historian and writer Nick Joaquin, in his eternal search for the country’s social and cultural identity, wrote a polarizing essay called “A Heritage of Smallness.” In it, he proposed three theories on why the Philippine nation is where it is, and may remain where it stands. First, he accused the Pinoy of being “adequate at the challenge of the small, but cowed by the challenge of the big.”*

To harmonize the requirements of adding more office space for the users and preserving heritage, WOHA designed two buildings conjoined at the arterial spaces. The first building is a faithful but innovative reconstruction of the two shophouses in front. For these heritage structures, WOHA commissioned the services of artisans to repair and reconstruct where needed, the turn-of-the-century ironworks on the window frames and hardware.

**READ MORE:**[ **BluPrint’s tropical book series covers Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines**](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/)

![NORTH CANAL 11 2013 PBH 006](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-11-2013-PBH-006.jpg "NORTH CANAL 11 2013 PBH 006 - BluPrint")The public realm is managed well by folding the walls inside as it descends to the ground, thus generating space for walking and socializing. An interesting visual sequence is provided by the cold bronze aluminum panels, fresh garden wall, and luminous frosted glass as it creates a cantilevered canopy over the entrance of the office building. The headquarters of WOHA is the blue striped building at the background.

![MG 8904](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MG_8904.jpg "MG 8904 - BluPrint")Perforated aluminum plates cover a large portion of the building where the parking shaft is located. A mechanized platform hoists vehicles one by one into this tight parking amenity.

The second building is a nine-storey structure behind the shophouses with a glass and aluminum surface, a clear counterpoint to the period style of the shophouses. This modern building’s bottom-to-top “design thinking” strategy comes from its response to context, and by folding the walls of the building inward as it touches grade, vistas to the interior of the otherwise “threatening” service alleyway are opened up. WOHA’s headquarters is located right behind, so whether this gesture to humanize the alleyway corner by chamfering was done for the public’s benefit or merely to enhance the access of WOHA employees to their office building, I can only speculate. Nevertheless, the program works successfully.

The designers’ decision to provide a strong modern counterpoint to the period buildings is a big leap that could have resulted in a clumsy landing, but they leapt just the same. It would have been so easy to just copy the shophouse style by adding five more floors of the same. Instead, the architecture took on the challenge of progressive heritage management rather than the safe and dishonest route of producing facsimiles of period styles.

![MG 8833](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MG_8833.jpg "MG 8833 - BluPrint")This tunnel invites pedestrians to explore the building while “cutting corners” on their way to North Canal. It is not unusual to see office staff spending a short break or exhausting a long phone call in this portal.

![MG 8802](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MG_8802.jpg "MG 8802 - BluPrint")The ground level floor is raised by a little over a meter to anticipate flooding along North Canal during the monsoons. Fractal panes of glass express the form taken from the building exterior as it encloses the proposed cafe space inside.

---

*Second, Joaquin proposed that Filipinos identify more with soft materials like fiber, bamboo and hide—materials that yield rather than resist. Our ancestral crafts, he claimed, did not develop on the large-scale to use more permanent materials like stone and metal, leaving us with only token jewelry and armaments, and an entire industry of baskets and place mats. It reveals our collective psyche, one anchored on servitude rather than conquest. It tells of tentativeness and transience. What we have claimed as ours we let go at the slightest signal of discomfort.*

48 North Canal established a firm response to the Tange project by the use of fractal geometry generated by following through on Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority requirement of splaying the corners at the alleyway turns. This geometry was echoed with impressive discipline, being careful not to over do it, both outside and inside. The decision was not of the neither-here-nor-there language; but exacting, as it makes bold conversation with the Tange building, which by comparison is the weaker conversant. The management of the public realm by the Tange building is poor compared to the creative appointment of 48 North’s “short-cut” tunnel, garden wall and mini park provided by the WOHA team to the annex building. Building materials used for such a small exercise are undeniably superior. Full plates of steel holding the stairs as solid rails winding in and out of the building are complemented by thick perforated aluminum panels that solidly shade the building while ventilating it at the same time. While articulated in a small space, the gesture is big, firm, permanent and insisting.

![NORTH CANAL ROAD PBH 001](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-ROAD-PBH-001.jpg "NORTH CANAL ROAD PBH 001 - BluPrint")The typical office space plan at every floor is straightforward and serious, relieved somewhat by the greenery outside. The black Holstein cow pattern shape of the light deflectors are an attempt at design humor.

*Joaquin argues this third point: in the face of threat from foreign technology, we refuse to innovate to overcome the threat and simply repeat safe and tested formulas over and over again. This has kept the Filipino in the small universe of the processed capiz shell picture frame, rattan magazine rack and the bamboo iPhone amplifier. And while our bamboo and coconut sandok gathers dust on a wall somewhere awaiting the next barrio fiesta, the invading technology acquires our materials, and innovates to come up with strengthened bamboo that is a sustainable alternative to aluminum as columns for curtain walls of buildings. Our response to external threat is simply lame.*

Design Thinking as an approach to innovation and problem solving is foreign to Singapore. But since the government has declared design a national priority, the government has been encouraging designers and businesses alike to leave the comfortable realm of purely functional and deterministic design so typical of the High Modernism, and enter the world of user empathy and experience. This is in response to the external threat of globalization, and an urgent need for a unique selling proposition to be embedded in the Singaporean product. While it is a foreign design doctrine, Singapore embraced it just the same.

![MG 8868](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MG_8868.jpg "MG 8868 - BluPrint")Stairs made entirely out of thin steel plates wind through the lobby like origami, giving a harmonious descant to the glass roof of the lobby porch.

![NORTH CANAL 4 2013 PBH 008](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-4-2013-PBH-008.jpg "NORTH CANAL 4 2013 PBH 008 - BluPrint")Very few buildings are able to achieve this level of public engagement on an intimate scale as this. The dryness of North Canal Road is relieved by the freshness of this pocket park.

---

WOHA, a firm advocate of this program, demonstrated user empathy in their adaptive reuse of the building on 48 North Canal Road. Departing from the equation of more enclosed floor space equals more revenue; the building generated three roof decks at various levels, all appointed with greenery and an unobstructed view of another WOHA project—Park Royal Hotel on Pickering across the block. This gives opportunities for pleasant breaks and even creative discussions al fresco. The temptation to produce a safe but stale box for that extra wad of cash in space rentals was resisted to make way for innovation, better working conditions and hopefully, increased productivity.

I rant alongside Joaquin on the Filipino’s failure time and again to embrace greatness and innovate. One may argue that we excel in feelings, warmth, hospitality and service. We cannot, however, be forever processing our feelings and serving others. We urgently need to respond to the imminent ASEAN economic integration that will happen in a few months. 48 North Canal is a good template on how to think big and aspire for greatness in a platform not necessarily large. Big ideas do happen in small designs. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This story first appeared in BluPrint Volume 4, 2014. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

![NORTH CANAL 10 2012 PBH 003](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NORTH-CANAL-10-2012-PBH-003.jpg "NORTH CANAL 10 2012 PBH 003 - BluPrint")The strength of this design is in its disciplined creativity: harmonizing three styles in one composition while confronting the unresponsive bigger neighbor. It gives a silent lecture to other designers that there are better ways of doing things.

![floor plan 48 north canal road woha ground floor plan](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/floor-plan_48-north-canal-road-woha_ground_floor_plan.jpg "floor plan 48 north canal road woha ground floor plan - BluPrint")

**[READ MORE: Understanding BERDE, the Philippines’ green building rating system](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/grading-green-berde/)**

**Categories:** Architecture, Cafes, Heritage, Interiors

**Tags:** Architecture, Design Thinking, Nick Joaquin, Office, Singapore, WOHA

---

### [Walk through Makati with a British urbanist](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/makati-walkthrough-richard-coleman/)

**Published:** September 27, 2017
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** The good, the bad, and the ungainly: Richard Coleman reveals the importance of scale in Makati 

**Content:**

As humans we develop an instinctive and emotional response to our surroundings from a very young age. We learn to use our senses, as we grow older, to gauge our immediate environment, and in turn can identify and describe the urban spaces we inhabit. Richard Coleman, the associate producer of Artkitektura Festival, took us on a Makati walkthrough, one of the scheduled tours on the festival program, which was centered around the undulating high-rise landscape along Ayala Avenue—a suitable axis from which Coleman could apply his beliefs about what makes buildings proportionally integrated, or not, in Manila.

> **“It’s all about recognizable parts. That’s what scale is for me. It is not solely to do with height.”**

We caught up with Coleman after the Manila edition of Artkitektura had wrapped up, right before he was due to rejoin the festival organizers and speakers for the second leg in Iloilo. In a wide-ranging discussion Coleman eruditely recollects the constraints of planning tall buildings in London, including having worked on the iconic ‘Gherkin’ building with Foster & Partners and the draft of the London View Management Framework. The apprehension he expressed about the burgeoning building heights in London since then, hits closer to home when he begins to question the state of the built environment here in the Philippines.  With the candor of a well-travelled tourist, Coleman picks out specific buildings and urban conditions in Manila and interrogates them with a series of whys and hows. Occasionally he is irked, with more than a tinge of disbelief, at how insensitive some designs are in responding to the tropical climate.

![Richard Coleman Ayala Avenue scale](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170921111440_edited.jpg "IMG20170921111440 edited - BluPrint")The rhythmic composition of facade cladding on this building breaks up its monolithic scale and creates a dynamism for the eye as one moves along Ayala Avenue.

![Locsin Building Ayala Avenue scale](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170921110015_edited.jpg "IMG20170921110015 edited - BluPrint")The high-modernist L. V. Locsin Building—an outstanding example of proportional architectural scale.

Coleman’s refreshing take on both good and bad examples of designed scale fits in with his curiosity about how these buildings were designed to begin with. “What I love about discovering things about buildings is that I analyze them. A good building takes a long time to analyze because you go into the thinking of the designer. What is it that caused the designer to do this? Whereas a bad building just takes a few minutes.”

**READ MORE: [Revitalizing Downtown Iloilo: The Push for City-wide Initiatives](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/revitalizing-downtown-iloilo/)**

![Residential high rise scale](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170828125837_edited.jpg "IMG20170828125837 edited - BluPrint")Tall residential developments abutting against one another creating a visual barrier and likely to set a bad precedent in terms of scale.

Coleman then bemoans the lack of understanding by foreign architects and also the lack of rigor in local developers and architects’ schemes in designing buildings inappropriate to the scale of the local context. He reinforces, “The international input from other architects who don’t really understand what the nature of the building over here is. They make a very slick building and when it comes to human scale there’s absolutely no relation whatsoever.”

A possible tried-and-tested solution to control the right to build high in Manila would be to introduce a means of taxation for developers which can contribute towards better public transport. Coleman recommends: “There must be some recompense for the human being that walks the street. And the recompense would be a community infrastructure levy like we get in London, where there is a taxation for taking away the sky. If you had a taxation here, less people would enter into a proposition because there would be less profit.”

After leaving the super-high cityscape of Makati and crossing Paseo de Roxas, we enter Legazpi Village proper. Washington Sycip Park, a privately owned [public park](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/what-every-good-public-park-needs/ "public park") provides a healthy respite from the oppressive midday heat with its diverse canopy of trees and quiet, contemplative spaces. The hotchpotch residential skyline peeks between the tree gaps but the lower streetscape is well concealed to give the park’s users a break from repetitive façades.

![Washington Sycip Park Makati](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170828130316_edited.jpg "IMG20170828130316 edited - BluPrint")The mid to high-rise residential development recedes behind the generous planting and varied tree canopies in Washington Sycip Park.

Coleman commends the townplanning of Legazpi as worthy of protected listing: “The original residential buildings, around eight to ten storeys high, surrounding the beautifully-kept gardens in Washington SyCip Park, all have a human scale. There’s a scale to Legazpi Village which is worthy of a conservation area. There’s a whole load of new buildings here which are all going high, all alongside each other, and there’s one or two big things popping up, which are an indication of what’s to come.”

![Residential building Legazpi Village](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170828121105_edited.jpg "IMG20170828121105 edited - BluPrint")The original mid-rise residential buildings have a relatable scale whose characters are currently under threat from substantially higher buildings in the future.

![Legazpi Village development](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG20170828115517_edited.jpg "IMG20170828115517 edited - BluPrint")The lack of cohesive townplanning regulations in Legazpi Village, Makati could see an uncontrolled, erratic jumble of high-rises which puts undue pressure on Legazpi Carpark (where Legazpi Sunday Market takes place) to be developed.

We finally arrive at the center of Legaspi car park, where the Legazpi Sunday Market takes place, but on this holiday Monday, a shaded spot under a tree provided a clear view across the entire surrounding neighbourhood. From here, Coleman underlines his interpretation of scale in tandem with other aspects of design such as colour, form, materiality, “It’s all about recognizable parts. That’s what scale is for me. It is not solely to do with height.” Coleman’s early background in art naturally leads him to emphasize the balance, rhythm and metamorphosis of the urban form—all the aspects that make us human, he stresses. Indeed, the built environment is a sculptural entity that needs constant moulding as much as it needs its operations to be managed efficiently. Each building, he claims, has a spiritual quality that either relates or disregards the individual. The scale of a building is one of the primary means to influence this and should not be belittled in the design process. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [Grading BERDE, the Philippines’ green building rating system](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/grading-green-berde/)**

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[![BluPrint Vol4 2017 covlowres](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BluPrint-Vol4_2017_covlowres.jpg "BluPrint Vol4 2017 covlowres - BluPrint")](https://flip100.ph/)

**For more stories and projects about scale across Southeast Asia, read the latest issue of BluPrint now available in digital format via the [Flip100](https://flip100.ph/) app.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, ARTKITEKTURA, Built Environment, Cityscape, Human Scale, Makati, Manila, Richard Coleman, Scale, Urban

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### [Build your garden with IKEA lab's open-source Growroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/urban-garden-ikea-growroom/)

**Published:** October 3, 2017
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Excerpt:** Urban gardeners can rejoice with Space10's green pavilions. And the plans are free!

**Content:**

At the Space10 lab, innovators and designers worked on a pavilion that enables city dwellers to grow their own food. This freestanding urban garden called Growroom, designed by architects Sine Lindholm and Mads-Ulrik Husum, fits in a flat-pack.

Space10, IKEA’s research hub in Copenhagen, presents this as an alternative to the global food model since growing and sourcing produce locally reduces food miles and pressure on the environment.

![The Growroom at CHART Art Fair 2016](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Growroom-1-Rasmus_Hjortshøj-CHART.jpg "Growroom 1 Rasmus Hjortshøj CHART - BluPrint")The first version of the Growroom at CHART Art Fair 2016 in Copenhagen. CHART is leading Nordic contemporary art fair. | Photo by Rasmus Hjortshøj**READ MORE: [BluPrint produces its first book on tropical architecture in Southeast Asia](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/)**

The first Growroom premiered at the CHART [Art Fair](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/art-fair-philippines-2025-announcement/) in 2016, sparking interest and demand in cities across the world. “But it doesn’t make sense to promote local food production and then start shipping it across oceans and continents. That is why we now release The Growroom as open source design and encourage people to build their own locally as a way to bring new opportunities to life,” said Space10 in their official statement.

The cutting files for the Growroom are available [here](https://github.com/space10-community/the-growroom). All you need are 17 plywood sheets, 500 pan head screws, and a visit to your local fab lab (for the CNC machine). The 5-tiered pavilion at 2.5 by 2.8 meters can be adapted to any context and modified via the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License, just as long as Space10 and architects Mads-Ulrik Husum and Sine Lindholm are credited.

![The Growroom at Space10](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Growroom-2-NiklasAdrianVindelev_Space10_Pavillion.jpg "Growroom 2 NiklasAdrianVindelev Space10 Pavillion - BluPrint")Sine Lindholm and Mads-Ulrik Husum building the Growroom at Space10. | Photo by Niklas Adrian Vindelev![The different pieces required for the Growroom](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Growroom-2-NiklasAdrianVindelev_Space10_Pavillion2.jpg "Growroom 2 NiklasAdrianVindelev Space10 Pavillion2 - BluPrint")The different pieces required for the Growroom. Lindholm and Husum’s projects represent an ideology that emphasizes a sharing culture, local production and maker movement, challenging the way we think about design and architecture. | Photo by Niklas Adrian VindelevAt the Seoul Architecture Biennale 2017, Husum and Lindholm presented a more flexible system called Growmore. Composed of just six parts, including a standard-sized planting box, shelves and fixings, Growmore can be configured to suit different needs and spaces.

![Growmore DanielRUIZ Husumlindhold 3524](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Growmore-DanielRUIZ_Husumlindhold-3524.jpg "Growmore DanielRUIZ Husumlindhold 3524 - BluPrint")Growmore at the Seoul Architecture Biennale, exhibit runs until 5 November 2017. Planters that can be bolted together make for a more flexible urban gardening system. | Photo by Daniel Ruiz via husumlindholm.comThe creators compare it to Lego. “You can have it indoors or outdoors, you can use it for dividing spaces, or you can use it as a quick way of building up a very airy and transparent space,” Lindholm told Dezeen. Plans for the modular system will be made available once the Seoul Biennale exhibit concludes.

![Growmore DanielRUIZ Husumlindhold 3406](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Growmore-DanielRUIZ_Husumlindhold-3406.jpg "Growmore DanielRUIZ Husumlindhold 3406 - BluPrint")A more abstract construction of Growmore. Three versions of the system are displayed at Donuimen Museum Village. | Photo by Daniel Ruiz via husumlindholm.comGrowroom and Growmore are what the designers call ‘pause’ architecture, oasis pockets in the city. “When the structures are placed around in the urban-scenery, as small nests, they not only provide a platform for social meetings and growth of vegetation, but also act as retreats to remind us to take a break and connect with nature,” they wrote. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**READ MORE: [The good, the bad, and the ungainly: The importance of scale in Makati](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/makati-walkthrough-richard-coleman/)**

**Categories:** Interiors, Spaces

**Tags:** City, Copenhagen, Garden, Growmore, Growroom, IKEA, Lindholm and Husum, Modular, Salone de Mobile Milano, Seoul Architecture Biennale, Space10, Urban, Urban garden

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### [Building the National Museum of Natural History's Tree of Life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nmnh-tree-of-life/)

**Published:** October 5, 2017
**Author:** Nick Ramos

**Excerpt:** Studies into the structural possibilities for the DNA Tree of Life resulted in a constant evolution of form

**Content:**

There is a satisfying sense of organic completion in Dominic Galicia and Tina Periquet’s scheme to turn the old Department of Tourism (formerly, Agriculture) building into the nation’s first museum devoted to her diverse flora and fauna. At the heart of the design is a proposal for the transformation of the courtyard into a bright and airy urban space that shall be the hub of the building’s new public realm. A glazed canopy lifted by a steel supporting structure above the courtyard and existing edifice crystallizes this idea, creating both a semi-indoor space and a thematic focal point for the new construction. Dubbed the *DNA Tree of Life* – this central element is a veritable mission statement for the project. It was born out of, according to Galicia, “the initial sense of the tree as a simple form, something to cover the courtyard. Intuitively we knew that this could work, but we had to find out how.”

![When the DNA Tree of Life is finally in place, the courtyard will transcend its original function and assume its ultimate logical evolution.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.49-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.49 PM - BluPrint")When the DNA Tree of Life is finally in place, the courtyard will transcend its original function and assume its ultimate logical evolution.To this end, the aid of world-renowned engineering firm Arup was drafted early during the competition phase. Arup immediately recognized the viability of the DNA Tree of Life, and had since been involved in all surveying, research and engineering aspects of the project.

\[one\_third padding=”0 20px 20px 0″\]

![To imbue the DNA Tree of Life with the same beauty found in nature, its geometry and proportions were generated from the golden ratio.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Golden-Tree-diagram.jpg "Golden Tree diagram - BluPrint")To imbue the DNA Tree of Life with the same beauty found in nature, its geometry and proportions were generated from the golden ratio.## DNA Tree of Life

After the commission for the museum was secured, the design of the Tree went through numerous iterations as a result of the collaboration with Arup. The original concept of the tree profile was generated from the golden section. Each half of this profile can be likened to a letter ‘K’ where the vertical stem delineates a corner of the central elevator shaft, while the diagonal arm and leg morph into one sweeping curve, each envisioned to provide structural support. It was initially conceived that three of these ‘K’s would form the tree. The DNA double helix was then introduced to the composition and represents the commonality among all living things.

**READ MORE: [A first look at the completed National Museum of Natural History](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/national-museum-natural-history-inauguration/)**

## Diagrid

Arup felt that as it was, the tree configuration was structurally untenable and would prove too expensive. Having extensive experience and great success with diagrid technology (a technique for constructing large buildings with steel that creates triangular structures with diagonal support beams), the structural engineers determined that this was the most viable option to realize the tree. Once this method was accepted, numerous iterations of the tree arose from Arup’s explorations in response to an exhaustive range of considerations ranging from budget to tonnage and everything in between.

Galicia is emphatic about the vital role that Arup plays in the project. “A great deal of thought, effort, and time was expended by Arup into diagrid development and design. We were fully confident that each step we took was valid, always building on what we knew at the time. We got to where we are now only because everything was painstakingly studied and all possibilities were exhausted. Working with Arup allowed us to be fully thorough and fiduciarily responsible.” Eventually, all the possibilities outlined by Arup were presented and the choice was made from these options. This choice was then subjected to bids from various contractors.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.11.53 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.11.53-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.11.53 PM - BluPrint")A new sixth floor replaces a makeshift expediency that wasn’t part of the old building. A continuous gap runs between two roof layers above and around the courtyard opening to aid in natural ventilation. The new floor was purposely designed to be heavy to provide greater stability to the old building during earthquakes.The cost of building any of the diagrid designs still proved too high in the end. One of the bidders though, the partnership of Trans Asia Construction Development Corp. (Philippines) and Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd. (Japan), was confident that it could build the original tree design using the latter’s proprietary technology. This sidestepped the idea of the diagrid altogether, thus allowing the construction to be realized both within budget and time-frame. TransAsia and Nippon Steel were then taken on in a design-build role to deliver the DNA Tree of Life.

## NS Truss

In the case of the diagrid, loads can be transmitted along the surfaces of the form to the supporting foundations below. It is an ideal structural system for creating free-flowing, anti-gravitational architectural forms unencumbered by obvious means of support. For the Tree of Life diagrid design, the dome is supported only by a perimeter beam at its base.

The NS Truss by Nippon Steel will now support the canopy directly from underneath. Structural pipes will connect with the saucer’s lattice intersections. These pipes then bolt onto spherical connection nodes which in turn connect with similar configurations to create the structural framing. This system will minimize construction cost and duration, as well as allow for a supporting structure with great flexibility. It’s a serendipitous moment when the technology allows a project to be even more consistent to the original idea, in this case, the presence of a sense of branches and twigs upholding the canopy furthered the idea of a tree, thus allowing the architect to push back towards the initial concept.

![Tree of Life with building supports isometric](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tree-of-life-iso.jpg "Tree of life iso - BluPrint")Tree of Life with building supports isometric## Dome

Early budgetary constraints necessitated a reduction in the diameter of the saucer dome from the original 50-meter span down to 40 meters. As with the general tree design, the dome went through many changes based on Arup’s engineering research resulting in different geometries and grid patterns. Studies of different schemes for the dome lattice ranged from the simple to the complex. One line of inquiry went as far as having concentric fin-like brise soleil to explore possible ways of shading from harsh sunlight. Another lengthy investigation focused on the possible use of ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene). This high-performance plastic, outstanding for its light weight, durability and excellent light transmission quality, was considered but was ultimately rejected in favor of glass panels after further studies by ARUP determined that the project would actually benefit from a heavier dome because of greater stability against wind uplift forces.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.23 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.23-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.23 PM - BluPrint")Dome Scheme A![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.29 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.29-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.29 PM - BluPrint")Dome Scheme B![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.34 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.34-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.34 PM - BluPrint")Dome Scheme C![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.39 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.39-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.39 PM - BluPrint")Dome Scheme with louvers*Arup’s explorations generated numerous iterations of the dome based on a wide range of considerations. Scheme A considers the oculus assembly as an exterior element mounted atop the summit. Scheme B explores the possibilities of incorporating radiating fin-like baffles as shading against the harsh tropical sun. Scheme C studies a possibility for optimizing the use of structural steel. Note that the oculus stack now recedes into the dome. A fusion of the two domes in the scheme yielded the final form of the saucer canopy.*

This episode led to the exploration of the possibilities for the use of two domes: a glass-paneled inner dome and a fragmented outer dome of triangular fretwork and metal panels. The designers were taken by the look and opportunities this presented, and soon realized that the features of the inner and out domes could be combined in one saucer. The resultant tree canopy will suffuse the interior with an appropriately evocative leafy dappled light.

## Oculus

Arup’s Computational Fluid Dynamics and daylighting studies provide vital guides in ensuring that the courtyard remains a comfortable place. The CFD revealed the presence of dominant heat zones directly beneath the dome. Although the means for addressing heat gain was already suggested in the design by the continuous vents sandwiched between the double roofs of the new 6th floor, it was determined that any further features to help vent the dome at its summit would greatly benefit the space. It was at this point that the oculus, initially a purely visual presence, was enlisted to provide the solution to the problem of venting the rising hot air and to minimize the risk of overheating in the courtyard, especially in the upper regions of the space.

## Trunk

With the technology made available to the architects by Nippon Steel, a return to the original scheme became fully possible. The legs of the tree, which disappeared completely by the end of the diagrid exploration, were determined absolutely necessary by Nippon for stabilizing the tree under seismic conditions. The three legs of the original scheme became four for maximum stability. This also allowed for the cardinality in the tree’s orientation—a plus in the designer’s eyes as these further this central element’s potential to make connections with the world outside.
The vertical columns at the center of the configuration were initially meant to outline the shaft along which the glass capsule of the elevator would travel. NS technology will now use these as the main support for the entire tree structure. It is important for the tree and the heritage building to be independent of each other and they do not touch at all. The building and the tree will move independently of each other during earthquakes.

![tree of life timeleine 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/tree-of-life-timeleine_1.jpg "tree of life timeleine 1 - BluPrint")Arup’s meticulous studies into the structural possibilities for the DNA Tree of Life resulted in a constant evolution of form where every aspect of the project was painstakingly considered every step of the way.## Double Helix

The double helix represents our shared DNA and is the central concept of the scheme. It was initially intended for the double helix to be structurally integrated to the tree. Investigations by Arup showed though that this would be problematic as the tree form would have been subjected to unwanted torque forces. Though no longer structural in the final scheme, the spirals provide a dynamic sense of connection between the tree canopy and its roots, the central space and the galleries surrounding it, the courtyard floor and the skies above.

## Elevator

The dynamic aspect of the tree, one that affords and completes its experience, is the elevator. It is custom fabricated by the company MP (MacPuarsa) Lifts S.A. (Spain) and, with the exception of the floor and a discreet control panel pillar, is made completely out of glass. This glass capsule only makes two stops and should provide an exhilarating experience along the museum’s processional route.

## New Foundations

Providing new foundations upon which to build the DNA Tree of Life presented a unique challenge due to the fact that the new structure is meant to occupy space surrounded by an existing heritage building. Regular pile foundations are hammered into the ground and create strong vibrations. Since this could prove damaging to the older surrounding edifice, utilizing the standard method was out of the question. But once again, Nippon Steel provides the answer. Their Eco-Pile system differs from the traditional as these are screwed into ground. This minimizes any disturbance to the immediate surroundings, as there is no impact or vibration generated. Furthermore, this piling method requires no cement, doesn’t displace soil, and requires far fewer machinery and vehicles than are used in other piling methods, thus reducing cost, work hours and labor. A total of 132 piles were installed in support of the tree alone, providing very strong roots indeed.

The piling machinery used for this technique is small and compact, thus eliminating the need to enlarge the openings on the landmark edifice. Galicia muses, “It’s not just about building technology but also the enabling of something to be done, where there exists a technology necessary to make the technology happen.”

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.03 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.12.03-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.12.03 PM - BluPrint")Piles to support the DNA Tree of Life are screwed into the courtyard floor. This piling method creates none of the vibrations caused by conventional pile driving that may cause irreparable damage to the heritage structure. The machine that performs the task is seen at the top edge of the courtyard. | Photo by Ed Simon## Coming Full Circle

Tina Periquet is just as happy to get back to the original scheme after all the different explorations. It is, after all, what sold the entire concept. And there is the satisfaction in knowing that they have gone through the process of exhausting every possibility, supported by solid science. Due to the scope of the project, it is important to have that science to back up each and every decision.

## Retrofit

Arup conducted extensive studies of the old structure and concluded that it is robust in terms of gravity and can withstand the new loading conditions. It was found to be rather weak, though, when it came to seismic considerations. Arup’s seismic retrofit comes in to address the issue. All beams and slabs were stabilized with carbon fiber reinforcement. Walls and columns were concrete jacketed with thin sheer walls from the foundations all the way up to where they prove to be useful. Reinforcements to the old office building are also of vital importance since the new program brings with it new loading demands in the form of the exhibits, collections in storage, as well as visitors. None of the load bearing walls was touched and only the office partitions were removed to create the spacious new galleries.

New service annexes were created on the ground floor by extruding the base of the building outwards. While respecting the old edifice, this creates ample space in order for all mechanical and service essentials to be kept out of sight.

Despite the stylistic veneer of Antonio Toledo’s Neoclassical building, the architect and his team already had a sense of tall ceilings, generous windows, and the courtyard to make it work in a tropical setting. Some of the old partition walls featured large grill openings to facilitate cross ventilation. There is great comfort in the knowledge that the same sense of applicability germane to the original architecture continues as its metamorphosis steadily reaches fruition. Galicia reflects on reusing the old building: “There’s an energy embodied in the structure itself. In a sense we are really evolving the building. We’re learning from it. It gives us clues and tells us what to do.”

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.31 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-2.59.31-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 2.59.31 PM - BluPrint")While the interiors are carefully restored to their original glory, the structure underneath undergoes reinforcement to address seismic and new loading concerns. Beams and slabs are stabilized with carbon fiber, while columns and walls are jacketed in concrete. | Photo by Ed Simon**READ MORE: [Makati’s newest memorial: The McMicking Memorial and Plaza, designed by Leandro V. Locsin Partners](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/mcmicking-memorial-makati/)**

The National Museum of Natural History will be a synthesis of traditional building and modern technology. It explores the relationship between old and new in terms of how a new life cycle for a historic edifice can be created not by imposing new dictates upon the old building, but by working with the ecology of the original in service of the new program. It will be born from a frame of mind that always seeks to be most resourceful and most sensitive to human comfort and the use of resources.

![Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.41 PM](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Screen-shot-2017-09-29-at-3.00.41-PM.jpg "Screen shot 2017 09 29 at 3.00.41 PM - BluPrint")

As I write this, I realize that the journey towards the realization of the project itself seems to trace the figure of a tree. There’s a central trunk to the narrative of this design evolution; branches and twigs each a possibility explored, pursued, developed and learned from. The manner in which everything goes back to the original concept is a testament to the appropriateness of the design—from oculus to trunk, to branches and everything. Every choice made in the creative process is organic and natural to the creature.

In evolutionary biology, natural selection remains the primary reason for successful adaptive evolution. In the case of The National Museum of Natural History, perhaps the same could be said about adaptive architecture as well. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This story first appeared in BluPrint Volume 2, 2015. Minor edits have been made for Bluprint online.**

*Images courtesy of Dominic Galicia Architects*

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Antonio Toledo, Architecture, Arup, Dominic Galicia, Manila, National Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Natural History, Structural Engineering, Tina Periquet

---

### [Shophouse by RT+Q becomes urban street lantern at night](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-shophouse-urban-lantern/)

**Published:** December 8, 2017
**Author:** Mark Denis Ong

**Excerpt:** The old and the new dialogue in a renovation of Singapore heritage's beloved typology

**Content:**

Perhaps no other building typology embodies Singapore’s architectural heritage more than the ubiquitous shophouse. It is as a building typology inherently urban, tropical and timeless. Today, the shophouse remains one of the most sought-after locations for business (a shop, F&B outlet, or office), home, or a combination of the above.

In 2011, a young couple expecting their first child decided the time had come to move out of their 83.6-square meter apartment and into a shophouse they purchased in one of Singapore’s heritage neighborhoods. They considered three design firms to renovate the 1920s-built shophouse. Among the three was [RT+Q](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-architects-60s-terrace-house/) Architects. Having done multiple award-winning and published shophouse addition and alteration projects, [RT+Q Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-architects-60s-terrace-house/) was an obvious choice.

![RTQ Infill House 01](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_01.jpg "RTQ Infill House 01 - BluPrint")The Singapore shophouse is an inherently urban building typology emerged from the state’s colonial period. Its narrow frontage hugs the street, forming an intimate, human-scale streetscape while providing a path for pedestrians through a ‘five-foot way’ (arcade) sheltered by the second floor projected above it. The flexible character of the shophouse reinforces the urban nature of this timeless architectural unit in Singapore’s early urbanism. RT+Q worked on the rightmost shophouse in the photo.They also happen to be a fixture in local and regional publications for their work on modern single-family homes. Today, the firm led by Rene Tan and TK Quek have a staff of more than 20 and a portfolio spanning the region and across multiple building types. The owners chose RT+Q’s scheme for—to use their words—“being prompted to see beyond the possibilities.”

![RTQ Infill House 03](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_03.jpg "RTQ Infill House 03 - BluPrint")A view of the courtyard and kitchen from the dining room. Pivot doors at the kitchen open up to the courtyard, completely unifying the entire ground floor into one integrated space.## A site within a building

[RT+Q](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/three-block-family-house-rtq/)’s solution demonstrates their intimate understanding of [the shophouse’s urban and tropical nature](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/). They shunned the conventional thinking of seeing the project merely as a house whose interiors needed renovating and instead opted to see the project as an intimate site planning exercise. Where others might have seen a simple airwell in a narrow and deep site, RT+Q Architects saw the potential to create a courtyard that would become the social epicenter of the house. In doing so, they broke down its scale by creating two interlinked and elegantly-proportioned buildings: a ‘Front Shophouse,’ the house’s preserved section, and a ‘Back House,’ a modern insertion into the site.

## Old and new – dialogue and convergence

The main feature of the ground floor is the central courtyard. Apart from purging hot air from the house’s internal spaces, it also functions as a venue for a continuous dialogue between the house’s past, the heritage ‘Front House’, and its present, the modern ‘Back House.’ Beyond poetics, this dialogue also extends to the functional relationship of spaces, between the living-dining room and the kitchen. The spaces open to each other using folding doors at the dining room and two giant pivot doors at the kitchen. Opened up, the ground plane becomes a contiguous space connecting the main street to the back alley, the living-dining room to the kitchen, the Front House to the Back House, the house’s past to its present.

![Infill house new section](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Infill-house_new-section.jpg "Infill house new section - BluPrint")

![RTQ Infill House 04](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_04.jpg "RTQ Infill House 04 - BluPrint")A bridge through time: A glass bridge links the Front House (the preserved heritage structure facing the street) with the Back House (the modern insertion facing the back).![RTQ Infill House 05](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_05.jpg "RTQ Infill House 05 - BluPrint")A Peranakan-inspired screen, executed with Indonesian rosewood conceals storage space, the powder room, and the staircase to the second floor. Foldable doors (on the right) open the living-dining room to the central courtyard.Having served as a regular venue for the owner’s social gatherings (which at times reach up to 80 people), the house has since been dubbed “Entertainment Central” by friends, bringing to reality RT+Q’s vision for the space as the family’s social epicenter.

## Re-imagining the shophouse

At the ground floor, concealed behind an Indonesian rosewood timber screen and designed with a Peranakan-inspired pattern, is the staircase leading to the second floor, to the young family’s private spaces. Located within the ‘Front House’ are two bedrooms, including the master bedroom which exudes the characteristics of a shophouse’s upper levels: filtered light from the façade’s timber screens illuminating a loft space ventilated through the house’s pitched roof. RT+Q cleverly uses this voluminous space with another insertion: a timber pod that hovers above the bedroom area, instantly adding spatial drama to the room. Contained within the pod are a study area (overlooking the bedroom), a walk in wardrobe and the master bath. The pod is also designed with a retractable sunroof, turning the master bath’s standalone bath tub into a resort-style plunge pool. At the second floor, the Front House and the Back House are linked by a glass bridge.

**READ MORE: [Lessons on small design from WOHA’s Maybank Annex](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/maybank-annex-woha/)**

![RTQ Infill House 06](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_06.jpg "RTQ Infill House 06 - BluPrint")Breathing Room: Full-height sliding panels (with a glass railing) turn the second-floor internal spaces into balcony spaces. The rooms are thermally comfortable even at noontime.![RTQ Infill House 09](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_09.jpg "RTQ Infill House 09 - BluPrint")The Timber Pod: containing a study, walk in wardrobe and the master bath overlooking the master bedroom.Within the Back House is the third bedroom and above it, the entertainment room. The Back House’s architecture is RT+Q’s modern reimagination of the shophouse. Only one room deep, and fitted with windows on both sides for cross ventilation, interior thermal comfort is guaranteed throughout the day. At the third-floor entertainment room, the classic shophouse loft space is reinterpreted, this time with an inverted roof projecting downward into the space featuring a skylight.

Externally, facing a public back alley, it is fitted with full-width sliding windows, turning the rooms inside into a cross-ventilated balcony space when open. A series of perforated metal sliding screens are then added to offer an additional layer of privacy (apart from curtains) while allowing natural breezes to penetrate the house (the same principle applies to unwanted sunlight). The result is a ‘living elevation’: the house’s façade perpetually changes as activities take place within the home at different times of the day, while becoming an urban street lantern at night.

![RTQ Infill House 08](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_Infill-House_08.jpg "RTQ Infill House 08 - BluPrint")The timber pod features a retractable sunroof, completely transforming the master bath’s space.## A marriage of legacies

The owner admits the experience of growing up in his grandmother’s shophouse as a child was pivotal in the decision to move into a building type that has become one of [Singapore’s lasting architectural legacies](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/kohler-experience-center-sg/). RT+Q Architects’ triumph is that they have also managed to turn the retrofitted home into a family legacy. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![Infill house extg plans no label](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Infill-house_extg-plans-no-label.jpg "Infill house extg plans no label - BluPrint")\]

![Infill house new plans no label](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Infill-house_new-plans-no-label.jpg "Infill house new plans no label - BluPrint")

![RTQ before alteration](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/RTQ_before_alteration.jpg "RTQ before alteration - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 1 2017. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

*Photos courtesy of RT+Q*

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Conservation, Heritage, Renovation, Residential, RT+Q, Shophouse, Singapore

---

### [BluPrint charts 2018 in six new year's editorial notes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/bluprint-ny-eds-notes/)

**Published:** January 1, 2018
**Author:** The BluPrint Team

**Excerpt:** Our most memorable moments of the past year and brazen aspirations for the next twelve months

**Content:**

The BluPrint editorial team welcomes 2018 with our most memorable moments of the past year and aspirations for the next twelve months. We asked each one to craft his and her own editorial note to usher in momentum for the challenging work ahead. Scroll down to get to know the different voices that make up BluPrint’s masthead.

---

## A New Front

Fire has been, for the longest time, the execution block of books and other printed material. Today, libraries and publishers feel a different burn. It is electric. This one comes with screens and memes. Digital media is blazing through our reading culture and cannot be contained.

Although print continues to carve its niche in the lives of designers (very few can resist the tactile pleasure of ink on paper), many publishers are shifting with the rise of digital media. Some scaled down their print runs while others folded up altogether this year. BluPrint is doing neither. Instead, we decided to start our website which will operate alongside—rather than supplant—our magazine and books.

This website expansion was fraught with apprehensions regarding the articles we will post online—the tension instigated by daily publishing quotas, traffic requirements, and SEO-friendly writing. “The brand may get diluted online,” we worried. And we’re not alone in our song. This has been the concern of publishing’s old guard since the advent of the dot-coms. BluPrint’s hard-fought 18-year tradition of design writing and criticism will die online if we reduce it to clickbait-traffic munchies—30-word introductions and embed codes for a list for social media posts that fit a catchy headline formula.

It took the whole team’s resolve to have our website remain faithful to BluPrint’s mandate: to appraise design, to report from the ASEAN front, and to reflect on the way we live in our homes, communities, and cities. We need to achieve all this while honoring the tenets of “good” digital writing and editing (which we feel is akin to print). While architecture criticism is fighting for real estate in newspaper columns, it can occupy unlimited space online, take on new forms, and reach audiences it has never reached before with the click of a share button. Because in this era of [“Build, Build, Build,”](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/neda-approves-manila-subway/) we ought to remember that we must first “Design, Design, Design,” setting for ourselves checkpoints to listen, analyze, and refine. It is my hope that BluPrint—online and off—can serve you as a checkpoint this 2018.

– Angel Yulo, associate editor

---

## Wider horizons

Since joining the team midway through 2017, I quickly learned that BluPrint’s ambitions, epitomized by the launch of both the first *Tropical Architecture of the 21st Century* book and the Bluprint.ph website were coming at a period of transition for the publication. In diversifying content to books and online, BluPrint was already on its way to offering a broader level of engagement with its core following and new readers alike.

One of the highlights of the year for me, personally, was covering [the inauguration of the National Museum of Natural History](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/national-museum-natural-history-inauguration/) and the response to the online article we published at the crest of another milestone for the project. Despite continuing the narrative of the gestation and fruition of this monumental project in print, it was only until we broke the story online that I realized three things: the benchmark that the design, as led by [Dominic Galicia](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/first-eds-note-dominic-galicia/) Architects and interior designers, Periquet Galicia, Inc., has set for the Philippines in terms of adaptive reuse; the public’s fervent appetite and anticipation for a cultural institution of national significance; and the importance of Bluprint.ph in acting as an agent for disseminating meaningful, critical, and informative content for the architecture industry and its online audience beyond.

It’s worth reminding ourselves, as we head into 2018, that architecture and design cannot merely exist and operate in a bubble. As we too often see on design websites today, the tendency for online articles leans towards eye candy, oversimplification, and a focus on the ‘object’, rather than its relevance to a context. With an increase in exposure of design from media outlets not normally associated with the field, the need for informed critique and reasoned opinion is more vital than ever. The upcoming *Design Better* book (launching in February 2018) will demonstrate the potential for plausible near-future architectural solutions for existing, problematic local sites. The second volume of [*Tropical Architecture of the 21st Century*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/) will continue to bolster BluPrint’s agenda of speaking about climate-sensitive design from different Southeast Asian countries in the same breath. BluPrint’s online platform is in the best position to begin to carve its own niche aside from the plethora of blinging design channels on the worldwide web.

There are many positive exchanges to be had in elevating the level of design in the Philippines if only more local designers tapped into the wealth of knowledge from some of their neighboring ASEAN counterparts. As the winning and shortlisted Philippine entries for WAF 2018 have shown, the very best Filipino designers deserve to be mentioned alongside the BIGs, MADs and OMAs of this world. In presenting a wider lens to global eyes, BluPrint can grow to become *the* regional standard bearer of ASEAN design.

-Lawrence Carlos, associate editor

---

## A year-end epiphany, a new year’s vision

We believe in the power of design to make lives better and in the necessity of designing for our context and climate. Since 1999, BluPrint has been flying the flag for [Filipino architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/elevating-the-narrative-filipina-architects-at-the-forefront-of-progress-and-possibility/) and designers. Next year, we expand our commitment to elevate Southeast Asian design and designers within ASEAN and on the global stage by carefully curating the best design projects and news from the region on our website, social media, books, and magazine.

2017 saw BluPrint publish its first two sets of books: the visioning series, which we launched in January with *Blueprints for 2050*, and the *[Tropical Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/the-past-present-and-future-of-architecture-in-the-tropics/) for the 21st Century* series, with Book 1 launched in August. The *Tropical* book series covers projects in countries with climes similar to the Philippines. The wealth of material we gathered on our trips for Book 1 allowed us to expand our magazine coverage in 2017 to regularly include projects in Malaysia and Singapore. In 2018, our coverage spreads out to include Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. By 2019, all of ASEAN.

Our interviews with the architects in these countries underscore how much we have in common with our neighbors. The need for resilient, sustainable, and equitable design has never been so acute in the face of climate change and rapid urbanization. So too have the pressures of the global economy, and consequently, the challenges of contending with foreign (particularly, Western) practitioners within our shores, never been so sharply felt. It is an experience (and complaint) shared by designers all over ASEAN, who, until now, look askance at the touted benefits of ASEAN integration.

Since 2014, the advent of borderless practice, BluPrint has advocated boosting the competitiveness of local architects and regarding their ASEAN brethren in the design professions as ‘coopetitors’ rather than dog-eat-dog competitors. In the context of ASEAN integration, ‘coopetition’ means complementation rather than competition—each ASEAN country producing goods and providing services that complement one another intra-industry to achieve efficiency and stronger inter-dependence. Integration’s proponents say achieving complementation in intra-industry trade will afford ASEAN the economies of scale to compete in the global marketplace, not to mention advance regional cohesion, harmony, and peace. If we in ASEAN see each other as members of the same team, then knowledge and technology sharing will be genuine. It will improve efficiency, lower costs, and increase productivity—all of which translate to higher incomes and inclusive growth.

In architecture, we all can re-learn from each other the wisdom our forebears developed over millennia of living in our geographical location, our hot and wet weather, and of evolving our diverse yet very relatable cultures. We could share insights from our common experience of foreign dominion and the conflicting desires of independence, wanting to be like our former masters, and coming into our own.

BluPrint has had the unique privilege of covering the annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) since 2013. That year was the first time an Asian country—Singapore—hosted the festival after always being held in Europe. Because of its proximity, many Asian architectural firms and schools participated. On our very first outing, Filipinos students from the [University of San Carlos won the grand prize](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/bluprint-10th-world-architecture-festival-waf/) in the student category, and Singapore’s Chang Architects, Pencil Office, and DP Architects earned top recognition in the Villa, Production, Energy, and Recycling, and Leisure-Led Development categories. Since then, more and more ASEAN firms have been joining. a21Studio made the WAF’s World Building of the Year award in 2014 and Vo Trong Nghia has been winning in multiple categories ranging from House to Hotel and Leisure, Religious, and Office almost every year, placing Vietnam on the global architecture industry’s radar. We have also seen the shortlisted entries by professionals from the Philippines increase from one in 2014 to six in 2017 and [finally win a grand prize](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/streetlight-tagpuro-final-presentation/) when Furunes + L. V. Locsin Partners & Associates merited the Small Project of the Year award last November in Berlin for an orphanage and community center in Tacloban.

These triumphs affirm that ASEAN architects have a voice the global community of designers can learn from and be inspired by when given a platform like the WAF. What ASEAN designers don’t have is the medium through which to broadcast and amplify their voices beyond the festival grounds. Just listening in at the live presentation and defense (at WAF, they are called crits) of the shortlisted entries is instructive and thought provoking. These sessions hardly ever are discussed and analyzed unless the architects are name designers. Western media, understandably, follow their own and pay closer attention to unknowns from our region only *after* they have won a major prize.

This is where BluPrint comes in. Observing the WAF juries interacting with Filipino and Vietnamese architects, we saw first-hand how the interchanges challenged stereotypes, opened eyes, and—dare I say it—even reminded some of why they became architects in the first place. For too long, the academia and media have almost exclusively studied and celebrated architecture built for royalty, dictators, and tycoons. We don’t deny the delight, desire, and ambitions that grand gestures and monumental sculptures stir in our breasts. But it is time we paid a great deal more attention to architecture that devotedly and authentically serves the overwhelming majority in their daily lives. It is, after all, ordinary working people that most architects will be designing for throughout their careers.

This epiphany to exert greater effort to uphold design for the greater good comes at the end of an exciting year of exploration, self-examination, and criticism. In our search for architecture in service of public welfare, we cast our eyes further afield in 2018. This coming year, we look for models of architecture and design in ASEAN that are humane, inclusive, equitable, transformative, and culturally relevant; that work intelligently and comfort us in our changing, ever more tempestuous climate. We aim to be the online platform for Southeast Asia’s thought leaders in architecture and the allied arts. In the age of borderless practice, BluPrint.ph is committed to engaging Southeast Asian designers with the best practices happening in the region and updating an international audience about what is relevant to our rich, diverse, and rapidly developing countries.

Join the conversation! Happy New Year!

– Judith Torres, editor in chief

![BluPrint editorial 2018](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/KOP5816-by-ny-greet2a.jpg "KOP5816 by ny greet2a - BluPrint")From left to right: contributing editor Miguel Llona, editorial coordinator Ria Lasco, head photographer Ed Simon, editor in chief Judith Torres, associate editors Lawrence Carlos and Angel Yulo, creative director Patrick Kasingsing---

## Aspiring for competitiveness and positive change

This was a busy year for BluPrint as we started laying the groundwork towards our goal to becoming the design authority in ASEAN with a series of trips. For me, it was our recent Indonesia assignment for our second Tropical Book that left a mark. I felt reacquainted with the country of my childhood years—and my Bahasa, albeit rusty, still helped us get around. The vibrant Indonesian architectural landscape and the wealth of promising talent made me excited and hopeful about the future of Southeast Asian architecture. I also realized that we have a lot to learn from the Indonesians with how they approach crafting spaces that both work tropically and culturally. Meeting and interviewing local design luminaries like [Andra Matin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/as-sobur-mosque-andramatin/) was an unforgettable trip highlight. The humility, passion, and confidence he shows in running his practice is something I hope our architects both young and old could emulate. (Read our Firm and Function feature on [Andra Matin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/andra-matin-andramatin-and-the-unique-ih-residence/) in BluPrint Vol 4, 2017).

This 2018, my personal vision ties up with what BluPrint has always set up to achieve: being a voice for positive change and inclusive social development. It is my goal to grow more as a designer, not just in skill set but in terms of the impact I make in society. I feel that this is something that the world largely needs right now, individuals who are willing to call out the problems and faults of the systems and the hierarchies that are governing today’s society; beyond fault-finding, it is a call to action that we need not take or make do with whatever is handed to us and that it is in our power to change the way we live for the better. Design has never been as important or at the forefront of societal consciousness as it is now. Here’s to creating positive change through design this 2018.

-Patrick Kasingsing, creative director

---

## Overnight at the Museum

There were a lot of memorable shoots and events we had in 2017, like photographing projects in Jakarta for BluPrint’s *[Tropical Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/the-past-present-and-future-of-architecture-in-the-tropics/) for the 21st Century*, Book 2 (coming out in August 2018) and the launching of Book 1. But, for me, the most memorable one must be our “Overnight at the Museum,” at the National Museum of Natural History last November. No, the animal exhibits didn’t come alive like in the movie, but we experienced how wonderful the design is–of the original by Antonio Toledo and the amazing retrofit and majestic Tree of Life by [Dominic Galicia](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/the-national-museum-of-natural-history-how-it-began/). From a Sunday afternoon until Monday morning, we walked, shot, sat, and walked and shot again and again, capturing the museum’s many moods in sunlight and moonlight. I look forward to photographing more amazing work in 2018.

-Ed Simon, Studio 100 head photographer

---

## Introductions

Part of my job is helping the editorial teams, event organizers, account executives, and our advertisers invite guests to various functions. 2017 had a full calendar, with four BluPrint Circles, two book launches, BluPrint’s 18th anniversary, a send-off for the WAF Filipino finalists, and a victory party upon their return. It has been my privilege to meet the architects behind the projects our Home and Design titles feature in their books and magazines. At BluPrint’s events, in particular, I sense the passion, dedication, and hunger in each and every designer I’ve met, to keep improving their craft. What inspires me the most is in every craft, they show what is Filipino. As enter 2018, may we inspire more and do more for our readers. And as BluPrint plants its stakes all over ASEAN, my hope is we gain the trust and support of the people BluPrint is dedicated to serve.

-Ria Lasco, editorial coordinator

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, Architecture photography, ASEAN, Competition, Digital, Dominic Galicia, Indonesia, National Museum of Natural History, Philippines, World Architecture Festival

---

### [Designed Better Extended: Exterria](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/caumeron-exterria/)

**Published:** January 1, 2018
**Author:** MH Canlas

**Excerpt:** An extreme proposal to reintroduce hectares of lost public open space and nature back onto the remaining small oases of our urban landscapes

**Content:**

Public spaces are shrinking oases in the shadows of skyrocketing towers and inhospitable built environments that continue to spread and densify across our urban landscapes. By taking away our public parks and open spaces where people may enjoy the company of other people, we reduce the humanity of our cities. People crave life in the suburbs where they may still breathe fresh air and delight in nature, but living out of the city means longer commutes to their schools, places of work, and businesses. As it is, our [public transport system](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/public-transportation-system-goals/ "public transport system") and infrastructure are ill-equipped to convey the 12 million people of Metro Manila and the millions more traveling to and from the metropolis and outlying provinces. What if we could re-introduce the hectares of lost public open space and nature back onto the remaining small oases of our urban landscapes? Our proposal, Exterria, or Extreme Terrain, does just that.

## Design Concept

The structure is a multi-layered artificial mountain. Adventurers start at the base where they choose their path—on foot or bike and level of difficulty. The distances covered would vary, as would the terrain, interspersed with relaxation and socialization areas. There would be four structural cores supporting the hollow interior, three of which would be climbable and of different slope, material, and tropical vegetation. The fourth core rises to the waterfall at the top of the tower, which is the irrigation system for the flora along the nature trails. The fourth core’s hollow interior functions as a bungee-jumping void wherein the bold and daring could leap off from a high point and thrill at the long drop. The mountain tower would be open to the elements of nature for the plants—medicinal herbs, edible plants, and small trees—to be nurtured by the sun and rain and for the people to relish an authentic experience of spending time outdoors. Those plants located away from the reach of sunlight and rain would get their nourishment from ‘grow lights’ and slow-drip irrigation hoses. As the adventurer attains higher and higher elevations, the trails become more challenging, and the environment transports them further away from the city until they truly feel one with nature.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Activity-Diagram.jpg "Activity Diagram - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Site-context_web.jpg "Site context web - BluPrint")

For our proposal, we chose the Ayala Triangle, a semi-public open space in Makati City slowly being eaten up to make way for commercial establishments. Ayala Triangle is approximately 1760 square meters in area. it has an existing built area of 960 square meters or around 55 percent of its footprint.

The 250-meter high Exterria will add 85,000 square meters of public space, which represents an increase of public space by 4800 percent. Imagine over eight hectares of nature in which people can walk, bike, run, jog, climb, camp, bungee-jump, and go nature watching or star-gazing!

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Data-Diagram_updated_web.jpg "Data Diagram updated web - BluPrint")

## Core diagram

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Core-Diagram.jpg "Core Diagram - BluPrint")

## Exterria Features

1. The intertwining ramps will house the irrigation system and vessels that pump in water and nutrients to the plants and protect them from high winds and typhoons.
2. The ramps are 10 meters in width, each flanked with 3-meter-wide plant vessels on both sides; these vary in depth from 1 to 1.5 meters, just enough for planting material to hold moisture and nutrients and to absorb decaying leaves and the like. They will be designed so plant roots shall twirl round and be anchored onto the structure for stability. As the skeletal framework keep the flora safe during strong winds, the vegetation, in turn, acts as windbreakers to protect the people inside the structure. The plants are the living architecture of Exterria which makes the structure alive and the structure is one giant vessel that holds and protects them.
3. Approximately 50,000 square meters will be covered by indigenous flora—some 4000 trees, 15,000 shrubs, and ground cover.
4. The waterfall core shall be divided into five 55-meter vertical sections across the 330-meter tall tower with each division holding 2.5 million liters of water equivalent to the amount of water in an Olympic size swimming pool circulating through the various levels keeping the flora hydrated creating a scheduled continuous sustainable cycle in the whole structure. The planned hydration creates a misting effect—a spectacle for people to enjoy.

## Layer diagram

### Exterria Structure Components

1\. Three intertwined spiraling ramps – Trails covered with grass, earth, or lightweight stones for hiking, jogging, and biking, each with different levels of difficulty, namely:

a. The Greenie Trail – for newbies who are going on their first trail experience or who just want a leisurely walk on gentle gradients

b. The Scout’s Trail – for experienced individuals who wish to have a challenging trail experience on medium-slope slopes.

c. The Adventurer’s Trail – for competitive and experienced individuals who want the challenge of steep gradients.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_2Final.jpg "Exterria 2Final - BluPrint")The welcoming, wide and intertwined trails are flanked on both sides by flora indigenous to the Philippines. They are planted in vessels (integrated into the ramps), which hold lightweight planting material and are pumped with water and nutrients to nurture the flora as well as keep them safe from strong winds and typhoons. As you slowly climb the sloping, winding ramps, everything about the scenery—the sights, sounds, and textures—transports you to a different place.

2\. Trail modules – The ramp trails are differentiated by modules according to the activities one may do on each module:

a. Base trail module – Three intertwining artificial paths distinguished by their level of difficulty depending on the interest of the adventurer. This module signifies the beginning of the trail.

b. Auxiliary modules – Additional modules of varying terrain with rest stops to denote distance traveled and to give adventurers a chance to appreciate where they are.

c. Top-off modules – The most challenging modules; once completed one can say they have conquered Exterria.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_3Final.jpg "Exterria 3Final - BluPrint")Exterria is open to the elements. Trees and plants perform their functions as air purifiers and sunshades. As you look up, you see the tapering ramps above that form the shape of the mountain. After passing through the sloping terrain of the architecture comprised of different modules reaching the Achievement Zone is a rite of passage. There is a base camp here for people who want to go further up to The Peak.

3\. Structural diagrid – The structure is supported by a diagrid that holds all the parts of the interior together and forms the mountain-like profile.

4\. Four structural cores – These hold the skeleton of the structure together as well as house the elevators to access the top levels of Exterria, namely:

a. Waterfall Core, which houses the water system of the whole structure

b. Flora Core, which is covered with vines and moss, for vine climbing

c. Rock Core, for rock climbing along cliff surfaces

d. Terrain Core, a combination of the Rock and Flora Cores.

5\. Flora – The ramps host the vegetation growing on the structure, which bind together to become the living architecture growing along the intertwined trails.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_4Final.jpg "Exterria 4Final - BluPrint")

The Peak is the highest point of Exterria, which one can only reach after surmounting various obstacles.

## Extreme Exterria

As you go up the intertwined spiraling ramps, the variety of the flora and textures of the paths offers varying views that make each scenery interesting. Pockets of relaxation along the three trails allow people to catch their breath, relax, and socialize.

Upon reaching a certain height and distance, adventurers reach the Achievement Zone*,* a place people will strive to achieve as it becomes a rite of passage. Further up is The Peak, the uppermost part of Exterria only a few individuals will be able to reach, and hence, a most rewarding experience when the most competitive of adventurers successfully scale it.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_6Final.jpg "Exterria 6Final - BluPrint")Bio-concrete is an organic material that heals itself when it cracks. It will support the growth of plants and moss along its crevices and rock-like formations, giving life to the architecture.

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_5Final.jpg "Exterria 5Final - BluPrint")One of Exterria’s structural components, the plant core of the tower is part of the diagrid skeletal system that enables the architecture to become one giant planter that houses all the flora and keeps them safe during high winds.

## Conclusion

Instead of ranting about how our cities lack public space, we should focus on how to maximize and generate more open public spaces for people. The Exterria, if we had the vision, guts, and determination to build something like it, would be a boon to the city and people that host it. It would be an escape for the people trapped in concrete, steel, and glass towers, a magnet for tourists, a wondrous environment for children and families to visit, a living architecture for a city gasping for breath. *![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")*

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Exterria_7Final.jpg "Exterria 7Final - BluPrint")The lush greenery growing on the spiraling ramps of the Exterria creates a welcome contrast against the glass, steel, and concrete structures towering in the Makati CBD.

 **Section drawing of Exterria**

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Section_11012017.jpg "Section 11012017 - BluPrint")

## Floor plans

![01 Ground Floor](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/01_Ground-Floor.jpg "01 Ground Floor - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/02_Top-of-Plant-Core.jpg "02 Top of Plant Core - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/03_Achievement-Floor.jpg "03 Achievement Floor - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/04_Main-Camp-Level.jpg "04 Main Camp Level - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/05_Lake-Floor.jpg "05 Lake Floor - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/06_Top-of-Rock-Core.jpg "06 Top of Rock Core - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/07_View-Deck-Floor.jpg "07 View Deck Floor - BluPrint")

![Design Better Extended Exterria](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/08_Mountain-Peak-Level.jpg "08 Mountain Peak Level - BluPrint")

**This proposal for the Exterria by Richard Dimayuga is an extension of BluPrint’s latest book *Design Better.* The book is available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Adventure, Architecture, Ayala Triangle, Design Better, Exterria, Jim Cameroun, Makati, Public space, Richard Dimayuga, Trail

---

### [Designed Better Extended: Fiesta Housing](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/designed-better-fiesta-housing/)

**Published:** January 1, 2018
**Author:** Jason Buensalido

**Excerpt:** This Design Better Extended proposal by Buensalido+Architects seeks to address social housing issues with a prototype that values the input and creativity of its owners

**Content:**

Filipinos are a participatory people. Unlike most Western cultures that value individuality, our idea of a single unit is our family. Our culture expects children and parents to sacrifice their desires for the sake of this group, which provides its members with support, approval (and censure), a sense of belonging, and self-esteem.

While Filipinos aren’t high on individualism and openly expressing opposing opinions, they do like to personalize their belongings, environments, and experiences. Jeepneys and tricycles of identical chassis are made unique by the custom paint jobs and *borloloy* their owners adorn them with. Filipino cuisine is no different. The side dishes, dipping sauces, condiments, toppings, and *budbod* with which we complement, season, sprinkle, drop, and drizzle on our *silog, adobo, sinigang,* and *kare kare* make each meal out of the same pot a personal and different experience with each bite. Even our indigenous architecture reflects this penchant for personalizing. *Datus* set their houses apart from the common folk, and the common folk from each other, by the type and number of decorations marking the façades.

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PERSP-01.jpg "PERSP 01 - BluPrint")Before the purchase of the lot or the construction of his house, the owner chooses from a catalog the shapes, materials, and even future expansions so that he may already prepare his starter home for growth.The idea of the family as the smallest unit is also evident in our vernacular architecture. The traditional *bahay kubo* has one large open plan space where the family lives, cooks, eats, and sleeps, placing members in constant interaction with each other. The *bahay na bato* has an open plan that encourages communication as well. Spaces can be divided or doubled by sliding doors closed or open, giving residents the freedom to decide how to use the space.

Knowing the home is where a person’s morals, beliefs, and culture are formed, we propose to reflect the participatory, expressive, and family-orientated character of our culture in a sustainable, context-relevant, and environmentally sensitive horizontal housing development. We focus on the socialized and low-cost housing segment, as it has a supply backlog (currently estimated at 4 million houses, with a projected deficit of 6.5 million by the year 2030), and because it is this market segment whose housing is pre-designed by developers and built hundreds at a time.

## Issues

Low-cost housing is cookie-cutter produced, built as cheaply and quickly as possible. Often themed to look foreign, many of our affordable housing developments do not respond to our context—our culture, tropical climate, and geography. If we continue to live in homes that copy foreign styles to appeal to the apparent colonial mentality some Filipinos still have until now, then we lose our identity and our culture.

Our homes shape us, and if we do not enable our real selves to come out where we live, we stand to lose our essence. We propose a horizontal housing development typology that is culturally relevant, climate-sensitive, and allows homeowners to express themselves and with minimal cost and maximum convenience, accommodate future expansion.

## Macro principles

### 1. Holistic design and planning

Residential developments should be developed holistically, taking into account the way family members will interact, keeping them safe and secure, in reasonable comfort and convenience, and an environment that enables and promotes community building and the enjoyment of nature’s gifts.

### 2. Civic center

A space for governance, peace, and order should be a standard, depending on the size of the development.

### 3. Open spaces and walkability

Not all homeowners in this market are vehicle owners. And yet, low-cost housing developments are designed with the car as the priority. Apart from the standard sidewalk and planting strip format, greenways or mews (narrow linear parks) should be integrated into residential developments in equal if not greater proportion to the streets for cars.

### 4. Community farming

Cooperatives could be formed within the community, so the development isn’t just a place to live, but also an alternative source of income.

\[one\_half\_last padding=”0 0px 20px 0px”\]

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/DEVELOPMENTAL-FEATURES-DIAGRAM.jpg "DEVELOPMENTAL FEATURES DIAGRAM - BluPrint")

### 5. Backyard farming

The Co-op may have a program that teaches residents how to start a personal farm in their backyard, which then becomes a source of food for the homeowners, which they may also sell to the coop.

### 6. Community amenities and recreational facilities

More than the typical spaces such as community halls, religious services, sports facilities, it is the programs held within that are more important. Homeowners in this sector could benefit from learning skills that would empower them to be self-reliant and productive.

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PERSP-02.jpg "PERSP 02 - BluPrint")Areas could be dedicated to community farming. Residents have the option to purchase food from their farm, which encourages sustainable living, and they can also have a share of the profit from the co-op.## House design

### 1. Catalog concept

A catalog shows interested buyers the options an owner may take to personalize his house to his needs, preferences, current and future lifestyle. He may specify the spaces he needs and arrange it in ways detailed in the catalog. From the start, he knows how he may expand his house in the future, so that he may prepare for the eventuality accordingly.

### 2. Modular elements

Aside from the modular plan, the house construction components (walls, floor boards, doors, etc.) shall be modular as well. Fenestration adjusts to the module type, and owners are allowed to specify the quantity and location of their windows, according to the spaces and arrangement they chose. From a pre-selected palette, buyers personalize the colors of their home as well.

### 3. Porch as strategy for community building

The porch shall be spacious, encouraging owners to use this area, increasing opportunities to talk with neighbors, develop relationships, and nurture community. Personally getting to know and trust the people around you encourages people to look out for each other.

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PERSP-03.jpg "PERSP 03 - BluPrint")People, not cars, should be the priority, and therefore the design encourages walking and being outdoors, increasing chance meetings, neighborly interaction, and attaining a strong sense of community and, consequently, safety and security. Pocket parks should be integrated with these mews.### 4. Basic sustainability elements

Low-tech and essential sustainability elements shall be used for the house design and construction. Modular parts (efficient use of resources and limited waste), prefabricated construction, insulated wall panels, low VOC materials, cross ventilation, natural lighting, provision for alternative energy, are some examples of this.

### 5. Stilts to future-proof

Many buyers have limited resources constraining their purchase to a small, one-storey house. When their family expands, they will have to vacate the premises as the house goes through an extensive vertical and horizontal renovation. The basic model shall be elevated on stilts (just like the *bahay na bato* and *bahay kubo*), the spaces (particularly the bedrooms) kept compact to encourage family members to stay in common areas to interact with each other. By elevating the house, the ground level is freed up to serve as another space for interaction and extend to the surrounding garden, creating a multi-functional social space similar to the *bahay kubo* *silong*

When the time comes for expansion, the structural components of the main house (columns and beams) are already up, and all the owners have to do is put up the walls. They need not even move out of the house. The whole house, its internal spaces, and also the furniture, could all be designed for maximum flexibility and ease of expansion.

## Optimism 

Filipinos are one of the most optimistic people in the world, as evident in the fiestas and celebrations we have every single day. No matter how heavy our troubles, we can always manage a smile, a joke, a laugh. This indomitable spirit is what we want to bring to the fore and honor in our proposal. With the use of vibrant colors, the variety and customization possible, the fenestration arrangement, and the porch design, hope for a better future would be felt on a daily basis. A festive and optimistic atmosphere is attained.

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PERSP-06.jpg "PERSP 06 - BluPrint")The owner participates in designing and personalizing his house, unlike most affordable housing projects in the country. The catalog concept increases the resident’s sense of ownership and affinity to the house they choose.## Conclusion 

Through our proposal, we want to preserve, enhance, and even flaunt our identity in our architecture. With the world getting smaller because of access to affordable travel and the phenomenon of the Internet, at no other time have authenticity and identity become so important. Character is one of our few sources of differentiation. Because our homes shape us, we shouldn’t allow live in homes that do not respond to our context and do not adapt to our culture. Because if we do, we inevitably lose our strengths as a culture. *![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")*

![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PERSP-08.jpg "PERSP 08 - BluPrint")Architecture is only one means to achieve holistic community living. Nevertheless, we envision and look forward to housing developments genuinely dedicated to holistic design and planning.![Design Better Extended Fiesta Housing Buensalido](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/SUSTAINABILITY-FEATURES-DIAGRAM.jpg "SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES DIAGRAM - BluPrint")

**This proposal for the Fiesta Housing by Buensalido+Architects is an extension of BluPrint’s latest book *Design Better.* The book is available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Agriculture, Architecture, Buensalido+Architects, Civic, Community, Design Better, Housing, Low-Cost, Residential

---

### [A short history of and five principles for designing koi ponds](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/designing-koi-ponds/)

**Published:** January 11, 2018
**Author:** Miguel de Leon and Peter Waddington

**Excerpt:** Koi ponds are an architectural sub-specialty learned in the hobbyist’s school of trial and error.

**Content:**

Mesmerizing. The sight of koi gracefully gliding through water compels us to admire these living jewels as they seemingly invite us into their realm of peace and quiet. Koi have captivated man since ancient times, first in China, and then in Japan, where the art of koi ponds and breeding have reached unequaled greatness.

![koi ponds 7](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/koi-ponds-7.jpg "koi ponds 7 - BluPrint")Regular maintenance will not only be beneficial for koi but for the human occupants as well. It is necessary to ensure that the pond is clear of litter and koi waste that can emit foul smells and breed bacteria.

## History of koi and koi ponds

Koi or *nishikigoi* (literally, “brocaded carp”) do not occur naturally in the wild. In the 1800s, carp or *magoi* were introduced to Japan from China. They were grown primarily for food; and then, as now, were colored black. The Japanese rice farmers in Yamakoshi who raised *magoi* noticed that some offspring had blotches of color, and so set them aside as pets. These unusually colored carp kept them entertained during the long intermissions that rice farming imposes. The plain-looking *magoi*, on the other hand, ensured that they always had something on the table to eat.

Over time, by human design, different breeds of koi came into being. The first record of colored carp in Japan was in 1843 when three breeds—Asagi, Bekko and Sarasa (Kohaku)—were identified. The turn of the 20th century was the beginning of the Japanese’s intense, impassioned pursuit of breeding of koi. Today, the *magoi* or parent carp is widespread across Japan’s rivers, streams and lakes. Yet its colored progeny, the *nishikigoi*, have invaded not just Japan but much of the world, captivating untold numbers as if by a spell. In stark contrast, the story of koi pond building is a history ridden with frustration, desperation and disappointment, with untold numbers of the precious animals unable to survive their new habitation; that is, until the last decade when advances were made in the design of koi pond filters and koi ponds.

**READ MORE: [Shophouse by RT+Q becomes urban street lantern at night](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-shophouse-urban-lantern/ "Shophouse by RT+Q becomes urban street lantern at night")**

## Prevalent Pitfalls

Building a koi pond is an architectural sub-specialty in itself not taught in our universities, but learned in the hobbyist’s school of trial and error. Faults in pond design are widespread. Typically, a faulty design is passed on from one builder or hobbyist to another, with the assurance that one can always renovate the pond or tweak the design later. Throughout the endless pursuit of a dream pond, many fish and money are lost along the way. While the Internet is a wonderful source of information, it is also the source of confusing and downright irrational theories about koi. The most common problems in koi pond building are:

- Flawed filter system design
- Building a pond without proper steel reinforcements and water proofing, which can result in persistent leaks
- Building a pond with sharp or angled corners (as in a swimming pool) that produce dead spots where water cannot circulate, and so collect and accumulate debris
- Incorporating structures with sharp edges and surfaces that can scrape a koi’s skin
- Building an outdoor pond that is too shallow or too narrow for the fish to swim in
- Building it in a location under full sun, which creates an environment too hostile for koi
- Having aquatic plants in the koi pond. Koi are omnivores and will eat or nibble at water lilies or lotuses. If it were possible to physically isolate the plants from koi, it still wouldn’t be practical since pond water is occasionally salted to eradicate koi parasites or treat disease, and the salinity of the water will surely exterminate the plants as well. Should the owner insist on having aquatic plants, they may be placed in an adjoining but completely separate pond.
- Lack of disclosure by sellers to buyers of koi that these beautiful beings make for high-maintenance pets

![koi ponds 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/koi-ponds-4.jpg "koi ponds 4 - BluPrint")The stack of stainless steel trays usually found beside koi ponds is called a Bakki shower. It is an optional component of a filter system that helps maintain pond temperature. Water trickles down from the topmost tray to lower trays, cooling the water as it comes in contact with ambient air.

## Practical Principles

The quality and price of the koi tend to be determining factors in choosing the design and type of pond to be built. Koi prices range from 200 to 2 million pesos. But whether one is a casual keeper of koi who just wants a water feature for his home, or a passionate hobbyist, it is to his and his koi’s best interests to fulfill the irreducible minimums of a koi pond. The following guidelines have been distilled from the collective experience of the KoiBois, a group of passionate koi keepers in the Philippines, and extracts from Peter Waddington’s definitive book on koi keeping, *Koi Kichi 2*.

1\. An efficient filter system is of utmost importance to koi’s health and survival. While a koi pond and its filtration system may be structurally separate, the two are functionally one and can never be divorced. Some manufacturers claim to have filter systems requiring no maintenance, but the best systems are those which have the following components:

- Bottom drains – Partially covered pipes at the bottom of the koi pond where water from the pond exits and is moved to the filter system
- Skimmers – Placed about one centimeter beneath the pond surface, they suck in floating debris and deliver them to the filter system. Skimmers are indispensable in keeping the pond surface clean and glassy.
- Mechanical filter – The first in a series of filtering chambers is one where large debris like fallen leaves, fish waste and excess koi food are trapped by filter brushes or other suitable material
- Biological filtration – From the mechanical filter chamber, water is transferred to a biological filtration consisting of finer mesh where bacteria thrive. These microscopic organisms converting toxic metabolites to harmless, even beneficent compounds.

2\. Ultraviolet light – Submerged ultraviolet lamps clarify pond water by breaking down microscopic algae that would otherwise render a pond green. It also helps to control the proliferation of harmful bacteria.

3\. Pump – For water to move from the pond via the bottom drains to the series of chambers in the filter system, and then drive it back into the pond via a waterfall or a simple return pipe, a pump that works round the clock is employed.

4\. Aeration – Since fish breathe by extracting oxygen from the water, pumps that blow air into diffusers or porous stones at the bottom of the pond are a must.

5\. Temperature control – Koi thrive best in water temperature of 25°C. While tropical countries enjoy the benefit of not having freezing temperatures, they face the other extreme, which is overheating. Thoughtful placement of a pond or installation of shade sails can easily address this. For further cooling, a Bakki shower or chiller may be installed. Not many hobbyists employ these means, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see a chiller installed in a pond that houses koi worth millions of pesos.

![koi ponds 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/koi-ponds-2.jpg "koi ponds 2 - BluPrint")Aquatic plants do no thrive in koi ponds. Koi feed on plants and the water salinity required to treat koi skin problems could be harmful to most types of aquatic foliage. In this resort-like house by Mike Peña, the water lily pond is entirely separate from the koi pond.

## Water

A koi pond is not a static pool of water but a dynamic, living habitat, governed by the laws of natural science. The goal is to approximate the ecosystem in which koi flourish. While magoi, the ancestor of koi, can tolerate a wide variation in water quality in the wild, it isn’t so for their human-selected, pedigreed descendants kept in a koi pond, a habitat that is artificial in every respect. There are far more important aspects of koi pond water than clarity, but for viewing one’s prized collection and overall attractiveness of the pond, it is the first thing people notice. To provide koi a habitat where they can develop to the maximum potential that their genes allow, here are some basics:

- Koi thrive best when the water temperature is at or around 25°C.
- Koi are intolerant of the accumulation of toxic waste products, namely, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. When the concentration of these metabolites rise, koi growth is impeded, the brilliance of their colors begins to wane, their resistance to disease is compromised, and when allowed to further rise, may result in their death.
- Even with the most efficient filter systems, removing a percentage of water daily or weekly is mandatory—like flushing the toilet whenever there’s waste matter in it. Some hobbyists change 10% of pond water, while most change 30% once or twice weekly.

![koi ponds 8](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/koi-ponds-8.jpg "koi ponds 8 - BluPrint")Koi ponds can be contemporary provided that that sharp and angled edges (at least, those below the surface) are chamfered to avoid injuring the koi and prevent dirt from accumulating. While koi benefit from natural light, direct exposure to the harsh tropical sun can heat pond water to temperatures fatal to koi. Experts recommend shading in the form of roofs, overhangs, and shade sails.

## Dimensions

The ideal depth of a koi pond is 1.5 meters or more for optimal growth, and a surface area of 16 square meters seems to be the accepted minimum size. These dimensions translate to about 20 tons of water, excluding the water going through the filter system. For the serious hobbyist who wishes to grow huge koi, the rule of thumb is one koi per two tons of water. A 20-ton pond can thus accommodate 10 koi. However, if the owner wishes to keep smaller koi, of lower grade but beautiful nonetheless, a 20-ton pond can sustain up to 40 koi.

## Viewing koi

Unlike other fish, koi are best viewed from above, rather than from the side, as in an aquarium. This is because their beautiful patterns, some highly coveted, are on the dorsal or upper side of the fish. When a koi pond is seamlessly integrated in a part of a house that is designed for relaxation, the koi’s vivid colors and graceful movements appear to have been created just for that purpose.

## Koi and other fish

Generally speaking, a koi pond is designed with the intent of keeping just koi. Should the owner wish to have other kinds of fish, the larger goldfish like Sabao and Tamasaba can co-exist with koi. But carnivorous fish like arowana and arapaima may lead to the extinction of one’s koi collection.

Designing and building a koi pond the right way can spell the difference between delight and disaster. Failure to recognize and fulfill the most basic requirements can turn a koi pond project into a cascade of problems that the pond owner will have to face on his own, when the architect and contractor have gone their way. Built right, koi ponds will exceed all expectations of the joy and contentment that caring for these magnificent creatures can bring. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![BP Vol3 2015 SpecFeat Koi4 PLAN](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BP_Vol3_2015_SpecFeat_Koi4_PLAN.jpg "BP Vol3 2015 SpecFeat Koi4 PLAN - BluPrint")A milestone in koi pond filters is the development of the ERIC—Everlasting River In Concrete. The system utilizes high-grade synthetic filter media that are efficient and easy to clean and built to last far longer than the previous industry standard.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I build a pond indoors?** Yes, provided there is adequate ambient light or a few hours of filtered sunlight for beneficial algae to grow.

**What is the minimum depth of a koi pond?** If designed primarily as a water feature, with no intention to buy high-end koi or to grow them big, a depth of one foot might be enough. But for those who wish for their koi to grow optimally, a depth between 3 to 5 feet is an acceptable minimum.

**Since a filter system takes up so much space, for what other purpose can I use that space?** A detachable wooden deck over the filter chambers can serve as a walkway or a feature by itself if executed well.

**Are there koi pond designers, builders or resources for building koi ponds in the Philippines?** Yes. A good place to start is [Koi Hob](https://www.facebook.com/Koi-Hob-191084801273197/?rf=257208011058837) in White Plains, Quezon City.

**How much does it cost to build a 20-ton pond?** Anywhere from P250,000 to P350,000.

**How much does it cost to run and maintain a 20-ton pond?** Typically, P3,000 on electricity and about P2,000 on water per month. A bag of good koi food costs about P2,000 and can last up to four months.

**Is there a truly maintenance-free koi pond?** No.

**If I want a koi pond but don’t have the time to maintain it, are there pond maintenance services available?** Yes. Koi Hob in White Plains offers such service. Typically, pond maintenance service costs P1,000 per visit. One or two visits per month is recommended. In between visits, household staff can do simple pond maintenance like water changes and filter cleaning.

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 3 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Carp, Fish, History, Koi, Koi Hob, Koi Pond, Landscape Architecture, Mike Peña, Pond, Water, Water Feature

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### [Plöntur cools down a Pampanga house with vertical gardens](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/plontur-pampanga-vertical-gardens/)

**Published:** January 17, 2018
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** Plöntur goes beyond plant boxes and designs the welcoming walls of an “outdoor room”

**Content:**

You know you’ve done a good job when your client says the part of the house that gets the most “oohs” and “ahs” is the space you designed. And you know you’ve done a great job when everybody’s favorite place to sit and gab is the garden you planned, prepared, and planted, and it isn’t even furnished yet.

![plontur pampanga 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-2.jpg "plontur pampanga 2 - BluPrint")The vertical garden at back is a refreshing sight for guests in the dining room, who are naturally drawn to step outside before and after dinner. According to Yambao, Singapore landscape architects change the plants of their green wall systems every few years. He wants to provide the same service locally—a quick and easy way to refresh one’s garden.

![plontur pampanga 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-3.jpg "plontur pampanga 3 - BluPrint")The kitchen’s little breakfast nook. “Everybody loves my kitchen!” Says the lady of the house expansively.

“I wanted walls of glass. I wanted to see the outside. And of course, if you want to see the outside, the outside has to be nice. Nice is green. Nice is not a painted wall and cars parked outside,” the homeowner says. She adds: “Thankfully, the village itself is nice. A lot of people have glass houses, but they forget to consider what the neighbors look like!” She laughs. The lady of the house was a workaholic, chain-smoking marketing executive who decided to cut back on cigarettes and work and focus on the home front. And focus she did, researching for more than a year, visiting homes, and interviewing friends about what worked and didn’t work in their houses, so when her partner said they could finally build their own, she would be ready—not to be a DIY queen, but to have intelligent discussions with the professionals.

**READ MORE: [Magnificent views of Mt. Makiling in 8×8’s MV House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/8x8-mv-house/)**

![plontur pampanga 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-4.jpg "plontur pampanga 4 - BluPrint")This space is an extension of the master bedroom. The lower elevation defines the area and adds to the sense of privacy and intimacy of the space. Under the steps to the room is the koi pond, which likewise crosses under the steps to the dining room. The koi pond occupies an area of 25 square meters and bisects the house. The water filter is one-third the size of the pond, hidden under the deck, and can be accessed for maintenance by removing seven planks.

![plontur pampanga 5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-5.jpg "plontur pampanga 5 - BluPrint")The study of the master bedroom. “There is still a lot to be improved with the green wall systems available in the country,” says Yambao. “We’re thinking of ways to make sculptural wall systems that look good even when there aren’t plants. Because we can’t guarantee the vertical garden will weather a bad typhoon—which is the case with horizontal gardens.”

Before a single line was drawn, the couple hired an architect, interior designer, and Plöntur as their landscape architect. “We’re only going to do this once, right? So we wanted to do it right.” With the trauma of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and other catastrophes still fresh in her partner’s memory, he insisted the house be built to withstand magnitude-8 earthquakes and Yolanda-strength super typhoons. In addition to keeping the kids safe from nature’s fury, “doing it right” also meant having everything in its proper place. “The electricals for the lighting and the appliances; the plumbing, drainage, and irrigation of our plants; the filter for the [koi pond](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/designing-koi-ponds/) under the deck and how we would open it for easy maintenance—that was all planned. You won’t see any wires or tubes sticking out, even for the lights and the sound system outside. *Walang afterthought*.”

Accustomed to people treating landscape architecture as an afterthought, Erick Yambao of Plöntur says the couple’s attitude towards professionals made designing for them and collaborating with the rest of the design team an enjoyable process. “Most clients bring in the landscape architect during the latter part of construction, and seldom for residential projects.” The young principal of [Plöntur](https://www.plonturgroup.com/) (Icelandic for “plants”) laughs, shaking his head: *“Madalas, plant box na lang ang natitira para sa amin. Minsan, ginawan kami ng plant boxes all around one building, pero walang drain!”*

![plontur pampanga 8](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-8.jpg "plontur pampanga 8 - BluPrint")“I love my secret garden!” says the lady of the house. Pole bamboo, kamuning red bottlebrush, and Japanese bush keep the bathroom scene natural and serene.

That the couple hired a landscape architect at all is remarkable, given they weren’t interested in a garden for playing in or strolling about. Out of the 730-square meter lot, the total outdoor area comes to 250 square meters, while the softscape—the pockets around the house devoted to planting—accounts for only 90 square meters. The garden everyone likes hanging out in is a wooden deck at the back of the house. What makes the space alluring are the green, leafy columns of *paco* fern, white cuphea, and variegated schefflera dressing the perimeter wall clad in panels of brown wood. The deck flooring and the vertical plant arrangements give the family the best of both worlds: the refreshing coolness of a lush garden, but with clean, easy to maintain biowood planks underfoot—no mud and grass stains to track into the house.

The lady owner muses: “It’s relaxing to look at. You can really feel how much cooler it is here at the back because of all the plants and the wood.” Yambao says he designed the space to be an “outdoor room.” His initial freehand drawings showed woven furniture along the lines of Dedon. “I’m saving up for that,” she says. “In the meantime, we are happy just to sit on the ledges and talk. When I’m cooking, my friends all stay with me in the kitchen, where we have a good view of the garden.” They also have good views of the garden from the dining room and from the master bedroom’s study. The master bathroom, on the other hand, has its own little secret garden.

Does she think her friends will follow her example and hire an LA right at the outset? “I don’t know,” she says, pondering. “That’s the budget that gets cut first, if they allocate for it at all. It’s hard to explain the work an LA does, because you can’t see it. Much of it is hidden. *Halaman lang yan*, people think. *To follow na lang*. But it will never be as good if you don’t bring the landscape architect in at the outset, same with the interior designer. Visit homes that were planned with an LA, and those that weren’t. It’s intangible, but you will see and feel the difference!”

![plontur pampanga 6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-6.jpg "plontur pampanga 6 - BluPrint")A pocket garden of pole bamboo, eugenia, Fookien tea, variegated silver Pandakaki and blue grass at the right side of the house. The koi pond drain and a rain trench are covered by loose marble chips and white stone. This space was supposed to go through to the back of the house, but it had to be walled off to enclose the master bathroom’s secret garden.

![plontur pampanga 7](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-7.jpg "plontur pampanga 7 - BluPrint")The front of the house, to which the bottlebrush and Japanese bush give a very airy feel. Softening the driveway is artificial turf, guaranteed to last 10 years. “If you look closely, it has some brown blades, the way real grass would. None of my friends believe it’s plastic,” says the homeowner.

Good landscape architecture is indeed more difficult to pin down than good architecture, where people can at least agree on the need for a structure to meet the basics of safety, utility, convenience, and comfort of its inhabitants, without getting into beauty and poetry. But beauty and poetry are exactly what landscape architecture is for. That it is safe, convenient, and comfortable for its beholders is made possible by the application of science and discipline, which, if the landscape architecture is good, do not announce their presence.

Yambao talks about how he designs: “Every plant evokes a certain kind of experience. Ferns add to the lushness of a place while bamboos and bottlebrush add lightness. Eugenias, silverdust and Fookien tea plants evoke masculinity (pruned and trimmed to our specs), and I use them for form and stability. Furcraeas are my focal points, with their pointy leaves and structured form. It’s a balance of soft and hard, of pruned forms versus lush natural growth. Composing a landscape can be compared to how architects uses massing, and how interior designers use texture and color.”

![plontur pampanga 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/plontur-pampanga-1.jpg "plontur pampanga 1 - BluPrint")The back garden terminates in a corner near the master bedroom with a composition of paco fern, schefflera, red bottlebrush, furcraea (agave), a marble boulder, and pebbles of different sizes. There are aluminum and plastic “edging” products to keep different materials in place but they are not yet available locally. The black gate to the right hides utilities.

While the cost of landscape architecture projects naturally vary according to size and complexity, Yambao says a rule of thumb would be about 10% of the project’s construction cost. How to justify the added cost? “See landscape architecture as an extension of your living room, of your dining room, or of your bedroom. When you think of it that way, the investment makes sense.” Considering how everyone in the house is drawn to and soothed by those green walls, the investment makes absolute sense, indeed. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![Pampanga Sketch with labels](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Pampanga-Sketch-with-labels.jpg "Pampanga Sketch with labels - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 4 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do vertical gardens function as a natural cooling system in tropical climates?

Vertical gardens act as a natural cooling system by absorbing solar radiation and providing moisture through a process called transpiration. In tropical areas like Pampanga, these green walls establish a specific microclimate that significantly lowers ambient temperatures. This makes outdoor decks and interior living spaces feel noticeably cooler than the street-side of the property, which reduces the household’s reliance on air conditioning and mechanical cooling.

### Which plant species are best suited for vertical gardens in the Philippines?

For successful vertical gardening, several hardy species are recommended for their resilience and texture. Paco Ferns provide high-density greenery and a lush feel, while Variegated Schefflera offers color contrast and structural stability. For delicate textures in small gaps, White Cuphea is a common choice, whereas Pole Bamboo and Japanese Bush are better suited for creating airy, screening effects in narrow “secret garden” corridors.

### Why is it crucial to engage a landscape architect at the beginning of a construction project?

Early engagement allows for the integration of essential infrastructure—such as plumbing, drainage, irrigation, and electrical wiring—directly into the house’s foundation. This prevents unsightly “afterthoughts” like visible tubes or plant boxes that lack drainage. Early collaboration also enables the creation of seamless architectural features, such as koi ponds that bisect the home or fully automated maintenance systems for green walls.

### What is the typical financial investment for professional landscape architecture services?

As a general rule of thumb, professional landscape architecture services and their implementation typically cost approximately 10% of the total construction budget. This expenditure is justified by the garden’s role as a literal extension of the home’s primary living areas. By treating the outdoors as an “extra room,” the overall livability and market value of the property are significantly enhanced.

### How can green walls be designed to remain visually appealing and resilient during typhoon season?

Maintenance in typhoon-prone regions requires a strategic approach, such as using modular systems that allow for easy plant replacement. To ensure the home remains beautiful even if a storm strips the foliage, architects often design sculptural wall systems using wood or stone panels. This ensures the architectural integrity of the wall remains a focal point during the off-season or following extreme weather events.

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Erick Yambao, Garden, Landscape Architecture, Pampanga, Philippines, Plöntur, Residential, Vertical gardens

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### [Plants in architecture improve cities, says Vo Trong Nghia partner](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/plants-architecture-vtn-architects/)

**Published:** February 14, 2018
**Author:** Lawrence Carlos

**Excerpt:** Takashi Niwa of VTN Architects preaches the power of plants in changing the urban environment for the tropical climate 

**Content:**

There’s a unmistakable ‘green’ philosophy running through the works of VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects) which extends far beyond including greenery as an element to furnish their architecture. As [Takashi Niwa](https://takashiniwa.com/), the Japanese partner at VTN Architects, explained during his talk at Anthology Festival 2018, using plants and trees as building materials in their architecture gives users an opportunity to reconnect with nature in our increasingly developed urban conditions.

Moreover, from their analysis of the prolific number of projects they have built in Vietnam reveals that greenery significantly reduces the heat gain of a building, encourages users to promote natural ventilation by opening windows to greenery, and minimizes the reliance on air-conditioning.

![VTN Architects Takashi Niwa Anthology Festival](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSF5975.jpg "DSF5975 - BluPrint")Takashi Niwa, partner at VTN Architects, gives his talk by the outside the walls of Fort Santiago, Intramuros. (Photo by Ed Simon)![01 GreenRatio VTN](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/01_GreenRatio_VTN.jpg "01 GreenRatio VTN - BluPrint")Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has just 0.7 sqm of green space per capita, much lower than other South East Asian megacities due to the rapid pace of urban development. The problems that arise from rising development and dwindling green spaces include: air pollution from motorbike and car-dominated areas, overheating due to the heat island effect, and people get inactive as there is little open space for recreation. (Diagram by VTN Architects)VTN Architects’ approach to architecture is as much a response to ubiquitous demand for urban development based on the economic market, and the energy consumption associated with the human desire for private modes of transport, as it is with creating oases within a project’s immediate context. After presenting this philosophy through a series of houses, educational institutions, and hospitality projects, Niwa sat down with BluPrint to explain the numerous benefits of greenery in designing architecture for the tropical climate.

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**BluPrint: Mr. Takashi Niwa from Vo Trong Nghia Architects—a pleasure to meet you. Is this your first time in Manila?**

Takashi Niwa: Hello. Yes, this is my first time.

**When you went around on tour of Manila what was your impression of the city?**

The first impression is that I like the city. I realized that there is the same tropical climate, the same sort of climate as Ho Chi Minh City for trees to grow. The height of the trees are maybe half as high as in Hanoi because of typhoons, but the species is similar to what we have in Vietnam. So I really see that Manila or the Philippines can benefit from plants very much.

And also the interesting thing, when I passed by the CCP, is that people were enjoying walking and exercising in front of the building. I realized that this common space is very open to the public. The people can use it as they want, so the city has a very big potential for architecture to be socially open. I feel that architecture can be very close to people in Manila. I feel that there is much potential for architectural design in this type of scenario.

![VTN Architects plants Stacking Green](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SG_01.jpg "SG 01 - BluPrint")‘Stacking Green’ house (completed 2011) has open façades at its front and rear to draw air flow through the building—an advantage the homeowner gains once they open the windows to connect with the plants outside. (Photo by Hiroyuki Oki)

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![VTN Architects plants Stacking Green](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SG_02.jpg "SG 02 - BluPrint")The composition of planters is based on the species of plant used to create visual variety across the house’s façade. (Photo by Hiroyuki Oki)

**The focus of your talk at Anthology Festival was the power of plants in architecture. Did the interest in plants begin when you were working in Japan or did it begin when you arrived in Vietnam?**

Before I tried using plants in Vietnam, I thought that the tree was just another part of the landscape, and I also thought that in design, the building space was the main part. But after I came to Vietnam I realized that the tree is more powerful and that everyone loves trees. Even in a small space, in Vietnam, for example, people put a bonsai tree on the balcony. Unfortunately, those buildings were not designed for the placement of such trees. So the interior space and the bonsai outside were very separate.

Then, when we tried designing green buildings with plants, people realized, and we realized also, how greenery could bring more happiness to people. We connect with their habits to put greenery on the building and then together with the building design. Also, people naturally know how to protect the heat gained from sunlight using greenery. They like to sit down under a tree to drink coffee, and also they put trees on the roof. They have a basic understanding of these principles.

![VTN Architects Stacking Green section diagram](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SG_Section.jpg "SG Section - BluPrint")A section diagram of the ‘Stacking Green’ house outlining how green elements facilitate passive cooling, solar shading, and noise attenuation for the homeowner’s comfort. (Drawing by VTN Architects)It’s very easy to adapt our design approach to Vietnamese culture. I realized that greenery has more power to reconnect the people to the environment. Once we have greenery outside of the window, people often cut and prune them. They naturally open the window because the leaves are moving, and they know that the wind is moving outside. If they don’t have greenery, they don’t open the curtain. They will feel strong sunlight coming in and use the air-conditioner instead. But if there’s greenery, they open the window. It really is quite powerful and naturally people feel comfortable. Greenery helps people connect with the environment. We are very happy to discover this through projects.

![VTN Architects plants House for Trees](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/HFT_combined.jpg "HFT combined - BluPrint")Five volumes make up the ‘House for Trees’ (completed 2014) whereby the footprint of the different spaces is also the size of the planters which allow trees to grow above. Since the house’s completion the tree canopies together have formed a natural roof for the central courtyard space where the family members can socialise. (Photos by Hiroyuki Oki)And also for the tropical climate, we can use tree plants as a building material. I presented a hotel project the other day, in Milan…when I presented this building, one of the jury, who was an Italian guy, asked me, “If you use so much greenery what can architects do for the design?” I replied to them that because of the tropical climate, we could use greenery as a building material, the same as how you use bricks, or how you use metal panels—we can use greenery as a material. So it is for the benefit of, and an advantage of the tropical climate. The native plants you get in Europe take a long time to grow. It costs a lot of money to control the aesthetics and also you have to consider the four seasons. We can find another approach to the tropical climate. This is my understanding for our projects.

![VTN Architects plants Binh House](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/02_BinhHouseSection_VTN.jpg "02 BinhHouseSection VTN - BluPrint")For ‘Binh House’ (completed 2015), the interplay of planter boxes created volumes either side of the central communal spaces in an attempt to foster better visual and verbal communication between family members. Each room opens up onto a portion of greenery and this encourages the residents to open the windows at the first sign of wind rustling the leaves to allow for natural ventilation. (Drawing by VTN Architects)**These natural elements—plants, soil, trees—are usually associated with landscape architecture. You’re an architect so how did you manage to get the expertise needed? Did you have to collaborate with a landscape architect or is your experience more in landscape design? How did you develop that approach from an architectural point of view?**

Because we are architects we know how trees will be suitable for our design. There aren’t many specialists for landscape design because Vietnam’s urban environment looks ugly, So once we try to incorporate a landscape designer, this means the gardener! They don’t know what modern design is or our ideas to realize this. It’s really difficult to communicate this. We choose greenery, then we discuss with the gardener how to decide what plants to use…then we can realize a good idea without them. Through our projects, we’ve tried several plants. We also consider what we usually see around the site—what kind of tree is suitable, easy to maintain, and can adapt to the soil.

![VTN Architects plants Farming Kindergarten](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/04_western_courtyard.jpg "04 western courtyard - BluPrint")The west courtyard for the ‘Farming Kindergarten’. One of 3 courtyards which were designed as a response to a lack of open spaces in the city for children to play in. Administration offices are located on the second floor and overlook the courtyards to ensure children’s safety. (Photo by Hiroyuki Oki)![VTN Architects plants Farming Kindergarten](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dwg06_Enviromental_strategies.jpg "dwg06 Enviromental strategies - BluPrint")The environmental strategy for the ‘Farming Kindergarten’ (completed 2013). (Drawing by VTN Architects)**You presented quite a number of projects and slowly you could see the scale increasing with every project. So with this plant architecture, what are the challenges in maintaining the quality of greenery when you start to expand to a larger scale—from the domestic, house scale to the institutional, educational or hotel scale?**

Due to the scale of greenery, it is different with the common scale and the house scale. At the house scale, the homeowner directly maintains the greenery. After many projects, we realized that bigger trees are more beneficial for the residence and the common building because we can reduce the maintenance time to maybe once or twice a year, to cut the unnecessary branches. Everyday pruning is enough. For small-scale plants, however, we need to maintain frequently because of the tropical climate. For small plants, we usually like to grow vegetables because they’re easy to take care of, as you will eat them. Naturally, homeowners will maintain these kinds of plants. But a big tree only needs to be maintained several times per year. So this can make a good balance.

For social buildings, the common buildings, we mainly use big trees for easy maintenance. Also, we expect that the trees will get stronger and stronger every year and then we can assess 20 years later. We hope that 100 years later that the original greenery is still there. It’s okay that the trees become stronger than our architecture. This is also not a problem because we want to create a very good atmosphere and environment for people. So we just create the foundation to make a nice place for living.

![VTN Architects plants Farming Kindergarten](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FK21_Quang-Tran_resize.jpg "FK21 Quang Tran resize - BluPrint")Part of the Farming Kindergarten’s program is to grow vegetables and fruits to educate the next generation about sustainable living. The green roofscape becomes a place where the activity of harvesting encourages camaraderie, while also utilizing rainwater in a regenerative way, and considerably mitigating the building’s heat gain. (Photo by Quang Tran)**When your clients are working with you, they have to try to imagine what the plants will look like in one year’s time, two year’s time. Do they get surprised at how much the plants grow and how it adds value to the architecture? What kind of reaction do you get from clients or users?**

Recently we had a client who likes greenery. From the beginning, they had some idea for greening the building. Through the project, we realized their idea and a good design, and to incorporate these together. They were surprised after the project especially the way it made them feel, because sometimes we use plants with a scent—with flowers, and also fruits. They were surprised not only because of the visual connection but also…

**The feeling of well-being.**

Because Vietnamese people do feng shui. Some trees are good for feng shui. Feng shui is like living mathematics—getting the result from the experience. So, some plants are good for feng shui, good for feeling refreshed, and good for avoiding mosquitos. We consider the tradition of feng shui with trees also. Some trees like the pomelo tree or the grapefruit tree produce a smell from the fruit and its flowers. Naturally, people sense the seasons from the blooming flowers or fruits. It’s quite easy to enjoy, you can eat the fruits afterward. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Anthology Festival, Anthology Festival 2018, Green Architecture, Green space, Greenery, Landscape Architecture, Planting, Takashi Niwa, Tree, Vietnam, Vo Trong Nghia

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### [The Emerson Coseteng House by National Artist Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/emerson-coseteng-house/)

**Published:** February 15, 2018
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** A paradigm of the Philippine Neo-Vernacular style by Locsin is refreshed by Eduardo Calma

**Content:**

The Philippine Neo-Vernacular style was first developed in the late 1950s for advocates to foster a kind of “Filipino identity” in modern architecture. Its chief precedent was Japanese post-war architecture, spearheaded by Sutemi Horiguchi, Kenzo Tange and Kazuo Shinohara, who were debating how modern architecture should translate traditional or “vernacular” aesthetics (such as *sukiya*) to make the results “truly Japanese” in character.

In Manila during the late 50s, the works of National Artists Juan Nakpil and Leandro Locsin would echo this debate, to be joined by Francisco Mañosa in the 60s. It was Locsin’s Modernist adaptation of various Asian sources as well as indigenous and colonial Philippine influences, however, which were best tested in villa design that allowed single-storey house construction to spread out into the landscape. This followed the precepts of the aristocratic “court house” design such as those found in Ming Dynasty Beijing, but using materials like reinforced concrete and steel frames. These were also updated for modern life, such as the addition of concrete driveways and garages.

![Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 7](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emerson-Coseteng-House-Peter-Cons-7.jpg "Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 7 - BluPrint")View of the living room towards the receiving hall, dominated by a bronze chandelier. The Ang Kiukok painting attests to the house’s original owner, Ambassador Alicia Coseteng’s penchant for collecting.The Emerson & Alice Marquez-Lim Coseteng House, located on a rise within tree-shaded subdivision in Quezon City, is a classic example of this stylistic hybridity between tradition and modernity. Constructed between 1963-1964 at the grand sum of two hundred thousand pesos, it is also the house where former Senator Ana Dominique “Nikki” Coseteng grew up in.

“When the house was just finished in 1965, our parents held a victory party for the newly-elected President Ferdinand Marcos,” Nikki relates. “During the party, Imelda Marcos asked my mother: ‘who is the designer of your house? It is very beautiful!’ My mother (the late UP professor, art critic and ambassador to Mexico Alicia Coseteng) replied: ‘[Leandro Locsin](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/succeeding-success-lindy-and-andy-locsin/ "Leandro Locsin").’ ‘Oh,’ Imelda replied, ‘I will approach him to design a cultural center that I am planning.’ A few months later, they broke ground on the CCP by the bay. And all that happened because of the unique design of this house.”

![Courtyard view of the refurbished grand entrance. Calma removed the original driveway that ended at the porte-cochere, and substituted it with two flights of stone-covered stairs with monumental stereobates beneath the original concrete canopy, which is dressed in wooden pillars.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emerson-Coseteng-House-Peter-Cons-6.jpg "Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 6 - BluPrint")Courtyard view of the refurbished grand entrance. Calma removed the original driveway that ended at the porte-cochere, and substituted it with two flights of stone-covered stairs with monumental stereobates beneath the original concrete canopy, which is dressed in wooden pillars.

The front of the house is oriented to the west, on a downward slope. The original landscape design of the main entrance had a circular hillock garden in the middle of the driveway, with the path taking visitors around and up to the main level entrance with a port cochere and a short cantilevered concrete staircase facing the doorway. This path goes down again on the other side, where the basement level garage used to be. “No matter what time it was, the public rooms and bedrooms never got harsh, direct sunlight because of the angle of the house, the ample eaves of the roof, and the trees in the hillock and gardens,” Nikki muses.

Some years back, heeding the advice of a fung shui master, Nikki had the west entrance landscaping remodeled by [Eduardo Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/architects/succeeding-success-ed-lor-calma/) while she was living in a condo unit near the Senate. The driveway, hillock, and pond were removed, and in its place, a courtyard faced in Indian Kota brownstone was installed. Calma’s concept of a modern stone courtyard harked to a more organic environment that was intuited from Nikki’s environmentalist advocacy, with running water gushing from low fountains going in straight courses and planted with lotus and reed plants as the contrast to the geometric formality of the stonework.

The staircase for the main entrance, remodeled using a more traditional profile with flanking paired stereobates, now leads directly from the courtyard level to the antique double doorway. The entrance looks like a grand Chinese manor guarded by bronze lantaka cannons, and completing the manorial look is the concrete entrance canopy retained for this purpose.

![Another view of the living room, emphasizing the way Locsin integrated Modern design with Neo-Vernacular accents like white-washed walls with adobe pilasters, and hardwood-framed windows and doorways. The octagonal room overlooking the east is at the heart of the structure.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emerson-Coseteng-House-Peter-Cons-3.jpg "Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 3 - BluPrint")Another view of the living room, emphasizing the way Locsin integrated Modern design with Neo-Vernacular accents like white-washed walls with adobe pilasters, and hardwood-framed windows and doorways. The octagonal room overlooking the east is at the heart of the structure.![The dining room is dominated by the long Spanish table and antique chairs, paired with a blue Murano chandelier and Nikki's collection of folk fabrics used as curtain hangers. The large painting is by a Spanish artist and dates back to the 1880s.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emerson-Coseteng-House-Peter-Cons-5.jpg "Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 5 - BluPrint")The dining room is dominated by the long Spanish table and antique chairs, paired with a blue Murano chandelier and Nikki’s collection of folk fabrics used as curtain hangers. The large painting is by a Spanish artist and dates back to the 1880s.The house has two storeys—a basement level and an elevated main floor—which follows a north-south orientation common in Chinese vernacular architecture. The bedrooms are situated on the north wing and the service facilities on the south wing, forming a U-shape in which both wings connect to a main section via the entrance hallway, living room, and dining room. Underneath this main section is a den and basement-level dining room. Guest rooms with sliding doors facing north east are found in this section as well, bordered by the house’s perimeter pathway as it winds up and down the central rise where the house is constructed in.

Just beyond the living room, on the opposite side of the lot, is the sloping, lower-level rear garden where a peanut-shaped swimming pool was originally located. Today, it serves as the house’s rainwater catch-basin used for the garden plants. The main lanai at the northeast side gives one a good idea of the original intent of the landscaping, with its piedra china stepping stones, lush tropical planting, and Modernist contrasts like the garden furniture designed by [Lor Calma](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/cwc-interiors-x-lor-calma-partners-an-iconic-collaboration-between-exemplary-filipino-design-advocates/) and [Budji Layug](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/budji-royal-tropical-design/). Tessie Luz, wife of National Artist Arturo Luz, did the original interior decoration of the house.

Aside from the heritage nature of the structure itself, the Emerson Coseteng House boasts of an unrivaled modern and ethnographic art collection spanning two generations of enthusiastic Filipino patrons: the mother-and-daughter combination of Alice and Nikki Coseteng. Alice’s collection focuses primarily on the generation of Filipino Modern Expressionists that she championed in the 60s and 70s, like Antonio Austria, Danilo Dalena, and especially National Artist Ang Kiukok. One can also see her interest in Spanish Colonial antique santos and Mexican folk art, owing to her stint as Ambassador to Mexico.

![Recluttering Is the Trending Anti-minimalist Guide to a Meaningful Home.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Emerson-Coseteng-House-Peter-Cons-4.jpg "Emerson Coseteng House Peter Cons 4 - BluPrint")The corridor in the house’s north wing is a long processional faced in Modernist white walls and thick ‘tablas’ of antique hardwood.In contrast, Nikki’s collection is wide-ranging and comprises a generally encyclopedic range of Filipino ethnographic objects, primarily textiles (because of her feminist advocacy), followed by Cordillera bulul statues, ancestral house wooden parts, and various contemporary native bric-a-brac. Her passion for collecting art was informed by her long management of Galerie Dominique in Greenhills back in the 70s and 80s, and from this experience her eye was honed towards contemporary folk art. The Marquez-Lim’s ancestral collection of colonial furniture, dating from their old home in Iloilo City, are also found in this house, making the Emerson Coseteng House the repository of three generations of Filipino art.

These objects constitute the chief décor found in the long, gallery-like corridors bordered with curtain glass walls in the house, especially along the corridor leading to the north wing’s bedrooms, which result in a museum-like procession of fascinating cabinet curios and paintings. The other chief repository is the entrance hall and living room, where a Chinese opium bed shares space with upholstered bamboo low couches, Murano glass sculptures, and Indian silk saris used as decorative curtains.

“Taking care of a house like this is a major chore,” Nikki reminds us as we prepare to leave. “It takes a special commitment and love to put up with all the preparations and hassles of maintaining it. That’s why I have added environmental features to the house to make it more economical, like using stored rainwater for the plants, because I do not want to pay Maynilad Water for the same amount for watering my plants as we would to bathe and drink.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![A scan of the original Locsin plan for the Emerson Coseteng House.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/emerson-coseteng-plan-locsin.jpg "emerson coseteng plan locsin - BluPrint")A scan of the original Locsin plan for the Emerson Coseteng House, showing the upper ground flour and the courtyard. The original layout of the courtyard is evident, with the circular hillock garden in the middle of the driveway contrasting Calma’s open layout. At the back of the house is a swimming pool, now converted into a garden.[![A perspective plan by Eduardo Calma for the house's courtyard.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/emerson-coseteng-calma-sketch-1.jpg "emerson coseteng calma sketch 1 - BluPrint")](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/serene-geometries-ed-calma-finds-clarity-through-quietude/)A perspective plan by Eduardo Calma for the house’s courtyard.**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 5 2013. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Adobe, Art, CCP, Eduardo Calma, Emerson Coseteng House, Leandro Locsin, Modern, Neo-vernacular, Nikki Coseteng, Painting, Quezon City, Residential, Vernacular

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### [Indonesian studio SHAU takes on big problems with smart small-scale solutions](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/shau-microlibrary-typology/)

**Published:** February 19, 2018
**Author:** MH Canlas

**Excerpt:** Daliana Suryawinata and Florian Heinzelmann activate derelict sites with microlibraries

**Content:**

Bandung-based SHAU Indonesia is a studio on a mission to design attractive and socially responsible architecture. They flout the status quo, rebel against archetypes, and even create new typologies to achieve their goals. This is best illustrated with the project they spearheaded with government and private funding: the Microlibrary project.

SHAU describes it as a cross between the city library and a mobile library. With context-dictated designs and various site conditions, the microlibraries are meant to activate leftover urban spaces so that these enrich their surrounding communities. Moreover, these libraries make use of unorthodox building materials like recycled ice cream buckets in Microlibrary Bima and PVC pipes in Microlibrary Lansia, which are low-cost and facilitate passive cooling.

“The idea is to replicate the concept, not the design into not just the various parts of Indonesia, but the world,” Daliana Suryawinata, SHAU director and founding partner, said after presenting the initial four designs of microlibraries. “Big changes often have small beginnings,” she told her audience during SHAU’s talk in Anthology Architecture Festival 2018, held in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila.

BluPrint sits down with the duo beh­­ind SHAU to talk about the microlibraries, the value of experimentation, and firm expansion.

![MicrolibraryBIMA](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryBIMA.jpg "MicrolibraryBIMA - BluPrint")Microlibrary BIMA, Bandung by SHAU | Photographed by Sanrok Studio**BluPrint: Are there any other typologies that you think can be translated into a micro scale?**

Daliana Suryawinata (DS): That’s an interesting question. Though we actually did not focus on the ‘micro’ itself as we saw this scale as being the natural response to the limitations posed by the leftover sites that we worked on. Architectural solutions abound in various scales and sizes; we didn’t want to limit ourselves to the micro-scale.

I recall back in 2009, we worked with andramatin to develop a concept called the Social Mall. In 2006, Indonesia was building a hundred shopping malls—way more than necessary. And there’s a glut of vacant malls which aren’t fully developed, creating spaces with a lack of social value. Our group thought of a shopping mall that could host public facilities like parks, clinics and libraries, clustered together with the usual retail spaces as an interesting typological solution.

Florian Heinzelmann (FH): Our studio gained popularity for working in the micro scale, as Daliana said, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we want to specialize or concentrate only on the micro-stuff. But what is nice with the microlibrary is its speedy implementation. A regular project might take up to a decade to build and design whereas small-scale projects have faster time trajectories and a more immediate impact.

![MicrolibraryBIMA2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryBIMA2.jpg "MicrolibraryBIMA2 - BluPrint")Microlibrary BIMA, Bandung by SHAU | Photographed by Sanrok Studio![MicrolibraryBIMA3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryBIMA3.jpg "MicrolibraryBIMA3 - BluPrint")Photographed by Sanrok Studio**What about the protection of the books in the microlibraries, particularly the open-air ones? Indonesia, being a tropical country, is prone to really hot summers and wet monsoons. How do the designs of the microlibraries protect and preserve these books?**

FH: That is why our designs help facilitate the development of microclimates and employ cross ventilation. We are aware that the Indonesian environment is not the most book-friendly. The books in the library are partly used, worn down, and so these are not historical books which need to be strictly maintained and preserved.

Our microlibraries do not rely heavily on technology in their day-to-day functions to save costs; we don’t have air-conditioning so we cannot de-humidify. What we can do is situate it in a shaded place and have cross ventilation so at least the moisture gets dragged out. At the end of the day, it’s just like having your books at home.

![MicrolibraryBIMA4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryBIMA4.jpg "MicrolibraryBIMA4 - BluPrint")Microlibrary BIMA, Bandung by SHAU | Photographed by Sanrok Studio**What are your favorite materials to work with?**

DS: We love to use non-conventional materials like ice cream buckets, something new that has never been explored before. When there is time and or budget, we like to experiment on the materiality of our architecture projects.

**The microlibraries show a lot of daring for a small-scale project. Can we talk about how this impacts budget and a project’s realization?**

FH: We remember our time as students at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam and all the big guys showed up, showing their project presentations, and everything was fantastic. What I never enjoyed though is an underlying sense of dishonesty that permeated such presentations. So there they are and they have this concept of how the building is done. But there is often no talk about difficulties, budget constraints, etc. What we would like to show to students is that not everything is easy to do especially in architecture. There are difficulties to overcome and you have to work really hard. For us, we openly say that we have problems that need solving.

**Difficulties and problems often lead to a bit of experimentation.**

DS: Experimentation also requires budget. To be honest, the microlibary is a scale we created so that we could play as architects, because micro-scaled projects are less risky. Although when time came for us to implement them, we discovered how even small projects are difficult to execute, but we did it anyway. In the case of the Helicoid library, we immediately tried to figure out how to implement it to keep its form, so we talked with the OSB provider as well as the manufacturer who will put this thing together. The sponsor was strict that the budget was to be just that amount. We will need to revise the design this time to fit the budget so it can be implemented, but we will definitely build this helicoid library design somewhere else.

FH: Also, you experiment to find something out. And failure in certain aspects is an intrinsic part of an experiment. You design to experiment with materiality, with manufacturing possibilities, and how you put this thing together. And you start and you don’t exactly know where the journey goes. In this case it also eats the budget. But when you do something experimental you never know how it will end up and you often need to readjust things throughout your journey until the solution comes into the picture.

![MicrolibraryLansia](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryLansia.jpg "MicrolibraryLansia - BluPrint")Microlibrary Lansia, Bandung by SHAU | Image courtesy of SHAU**Though failure is often viewed in a negative light.**

FH: Failure is important because while it tells you that something went wrong, it alerts you to approach it a different way. There is learning to be had. Reevaluate what you did and adopt a new strategy. Having not done the experiment however, you wouldn’t have learned anything.

**Moving on, what other exciting opportunities can working with small-scale projects offer?**

DS: Usually small-scale projects get a lot more freedom than large scale ones. And because of the small size, it has a controllable budget. The risk, as I mentioned before, is also smaller as compared to work on a larger scale development. Slightly easier to push further, I would say, for realization, do you agree?

FH: Yes I do. We usually deal with two types of projects, the more commercial projects, and the experimental ones like the microlibraries. We always try hard to push the boundaries when we design in all of our projects. However, you can be much more experimental when it comes to small-scale projects, you can learn something, and if it does work, you might be able to re-implement it in a larger scale.

You need endurance in architecture. Smaller scale projects introduce a different pace in design and implementation within the office. What is a very good advantage, talking about the pace, is when you nab a big project coupled with sizeable manpower; you’re working in the project for years and the team will feel at certain moments stale and static. So you drop them into a small-scale project and it becomes exciting again; it’s like recreational work in a way. The team can freshen up and shake things loose instead of sitting behind screens for hours, drawing the same CAD lines, and optimizing toilets etc. (Laughs). And it becomes more rewarding for them should the work get implemented.

![MicrolibraryFibonacci2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryFibonacci2.jpg "MicrolibraryFibonacci2 - BluPrint")Microlibrary Fibonacci, Bandung by SHAU | Image courtesy of SHAU![MicrolibraryFibonacci](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MicrolibraryFibonacci.jpg "MicrolibraryFibonacci - BluPrint")Microlibrary Fibonacci, Bandung by SHAU | Image courtesy of SHAU\[irp posts=”6682″ name=”Department of Architecture’s Twitee Vajrabhaya talks heritage”\]

**Still on the topic of scale, how do you see your firm, five-ten years from now in terms of size and reach? Are there plans to grow in size?**

DS: Yes, and we are open to partnerships. We are open to like-minded people, for projects and ownership of the company. We now have SHAU Rotterdam, Munich and Bandung. And in time, we envision each studio having around 40 people, but then with many branches all over the world. That’s how we see it more than having one centralized place with 300 people.

FH: Yep, I’d definitely like to have more people. In Germany where I come from, if you haven’t done a certain typology and helmed this project successfully, it is very difficult to get taken seriously. And then when I came to Indonesia we got taken seriously quite fast and I like that. Because some of these larger scale projects are also very interesting and we’d like to do those. And of course, to do more of them, you do need to develop the manpower behind it. I’m totally not opposed to growing the company in terms of amount of people.

I can also see strength in numbers—having visited Foster in London and worked at UNStudio. If you have a critical mass, then you can start continuing this experimentation on a different level. You can dedicate smaller teams to experiment on this direction, that direction like OMA’s AMO, coming up and dealing with theoretical parts or issues that they can solve architecturally. Foster has the Specialist Modelling Group. UNStudio has different knowledge platforms such as Sustainability and Parameters etc. So all of a sudden, you can allocate people to do research, and they don’t necessarily have to be immediately productive; we can come back and say okay, we’d like to try use the product of such research in so and so project. This is a very fascinating model and enables one to start cross-financing experiments and at the same time open the firm to bigger projects. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![SHAU](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SHAU.jpg "SHAU - BluPrint")Daliana Suryawinata and Florian Heinzelmann of SHAU | Image courtesy of Anthology 2018 (L) | Photographed by Ed Simon of Studio 100 (R)

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial, Heritage, Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, Architecture, Asia, Bandung, Books, Daliana Suryawinata, Design, Florian Heinzelmann, Indonesia, Library, Micro, Microlibrary, Modern, Scale, SEA, SHAU, Southeast Asia, Tropical

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### [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao's C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/)

**Published:** February 23, 2018
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** Conrad Onglao's C House is both a restatement of the owner's rich heritage and needs for comfort and privacy.

**Content:**

Nestled in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Manila is an arboreal oasis whose white Modernist façade is screened by leafy greens, and whose main foyer opens out courageously—if not quietly—into the street. Completed in 2012 by architect and interior designer [Conrad Onglao](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/conrad-onglaos-pursuit-of-subdued-splendor-in-design/), the house, which Conrad calls the “C House,” sits in a snug 650-square meter lot that used to be the garden of an adjoining house. The owner decided to sell half of his lot, on the condition that the new owner retain the garden trees, which the owner himself planted in the Sixties. Conrad also trimmed and grafted the old bamboo grove at one corner to surround the house perimeter with foliage, increasing the sense of privacy, and refocusing on an “Asian resort” feel as a suitable counterpoint for his Modernist template of the house itself.

The house owners, a single parent with two children, wanted enough space for her children to entertain friends in intimate comfort after a lifetime of living in cramped condominium housing (first in the States and then here in Manila), with little privacy, and few opportunities to party. The conditions imposed by the new owner required Conrad to consider the family’s stylish comfort, privacy, and a sufficient space for the family members to entertain in style, and for the kids and their friends to “chill out” within easy visual reach, but without being disturbed or “confined.”

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-c-house-image-2.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 2 - BluPrint")A panoramic view of the sala, dominated by the antique baby grand piano the owner got in the US, and the Bo Concept lounge chair and footrest. Bamboos frame the perimeter walls, making the living area feel open and hospitable, despite the narrow clearance with the perimeter wall.Despite the smallish lot, Conrad was able to harness 2,000 square meters of floor space for the owner by creating a four-storey footprint using a reverse pattern: instead of putting the *sala* and dining room in front that would have exposed his clients to unnecessary everyday noise and roaming pedestrians-cum peeping toms, he put it in the back of the ground floor facing the walled rear garden. The houseguests enter via a reception hall, which segues to the right into the main stairwell; out into the courtyard-lap pool area; and to the left into the powder room and short hallways to the clean kitchen-breakfast room.

**READ MORE: [Lor Calma’s abode debunks Nietzsche’s godless Modernism](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lor-calma-modernist-house/ "Lor Calma’s abode debunks Nietzsche’s godless Modernism")**

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-c-house-image-1.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 1 - BluPrint")View of the dining area, with its antique French silver dining chairs and Persian rug overlooking the Balinese doors and Buddha on the rear garden behind them. Tempered glass curtain walls expand the view to the outside, and provide natural but screened illumination.Rather than confining house users to visually enclosed spaces by putting up opaque dividing walls, Conrad visually “opens up” these ground floor spaces facing the right-sided courtyard and lap pool area via the copious use of tempered curtain glass walls (three-quarters inch thick to withstand 250 kph gale winds). This was another design solution that allows the house to look less cramped and claustrophobic, and allows natural light to permeate throughout the ground floor spaces.

To allow even greater illumination and a heightened sense of ventilated space, he divided the structure between the courtyard-breakfast room and the rear *sala-*dining room by adding an air corridor planted by a [*koi* pond](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/designing-koi-ponds/ "koi pond") between breakfast room-dining room; and an extension of the lap pool between the courtyard-*sala*, both spaces being provided with pathways to allow easy movement. Ventilation is also heightened by raising the ceiling heights of the rooms to 3.2 meters.

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao image 6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-image-6.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao image 6 - BluPrint")(Left) In the reception hall, the owner’s antique collection of celadon vases, Minadanao spinning tops, and an antique Buddha bring a sumptuous feel of oriental grandeur. The balcony overhead leads into the entertainment nook just above the reception area. (Right) Second floor balcony view of the stairwell. Onglao’s interiors focus on a palette of whites and light tans to give emphasis to the owner’s antiques and art collection, framing them like accent pieces to an overall space, and giving a house a more “lived in” feel. Tropical plants situate this feeling in an Asian space.Ease of transportation between floors, and the convenience of being able to eat or entertain in the upper floors of the C House was also an important consideration. With this in mind, Conrad designed a scenic elevator that would allow guests—especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities—to access the two upper floors. Also, a dumb waiter lift was installed to haul food up, and remnants down, between a second floor mini-kitchen and the main kitchen downstairs. The second floor mini-kitchen looks out into the lap pool, with full-height sliding glass doors that may be opened to allow people out during emergencies. Off to one side of the mini-kitchen is the entertainment area that overlooks the reception hall via a balcony; and to the other side are the three bedrooms—including the master bedroom and walk-in closet/bath—that also face the rear side, just above the *sala-*dining room.

The third floor contains the garden roof deck, and a room pavilion that serves as a study and extended wardrobe for the house owner’s considerable dress collection, and a TV room/entertainment space. The underground basement, which is accessible via the dirty kitchen, contains more storage space for the house owner’s children, the exercise gym, as well as the servants and driver’s quarters. The three car-garage is in a defile just off the street and to the front side of the lap pool, in an open shed that would allow the driver to simply park a few meters away from the front door.

**[READ MORE: Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/ "READ MORE: Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17")**

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-c-house-image-4.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 4 - BluPrint")View of the breakfast nook from the dining room, separated by an air corridor, and planted with a koi pond to provide serene sounds of water and life, and give the owners their daily ritual of feeding the carp after breakfast.Three things come to mind when Conrad designed the interior spaces and amenities of the C House: comfort, serenity and adaptability. Unlike other “star” architects, Conrad is not averse to mixing motifs within interiors as part of a “signature style.”

“I prefer designing houses that feel like they are actually lived in, not some sterile museum that people hardly use. So I allow the character and identity of the house owner to partially define the look and feel of the interiors and exteriors. For example, the owner had a vast collection of antiques, like these massive wooden double doors and framed lintels from Bali. Instead of integrating them into the structure itself, I decided to place them like cosmic portals facing the perimeter walls of the house. I also placed Buddha statues from the collection either in front of these doors, or on nooks like in the wall behind the reception hall. Although I designed the house in a general Modernist palette of whites with wood and raffia accents, I tailored some of the finishes to suit the owner’s pieces, like the ceilings of the main kitchen and dining room are finished in silver leaf to highlight the set of antique French silver furniture in the dining room.”

Classical referents, like Venetian stucco finish, are utilized in the courtyard to create a sense of simplified grandeur, here accented by Ann Pamintuan’s functional sculpture by the lap pool. Besides the scenic elevator, the hardwood treaded steps in the staircase are measured for a gentle rise to give users an easier time to ascend between floors.

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-c-house-image-3.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 3 - BluPrint")(Left) The sumptuous open space of the stairwell to the other side of the reception hall features a centilevered span, with a gentler rise that easy on the legs, and treaded by mahogany. Perhaps the most Modernist element of the C House, its transparent balustrade keeps things light and elegant. (Right) The transparent balustrade affords unhampered views of the stairwell, with its various artworks that give a museum feel.Surrounded by the sumptuous Chinese celadon collection of the owner in its interiors, as well as artworks by Anita Magsaysay-Ho and Elmer Borlongan, Conrad Onglao’s C House is both a restatement of the owner’s rich heritage and needs for comfort and privacy; and the architect/interior designer’s wish for serenity and meditative peace that is possible in a garden setting, where intimate parties mingle peacefully with the private lives of its users.

![bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-conrad-onglao-c-house-image-5.jpg "bluprint architecture conrad onglao c house image 5 - BluPrint")(Left) The arboreal foyer of the C House, highlighted by the mahogany full height main door by Cebu-based Evin Oshima of TALA. (Right) Courtyard of the C House, here dominated by the stairwell and scenic elevator shaft that brings guests up all the way to the third floor garden deck (partially seen to the upper right). Bamboo plantings by landscape architect Ponce Veridiano contrasts with the cubical Modernist white palette of Onglao’s structure to give an overall Asian resort feel.**This article first appeared in BluPrint Special Issue 3 Design Successors 2014. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, Asian resort, C House, Conrad Onglao, Koi Pond, Modernism, Residential, Tropical

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### [Ribbed Cube: A sustainable and shielding frame by Anthony Nazareno](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/ribbed-cube-anthony-nazareno/)

**Published:** February 26, 2018
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** N+GDC’s Ribbed Cube, an acclimatization of High Modernism, functions as a sustainable frame for a family of five.

**Content:**

***If your contribution has been vital, there will always be somebody to pick up where you left off, and that will be your claim to immortality. – Walter Gropius***

Just after World War II, a new, “alienating” kind of architecture surfaced. Referred to as High Modernism, the style was a rigid standardization of homes and offices to conform to a particular combination of formal elements, and a claim of “universal validity” of the human condition. Famous architects such as Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius championed High Modernism through their geometric architecture. This was adapted by distinguished Filipino architects like Juan Nakpil, Leandro Locsin and Federico Ilustre in the 50s and 60s, albeit in somewhat softened versions.

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-1.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 1 - BluPrint")In the lanai, a *Cabaret* sofa set by Kenneth Cobonpue is framed by a wall of greenery, making for a cool afternoon hangout. The barrier provided by bamboo plants help filter outside noise.Although the domestic design template was the split-level bungalow, there were also attempts at a more “formalized” geometric quality, like pyramidions, “courted dominoes,” and cubes. It has only been since the 90s, with the help of technological innovations, that a revaluation of this kind of architecture has been done by the likes of Jean Nouvel, Richard Meier, and Zaha Hadid.

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-2.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 2 - BluPrint")(Left) The wrap-around louvers that surround the glass-enclosed portion of the house add both aesthetic flourish and privacy for the homeowners. (Right) Glass sliding doors can be opened to let in the breeze. Reflecting pools, a Nazareno trademark, are situated beside entryways, cooling the air before it enters the house.Known for his ability to graft High Modern design with more recent considerations of environmental suitability, [Anthony Nazareno](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/beauty-in-subtlety-by-nazareno-architecture-design/) of Nazareno+Guerrero Design Consultancy has revived the cube, a form often used for office buildings, to encase a newly completed house in a gated village in Manila. “The Ribbed Cube,” as he calls it, functions as a sustainable and shielding frame for a family of five.

**READ MORE: [Old Bones, New Spirit: N+GDC’s Mahogany House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/nazareno-guerrero-mahogany-house/)**

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 3](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-3.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 3 - BluPrint")Unfortunately, the louvers are not operable, so Nazareno and company had to calculate for the optimum angle and positioning.The two-storey house sitting on a 500-square meter lot utilizes classic motifs that pay homage to the works of the High Modernist masters. Vertical aluminum fins—similar to the *brise soleil* of mid-century office buildings in Makati and Ermita—serrate the street façade, shielding the curtain glass windows from direct sunlight. The frontal cubical volume of the glass-curtained motif, the dividing travertine-clad wall, and wood-clad rear “cube” of the house is seemingly adapted from Gropius. The curtained fenestration at the ground floor pays homage to Le Corbusier, while the gracefulness of the cantilevered main staircase and use of white interior finishes intone van der Rohe.

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 4](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-4.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 4 - BluPrint")Nazareno’s firm was responsible for most of the furniture choices and interior decor, resulting in harmonious spaces where the pieces accentuate and complement the interior architecture. A Cobonpue sofa set anchors the living area; artwork by famous local artists like Daniel dela Cruz and Arturo Luz speak of the owner’s sensibility.All of this is firmly coordinated under a tropical approach to design that harmonizes the international motifs into a breathable and livable home environment. The handling of volume and finish ensures that the house embraces the lives of its users in a warm and sensitive Filipino manner, rather than dictate how people should behave in it. Bamboo trees, softly rounded bushes and tall corner trees in the garden side contribute to this softening, and are an excellent foil for the rigid shapes of the façade.

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 6](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-6.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 6 - BluPrint")The den/guest room area’s muted tones complement the bold colors of the room’s statement pieces; Selma’s *Hanako* coffee table and Cobonpue’s *Bloom* chair.

The vertical aluminum fins allow a lighting transition from full glare in the garden and lanai, to deflected sunlight in the living room, stairwell, and the second storey balcony connecting to the four upstairs bedrooms. This transition from roadside pavement to shrubbery, lanai, living room and balcony also introduces a distinctly Filipino approach to space: the interconnection of outer, median, and inner spaces of the house to each other. The public and private spaces merge, giving the living space a larger footprint that goes beyond the walls of the house.

![bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bluprint-architecture-anthony-nazareno-high-modernist-ribbed-cube-house-image-5.jpg "bluprint architecture anthony nazareno high modernist ribbed cube house image 5 - BluPrint")For the furniture selection, Nazareno’s team took cues from the signature art piece in the room. Here, an Arturo Luz painting inspires the choice of dining chairs and Vito Selma’s *Geo* dining table with its rhythmic angles.Completed in 2013, the Ribbed Cube is Nazareno’s definitive rehabilitation of the High Modernist use of abstract geometric motifs—the use of straight, vertical lines and cubical spaces. An interesting frame is created, around which he drapes the owner’s needs for understated comfort and luxury. Because of this, the Ribbed Cube is one house that a family won’t feel boxed in.

![BP PumarenHouse elev](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/BP_PumarenHouse_elev.jpg "BP PumarenHouse elev - BluPrint")There was a delay in the installation of the louvers when the house was finished, so for a time, the glass front and interiors were visible to passersby. A marked difference in room temperature, intensity of light and of course, privacy, were immediate upon installation of the louvers. There are plans to extend the louver treatment to the rear section of the house, an opportunity to capitalize on the house’s prominent location by granting it differing facades on all four sides.![PumarenHouse4 plans](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/PumarenHouse4_plans.jpg "PumarenHouse4 plans - BluPrint")**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 3 2014. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Anthony Nazareno, Architecture, High Modernism, Modernism, Nazareno+Guerrero Design Consultancy, Pumaren house, Residential

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### [CSO Architects Amara house offers panoramic view of Magellan Bay](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/amara-cso-architects/)

**Published:** March 2, 2018
**Author:** Angel Yulo

**Excerpt:** A contemporary seaside residence anchors Charisse Osmeña's first major project back home in the Philippines 

**Content:**

Late in 2013, Charisse Osmeña completed her first residential project in Liloan since she returned from her stay with Singapore-based firm SCDA. Plans for the seaside residence began in 2011, preceding the establishment of her firm CSO Architects. With no staff or office yet, she drew everything on her own at home, balancing this with the new responsibilities of motherhood.

The 440-square-meter lot lies by a sloping road leading to a cul-de-sac. Located on the east of Cebu, the subdivision’s street layout hugs a projecting portion of the coastline, offering the lots a panoramic view of Magellan Bay to the south.

![Stone slabs make up the pathway leading to the main entrance. The wraparound patio with roomier areas at the front (facing southeast) and back of the house help protect the ground floor spaces from the sun.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-garden.jpg "CSO amara garden - BluPrint")Stone slabs make up the pathway leading to the main entrance. There is also access to the doorstep from the garage. The wraparound patio, with sizable areas at the front (facing southeast) and back of the house for congregation, help protect the ground floor spaces from the sun. The slender roof gets additional insulation via air vents lining the perimeter of its underside.![The ground floor (which includes the living room, dining room, and kitchen) follows an open plan and allows the air to flow from operable doors and windows located on all sides.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-dining.jpg "CSO amara dining - BluPrint")The ground floor (which includes the living area, dining area, and kitchen) follows an open plan and allows the air to flow from operable doors and windows located on all sides.Osmeña recounts how the client, presented the tabula rasa site to her and was later made aware that two other architects were also vying for the project: “She honestly told me that she wanted the other two because of their experience…but I was the only one that was able to give her the plan that she wanted.”

**READ MORE: [The Pig and Palm: Neri&Hu’s temple for tapas in Cebu](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/pig-and-palm-nerihu/)**

![CSO amara ground](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-ground.jpg "CSO amara ground - BluPrint")Left: The kitchen | Right: A view of the dining area and living area from the kitchen![CSO amara familyliving](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-familyliving.jpg "CSO amara familyliving - BluPrint")The second floor family area. The back wall and front wall (not seen in photo) are studded with operable windows to allow cross-ventilation. The sliding door on the left leads from the stairwell and allows the family to retain privacy when guests are making their way to the roof deck.The client loved the open plan and outdoor spaces maximizing the sea view. With the coast facing the south, the wraparound patio and roof deck are oriented towards a horizon without the direct view and glare of the sun. The color palette revolves around neutral colors and dark wood, only straying in the bold red kitchen.

Operable doors and windows enclosing the open-planned common areas on the ground and second floors allow the house to benefit from the sea and land breezes, as well as provide cross-ventilation. Another gathering space is located on the roof deck, which has a small bar, a roofed lounge, and a balcony facing the sea. The lounge is surrounded by a series of shuttered louvers, which can be swung in either direction to catch the breeze wherever it is coming from.

**READ MORE: [God, Man, Nature: Amara Chapel by Buensalido+Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/amara-chapel-buensalidoarchitects/)**

![CSO amara bath 1](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-bath-1.jpg "CSO amara bath 1 - BluPrint")The master bath makes use of an air well (screened with a potted plant) for ventilation.Amara, the name of the village, is derived from the Spanish word for the mooring rope used to anchor ships at port. And taking cue from the etymology of such name, many houses there are Spanish-esque and Mediterranean villas. The black and white composition stands out with its inward sloping gables, overhangs, and slim details. Louvered clerestory windows let natural light in during the day and highlight the butterfly-shaped roof even more when light from inside spills out in the evening. The house embodies a boldness that is not heavy-handed.

![CSO amara roofdeck 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-roofdeck-2.jpg "CSO amara roofdeck 2 - BluPrint")The roof deckOsmeña retains the tropical modern materiality and nuances she was exposed to in her previous job, and adjusts it to specific requests Filipinos make. And Amara provided the ideal opportunity to anchor her first major project on the shores of the Philippines and discover what was to be the beginning of her own design approach and [CSO Architects](https://www.instagram.com/charisse_osmena/). ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

![CSO amara night](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-night.jpg "CSO amara night - BluPrint")A view of the Amara house in the evening. The clerestory windows take on the role of uplights for the roof. | Photo courtesy of CSO Architects![CSO amara cross section a](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-cross-section-a.jpg "CSO amara cross section a - BluPrint")

![CSO amara plans](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CSO-amara-plans.jpg "CSO amara plans - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Amara, Balcony, Bay, Cebu, Charisse Osmeña, Coast, CSO Architects, Liloan, Louvers, Residential, Roof deck, SCDA, Seaside, Singapore

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### [Tropical resort vibe in the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/mactan-cebu-international-airport-terminal-2/)

**Published:** March 12, 2018
**Author:** Reuben Cañete

**Excerpt:** The new Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, scheduled to open mid-2018, evokes a tropical resort vibe and highlights Cebu’s strong craftsmanship.

**Content:**

As a natural-born Cebuano who has had to travel back and forth to Manila over the past forty years, it has always been an anticipate pleasure to enter the [Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/mactan-cebu-international-airport/). My earliest memories there were of seeing my father off in those old DC-8s that he flew for the Philippine Airlines in the early seventies.

Later, when I began traveling myself, the old terminal’s large saltwater aquariums with their colorful tropical fishes and anemones never failed to give me a pleasurable last glance and reminder of the festive atmosphere of the country’s largest beach tourism hub. Since the nineties, the MCIA has prided itself on having a modern and efficient terminal with a roof profile harking back to the colonial architecture of Cebu’s Old World *conquistadores*.

![bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport terminal 2 image 2](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-mactan-cebu-international-airport-terminal-2-image-2.jpg "bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport terminal 2 image 2 - BluPrint")The continuous waves of the roof create a sense of natural energy and dynamism like that of our tropical seas.Designed for an annual capacity of 4.5 million passengers, the MCIA has been bursting at the seams with 7 million yearly arrivals since 2013. It is only logical that a new terminal—and hopefully, a second runway—be constructed, one that would represent in a more contemporary way Cebu’s tropical resort economy and the rich tradition of craftsmanship.

Enter the GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), which won in 2014 the 25-year concession to develop and manage a second terminal in the MCIA under the government’s build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme. Once completed, the new Terminal 2 will cater to international flights while the old terminal will be retrofitted to cater to domestic ones.

Hong Kong-based design firm Integrated Design Associates Ltd. (IDA) and airport planning consultant Ove Arup and Partners collaborated with local architect-of-record Albert Yu of Asya Design and three other Filipino design experts, interior designer [Budji Layug](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/budji-royal-tropical-design/), architect [Royal Pineda](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/viewing-the-alchemy-of-growth-with-royal-pineda/), and Cebuano furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue. [The MCIA Terminal 2 will rise](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/mactan-cebu-international-airport-terminal-2/) on a 5-hectare lot south of the existing terminal and control tower, in what was part of the apron of the old US airbase that stood there until 1971. (Part of this base is still operated by the Philippine Air Force, which uses Mactan as its largest air base outside Manila).

Projected to accommodate 4 million international passengers annually upon opening in 2018, Terminal 2 can be expanded to accommodate the 8 million international travelers expected in the next ten years. The proposed terminal’s modular design and linear configuration make this possible.

![bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport terminal 2 image 002](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-mactan-cebu-international-airport-terminal-2-image-002.jpg "bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport terminal 2 image 002 - BluPrint")(Top) The soaring parabolic arches and floating glulam beams at the check-in area on the second level evoke rich history of local expertise in boat building, woodworking, and rattan weaving. (Bottom) The interior view of the duty-free area at the departure level. The use of floating glulam rafters evokes memories of coconut leaf fronds swaying in the beaches.Terminal 2’s curvaceous roof, supported by large Y-shaped pillars, has been likened to an inverted local boat’s hull, the waves of the sea, and perhaps more potently, the woven baskets and *banig* that Cebu has produced for centuries. Ten of these wave-shaped roofs, whose bottom pitch or soffit curves about six meters above ground, will form parallel lines running the length of Terminal 2. The billowing height evokes an atmosphere of “lightness” and “airiness” that will greet travelers as they disembark and approach the departure area. The gable curtain walls allow impressive lookouts over aircraft parked on the apron, and relaxing views of the tropical landscaped amenity outside, which will be planted next to the building’s vehicular access side.

The departure area on the upper floor is housed under the central arched roofs and can be accessed from the main road via a vehicular ramp. These are the tallest of the terminal’s curved roofs, reaching up 15 meters by 30 meters wide, and spanning up to 210 meters from curbside to the farthest gate. All of the roof’s ridges have skylights allowing natural light to filter diagonally across the expansive space. Check-in counters, kiosks, and in-line baggage conveyors span the sides of the departure hallway, giving a sense of horizontal linearity and directionality familiar to frequent air travelers.

The most distinctive local design intervention can be found in the ceilings of the departure area. Here, a system of free-standing Y-shaped parabolic pillars (reminiscent of mid-19th century iron-and-glass “palaces of industry” in Paris and London), x-braced rafters, and parallel “floating” braced beams, all made of glulam (glued laminated timber) will dominate sightlines and perspectives. The ceiling composition is the closest visual metaphor for the surrounding islands’ rich legacy of craftsmanship in wood and rattan. The glulam’s warm colors, ranging from blonde ash to coffee-brown mahogany, offset the cold efficiency of the terminal and give it a rustic flair that could only be bested if wall-sized aquaria, reminiscent of those in the old terminal, would be introduced to showcase the country’s rich marine biodiversity.

![bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport image 003](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-mactan-cebu-international-airport-image-003.jpg "bluprint architecture mactan cebu international airport image 003 - BluPrint")(Top) The narrower profile of the east pier’s departure lobby gives ample visual contrast between the parked aircrafts on one side and the tropical trees on the other. The contrast between the warm rafters and the cold glazed curtain walls also provides a contemporary mix of modern and local flavor. (Bottom) The curbside view of the East Pier of Terminal 2, before it connects to the old Terminal 1. The substantial garden at its forecourt is designed to evoke the green lushness travelers expect to see more of in this tropical resort island. It also offers passengers the chance to decompress after being cramped in an antiseptic airplane cabin for hours on end.A deep forecourt spanning the entire curbside length is designed to give greeters and well-wishers ample space to meet or send off their traveling loved ones. Baggage security checkpoints are placed in line with check-in conveyors to reduce queues of passengers entering the terminal. Restaurants, duty-free shops, and passenger amenities at the departure side are lined up along the middle part of the long central aisle, which also feeds to the parallel gates north and south of this main axis.

On the arrivals side, a tall but flat-ceilinged pillared hall, with a view of the landscaped amenity outside, will greet passengers waiting for their luggage to come out from the conveyor belts. One fervently hopes the roof’s deep canopies, the high-performance curtain walls, and the presumably energy-efficient air conditioning system will suffice to address heat buildup in the notoriously humid and hot local environment. The curtain walls are storm-rated for up to 270-kph winds.

The promised first-class resort gateway cannot be completed soon enough. Hopefully, the still working but increasingly threadbare Terminal 1 will follow the template of [MCIA Terminal 2](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/mcia-terminal-2-open-july-2018/), and be retrofitted with the same design contemporaneity, comfort and convenience—if only to even out the flyer experience between locals and foreigners. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 4 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

---

**DESIGN TEAM**

**Owner:** Republic of the Philippines
**Developer and Operator:** GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation
**Architecture Consultant:** Integrated Design Associates Ltd.
**Airport Planning and Structural Consultant:** Ove Arup and Partners
**Architect-of-record:** Asya Design
**Interior Designer:** Budji + Royal
**Furniture Designer:** Kenneth Cobonpue

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How can I substitute a “cold industrial” airport feel with a “tropical resort” texture?

To move away from sterile environments, substitute standard metal and concrete ceilings with glued laminated timber (glulam) beams. These floating rafters, designed by the team including Budji Layug and Royal Pineda, provide warm coffee-brown and blonde ash tones that evoke the feeling of coconut fronds or an inverted boat hull. This “ingredient” replaces cold efficiency with a rustic flair, making the terminal feel like an extension of Cebu’s beach resorts rather than a typical transit hub.

### What is the secret to achieving an “airy and light” atmosphere in a high-traffic terminal?

The secret lies in the soaring parabolic arches and gable curtain walls. By reaching heights of up to 15 meters, the roof creates a billowing space that allows for impressive lookouts over the aircraft apron. The inclusion of skylights along the roof ridges is a key “technique,” allowing natural light to filter diagonally across the check-in area, which reduces the feeling of being in an enclosed, cramped space.

### What common mistake should I avoid when designing for a notoriously hot and humid climate?

A frequent mistake is failing to account for solar heat buildup in glass-heavy structures. To fix this, use high-performance, storm-rated curtain walls combined with deep roof canopies that provide shade. These elements are designed to withstand 270-kph winds while ensuring the energy-efficient air conditioning system isn’t overwhelmed by the tropical sun, keeping the “arrivals hall” cool and comfortable for passengers.

### How should I “store” and organize passenger flow to prevent bottlenecks during peak hours?

“Store” your operational logic in a modular and linear configuration. By placing baggage security checkpoints in line with check-in conveyors, the design reduces the long queues typically found at terminal entrances. This horizontal linearity provides clear directionality for travelers, while the central aisle neatly feeds into parallel gates, allowing the terminal to eventually expand its capacity from 4 million to 8 million passengers.

### What “ingredients” are necessary to showcase local craftsmanship in a large-scale civic project?

The core ingredients are woven basket metaphors, boat-building geometry, and tropical landscaping. Architect-of-record Albert Yu and furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue integrated Cebu’s legacy of rattan weaving and banig into the curvaceous roof forms. Adding a lushly planted forecourt allows passengers to “decompress” after a flight, ensuring the “first-class resort gateway” flavor is consistent from the moment they step off the plane.

**Categories:** Architecture, Civic

**Tags:** Airport, Architecture, Asya Design, Budji+Royal, Cebu, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, Integrated Design Associates Ltd., International Airport, Kenneth Cobonpue, Mactan, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

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### [This Old Family Home Gets a Cozy and Creative Facelift](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/renovated-family-home-brioarc-studio/)

**Published:** March 16, 2018
**Author:** pat.herbolario

**Content:**

“A lot of people think that our house isn’t finished yet,” laughs homeowner and businessman Smacky on their renovated family home. Located in a subdivision with a lot of traditional looking houses, this renovated home is a complete stand-out from its neighbors. This is the same house he grew up in, so preserving it was a must.
It was only natural for Smacky to contact his cousin Pierre of [Brioarc. Studio](https://brioarc.com/), one of the lastest architecture studios around. Architect couple Pierre Nicole Briones and Dianne Santiago-Briones, Piere’s twin brother is the contractor and Smacky is the stylist. “It’s a family affair!” laughs Smacky. While most renovation happens in one go, this renovated family home was a gradual process. The renovation happened in phases through the years since 2011. The renovated family home is now it’s almost complete (there’s another extension of the home that is yet to be built). “This is very special because this is my very first project,” shares Pierre.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image.jpg "bluprint-design-heritage-kalinga-village-trix-rosen-1.1 - BluPrint")
“It’s not hard to have an nice house and it can be low-cost,” points out the owner. The renovated house stuck to the basic materials with the intention to showcase the beauty of raw materials. If anything, they splurged on the new woods. The personality of the house comes from the accessories and collectibles of Smacky. The architect also points out that tropical design was at the center of the home. “We installed wide windows for light and cross ventilation, and of course passive cooling,” he adds. 
Upon entry, you can see most of the home with one look. The layout is very fluid and areas are defined even without walls. You are greeted by the living room, a study section, the dining, and the kitchen comes last.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-8.jpg "- BluPrint")
The living room is the best vantage point to see the hints of the old house. Retained is the home’s shell,as seen in the traditional flooring and the skeleton of the gable ceiling the rest is renovated. A Barcelona chair accents the space as a modern touch. Brioarc. Studio added a sliding door to maximize the space.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-10.jpg "- BluPrint")
To let in more light in the space, a door with a glass window was installed. The greens provide a refreshing punch of color to the very brown and neutral space. Architect Pierre shares that they truly adhered to making the home adaptive to the local climate. “We made sure that it’s perfect for the tropical weather, we installed wide windows, cross ventilation, and passive cooling,” he adds. In the living room’s gable ceiling, you can see the wooden slats let in natural light and fresh air in the home.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-9.jpg "- BluPrint")
The mini-study lounge is accompanied by layers of shelves with the owner’s collectibles. From this view, the old home’s details are evident: the curved arches, the mini posters, and the marble flooring were all retained from the old 1970s structure.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-7.jpg "- BluPrint")
While it might have been more pressure to work with family, the architect and client got along really well. When asked about the design process on working on this renovated family home, the client and architect share that it went smooth sailing and it didn’t even feel like work. “Everyone was on the same design page,” shares the architect. The owner has a huge inclination to design and home decorating and his only brief was to “make the space stand out” from the other houses.
The dining area is a showcase of the owner’s entertaining hauls.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-6.jpg "- BluPrint")
In the kitchen, they added a clerestory window on the top most of the kitchen wall to let more light in the space. An island was formed by placing a steel kitchen table in the center, this is where most of the preparation for the food happens. On more casual days, it can also be a casual space for dining. The green backsplash complements the greenery outside that can be seen through the windows.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-5.jpg "- BluPrint")
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-4.jpg "- BluPrint")
The main house has Smacky’s bedroom. The floral chair adds a punch of personality to the mid-century space. His media console also extends from the floor to the ceiling, it was a custom shelving.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-3.jpg "- BluPrint")
The house has one bathroom has a his-and-her bathroom sink, it also has two doors. The toilet and bath are positioned back-to-back to each other. Opposite is Smacky’s massive collection of shoes organized in stackable plastic containers from Japan.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-2.jpg "See a Kalinga Village evolve through the lens of a photojournalist - BluPrint")
Outside is a perfect setting for summer parties, be it a brunch get together with family or an intimate dinner with friends. Across the home is the renovated family home’s extension space made from scratch.
![renovated family home, brioarc. studio, interior design philippines, myhome magazine,](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-image-1.jpg "- BluPrint")

**Categories:** Interiors, Spaces

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### [T3 Architects' 'office' in a garden in Ho Chi Minh City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/t3-architects-vietnam/)

**Published:** March 19, 2018
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Content:**

T3 Architects co-founder Charles Gallavardin began his work in Vietnam with an NGO from 2003 to 2005. This NGO, Villes en Transition, dealt with urban poverty reduction in many slum areas in Saigon, Central Vietnam and Mekong Delta areas.

Villes en Transition did many studies on social and low-cost housing in the area, which led to a pilot project that generated buzz: Tan Hoa Lo Gom low cost housing in District 6, Saigon.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-2 - BluPrint")Family Garden, where the Vietnam office of T3 Architects is, has a lot of common areas and facilities shared amongst the other five design studios and practices within the complex, which encourages design collaborations.Gallavardin then settled in France with his wife (an architect as well). There they set up T3 Architecture Company in Marseille with two friends, focusing on green and sustainable architecture, and adaptive reuse projects. Two of his colleagues continue to work for T3 Architecture in Marseille today. Meanwhile, the Gallavardin couple returned to Vietnam in 2011 as employees in renowned architecture studios.

After some unsatisfactory experiences with their employers and projects, they decided to open T3 Architecture in Ho Chi Minh City, keeping the relationship with their first office in France.

## Beginnings

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam.jpg "bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam - BluPrint")T3 Architects General Director and Co-Founder Charles Gallavardin in Belgo Brewery, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

**You said you first worked on low-cost housing. What made you interested to work on these projects?**

I still think like many young people do when they start out. You want to help save the world. And because I’m an architect, I said, “Okay, let’s go make low-cost housing for poor people and work in social fields.” But then I was disappointed by the way politicians take back your ideas and freedom.

And then, I figured there are other ways to ‘save the world’ beyond the public sector, which lead us to private commissions. Having good values, strong ethical standards and consciously avoiding work with people with dirty money can go a long way. It’s important as well to create projects that won’t damage the environment and one that functions well for its users.

**When you started the Vietnam office of T3 Architects, how many were you then?**

Only two: me and my wife, Tereza. She’s a Czech architect.

**Was your office here (Family Garden) already?**

No. We were working at home, in a small room. We collaborated with a Vietnamese friend, Mr. Thang Hoang Le Manh, who is our partner as well. He spent eight years in France to study and work, and he came back to Vietnam the same time as us. So very quickly we started to collaborate. We started with three partners, T3. And we are still three main partners.

**When did you move to this new office? How is it better from the last one?**

We initially moved to another office also in this area, when we were 5 people. And then we moved to Family Garden roughly two years ago.

Our space here is 40-50 sqm plus we have many outdoor areas and green spaces we can use for both meetings and relaxation. That’s the main concept of this place. We have a lot of common areas and facilities shared amongst the other five design studios and practices within the complex too. It opens us up to design collaborations.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-02.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-02 - BluPrint")The firm’s design philosophy is clearly reflected on their office in Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnamese contemporary, using local materials and natural materials as much as possible.**How many people are in your office currently?**

We are currently ten in Vietnam. And we also have an office since a year ago in Phnom Penh in Cambodia with two employees, 1 French architect, and 1 Khmer architect who graduated in Moscow.

**How does your office reflect your studio’s personality?**

I would say Vietnamese contemporary, using local materials, using natural materials as much as possible. So it’s also good for us. And now we really want to focus again fully in sustainable architecture.

We really want to focus on sustainable architecture, even though at the start, some of our clients didn’t seem to care because we believe in it and the benefits it brings to both man and environment. But now, thanks to Vietnamese studios that champion green architecture like VTN, people are starting to change their minds about sustainable contemporary architecture.

## Office Practice

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-01.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-01 - BluPrint")Gallavardin says that they try to keep the number of employees to a limited number in order give every one a chance to get involved in all the projects they handle.**What’s it like in your office in a normal day?**

We start at around 9:00 in the morning and we finish around 6:30-7:00 in the evening. And only 5 days a week, Monday to Friday. We don’t work on weekends. The main idea is for our team members to have free time to enjoy life outside of work: to go to exhibitions, concerts, enjoy other things and maybe derive ideas and concepts that will jog their creativity. This is important to us. The goal is to get everyone to have work-life balance. I know a lot of studios and architects that work almost all the time until the weekends. That’s not our thing.

**I see, so is it normal in Vietnam for architecture studios to work on the weekends?**

Quite often, on Saturday mornings. Before, it was whole Saturdays. More often, we stop on a Friday evening. Of course, like many other architecture studios sometimes we work extra hours, especially our main partners. The partners work a minimum of 10 hours a day. For employees, 8 hours a day.

**How many design projects do you handle currently? And on average, how many design projects do you handle in a year?**

I would say, a minimum of 10. Now we have 5 projects in design and construction in Cambodia. In Vietnam, we also have 6 projects in the design process phase. From low-scale to big-scale, from interiors to landscape design.

## Design Process

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-001.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-001 - BluPrint")“The goal is to get everyone to have work-life balance. I know a lot of studios and architects that work almost all the time until the weekends. That’s not our thing,” Gallavardin says.

**Briefly discuss, from start to finish, how you deal with a certain design project.**

The first very important step for us is the design brief. It means we spend 2-3 weeks to clarify the program of the client: what kind of project they want (hotel, restaurant or office); is it a new building or a renovation; the budget they have per square meter (we don’t care too much about the full budget, but having an idea of the budget per sqm helps us get an idea about the materials we can use, the contractor and the supplier we can collaborate with). We then craft a construction schedule to get a realistic timeline of the project. And then we try to clarify the design tender, and the style they want and what we can offer them. We go for projects that promote sustainability, contemporary, with respect for local context.

As soon as the design brief is validated, we ask the client to sign it. And then we don’t come back to it, so they cannot do a U-turn on the agreed upon idea, well, except for a few minor things. We ask them to sign. It means they have to confirm by writing the program is like this, especially with a local investor.

Then we go for concept design. First we concentrate on the layout and once we have fleshed out the needs and requirements and plotted it down to a plan we start to create the 3D models. And then we draw technical parts of the design: basic design, all sections and elevation layouts, and we define more all the materials.

We then proceed to the detailed design tender. We usually work like in Europe: we propose to the client to organize a tender to compare the prices of different contractors, helping him make savings during the tender process. So architecture does not only incur costs, but it is also possible to save money.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-5 - BluPrint")“We go for projects that promote sustainability, contemporary, with respect for local context,” Gallavardin emphasizes their firm’s design philosophy.Then we work on details for construction. So when the contractor is selected, we work with him to finalize a few details to make sure everything is clear. Then there’s one or two site visits a week, minimum. If it’s in Saigon, we propose to make a construction visit everyday on site. We take care of the technical part, coordination of the suppliers and contractor, everything.

During that time, we collaborate with the MEP designer, fixture designer, landscape designer, and lighting designer. We have a partnership with a few friends in other companies, and most of the time we work with them, but we always give the choice to the client. We’re independent.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-firm-function-t3-architects-vietnam-image-4 - BluPrint")“We involve all the employees in decision-making. We call it a “cooperative” in Europe where every employee gives his/her own opinion. We share our opinions together and take into consideration their opinions. We also share the benefits of the company. So if the company is doing well, the employees get bonuses,” Gallavardin explains their studio’s horizontal hierarchy.**So do you prefer to have only about 10 people or below 20 people in your firm? Would you like to maintain having a small workforce?**

We’d like to get 3 offices running at least. With around 12 employees in Vietnam; in the future, about 10 employees in Cambodia; and then set up a new office in Europe, maybe another outpost in France or Portugal, we don’t know where yet.

I think we have the right number of employees for small and medium scale projects. We partners want to get involved as much as possible with all the designs and we don’t want to sacrifice quality. That’s why we don’t want to get involved in huge shopping malls or huge residential programs. First because we’re not huge to begin with. It’s not the right way to develop T3. We don’t like projects involving too much air-conditioning. As much as possible we uphold the use of natural ventilation in the projects we take.

## Office Hierarchy

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-003.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-003 - BluPrint")T3’s office is separated from the other design studios by wood panels. Huge glass panels front and back serve as windows, giving the team a calming view of the pond in the middle of the complex and lush greenery at the back.

**How is the studio structured?**

We have quite a horizontal structure: In the management committee we have 4 partners, 3 designers (2 Western, 1 Vietnamese who can speak the language and knows the country and its people) with 1 strategic partner to help us develop the company; he’s not an architect so we have a non-designer POV.

We involve all the employees in decision-making. We call it a “cooperative” in Europe where every employee gives his/her own opinion. We share our opinions together and take into consideration their opinions. We also share the benefits of the company. So if the company is doing well, the employees get bonuses.

**So we can say that the studio is structured horizontally without extremely strict hierarchies?**

Yes. That’s why we need the employees to be autonomous. Ones that we can trust 100%.

## Design Approach

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-005.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-005 - BluPrint")The design studio is open and informal, discarding the usual office setting which incorporates cubicles and desks with drawers. In T3’s office, desks are shared by the employees, with only the desktop computers serving as “divisions” and open-shelving on the walls.**How would you describe your design approach in every project?**

We focus on 4 fundamentals (in no particular order):

**Harmony** – We design bioclimatic architecture; people should feel good in the places they work and play. We aim for harmony with the environment. We design for and with the environment, not against it. We also aim for the harmony between the building and its user.

**Creativity** – Every project challenges us to be more creative to craft effective design solutions. We respect specialization of skills and often collaborate with artists and designers from various fields and genres.

**Know-how** – We want to promote collaboration with people who specialize in one thing. We try to extend our networks to always work with the best in the field.

**Wellness** – To create buildings that are safe and comfortable for people. We try to use natural materials as much as possible, and allow as much natural light in to make the people more comfortable, and so on.

**As someone who’s worked in Vietnam for a while, can you pinpoint certain trends and issues prevalent in local Vietnamese contemporary architecture right now?**

During the ‘60s to ‘70s, we have many nice buildings in South Vietnam, with double-skin facade, ventilation bricks, cement blocks, double roof, etc that clearly were built to adapt to the tropical climate. However, from the ‘80s until recently, the Vietnamese seemed to have forgetten their identity and started copying Western architecture they saw in magazines. They have lost their identity and did poor architecture that doesn’t adapt to the climate and way of living. There is some admirable progress however. Since 5 years ago, they started being proud of their identity and are now designing and crafting inventive, functional architecture that make use of a lot of local materials, and are more climatically-responsive and effective.

## Materials

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-002.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-002 - BluPrint")The offices in Family Garden are made with natural and sustainable materials, mostly of wood. Instead of full wood panels, however, they used wood in smaller proportions and installed them with equal spacing from each other, enough to let light and air pass through.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-006.jpg "bluprint-firm-and-function-t3-architects-vietnam-006 - BluPrint")Plants, of course, are ever-present. Pictured here is the concrete walkway wrapped by a small tunnel-like structure of latticed wood strips.

**What is your favorite material to work with?**

We make use of local materials and local techniques as much as possible. Then if we have more choices, we prefer using low-carbon footprint materials. So instead of bricks which are more energy consuming, we use light concrete blocks, industrial blocks that are more efficient in terms of insulation and less polluting. We also use earthen, uncooked bricks sometimes if the project allows it, ventilation bricks, cement tiles and even water palm leaves for roofing.

I think wood is the best material for low carbon footprint. The problem however in Vietnam with wood is those that are good for construction are cut already or are used for luxury furniture. You also don’t know how the forest is managed and taken care of. So we usually had to import wood from foreign countries, mainly from New Zealand, where wood is properly treated and well-dried.

**How do you convince your clients to go for environmentally-responsible projects, despite it being relatively costly?**

It’s mainly a question of design, not of cost. We use exactly the same materials, and we ensure it doesn’t cost more. You can create environmentally-responsible projects with the same materials and derive green benefits if the architecture is designed well. We also go for cheap, local, and low-tech solutions, that are both sustainable and tied to context so the application and maintenance won’t be an issue to the inhabitants of our projects. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

***More of T3 Architects’ portfolio at [t3architects.com](https://t3architects.com/).***

**Categories:** Architecture, Industrial, Interiors, Office, Offices, Residential, Spaces

**Tags:** Architecture, Bioclimatic Architecture, Charles Gallavardin, France, French Architecture, Sustainable Architecture, T3 Architects, Vietnam, Vietnamese Architecture

---

### [Charles Jencks critiques big architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/charles-jencks-big-architecture/)

**Published:** March 20, 2018
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** The architecture historian classifies iconic projects into Monothematitis, Generic Individualism, and Poetry

**Content:**

“Astonish me, excite me, show me something I haven’t seen before! And make it cheap, efficient, functional, and green!” is how architecture historian and critic Charles Jencks parodies modern developers. Impossible briefs like these result in trophy buildings or stillborn icons, Jencks calls them. Icons make authentic statements.

Trophy buildings are failed icons because “they don’t take risks” and are but “frozen gestures.” We’re seeing more and more trophy buildings not only because we are living in the Age of Iconic Buildings, but also because we are living in the Age of Bigness. With 3.5 billion people in the world living in cities today, and that number expected to double by 2050, buildings are getting incredibly bigger and taller.

The problem with bigness, Charles Jencks says (taking a page from Rem Koolhaas), is “it breaks with scale, with architectural composition, with tradition, with transparency, and with ethics.” According to Jencks’ Law of Diminishing Architecture, the bigger a building is beyond half a million square feet (about 50,000 square meters), the worse it gets. If the result isn’t stillborn, the big building is afflicted with Monothematitis.

There are exceptions to Jencks’ Law—not all big buildings will offend or bore us to death. But the developer must pour so much, much more money into the building for it to “become individualized, varied, plural, mixed, related to ethnic identity, ornamented, enigmatic, evocative, full of feeling and green elements.” Still, many of our modern big buildings today fall short. They are “big in scale, repetitive, anonymous, abstract and stereotyped, following the Modernist universalism of mass production.” Jencks calls this style Generic Individualism, a trend that every major global city is headed towards.

**READ MORE: [Lessons on small design from WOHA (and Nick Joaquin)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/maybank-annex-woha/)**

---

Here’s what he had to say about some of today’s iconic projects:

## De Rotterdam Towers by OMA

![Vertical Town in Rotterdam (2013) OMA](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1200px-Rotterdam_rem-koolhass_hochhaus.jpg "1200px-Rotterdam_rem-koolhass_hochhaus - BluPrint")Photo by Von Hps-poll – Eigenes Werk, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Definitely a bad case of Monothematitis, an architectural disease of repetitive stereotypes. “Bigness run amuck!” exclaims Jencks, citing the towers to illustrate Rem Koolhaas’ observation, which he agrees with: “Bigness is no longer part of any urban tissue. It exists. At most, it coexists. Its subtext is, ‘F\*ck context.’”

## Pinnacle@Duxton, by ARC Studio Architecture + Urbanism with RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

![The Pinnacle, Singapore](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/the-pinnacle-2640724_1280.jpg "the-pinnacle-2640724_1280 - BluPrint")The Pinnacle, SingaporeGeneric Individualism. Says Jencks: “You see in the Pinnacle, a kind of deficit. It is generic, but more articulated, and individualized with all sorts of not-quite personalized mixtures. You can see why Lee Kuan Yew said in the 1960s, ‘We cannot afford the luxury of poetry.’ He was saying they needed to focus on economic and social transformation first.”

## Gardens by the Bay by Grant Associates and Wilkinson Eyre

![Gardens by the bay inside](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Gardens-by-the-bay-inside.jpg "Gardens by the bay inside - BluPrint")[The Cloud Forest](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/gardens-by-the-bay-artkitektura/) has over 130,000 plants comprising 400 species and replicates the cool moist climate found in tropical mountain regions. Photo by Ed SimonPoetry. “There is no short formula for making great architecture. It has to be the poetry we can now afford. If you’ve reached generic individuation, you can go the next stage and have personization. Singapore has an incredible, poetic creation, which is on a global level the best of its kind, on which a billion dollars was spent to make poetry. The iconography, even down to the purple and green Super Trees was based on plants endemic to Singapore. It is a meaningful and symbolic ornament, architecture and icon, and it works.”

## NTU Learning Hub by Thomas Heatherwick

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1200px-The_Hive_view_from_Koufu.jpg "1200px-The_Hive_(view_from_Koufu) - BluPrint")Photo by By Lyslee555, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Generic Individualism. Jencks’ comment: “Heatherwick was trying to attain poetry by working with artists in the mass production of the concrete. They produced a thousand different panels using transformable formwork. When you see it, it’s more randomized, though, than personalized. It’s nice to have pink concrete and patterns changed by computer, but it’s still not communicating an overall message. It’s still generic.”

---

When Jencks spoke at the 2015 [World Architecture Festival](https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/) held in Singapore, the city-state was celebrating its 50th anniversary. He acknowledged its enviable success at creating a built environment that has been faithful to the government’s social contract with its citizens—it is the only country that has rapidly urbanized while providing for its people, and even increasing its open, green spaces. “Singapore definitely is the center of this oxymoronic style more than any other city in the world,” he said.

However, given the the social contract Singapore has with its people, which other cities don’t have, Jencks argued that it was time for Singapore to take the next step. That next step is poetry. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 2 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**READ MORE: [Missed Singapore Design Week 2018? Here are 4 more design events you can attend](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/events-singapore-design-week-2018/)**

**Categories:** Architecture, Industrial

**Tags:** ARC Studio Architecture + Urbanism, Charles Jencks, critique, Gardens by the Bay, Grant Associates, Icon, Iconism, OMA, Poetry, Rem Koolhaas, RSP Architects Planners &amp; Engineers, Singapore, Thomas Heatherwick, Wilkinson Eyre, World Architecture Festival

---

### [BAAD Studio designs a house that really, really breathes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/baad-studio-r-house/)

**Published:** March 20, 2018
**Author:** Miguel R. Llona

**Excerpt:** The use of simple passive cooling techniques altogether inhibits heat gain in the R House

**Content:**

When BAAD Studio principal Benjee Mendoza first visited the two-storey [R House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/r-house-a-designer-dream-home-blends-artistry-and-intimacy/) he was hired to renovate, he was surprised by its good ventilation. Wind passed freely through despite the small window openings, so heat didn’t build up in any of the interior spaces. The house was cool even during the summer months, and the family seldom used air-conditioning. The original structure was built in 1994 inside a private family compound. “Our redesign of the house had to both sustain and improve the way they lived, not change it,” says Mendoza.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-side.jpg "BAAD-R-House-side - BluPrint")The north entrance of the house. Three-meter eaves shade the doors and windows of the ground floor, protecting it from sunlight and rain. Re-purposed tanguile from the old house was used for the eaves. By studying the sun path using a 3D model, the BAAD team angled the eaves to protect the house from the 3 o’clock sun. The client originally had the eaves cut down to two meters to save on costs, but they had to bring it back to three after water entered the living area when it rained.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-before.jpg "BAAD-R-House-before - BluPrint")The original structure was built in 1994. The facade of the old house was completely overhauled by the BAAD team, and several partitions inside were brought down in order to maximize space and air flow. There were no clerestory windows for hot air to escape from, but the interiors were cool nonetheless due to trees that surround and shade the house.This proved to be a challenge, as the brief necessitated a major renovation. The client’s three children were growing up, and each wanted their own bedroom after sharing one in the old house. The creation of three new rooms on the second floor meant expanding the house footprint and roof area, and changing the floor layouts. Mendoza saw this as an opportunity to further improve passive cooling and cross-ventilation in the house.

Many architects just don’t get passive cooling. They bandy the term about while touring us through residential projects, but the warm, sweat-inducing interiors prove they don’t know what they’re talking about. Simply put, passive cooling is minimizing a building’s heat gain and maximizing its heat dissipation with little to no use of electricity.

First and foremost, keep unwanted heat out, then, provide openings for cool air to come in and outlets for hot air to continually escape the building. But because of ignorance, and sometimes, pure laziness, some architects are content to let air-conditioning do the job of cooling interiors. Some claim it is the client’s fault for requesting design features that interfere with passive cooling. Whatever the reason, because we live in the tropics, it is the architect’s responsibility to create climate-sensitive design to inhibit discomfort for users of the house, help the client save on electrical costs, and reduce the carbon emissions of the household.

**READ MORE: [Genius Loci: Hacienda Community House by Jorge Yulo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/hacienda-community-house-jorge-yulo/ "Genius Loci: Hacienda Community House by Jorge Yulo")**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-stairs.jpg "BAAD-R-House-stairs - BluPrint")The house has two entrances, one on the north side and another on the east. When coming in from the east entry, visitors are greeted by the staircase leading to the second floor. The BAAD team preserved the original staircase, repainting the risers and re-cladding the treads with wood to match the interior design scheme of the renovated house.![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-lounge.jpg "BAAD-R-House-lounge - BluPrint")A stray column from the old house stands between the dining and entertainment areas. It was painted white to disappear against the white walls and ceiling.During visits to the site before construction, the [BAAD Studio](https://www.facebook.com/baadstudio/) team identified the factors that contribute to the house’s good ventilation. The site conditions are favorable—large, shady trees inside the compound and ample setback from other houses, allowing air to travel unimpeded. The house and its windows are oriented to catch the southwest wind. The trees on the south side of the lot shade the house during the afternoon, and, just as important, they keep the air above the ground cool. If a bare cement area exposed to the sun surrounded the house, the hot surface would heat up the breezes traveling over it.

Following the client’s brief of increasing the number of bedrooms, a 200-square meter extension to the south was added to the original structure, bumping up the total footprint to 420 square meters and splitting the house into north and south wings. The ground floor is dedicated to public spaces such as the living, dining, and kitchen areas while the second floor contains the master bedroom and three children’s rooms. The trees in the south side were kept, where they became part of a small garden.

Because of the expansion of the house’s floor area, copious space on the ground floor was created. The BAAD team preserved this spaciousness by doing away with partitions or sliding doors to separate each area. This created a wind corridor for cool air coming in from the garden to blow unimpeded through the dining and entertainment areas in the south wing, and travel up and out the clerestory windows in the double-height living area of the north wing.

The clerestory windows are critical to achieving passive cooling. Without these openings, warm air (which always rises over cooler air) would be trapped and heat would accumulate in the house. Without these openings, the entry of cool air would be reduced, further warming up the interior spaces. It is the vacuum created by air leaving a space that aids in sucking in fresh air. Such air movement is maximized when the openings for air to enter and exit are at the opposite ends of a space.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-plan.jpg "BAAD-R-House-plan - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-pool.jpg "BAAD-R-House-pool - BluPrint")The swimming pool of the neighboring house helps cool the winds coming from the east and north.Maximized air movement results in maximized air exchange, that is, from one end of a space all the way across to the other end, hence the term, cross ventilation. One cannot overstate the importance of intakes for cool air at ground level, exits for warm air at the highest reaches of an interior space, and the absence of obstructions for air to make its way from entrance to exit.

Budgetary constraints were a perpetual concern for the client, so the BAAD team utilized simple architectural elements to mitigate heat gain and catch wind flow. “We would have been happy if we could have used double-glazed or low-e glass, but the cost would have ballooned,” says Mendoza. “But simple measures are enough; we just needed to analyze the house’s orientation and climate well.”

**READ MORE: [BluPrint gathers contemporary Southeast Asian dwellings that work in hot and wet climates](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/ "BluPrint gathers contemporary Southeast Asian dwellings that work in hot and wet climates")**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BAAD-R-House-back.jpg "BAAD-R-House-back - BluPrint")To further mitigate heat gain, louvers on the upper glass windows act as brise soleil. They soften the house’s exterior as well.

This meant controlling heat in the west- and south-facing areas. Double walls were put up on these sides of the ground floor to insulate the house against the afternoon sun. While the second floor didn’t make use of double walls, three-meter eaves keep the interiors shaded during the hottest times of the day.

Large windows on the west- and south-facing areas have proven effective in taking in as much wind as possible. The client insists that opening the windows in the informal dining area, which overlooks the south garden, is more than enough to cool the entire ground floor. The same goes for all the bedrooms on the second floor, as windows positioned across each other allow for cross ventilation. True enough, I frequently felt a light breeze wafting into the ground floor during my visit on a hot Thursday afternoon in April.

Mendoza says connecting the existing structure with the new one was the most challenging part of the construction process. Because of the rearrangement of the layout, several beams and columns had to be removed and shifted around. However, the original structure’s changing grid lines prevented them from moving two columns on the ground floor, because doing so would have removed structural support for the upper level. These stray columns stand in the middle of the dining and entertainment areas.

While the R House was blessed with favorable site conditions, the [BAAD Studio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/benjee-mendoza-and-an-bermejo/) team deserves praise for designing a house that takes full advantage of them. Heat build-up is minimized, the site’s natural breeze is harnessed, and heat is allowed to escape. With an architectural design that’s sensitive to the comfort and lifestyle of its owners, passive cooling is clearly not just a fancy term for this house. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 3 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Design Team**

**Architect** BAAD Studio (Benjee Mendoza, An Bermejo, Angelo Serrano)
**General Contractor** J. Pantangco Builders (Jonash Pantangco, Wesley Pantangco)
**Structural Engineer** Jason Guzman
**Landscape Architect** BAAD Studio

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** An Bermejo, Angelo Serrano, BAAD Studio, Benjee Mendoza, Passive cooling, Philippines, Renovation, Residential, Tropical Architecture

---

### [Sugarlandia Visita Iglesia: 5 Bacolod churches to visit this Holy Week](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/visita-iglesia-bacolod-churches-holy-week/)

**Published:** March 26, 2018
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** The smaller and atypical Bacolod churches and chapels representative of the passionate Negrenses

**Content:**

For one of the more prosperous provinces of the country, which produces more than half of the Philippines’ sugar crop and is famous for its *mardi gras*-like Masskara festival that is celebrated with lots of dancing, eating, and fanfare, one would expect more ebulliently lavish attention to be paid to its churches.

Bacolod churches (as well as those in surrounding cities) cannot compete with the majesty and historical significance of those in Ilocos, the effusive detail and adornment of those in Iloilo, and the gravitas of those in Batangas. Still, there are Roman Catholic houses of worship here that are worth visiting this coming Holy Week. Curiously, it is the smaller churches and out-of the way chapels that are more memorable, and perhaps more representative of the passionate Negrense people.

## 1 Church of the Angry Christ

In the Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker, located at the heart of the [Victorias Milling Company (VMC)](https://www.victoriasmilling.com/) in Negros Occidental, a gigantic painting of Jesus Christ glares down at the nave. The imposing figure is part of a mural painted on the wall behind the altar, all rendered in psychedelic colors. Because of this, the church has come to be better known as the [Church of the Angry Christ](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/behind-the-anger-the-mid-century-modern-church-of-the-angry-christ/).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-2 - BluPrint")Contrary to its name, the Church of the Angry Christ is situated among peaceful surroundings. The structure is over 50 years old, meaning it is covered by the Heritage Law.Despite the menacing expression and pose of Christ in the mural, the Chapel of St. Joseph the Worker was built to serve as the spiritual center of the VMC’s workers. The church was built after World War II, right after the province was recovering from the war. Three individuals were commissioned for the creation of the church: Czech architect Antonín Raymond for the structure, a Negrense named Alfonso Ossorio for the murals, and Belgian artist Ade Benthume for the mosaics.

**READ MORE: [Venice Biennale “Muhon” Exhibit starts regional tour in Bacolod](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/muhon-regional-tour-bacolod/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-holy-week-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-holy-week-1 - BluPrint")A simple rectangle makes up the church’s floor plan. Raymond’s experience working for Frank Lloyd Wright is evident in the design like the low and horizontal elevations and massing, calling to mind Wright’s prairie houses.The talents of these three resulted in a mid-century [modern church](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/modern-church-design-4-buildings-of-faith-and-worship/) that makes use of tropical and earthquake-proof design. Even the icons and statues are localized with brown skins and Filipino features. This conglomeration of different styles makes for a unique piece of Philippine architecture, one that can be appreciated by architects and tourists alike.

## 2 Chapel of Cartwheels

“When spreading religion and the virtues of theology, one has to explain it in a language that people can understand,” Msgr. Guillermo Gaston says. The Chapel of the Cartwheels is the monsignor’s noble attempt to bring religion—usually enshrined in large, imposing structures made of luxurious materials—closer to the farmers that live around and inside their *hacienda* in Manapla, Negros Occidental.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-3 - BluPrint")The salakot-shaped roof is made of timber. When the chapel was completed, Msgr. Gaston proudly showed it to his father, who chided him: “Who told you to bring an American wigwam here?”Msgr. Gaston starts from the beginning: he tells the story of how rubber cartwheels replaced wooden ones, and how they were left in his father’s storage barns to rot away. In a stroke of inspiration, and spurred by his vast interest in design and architecture, he thought of using the old cartwheels for a humble chapel he long wanted to build inside the *hacienda* grounds. He then enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, architect Jerry Ascalon, for the technical details. The result was a chapel that had a rough-hewn charm, almost as if it was built by the farmers who now arrive there in droves to celebrate mass, as if it was not premeditated or designed by a man of the Church.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-4 - BluPrint")The salakot-shaped roof is made of timber. When the chapel was completed, Msgr. Gaston proudly showed it to his father, who chided him: “Who told you to bring an American wigwam here?”“I made the cartwheel a symbol of the Holy Trinity,” Msgr. Gaston says. “The center of the wheel is God the Father, from whom all things come; the spokes are Jesus Christ, spreading God’s word; and the wheel is the Holy Spirit, responsible for our actions and guiding our way.” The round chapel is supported by 16 pillars, which represent the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council. The roof was inspired by the Filipino *salakot*, a farmer’s best friend in the fields. Every element inside the chapel has meaning—a traditional way of building religious structures, but graciously made more relatable and accessible by the good monsignor.

**READ MORE: [Sculpted illusions at the Basilica Minor of Immaculate Conception in Batangas](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/basilica-immaculate-conception-batangas/)**

## 3 Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish

Traditionally, Philippine cities that serve (or had served) as commercial trading centers have Chinese communities within them. They are often separated from the rest of the community, as centuries of colonial rule deemed them threats to the dominance of the ruling power.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-5 - BluPrint")In 1955, a fire razed a large portion of downtown Bacolod, which destroyed many Chinese business establishments. Then Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. donated a 5,000-square meter lot in Capitol Subdivision for the church. Montelibano also donated lots for the Capitol Shopping Center (where the Chinese re-established their businesses, transforming the place into Bacolod’s version of Chinatown), St. John’s Institute and the Chinese Catholic Center, which are located within the same compound.It was no different in Bacolod, the commercial center of Negros Occidental. When the Communist regime in China drove more Chinese, specifically Catholics, to seek refuge in the Philippines, then bishop of Bacolod Msgr. Manuel Yap worked harder to create harmony between the Chinese and the Filipinos, most of whom still had a colonial-minded bias against the Chinese. Eventually, Msgr. Yap’s efforts paid off as more Chinese and Filipino Catholics worked together in their ministry and Filipinos in general opened their minds, overcame their bias and developed closer ties with the Chinese.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-6 - BluPrint")Natural light from the dome above the altar illuminates the church. The wooden statue of the Queen of Peace was created by Maximo Vicente, who is famous in the country for his carvings of religious iconography.As the number of Chinese missionaries increased, the more the Chinese Catholics became active in religious ministry. This led to the creation of the [Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/bacolod-city-our-lady-queen-of-peace-parish/), which now serves as the center of Chinese Catholic life in the city. Indeed, the parish is aptly named as it stands testament to the harmony and peace that now pervades between those of diverse cultures.

## 4 San Diego Cathedral

Back in the Spanish era, Silay fancied itself the cultural and intellectual hub of the island—“The Paris of Negros.” In fairness, the community, from its wealthiest barons to humble farmers, gave generously to make the town center—in particular, the church and the plaza fronting it—worthy of the appellation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-7 - BluPrint")On December 25, 1994, the Bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod declared the San Diego Parish Church a pro-cathedral, making it the second pro-cathedral in the Philippines, after the San Miguel Pro-cathedral in Manila. A pro-cathedral is a parish church that temporarily serves as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.By the late 1800s, the church was even larger than the one standing today, with massive walls of concrete and brick, and is said to have been built with voluntary labor. Construction, however, was interrupted by the Negrense revolution against the Spanish in 1898.

The unfinished structure became an eyesore until the 1920s when Jose Ledesma, Sr., volunteered to pay for the construction of a new church befitting Silay and its stately mansions. Several designs were submitted, the winning one by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi, who also designed the Silay Wharf (sadly destroyed in World War II).

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-8 - BluPrint")Church patron Jose Ledesma’s grandson, Freddie Ledesma, was responsible for the paintings now found at the foot of the dome—the Four Evangelists with their respective beasts.When it was about three-fourths complete, Ledesma conceived of enjoining the parish to pitch in so that people could say they had a hand in building their church. The cooperative effort revived a tradition of giving that remains strong today, as can be seen from the well-maintained cathedral and grounds.

## 5 Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel

In the middle of the affluent Sta. Clara subdivision in Bacolod City sits the Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel, an unassuming structure more likely to be mistaken for someone’s house than a house of worship. The land that the chapel is built on was donated by Antonio Gaston of Silay, the founder of the Barangay Sang Virgen organization.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-9 - BluPrint")Surrounded by open space with no other structures nearby, the Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel’s location is idyllic and serene, ideal for a house of worship.The 30-year old chapel stands in stark contrast to the Spanish era churches in the region, in terms of its architectural style and materials used. Instead of a cruciform layout, a simple square structure with sloping roofs was built, reminiscent of a traditional *bahay na bato*. It can be opened on three sides, only closed off by *capiz* shell sliding doors that give visitors a preview of the indigenous material the chapel has come to be known for.

**READ MORE: [Revisit the stories behind 7 heritage Batangas churches this Holy Week](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/batangas-churches-visita-iglesia/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-visita-iglesia-sugarlandia-image-10 - BluPrint")From the nave, one can immediately appreciate the beauty and detail of the indigenous materials used. The web of wooden trusses in the ceiling provides a dynamic contrast to the symmetry of the floor space, and the subtle marriage of wood and shell imbues the chapel with an indigenous beauty.Locals have taken to calling it the “seashell church,” because of its generous use of polished *capiz* and mother-of-pearl shells collected from the shores of Negros. The Stations of the Cross, the altar, the statues of saints and the 9 x 21-foot mural behind the altar are made from shell mosaics that number in the hundred thousand, all done by a local named Leticia Sia-Ledesma. The use of wood for the trusses and sliding doors combines with the shells to give the Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel a distinct local flavor, making it a unique piece of architecture in the country. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original articles first appeared in BluPrint Vol 1 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Credits**

**Introduction written by Judith Torres**

**1 Written by Miguel R. Llona. Photographed by John Daryl Ocampo of Studio 100.**

**2 Written by Sibyl Layag. Photographed by John Daryl Ocampo of Studio 100.**

**3 Written by Sibyl Layag. Photographed by John Daryl Ocampo of Studio 100.**

**4 Written by Judith Torres. Photographed by Ed Simon of Studio 100.**

**5 Written by Miguel R. Llona. Photographed by John Daryl Ocampo of Studio 100**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, Chapel of Cartwheels, Church, Church of the Angry Christ, Heritage, Holy Week, Negros Occidental, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Religious architecture, Roman Catholic, San Diego Cathedral, Sugarlandia, Virgen Sang Barangay Chapel, Visita Iglesia

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### [Bacolod's Gaston Ancestral House is glorious in reel and real life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/gaston-ancestral-house-bacolod/)

**Published:** March 27, 2018
**Author:** Sibyl Layag

**Excerpt:** A glorious combination of colonial style and French Creole furniture adapted to Philippine climate

**Content:**

Filipino film buffs would recognize this stately manor at first glance: it is one of the main settings in the 1982 Peque Gallaga film *Oro, Plata, Mata* (Gold, Silver, Death), a tale that used setting as a major plot element. The house so enamored Gallaga (who is also a native of Negros) that he re-used it for another film, *Sonata*—a story that also used setting as a vital element in the narrative and in character development. The Jose Gaston residence in Hacienda Sta. Rosalia, as rendered by the award-winning filmmaker, had become a character in itself, inanimate yet very much alive.

![The front facade of the Jose Gaston ancestral house, with a fountain that was also designed by the patriarch.](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-0.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-0 - BluPrint")The front façade of the Jose Gaston ancestral house, with a fountain that was also designed by the patriarch. The two statues of female children riding animals were made in the likeness of two of Msgr. Gaston’s sisters, surrounded by a flourishing garden: “Gardening is my therapy,” Msgr. Gaston says. His mother loved gardening as well. The hacienda has vast sugarcane farms and fishponds, as well as recreational areas such as a swimming pool, playhouse and basketball court. It also houses the main office and workshop of a design company called [Hacienda Crafts](https://www.haciendacrafts.com/), headed by furniture designer Christina Borromeo-Gaston.Monsignor Guillermo Ma. Gaston, who resides in and takes care of Hacienda Sta. Rosalia, is proud to have his home immortalized in the reels, but he also intends for it to retain its glory in real: he and the rest of the surviving Gastons are currently working on having it recognized as a national cultural treasure by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). “We are hoping the process will be done by next year,” Msgr. Gaston says. Once it is bestowed the historical marker, the government will be obliged to protect it and maintain its original condition.

**READ MORE: [Sugarlandia Visita Iglesia: 5 Bacolod churches to visit this Holy Week](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/visita-iglesia-bacolod-churches-holy-week/)**

The Gaston ancestral house is located at the end of a long and winding dirt road in Manapla, about an hour’s drive from Bacolod City. It was built in 1935 by Msgr. Gaston’s father, Jose Gaston—a wealthy, American-educated politician and sugar baron who also owned property in Victorias, namely Hacienda San Jose and Hacienda Lourdes. Jose was also involved in the management of the Silay electric power plant and a bus firm called Visayan Rapid and Negros Transportation Company.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-1 - BluPrint")The foyer gives a taste of the French Creole furniture style kept uniform throughout the house. To make it more suitable for the Filipino climate, the chair bottoms and backrests have solihiya weaving instead of cushions.Jose is also the grandson of Frenchman Yves Leopold Germain Gaston, the pioneer of modern-day, industrial-scale sugar production in the Philippines. Trained in Mauritius and Bourbonne-les-Bains, Yves left Normandy, France to seek his fortunes in the Philippines, and he was commissioned by businessman Domingo Roxas to oversee a sugarcane mill and planting operation in Batangas.

When the venture failed, Yves set up his own mill in Negros; he discovered that the soil there is highly suitable for sugar cultivation, and this spurred the boom in sugar production in the region. Negros Occidental is now known as the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines, producing more than half the country’s sugar output.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-2 - BluPrint")One can observe the uniformity of the furniture style in these living area vignettes. The furniture is well-maintained and is worth quite a lot, but the family does not have any intention of selling them or dividing the pieces among themselves.Jose, his wife Consuelo and their eight children lived a comfortable, quiet life in Manapla. “All of us were born here in this house,” Msgr. Gaston says. “We grew up here, and we really had a good childhood. We had no televisions back then, so we spent time playing Filipino games like *patintero* and *tagu-taguan*. We often went to the beach, which is just a few kilometers from here.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-5.2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-5.2 - BluPrint")Msgr. Gaston displays old sepia photos of the Gaston family members all over the house. This wall bears wedding or couple photos of Jose Gaston’s children and their spouses.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-6 - BluPrint")The large dining table has seen many visitors, mostly members of the Negrense high society (and, nowadays, tourists), and it can comfortably seat 18 people. The display cabinets contain silverware, crystal ware, heirlooms and sentimental keepsakes, such as some of Msgr. Gaston’s gifts to his parents.

But in February 1942, at the outbreak of World War II, Jose decided to move his family to Hacienda San Jose in Victorias. A year later, the family was ambushed by guerrillas, driving them to seek refuge in Silay. Before the Americans arrived in Negros, they moved back to Manapla. His wartime correspondences and official memoranda from public officials, which the family managed to preserve, offered an alternative perspective to the oft-documented resistance movement during the Japanese occupation.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-4 - BluPrint")The front balcony is the most spacious one. It overlooks much of the property, but an even better view can be had at the rooftop.Jose worked closely with his architect, giving very specific instructions as to how he wanted the house to look, while his mother designed most of the furnishings. “Actually, the house was not finished all at once,” Msgr. Gaston says. “My father took his time building this house. He tended to take things slow.” He describes his father as one who went by the adage, “Build it once, build it right.” When asked about the particulars of why his father designed certain parts of the house that way, the monsignor simply said: “There are things we, his children, didn’t ask about anymore; we just enjoyed living.”

**READ MORE: [Fabian Tan modernizes an ancestral residence in KL](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/fabian-tan-eigent-house/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-balay-negrense-bacolod-3 - BluPrint")Msgr. Gaston also inherited his father’s interest in architecture and penchant for the arts, and he also grew up with Leandro Locsin, his childhood friend. One of the bishop’s designs was the unorthodox Chapel of the Cartwheels, a salakot-shaped chapel on the outskirts of the property built out of farming implements he believes to represent important tenets of Catholic belief. “You have to translate all the principles of theology in a language people will understand,” he says.The Gaston ancestral house’s structure and exterior is colonial style, while the interiors are adorned with custom-made French Creole furniture adapted to suit the Filipino tropical climate. Everything, from the condition down to the arrangement of the furniture, silverware and ornamentation, has been kept as close to the original as possible. It has seven spacious balconies and large windows—attempts to bring the outside in, as the patriarch loved the outdoors.

In art as in life, the resilient Jose Gaston residence has seen the rise and fall of the lives of the gentry, and of changing political and economic tides. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original articles first appeared in BluPrint Vol 3 2014. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Bacolod, Cinema, Film, Gaston Heritage House, Heritage, House, Jose Gaston Ancestral House, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Peque Gallaga, Residential

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### [Spanish, Chinese, Muslim, and Filipino motifs in Casa Sanson y Montinola in Iloilo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/casa-sanson-y-montinola-jaro-iloilo/)

**Published:** March 28, 2018
**Author:** Ar. Adrian Tumang

**Excerpt:** The century-old Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro stands as a reminder of the affluent lifestyle of the migrant Ilonggo elite

**Content:**

Reminiscent of the prosperous and aristocratic years of Iloilo, many mansions in Jaro now stand empty, abandoned, and in various states of disrepair. Despite their condition, these grandiose homes remain as material expressions of our communal identity and values that have not significantly changed since colonial times. One such mansion is the Casa Sanson y Montinola.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-1 - BluPrint")The main entrance door leading to the entresuelo. As with most bahay na bato, the entresuelo is raised a meter above ground for protection against floor and termites. Road elevation and paving projects implemented through the years to cope with the rising sea levels, however, have eaten up the first two steps of the entrance stairs.Situated along Lopez Street, the old millionaire’s row, the Casa Sanson y Montinola used to be part of a sprawling estate that extend to the adjacent lot of the Colegio de San José all the way to the Commission Civil Street behind the block where an SM Hypermarket now stands. Standing a block away from the [Lopez Heritage Mansion (Nelly’s Garden)](https://www.facebook.com/nellygardeniloilo/), not too far from the Jaro Cathedral, the old villa is owned by an illustrious family of plantation estate owners or *hacienderos*, the Montinolas, whose descendants’ names grace the wall plaques inside the cathedral, a testament to their status in Ilonggo society.

Their lineage can be traced to Don Juan Montinola, captain of the Spanish Army and a *peninsulares* (born in Spain), who arrived in Jaro in 1781 and became governor of the adjacent province of Antique from 1786-1787. The house was built by his descendant, Don Gregorio Montinola y Lozada who married Doña Matilde Jalandoni y Habana from the prominent Jalandoni family.

The property was passed on to their daughter Matilde Jalandoni Montinola de Sanson and her husband Alfredo Araneta Sanson of the influential Araneta clan. Arranged marriages were prevalent in those days, even more so among the landed elite of Iloilo. These wealthy mestizo families later migrated to the Negros Island across Guimaras Strait intermarrying with other sugar barons and spreading their influence in towns like Silay and Bacolod.

**READ MORE: [Bacolod’s Gaston Ancestral House is glorious in reel and real life](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/gaston-ancestral-house-bacolod/ "Bacolod’s Gaston Ancestral House is glorious in reel and real life")**

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-6 - BluPrint")The wide and stately escalera has traceried guardrails and to wooden seahorse sculptures, probably a reference to the neighboring seahorse-shaped province of Antique, where the Montinola progenitor, Don Juan Montinola, served as governor from 1786-1787.

Upon the death of Alfonso and Matilde, their four sons—Gregorio, George, Federico, and Francisco—split the vast property among themselves. The eldest, Gregorio Sanson and his wife Maria Lourdes “Marilou” Tirol-Sanson, inherited the parcel where the ancestral mansion stands. Now 80 years old, Gregorio has left the house to caretakers and visits only on three occasions—Christmas, the fiesta of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, and when he has a business appointment in Jaro. From the sugar industry, his family has since ventured into the tourism industry, managing the Pearl of the Pacific resort in Boracay.

No one knows what year the Casa Sanson y Montinola was built, except that it was built at the turn of the 20th century. Going by Gregorio’s age, the house was probably built in 1912, assuming his parents were 25 years old when he was born in 1937, and his grandparents were likewise 25 years old when his parents were born in 1912. An examination of the house’s architectural composition reveals plenty of colored glass on the windows and transoms, a material that only became popular in the late 19th century.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-2 - BluPrint")The floors of the antesala, sala, and cuartos are made of hardwood planks cut to size. Traceried calados above the doors serve as vents between rooms.The Casa Sanson y Montinola is composed of three parts—the two-storey main house fronting Lopez Street, an apparent extension at the back with a third floor and a roof deck, and a humble and relatively newer two-storey house for the caretakers connected to the main house by a walkway bridge. It has been inaccurately called and marked an “Antillean” House.

Architecture historian Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita believes this to be a misnomer for although the main house has features similar to the traditional Caribbean houses in the Antilles, where the Spanish traded through the Manila Galleon, it also possesses a unique combination of Spanish, Chinese, and Muslim motifs, and elements responsive to the lifestyle of the Filipino family and the tropical climate of the Philippines.

Compare the house with the likes of the Sunbury Plantation House in Barbados, Lesser Antilles, for example, and one would notice the differences. For instance, the sliding panel windows of the Montinola house are wider compared to the taller swing out windows of the houses of Antilles. Behind the sliding panels is another set of wooden *persiana* (louvered) windows, and below the *pasamano* or window sill are *ventillas*—auxillary windows protected by iron grillwork—for ventilation.

Spatially, the Casa Sanson y Montinola follows the program of the *bahay na bato* with the upper floor made of wood and the lower floor of bricks. From Lopez Street, one walks along the narrow driveway and enters the house through a double wooden door that leads to the *entresuelo* or vestibule, traditionally used as offices and servant’s quarters, which now functions as a private museum containing family heirlooms, photographs, and antique collections.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-5 - BluPrint")The two layers of wide sliding windows and ventanillas allow cool air to circulate through the sala or living room. On stormy days, the windows can be shut to prevent rain spattering through windows. At night, the family would close the large windows for privacy and leave the ventanillas open for ventilation.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-4 - BluPrint")The four-poster calabasa bed (so-called for the carved squash at the four corners) made by the famous Chinese furniture maker Eduardo Ah Tay was a status symbol among the mestizo elite during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Montinola keeps one of their old Ah Tay beds inside the cuarto principal, or master bedroom, the most private and important space in the mansion.

At the back of the Casa Sanson y Montinola is a spacious *zaguan* or vestibule used as a *bodega* and a drop-off area for horse-drawn carriages. From the *zaguan*, one ascends the *escalera* or wooden grand staircase that leads to the living areas on the upper floors. Judging by the location of the *zaguan* and the position of the *escalera* at the rear, it is possible the house’s rear façade used to be the principal frontage facing Commission Civil Street on the northeast, and commanding an imposing vista with the lot now occupied by SM Hypermarket for its front lawn.

The staircase leads directly to the spacious *caida* (entrance hall) or *antesala*, where the family displayed their precious life-sized *santo* and received guests during the town fiesta. The space is flanked by the *cuarto* or bedrooms with open tracery called *parientes* (relatives) at the *sala*, the living area or drawing room overlooking Lopez Street and separated from the *antesala* by filigreed dividers.

**READ MORE: [Oboza Heritage House in Davao finds new life as a restaurant](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/davao-oboza-heritage-house/ "Oboza Heritage House in Davao finds new life as a restaurant")**

Opposite the *sala* is the *comedor* or dining area with an antique eight-seater dining table. The hall is perceivably bigger than the *antesala* given that most Filipino social gatherings or *handaan* are centered on food. The *comedor* is housed in the main house’s extension, a structure stylistically distinct from the *bahay na bato*.

Built in the style architecture historian Gerard Lico calls Mudéjar or Hispano Moresque with subtle hints of Art Deco, this extension features pointed arches with latticework, colorful Machuca tiles with floral patterns, geometric windows and transoms fitted with colored glass panels, slender Solomonic colonnette, and arabasque ceiling paintings. It is surrounded by an open-air veranda that connects to the bridge going to the caretakers’ house. A spiral steel staircase is tucked in one corner from which one can access the private bachelor’s room on the third floor and the roof deck.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-3.2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-3.2 - BluPrint")A cast iron spiral staircase tucked in one corner of the comedor leads to a private bachelor’s room on the third floor. From here, another spiral staircase leads to the roof deck where children played while their parents were busy entertaining guests downstairs.

![Casa Sanson y Montinola in Jaro, Iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-heritage-house-montinola-mansion-jaro-iloilo-7 - BluPrint")The Art Deco windows and transoms with multi-colored glass panes project color and light inside the large dining area. The family used to keep their silver cutlery and chinaware inside the glass cabinet.

When BluPrint visited Jaro in July 2016, we were dismayed to find Casa Sanson y Montinola suffering from apparent neglect and poor maintenance. Waist-high bushes, grasses, and weeds obscure the view of the house from the street, and the backyard reeks of dog urine and feces. Apart from the soot and grime, the mansion’s wooden walls are dilapidated. Its windows are broken and are missing some panes while part of the roof where the *bahay na bato* and the Mudéjar extension connect appears like it is about to crumble and give away.

Aside from [the shophouses of Calle Real](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/calle-real-shows-escolta-how-its-done/ "the shophouses of Calle Real"), the plight of the Jaro ancestral mansions merits the attention of the Iloilo Cultural Heritage Foundation and the local government of Iloilo. As the late senator Teodoro Kalaw eloquently expressed in his 1926 article entitled *La Vanguardia*: “Our grand sires erected those mansions to house generation after generation of descendants. They served to give life and fulfillment to the supreme ideal of stability, unity, perpetuity, of the Filipino family.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original article first appeared in BluPrint Vol 2 2017. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Architecture, Art Deco, Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita, Gerard Lico, Heritage, Heritage House, Iloilo, Jaro, Machuca, Montinola Mansion, Residential

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### [A Contemporary Home in Tagaytay Has A Tasteful Placement of Wooden Accents](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/a-contemporary-home-in-tagaytay-has-a-tasteful-placement-of-wooden-accents/)

**Published:** April 3, 2018
**Author:** pat.herbolario

**Content:**

This contemporary home in [Tagaytay](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/9-vacation-home-around-the-philippines-you-need-to-see/) stands tall in its own bright corner. The crisp lines and stark contrast of its interiors draw you in. Inside, the contemporary home is dressed in a neutral color scheme with hints of wood. Each furniture piece and accessory placed harmoniously together in one space.

Happy Fernandez, the interior designer of this home, explains that the house wasn’t supposed to look like this. The owners wanted something ultra modern, a break from their other house which is very Victorian and dated. However, taking into consideration the location and the surrounding area, Happy recommended a more tropical and contemporary home with wooden accents.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-1.jpg "bluprint-news-lg-philippines-donation-national-museum-of-natural-history-4 - BluPrint")
In the living room, space color, shape, and texture all come together in the design of the living room. Full length glass doors and windows allows natural light to enter the contemporary home
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-2.jpg "bluprint-news-lg-philippines-donation-national-museum-of-natural-history-2 - BluPrint")
Neutral tones were used all throughout the house, especially in the dining area where mixed but matched dining chairs were placed. Noritake, Versace, and Hermes dining pieces from the owner’s personal collection add a classic touch to the dining table.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-4.jpg "- BluPrint")
Laser cut metal accents are used in the ceiling and columns of the formal dining area. The kitchen is a clean sight with white as the dominating color.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-3.jpg "- BluPrint")
The powder room is decorated with mosaic tiles and is given a luxe touch through the chandelier. An old world charm and a girly pink gives one of the rooms a feminine appeal.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-7.jpg "- BluPrint")
In the master bedroom, a dance between whites and browns make the room extremely relaxing. Two Heads Design handled most of the woodwork in the contemporary home. Happy says that they took care of the handcrafting, installation, and even the paint finish. “I entrusted them because of their expertise, as seen in their past projects,” shares Happy.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-6.jpg "- BluPrint")
The outdoor lounging area is a great spot for the family of the owner to come together and bond. The overall architecture is a combination of simple lines and neutral colors.
![Contemporary Home, Happy Fernandez, Tagaytay Home](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/myhome-contemporary-house-image-5.jpg "- BluPrint")
*This story first appeared on MyHome October 2016, edits have been made for* [*MyHome.OneMega.Com*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/)*.*

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

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### [5 unbuilt hospitality and recreational spaces we wish existed](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/unbuilt-hospitality-recreational-spaces/)

**Published:** April 5, 2018
**Author:** Jayson Mata, Crystal Ventura, William Ti, Jr., Leandro Nicholas Rañoa Poco, and JC San Luis

**Excerpt:** In an alternate universe, we would have enjoyed one of these places over the long weekend

**Content:**

We may be crazy hopeful, but here are five visions of hospitality and recreational spaces in the Philippines that we wish we were realized sooner rather than later.

## 1 Bamboo Tells by Jayson Mata and Jelda Cabardo

Our plan was inspired by Maria Makiling folklore. We wanted guests to experience the feeling of getting lost, exploring, finding and being found. The idea is to make the guests feel they are exploring places they never had been. The lush bamboo forest promenade on the main interior curve road feels almost tunnel-like, suggesting mystery at first, followed by discovery upon reaching different arrival points within the development.

![bamboo tells jayson mata jelda cabardo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-1 - BluPrint")The villa, as a living structure where the ground landscape grows and becomes the roof. The innovation lies between combining bamboo technology and green roof system.The Public Cluster Pavilions housing the hotel reception, lounge and restaurant are in the middle of the site. They form the resort’s hub where people arrive, depart and converge again. Curving decks and roads connect these structures to others in the resort, encouraging guests to wander around and experience the place.

Guests today look for unique experiences in their hotel stay. We are convinced that we offer a unique solution via form and function. The architecture and materials feel local and familiar, yet are world-class, interesting and fresh. Guests will find their own story in their own way during their stay at Bamboo Tells.

![bamboo tells jayson mata jelda cabardo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-4 - BluPrint")The Bamboo hotel (with majestic Mt. Makiling in the background) is conceived to be an architectural and engineering feat, using innovative bamboo construction technologies. The modular units are stacked facing north-east to avail of breezes from that direction, and enjoy views of Laguna de Bay. The built-up portions occupy only 15,114 sqm of the 10.8-hectare property.![bamboo tells jayson mata jelda cabardo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-5 - BluPrint")Pavilions on water. A series of pavilions interconnected by a “spine” access, fronted by the two tiered infinity pools inspired by rice fields.*Bamboo Tells is an entry to the [Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence (MADE)](https://www.mbfoundation.org.ph/arts-design.html) 2015 competition, architecture category, where it received a special citation.*

## 2 Celebrity Hotel by Ed Ledesma

This project gave us the opportunity to create something unique to the place. We adhered to [LVLP](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/succeeding-success-lindy-and-andy-locsin/)’s principle of designing [contemporary tropical architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/the-past-present-and-future-of-architecture-in-the-tropics/), and utilized long, sharp eaves for the design of the hotel. Because of the site’s slope and topography, we used cut and fill to layout the guest rooms efficiently.

Viewed from above, the rooms look like terraces of concrete, water and grass. The structure’s raw concrete finish is framed and softened by landscaping, making the whole development appear as if it were made out of monolithic stone.

![celebrity house ed ledesma leandro v. locsin partners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-7 - BluPrint")The area of the site is 9,559 sqm, with the hotel taking up 8,250 sqm—an 80% site occupancy that led to our decision to “bury” the events hall. The casitas are terraced to follow the existing slope of the site. There are only two rooms for each floor, to lessen foot traffic and provide exclusivity.![celebrity house ed ledesma leandro v. locsin partners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-8 - BluPrint")Each casita has an infinity pool that opens to the view and is buffered by a canopy of greenery that provides privacy to the casita below.While the client was blown away by our schematic presentation, there were a lot of loose ends that prevented the project from rolling. The project required efficiency programs and feasibility studies, as well as technical consultants, project managers and construction supervisors who we were unable to get on board because of budgetary constraints. Several months after our presentation, there was no further instruction from the client so the project was eventually shelved.

**READ MORE: [Leandro V. Locsin Partners’ Ed Ledesma on Protégés](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lvlp-ed-ledesma-proteges/)**

This project is a story of how man-made materials (concrete and glass) and [natural elements](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/plants-architecture-vtn-architects/) (water, greenery) can bring out each other’s beauty when used together. In several instances during the design process, we treated architecture as the landscape, and vice versa. I believe good architecture is about striking a good balance between the two.

![celebrity house ed ledesma leandro v. locsin partners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-10 - BluPrint")The walls of the hotel lobby are made of cast-in-place concrete finished to resemble stone. A giant concave swoop embraces the round drop-off while a simple cantilevered canopy offsets the curves of the structure.![celebrity house ed ledesma leandro v. locsin partners](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-9 - BluPrint")The interiors of the casitas are generous and have several lounge areas. A spacious living area greets guests as they enter their casita and an outdoor dining area subtly floats above the infinity pool. Frameless glass doors add to the openness of each casita.## 3 Cloudscape by WTA Architecture & Design

The owners presented [WTA](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/st-scho-chapel-wta/) with a lot located on the less busy side of Tagaytay, and asked us to do a concept study for a hospitality project. The site was quite challenging given the sloping terrain, not to mention the stretch of zigzag road that cuts through the middle of the property.

Our concept was derived from the climate of Tagaytay, specifically the fog that cloaks the area from time to time. We believe that the people who regularly visit Tagaytay are after the chilly weather, not only the view of Taal Lake and the volcano. This gave us an interesting starting point for developing the character of the project.

**READ MORE: [William Ti Jr on WAF and the global design conversation](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/waf-experience-william-ti-jr/)**

![cloudscape william ti, jr. wta architecture & design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-11.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-11 - BluPrint")Terraces will be carved out on the sloping site, for hotel rooms and condo units. Because of the cascading landscape of the development, the walkways and public areas will open up opportunities for social interaction among guests.![cloudscape william ti, jr. wta architecture & design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-12.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-12 - BluPrint")View from the residential area of Cloudscape![cloudscape william ti, jr. wta architecture & design](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-13.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-13 - BluPrint")Cloudscape is to be built on 14 hectares of sloping terrain in Tagaytay, with a building footprint of 12,500 sqm. On the west side of the development is the residential area, with prime units on top of the best views. The hotel and clubhouse are situated on the east. The existing dirt road will be kept for vehicles to shuttle guests to different areas.Taking inspiration from the experience of walking through Tagaytay fog, we came up with a design that begs to be explored and discovered. The structures are supposed to act as part of the landscape, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space.

The whole development will be sculpted out of the mountainside, and terraces containing the hotel rooms and residential units will be created. By integrating the structures with the topography, users will be unable to quickly grasp the development’s scale and complexity, prodding them to further explore and discover more of it.

## 4 Viewfinder Clubhouse by L.A. Poco Architects and Associates

The project is a clubhouse and amenity park for Avida’s Woodhill Settings landed development in Canlubang, Laguna. It’s a 500-square meter clubhouse with a social hall that can accommodate table service for 100-plus persons, a kitchen, event storage and spillover spaces, administration and security offices, and male/female restrooms and bathhouses.

It is sited in a 3-hectare park, set on the side of a hill overlooking a wooded natural bowl, thus the name, Woodhill Settings. The hillside has views of the Metro Manila skyline, which is why we took to naming the scheme, “Viewfinder.” The park was landscaped with Land Design One of Singapore, and amenities include a 5-lane lap-pool, kiddie pool, view deck, basketball court, storm shelters and walkways spanning the park’s landscape.

![viewfinder clubhouse l.a. poco architects & associates](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-13.jpg "bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-13 - BluPrint")The view of the approach to the clubhouse from the village. The angles berms and opaque walls with slit-like openings allude to hillside defensive fortifications. The entry portal behaves like a scene viewfinder used by artists to define the extent of their painted scenes.![viewfinder clubhouse l.a. poco architects & associates](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-14.jpg "bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-14 - BluPrint")The clubhouse overlooks a wooded hillside that forms a natural bowl, which serves as the park and open space amenity for the village development. The amenity park area is approximately three hectares, and the clubhouse footprint, 500 sqm.The design is driven by [the site’s unique context](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/metaphysical-site-analysis-mehta/). Architects will seldom get the chance to work on such a picturesque site and we wanted to use the clubhouse structure as a means of heightening the experience of seeing the views. The idea is to “constrict” views by creating walled berms that don’t directly show the view of the skyline and hillside.

**READ MORE: [Grading Green: The case for BERDE over LEED](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/grading-green-berde/)**

![viewfinder clubhouse l.a. poco architects & associates](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-15.jpg "bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-15 - BluPrint")The lobby serves as the village’s living room, overlooking the pool deck and park.![viewfinder clubhouse l.a. poco architects & associates](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-16.jpg "bluprint-architecture-recreational-spaces-16 - BluPrint")The lobby or village living room with a screen wall to filter views of the pool and skyline from the drop offThe walled berms are similar to walled hillside forts, which are usually located with great vistas for defensive purposes. We created a portal at the arrival area to frame the views to the metro skyline and to eventually lead people to the pool deck and amenities below. Berming or the use of sloping soil creates a diagonal plane on which you could lift the planting palette of a landscape. It’s like angling a dish of food so that it can be appreciated better.

## 5. South Laguna Prime by 1/0 design collective

A query about merging the geologic and the architectural into a cohesive entity resulted in a structure that blurs the boundaries between nature and man-made, with a volcano as the organic point of inspiration and a hotel structure as spouse.

The development consists of three volcanic crater-inspired themes reflecting the site’s geologic profile: the Maar Crater Lakes of San Pablo City, the lush tropical valleys of eroded calderas, and the cinder cones of Laguna’s volcanic fields, which dominate the rugged topography of the province.

**READ MORE: [The progressive and evolutionary minds behind 1/0 Design Collective](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/1-0-design-collective/)**

In the northern section of the resort, the lowest in topography, is a crater lake that serves as catchment basin. In the middle section is a large bermed caldera park, a communal area. In the south is a cinder cone crater enveloped by the hotel structure.

![south laguna prime angelo ray serrano jc san luis 1/0 design collective](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-19.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-19 - BluPrint")The hotel is shielded on the south by soil and vegetation, negating the need for insulating against 8-12 hours of sun. Hotel rooms are all oriented to the north where there is little direct sun exposure, and a 270-degree view of Laguna de Bay and Mt. Makiling.![south laguna prime angelo ray serrano jc san luis 1/0 design collective](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-18.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-18 - BluPrint")Orientation plays the most vital role in building an energy-efficient, green building. Developing the plan to avoid exposure to the sun, and benefit from cooling breezes minimizes energy consumption for air conditioning.![south laguna prime angelo ray serrano jc san luis 1/0 design collective](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-21.jpg "bluprint-architecture-unbuilt-recreational-spaces-21 - BluPrint")South Laguna Prime aerial from the west. The property is 10.8 hectares, and the built up portions, including pools and landscaping, occupy one hectare. The resort complex forks into two, with the hotel on the bermed southern section, and the villas along a loop around the crater lake, tropical park, and the caldera park.The hotel is an arc that cups the main water park. It is a single loaded plan with the units facing the park, and its corridor bound by a loaded retaining wall that cools the hotel structure. The hotel proper tapers on both ends, crests on the midsection, and is capped with a sweeping green roof that sinuously connects the hotel with the main resort complex and the cultural center, creating green pockets in areas where it bends.

**Original articles first appeared in BluPrint Special Issue 3 2015. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**1. Written by Jayson Mata 2. Written by Crystal Ventura 3. Written by William Ti, Jr. 4. Written by Leandro Nicholas Rañoa Poco 5. Written by JC San Luis**

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** 1/0 design collective, Architecture, Bamboo Tells, Celebrity Hotel, Cloudscape, Clubhouse, Ed Ledesma, Hospitality, Hotel, Jayson Mata, Jelda Cabardo, L.A.Poco Architects, LVLP, Recreational, Resort, South Laguna Prime, Unbuilt, Viewfinder Clubhouse, WTA Architecture and Design Studio

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### [David Consunji on working with Arguelles, Nakpil, Zaragoza and more](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/david-consunji-inside-stories/)

**Published:** April 10, 2018
**Author:** Dominic Galicia

**Excerpt:** The pioneering engineer has worked with the legendary architects of Philippine Modernism. So what does he have to say about them?

**Content:**

One of the leading construction companies in the country bears the name of David Consunji. Beginning with the 1960s, many of the country’s most prominent structures were designed by a roster of the best architecture offices, and built by one company, David M. Consunji, Inc., or [DMCI.](https://www.dmcinet.com/) Its founder is himself an icon.

BluPrint, accompanied by Carla Arguelles Ramsey, daughter of [Carlos Arguelles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mundo-ni-maestro-escolta/), the architect of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the old Philippine National Bank (PNB) headquarters on Escolta, and Douglas Ramsey, architect and son-in-law of Arguelles, sat down with Mr. Consunji.

![With occasional fondness, DMCI Founder David Consunji recalls architects he worked with | Photo by Ed Simon](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/David-Consunji-interview.jpg "David-Consunji-interview - BluPrint")With occasional fondness, DMCI Founder David M. Consunji recalls architects he worked with | Photo by Ed Simon The man’s memory is as sharp as ever, and his speech, just as blunt. We were expecting only a short chat with the venerable nonagenarian, but he held us spellbound for three hours, his recollections punctuated by much laughter and chortling from both narrator and audience. Here are some of the highlights of his reminiscences.

## Consunji on architects he dealt with

Don Juan Arellano would be the most humble of them all. *Yung matanda, wala akong masasabi sa bait niya.* (The old man was extremely kind.) Once in a while, I would drop by the Bureau of Public Works to see what they were working on. At the time, it was still the provincial capitols, those with the Greek columns and Neo-classic design.

Cesar Concio was a civil engineer first, then took up architecture, and then became dean of the College of Architecture \[of Mapua\]. I nearly did the Insular Life for him. I think that was his last job with the Ayalas. You know why? I’ll tell you why. His office calls for a 2:00 meeting then he arrives at 4:00.

Pablo Antonio was looking at the house of Dr. Januario Estrada, the number one surgeon in the country. It was taking shape when he called me and said, “This is Architect Antonio. Can you see me for an interview?” When I came to see him, he began talking about all the \[other\] architects, and the new architects. One could see they had conflicts, \[but\] not conflicts of lines or style—rather, very personal matters. I never worked with Pablo Antonio. \[Laughs\]

When you talk to contractors working for him, they’d say, “Hindi ho nagkakamali yan, yung kamay niya ang dumudulas!” (That man does not commit mistakes. It’s his hand that slips!) Antonio had a very critical eye. But then again, most architects then did not treat their contractors very well. They looked at them with disdain.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DBP-inside.jpg "DBP-inside - BluPrint")Left: Coffered ceiling of DBP’s penthouse ballroom integrates lighting and ventilation in Arguelles’ trademark aesthetic synthesis of architecture and engineering | Right: The concrete brise soleil of the DBP evolved from the concrete brise soleil of the PNB in Escolta. The depth of distance between inner and outer façades results in a peerless architectural response to the tropical climate, shielding the interior from heat gain and strong rain## Consunji on Nakpil and Rizal Theater

I was doing some theaters for him because he was the only guy that theater owners went to (except for Luis Araneta). Nakpil was the architect of the Rufino Brothers. Then of course, all of these buildings were always done with a little ‘mystery.’ “David,” Nakpil says, “my plan is my plan. Don’t you ever change it.” You have to follow him to the letter.

Now it happened that in his plan, there was a hanging footstep at the [Rizal Theater](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/nta-philippine-heritage-landmarks/). When you went up to the balcony, it would shake. He made a big mistake. It was shaking like hell. Then here comes [Fernando Zobel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/zobel-catalogue-raisonne/) with vertigo—this is the head of construction of Ayala. I was able to hang on to the handrail, and I saved him \[Zobel\] from breaking his leg. I was able to hold him. He was quite heavy. He was thanking me like hell! He said, “Please don’t ever tell Mr. Nakpil. Just do something about it.” “Don’t worry,” I told him, “I’m going to do something about it.” I stopped the lateral. But Nakpil, I never told him. He was so proud of those stairs. So I kept quiet about it.

\[Nakpil\] was always aloof. Finally, in 1971, I was Secretary of Public Works (during the Marcos years) and he needed work from the government, so he had to come to me. I did not make it difficult for him. He was an old man already. But nothing happened. We had to get a young guy who was one of the favorites at that time, Felipe Mendoza.

## Consunji on Locsin and the UP chapel

[Locsin was a good friend of Fernando Zobel](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/mcmicking-memorial-makati/). I did not know Locsin at the time—it was Fernando who introduced me to him. Fernando was putting up a house, and he got me to do the house. Then I met Locsin. He was graduating from architecture \[then\]. At the time, he told Father Delaney his idea of putting up a circular church, and Father Delaney bought the idea. \[Completed in\] 1955, it was [the Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice in UP](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/early-years-leandro-locsin/). We both were blessed with good fortune after finishing the UP chapel. I don’t know why, but both of us became lucky after that. \[Laughs\]

Father Delaney was telling us that historically, it was the synagogue that used the round form. Also, UP didn’t have money so he chose to have the circle—the biggest area you could confine with the least material. Now I wanted to improve the mixing of concrete. One mixes it very strong, brings the concrete upstairs and then delivers the concrete by chute. You cannot do it by chute if it is very thick—you need to water it down. But diluting concrete diminishes the strength of concrete.

I told Alfredo Juinio \[then UP Engineering professor serving as the UP Chapel’s structural engineer, who later became dean of the College of Engineering\] at that time, I would like to find a way to bring my concrete, as it is mixed, directly into the form. In 1954, I went to Australia to see how mixing was being done. You get the concrete, mix it well, design platforms to bring the concrete to where you want it to go—not by chute so that you water and water and water it, and the 3000 to 4000 pounds of concrete become 2000 pounds by the time it reaches the end.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PICC.jpg "PICC - BluPrint")The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) by Leandro LocsinThis is crazy—let’s stop this way of doing things, I said. As a teacher, he \[Juinio\] could not do much, but I was the practitioner, and so now, here was the UP Chapel. You cannot build the structure if you don’t have 3000 to 4000 pounds of concrete. The base is going to be about eight inches thick that tapers to three inches \[at the top of the dome\] because it has to be light. The concrete that you put into it has to be light. Otherwise, you know, everything could burst.

Okay, so three inches. I needed a certain permeability of concrete to be able to preserve the steel. I’ll try, I said. I think I found a way. I’ll do it using wheelbarrows. I have to put planks, make sure planks can go there, deliver it, then go home. We estimated that we could pour the concrete at 5:00 in the morning, and finish at 11:00 in the evening.

That day, a Sunday, there was a storm. I was still living in Pandacan in that old house of ours. And I thought of dressing up earlier to tell Father Delaney that we couldn’t start pouring because the storm was here. So I went there early; at 4:00, I was there already and he was preparing for mass.

I said, “Father, I don’t like this storm.” You know what he said? “David, go there and pour the concrete, and I’ll do the praying.” “Well,” I said, “Father, I leave everything to you, because the downpour will be very disastrous!” To my big surprise, not a drop of water \[came\] until 11 o’clock!

My people were there, at the top, and all around were the people with their umbrellas. It was raining all over \[but the dome was dry\]. It was a miracle! \[In addition to being the first circular church in the country, the UP Chapel was also the first structure to use a lightweight, thin-shell concrete dome.\]

## Consunji on Andres Luna de San Pedro

I saw what [Andres Luna](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/1-0-design-collective/) did for the Fernandez people, Compania Maritima \[building\]. His son, Andre, was my classmate. I used to see Carling \[Arguelles\] and Andres, who was a very nice guy. *May isang bahay na ginawa yan sa Sariaya* (He did a house in Sariaya). The Enriquez \[house\] was a wonderful house! He did two houses, including the Fule house in San Pablo…everybody knows that house. When he came out with the Crystal Arcade, Manila got the biggest surprise of its life. It was ahead of its time. As if you were in Europe. Very tastefully done.

## Consunji on importation

I think that after the UP Chapel, architects were not as tough on me. \[Laughs\] I got shortlisted all the time. That was the time when the peso and dollar were at par, then became four, then six \[pesos to one dollar\]. In any building in the Philippines, your import was at least 25% of the cost at the time. Everything was imported. We could not change that because every country passes through that stage. You just had to tighten your belt, work faster, and work more.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/DBP-lookup.jpg "DBP-lookup - BluPrint")The horizontal banding of the brise soleil has a concave profile that provides visual depth as well as a medium-toned shadow that mediates between the whiteness of the façade and the darker shadows of DBP’s inner face. The repetition of the well-considered motif is a hallmark of the work of [Carlos Arguelles](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mundo-ni-maestro-escolta/) and of the best examples of mid-century Modernism.So little by little, construction became a favorite industry because it was easy to get into, because with a little money, you could start subcontracting. Later on, the jobs became capital-intensive because of the sinking peso. But we were able to deal with it, and we are proud of it. I am especially proud of DBP.

## Consunji on Alfredo Luz

He was an architect who did well abroad, but here \[in the Philippines\] was stumbling and stumbling. To me, he brought in some things that helped change the construction industry. Number one: time of completion.

Both of us agreed very strongly on promptness of completion. As a matter of fact, most of the jobs I won were because of our speed of completion, \[like\] the project in Los Baños, IRRI \[the International Rice Research Institute\]. So much so, when I was doing one of his buildings, I felt this sense of yabang (pride) that I prepared the S-curve.

\[The S-curve is used to plot complex processes, exhibiting a progression from small beginnings, accelerating and approaching a climax over a given period of time.\] I said: this is the schedule. Here we are. Happily, I was always on top of schedule.

## Consunji on Jose Zaragoza

My job with him was the Soriano San Miguel building on Ayala. \[He was\] easy to talk to. I have a story about this guy. Don Andres Soriano \[our client\] always saw me wearing white shirts and khaki pants. Here he comes, in a coat and tie— we were going to sign the contract for the building. We were outside the room of Don Andres, and the door that leads to the hallway was open. We saw the old man, and the old man saw us. What did Joseling do? He started taking off his jacket, and was making me wear it! \[Laughs\]

And of course the old man \[Don Andres\] was giggling, shaking with laughter, and enjoying the scene. When we finally came in, the old man told me to sit beside him, on his right. He said, “I am going to sign only two contracts, one for him and one for me.” We signed. That was the shortest contract signing I ever had! \[Laughs\] And there was [Joseling](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/architectural-photography-special-2018/), still a bit embarrassed that he had tried to insist that I wear formal attire.

## Consunji on precedent

As always, the old architects had a purity of expression. The new architect’s work is easier because of the work of architects who have gone before him. So what is done today is easier because it was done before. There are better ways of presenting it, no question about it. And for us who build, it becomes easier because we have built it before. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Special Issue 3 2012. Edits were made for BluPrint online.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How can builders substitute traditional concrete pouring methods to maintain structural integrity in high-strength projects?

Pioneering engineer David Consunji found that substituting the common “chute” delivery method—which requires watering down concrete to make it flow—with direct platform delivery via wheelbarrows preserves the material’s full strength. By avoiding dilution, contractors can ensure that high-strength concrete (3,000 to 4,000 psi) retains its properties from the mixer to the form. This substitution was critical for the UP Chapel dome, where the concrete had to be thin and lightweight yet structurally uncompromising.

### What is a common mistake architects make regarding the physical “feel” of innovative structural designs like floating stairs?

A frequent error is prioritizing “purity of expression” over the psychological comfort of the user, as seen in the shaking hanging footsteps of the Rizal Theater. While Architect Juan Nakpil was proud of the design, the lack of lateral stability caused significant vibration and vertigo for visitors. Addressing these mistakes often requires contractors to discreetly “stop the lateral” movement without compromising the architect’s visual intent, ensuring safety and comfort coexist with the aesthetic.

### How does the use of a concrete brise-soleil serve as a technical solution for tropical architecture?

The concrete brise-soleil, famously utilized by Carlos Arguelles for the PNB and DBP buildings, acts as a peerless architectural response to heat gain and heavy rain. By creating depth between the inner and outer façades, the structure shields the interior from direct sunlight while providing visual depth through shadows. This engineering synthesis allows large-scale commercial buildings to maintain a cooler internal environment without relying solely on mechanical cooling.

### Which project management tool is essential for ensuring prompt completion in capital-intensive construction projects?

David Consunji highlighted the “S-curve” as a vital tool for plotting complex construction processes and ensuring strict adherence to schedules. This allows practitioners to visualize the progression of a project from its initial stages to its climax, ensuring that speed of completion becomes a competitive advantage. For projects like IRRI, maintaining a position “on top of the schedule” prevents budget overruns caused by fluctuating currency and rising import costs.

### How can a collaborative relationship between a contractor and a structural engineer solve challenges in thin-shell dome construction?

Successful thin-shell construction, such as the lightweight dome of the UP Chapel, relies on a tight collaboration where the practitioner finds practical ways to implement the engineer’s technical requirements. In this case, Consunji worked with Professor Alfredo Juinio to devise a method for pouring concrete that tapered from eight inches to just three inches. This partnership allowed for a revolutionary use of lightweight materials that prevented the structure from bursting under its own weight during the curing process.

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Alfredo Luz, Andres Luna de San Pedro, Architecture, Carlos Arguelles, Cesar Concio, David M. Consunji, Dominic Galicia, Engineering, Fernando Zobel, Interview, Jose Zaragoza, Juan Arellano, Juan Nakpil, Judith Torres, Leandro Locsin, Modernism, Pablo Antonio

---

### [The Alila Villas Hadahaa boasts a choreography of serene spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/alila-villas-hadahaa/)

**Published:** April 13, 2018
**Author:** Denny Mata

**Excerpt:** Chan Soo Khian’s Alila Villas Hadahaa in the Maldives tiptoe on the white sand and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

**Content:**

In the past, when featuring resorts in BluPrint, the team was often in a quandary: under what section do we put the story? Architecture? Interior Design? Landscape Architecture? The catch-all Special Features? This would happen when the resort was of [tropical or vernacular design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/emerson-coseteng-house/); a reflection of the pervasive attitude, not just of the general public, but also among the academe and architects, that Philippine vernacular architecture isn’t ‘real’ architecture, and thus cannot sustain much discussion.

And so the writers would go extra lengths to talk about furniture and materials, and [terrain and greenery](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/plants-architecture-vtn-architects/), as though a discussion of the exquisite suitability of the vernacular structures and their harmony with implacable Mother Nature were embarrassingly insufficient and merely stating the obvious.

The reason it feels like one is repeating what everyone already understands is because of the simple yet profound intelligence of vernacular architecture that our ancestors, wise in their fear and worship of nature, developed over millennia. Perhaps it is in our genetic memory.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-6 - BluPrint")The sheltered reception area is designed after the ribbed hull of a Maldivian Dhoni boat, traditionally used for inter-atoll navigation. Chan employed local craftsmen to ensure that construction and details, such as the sizes, bend and interlocking of timber were authentic.Like our *bahay kubo* and the [stilt houses of Badjao sea gypsies](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/currents-for-currents-grand-prix/), the Alila Villas Hadahaa in the Maldives tiptoe lightly on the land—or more accurately, on white sand amidst turquoise waters of the Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

**READ MORE: [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/)**

Designed by Singaporean [Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects](https://www.scdaarchitects.com/), the resort has 14 Aqua Villas and 36 Island Villas that come with private pools, their own wooden decks, and floor-to-ceiling windows for a feeling of uninterrupted oneness with the outside environment. Chan wanted to provide an authentic Maldivian experience, which in great part has to do with the Maldivian’s unique sense of space—that of no boundaries between man and ocean, and of vast expanses of sea and sky.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-5 - BluPrint")The resort’s Relish seaside restaurant. The thatched roof looks just like our own nipa.Like our vernacular houses, the Alila Villas Hadahaa use high roofs, open ceilings and open plans, cross ventilation, deep roof overhangs and sun shading devices. Chan used [natural materials](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/windward-house-batangas/), including coconut and timber found in the region, and employed local craftsmen to ensure authenticity in construction and decorative details. For example, local boat builders worked on the structure housing the reception area, which looks just like an overturned traditional Maldivian boat. This last bit may sound a tad whimsical for some. As for me, I am blown away by how Chan has succeeded in ‘making’ a space that is at once both tranquil and exhilarating.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-4 - BluPrint")Each Island Villa, around 120 square meters in area, has its own little stretch of private beach front.One of Chan’s design heroes is the great Louis Kahn, who defined architecture as: “A thoughtful making of space. It is not filling prescriptions, as clients want them filled. It is not fitting uses into dimensioned areas. It is creating of spaces that evoke a feeling of use. Spaces that form themselves into a harmony good for the use to which the building is to be put. I believe that the architect’s first act is to take the program that comes to him and change it. Not to satisfy it, but to put it into the realm of architecture, which is to put it into the realm of spaces.”

What is interesting is that the Alila Villas Hadahaa have entered the realm of spaces not by virtue of monumental, [iconic architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/must-pursue-iconism/) that grasps at immortality, but through small, quiet and impermanent indigenous forms and materials steeped in a Bauhaus economy of design that is focused on framing spectacular views and not detracting from them, whilst maintaining privacy and even a sense of solitude.

To define his [firm’s design methodology](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/1-0-design-collective/), Chan wrote: “Spaces are composed to be experienced sequentially through choreographed processions that re-center and realign the perceptual ‘axis,’ terminating in objects, landscaped vistas or open spaces. These spaces are designed to heighten the experience of sound, touch, smell and sight, unfolding sequentially as one moves through the spaces. The approach is phenomenological and is about the emotional response of the user to the space.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-3 - BluPrint")Aqua Villas at dusk, photographed by Klaus Lorke. Says the Yale-trained Chan Soo Khian: “The artistic portion of a design is in the poetic response to a site or design brief. The challenge in today’s practice is to continue to be true to one’s design philosophy whilst adapting it to the cultural, climatic and aesthetic nuances of the place. There is a need for universality balanced by regional specificality.” Supporting the poetry is months of environmental impact studies of the island. The infrastructure, which includes a rainwater harvesting system and waste treatment plants, was inserted with care into the environment, to ensure the least disruption to the ecology’s equilibrium.Robert Powell, who wrote the first book on Chan’s works, described Chan’s methodology as “the choreography of space.” The description is accurate. Whether a high-rise like the Lincoln Modern, for which Chan received a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Worldwide Award in 2005, a toy museum like the Mint Museum of Toys and a sweeping auditorium like Dhoby Ghaut Green, for which the Chicago Athaneum gave Chan the International Architecture Award in 2007 and 2010 (BluPrint featured all three projects, by the way), or the unobtrusive Alila Villas Hadahaa, there is indeed a sense of movement and progression in the spaces.

**READ MORE: [Panorama Drama: BUDJI+ROYAL’s M House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/panorama-drama-budjiroyal-m-house/)**

The meandering pathways to the Island Villas and the curving boardwalk to the Aqua Villas are pleasing to the eye, and offer a sense of discovery to guests on foot, and of seclusion to villa occupants. The succession of spaces, however, is not about movement only, but also pause, as there are numerous spaces for lingering, sitting and reveling. Unpretentious as they are, the villas show Chan’s attention to geometry and composition, through the melodious interplay of vertical and horizontal, solid and permeable, and opaque and transparent planes.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-01.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-01 - BluPrint")Interior of a 110-square meter Aqua Villa, photographed by Klaus Lorke. Louvers outside can be mechanically adjusted to screen the indoors from outside glare.While the wisdom of allowing the construction of resorts in such virgin settings should continue to be challenged (the atoll was previously uninhabited), the resort did achieve Green Globe Certification after being audited throughout its design and construction stages. Green Globe (now called Earthcheck) is an international benchmarking and accreditation program for the travel and tourism industry that appraises the eco-friendliness of the construction and operations of a resort or hotel, including its suppliers. For Chan’s design in keeping with strict environmental standards, the resort won another International Architecture Award in 2010.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-02.jpg "bluprint-architecture-resort-alila-villas-hadahaa-maldives-chan-soo-khian-scda-architects-singapore-02 - BluPrint")For Chan, the conceptual design stage was swift. The laborious part was determining how to inlay the delicate environment with the program of the villas and infrastructure. The construction of each Aqua Villa, for example, was planned and meticulously adjusted to preserve the existing coral.Books and articles have been written expounding on Chan’s Modernist “Neo-Tropical” work. Architecture imported from other shores often requires explaining how its forms do (or don’t) perform their functions. But for us who live in the tropics, being at [Alila Villas Hadahaa](https://www.alilahotels.com/), or for that matter, even just looking at pictures of the resort, one doesn’t need a thousand words to know that its spaces are soothing and pleasurable, and eminently suited for its purposes. This testifies to the intrinsic and obvious logic of vernacular architecture to those for whom its language is the vernacular.

One wishes this logic were not lost on so many architects today. What has happened to our collective memory? But ah! That is another thousand words. Let us enjoy the calm choreography of Chan’s serene spaces instead. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Volume 5 2013. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Commercial

**Tags:** Alila Villas Hadahaa, Architecture, Chan Soo Khian, Hospitality, Maldives, Modernist, Modernist Neo-Tropical, Neo-Tropical, Resort, SCDA Architects, Singapore, Vernacular

---

### [Home Inspiration: A Modern Minimalist House That's All About Understated Luxury](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/inspo-must-see-modern-minimalist-home-is-all-about-understated-luxury/)

**Published:** April 16, 2018
**Author:** pat.herbolario

**Content:**

A Singapore-based architect knows how the importance of a well-designed home is to the well-being of its inhabitants. He made sure his home had enough space and light as well as a sense of order in its utmost importance. At 660-square meters, this modern minimalist home highlights function but doesn’t neglect style.

![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-2.jpg "- BluPrint")
![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-1.jpg "- BluPrint")
![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-4.jpg "- BluPrint")
The formal kitchen is all about simplicity and modern minimalism. The full length windows provide natural light in the area, and gives the cold design a refreshing tropical view.
![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-5.jpg "Edwin-Lim-house-2 - BluPrint")
The formal dining room continues the neutral color motif of the house. Modest finishes and tasteful accents give life to the house’s dining room.
![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-3.jpg "Edwin-Lim-house-1 - BluPrint")
In the den, the colors are more dramatic. Ecrus and tans give the space a subdued atmosphere, perfect for watching movies.

![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-6.jpg "Edwin-Lim-house-3 - BluPrint")
The bathrooms are done in the same style: crisp, clean lines, muted tones, and a striking simplicity that goes with the rest of the house.
![modern minimalist, modern minimalist home, philippines interior design, myhome magazine, interior designer manila](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/myhome-modern-minimalist-image-7.jpg "Edwin-Lim-house-5 - BluPrint")
*This story first appeared on MyHome June 2016. Edits have been made for [MyHome.OneMega.Com](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/).*

**Tour Inside More Luxurious Houses**

**[This Townhouse in Quezon City is Gold, Gold, GOLD!](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/gold-house-jeizele-go/)**

**[From Dreary to Dreamy: See the Transformation of This Renovated Filipino Home!](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/renovated-filipino-home-lahubre-designs/)**

**Categories:** Interiors, Spaces

---

### [Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 2)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-2/)

**Published:** April 20, 2018
**Author:** Edson Cabalfin

**Excerpt:** The vernacular rhetoric is not without its problems. What do you consider as vernacular and indigenous in the first place?

**Content:**

## Understanding strategies of vernacularization

[Comparing these two periods,](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-1/) vernacularization in the Pre-1945 period, on one hand, can be said to have imported foreign styles and technology, then localized by adding local motifs and ornaments. The Post-1945 period, on the other hand, is the inverse.

**READ: [Vernacularization in Philippine Modern Architecture (part 2)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/vernacularization-philippine-modern-architecture-1/)**

It can be described as first stemming from an indigenous source (that is, a form, an ornament or a concept) and then being reinterpreted using foreign technology and idiom. This implies a shift of the understanding of the vernacular in architectural design in the Philippines. Before World War II then, the vernacular was seen as something that was to be added, submissive to the overall foreign technology. But post-war designers saw the vernacular as a way of asserting distinctiveness by using it as the dominant feature of design.

In this context, distinctiveness was acknowledged as a means by which the Philippines can contribute to the “common fund of humanity,” an articulation of a core doctrine of nationalist ideology.15 Despite this shift in the use of indigenous motifs, the tropical character remains constant throughout the twentieth century. Parsons, in the early twentieth century, and later, Locsin and Mañosa, identified the importance of the tropical climate in their design. For several architects and designers, tropicalness is an expression of regional character.16

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-Vernacular-coconutpalace.jpg "Native-Vernacular-coconutpalace - BluPrint")Francisco Mañosa’s Coconut Palace at the CCP Complex, built in 1980 (Photo from Designing Filipino: The Architecture of Francisco Mañosa)![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-Vernacular-Manosa-Sulu-PIA.jpg "Native-Vernacular-Manosa,-Sulu,-PIA - BluPrint")Sulo Hotel, Quezon City by Francisco Mañosa (Image courtesy of the Philippine Institute of Architects)Another significant idea was the search for a Filipino architectural archetype, much similar to Marc Antoine Laugier’s idea of a “primitive hut.”17 Mañosa believes in the bahay kubo as the “primitive hut” and thus the origin of Filipino architecture. He asserts that the bahay kubo represents the true Filipino character in architecture: one that is culturally and environmentally sensitive to the conditions of the Filipinos.17 Thus, for Mañosa, Filipino-ness is synonymous to a supposed primeval or primordial vernacular tradition.

It is assumed that by incorporating the vernacular, the architectural designs become more authentic because its supposed origins are primordial and primeval. The authenticity of an imagined national character is thus established by quoting and referencing assumed essential and organic ties. The indigenous is portrayed here as natural and consequently, immutable, and legitimate.

## Tensions and contestations

But this vernacular rhetoric is not without its problems. What do you consider as vernacular and indigenous in the first place? Conceptions of the vernacular by the American architects Burnham and Parsons are quite different from the notions of the post-war Filipino architects Locsin and Mañosa. As pointed out earlier, on one hand, American colonizers perceived the Spanish-colonial architecture as the vernacular.

On the other hand, the postwar architects included in their definition the various Philippine ethno-linguistic groups. The categories are not as unchallengeable and static as they are often portrayed. We cannot simply use a singular and monolithic definition of the vernacular.

The colonizer-colonized relation is also highlighted here. Nationalist programs in the Philippines during the first half of the twentieth century were conflated with colonial programs of the United States. An asymmetrical relationship exists between the colonized and the colonizer: the American colonial architects used the vernacular to portray the control of the colonizer over the colonial subjects.

By using the Spanish-colonial vernacular tradition set within the overall Beaux Arts classical schema, Parsons was also depicting the subjugation of the local to that of the national. The buildings, in short, were also communicating the colonial presence in the islands. It was not simply an innocent use of an architectural style, but was instead the careful orchestration of visual imagery geared towards the colonial master’s intention of domination.

**READ MORE: [Escolta Maestros: 6 Filipino architects who shaped the old CBD](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/mundo-ni-maestro-escolta/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-2-Locisn-Bukidon-2c.jpg "Native-vernacular-2-Locisn-Bukidon-2c - BluPrint")Transfiguration Chapel, Malaybalay, Bukidnon by Leandro Locsin, constructed mid-1990s (Photographed by Dominic Galicia)If a distinct national identity is to be predicated on originality and authenticity, then a national architecture that is based on vernacular pre-colonial architecture becomes suspect. I argue that what is perceived as vernacular may not be really original and authentic in the first place. Vernacular architecture is not necessarily pure and pristine. Just because there have been no records of the transformation of vernacular architecture doesn’t mean that they have not changed over time.

Indigenous architecture changes and transforms through time, even before colonial encounters. The [focus on the tropical climate](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/tropical-architecture-for-the-21st-century-vol1/) as a category for national identity is also beset with problems. If tropicality were indeed a fundamental basis for national identity, then what would distinguish the Philippines from the other nations that also have a tropical climate? While it is true that climatological influence does bear distinguishable marks on architecture, it is not enough to establish national identity based solely on tropical characteristics.

Politics of representation also surface in this debate. Selected sets of symbols that are appropriated become problematic because they may not truly represent the cultural heterogeneity of the Philippines. The image of a Filipina in traditional costume on the façade of Juan Nakpil’s Capitol Theater in Escolta is biased towards the lowland Christianized Filipino cultures. The bahay kubo that Mañosa valorizes as the Filipino “primitive hut” is similarly restricted to the lowland cultures. Therefore, some Philippine cultures are included while others are excluded in the national narrative.

Moreover, the act itself of selecting particular motifs and forms is not an innocent and unbiased operation. Which elements are appropriated? Who dictates the choosing of these elements? In the cases that I had presented, members of a cultural elite selected the symbols that were appropriated. As Ernest Gellner pointed out, nationalism is “the general imposition of a high culture on society, where previous low cultures had taken up the lives of the majority and in some cases of the totality of the population.”19

The imaginings of a national culture were based and prejudiced towards the ideas of architects, designers and leaders that were trained within an educational system that was, and still is, colonially dominated. As Partha Chatterjee pointed out: “Even our imaginations must remain forever colonized.”19 Evidently, whoever is in position has the ability to influence and dictate the construction of national identity.20

While it is true that Filipino designers and architects did not find it problematic to use local and indigenous motifs and ideas in the development of modern architecture, localization cannot be merely thought of as an appendage of modernization. Instead localization should be construed as part of the discourse of modernity. In the case of the Philippines, vernacularization was understood as the means by which the country could now truly participate in the international discussion. By asserting the uniqueness of modern architecture in the Philippines, the nation was therefore contributing to the common world knowledge and culture.

**READ MORE: [Befitting an Honorable Man: Bobby Mañosa](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/befitting-an-honorable-man-bobby-manosa/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Native-vernacular-2-sanmiguel2.jpg "Native-vernacular-2-sanmiguel2 - BluPrint")San Miguel Corporation Headquarters, Ortigas Center, Pasig by Manuel Jr., Jose and Francisco Mañosa, constructed in the 1980s (Photographed by Paulo Alcazaren)It is now apparent that the category of the vernacular as it was used in the formation of modern architecture cannot be assumed as a natural and neutral act in the design process. Through time, the conception of the vernacular has been transformed and redefined to match the needs of whoever is invoking the idea itself. Vernacularization is a highly suspect category.

In conclusion, I would like all of us to consider expanding and rethinking our notions of what “vernacular” means. While we shouldn’t compeletly dismiss the idea of “vernacular” as a beginning point in understanding Filipino identity in architecture, we need to reconfigure our parameters for defining national identity in architecture altogether. There is a need to change our understanding of the vernacular from one that is monolithic and singular, to one that is heterogeneous and polyvalent.

Furthermore, there is also a need to be more inclusive and democratic in the choosing of elements to be appropriated for reinterpretation. I believe that the discourse of national identity in architecture should shift from a question of origin to a question of practice. While the question of where we came from is important, we should not be completely oblivious to the dynamic practices of identity formation.

The true origins of Filipino architecture are still debatable and may not be fully understood at this point. Instead, I propose that we refocus our understanding of how identity is practiced and how this knowledge of our identity formation can lead to more empowering and ennobling projects. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

## ENDNOTES

15 Anthony Smith identifies the three core doctrines of nationalism as: “collective self-determination of the people, the expression of national character and individuality and finally the vertical division of the world into unique nations each contributing its special genius to the common fund of humanity,” in *Theories of Nationalism*, London, Duckworth, 1971, p.23, as cited in Partha Chatterjee, Nationalist Thought and Colonial World, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1986, p. 8.

16 See essays in Alexander Tzonis, Liane Lefaivre and Bruno Stagno, editors, *Tropical Architecture: Critical Regionalism in the Age of Globalization*, Great Britain, Wiley-Academy, 2001.

17 Joseph Rykwert, *On Adam’s House in Paradise*, Cambridge, MA, MIT University Press, pp. 43-50.

18 Lito Zulueta, “Master Builder of the Filipino Soul” in *Philippine Daily Inquirer – Sunday Inquirer*, August 4, 2003.

19 Ernest Gellner, *Nations and Nationalism*, Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 57.

20 Partha Chatterjee, *The Nation and its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories*, Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press, p. 5.

**A version of this article was first published in [DOCOMOMO](https://www.docomomo.com/) Journal No. 34 (Paris, France: International Working Party for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement, March 2006) and was first presented at the Seventh International Conference on Philippine Studies held at Leiden, the Netherlands, June 2004.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Heritage

**Tags:** Bakay kubo, Beaux Arts, Capitol Theater, Colonial, Daniel Burnham, Escolta, Francisco Mañosa, Leandro Locsin, Modernism, Nationalism, Post-colonial, Tropical, Tropical Architecture, Vernacular, William Parsons

---

### [Old plastic containers upcycled in this green home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/edwin-uy-bci-green-house/)

**Published:** April 23, 2018
**Author:** Sibyl Layag

**Excerpt:** A tight budget and requests for low-maintenance compelled Edwin Uy to execute solutions that led to an environment-friendly home.

**Content:**

The best houses in the world are a many-headed collaboration between the architect, the client, and the contractor, and some measure of serendipity. The tiny window through which happenstance—whether driven by the site, the budget, the client’s or other circumstances—is allowed to take its course lets in a touch of magic and uncommon sense that the architect could not have injected. And so the best architects (and clients) are the ones who know when to open this providential window that often results in designs that truly work.

[Edwin Uy](https://edwinuy.ph/) is one such architect, particularly in the case of a house he designed in an exclusive village south of Manila. He describes the overall design as something that just “came together,” but thanks to the strength of Uy’s aesthetic, the end result looks neither haphazard nor half-hearted. Construction started in 2012 and was completed two years later due to budget constraints. Earlier this year, it was cited for merit by the [BCI Asia Green Leadership Award 2016](https://www.bciasia.com/).

Uy did not set out to make this house a “green home,” but his clients’ tight budget (only P4 million!) and request for a low-maintenance house—practically the only directions they gave him in the beginning—compelled him to execute modern design solutions that inevitably led to an environment-friendly and affordable home. But it wasn’t an easy journey; Uy flexed his problem-solving muscles overtime to stretch every peso and still deliver a home his clients would appreciate and enjoy.

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-1 - BluPrint")All the family spaces are arranged around the tiny ‘indoor garden,’ which provides the means for cross ventilation, and for warm air to escape (hot air always rises, while cool air descends). The opening goes all the way through the second floor and the roof above, allowing the bamboo planted below to grow as high as it could.Firstly, the site was sloped. [Edwin Uy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/kitchen/architect-edwin-uy-reshapes-kitchen-spaces-with-boffi/) always makes it a point to respect the natural characteristics of the sites he works on, so instead of leveling the ground, he raised the house on stilts, which helps cool the house from bottom to top and will continue to do so even as neighbors start building beside them, restricting air flow from the sides. The [air circulates through a light and ventilation shaft](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/baad-studio-r-house/) Uy inserted right in the middle of the house. The square-shaped void pierces through the first floor, the second floor, and the roof, and is lined on all sides with jalousie windows.

**READ MORE: [Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/house-number-17-edwin-uy/)**

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-2 - BluPrint")The house is raised on stilts, which assists ventilation tremendously. The steps leading up to the front door are even gentler than traditional señorita steps. Drainage and grating near the gate cut down water runoff from cascading down the driveway to the silong of the house.

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-7 - BluPrint")For stability, Uy filled the bottom plastic containers with cement, then the middle ones with sand, while the top ones were left empty.

Uy also lined the back wall of the house with these small windows. Besides being much less expensive and easy to clean, the glass louvers allow more air in than sliding glass doors, which can only be opened halfway. Hot air never accumulates in the house. In fact, there is always an enjoyable breeze wafting in, refreshing the interiors, and exiting out and up the core of the house, where everyone’s gaze tends to linger because of the refreshing greenery. The pole bamboo Uy planted in the ‘*silong*‘ of the house has since grown a few feet past the first floor, its lissome branches reaching for the sky.

There is something poetic about the heart of the home being a space of light and air and green, but Uy and the couple say there was no intent to make a statement. “It was a logical solution and response to the site,” Uy avers. The wife, for her part, derives great pleasure from the feature particularly when it is raining: “I enjoy the sound of the rain falling on the leaves.”

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-5 - BluPrint")The living room is well-used by the homeowners and their children, as well as all visitors. The same goes with the kitchen and dining area. There are no “formal” or for-show versions of these spaces elsewhere in the house. Uy and the husband, both avid lovers of designer pieces and keen discount hounds, bought all the furnishings on sale.![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-4 - BluPrint")The Shell container wall figures prominently in the interior of the house. When the kids were smaller, they instinctively used the handles of the plastic containers as grab bars when using the stairs. Fortunately, they sensibly listened to their parents and have not used the stacks of containers as a climbing wall.

It was in Edwin Uy’s choice of materials where he really made a difference in savings. “The only way to get around the tight budget was to make the structure itself lightweight,” he explained. This would help save on load-bearing materials such as beams and columns. His solution, the south-facing side of the house, which never fails to capture the attention of passers-by, was inspired by his clients’ personal story. The wall is made of [lightweight plastic oil containers](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/shau-microlibrary-typology/) from Shell, where the couple worked and met before they embarked on a life together (the husband’s father also worked at Shell). “That’s our love story so it’s really the soul of the house,” Uy’s clients said. Besides saving on construction costs, the plastic wall perpetuates sustainability through upcycling, and perhaps more meaningfully, offers a tiny window into the lives of the owners before one even enters the home.

**READ MORE: [Minimal Manor: CS Design Consultancy’s Nature-centric Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anna-sy-minimalist-house-nature/)**

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-9 - BluPrint")Appliances, cooking utensils, and supplies are neatly tucked away in cabinets of plywood. On the other hand I-beams, electrical ducts, and plumbing pipes, are exposed.

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-3 - BluPrint")The simple dining area, like all the other areas of the house, is bathed with light and air from all sides despite the modest space it occupies.

For the front (west) façade, Uy resisted the modernist predilection of using extensive glazing. Many local architects foolishly clad houses in inoperable expanses of glass, purportedly to save on electricity by letting an abundance of daylight in. Doing so unfortunately also traps an abundance of heat inside, which homeowners can combat only through air conditioning. Uy’s solution, a cement façade with a few tiny windows, seems counterintuitive in a tropical environment, but the concrete protects the house from the afternoon sun. Besides, Uy positioned the bathrooms by the west façade, so it doesn’t matter that those spaces can get warm in the summer.

The bedrooms, on the other hand, stay cool throughout the day and most months of the year, with windows opening to the north, south, and east. And then of course, the central core with the bamboo provides the means for the spaces upstairs and downstairs to cross-ventilate. The only area of the house that gets hot is the office nook with the one large window facing west. There is also glare coming in from that area.

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-11.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-11 - BluPrint")The master bedroom has windows facing the north, south and east, with openings close to the ceiling as well as the floor, ensuring heat does not accumulate in the room at any time of the day.Because of the small budget, the original plan to have a pool in the lower ground floor was shelved in favor of a play area with a large slide for the kids and their playmates to enjoy. “It was my husband’s idea, much like all the other crazy ideas you see in this house,” the woman of the house said in jest.

One unforeseen benefit of leaving surfaces unpainted and unvarnished is the homeowners’ children have learned to recognize, appreciate, and respect materials, their uses, and their limitations. The eldest son has been using the I-beams in his room as a magnetic board for displaying his scribbles. “He used the space and made it his own with no one telling him what to do with it,” Uy said. The mother also recounted how her son, when showing classmates around the house, would talk about the different materials—concrete, cement board, hardwood, plywood, steel and plastic.

**READ MORE: [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/)**

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-15.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-15 - BluPrint")Below the house is a surprise for kids and adults alike: a bright green slide from the first floor to the silong. Also in the silong, Uy prepared the groundwork for a future pool when the couple can afford it.![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-14.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-14 - BluPrint")A conversation nook in the silong. From flooring to walls, Uy left the wood and cement exposed. “I consider this project the one in which I was really able to get as close to honesty of materials as possible,” Uy said. “I am lucky my clients were open to my experimenting.”

When prodded about regrets, they said they have none, and would not have their house any other way. “Our house is unique,” they said. “It’s the only one like this in the universe.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Volume 5 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

![bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16.jpg "bluprint-architecture-edwin-uy-house-16 - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Garden, Interiors, Spaces

**Tags:** Architecture, BCI Asia Green Leadership Award 2016, Edwin Uy, Green Architecture, Green Design, House, Indoor garden, Jalousie, Manila, Philippines, Residential, Upcycling

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### [This tropical minimalist home by Valencia and Go stands out in Iloilo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/tropical-minimalist-home-iloilo/)

**Published:** April 24, 2018
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** Paolo Valencia and Isabella Robles Go design a home for a family to live as they please while keeping appearances and some things secret

**Content:**

After two years of being lived in, there isn’t a nook or cranny in the L family’s home that betrays an oversight or afterthought by either architect or interior designer. That is quite simply extraordinary. The house stands out from its neighbors for its strong, sensible lines. It has little of the superfluities many homes in middle-class and upscale subdivisions in [Iloilo City](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/revitalizing-downtown-iloilo/ "Iloilo City")—or for that matter, the rest of the country—indulge in, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. L’s daughter, a type-A personality who took over from her parents and told architect Paolo Valencia and interior designer [Isabella Robles Go](https://isabellaroblesgo.com/) what she wanted.

“A modern, tropical, minimalist house in white,” Robles Go recounts. Sounds cliché, but where ostensibly modern silhouettes are too often blurred by copycat embellishment, and a locale where salmon pink, sunflower yellow, and California orange abodes abound, Valencia and Robles were happy to oblige.

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5 - BluPrint")The dining room, master bedroom and entertainment room, which face the east and catch the morning sun, are the coolest areas of the house come afternoon and evening. [The *brise soleil*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/spacefabrik-brise-soleil-residence/ "The brise soleil") on the left shields the large master bathroom windows from the view while affording calming views of green fields beyond the perimeter wall. The Kenneth & Mock windows were installed with a 3M tint that successfully cuts heat and glare from bothering people inside the house. Outdoor furniture by Locsin.Valencia, who worked for [Bong Recio](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/xavier-oratory-by-bong-recio/ "Bong Recio") in Manila before setting up practice in his home province, produces designs recognizable for their levelheaded handling of volumes. Typically, there is one standout space amongst the boxy extensions. In Mrs. L’s house, it is the double-height living room, which stays cool despite the glazing on three sides because it faces north, is sheltered by deep eaves, and is protected against the harsh afternoon sun by a thick bank of tall trees to the west. Indoors, gauzy white curtains bathe the living area in a cloud of softness, gently filtering outside views and making [the inside space feel safe, fresh and clean](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/baad-studio-r-house/ "the inside space feel safe, fresh and clean").

**READ MORE: [Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/house-number-17-edwin-uy/ "Tropical Mid-Century Ranch: House Number 17")**

Valencia’s [play with volumes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/fabian-tan-architect-knikno-house/ "play with volumes") comes not from gimmickry but honesty, and serves to give each space inside its own unique feel. Each volume on the façade corresponds to a distinct space inside. By having some spaces advance and others recede, Mrs. L’s office on the second floor, for example, enjoys sightlines it otherwise wouldn’t have. A bay window on the third floor bumps outward to cup a conversation nook inside, while bedrooms on the street side retreat, literally withdrawing from the outside world and hiding from view, yet still able to see out over balconies and through [*brise soleil*](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/spacefabrik-brise-soleil-residence/).

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-2 - BluPrint")Designer Isabella Robles Go is particularly pleased with how the minimalist interiors show off the work of Filipino designers and craftsmanship. “I always try to go local,” she says. The sofa and table are by Milo Naval. The ceiling light shades were custom made by Azcor, the biggest one over a meter in height, and the smallest, about 80cm.

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-4 - BluPrint")On the ground floor, the door to the left leads to the dining room. Above, the door to the left leads to the master bedroom, and the door to the right, the home office. Robles Go took cues from Valencia’s exterior finishes and used the teakwood sandstone as a warm accent in the cool white interiors.

Robles Go is a fan of Valencia’s play with volumes and how he considers the relationship of [interior spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/heim-interiors-qc-house/) to the outdoors. The two often collaborate on projects, both meeting with clients from the get-go. “He covers the exterior design and most of the space planning. I design and specify everything inside the house—floors, walls, ceiling treatments, lighting, and all the furnishings. I appreciate how he considers my input. For example, he always asks whether the location and size of the bathroom that comes with the bedroom is acceptable to me. Sometimes, I ask for windows to be larger (I like big bedroom windows) and he’s willing to adjust so they still fit the architecture.”

Mrs. L’s favorite space in the house is the dining room and kitchen, another space suffused with soft light. Facing east, the room is cheery and refreshing at breakfast, the slender and airy silhouettes of the pole bamboo outside casting long and feathery shadows along the filmy drapes and across the light wood floor. At night, with curtains drawn to a starry sky, the room with its pale surfaces is cool and elegant.

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-3 - BluPrint")Facing the east and hidden away from the afternoon sun, the dining room is the coolest space in the home in the afternoon, which is great for Mrs. L, who spends a lot of time here baking pastries. The Vito Selma table, Milo Naval chairs, and Azcor lights declare Mrs. L a proud supporter of local design.Although Mrs. L says she and her husband went with whatever their daughter wanted, the couple gave substantial input to the designers. They gamely acted out their daily routine and how they envisioned living in their new home to help Valencia and Robles Go design spaces that would enable and enhance the lifestyle they wanted. Says Robles Go: “They walked me through how they saw themselves entertaining in the living room as well as in the dining and kitchen. They even role-played how they would communicate from the second floor to the living room, and how they saw themselves working and being able to look out to nice views—thus the home office that was originally a family room.”

**READ MORE: [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/ "Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House")**

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-7 - BluPrint")The home office faces west and is the hottest room of the house. It would be hotter were it not for the eaves and shade trees. Mrs. L, who enjoys working here in the mornings, asked for and got what she wanted-tranquil views of water and mangroves in the distance. Table and chairs by Dimensione

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-6 - BluPrint")This shot was taken at 8:30 in the morning, when the sun was still low enough in the sky to peek through the blinds. With the windows closed, the room gets warm by mid-morning. Ventilation works only in the sitting area, as there is no means for air to cross through and cool the sleeping area.Robles Go says she had the most fun designing the room of the daughter, who adamantly wanted zero clutter, but is in reality a bit of a hoarder. “The challenge was how to keep ALL of her stuff! So Paolo and I did several proposals in terms of space planning, and ended up with a loft to display her bags and shoes; concealed cabinets the entire length of her room; and a secret door to her wardrobe, vanity, toilet, and bath, which contains lots more storage.” The result is a luminously serene space that looks just as pristine as when the house was turned over to the family in 2014.

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-9 - BluPrint")The daughter’s room is a model of purity and tranquility. The room looks tiny, but behind the pristine white walls on the right are secret shelves and cabinets by Mobelhaus. A gentle push to any of the wall panels will reveal its contents. Not seen in the picture, near the foot of the bed to the right, is a secret door to the walk-in closet and bathroom. Dragnet chair and Acacia side table by Kenneth Cobonpue and floor lamp by Azcor. The bed by Our Home was reupholstered in Iloilo.

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-11.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-11 - BluPrint")Together, the daughter’s walk-in closet and bathroom are almost as long and wide as the bedroom. Behind the sliding glass doors on the left and right are closets. The cabinetry by Modular Fusion includes an island for purses, sunglasses, and loads and loads of cosmetics, which the daughter accumulated when she worked as a makeup artist.

The L family’s home is remarkable for the seamless marriage of architecture and interior design. Everything still works as it should. The hidden closets, cabinets, and miscellaneous storage spaces tucked away in every conceivable corner of the house still have room to spare for more acquisitions. It turns out Mrs. L is more of a hoarder than her daughter, and cannot resist stocking up on groceries, household items, clothes, and seasonal décor whenever they’re on sale.

The revelation makes Valencia’s and Robles Go’ achievement even more remarkable. Both designers have enabled and enhanced their clients’ lifestyle through the strength, functionality and sheer thoughtfulness of the architecture and space planning, down to the easy accessibility of switches and outlets. The attentiveness to their clients’ wishes and weaknesses is both empowering and forgiving, like a soft light that brings out the natural good looks of people better than bright light can, and renders their little imperfections invisible. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**This article first appeared in BluPrint Volume 5 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint.ph.**

**READ MORE: [Minimal Manor: CS Design Consultancy’s Nature-centric Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anna-sy-minimalist-house-nature/ "Minimal Manor: CS Design Consultancy’s Nature-centric Home")**

![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-12.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-12 - BluPrint")Ground Floor![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-13.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-13 - BluPrint")Second Floor![bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-14.jpg "bluprint-architecture-interiors-lao-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-14 - BluPrint")Third Floor

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Architecture, House, Iloilo, Interior Design, Isabella Robles Go, Minimalist, Modern, Paolo Valencia, Residential, Tropical

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### [RT+Q three-block family house interlinked by art and architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/three-block-family-house-rtq/)

**Published:** May 2, 2018
**Author:** Mark Denis Ong

**Excerpt:** The house was not built as a single, large house screaming for attention, but as a series of pavilion-like blocks to cater to each 'unit' of the family.

**Content:**

“Core values” is a term commonly heard from Fortune 500 companies with thousands of employees. Often, these ‘values’ are ambiguous words and phrases with a loose, abstract, or even bizarre relationship with what the company actually does.

Since 2003, [RT+Q](https://www.rtnq.com/), an architectural firm with no more than 30 staff in their studio have been guided by their own set of architectural core values and in doing so, have emerged as one of Sinagpore’s pre-eminent architectural design houses. Since their establishment, their works have quickly become a fixture in Singapore and Southeast Asia’s architectural publications with an early focus on modern single family homes in Singapore.

Fast forward to 2016, [RT+Q](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-architects-60s-terrace-house/) has now become a regional practice with works in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia (among others) and a much broader range of building typologies.

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-4 - BluPrint")One family, one home, three generations, three blocks: Sharing a common architectural character, each block retains its own personality, whether wrapped with privacy screens (Block B to the left) or using owner TK Quek’s impressive art collection to define the street-facing facade (Block A to the right). Says Quek, “I wanted to contrast the beauty, discipline, and character of Aung San Suu Kyi painted by Malaysian artist, Chong Siew Yin, with the ugliness of self-indulgence in the painting called Second Aunty by Chinese artists, Wu Gong.”## A counterintuitive approach

Partly to blow off steam, partly for team-building, but primarily for soul searching, since 2013, the firm began the practice of embarking on annual architectural pilgrimages. They have taken thier staff to the quarries of Spain and Portugal (2013), to the works of Palladio and Scarpa in Italy (2014), Le Corbusier’s in France (2015), and most recently to India (2016) for Le Corbusier’s latter works and the country’s temples, palaces, and stepwells.

According to Rene Tan and TK Quek, whose initials make up RT+Q, they do this to keep in touch with, refine, re-examine, and redefine the three [core values of their work](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/wang-shu-fresh-historic-modern/): scale + proportion, materials, and what they have come to call “a counter intuitive approach.” Of the three, easily the most intriguing and unique is the last: counter intuition—the quest to provide an element of surprise, to do the unexpected. The result is an element of curiosity, delight, and even fun that have since defined the work of RT+Q.

**READ MORE: [Shophouse by RT+Q becomes urban street lantern at night](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/rtq-shophouse-urban-lantern/)**

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-3 - BluPrint")Two black pools of water announce one has arrived at a home of tranquility and depth. Standing sentry at the resort-style open-sided pavilion and entry foyer, a bronze piece called Holicoide by a Spanish artist, Jesus Curia Reyes, welcomes guests with open wings.![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-6 - BluPrint")A choreographed experience: The owner’s art collection is utilized to full effect as they are deployed to terminate vantage points as one journeys through the house. A sculpture greets visitors upon entry through the foyer.## The family as a determinant of scale

In 2015, design work was started on a house with a simple objective: to bring back a family together. The owner, an architect, was looking not just to build for himself, but also to get his son (also an architect) and his young family to move back in. He also wanted to ensure that his other son, based overseas, had a home base in Singapore for the holidays.

True to RT+Q’s core values, the solution was not to build a single, large house screaming for attention, but [a series of elegantly-proportioned and interlinked pavilion-like blocks](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/windward-house-batangas/) to cater to each ‘unit’ of the family: one for the patriarch and his wife (Block A), another for his son and young family (Block B) and a smaller, guest-cum-pool house for his overseas-based son (Block C). This allowed each house to cater to the specific needs of each family, allowing them privacy as needed, whilst still successfully bringing them together.

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-2.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-2 - BluPrint")Family Picture: The individual blocks not only share a common outdoor space, they have also been configured to frame views into each others’ living rooms, yet another form of three-generational family bonding through space.![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-5 - BluPrint")The red rhinoceros painting by Malaysian artist, Ahmad Zakii Anwar## Counter intuition at work

In many ways, the site plan is a demonstration of RT+Q’s counter-intuitive approach: located next to a high-rise condominium (abutting the northern boundary of the site), the *expected* approach would have been to push the house as far away from the condominium as possible, whilst placing as many barriers, visual or otherwise, from the house’s high-density next door neighbor.

After an analysis of the condominium’s layout, RT+Q instead does the opposite: Block A is instead pushed right next to the condominium plot to the site’s north eastern edge, allowing the owner to enjoy unobstructed views to its swimming pool. “Their landscape is now my landscape!” the owner jokingly but proudly said as he showed off the view to the next door condominium’s resort-style pool deck from his bedroom’s private study.

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-7 - BluPrint")Space+Volume: A mechanized movable wall system showcases part of the owner’s painting collection in the double volume space of Block A’s living room. Antique furniture pieces add layers of richness to the house’s internal spaces. The works that are hung are by Malaysian artists, Ahmad Zakii Anwar and Kow Leong Kiang; Myanmar artist, Min Wae Aung; and Indonesian artist, Srihadi Soedarsono.

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-10 - BluPrint")Since moving in, it has become a hobby of sorts for the owner to move his sculpture pieces around the house, surprising and delighting guests. He continues getting a kick out of using the piece with the the ladder called, Fix, by Chinese sculpture, Mu Boyan to give guests and even passers-by from the street the impression the house is still unfinished.

With Block A positioned at the north-eastern corner of the site, Block B is then positioned diagonally across to the south-western corner of the site. They minimally overlap with a covered linkway, which also functions as a semi-outdoor foyer. With their longer elevations oriented north-south, heat gain is minimized as their staggered placement from each other offers each house privacy whilst maximizing views and facilitating natural cross ventilation.

[Landscape and a swimming pool fuse the two blocks together](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/twin-house-ed-ledesma/). Block C, clad entirely in greenery, except for a window pop-out which showcases a playful piece from the owner’s sculpture collection, with its small 36-square meter footprint, ‘disappears’ into the landscape.

**READ MORE: [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/)**

## Art and material craft

The manner in which the site has been organized has also allowed each block to embody and very precisely meet their occupants’ needs.

With only two occupants, the owner and his wife, Block A has also become home to the family’s permanent guest: Art. Apart from regular wall space throughout the house, a double volume space and a mechanized movable wall system in the living room efficiently [showcases the owner’s impressive art collection](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/syjuco-artlab/). In contrast, housing a young architect, his wife and their three young children, Block B exudes the feel of a family man’s home: homey, child-friendly, and easy-goingly comfortable.

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-1 - BluPrint")Material Craft: Water, timber, aluminum, stone, glass, and greenery–the full palette of materials, whose application to the house was streated as craft is fully evident at every corner within and beyond the confines of the house.Despite the contrasting programmes and spatial characteristics of each house, cohesiveness is achieved through the consistent application of materials that transcends the programs of the individual spaces. Evidence of the application of materials treated as craft is undeniable as one moves through the house’s many different spaces. Italian travertine and limestone and a variety heat-treated Asian timbers are not only applied but also showcase their natural beauty, giving a subtle richness and character to the internal spaces.

**READ MORE: [Artist Charlie Co keeps his passion for art alive in his art house](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/charlie-co-art-house/)**

![bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-12.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-12 - BluPrint")Objoect/Non-object: Block C, the guest house, is covered in greenery, making it the feature ‘object’ of the house’s central landscape space. Yet it is also this facade treatment that allows it to ‘disappear’ from the corner of one’s eye.

Externally, a volcanic basalt lava stone from China anchors each house’s first storey, whilst above, aluminium blades provide sun shading and offer privacy to each house. The clever use of lightweight aluminium (commonly used in Singapore as construction boarding material) is also used for the houses’ roofs and eaves to give the upper levels a sense of lightness, and carefully but subtly suggest the houses’ tropical context.

## Core values and family values

Today, the house evokes a ‘moved into’ atmosphere, with spaces ceasing to be posed and styled for show-and-tell visits for the family’s guests, colleagues, and the architectural press. The smells of baking cupcakes and cookies waft through both houses. Children’s books and toys and other everyday items abound, and the owner’s sculptures are being playfully moved about, cleverly greeting, surprising, and delighting. For RT+Q, it is in this every day state where their architecture’s core values are revealed and crystallized. For the owner and his three-generation family, it becomes a reflection of *their* values.![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original articles first appeared in BluPrint Volume 2 2017. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-13.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-13 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-14.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-14 - BluPrint")![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-rtq-singapore-family-tropical-house-17.jpg "bluprint-architecture-rt+q-singapore-family-tropical-house-17 - BluPrint")

**Categories:** Architecture, Residential

**Tags:** Architecture, Art, Family House, House, Interior, Pool, Rene Tan, Resort Style, RT+Q, Sculpture, Singapore, TK Quek, Tropical House, Tse Kwang Quek

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### [A modern home in Iloilo honors the past with antique furnishing](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/iloilo-modern-home-valencia-robles-go/)

**Published:** May 9, 2018
**Author:** Judith Torres

**Excerpt:** Paolo Valencia and Isabella Robles Go designed this modern home to be their clients' second and last home after a devastating typhoon

**Content:**

The Dees were so traumatized by the flash flood of Typhoon Frank in Iloilo in 2008; they swore when they’d have a new [house built it would be on high ground](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/house-number-17-edwin-uy/ "house built it would be on high ground"). They were living in [Jaro](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/jaro-city-hall-restored/ "Jaro") when Frank happened, a few months after Typhoon Ondoy. “Jaro was awash in muddy water,” Mrs. Dee recounts. “I lost a lot of art pieces during Frank. Even our big, really heavy, antique jars just floated out of the house! It happened too fast—in just twenty minutes, they were gone while we were bringing pieces of furniture up to the second floor. Many of my paintings were submerged. All the paintings on paper were hopelessly damaged. Even the [*Sabel* by Bencab](https://www.bencabmuseum.org/national-artist/) was submerged, but only for a little while. One of the guards swam into the living room, took Sabel off the wall and brought her upstairs!”

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-10.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-10 - BluPrint")Since this side of the house faces west, architect Valencia made the eaves extra deep (over three meters) to shade the interiors from the afternoon sun. From four o’clock onwards, however, there is no avoiding the rays of the setting sun. Tinted glass and remote-controlled roll down shades are the answer to the glare. Similarly, the lower left canopy can only shade the lanai from early afternoon sun. Both spots are valued for unobstructed views of the sunset over the subdivision’s manmade lake.The Dees chose the highest elevation in a new subdivision near Iloilo International Airport. The sprawling 1,800-square meter lot overlooks a man-made lake intended to collect water runoff during the rainy season. Since the area had a natural depression that accumulated rain water, the developers converted the marshy spot into a lovely pastoral setting for their [clubhouse](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/unbuilt-hospitality-recreational-spaces/ "clubhouse"), complete with gazebo and rolling lawns, a scene the Dee family and their guests enjoy from the lofty perch of their living room.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-00.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-00 - BluPrint")The cantilevered glass section on the left and the five clerestory windows next to it mark the volume that makes up the living room. Underneath is the basement gym. The three large windows on the second story are for the walk-in wardrobe, and the five clerestory windows next to them bring daylight into the bathroom. The glass volume at the end is the master bedroom.Their new home is nothing like the Dee family’s first, which was Mediterranean in style. The architect, Paolo Valencia, assured Mrs. Dee her Filipino and Asian antiques would fit right in a [modern home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/lor-calma-modernist-house/ "modern home"). And while her kids were trying to persuade her to let go of her various collections and adopt a minimalist style to go with the contemporary house, interior designer Isabella Robles Go promised Mrs. Dee she would design a wall display that would let her keep much of the stuff crowding the shelves in their old home.

**READ MORE: [This tropical minimalist home by Valencia and Go stands out in Iloilo](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/tropical-minimalist-home-iloilo/)**

The family’s biggest heirloom, the four-poster bed of Mr. Dee’s grandmother, didn’t go into anybody’s bedroom, but into the airy foyer. “When Sab (Isabella Robles Go) told me about putting the bed here, I had my doubts. I couldn’t picture it. She said it would make a statement to people coming into the house that this is a new home, a modern home, but filled with old pieces that tell stories about our family. It’s become my favorite place in the house.”

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-4.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-4 - BluPrint")Mr. Dee’s grandmother’s bed in the foyer, as seen from the front door. The headboard was removed so the bed could be oriented horizontally like a divan facing the garden. Because of the bed, this space has become Mrs. Dee’s favorite spot for reading and contemplation in the afternoons-an unusual function for a foyer!

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-5 - BluPrint")The sliding glass doors on the right lead to the living room; the hallway above, to the daughter’s and master bedrooms on the left. A bright Charlie Co painting complements the antique Orientalia below.

The residence is huge for a family of four, but the layout is practical and convenient. Two gates allow guests to be dropped off at the front entrance shaded by a deep and wide cantilevered canopy. The gate at the far end of the lot leads to a four-car garage with a sheltered walkway to the kitchen—a necessity architects often carelessly overlook. If Mrs. Dee or her chef son aren’t dropping off bags of fresh produce or the catch of the day at the kitchen, they can each slip into their bedrooms unseen by visitors in the living and dining rooms. She, via a flight of stairs by the back entrance, and he, just down the hallway. Meanwhile, arriving guests, after delighting in the century-plus old bed in the foyer, may enjoy refreshing views of the garden on the north side of the lot, or [browse through the art pieces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/charlie-co-art-house/ "browse through the art pieces") on both sides of the front door.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-1.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-1 - BluPrint")“Before I designed the display wall,” says Robles go, “I asked Tita which of her old pieces she wanted to use. We gathered them together and I tried several groupings before I laid out the shelves. With the cove lighting at night, it’s very dramatic.” To the right, safely elevated where careless hands can’t touch it, is National Artist Bencab’s *Sabel*, which a guard rescued from the flash flood of Typhoon Frank in 2008. Bronze-hued instead of clear glass pendant lamps by Illuminati were chosen for a more cohesive look with the antiques in the *sala*, and to break up the white expanse of the white ceiling.If Mrs. Dee loved entertaining in their old house, she positively relishes doing so in their new home. Says Roble Go: “The living room layout was designed in groups because she prefers interesting seating and conversation areas.” Robles Go, a staunch supporter of the local furniture industry, [anchored each grouping with modern Filipino pieces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/dee-residence/). The two humongous sofas by Milo Naval do not appear oversized in the large space, and the checkered weave pattern prevents them from looking ponderous and formal.

**READ MORE: [BAAD Studio designs a house that really, really breathes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/baad-studio-r-house/ "BAAD Studio designs a house that really, really breathes")**

A nine-foot tall lounge chair by Locsin dominates the cantilevered end of the living room. Beside it is a painting by Zalameda [depicting a sugar harvest](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/muhon-regional-tour-bacolod/ "depicting a sugar harvest"). “I chose that because my husband is a sugar farmer,” says Dee. On the opposite wall is Bencab’s rescued *Sabel*. The lanai, with its circular woven seating arrangement by an Ilonggo supplier, is for breezy afternoons and evenings. The overall look is bright, cheerful, and elegant.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-6.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-6 - BluPrint")All the furnishings in the dining room are old, save for the buffet table and lighting fixtures.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-7.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-7 - BluPrint")It’s hard to believe there are two active cooks who work almost daily in this tidy kitchen. The secret: carefully planned storage, everything within easy reach, non-porous surfaces, impeccable finishes, and invisible electrical outlets that pop out only when you need them.

On the other side of the foyer, the dining room is a more formal space. The forms are modern, the colors, patterns, and décor, Chinoiserie. When it’s just the family eating, they do so close to the heart and hearth of the house, where mother and son are in their element—the kitchens.

The clean kitchen is not for show, and the stainless steel ‘dirty’ kitchen is spotless. Both are the most hardworking spaces of the house, and probably the most thoroughly planned. Considering Valencia and Robles Go designed the house anticipating each family members’ routine and preferences, that’s saying a lot. Every appliance, dish, utensil, seasoning, and spice has its proper place in the kitchen, their proximity to the cook—Mrs. Dee at the Viking oven and stove, and her chef son at the Wolf oven with the French style cooktop—determined by frequency and sequence of use.

**READ MORE: [Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/conrad-onglao-c-house/ "Modernism meets Asian resort in Conrad Onglao’s C House")**

“I told Sab I want all my knives here, liquids her, dry stuff there,” says Mrs. Dee, opening drawers and cabinets one by one and surprising us with the precision and organization of her workspace. The countertops, backsplashes, and cabinetry are immaculate. “Look at this!” Mrs. Dee pushes on a round plate underneath one of the overhead cabinets, and a gang of electrical outlets pops out. There are several such pop-out outlets, ensuring mother and son can work with any number of appliances where they want on the generous, L-shaped countertop without the hassle of snaking wires.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-9.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-9 - BluPrint")The master bathroom with its waterfall and meditating Buddha. Says Mrs. Dee: “I wanted an indoor garden in the bathroom, but Paolo advised me against it. He said I wouldn’t like the hassle of periodically changing the plants and he was right. I love the sound of the waterfall. It’s so soothing.”![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-11.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-11 - BluPrint")The 17-meter long wardrobe with vanity table at the end.

There’s more that’s memorable about the house. Should visitors find their way into the master bath, they’re not likely to forget the Buddha in the waterfall, and the 17-meter long wardrobe—the one feature Valencia and Robles Go carried over from the Dee’s first home. “Her wardrobe there was almost as big as this one,” remarks Robles Go, who is every bit as organized as her client and specified the configuration of the glass cabinetry to accommodate every kind of clothing and accessory Mrs. Dee would likely have. What this bathroom has over the previous one is a beauty salon shampoo sink for the convenience of home-service professional hair styling.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-12.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-12 - BluPrint")A flight of steps near the front entrance takes visitors down to Mr. Dee’s well-appointed office in the basement. The skylights above illuminate the staircase without letting heat through because the glass is shaded above by the living room eaves.

Planning for the house began in the last quarter of 2013, and construction, January 2014. While the house was being built, Mr. Dee left the decision-making to his wife and the professionals. Every so often, when picking her up from the site, Mr. Dee would remark in the car that the house was bigger than he imagined it would be. To which she always replied: “It isn’t big, it’s just right!” Construction ended February 2016, and when Mr. Dee made his first tour of the house, he was flabbergasted by the size—a footprint of almost a thousand square meters. (His wife’s wardrobe in the first home should have been a clue how big the new house could get, though). In a fit of contrition, Mrs. Dee promised her husband she wouldn’t buy a handbag for the next ten years.

**READ MORE: [Minimal Manor: CS Design Consultancy’s Nature-centric Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/anna-sy-minimalist-house-nature/ "Minimal Manor: CS Design Consultancy’s Nature-centric Home")**

Valencia and Robles Go waited with bated breath for Mr. Dee to like the house—he was, after all, paying the bills. They were especially happy with the basement they designed for him. Aside from a gym, there is a private office for conducting business without visitors entering the home. A hidden stairway gives family members access without going out the front door. The two designers had to wait a couple months, however, as Mr. Dee dragged his feet on transferring to the new house. “He found it difficult to leave their first home for sentimental reasons,” Robles Go surmises.

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-8.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-8 - BluPrint")The hallway above the foyer that leads to the master bedroom straight ahead

![bluprint architecture modern home paolo valencia isabella robles go iloilo](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-3.jpg "bluprint-architecture-dulalia-house-paolo-valencia-isabella-robles-go-iloilo-3 - BluPrint")The master bedroom, which occupies the full width of the second floor, enjoys cross ventilation from north-south winds, making it the coolest bedroom in the house.When they finally did move in, the home’s many thoughtful conveniences won Mr. Dee over. He’s come to see it as a house that knows and serves its occupants well. And when he says it is the family’s second and last house he’ll ever build, there are no objections. Mrs. Dee knows he says it because he’s happy with their new home and couldn’t ask for better. Proof of satisfaction? Not ten weeks after moving in, while the family was traveling abroad, he told her with a smile to go ahead and buy a new bag. ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

**Original article first appeared in BluPrint Special Issue 3 2016. Edits were made for Bluprint online.**

**Categories:** Architecture, Concept

**Tags:** Antique, Architecture, Contemporary, House, Iloilo, Iloilo International Airport, Interior Design, Interiors, Isabella Robles Go, Jaro, Modern, Paolo Valencia

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### [Visit 6 iconic hotel bathrooms showcasing GROHE versatility in new SG flagship](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/grohe-singapore-flagship/)

**Published:** May 10, 2018
**Author:** MH Canlas

**Excerpt:** The largest GROHE Spa store in Singapore also packs digital bells and whistles like AR and VR to spark in its visitors the ‘pure joy of water’ 

**Content:**

The newest GROHE Spa flagship store in Singapore wastes no time in showing off its superlatives: it occupies two storeys of prime commercial space in the iconic Orchard Road, with over 550 square meters of retail space, and 400 of the company’s products on display and use. The store’s *piece de resistance* can be said to be the painstakingly reconstructed replicas of six five-star hotel bathrooms around the world outfitted with GROHE fixtures.

The store was also outfitted with the latest in VR technology (including the installation of 4 projectors for the in-store virtual reality shower configurator booth), a digital investment that set back the store’s nine-month construction period and contributed to its SGD$2 million price tag. The resulting space is a triumph of experiential retail design that offers the same amount of consumer immersion and interaction for the bathroom industry comparable to the likes of BMW and Apple showrooms.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GroheShowroomSingapore-Facade-wide-day.jpg "GroheShowroomSingapore-Facade-wide-day - BluPrint")The 6,000 square feet showroom cost SGD$2 million dollars and 9 months to complete## Tap of the World

In a bid to showcase both the prestigious hospitality brands and exotic locales GROHE has collaborated with, as well as emphasize the stylistic versatility of its product design, the flagship store reconstructed six international bathroom replicas. From the tropical climes of Phuket, Thailand’s Sri Panwa to the maritime-themed Stora Hotellet Umea in Umea, Sweden, the bathrooms are all united with their trust for GROHE’s wide range of bathroom products.

**READ MORE: [Filipino teams test run for WAF 2017 at GROHE send-off](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/grohe-waf-2017-send-off/)**

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GroheShowroomSingapore-SriPanwa.jpg "GroheShowroomSingapore-SriPanwa - BluPrint")Ensconced in a tropical rainforest-setting, the Sri Panwa resort in Phuket, Thailand enlists the quality, quite simplicity and efficiency of GROHE’s Allure lineGROHE not only promises German-engineered efficiency but also heightens hospitality experiences no matter the location. Case in point is the revamped GROHE Atrio line, which was used for the Conrad Koh Samui in Thailand, and was recently relaunched last May 6, 2018 together with the showroom.

![GROHE Atrio](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GROHE-pool44588.jpg "GROHE-pool44588 - BluPrint")The GROHE Atrio line was recently relaunched with the brand’s signature, pared-down aesthetic, a design language extended to the 35 products within the range, available in three finishes: the classic chrome, SuperSteel, and Brushed Hard Graphite. Photo courtesy of Attilla HartwigEmeisDeubel![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GroheShowroomSingapore-StoraHotellet.jpg "GroheShowroomSingapore-StoraHotellet - BluPrint")The GROHE Veris’ sensual minimalism offers a quiet contrast to the memorable maritime-themed interiors of the Stora Hotellet Umea, replicated painstakingly in the showroom.The GROHE Veris’ sensual minimalism offers a quiet contrast to the memorable maritime-themed interiors of the Stora Hotellet Umea, replicated painstakingly in GROHE Spa’s flagship showroom.“Crafted from a single circle, the timeless elegance of the Atrio fits both classic and contemporary settings,” says Michael Seum, Vice President of Design for GROHE, “It is also crafted with machine-precision with not a stray millimeter spared in its design.”

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GroheShowroomSingapore-GalaxyMacau1.jpg "GroheShowroomSingapore-GalaxyMacau1 - BluPrint")The Galaxy Macau demands high efficiency fixtures to cater to its 2,000 guestrooms, one that GROHE’s Eurodisc Joy was able to provide with style and pizazz.**READ MORE: [WAF 2018 final call for entries, deadline on May 11](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/waf-2018-final-call-entries/)**

## Bathroom 2.0

The first GROHE-owned store in the world boasts amongst its attractions two implementations of VR technology: the CustomMySpace, which helps potential buyers clueless where to start by assisting them in creating their dream bathrooms with the help of real-time 3D rendering. After the product customization and 3D modeling of the space is done, users get a 360-degree look of their bathrooms via smartphones and VR goggles.

![](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GroheShowroomSingapore-InteractiveTable1.jpg "GroheShowroomSingapore-InteractiveTable1 - BluPrint")One of the showroom’s tech attractions is the CompleteMy Space, where users can craft the bathroom of their dreams with the help of VR and their smartphones. Just bring a photo of your bathroom or a floor plan and customize to your heart’s content in the store.Another tech feature is the virtual reality shower configurator booth which enables users to visualize and customize their bathrooms in 3D where they can select and customize a selection of GROHE’s wide range of bathroom fixtures in a ‘shower booth.’ All this without getting wet.

![GROHE Shower Configurator](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BWP_6036.jpg "BWP_6036 - BluPrint")The GROHE Shower Configurator helps users select, customize and configure their dream shower setup by allowing them access to a wide range of GROHE products that can be installed and experienced in virtual reality. With the help of four projectors, the projections simulate the location and stream direction of the products all without getting a drop of water on yourself“The store is an investment we’re willing to make to change the present day consumer’s mindset; we spend so much money in our living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms but we scrimp on good quality products on our bathrooms, which is actually a very important space that play an important role in our daily routines,” says Audrey Yeo, Vice President of Marketing for GROHE. “The store was designed to bring consumers closer to their bathrooms with the use of good design and technology.” ![B ender](https://assets.bluprint-onemega.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/B-ender.jpg "B ender - BluPrint")

***The GROHE Spa Flagship Store can be found at 1 Scotts Road #01-04/05 Shaw Centre Singapore 228208. Visit their website at [grohe.com](https://www.grohe.com)***

**Categories:** Interiors, Retail

**Tags:** AR, Atrio, Bathroom, Design, Grohe, Grohe Flagship Store, Hotels, Interior Design, Michael Seum, Singapore, Technology, Toilet, Virtual Reality, VR

---


## Pages

### [Contact Us](https://bluprint-onemega.com/contact-us/)

**Published:** May 13, 2026
**Author:** Patricia Revilla

**Content:**

1. Business Hours:Opens Mondays to Fridays
    10:00 am to 6:00 pm
2. Location:18th Floor, Offices at the Galleon Bldg, ADB Avenue, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Metro Manila

---

### [Terms and Conditions](https://bluprint-onemega.com/terms-and-conditions/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

## Terms and Conditions

This website (this “Site”) is operated by One Mega Group Inc. (“BluPrint”, “we”, “our”, “us”) in conjunction with others pursuant to contractual arrangements.

YOUR RIGHT TO ACCESS THE CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE AND TO USE THE SERVICES PROVIDED VIA THIS WEBSITE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH BELOW. ANY BREACH OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH BELOW IMMEDIATELY TERMINATES SUCH RIGHTS.

Please note that we reserve the right at any time to change the terms and conditions set forth below. Any changes we make will be effective immediately upon notice, which we may provide by means including, without limitation, posting notice of such changes on this website. Your continued use of this website after such notice is evidence of your acceptance of all such changes.

We also reserve the right to limit the availability of this website and/or the provision of any content, service, or product described herein to any person, geographic area or jurisdiction, at any time and in our sole discretion, and to limit the quantities of any content, service, or product(s) that we may provide.

You use this Site at your sole risk. You agree that you will be personally responsible for your use of this Site and for all of your activity on this Site.

## Content

The content provided on this website, including any software, HTML code, data, text, graphics, images, audio and video clips, logos, icons and links (collectively, the “Content”) and any and all intellectual property rights therein are and shall remain at all times the property of BluPrint or its licensors or suppliers. You may download and use the Content for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not resell or commercially exploit the Content, nor may you download or copy Content for the benefit of a third party or use this Site or any of its Content to further any commercial purpose, including any advertising or advertising revenue generation activity on your own website. Any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools is expressly prohibited. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any Content without the express written consent of BluPrint or its licensors. Any unauthorized use of Content immediately terminates your right to access the Content of this website.

Although BluPrint strives to provide Content that is accurate, the nature of the data and other information contained on this Site is subject to frequent change. Accordingly, although BluPrint endeavors to use reasonable care in assembling the Content, the Content may not be up-to-date, accurate or complete. In addition, BluPrint cannot guarantee that technical difficulties will not occur during the uploading of the Content to your computer or that the Content will upload successfully to your computer.

Descriptions or images of, or references to, products, services, persons or entities on this Site do not imply BluPrint’ endorsement of such products, services, persons or entities. In addition, portions of the Content have been contributed to this website by various third parties. The inclusion of such content does not indicate any approval or endorsement thereof by BluPrint. BluPrint reserves the right to withdraw, temporarily or permanently, any Content from this Site at any time and for any reason. Removal may be immediate and without notice.

## Where To Send Notices Of Copyright Infringement

If you believe that this site has infringed upon your copyright, please notify us in writing sent to: One Mega Group Inc. 18th Floor, Offices at the Galleon Bldg, ADB Avenue, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Metro Manila; +63 2 8241 8970

## Links To Third-Party Sites

We may include hyperlinks on this Site to other websites or resources operated by parties other than BluPrint, including advertisers. BluPrint has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Site and is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any off-site pages nor are we responsible for the availability of such external websites or resources, and do not endorse and are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for the privacy practices or the content of such websites, including (without limitation) any advertising, products or other materials or services on or available from such websites or resources, nor for any damage, loss or offense caused or alleged to be caused by, or in connection with, the use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on such external websites or resources.

## Disclaimers

THIS WEBSITE, THE CONTENT, AND ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE OBTAINED THROUGH THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, BluPrint AND ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS, SPONSORS AND AGENTS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY WARRANTIES THAT MAY ARISE FROM COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE OR USAGE OF TRADE. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. BluPrint AND ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS, AND AGENTS DO NOT WARRANT THAT YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE OR SECURE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THIS WEBSITE, THE SERVER(S) ON WHICH THIS WEBSITE IS HOSTED IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING ALL TELEPHONE, COMPUTER HARDWARE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO ACCESS AND USE THIS WEBSITE, AND ALL CHARGES RELATED THERETO. YOU ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE AND YOUR RELIANCE THEREON. NO OPINION, ADVICE OR STATEMENT OF BluPrint OR ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS, SPONSORS, AGENTS, MEMBERS OR VISITORS, WHETHER MADE ON THIS WEBSITE OR OTHERWISE, SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY. YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT BluPrint SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR (I) PERSONAL INJURY, OR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF OUR SITE, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM, CAUSE OF ACTION, OBLIGATION, LIABILITY, RIGHT, OR REMEDY WHETHER OR NOT ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF BluPrint, (II) ANY UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR USE OF OUR SECURE SERVERS AND/OR ANY AND ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION AND/OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION STORED THEREIN, (III) ANY INTERRUPTION OR CESSATION OF TRANSMISSION TO OR FROM OUR SITE, (IV) ANY BUGS, VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES, DEFECTS, DATE BOMBS, TIME BOMBS OR OTHER ITEMS OF A DESTRUCTIVE NATURE WHICH MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO OR THROUGH OUR SITE BY ANY THIRD PARTY, AND/OR (V) ANY ERRORS, MISTAKES, INACCURACIES OR OMISSIONS IN ANY MATERIALS, OR FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF ANY MATERIALS POSTED, EMAILED TO OR FROM, TRANSMITTED OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE VIA THIS WEBSITE. BluPrint DOES NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE ADVERTISED OR OFFERED BY A THIRD PARTY THROUGH THIS WEBSITE OR ANY HYPERLINKED SITE, AND BluPrint WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO OR IN ANY WAY MONITOR ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. AS WITH THE PURCHASE OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE THROUGH ANY MEDIUM OR IN ANY ENVIRONMENT, YOU SHOULD USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT AND EXERCISE CAUTION WHERE APPROPRIATE. YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE AND ANY CONTENT PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

---

### [Privacy Policy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/privacy-policy/)

**Published:** January 9, 2023
**Author:** dmacct

**Content:**

## Privacy Policy

BluPrint is owned and operated by One Mega Group, Inc. (“OMGI”), a subsidiary of AGC Power Holdings Corp. This privacy policy will explain how our organization uses the personal data we collect from you when you use our website.

BluPrint is committed to protect and respect your personal data privacy. We take measures implementing and complying with the Data Privacy Act of 2012. We will provide individuals a Personal Information Collection Statement in an appropriate format and manner whenever we collect personal data from them (i.e. in the manual form or web page that collects personal data, or in a notice posted at the reception area of BluPrint events where participants’ personal data is collected through attendance sheets).

## Topics:

1. How do we collect your data?
2. How will we use your data?
3. How do we store your data?
4. Marketing
5. What are your data protection rights?
6. What are cookies?
7. How do we use cookies?
8. What types of cookies do we use?
9. How to manage cookies?
10. What are the protection measures in place?
11. Access and correction
12. Privacy policies of other websites
13. Changes to our privacy policy
14. How to contact us
15. How to contact the appropriate authority

**What data do we collect?**
BluPrint collects the following data:

- Personal identification information (Name, email address, phone number, etc.)
- Personal preferences to topics relating to fashion, beauty and lifestyle

**How do we collect your data?**
You directly provide BluPrint with most of the data we collect. We collect data and process data when you:

- Register online or place an order for any of our products or services
- Voluntarily complete a customer survey or provide feedback on any of our message boards or via email
- Use or view our website via your browser’s cookies

**How will we use your data?**
BluPrint collects your data so that we can:

- Process your order, manage your account;
- Email you with information on other products, events and services we think you might like.

If you agree,​ BluPrint will share your data with our partner company, AGC Power Holdings Corp., so that they may offer you their products and services. When ​BluPrint processes your order, it may send your data to, and also use the resulting information from, credit reference agencies to prevent fraudulent purchases.

### How do we store your data?

BluPrint securely stores your data on our server. BluPrint will keep your personal particulars for the lifetime of the publication. Once this time period has expired, we will delete your data.

### Marketing

BluPrint would like to send you information about products and services of ours and brand partners that we think you might like. These partners include fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands. If you have agreed to receive such information, you may always opt out at a later date. You have the right at any time to stop​ BluPrint from contacting you for marketing purposes or giving your data to other members of AGC Power Holdings Corp. If you no longer wish to be contacted for marketing purposes, please send in your request to enquiries@onemega.com.

**Advertising Policy**

BluPrint partners with third-party advertising companies to serve advertisements when you visit our website. To provide a high-quality experience and relevant content, we and our partners use technology to personalize the ads you see.

Third-Party Vendors and Cookies

- Personalized Advertising: Third-party vendors, including Google and other ad exchanges, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to BluPrint or other websites on the Internet.
- Ad Technology: Our advertising partners may use web beacons and cookies to collect non-identifiable information (such as your IP address, device type, or content viewed) to measure ad effectiveness and provide ads for goods and services that may interest you.

Affiliate Disclosure In the spirit of transparency, some of the links on our website are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, BluPrint may receive an affiliate commission. This helps support our editorial team and does not result in any additional cost to you.

Your Choices and Opt-Outs You have the right to control how your data is used for advertising:

Google Ads: You can manage the Google ads you see and opt out of Google’s personalized ads by visiting Google Ads Settings.

Network Advertising Initiative: You can opt out of third-party personalized advertising by visiting the NAI Opt-Out Page

### What are your data protection rights?

BluPrint would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following:

The right to access – ​You have the right to request ​BluPrint for copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service.

The right to rectification – ​You have the right to request that ​BluPrint correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request BluPrint to complete information you believe is incomplete.

The right to erasure – You have the right to request tha​t BluPrint erase your personal data, under certain conditions.

The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that​ BluPrint restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.

The right to object to processing – ​You have the right to object to ​BluPrint’ processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.

The right to data​​portability – ​You have the right to request that ​BluPrint transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at our email: , call us at: (632) 8241-8970, or write to us: 18th Floor, Offices at the Galleon Bldg, ADB Avenue, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Metro Manila.

### What are cookies?

Cookies are text files placed on your computer to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information. When you visit our website, we may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology. For further information, visit ​[www.allaboutcookies.org](https://www.allaboutcookies.org/)​.

**How do we use cookies?** 
BluPrint uses cookies in a range of ways to improve your experience on our website, including:

- Keeping you signed in;
- Understanding how you use our website.

**What types of cookies do we use?**
There are a number of different types of cookies, however, our website uses:

- Functionality​ – BluPrint uses these cookies so that we recognize you on our website and remember your previously selected preferences. These could include what language you prefer and location you are in. A mix of first-party and third-party cookies are used.
- Advertising​ – ​BluPrint uses these cookies to collect information about your visit to our website, the content you viewed, the links you followed and information about your browser, device and your IP address. ​BluPrint sometimes shares some limited aspects of this data with third parties for advertising purposes. We may also share online data collected through cookies with our advertising partners. This means that when you visit another website, you may be shown advertising based on your browsing patterns on our website.

### How to manage cookies.

You can set your browser to not accept cookies, and ​www.allaboutcookies.org​ tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. However, in a few cases, some of our website features may not function as a result.

### Protection Measures.

Only authorized NPC personnel has access to these personal information, the exchange of which will be facilitated through email and hard copy. They will be stored in a database for two years (after inquiries, requests are acted upon) after which physical records shall be disposed of through shredding, while digital files shall be anonymized.

### Access and Correction.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, as well as to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. To do so, please contact our Data Protection Officer, through the following email address: it@onemega.com.

### Privacy policies of other websites.

BluPrint’s website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy. Changes to our privacy policy BluPrint keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page.

### How to contact us.

If you have any questions about​ BluPrint’s privacy policy, the data we hold on you, or you would like to exercise one of your data protection rights, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Email us at: enquiries@onemega.com
Call us at: (632) 8241-8970
Or write to us: 18th Floor, Offices at the Galleon Bldg, ADB Avenue, Brgy. San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Metro Manila.

### How to contact the appropriate authority.

Should you wish to report a complaint or if you feel that BluPrint has not addressed your concern in a satisfactory manner, you may contact the National Privacy Commission.

Email:​ complaints@privacy.gov.ph
Address:​ 5th Floor Delegation Building, PICC Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Philippines

---

### [BluPrint Digital Access](https://bluprint-onemega.com/digital-access/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

---

### [Digital Access FAQS](https://bluprint-onemega.com/digital-access-faqs/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

## BluPrint Digital Access FAQS

### Is my BluPrint Digital Access subscription refundable?

No, BluPrint Digital Access subscriptions are non-refundable. Once purchased, you will have access to the digital content until your subscription expires.

### How long do I have access to my digital subscription?

You will have access to the digital content for the duration of your purchased subscription period (e.g., monthly, annual).

### Can I cancel my BluPrint Digital Access subscription?

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time prior to your next renewal date. Cancelling will prevent future renewals, but you will retain access to the digital content until your current subscription expires.

### I’ve forgotten my password. How can I reset it?

You can reset your password by clicking the “Forgot Password” link on the login page. Follow the instructions provided to reset your password via email.

### Can I download the e-magazines?

No, the e-magazines within BluPrint Digital Access are for online viewing only and are not available for download.

### Where can I purchase a print edition of BluPrint magazine?

You can purchase print editions of BluPrint magazine at our online store:

---

### [Thank You](https://bluprint-onemega.com/thank-you/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

## Thank You for Subscribing!

You now have access to all past and future digital issues of BluPrint Magazine.

Click here to start reading [e-magazine.](/emag/)

---

### [Custom Feed Builder](https://bluprint-onemega.com/custom-feed-builder/)

**Published:** August 8, 2025
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

Post Status:

 PublishedDraftPending

 Post Type:

 PostPageCustom Type

 Author:

 All2020 Stevie AwardsAaron QuintoAboitizlandACCELA COMMUNICATIONSACIIIDAdrian Tumang with Michelle Bracero TingAr. Adrian TumangAgatha Rodis of Platform 21 Architecture Co.Aldren GomezArchie CarrascoAHECAlan GarciaAlbert AycardoALDRIN B. PLAZAAlex Y. VergaraAlexa Santico AranazAlthea VillanuevaAlyana AcacioAmyline Quien ChingAngel YuloAngelo de CartagenaAngelyn SalvadorAnikha ChuaAnjelika OruiAnjella AguilarAnna ChuaAnnie AsistioAnthology Architecture and Design FestivalApples AberinArcadio GonzalesThe ArchHIVE TeamArielle AbrigoArts SerranoAmerican Standard Design AwardsAsusAtty. Frederick Go YoungAubrey AlejoBettina BonoanBianca R. SalongaBien AronalesBrian HontiverosBuild Build BuildCarisa MagnoCaresa Lou MagnoCarla GamalindaCarla Mae LeonorCarlo G. EstadoCarlo TumaliuanCarlos HubillaCarmen Lim-RegalaIdr. Carol Pena-SantosCarren JaoCaryll OngCatherine D. OngCathy SaldañaCAZA ArchitectsIDr. Cecil RavelasCeia YlaganChad LosantaChad RialpCheryl TiuChristina ZabatThe Indio ChroniclesCollaborative ArchitectureThe BluPrint TeamCrown AsiaCreative ServicesCy YambaoDaniel LampaDan LichaucoDania FloresDanielle FernandezDavid GarciaDenise AyadoDenny Mata and Gabrielle DelacruzDenny MataDenny Mata and Angel YuloDenny Mata and Judith TorresDianne FernandoDiederik Veenendaal of Summum EngineeringdmacctDominic GaliciaEdson CabalfinEdward SimonElbert Or and Natacia Ann EsguerraEliza SantosElizabeth ReyesElke TiotuicoElla OcampoElle YapElyse IlaganEne S. LagunzadErik AkpedonuEstan CabigasEugene Jamerlanexport urlFabian Tan ArchitectFaye YoingcoFocus Globalfrance.ramosGabrielle De La CruzGABY ALEGREGabrielle de la Cruz and Judith Arellano TorresGaby AlegreGalerie JoaquinGeewel FusterGel G. GalangGeraldine VergaGermaine DilayGrace A. NgGraphisoftHabulan and Ngo Design Studio (HANDS) Co.Hannah DumlaoHannah HaberHannah Izabella Galanto of PSIDHawk CaroHazel SantosHenry ChuaIna RaquelIsaac Flores of ACIIIDIsaiah SadorraIvy and Cynthia AlmarioJamie SalazarJamie SiochiJan Felix ClostermannJanice Liuson-YoungJanina BautistaJanine RectoJann PascuaJar ConcengcoJason BuensalidoJayson Mata, Crystal Ventura, William Ti, Jr., Leandro Nicholas Rañoa Poco, and JC San LuisJean Paul PetezaJeff LibananJegs SantosJehdediah Hahn FranciscoJemimah TanJen-Lyn DumlaoJennifer Calubad-DyJennifer CristobalJeronne De VillaAtty. Jerry S. Coloma IIIJerwin CezarJesy CruzJie PambidJim CaumeronJim Caumeron and Miguel R. LlonaJimmy W. HermogenesJoanna Marie CamelloJoanne Marie CamelloJoel AldorJomae BondocJon Adriel MedallaJon PittmanJose Edgardo Abaya Gomez, Jr.Josef PonceJoseph AdG JavierJoseph Javier & Judith TorresJoven IgnacioJoy Celine AstoJoyce MarucotJuan AlcazarenJuanito Alipio Dela RosaJude RamirezJudith TorresJudith Torres and Troy BernardoJulia NebrijaJulian MauricioJustin C. Chua of JCCA Design StudioJustine Ruth PunzalanJustinne LugueKara GonzalesKaren TilladaKarl BautistaKarl F. CabilaoKarla PlacidoKassandra PepitoKat GonzalesKatherine LopezKathlyn Jean Kathlyn Jean AbalosKen FerolinoAr. Kevin NievesKim CruzKristoff SisonKUYSENLalaine AlmoroLaurence Angeleslauro.lampanolauro lampanoLawrence CarlosLeandro Nicholas Rañoa PocoLee CastilloLeo Lino M. AlmeriaLeon M. MayoLG PhilippinesIhasan HassanLian LadiaLIXILLloyd Capilit LlagaLorenzo EscoberLVLP and Eriksson FurunesLyle DolletonLyn TolentinoM GroupMaica JoseMaita BarciaMaita De JesusMaita QuiochoMaite UyManuel Maximo Lopez del Castillo NocheManuel VergaraMarc Pagdilaomaria abayaMarie La ViñaMariel Adraincem and Judith TorresMarie Lavinamark.hubillaMark Denis OngMark VillarDummy AccountMartin C. GallanMartin TeoMarvin Tolete of Marvin Tolete ArchitectsMarvin ToleteMary DizonIDr. Mary Ann Venturina Bulanadi , Ph.D.Matthew HungMaureen Anne AranetaMavic VedanaMaxine Panlilio of ACIIIDMay Lyn Cruz and Judith TorresMelo AlbertMelo Albert and Maxine Panlilio of ACIIIDMenarco Development CorporationMaria Rebecca AbayaMaria Rebecca AbayaMicah MongcalMichael SB SupportMichelle Bagro of PSIDMichelle TingMigo DionisioMiguel AdiarteMiguel R. Llona and Judith TorresMiguel R. 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 “Proletarians of all countries” the foundation said on why they care about the forgotten monument. Established by architect Dora Ivanova in 2015\#furniture #design #interiordesign #collaboration #GenteelHome\#NewPH\#RisePH000 cubic meters of rock from the peak. Next000 tons of concrete000 tons of gilded the glass were used to build Buzludzha Monument. The interior was surrounded by mosaics that covered around 937 sqm000 tons of reinforced steel07 Beach1/0 design collective10 Days of Art10 Space Architects10-minute city100 years of architecture100a Associates1120 House12 lucky fruits15 minute city15-minute city16th Venice Architecture Biennale1960s1980s2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize20182018 Global Gender Gap Report2018 Interior Design Trends2018 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate2019 Board Passers2019 interior design2019 SEA Games2019 South East Asian Games Polo2019 ULI Asia Pacific Awards of Excellence2020 Pritzker Prize2022 trends2024 in Review2024 Trends20th anniversary228 Design Studio23o5 Studio25 Seeds3D Scanning3D Visuals4040th anniversary4166 Sea View Lane432 meter432 meters441 meters to 14AD Architectural Design5th Wilcon Cup6×6 Builders708×8 Design Studio8×8 Design Studio Co90 Design Studio98B COLLABoratory9th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awardsa former mayor of Sofia and co-founder of the Union of Architects in Bulgariaa foundation dedicated to preserving the unloved but historically significant monument. “We believe that it is important to save BuzludzhaA Lucid Dream in PinkA World Built BolderA()VOIDA+ Design GroupAARPSAbacaABB Architectural ServicesABC Phil. Inc.Abdulmari Asia ImaoAboitiz LandAbraham ReyesAbstractAbstract ArtAbstract ExpressionismAbstract FigurativeAbstractionAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi Art PavillionAbuevaAcacia EstatesacademeacademiaAcademic ProgramAcademic'Accent ChairAccessible SpacesAccessoriesAchitectureACIIDaciiidACNE StudiosAcousticsAcqua di ParmaAcrhitectureAcrylicActiuActivismActor Network TheoryAdaptable HousingAdaptationAdaptive Reuseadaptive solutionAde BenthumeADLAdmont Abbey LibraryAdobeAdrian AlfonsoAdrian L. Norman LimitedAdventureAdvising Clients in a Brave New WorldAECAECOMAedasAesopAfricaAfrican Artagain with the support of Getty Foundation. Through the \*Emergency Stabilization of Mosaics of the Buzludzha Monument\* projectagainst the idea of culture as a stagnant thing. More than anythingAGC PHCAgnes ArellanoAgnes KwekAgricultureahecAhmed HabibAIai artAI-generated artAideaAidea AwardsAidea PhilippinesAIDEA Philippines Inc.Air conditionerair conditioningair fryerAir PollutionAir qualityairbnbAirconairconditioningAirportAirports of Thailand Public Company LimitedAJ Javierakanoshima Children's Book ForestAkihisa HirataAkihisa Hirata Architecture OfficeAKK ArchitectsAlab PagariganAlabangAlan KarchmerAlan TayAlandaAlbay Rep. Joey Sarte SalcedaAlbert KieferAlbert YuAlberto MedaAldo KossiAleroAlero Design StudioAlex FurunesAlex MedallaAlex SiegelAlexis DornierAlexis FabryAlfonso Gallardo ObozaAlfredo J. LuzAlfredo LuzAlhibé FarmAlila Villas HadahaaALL DesignAllen Memorial Art MuseumAlliance Française de CebuAlliance Française de ManilleAlloyMTDAlpha GalleryAlt ArtAltarpieceAlternative Public TransportationAltro Mondo Creative SpaceAlvaro SizaAlvin ZafraAman AggarwalAmanda BurdenAmanda HengAmaraAmara ChapelAmara ResidenceAmateur Architecture Studioambianceambient lightAmericaAmericanamerican hardwood export councilAmerican IdentityAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryAmerican StandardAmerican Standard Design AwardAmorsolo of the SouthAmoy HotelAmphibious HousingAmphitheaterAmsterdamAn BermejoAnalysisAncestral HomeAncestral Houseand 3and a quote from the Communist Manifestoand it works as a pretty showcase of scatteredand suggests the further progression of society from these terrible pasts through the use of technology. It’s an incitementand the building was inaugurated in 1981. Four decades laterand this articleand with how tech has evolvedAnders Brasch-WillumsenAndra MatinandramatinAndres LunaAndres Luna de San PedroAndrew de GuzmanAndy LocsinAng Lakbay Ng 105 MilyonAngat BuhayAngat SiningAngela PanlilioAngelicum SchoolAngelicum School IloiloAngeline ThamAngelo Ray SerranoAngelo SerranoAngie McMonigalAngkasanh coffee reasteryAnh Coffee RoasteryAnima Art SpaceAnimeAnish Kapooranla li-tanAnna HeringerAnna OrlinaAnna SyAnnie PacañaAnniversaryAnniversary ExhibitAnnual Invitation Golf TournamentAnthologyAnthology 2018Anthology Architecture and Design FestivalAnthology FestivalAnthology Festival 2018Anthology Festival 2020Anthony AbriasAnthony NazarenoAnthony RaymondAnthropoceneAnti-AI SentimentAntipoloAntiqueantique furnitureAntique furniture careAntique HouseAntiquesAntoine Besseyre Des HortsAntoni GaudíAntonin ReimannAntonio BautistaAntonio CitterioAntonio ToledoAnusapatiAnvaya Coveanya lagmanApartmentApartment ComplexapartmentsAphroAphroditeAPL ArchitectsApl.de.Ap FoundationAppAppleApple CorporationApple Cotai CentralApple ParkApple StoreApplianceAppliancesApprenticeApprenticeshipAppropriationAPREAAPSDAAPWAquatic CenterARArabicaArc De TriomoheArc De TriompheARC Studio Architecture + UrbanismArcadeArcadio AmoreArcadio ArellanoArcelorMittal OrbitArch Haus AsiaArch. Romolo NatiArchaeologicalArchdiocesan Shrine of St. JosephArchHIVEArchibald Denim EditionArchie GeotinaArchifestArchifest 2018Archifest 2018 PavilionArchinamixArchion ArchitectsArchitcect Romolo NatiArchitechtureArchitectArchitect Alexius MedallaArchitect Gino RustiaArchitect Katherine Reyesarchitect Tan Tik LamArchitectsarchitecturArchitectural DesignArchitectural DocumentaryArchitectural drawingArchitectural FilmArchitectural PhotographyArchitectural Photography Awards 2019Architectural Servicesarchitectural stylesArchitectureArchitecture and design booksArchitecture BrioArchitecture ConservationArchitecture EducationArchitecture FestivalArchitecture FirmArchitecture HeritageArchitecture Licensurearchitecture of diningArchitecture photographyArchitecture Rehabilitationarchitecture schoolsArchitecture Specializationarchitecture studiesArchitecture Studioarchitecture trendsArchitetctureArchitizerArchitizer A+ AwardArchiveArchstormingARCO bagARCO GrouparenaArgentinaArianna BongatoAries GoAris GoAris TanARJ ConsortiumArkinamixArkinsensArkisensArlen de GuzmanArmchairArnold AustriaaromatherapyArqon Design IncArrova AtelierArsenaleArtArt and PoetryArt AntonArt ArchivingArt as ArchitectureArt AuctionArt BaselArt Basel 2017Art BoycottsArt Camp Galleryart collectionArt CollectiveArt CollectorsArt CommentaryArt CoutureArt CubeArt CuratorArt DecoArt Deco PhilippinesArt District EscoltaArt EducationArt exhibitArt ExhibitionArt Exhibits Roundupart fairArt Fair 2024art fair phArt Fair PH 2018art fair ph 2024Art Fair PH 2025Art Fair PhilippinesArt Fair Philippines 2022Art Fair TokyoArt ForgeryArt FraudArt Fundingart galleriesArt GalleryArt GenslerArt HomageArt HouseArt in FilmArt in the Park 2020Art InformalArt InstallationArt Lossart marketArt MoneyArt NouveauArt ParodyArt PhilippinesArt Photographyart preservationArt Printing WorksArt RecapArt RoundupArt SchoolArt SGart spaceArt StudioArt TheftArt TraffickingArt UndergroundArt WalkArt Walk 2024Art x DesignArt+DesignArtefinoArtefino Fairartfairph2018arthalandArthur LazaroArtifactsArtificial IntelligenceArtinformalArtisanal DesignArtistArtist ProfileArtist Self-PortraitArtist TalksArtist-run Spacesartistic homeArtistic ProcessartistsArtists' AgendaArtistSpace GalleryARTKITEKTURAArtLabArtsArts and CultureArts Serranoarturo luzArtwashingArupas fragile as beauty isAscott Limited IncASEANASEAN Architectureasean businessasean business awardsASEAN Heritage SitesAsiaAsia PacificAsia Pacific Real Estate AssociationAsia Property AwardsAsia-Pacific Stevie AwardsAsianAsian Cultural CouncilAsian CultureAsian DesignAsian Development BankAsian DiasporaAsian resortAsk the Expertsastrological signAsuncion HouseAsuncion-BerenguerasusASWAASYAAsya DesignAsylumAtelier AlmarioAtelier FunkAtelier LUMAatelier nomadicAtelier TenAtelier XIAtelier10Ateliers Jean NouvelAteneoAteneo Art AwardsAteneo Art GalleryAteneo Library of Women's WritingAthensAthens Olympic Sports ComplexAthleteAthletic StadiumAtlas Real EstateAtmosphereAtrioAtriumAuction SaleAudioAudio systemAuditorio de Tenerifeaugmented realityAugust Art ExhibitsAugusto VillalonAurora Subic Leisure Inc.AustraliaAutoclaved Aerated ConcreteAvellana Art GalleryAvenidaAvignon ClinicAVillalon ArchitectsAwairAwardawardsAyalaAyala AlabangAyala CorporationAyala LandAyala Land PremierAyala Land Premier's new landmark in MakatiAyala MallsAyala MuseumAyala TriangleAyala Triangle GardensAYKA GOAze OngAzerbaijanB ResidenceB-HouseB. V. DoshiB&B AtollB&B ItaliaB+AbbleB+Abble 2020BAAD StudioBaam Hom Din HouseBabblebabelBacolodBacolorBagong SenadoBagong Senado Conceptual Design CompetitionBaguBaguioBaguio Arts GuildBaguio CityBaharequeBahay ArtisanoBahay KuboBahay na batobahay nakpilbak kut tehBakay kuboBakeryBaking SodaBakwit KitBalai BakuranBalance Enviro SolutionsBalay DacoBalay nga TisaBalay ni AnoyBalayanBalconybaliBalicasagBalineseBalinese architecturebalinese designBalinese-styleBaliuagBalkrishna DoshiBalletBallet PhilippinesBaloise Art PrizeBambi MañosaBambooBamboo ArchitectureBamboo HouseBamboo TellsBandungBang & OlufsenBangkokBangkok AirportBangkotaBarBarber & OsgerbyBarcelonabarkitecturebaroqueBASEBase BahayBASEhabitatBASEhabitat International Summer SchoolBases Conversion and Development AuthorityBases Conversion Development AuthorityBasic FormBasic Space CoffeeBasilanBasilicaBasilica MinorBasti LacsonBataanBatangasbatangas homeBatangas PlantBathroombathroom cleaningBathroom Colorbathroom designbathroom furniturebathroom germsbathroom renovationbathroom secretbathroom tipsbathroom trendsbathroomnBathtubbattling the summer heat with its own version of passionate fervor. With May coming to an endBauhausBaybayanihanBayanihan FlatsBayleafbazaarBC AngBCDABCI Asia Green Leadership Award 2016BCL Asia Landscape ArchitectsBea and Marga Valdesbeach clubBeach HouseBeachfront propertyBeautyBeaux ArtsBEAVALDESbedBed and BreakfastBed bugsbed designbedroombedroom designbedroom tipsBee'ah HeadquartersBEEAH groupBehind every majestic monument is a story or cause that was sought to be immortalized. But once their catalysts are forgottenBeijingBeitou Public LibraryBela LanyiBelgiumBelgo Craft Beer BrewerybeliefsBellas ArtesBelle & BullBen van BerkelBencabBENCHBenedicto CabreraBenefit ShowBenguetBenguet CenterBenjamin ValencianoBenjee MendozaBenji ReyesBenson GoBERDEBERDE certificationBerklee College of MusicBerlinBerlin LeeBernardo PacquingBernhardtBespokeBespoke 88best condobest condosbest condos 2017Béton BrutBetteLuxbetter normalBettina BonoanBGCBGC High StreetBhirasri Institute of Modern ArtBi-Centennial School BuildingBiblical ArtBicycleBiddingBiennaleBiennale ArchitetturaBike lanesBikingBillBillboard PhilippinesBillionBricksBIMBinondoBinong JavierBioclimatic ArchitectureBiodiversityBiological Production Services BuildingbiomaterialsBIOMORPHIC DESIGNBiophiliaBiophilicBiophilic DesignBismarck HouseBistroBistronomiaBitagcolBlack and White PhotographyBlair RoadBlanc Galleryblocher partnersBlok MagnayeBloody CandlesBloody HandprintsbloomsBlueprints 2050BluPrintBluPrint AnniversaryBluPrint ArtBluPrint BeginningsBluPrint CirclesBluPrint ConversationsBluPrint MagazineBluPrint PerspectiveBluPrint published its continued coverage on some of the happenings in the local art scene. Art exhibits daring in its approach and its ideas sprouted up across the countryBluPrint ShowsBluPrint Year-End 2025Board GamesBoaseBobby MañosaBoConceptBoffiboffi studio manilaBoholBohol Daybohol houseBohol International AirportBoholano Art SceneBoloniBoltbonaldoBondiBondi BeachBong RecioBoni PimentelBonifacio Estate Services Corp.Bonifacio Global CityBonifacio Global City One-Way Scheme MapBonifacio War TunnelsBontoc EulogyBOOGIBookBook LaunchBook StopBookcaseBooksBookshelfBookstoreBoracayBoracay IslandBoracay Land ReformBosco Verticalebosgaurus coffee roastersboutique hotelBoysenbpoBr. Béla Lányi SVDbraBrainstorm Designbrand featureBrand identityBrand LogosBränden Bus StopBras Basah.Bugis Public Artworks Street InstallationsBrazilBrazilian Architecturebreaking newsBREEAMBrewerybrewpubBrickBrick AwardBrick Award 2018Brick JariBricksBridgebrings us to Turalba’s travels from the Philippines to the United States and Turkey. And in that journeyBrioarcBRIOARC StudioBrisa AmirBrise SoleilBritish CouncilBritish Council PhilippinesBritish MuseumBroadwayBrooklyn TowerBruder Klaus Field ChapelBrutalBrutalismbrutalistBrutalist architectureBrutalist architecture in filmbrutalsimBSPN RESIDENCEBTSBuck SiaBuddhaBudgetBudji LayugBudji+RoyalBudji+Royal Architecture+DesignBuensalido ArchitectsBuensalido+ArchitectsbuffetBugattiBuildBuild a Better NormalBuild Build BuildBuildingBuilding Architectural DesignsBuilding ArchitectureBuilding CodeBuilding Demolishbuilding façadeBuilding MaterialBuilding MaterialsBuilding PermitBuilding SuppliesBuildingsBuilt EnvironmentBukit TimahBukit Timah RoadBukit Time RoadBukit TunkuBulacanBulgariabulthaupBund finance centerBungalowBungalowsBunso GalleryBuro Ole SchereenBurt Select ShopBus TerminalBusinessBusiness of Designbut also because we should remember our pastButterworthbuy or rentBuyingbuying a homebuying appliancesbuying houseBuzludzha MonumentC HouseC5C5 South LinkC5 South Link ExpresswayC5 South Link Expressway Phase 1Cabangis FamilyCabetican ShrinecabinCabin 2CabinsCADCadizCafeCaféaCafésCagayan de OroCALABARZONCalacaCalaca ChurchCaliforniaCalirayaCalle RéalCalle WrightCamarines SurCambodiaCameraCamiguinCamille CoCamperCamper and CabincampusCamSurcandle carecandlescandles dining roomCantilevered RoofCapillaCapitalismCapitaSpringCapitolCapitol TheaterCappelliniCar-freeCaraCaravaggioCarbon District ModernizationCarbon Fiber Reinforced PolymerCarcarcarina santosCarl Jan Cruzcarl loquiasCarlo CalmaCarlo Calma ConsultancyCarlo CraccoCarlos “Botong” FranciscoCARLOS & ANTIQUE ARCHITECTCARLOS & ANTIQUE ARCHITECTSCarlos ArguellesCarlos ArnaizCarlos QuevedoCarlos Quintanscarlyle hotelCarme PigemCarmen Jimenez-OngCaro WilsonCarol KartheCarpCarpentryCarpentry and CoffeeCarpetcarrie bradshawCarsCartellinoCartellino ArtCasa al MareCasa de NipaCasa GorordoCasa JuanCasa ManilaCasa MariquitCasa MonsteraCasa OrgánicaCasa SelmaCasa TropicaCasas+ArchitectscassinaCast ConcreteCatalogCathedralCathedral of St. Elizabeth of PortugalCatholicismCathy SaldanaCau Dat Tea FarmCau Dat Tea MuseumCauayan CityCAVECavite ExpresswayCAVITEXCaysasayCaysasay ShrineCAZACBDCCPCCP golden anniversary stampCCP TheaterCDB ArchitectureceasedCebuCebu ArchitectureCebu CityCebu HomeCebu HouseCebu2WorldCecil RavelasCEDRICK DEAPAZCeilingCeilingscelebrity bazaarCelebrity HomeCelebrity HotelCelia Gamboa-JiaoCeline LeeCemeteryCensorshipCenterCentral Business DistrictCentral LuzonCeramicCeramic ArtCeramic HouseCeramicsCesar ConcioCesare A.X. SyjucoCesare SyjucoCFRPChad OppenheimChairChairsChamberchampagne glassChan Soo KhianChapelChapel of CartwheelsChapel of St. Benedict and St. ScholasticachapelsCharetteCharissa Seniedo-OsmeñaCharisse OsmeñaCharitycharity bazaarCharity EventCharity ExhibitionCharles and Ray EamesCharles DyCharles EamesCharles GallavardinCharles JencksCharles-Édouard JeanneretCharlie CoCharlotte Macaux Perelmancharon's crossingChartres CathedralCHAT ArchitectsChat ForesChatpong Chuenrudeemolcheap chicCheeseChef SauChelsea Flower ShowCHELSEA THEODOSSISChengduCherie Fernandezchesterfield couchchesterfield couch historychesterfield sofaChicagoChico River Pump Irrigation Projectchild safetychild-proofChildcareChildrenChinaChina Academy of ArtChinatownChineseChinese ArchitectureChinese CemeteryChinese New Year 2022Chinese-owned buildingChino YuloChinoiserieChip\[s\] BoardChipsChiristmasChiyoda-MitsubishiChoie FunkChonburiChongqingChris Chong Chan FuiChris DobsonChris HentonChristie's AuctionsChristina Quisumbing RamiloChristine BrucknerChristmaschristmas 2018christmas bazaarChristmas DecorChristmas Decorating Tipschristmas decorationsChristmas Gift Ideas Brothers Sisterschristmas homeChristmas ideasChristmas lightsChristmas Seasonchristmas shopping tipschristmas tipschristmas treechristmas tree tipschristmas villageChristmas wreathChristoChubbsafesChuon Chuon Kim 2 KindergartenChurchChurch Brew WorksChurch of 100 WallsChurch of the Angry ChristCiane XavierCIIT PhilippinesCinemaCircuit MakatiCircular DesignCité de l’Architecture et du PatrimoinecitemCitiesCityCity BeautifulCity DevelopmentCity of Dreams ManilaCity PlanningCityLifeCityscapeCivicCivic ArchitectureCivic Future ProjectCivic Trust AwardClap StudioClarence ChunClarkClark AirportClark International AirportClark International Airport New Terminal BuildingClarq Design StudioClarq Landscape DesignClass StruggleClassic MoviesClaude’s Le Café de VilleClaudia PasqueroClay brick designClay Roof HouseCleanClean HomeClean Houseclean livingClean WaterCleaningcleaning calendarcleaning tipsCleanupClimateClimate ActivismClimate changeClimate Change AdaptationClimate Resilient Green Growth ProjectClimate-proofclinicclocksClosetsCloud DancerCloudscapeClubhouseclutterCNN PhilippinesCo Ban Kiat Hardwareco-living spaceCo-workingCoachCoach AirwaysCoastCoastalCoastal CommunitiesCoastal communtiesCoastal ZoneCocktailCocktail BarCoconut Palacecoffeecoffee shopCoffee ShopsCoffee TablecogonCollaborationCollaborative ArchitectureCollaborative ExhibitCollagecollagesCollectionCollectivecollectors itemCollegeCollege of DesignCollege of Saint BenildeColombiaColon StreetColonialColonial architectureColonial Churchcolorcolor combinationColor of the Yearcolor psychologyColor TheoryColored Accessoriescolorful condocolorful kitchencolorscolors of the yearColumnColumns GalleryComfortcommemorating the history of the Bulgarian Communist Party. The dome was also decorated with a grand mosaic that featured the communist hammer and sicklecommerCommerceCommercialCommercial Advertisementcommercial architectureCommercial LandmarksCommission on Higher EducationCommon GroundCommonwealth Act No. 541CommunicationCommunityCommunity CenterCommunity Parkcommunity spaceCompetitionCompleted buildingsComplexity and Contradiction in ArchitectureCompositionComputer Algorithmconcept storeconceptual artConceptual Design CompetitionConcerned Artists of the PhilippinesConcreteConcrete ArtConcrete PoetryCondocondo 2017condo cebuCondo InspirationCondo Livingcondo rentalcondo rental tipscondo tipsCondoLivingCondominiumCondominium DevelopmentCondosConferenceCongressConrad OnglaoConservationConservation Planning and Adaptive Reuse Strategy\* for the monument. FinallyConstructionconstruction contractsConstruction IndustryConstruction Managementconstruction materialsConstruction Story of The YearConstruction Suppliesconstruction trendscontainer homecontainer houseContainer VanContemporaryContemporary ArchitectureContemporary Artcontemporary designcontemporary design piecescontemporary furnitureContextual HouseContinental ModernContinuing Professional DevelopmentContractorContractorsConvergence Program for Enhancing Tourism Accessconversation pitCookingCooking SchoolCooktopcool roof coatingcoolingCOP26CopenhagenCor JesucoralCoralline LimestoneCordillera Administrative RegionCordilleran Architecturecorner lotcornlandcoronavirusCorporate HeadquartersCorridorCosta MedellinCotton covered decorsCouchCounterfeit ArtCountriescountry HomecountrysideCoupleCourtyardCourtyard HouseCOVID-19COVID-19 Emergency Quarantine FacilityCOVID-19 HospitalCOVID-19 Medical FacilityCOVID-19 PhilippinesCOVID-19 Quarantine HospitalsCOVID-19 testing vehiclecoworking spacecozycozy mancaveCPD ActCraftsmanshipCreativeCreative Campuscreative crewsCreative designCreative Economy Council of the PhilippinesCreative hubCreative Hubscreative ideasCreative Innovators ProgrammeCreative SpaceCreativityCristine ReyesCritical thinkingcritiqueCRL DesignsCRL Interior DesignsCross-Laminated TimberCryptocurrencyCryptoHeartCryptopopCrystal ArcadecrystalsCS ArchitectureCS Design ConsultancyCSO ArchitectsCuisineCulinaryCultural ArtifactsCultural CenterCultural Center of the PhilippinesCultural HeritageCultural PreservationCultural Reparationscultural table settingsCulturecuratorCuratorial ChoicesCuratorial Programmes at Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Art SingaporeCurio CavernCurtainCurved KitchensCurving Designscustom furniturecustom madeCustomer Servicecustomized furniturecustomizingCWC InteriorsCYC ArchitectureCyndi FernandezCynthia AlmarioCynthia and Ivy AlmarioD&AD Future Impact AwardsDadDADADADA DesignDaiichi PropertiesdaikinDaily scheduleDaliana SuryawinataDalisay CollectionDalumDamansaraDamian DomingoDamosa LandDan LichaucoDan MatutinaDaniel BurnhamDaniel LampaDaniel LibeskindDark ColorsDaryl Van AbaygarDaryl Van D. AbaygardatabaseDauin ChurchDavaoDavid ChipperfieldDavid LimDavid M. ConsunjiDBALP ConsortiumDDC Architectural StudioDe La Salle College of St. Benilde's School of Design and Artsdecade reportdeclutteringDeco FilipinoDecolonializing ArtdeconstructDeconstructivistDecordecorsDedonDefamiliarizationDefhouseDEFTDemolitionDenise de CastroDenise Scott BrownDenise WeldonDenmarkDenovoDeo AlamDeo Alam Design and ArchitectureDepartment of ArchitectureDepartment of Architecture Co.Department of Budget and ManagementDepartment of EducationDepartment of Environment and Natural ResourcesDepartment of FinanceDepartment of Foreign AffairsDepartment of Labor and EmploymentDepartment of Public Works and HighwaysDepartment of TourismDepartment of Trade and IndustryDepartment of TransportationDEQADEQA Design CollaborativeDesignDesign and Art DirectionDesign ApproachDesign Authenticitydesign awardsDesign BetterDesign Center of the PhilippinesDesign CompetitionDesign ConceptDesign ConceptsDesign CurioDesign DevelopmentDesign EducationDesign EngineeringDesign Engineering Competitiondesign experienceDesign for Tomorrowdesign hacksDesign HeritageDesign IdeasDesign Innovationdesign inspirationDesign JourneyDesign mistakesDesign OrchardDesign PhilosophyDesign ProcessDesign SchoolDesign smallDesign storyDesign StudioDesign StyleDesign SystemsDesign TalkDesign TeamDesign TheoryDesign ThinkingDesign TipsDesign TrendsDesign Without BoundariesDesignCouncil SingaporeDesignEightFiveTwoDesigner Bathroomdesigner challengedesignersDESIGNPHdesignsDetailsDeveloperDevelopmentDevelopment ProjectsdeviceDex FernandezDexter LeeDextertonDexterton CorporationDez BautistaDezeenioDiagramDialogueDialoguesDiamondDiasporaDiego CastilloDiego Molinadies at 93diffusersDigibookDigiscriptDigitalDigital ArtDigital drawingDigital NativeDILGDilimanDina GadiaDiningdining areaDining ChairDining Chairsdining roomsDining TableDining TablesdinnerwareDino MañosaDioceseDiocese of DumaguetediochemieDiogeneDisability ArchitectureDisasterDisaster ReliefDisaster-resilienceDisaster-resilientDisaster-resilient CityDiscoDiscussiondish washingDisneydisneylandDisplayDistorted Box HouseDIYDMCIDo Hoang TuongDocu LicoDocumentaryDocumentationDohaDolce and Gabbana DDolphin Sands Studiodom coffee shopDomes Villagedomestic workerDominic GaliciaDominic Galicia ArchitectsDon Bosco PhilippinesDon Eduardo Lopez NavarroDon Jose YuloDon LinoDon SalubaybaDona Carmen stationDonation driveDoojin HwangDoorDoorsDormitoryDornbrachtDoshiDOTrDowntownDP ArchitectsDP World CargospeedDPWHDPWH COVID-19 evacuation centersDr. Arturo CorpuzDr. Tan Loke MunDrawingDrawing Room ManilaDrawingsdream homeDream HotelDreamsDreamy Bathroomsdrone photographyDRTAN LMDrywallDsgDT DesignDTIDuangrit Bunnag GroupDubaiDubai Expo 2020DumagueteDumaguete CathedralduravitDysonE Murioe VenturiE.R. Villanueva BuildingEamesEarth materialseastern telecomEAStudioEastwest Bankecho of the seaeclecticeclectic condoeclectic houseeclectic loft condoEco Materialseco resortEco-friendlyEco-friendly Airporteco-friendly homeeco-friendly tipsEcolodgeEcological urbanismEcologically Sustainable DesignecoLogicStudioEconomyecosystemEcotourismECQEd CalmaEd LedesmaEd SimonEda-MameEden TanEdgar ReformadoEdgar SaavedraEDGEedible gardeningedible landscapingEdith OliveroseditorEditor's NoteEDSAEdson CabalfinEduardo CalmaEduardo Del RosarioEduardo MasferréEducationEducation Above AllEducational ArchitectureEducational TripEdwin LimEdwin UyEe Soon WeiEEC Engineering NetworkEgg FiascoehibitEiffel ChongEiffel TowerEight IncEINAEl 82 BazaarEl HogarEl Museo del Prado en FilipinasElaine NavasElbaElectricalElectroluxElectronicseleganceelegant designelegant homeelementElmer BorlonganElvin VitorElvis PresleyEmerging Architects StudioEmerson Coseteng HouseEmil Sadainemilio aguinaldoEmilio AmbaszEmmanuel MiñanaEmotivationsEmployeeEmploymentEmre Arolat ArchitectureEms EliseoEn-Route-ArchitectureEncampmentsEncyclopedia of Philippine ArtEndoendo lightingEnergyenergy savingEngineerEngineeringengineering and artengineersEnnead ArchitectsEnrique MartyEnteng ManansalaEnter Projects AsiaEnterprise Singaporeentertainentertainingentertaining guestsentertaining hacksentertaining tipsentertaining visitorsEntertainmentEntrepreneurentriesEnvironmentEnvironmental ArtEnvironmental designEnvironmental PollutionEquityEras tourEric EstonidoEric ParasEric ZamucoErick YambaoErika UichancoEriko InazakiErikson ArcillaEriksson FurunesErnest de LuneErnstings WarehouseErwin CanlasErwin Teves PascualErwin VirayESCA IncorporatedEscoltaEscolta Block PartyEscolta Commercial Association Inc.Escuela TallerEscuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation Inc.especially if it is traumatic or difficultessential oilsessentialismEssentialsEstancia de LorenzoEstrella-Pantaleon BridgeEstudio RuizEthan AllenEthicsEthnicEthnic HouseEuclidean PlanningEUDOEunjoo RohEurasian Prize 2021EuropeEuropeanEvacuation CenterEventsEvents SpaceEverything's Fineevocative in their emotionsEvolutionEvolve PHExcellence in Times of CrisesExhbitExhibitExhibiting Architecture: Display in the Age of the Postcolonial and NeoliberalExhibitionexpecting visitorsexperiential spacesexpoExpo 2020ExpresswayExterriaF. Ortigas Jr. AveF.B. ConcepcionF&BFabian TanFabian Tan ArchitectFabian Tan ArchitectureFabricFabric ArtfaçadeFacilitiesFaculty CenterFaculty Projectsfame plusFamilyFamily HomeFamily Housefamily roomfamous landmarksfantasy booksFarley del RosarioFarm HouseFashionFatherFather of Installation Art in the PhilippinesFather of Modern Philippine Landscape ArchitectureFather-Son ArchitectFather-Son Architect TandemsFaucetsFavorite MaterialsFaye ManaloFaye PamintuanFDCP Cinematheque ManilaFederal Land IncFédération Internationale des Administrateurs de Biens Conseils et Agents ImmobiliersFélic Candelafelix hidalgoFelix RojasFemale SexualityFeminismFeng Shuifeng shui 2019feng shui advicefeng shui bathroomfeng shui bedroomfeng shui colorfeng shui colorsfeng shui curesfeng shui designfeng shui dining areafeng shui energyfeng shui entrancefeng shui for healthfeng shui for wealthfeng shui gardenfeng shui homefeng shui housefeng shui kitchenfeng shui livingfeng shui living areafeng shui lovefeng shui luckfeng shui mirrorfeng shui outdoorsfeng shui renovationfeng shui tipsfeng shui travelfeng shui vacationfeng shui wealthFengshuiFernando Nakpil-ZialcitaFernando OcampoFernando ZobelFernando Zóbel PrizesFestivalFIABCIFIABCI-PhilippinesFiberFictional RealityFIFAFIFA 2022FiftyOne Collective Art HausFilinvestFilipianaFilipinas Heritage LibraryFilipinoFilipino ArchiectureFilipino ArchitectFilipino Architecturefilipino artFilipino ArtistFilipino ArtistsFilipino CraftsmanshipFilipino DesignFilipino DesignerFilipino DesignersFilipino FurnitureFilipino HomeFilipino homesFilipino Identityfilipino interior designFilipino MadeFilipino Popular ModernismFilipino UrbanismFilmFilm ArchitectureFilm Development Council of the PhilippinesFiloteo Jacintofinale art filefinancial adviserFine Art PrintmakingFine ArtsFinishFinishesFinlandFintechfirefire extinguisherFire Preventionfire-resistantfire-resistant plantsFirm and FunctionFirst PrinciplesFirst United BuildingFishFisher & PaykelFitnessFitnesscape Creative StudioFitz HerreraFixturesFlagFlag and Heraldic Code of the PhilippinesFleur PaviliaFlexformFlexform PhilippinesFLOATFloating CitiesFloating structuresFloodingFlooringfloors to wallsFloralfloral arrangementsFlorence KoFlorencio ConcepcionFlorian Heinzelmannflower arrangementflower arrangementsflowersFluoropolymer TechnologyFMD ArchitectsFNJIFocus GlobalFoinix Centerfolk artFood and BeverageFood HallFootbridgeforbes estates lipaforecastForensicForest ResidenceFormicaFormwerkzFormwerkz Open Housefornasettifornasetti Lina CavalieriFort BonifacioFort McKinleyFort San PedroFort SantiagoFossilFoster + PartnersFoster+Partnersfosun buildingFotomotoPHFoundreefountainFour storey limitfragranceFramaFrancefranchiseFrancis DravignyFrancis Kéréfrancis libiranFrancisco 'Bobby' MañosaFrancisco MañosaFrancisco Mañosa & PartnersFrancisco SawaliFrank Alexi NoblezaFrank GehryFrank LeungFrank Lloyd WrightFranscisco FajardoFray Manuel Rubio FernandezFreddy BautistaFrederic DidierFredric ChungFree FormsFreespace ManifestoFrenchFrench ArchitectureFrench colonial shophouseFrench Culturefresh bloomsfresh flowersFriedensreich HundertwasserFroilan HongFront Door Feng ShuiFTA DesignFujifilmFujifilm PhilippinesFujifilm X-H1Fuk Tak ChifunctionalityFung YufurnisculptureFurnitaliaFurnitalia ManilaFurniturefurniture careFurniture Designfurniture maintenanceFUSION eventFutureFuture ArchitectureFuture ProjectFuture RevolutionFuturisticFY Chung WMC Gan CoG1 LodgeGabaldon schoolhouseGabriel FormosoGabriel LicahucoGABRIELA Women's PartyGADA 2019gadgetGai OlivaresGalaGalerie JoaquinGalerie NicholasGalerie StephanieGalleria DuemilaGalleryGalo OcampoGanGarageGardengarden designGarden Stategarden tipsGardeninggardening tipsGardens by the BayGary CoscolluelaGaston Heritage HouseGaudígaudiGawad KalingaGC Prostho Museum Research CenterGDA PhGelo Del MundoGelo Mañosagelo manosaGemsGen Zgen z yellowGenaro PalaciosGenavee LazaroGender EqualityGeneral ContractorGenerative AIGeneva ConventionsGenius LociGenslerGeoffrey BawaGeohazardgeometric designGerald LicoGerard LicoGerman ArchitectureGerman HousesGermanyGeronimo ManahanGerry TorresGerwyn SeeGetaway HomeGetty Foundation provided support for the \*ResearchGhibli Parkghost chairghost chairsghost monthgiant dandelionsgiftgift givingGift Guidegift guide 2018gift guide zodiac signGift Ideasgift wrappinggiftsGil CoscolluelaGino CariñoGio PanlilioGio Pontigive a sense of the independent filmmaker’s subversive streak even as he battles with meaning within a society. In a recent talk about the exhibitGK RustiaGlas v84GlassGlass Bricksglass doorsglass enclosuresGlass houseGlass SculptureglassblocksglasswareGliceria Marella de VillavicencioGlobalGlobal Architecture and Design AwardsGlobal ViewsGlobal Views PhilippinesGlulamGMR Megawide Cebu Airport CorporationGoddard Institute for Space StudiesgoldGolden MonsteraGolden RatioGolden ResidencesGoldman SachsGood Design AwardGood Design Award PhilippinesGood Design ResearchGoogle Wi-FiGorenje PhilippinesGothicGothic RevivalGOUTALGovernment BuildingGovernment OfficeGovernment Office BuildingGracelandGraduationGraffitiGrafton ArchitectsGrant AssociatesGraphic designGraphite StudioGRASSGravity Art SpaceGreeceGreenGreen ArchitectureGreen buildingGreen Building ActGreen Building CodeGreen Building IndexGreen CityGreen DesignGreen EnergyGreen Energy EducationGreen Energy Education ActGreen Energy Education BillGreen Gateway to the WorldGreen Green Greengreen homegreen livinggreen roofGreen spaceGreen SpacesGreen SunGreen Wallgreen wallsGreeneGreeneryGreensGregory CooperGrimshaw ArchitectsGroheGrohe Flagship StoreGrohe SenseGrottoGroundwater DemandGroup ExhibitionGrowmoreGrowroomGucciGucci DecorGuest RoomguestsGuggenheim MuseumguideGulf Oil BuildingGUNRIDGuz ArchitectsGwen TanH & P ArchitectsH&P ArchitectsH1 Projecthabitable roomHabitat for HumanityHabitat HumanityHacienda Community HouseHaiyanHaligi ng Dangal Awards 2018Haligi nga Dangalhaliohalio internationalHalloweenHamaruHand-drawnHandmade 2019HANDSHANDStudioHangang Art CompetitionHangang ParkHangzhouHanna PettyjohnhanoiHans SyhansgroheHAP 5 ApartmentsHappinessHarborHarding Boutique HotelhardwoodHardwood SculptureharmonyHarvard GSDHarvestingHayao MiyazakiHCGHCMA Architecture + Designhe GuildHeacock BuildingheadquartersHeadroom CV Cohealinghealing your homeHealthHealthcareHealthcare architectureHealthcare designhealthyhealthy buildingshealthy citieshealthy livinghealthy spacesHeart EvangelistaHeatherwick StudioHeatingHeidrun Milan Design StudioHeimHeim InteriorHeim InteriorsHelmHenning Larsen ArchitectsHEPA filtersherb gardenhere lies loveHeritageHeritage BuildingHeritage ChurchHeritage ConservationHeritage HouseHeritage SitesHerman MillerHermesHermèsHermès HomeHernando Ruiz OcampoHerzog de MeuronHeydar Aliyev Cultural CenterHHT CoffeeHideyuki Hiramotohigh ceilingHigh DefinitionHigh Definition SurveyingHigh ModernismHigh RiseHigh-techHigh-Tech ArchitectureHighlightersHighwayHillsideHiramoto Design Studiohiroki kakinumaHirosaki Museum of Contemporary ArtHiroyuki OkiHistoric BuildingsHistoric ChurchesHistoric HotelsHistorical ArtHistorical SitesHistoryHistory ConHistory Con 2018hitachiHitesh MehtaHo Chi MinhHo Chi Minh CityHoi Anholidayholiday decorholiday decorating tipsholiday decorationsholiday designholiday diningholiday gift guideholiday homeholiday inspirationholiday spiritholiday tipsHolisticHoly WeekHomeHome AccessoriesHome applianceHome brandhome cleaningHome CollectionHome Colorhome colorshome crystalsHome DécorHome Decorshome designHome EntertainingHome EntertainmentHome EssentialsHome Exteriorshome fabricshome feng shuiHome FurnishingsHome IdeasHome InspirationHome Inspirationshome investmentsHome LuckHome MaintenanceHome Newshome numerologyHome of Many MoonsHome Officehome patternhome pattern nameshome patternsHome PieceHome Preservationhome purchaseHome RenovationHome RepairHome Safetyhome scenthome scentsHome Securityhome spaHome speakersHome technologyHome Themeshome tipshome tourhome tourshome ventilationhome wallpapershomeownerhomesHong KongHong Kong HotelHong Kong HotelsHong Kong Houseware Fair 2019Hong Kong RestaurantsHongluo ClubhousehoogaHopscotch CourtHopscotch HouseHorizon ManilaHospiceHospitalHospitalityhospitalsHotelhotel bedshotel designHotel HartHotel JournalHotel RoomHotelshotels in manilaHouseHouse Bill 7373House Bill 7422House Bill 7502House Bill 8143house buyingHouse ChapelHouse ColorsHouse DesignHouse JakartaHouse no. 17House of RepresentativesHouse of Rustling LeavesHouse officehouse plantshouse purchasehouse rentingHouse speakershouse tipshouse tourHouse with BridgesHouseholdhousehold itemshousekeepingHousingHousing Typologyhowl's moing castleHuanggangHub PachecoHubilla Design GroupHubilla Design Group Architects and Interior DesignersHuckleberry Food & FarehueHufton + CrowHuman ScaleHurray Interior Design GroupHYBEHybridHybrid drawingHybrid WorkplacehyggehygieneHymenhymen oh hymeneeHyoungnam LimHyperreal RenderingshyquinHyundai Planti.inciteI.M. PeiI.P. SantosIan Echanoian quiranteICA Art FairICanServe FoundationIce Cream Bucketsice crean shopICE Scholarshipice tower resoIcelandICOMOSIconiconicIconismIDAIDA HKIdeasIdentityIDr. Eric ParasIf Art is a HammerIFFSIfugao Rice TerracesIkang GonzalesIKEAikea founderIKEA Range and SupplyIldefonso P. SantosIldefonso P. Santos Jr.IliganIligan bayIllac DiazIllustrationIlocos SurIloiloIloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation CouncilIloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation SocietyIloilo City Heritage FoundationIloilo Convention CenterIloilo EsplanadeIloilo Heritage SitesIloilo International AirportImageryimaginative dreamscapeImelda Cajipe-EndayaImelda MarcosImmaculate ConcepcionImmaculate Conception Parish ChurchimmersiveImmersive ArtworksImperial Kiln MuseumimplementationimpressionismIn Memoriamin other wordsIn The SoopInaugurationINAXInc.inclusive designInclusivityIncubationIndependence DayIndependent Artistsindependent livingIndiaIndian ArchitectureIndigenousIndigenous ArtIndigenous FashionIndonesiaIndonesia houseIndonesia’s The National Center for Sustainability ReportingIndonesian ArchitectureIndonesian ArtIndoor ArenaIndoor gardenindoor gardeningindoor plantsIndoor poolindoor water featuresIndustrialIndustrial CondoIndustrial DesignIndustrial Designerindustrial townhouseInfinity HouseInfinity poolInformation AgeInfra ProjectsInfra Projects BiddingInfrastructureInkInkwun HeoinnovationInnovative and Creative Entrepreneurs ScholarsInnovative BuildingInnovative DesigninnovatorsINSIDEINSIDE Festival 2019inspirationInstagramInstallationInstallation ArtInstapillowsInstitutionalInstitutional ArchitectureInstituto CervantesIntegrated Design Associates Ltd.Integrated Terminal ExchangeIntelligent Traffic SystemIntelligent Transport SystemInteractiveinterioInteriorInterior Designinterior design manilainterior design tipsinterior design trendsInterior DesignerInterior DesignersInterior Spacesinterior stylingInterior TipsInteriorsInternationalInternational AirportInternational ArtInternational Design ConferenceInternational Ecotourism SocietyInternational Furniture Fair SingaporeInternational Museum DayInternational Property AwardInternational Real Estate FederationInternational Red CrossInternational StyleInternational Union of ArchitectsInternational WELL Building InstituteInternational Women's MonthInternetInterviewInterweave BuildingIntramurosIntramuros AdministrationIntroduce vibrantIntroduce vibrant eclectic elements into your space with curated pieces that honor history and traditionintrovert-friendlyInvestinvestinginvestmentinvestmentsIP SantosiPadiPhoneIPOiqosIranIriss MangioIrrigationis jumalnIs JumalonIsa LorenzoIsaac SionIsabel and Alfredo AquilizanIsabel GatuslaoIsabel Reyes SantosIsabela architectureIsabela Convention CenterIsabella Robles GoIsamu NoguchiIsandra Matin AhmadIsha NaguiatISKO ANDRADEIslamIsolation unitit also exemplifies the freedom that exists in his work. In a career of advocating for independent local artit has been reduced to a decaying reminder of the country’s communist past. In factit keeps getting away from me Displayed in Vinyl on Vinylit’s also one that sticks with you as you seek understanding for what you don’t know. Read here for further discussion. PiñaItalianItalian ArtItalian Collab HouseItalpinasItalpinas Development CorporationItalyItami Junitineraryito kishIttka HouseIvan Man DyIvy AlmarioJ ConsunjiJAAL BuildersJackJack Noonanjaco payawalJacob Jensen DesignJacques GarciaJacques Rougerie FoundationJae NarcisoJagnus Design StudioJai-Alai BuildingJaime OliverJaime SilvaJakartaJakarta HouseJalousieJalousie HouseJalousie windowJames DysonJames Dyson AwardJames Dyson FoundationJames JaoJames TurrellJames VenturiJanice Liuson-YoungJanine BarreraJapanJapan Airport ConsultantsJapan International Cooperation AgencyJapan landscapeJapaneseJapanese AestheticsJapanese ArchitectureJapanese Culture IdealJapanese ModernJaroJaro CathedralJason BuensalidoJason CruzJason Marsino PradoJavellana BuildingJavier Design Studio ManilaJavier SenosiainJay YaoJayson CortezJayson MataJC San LuisJCCA Design StudioJD YuJDSMJDSM – ManilaJean de CastroJean NmeirJean NouvelJean-Maire Ricafort-SyjucoJeanne-ClaudeJed GomezJedsada TangtrakulwongJeepneyJeepney ArtJeepney PhaseoutJeff KoonsJeffrey CobillajefreJefrëJefrë Figueras ManuelJel SuarezJelda CabardoJen SohuJeremias Elizalde NavarroJeremy BarnsJerry Jiaojerry lowJerry NavarroJesse CamachoJesy CruzJet LeycoJethro JocsonJill PazJim CamerounJim CaumeronJim Caumeron DesignJimenezJimmy HermogenesJing Mian Xin ChengJinggoy BuensucesoJinhuaJinkie de JesusJJ AcunaJo Ann BitagcolJoanna Vasquez ArongJobsJoe BautistaJoe ChikamoriJoeBauJoel RicoJoey YupangcoJogloJohn maedaJohn Ryan SantosJohn Ryan Santos + PartnersJohnny HubillaJojo GarciaJojo TolentinoJOMARI T’LEONJomike TejidoJon MedallaJon PettyjohnJonas PacificoJonathaan AdlerJonathan Adler aestheticJoni KoroJor-El EspinaJor-El Espina AtelierJorge PardoJorge YuloJose "Ping" CeriolaJosé Edgardo "Jed" Gomez Jr.Jose Gaston Ancestral HouseJose HouseJose Javier ReyesJose Ma. ZaragozaJose Mari BanzonJose OlarteJose T. JoyaJose Tence RuizJose ZaragozaJoseph JavierJosephine TuralbaJoshua Barrerajotter deskjottergoodsJP Meister Construction CorporationJPlus by YOO HotelsJPlus HotelJr.JSR EngineersJTC CorporationJuan AlcazarenJuan ArellanoJuan Jose HervasJuan LunaJuan Luna BuildingJuan NakpilJuan O’GormanJudith TorresJudy Freya SibayanJughead JonesJulia NebrijaJulie TaymorJulieanne NgJulio MacapagalJulius BaerJulo Tads TadeoJumax MorgiaJun AokiJun GalvezJun OngJun PalafoxJun PareñoJunyeeJuryJustin DenisonJustin NicolasJustin NuydaJUTI architectsJuvenal Sansok59 ateleirKabana TreehouseKai YuenKaida ContemporaryKairakuen gardenKakapo CreekKalawakan SpacetimeKalikasan CraftsKalingaKalinga VillageKamagongKampong HouseKandalama HotelKapitolyoKapitolyo Art SpaceKärcherKarim RashidKarima PalafoxKarl AguilaKarl LagoKarmi PalafoxKat CasapaoKathleen CanlasKatrina BelloKazeKazuyo Sejimakeep coolkeeping coolKeka Enriquezkelli maeshiroKengo KumaKenneth and MockKenneth CobonpueKenneth MontegrandeKennon RoadKennon Road National Heritage ZoneKeppel BayKeshia Stephanie LimKetsiree WongwanKevin TuasonKia LaBeijaKidlat TahimikKIENTRUC OKiev Pechersk LavraKilyawan FarmKim Jeong Inkinds of bedsKing Albert ParkKingston UniversityKitcheKitchenKitchen Appliancekitchen cleaningkitchen designkitchen hackskitchen renovationkitchen spongekitchen styleKitchen themeskitchen tipskitchen trianglekitchen zonesKite Studio ArchitectureKithcenKitty BunagknickknacksKnikno HouseKodama HouseKoen OlthuisKohlerKohlersKoiKoi HobKoi PondKoichi Takada ArchitectsKoji HanedaKoki LxxKoki Lxx’s work continues to elude easy definition. It comments on imperialism and colonizationKomiketkoneKora BakeryKoreaKorean Architectural Film FestivalKorean Cultural Center in the PhilippinesKuala LumpurKuysenKuysen EnterpriseKyriakos Tsolakis ArchitectsL.A.Poco ArchitectsLa BiennaleLa Biennale di VeneziaLa CornueLa FlorentinaLa LomaLa Maison RoseLa Salle Academic ComplexLa Salle University LagunaLa UnionLabor RightsLabor StandardsLaboratoryLabyrinthine ElevationsLacson MansionLacson-Yusay MansionLAD Canada InternationalLagalucheLagunaLAKATLakehallLaki MataLamanalambanaLaminateLampLampe Berge PhilippinesLampe BergerLampsLampungLanaiLanao del Nortelandland useLandLABLandmarksLandportLandscapeLandscape ArchitectLandscape ArchitectureLandscape Designlandscape gardenLandscape PaintingsLandscapinglandscaping tipsLanguageLani MaestroLanternlaoagLaperal ApartmentslaptopLarawanLArch. Renato A. HerayLas Casas Filipinas de AcuzarLas FloresLaundryLaurean ResidencesLaurian GhinitoiuLawrencevilleLazi ChurchLe CorbusierLe Mon HouseLeandro LocsinLeandro PocoLeandro V. Locsin PartnersLearning CenterLearning from Las VegasLeatherLEDLedesma MansionLee MoraleLee PajeLEEDLEED Gold CertificationLeeroy NewLeeserLeeser ArchitectureLegacyLegacy businessLegacy of ArtistsLego RoomLena Pripp-KovacLenore RS LimLeo AlmeriaLeon GalleryLeonardo da Vinci International Prize AwardLessons from AnthologyLetterslexusLeyteLGLG Electronics Home Entertainment CompanyLG front-loader washing machineLG NanoCell Real 8K TVLG OLED GX TVLG OLED TVLG OLED W8 TVLG PhilippinesLG UltraGear™LG UltraWide™LG Wallpaper TVLGBTQ+LGULI City StudyLiangbing HuLiberaMente KitchenLibisLibrariesLibraryLibrary@OrchardLiege Guillemins StationLife in DetailsLifestyleLifestyle FairLightLight InstallationLightingLighting DesignlightsLights Up by SolanoLigne RosetLikhang FilipinoLilia CasanovaLilianna ManahanLiloanlilyLim Chong KeatLIMA ArchitectureLimeLime plasterLimestoneLimewashliminal spacesLindenbergLindholm and HusumLinegraph HouseLINO ArchitectureLisa marksLiter of LightLivabilitylive-work-playlivingliving aloneliving architectureliving coralliving innovationsLiving RoomlixilLIXIL Design DeepDive™ Live SessionLIXIL Design DeepDive™ Live Sessions – PhilippinesLIXIL Global Design and Consumer ExperienceLixil Water TechnologylixlLizares MansionLizzie LedesmaLladroLLG ArchitecsLLG ArchitectsLobbylocalLocal ArchitectureLocal ArtLocal Governmentlocal materialslocal piecesLocal ProductslockdownLockdown RushLoeweLoftloft condoLoh Lik PengLokal LabLondonLondon FocusLooted ArtifactsLopez MuseumLor CalmaLor Calma & PartnersLorebert MaralitaLoren LegardaLorena DarqueaLoro Piana InteriorsLotuspodLouis PoulsenLouis Vuittonloungelounge areaLouversLouwie & AssociatesLove is in the DetailsLOVE Sculpturelow carbonLow-CostLow-Cost HousingLRT 1LRT-2lshinomaki stoolLTFRBLubi Art IslandLucernelucky colors 2019lucky front doorlucky guidelucky homeLucky Household Itemslucky tipsLuggageLui Daya-GarciaLuis Antonio SantosLuis LorenzanaLuma ArlesLunar ArtLunar New Year 2022LunetaLuther Simluxeluxe bedroomluxe livingLuxeLivingLuxuryluxury furnitureluxury homeluxury homesluxury livingLuzonLuzon Art FairLVLPLyf One NorthLyndon NeriLyra GarcellanoM GalerieM Moser AssociatesM+S Studio Co.Ma YansongMacauMACEAMachucaMactanMactan IslandMactan-Cebu International AirportMactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2MAD Architectsmade of colorful leather pieces sewn together to create a giant tapestryMaestranzaMagallanes TheaterMaggie CenterMagis Homemain door feng shuimaintaining furnitureMaison &ObjetMaison BukanaMaison Dom-InoMakatiMakati CityMakati Urban Patiosmake bedmaking bedMaking MegaMakio HouseMalacañang palaceMalaysiaMalaysian HousingMalcolm SquareMaldivesMallMall of Asia ComplexMallsMalolosManMan CavemancaveManchesterManchester ChipsMandaluyongmandaueManetariumManggahan stationManifestoManifesto of PlayManilaManila BayManila BaywalkManila CathedralManila Central Post OfficeManila CityManila City Hallmanila fameManila Film CenterManila HotelManila Illustration FairManila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica FoundationManila Metropolitan TheaterManila NoiseManila Studio 2018Manila'Bang Show 2024ManilART 2024Manny GaribayManny MiñanaManny MontelibanoManolet GarciaManolo NocheMañosaMañosa & CoMañosa & CompanyMañosa and CompanyMañosa BrothersMansionManuel BaldemorManuel CondeManuel OcampoMapo BridgeMarawi CityMarc AranMarc GoMarc GoodwinMarc LoreMarcel WandersMarco CochingMarco Polettomarco polo hotel ortigasMarco SardilloMargaret Hunt Hill BridgeMarge OrganoMaria ArangoMarian Pastor RocesMarian RocesMariano Uy-Chaco BuildingMaricris NgoMarika ConstantinoMarikinaMarina BayMarina Bay SandsMarine LifeMario WibowoMarites Allenmaritime museumMariwasaMark JustinianiMark NicdaoMark RothkoMark VillarMark WilsonmarketplacesMartha AtienzaMartino AbellanaMary Help of Christian ChurchMaryland Energy Innovation InstituteMASE HoldingsMaster Hanz CuaMasterplanningMaterialmaterial ecologyMatilda SungMatrera CastleMatrix IIMatt WilliamsMattressMausoleumMaxi OliveriamaximalismmaximalistMaxine SyjucoMayorMayor Bernard DyMCADmciaMCIA Terminal 2McMickingME Sicat ConstructionMeaningsMEASAMedewiMedical DesignMedical InstitutionMedicubemeditationMediterranean ArchitectureMedusaMeetings on ArchitectureMEGA BallMegacityMegalopolismegastructureMegawideMegaworldMegaworld CorporationMelbourneMeloy CasasMelvin PatawaranMemorialMemory FoamMenarcoMenarco Development Corp.Menarco Development CorporationMenarco Towermental healthMenteeMentorMentorshipMeralco CenterMerit awardmervin malonzoMetalMETamorphosisMetaphorical PaintingsMetaphysical site analysisMetaverseMetro Luzon RegionMetro ManilaMetro Manila Art SceneMetro Manila Development AuthorityMetro Manila subwayMetro Manila transportMetro Pacific Tollways CorporationMetrobankMetrobank MADE Architecture CompetitionMetropolisMetropolitan Museum of ManilamexicoMga Selyong PamanaMGLIMia by Carlo CraccoMia Ongpin HerbosaMiagao ChurchMicaela BenedictoMicaela Benedicto StudioMichael AnastassiadesMichael Fiebrich DesignMichael OrlinaMichael SeumMichelinMichelin-Star ChefMicroMicrolibraryMicrolibrary BimamicrolivingMicrowaveMid-century modernMidlands Golf ClubMIDSmieleMies van der RoheMigrationMiguel Jorge RochaMiguel PuyatMihlgrace SamontezaMike BrimmMike CarandangMike LagmanMike PeñaMilanMilan design weekMilan Design Week 2026milano & designMilitaryMillennialMilo NavalMilwaukee Art MuseumMin Thein SungMindanaoMindanao avenue stationMindoroMini MetrosMinimalMinimal SpaceMinimalismMinimalistMinimalist Rustic MancaveMínimo Común ArquitecturaminottiMIPIM Asia AwardsMIPIM Asia Awards 2013mirrorMisak TerzibasiyanMission revivalMisty Floromix and matchMixed MediaMixed-UseMLR Polo PavilionMM YuMMDAMMDA Building ComplexMMDA Building Complex Design CompetitionMMDA general managerMN Design StudioMN HouseMO\_SpaceMobile appMobilityMoCAFMod Audiomoda internimodekaModeka ArtModerm HouseModernModern ArchitectureModern Artmodern designModern FilipinoModern Filipino Artmodern homeModern Housemodern industrialModern KuboModern MinimalistModern Office of Design + Architecturemodern organicmodern tropicalmodern tropical homeModernBrandsModernismModernistModernist houseModernist Neo-TropicalModernization of Traditional ArchitectureModularModular DesignModular FurnitureModular KitchenModular SofaModularityModularity HomeModulor SystemMohsen MostafaviMolded plywood chairMolo MansionMolteni&CMom Luang Tridhosyuth DevakulMona LisaMona ValeMondaymonestaryMoney LaunderingMonitorMono8 GalleryMonolithicmontecimaMontinola MansionMonumentmoodboardsmoorishMorfosisMOs DesignmoscowMoshen MostafaviMosqueMoss ManilaMoss Manila HomemotherMotivationMountainmountain cabinMoviesMovingMoving HousesMPTCMRTMRT 3MRT 7MSY HoldingsMt. MakilingMTD PhilippinesMUDECMuelle de IndustriaMuhonMujerMujiMUJI Hotelmulti-functionalMulti-purposemulti-purpose appliancesMummy Mason JarsMunichMuralmuralsMuseo OrlinaMuseo PambataMuseumMuseum DayMuseum of a History of IdeasMuseum of Contemporary Art and Design ofMuseum of LondonMuseum RevitalizationMuseumsMusicMusicianMuslim Artmust visitsMutual Recognition ArrangementMWM Terminals Inc.Myanmarmyceliummyhomemyhome magazineMykee MartinezMylene DizonNadia FranciscoNakanoshima Children's Book ForestName that architectName the architectNaoto FukasawaNapoleon AbuevaNarita CheahNarraNarrative LandscapeNASANasugbuNataneka ArsitekNathalie HenaresNathaniel von EinsiedelNational Architecture Week 2018National ArtistNational Artist for ArchitectureNational Artist for Visual ArtsNational Artist in ArchitectureNational Building CodeNational Building Code Integration ActNational Building Code of the PhilippinesNational Capital RegionNational Commission for Culture and the ArtsNational Commission on Culture and the ArtsNational ConsciousnessNational Cultural TreasureNational Design Centre SingaporeNational Economic and Development AuthorityNational Ecotourism StrategyNational Gallery SingaporeNational Government Administrative CenterNational Heritage MonthNational Historical Commission of the PhilippinesNational Housing AuthorityNational Integrated Protected Areas SystemNational MuseumNational Museum BoholNational Museum of AnthropologyNational Museum of Fine ArtsNational Museum of Natural HistoryNational Museum of QatarNational Museum of the PhilippinesNational RoadNational StadiumNational University of Singapore MuseumNationalismNative American TribesNative WIldlifeNatividad Galang Fajardo ExhibitNaturalNatural DisasterNatural Historynatural materialsNatural Museumnatural stonenatural stonesnatural ventilationNatureNature-Based DesignNature-Centric DesignNature-friendlyNatuzziNazareno+GuerreroNazareno+Guerrero Design ConsultancyNCCANeal OshimaNed CarlosNEDANegros ChurchesNegros Churches RestorationNegros OccidentalNegros OrientalNena SaguilNEONeo-ClassicalNeo-EcoMaterialsNeo-GothicNeo-Mudejarneo-RomanesqueNeo-TropicalNeo-vernacularNeoclassicismNeoliberalneri oxmanNeri&HuNestt Design StudioNet LimaNet MetropolisNet ParkNetherlandsNetworkNeues MuseumNew Clark CityNew Clark City Aquatic CenterNew Clark City Government Administrative CenterNew Clark City River ParkNew Clark City Sports ComplexNew Homenew infrastructurenew normalNew Senate BuildingNew World Developmentnew world makati hotelnew yearnew year's resolutions homeNew YearsNew YorkNew ZealandnewphNewsNEX TowerNFTNHCPNick JoaquinNick RamosNicolei Buendia GupitNigel YoungNikken SekkeiNikki Boncan-BuensalidoNikki CosetengNikki GilNina and Michael BohlNingbo History MuseumNingbo MuseumNingbo Tengtou PavilionNippon SteelNISHIZAWAARCHITECTSNitz BalceNizio Design InternationalNKAANLEXNO Community-run SpaceNoel GuevaraNoiseNoise PollutionNomadic ResortsNorberto RoldanNordeste Curuguaty OfficesNorfolk pine treesNorman AgleronNorman CrisologoNorth Avenue stationNorwayNostalgianot only because it is a masterpiece of architecturenot something stuck in museums gathering dust. The artists believe that the progress of technology doesn’t mean the death of one’s way of life. RatherNotes on a Buildingnothing is truly dead and nothing is truly extinct. Read our coverage hereNotre DameNotre Dame restorationNoumenonNova GroupNow Now CanteenNTU Learning HubNuclear Power PlantNumerologyNunzio PaciNUSNuvalioakOasia HotelObel Award 2022Object designObjectsOboza HouseObraOccupational HealthOccupational SafetyOccupational Safety and Health StandardsOccupational Safety and Health Standards LawOcean ThemesOdysseus Moon Landeroffers residents exclusive club amenities within a greenerOfficeOffice BuildingOffice Designoffice settingOhtori Consultants Co. 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Villanueva BuildingS11 HouseSA GroupSabelSacha CottureSacred Heart stationsafeSafe SpacessafetySagadaSagip KanlunganSagip PilipinasSagrada FamiliaSaigonSaitamaSakura HeieiSalcedoSalcedo AuctionsSalcedo underpassSalcedo VillagesaleSalone 2017Salone de Mobile MilanoSalone del MobileSalone del Mobile 2018Saltsaltwater carsSaltwater Supercar CollectionSam FeleoSam NjunurisamalSamsungsamsung 2019Samsung Foldable Phonesamsung new productsSan Agustin ChurchSan Diego CathedralSan Joaquin CamposantoSan Joaquin ChurchSan JoseSan Jose Del Monte stationSan JuanSan Mateo RizalSan Miguel CorporationSan Miguel Corporation BuildingSan SebastianSan Sebastian BasilicasanatoriumsSancalSangay ArchitectsSanjay GroverSanjay Puri ArchitectsSanta CruzSanta Elena Nature CondosSantiago Calatravasapce of lightsarah de veyra-buycoSari YapSarimanokSatinder GarchaSatireSaturday X Future MarketSAUDI ARABIASavanhdary VongpoothornsaveSayulita BayScalescanScandinavianScary Bat stickersScavoliniSCDASCDA ArchitectsScentscented candlesscentsSchemaSchoolSchool BuildingsSchool ClosureScott Brown and AssociatesScott Brownriggscrap materialsSculptural LightingSculptureSDI Shanghai ChinaSDWSEASEA GamesSean CaseySean ChiaoSeasideseasonsebastian herknerSecret FreshSecret Garden HouseSeetoh Kum LoonSegitiga Bermuda Coffee and EaterySelfSelf-PortraitSelfie DaySeminarsSenadoSenateSenate BillSenate BuildingSenate of the PhilippinesSenior Citizens' ParkSensoWashSeoulSeoul ArchitectureSeoul Architecture BiennaleSeoul cafesSeoul International Architecture Film FestivalSeptember 17SEPTEMBER CAFESeratechSerge Bruylantsserie multiplySeshan DesignSet Designseventh generationShabestanShabestan HouseShading SystemShanghaiShanghai architectureShanghai Astronomy Museumshangri-la at the fortShangri-La EDSA Plazashape psychologySharp Center for DesignSHAUshe links together these seemingly-disparate cultures into one comfortable whole. 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RosaStabilo BossStadiumstage designStained glassStampStanley RuizStarstar signStar WarsstarcreteStarfield LibraryStartupstatement ceilingstatement piecesstaycationsteal the lookSteam cleaningSteampunkSteelStefan BoeriSteinwaySteinway & SonsSteinway pianosSteinway SpirioStep-by-StepStephanie SyStephanie SyjucoStephanie Tan-BranquinhoSteve JobsStilt StudiosStirling PrizeStoneStoolStorageStoreStoveStovesStrategic VisionStreetStreet artStreet designStreet of ClansStreet parkStreetlightStructural EngineeringStructural ExpressionismStructural RetrofitStructureStucco wallsStudentStudent Designsstudent lifestudent residencesStudiostudio andramatinStudio Anna HeringerStudio BraschStudio Culturestudio ghibliStudio Link-Arcstudio maraStudio SabanaStudio WorkshopstudiobookStudios 90StudyStylestyle secretsSubic-Clark Railway ProjectsubmissionsSubterraneanSubversive ArtworksSubversive PaintingsSubwaySucceeding SuccessSucculentsSudar Khadkasudarshan khadkaSudden closureSuddenly Turning VisibleSugarlandiaSuki SalvadorSulusummersummer gardensummer gardeningsummer homeSummum EngineeringSUMO ArquitectosSunday Sunday CafeSuper Duper GallerySuper WoodSuperprojectsuperstitions in architectureSupreme CourtSurbana JurongSurf ClubSurfaceSurreal ArtsurrealismSurveyingSusanne ZeidlerSushi ReiSushi RestaurantSusstainabilitysustSustainabilitySustainability PavilionSustainableSustainable AirportSustainable ArchitectureSustainable CitySustainable DesignSustainable energySustainable Housingsustainable livingSustainable Public TransportationSustainable Transportation SystemSustainable Transportation System ActSUTDSuvarnabhumi AirportSwerteSWITCHSwitzerlandSyaf SelamattSydneySylvester WongSymposiumSyncaT H I A ArchitectureT HouseT-shirtT.I. Vasquez Architects and PlannersT3 ArchitectsTaalTableTable Lampstable settingtablescapetablescapesTablewareTaclobantaco borjaTactical urbanismtadao andoTagaytayTagaytay Highlandstagaytay homeTagbilaranTaguigTaguig CityTahanan BistroTaipeiTaiwan ExcellenceTaiwan Excellence AwardTaiwan External Trade DevelopmentTaiyuan Botanical GardenTajima FlooringTaka IshiiTakaharu TezukaTakashi NiwaTakasugi-an TeahouseTakatori ChurchTake a Breath CafeTala stationTali BatangasTali BeachTalisayTalksTallinnTamara Wibowo ArchitectsTambuli Seaside Resort and SpaTan Tik LamTandang Sora stationTanghalang AteneoTAO PilipinasTao Zhu Yin YuanTapestryTarlac CitytaskusTata TuvieraTaylor SwiftTCDCteahouseteamLabTeamworkTeatro alle TeseTeatro AmiananTechnological DevelopmentsTechnologyTechnology in ArttefalTEGET + Studio Evren Başbuğ ArchitectsTelevisionTelok Ayer StreetTelosaTempurTenementTeodulo ProtomartirTerence YuTerminalTermitary HouseTerra Cotta Studioterrace houseTerracottaTerracotta HouseterrariumTERRAZZOTessa Prieto-ValdezTessy PettyjohnTet Tiu-AlanoTewa CafeTextileTextile ArtTextilesTexturetexturesTh Indio ChroniclesThaiThai Landscape ArchitectureThailandThailand ArchitectureThalia Boutique HotelThames Internationalthat makes a lot of sense because which of us haven’t done the odd project or so while we were stuck in our homes? And yetThe 5th HouseThe Alley at Karrivin PlazaThe Art Housethe artist admitted that much of the works came about due to boredom during the pandemic. In a wayThe Authenticity Zero CollectiveThe Babylon HotelThe Black HouseThe Book Stop ProjectThe ChapelThe City Who Had Two NavelsThe CommonsThe Coolest WhiteThe Cube HouseThe Discovery Leisure Groupthe drawing roomthe exhibit encourages us to adapt to the times and find the ways one can reconcile the old and the modern together. Life coexists togetherThe Final TableThe Finance CentreThe Flowthe foundation began the first on-site conservation work in 2020The Grand Midori OrtigasThe GroveThe Guild HouseThe HenryThe HikariThe Indio ChroniclesThe LinkThe Lion KingThe Lion King ManilaThe LOYARC PROJECTthe once revered structures fall into ruin. Such is the fate of many Soviet Era buildings like the fascinating Buzludzha MonumentThe Pandemicthe peninsula manilaThe PodiumThe Podium ComplexThe PropertyGuru Philippines Property awardsThe PublicThe Public School ManilaThe Rain ReportThe Retai RowThe RuinsThe Ruins of Lacson MansionThe Scrap HouseThe SundialThe Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes of CabeticanThe Tenacity to Stay with the BrokenThe Walled CityThe Welcome StoolThe Winged HouseThea QuiachonTheaterThejas JagannathTheme parkThemed HomesthemesThesis ExhibitionThink ArchitectureThink BigThird Spacethis assemblage of great Filipino artists expresses snapshots of our local art scene and its continued evolution. It pushes back against Westernized ideas of what art can beThomas HeatherwickThrow PillowsTidal powerTies of History: Art in Southeast AsiaTiffany & Co.tile industryTilesTilingTim LucasTimbertimber architecturetimeless elegancetimes theaterTimothy Jacob JensenTina BonoanTina PaternoTina PeriquetTinderboxTiny HouseTiny Housing MovementTiny ProjectsTipstipsy talesTitans TalkTJSO ArchitectsTK QuekTK StudioToby GuggenheimerTODAToilettoilet plumeTokyoTollwayTom DixonTom EppersonTom FordTomas ArguellesTomas JaramilloTomás MapúaTondoTongyi ArchitectsToni Vasqueztop fiveTopy VasquezTorre Lorenzo Development CorporationTosha AlborToti VillalonTour TriangleTourismtourism destinationTourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone AuthorityTourism Sites Accessibility Acttownhousetoytoy carToym ImaoToyo ItoToyotaToyota Motor ThailandTrade showtraditionTraditionalTrafficTrailTrainTrainingTransport HubTransport PolicyTransportable Medical FacilityTransportationTransportation Systemtrash binTraveltravel tipsTravertineTreeTree HouseTree of LifeTree PlantingTree Planting PlanTree-Ness HouseTreehouseTreestrendtrend color forecastTrend ForecastTrendingtrendsTribalTricycleTrinity University of AsiaTrinity University of Asia (TUA) ChapelTrix RosenTropicalTropical ArchitectureTropical Architecture for the 21st CenturyTropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 1Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 2Tropical Architecture for the 21st Century Volume 3Tropical BookTropical Designtropical homeTropical HouseTropical HousesTropical ModernismTropical SpaceTropiks Design StudioTse Kwang QuekTU DelftTua Pek KongTubatuberculosisTubes radiatoriTukod FoundationTumiTunnelTurkeyTurriTutubanTutuban CenterTutuban Center MallTutuban Main StationTUVETV 100TV TechnologyTVA&PTwisted BuildingTwitee VajrabhayaTyphoonTyphoon HaiyanTyphoon OdetteTyphoon UlyssesTyphoon VamcoTypographyUAEUAPUAP-Makati ChapterUAPSA – USTUArchitectsuid architectsukraineULI Asia PacificULI Asia Pacific Awards of ExcellenceULI PhilippinesULTRA ModernéUltra VioletUN StudioUnbuiltUnbuilt BuildingUnconventionalUnconventional GeometryUndergroundUnderpassUnderwater PhotographyUnderwater VideographyUNESCOUNESCO Creative Cities of DesignUNESCO World Heritage SiteUnfinished Quezon City bridgeUNFSDUniqloUnité d’Habitation buildingunite!” After the fall of communism in Bulgaria in 1989United Arab EmiratesUnited Architects of the PhilippinesUnited Architects of the Philippines Alabang ChapterUnited KingdomUnited NationsUnited Nations Sustainable Development Solutions NetworkUnited StatesUnitedLab Associates LLCUniversityUniversity Avenue stationUniversity of MarylandUniversity of San CarlosUniversity of Santo TomasUniversity of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines BaguioUniversity of the Philippines ManilaUniversity of the Philippines Vargas MuseumUniversity of TokyoUnnaUNStudioUNStudiosUPUP BaguioUP College of Fine ArtsUP DilimanUP Fine Arts Parola GalleryUP ManilaUP MindanaoUP SystemUP-PGHUpcycledUpcyclingUrbanUrban CurtainUrban DesignUrban FarmingUrban gardenurban gardeningUrban Land InstituteUrban LandscapeUrban PlannerUrban Planningurban praxisUrban Sequioa COP26Urban SpaceUrbanismUrbanizationUrtchtUS Court CaseUSA PavilionUser-centric ApproachUSTUtwentysixUV lightUzel AlconeraVacationVacation Homevacation homesVacation Housevacation tipsvacuumVagabond Hotelvalentine's dayvalentine's day packagesvalenzuelaValuing Toiletsvalur for moneyVan GoghVandalismVanessa GastonVanna Venturi HouseVaseVCDCVeganismVegetarianVelcoAsiaVelez HouseVeniceVenice Architecture BiennaleVenice BiennaleventilationVenturi EffectVeranda HouseVern EncisoVernacularVernacular ArchitectureVeronica LodgeVertical Courtyard ApartmentsVertical ForestVertical gardensVertical Green PhilippinesVery Perivia architecturevia.Vianca SoleilVicente ManansalaVictor ConsunjiVictoria KeetVictorianVictorio EdadesVideoVideo ArtVideographyViennaVietnamVietnamese ArcVietnamese ArchitectureViewfinder ClubhouseViewsViganvignetteVignettesvillaVilla AuroraVilla MarinaVillavicencioVillavicencio Ancestral HomeVilleroy & BochVince LimVincent Callebaut ArchitectureVincent LimVincent Van DuysenVinta HouseVintageVintage Chairsvintage furnitureVinyl on VinylVinyl TilesViolence Against WomenVippVIPP ShelterVipp V2Virgen Sang Barangay ChapelVirgilio AlmarioVirgilio CastilloVirgin Hyperloop OneVirra MallVirtualVirtual design and constructionVirtual PavilionVirtual RealityVirtual TourVirtual Visita IglesiaVisayasVisionarchVisionary ArchitectureVisita IglesiavisitorsVisual ArtsVito SelmaVitraVitruvian ManVittorio GregottiVo Trong Nghiavodka cleanerVogueVogue galaVogue PhilippinesVoilà HouseVolatile Organic Compoundvolcanic ashVolcanoVRVSBAVTN ArchitectsvuesseVuth LynoVV & CiVV & Co.W.V. Coscolluela and AssociatesWA Awardswabi sabi plateswabi-sabiWAFWAF 2014WAF 2018waf 2019WAF 2021WAF ShortlistWAF Student Competitionwaf2019Wahana Architectswalk-in closetwalk-in closetswall designWall Systemwallpaperwallpaper ceilingWallsWang ShuWarak Kayu MicrolibrarywardrobeWarehouseWarren and Mahoney Architectswas tasked by the Bulgarian communist government to design the monument. The construction began in 1974wash dishesWashi tapeWashing MachinewashroomWasteWataru SakumaWaterWater ArchitectureWater ConservationWater Featurewater featuresWater filterWater TigerWaterfrontWaterstudio.NLWaving on the Edge HouseWayfindingwe learn about the brief story behind the Buzludzha Monument. At an elevation of 1wealthWearable ArtweaveswebinarWebzineWeegeeWeekend Homeweekend houseWelcoming PavilionsWELLWELL CertificationWELL GoldWell-beingwellnessWellness centerwellness tipsWen HsiaWest GalleryWest JakartaWeWork PhilippinesWFHWhat Were They ThinkingWHBC ArchitectsWheelwright Prizewhich sits on the peak it was named after in central Bulgaria. Architect Georgi StoilovWhiteWhite BungalowWhite Space Gallerywhite walls galleryWHOWHO Western Pacific OfficeWhoopWhy is the Sky Blue? portrays indigenous and traditional cultures as aliveWhy is the Sky Blue? Stephanie Comilang and Simon Speiser’s exhibit at Silverlens Manila portray the effects of capitalism and colonialism in our worldWi-FiWienerbergerWienerberger Brick AwardWienerberger Brick Award 2020WilWilconWilcon DepotWilcon Depot BoholWilcon Depot DauisWilcon Home DepotWiliiam TiWilkinson EyreWill Allen AlsopWill AlsopWilliam GanWilliam GaudinezWilliam ParsonsWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Tan BeloWilliam TiWilliam Ti JrWilly CoscolluelaWilly V Coscocuella ArchitectsWilmer LopezWind TowerWindowWindowsWindward HouseWinewine decanterwinerywinnerwinner jumalonWinnersWinnie GoWireWiresWOHAWomenwomen architectsWomen ArtistsWomen Run DesignWomen's MonthWomen's RightsWong Mun SummWoodwood beamsWood homesWood ThemedWoodcut IllustrationsWoodworkWoodworksWorking SpaceworkplaceWorkshopWorkspaceWorld Architectural Festival 2021world Architecture communityWorld architecture exhibitionWorld Architecture FestivalWorld CongressWorld Congress 2020World CupWorld Economic Forumworld expoWorld Expo 2020 DubaiWorld Happiness ReportWorld Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization Manila HeadquartersWorld Toilet DayWorld Toilet Day 2021World Toilet OrganizationWorld Toilet Organization\\World Travel Awards 2020World War IIWORLDBEXWrought IronWTA Architecture and Design StudioXavier OratoryXavier SchoolXiangshan CampusXylographyYabuliYakalYasmin JaidinYason BanalYayoi KusamaYbonita Farm and VillasYeclayellowyi+mu design officeYong Ju LeeYonni HabúlanYOOYork Street ResidenceYoshihiro sawaYoshio KotakeYouniversity Suitesys sehobYsobel Art GalleryYuchengco MuseumYusay-Consing MansionZ HouseZ3R Housing ProjectZaha HadidZaha Hadid ArchitectsZamboanga CityZamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction Housing ProjectZamboanguita ChurchZara HomeZaragoza Bridge PavilionZarch CollaborativesZayed Future Energy PrizeZean CabangisZenaida TanzenchaZero carbonZiggurat-like DesignzlgdesignZobelzodiac signZoningZooZubuZubu Associates Design GroupZubu Design AssociatesZumbotelZurich Airport

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### [Where To Buy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/where-to-buy/)

**Published:** May 14, 2025
**Author:** mark.hubilla

**Content:**

## Where to Buy

## BluPrint is available in the following places:

#### **Order from our official online shops**

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#### **Visit the following bookstores**

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### [Cookie Policy](https://bluprint-onemega.com/cookie-policy/)

**Published:** April 2, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

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# Cookie Policy

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---

### [Account](https://bluprint-onemega.com/account/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

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### [Login](https://bluprint-onemega.com/login/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

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---


## Memberships

### [Employee Digital Access](https://bluprint-onemega.com/register/employee-digital-access/)

**Published:** January 29, 2026
**Author:** Patricia Revilla

**Content:**

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### [BluPrint Digital Access (Semi-annual)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/register/digital-access-semi-annual/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

**Content:**

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### [BluPrint Digital Access (Quarterly)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/register/digital-access-quarterly/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

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Terms:

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### [BluPrint Digital Access (Monthly)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/register/digital-access-monthly/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

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Terms:

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### [BluPrint Digital Access (Annual)](https://bluprint-onemega.com/register/digital-access-annual/)

**Published:** March 26, 2025
**Author:** Aldren Gomez

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---


## E Magazines

### [Bluprint 2026 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2026-volume-ii/)

**Published:** July 17, 2026
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** July

**Emag Years:** 2026

---

### [Bluprint 2026 | Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2026-volume-i/)

**Published:** May 7, 2026
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** April

**Emag Years:** 2026

---

### [Bluprint 2025 | Volume III](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2025-volume-3/)

**Published:** October 29, 2025
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume III

**Emag Months:** November

**Emag Years:** 2025

---

### [Bluprint 2025 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2025-volume-2/)

**Published:** September 1, 2025
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2025

---

### [Bluprint Homes June 2025 | The Design Sourcebook](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-homes-june-2025-the-design-sourcebook/)

**Published:** June 16, 2025
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** The Design Sourcebook

**Emag Months:** June

**Emag Years:** 2025

---

### [Bluprint 2025 | Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2025-volume-1/)

**Published:** April 15, 2025
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** April

**Emag Years:** 2025

---

### [Bluprint 2024 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2024-volume-2/)

**Published:** January 1, 2024
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2024

---

### [Bluprint 2024 | Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2024-volume-1/)

**Published:** January 1, 2024
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2024

---

### [Bluprint 2023 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2023-volume-2/)

**Published:** January 1, 2023
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2023

---

### [Bluprint 2023 | Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2023-volume-1/)

**Published:** January 1, 2023
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2023

---

### [Bluprint 2022 | Volume III](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2022-volume-3/)

**Published:** January 1, 2022
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume III

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2022

---

### [Bluprint 2022 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2022-volume-2/)

**Published:** January 1, 2022
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2022

---

### [Bluprint 2022 | Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2022-volume-1/)

**Published:** January 1, 2022
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2022

---

### [Bluprint 2021 | Anniversary Issue - Volume III](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2021-anniversary-issue-volume-3/)

**Published:** January 1, 2021
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume III

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2021

---

### [Bluprint 2021 | Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2021-volume-2/)

**Published:** January 1, 2021
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume II

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2021

---

### [Bluprint 2021 | Volume I - B](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2021-volume-1-b/)

**Published:** January 1, 2021
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2021

---

### [Bluprint 2021 | Volume I - A](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag/bluprint-2021-volume-1-a/)

**Published:** January 1, 2021
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

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**Emag Featured:** Volume I

**Emag Months:** January

**Emag Years:** 2021

---


## Glossary

### [Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/glossary/a/architecture/)

**Published:** August 7, 2026
**Author:** Lyle Dolleton

**Content:**

The art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to create environments that serve practical needs while reflecting cultural, historical, and artistic values.

---


## Categories

### [Uncategorized](https://bluprint-onemega.com/uncategorized/)

---

### [Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/)

**Description:** Explore groundbreaking architecture in the Philippines—featuring local spaces, sustainable solutions, and visionary designs shaping the built environment.

---

### [Interiors](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/)

**Description:** Transform your interiors with BluPrint’s expert design ideas. Discover creative solutions that inspire and elevate your home’s aesthetic.

---

### [News](https://bluprint-onemega.com/news/)

**Description:** Stay ahead of the curve. BluPrint delivers the latest updates on architecture, interior design trends, urban planning, and the innovations shaping our built world.

---

### [Featured](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/)

**Description:** BluPrint's featured section highlights cutting-edge ideas in architecture and design. Discover inspiring content that shapes the future of creativity.

---

### [Art + Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/art-design/)

**Description:** Experience BluPrint’s impact on art and design since 1999. We highlight concepts that empower professionals to think globally and creatively.

---

### [Sponsored](https://bluprint-onemega.com/sponsored/)

**Description:** Discover the future of design through BluPrint’s exclusive collaborations. Explore sponsored features on innovative products, brands, and partnerships.

---

### [E-Mag](https://bluprint-onemega.com/e-mag/)

**Description:** Elevate your space. Discover BluPrint’s expert interior design ideas, featuring modern Filipino aesthetics, sustainable materials, and innovative spatial solutions.

---

### [Submissions](https://bluprint-onemega.com/submissions/)

**Description:** Submit your projects, essays, or creative ideas to BluPrint and be part of the conversation shaping the future of Filipino architecture and design.

---

### [Arts & Culture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/arts-culture/)

**Description:** Where art meets the built environment. Explore BluPrint’s deep dives into the Filipino art scene, cultural heritage, and the visionary voices shaping our world.

---

### [Objects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/objects/)

**Description:** Elevate your space. Discover BluPrint’s curation of innovative furniture, bespoke decor, and functional designs that define modern Filipino craftsmanship.

---

### [Spaces](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/)

**Description:** Redefine your environment. Explore BluPrint’s curated look into innovative homes, productive workplaces, and the design stories behind extraordinary spaces.

---

### [Trends](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/trends/)

**Description:** Check out innovative trends in home design and architecture that blend style with functionality, creating inspiring spaces for today.

---

### [At Home](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/at-home/)

**Description:** Transform your living space with creative at home concepts from BluPrint’s experts. Discover endless design possibilities that suit your lifestyle!

---

### [Visits](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/visits/)

**Description:** Get inspired by innovative MyHome visits showcasing remarkable homes, blending style, comfort, and functional design elements.

---

### [Residential](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/residential/)

**Description:** Discover the best in residential architecture with BluPrint. Get expert insights, stunning house designs, and innovative ideas for your dream home.

---

### [Commercial](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/commercial/)

**Description:** Discover BluPrint's commercial architecture designs, focused on innovative, functional, and creative business environments for modern commercial spaces.

---

### [Civic](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/civic/)

**Description:** Discover innovative civic architecture designs that improve public spaces. Explore creative ideas and solutions for modern civic buildings and structures.

---

### [Industrial](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/industrial/)

**Description:** Learn how BluPrint combines functionality and creativity in industrial architecture, offering innovative solutions for modern industrial needs.

---

### [Heritage](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/heritage/)

**Description:** Discover BluPrint’s heritage architecture, where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary design to preserve and enhance cultural landmarks.

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### [Concept](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/concept/)

**Description:** Explore BluPrint's cutting-edge concept architecture that pushes the boundaries of design, bringing innovative and visionary projects to life.

---

### [Retail](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/retail/)

**Description:** Explore BluPrint's retail interior design ideas, crafted to create visually engaging and functional spaces that elevate the consumer shopping experience.

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### [Restaurants](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/restaurants/)

**Description:** Transform dining environments with BluPrint’s restaurant interior designs, offering unique, stylish spaces that enhance the culinary experience.

---

### [Offices](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/offices/)

**Description:** Elevate your workspace with BluPrint's office interior designs, combining modern aesthetics and functionality to boost productivity and creativity.

---

### [Cafes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/cafes/)

**Description:** Discover BluPrint’s café interior designs, where style meets comfort, creating inviting spaces that enhance the café experience and social connections.

---

### [Living Room](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/living-room/)

**Description:** Transform living rooms into stylish, functional spaces with BluPrint’s design solutions, blending comfort and modern aesthetics for any home.

---

### [Dining Room](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/dining-room/)

**Description:** Discover BluPrint’s dining room designs, blending elegance and practicality to create spaces ideal for both intimate dinners and social gatherings.

---

### [Kitchen](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/kitchen/)

**Description:** Explore BluPrint’s kitchen designs, where function meets style, offering practical yet elegant solutions for the heart of your home.

---

### [Bedroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/bedroom/)

**Description:** BluPrint redefines bedroom design with creative solutions that enhance comfort, style, and functionality, transforming spaces into serene retreats.

---

### [Bathroom](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/bathroom/)

**Description:** Discover how BluPrint's bathroom designs balance functionality and style, creating relaxing, modern spaces tailored to individual needs and lifestyles.

---

### [Office](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/office/)

**Description:** BluPrint creates office designs that inspire productivity, combining innovative layouts with modern aesthetics for efficient and creative workspaces.

---

### [Garden](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/spaces/garden/)

**Description:** BluPrint transforms gardens into modern outdoor retreats, using innovative landscaping ideas to create beautiful and functional spaces for relaxation.

---

### [Profile](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/)

**Description:** Meet the minds shaping the future of architecture and design—featuring in-depth profiles of Filipino architects, interior designers, and visionaries.

---

### [Architects](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/architects/)

**Description:** Discover the architects shaping the built environment—featuring their groundbreaking projects, creative philosophies, and contributions to Filipino design.

---

### [Designers](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/designers/)

**Description:** Meet the designers redefining spaces in the Philippines—featuring their stories, design philosophies, and standout projects in architecture and interiors.

---

### [Bluprint Perspective](https://bluprint-onemega.com/profile/bluprint-perspective/)

**Description:** Gain insight into architecture and design through expert opinions, critical essays, and fresh perspectives that challenge, inform, and inspire.

---

### [Top Story](https://bluprint-onemega.com/top-story/)

**Description:** Explore standout stories in architecture and design. BluPrint’s Top Story highlights visionary projects, groundbreaking ideas, and industry leaders.

---

### [Homes](https://bluprint-onemega.com/interiors/homes/)

**Description:** Discover thoughtfully designed homes that blend form and function. BluPrint showcases inspiring interiors, architectural styles, and modern living.

---

### [Modern House Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/modern-house-design/)

**Description:** Explore the latest in modern house design. Discover stunning galleries, expert architectural insights, and minimalist interiors. Start your design journey here.

---

### [Philippine Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/philippine-architecture/)

**Description:** Explore the rich history and future of Philippine Architecture. Discover iconic landmarks, modern skyscrapers, and sustainable designs. Learn from the experts.

---

### [Small House Design](https://bluprint-onemega.com/small-house-design/)

**Description:** Find Small House Design ideas, compact home layouts, and modern interior inspiration. Discover smart space-saving solutions for better living.

---

### [Tropical Architecture](https://bluprint-onemega.com/architecture/tropical-architecture/)

**Description:** Explore Tropical Architecture featuring climate-responsive and sustainable design solutions for hot, humid environments and nature-integrated spaces.

---

### [From the EIC](https://bluprint-onemega.com/featured/from-the-eic/)

---


## Emag Featured

### [Volume I](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-featured/volume-i/)

---

### [Volume II](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-featured/volume-ii/)

---

### [Volume III](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-featured/volume-iii/)

---

### [The Design Sourcebook](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-featured/the-design-sourcebook/)

---


## Emag Months

### [January](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-month/january/)

---

### [April](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-month/april/)

---

### [June](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-month/june/)

---

### [November](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-month/november/)

---

### [July](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-month/july/)

---


## Emag Years

### [2021](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2021/)

---

### [2022](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2022/)

---

### [2023](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2023/)

---

### [2024](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2024/)

---

### [2025](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2025/)

---

### [2026](https://bluprint-onemega.com/emag-year/2026/)

---