William Ti On the Direction of Philippine Modern Architecture for 2022

Practicing the profession for almost 20 years now, William Ti Jr is the principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio. Recognized locally and internationally for their outstanding works, the firm never stops creating remarkable projects. Just before the year 2021 ended, architect William and his team won two major awards. The first one is winning The B1M Construction Story of the Year 2021 for their Emergency Quarantine Facilities project in response to Covid-19. And the second one is being the Overall Winner of the 2021 WAFX Award. This award is for their 419-hectare reclamation project called Horizon Manila.

In this short conversation, as the visionary architect he is and an advocate of social architecture, William Ti shares with BluPrint Editor-In-Chief Geewel Fuster about his thoughts and insights on how the architecture scene will progress this 2022.

BP: What do you think will influence or dominate local design this year? What international trends do you see integrating into our local architecture and design? On the other hand, what design trends are going away this 2022?

Ar. William: We’re looking at not just opening more of our spaces but also learning what those open spaces mean. That is to say, more on how we can introduce and insert nature into our lives and how to make our surroundings more balanced and rejuvenating. For international influences, I think we are slowly realizing how little public space we have and how much we need these spaces for our city to function. Further, we need to evolve our cities beyond bedroom communities and offices. We must also seek out more urban amenities that complete our urban lifestyles. And the things we need to get rid of are hermetically sealed spaces, encouraging crowds, and recycling stale air.

BP: How do you see our country’s architecture and design adapting to post-pandemic times? Also, as we continue with remote and home-based work, how do you see Filipinos respond to this? What changes do you see for homes, home offices, workspaces, and even public spaces?

Ar. William: We must learn to live with the pandemic. The Japanese have adopted a rather passive but functional approach to covid. Namely, avoiding the three Cs, which are closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings. We also must take advantage of our climate. Our lack of winter serves as a boon to dealing with the pandemic. We must engage more with nature and the outdoors and build a much more livable human environment

BP: Multifunctional spaces are also now commonplace across the globe. Also, design experts say the future of interiors lies in sensorial strategies. How do you see these things happening locally? How do you see Filipino consumers making their spaces feel as good as they look?

Ar. William: Enclosed and crowded areas are a large part of our built spaces. We need to rethink this and seek a better solution. The easiest way to make a space feel good is by making it come to life. In addition, nature and greens in our spaces define a more natural living condition for any human being.

BP: Future forward, sustainability stays relevant in both private and public spaces. What sustainable measures and solutions do you think local projects and designs should have this year?

Ar. William: Sustainability is all about balance. That is what we need most to learn to live with the pandemic. Certainly, we need a more balanced and nuanced approach to how we conduct our daily lives.

Photo Credits: WTA Architecture and Design Studio©