The Top 8 Architecture Firms in the Philippines According to Architizer

The architectural landscape of the Philippines constantly evolves through the visionary firms that push the boundaries of design and innovation. But who truly leads the charge? This year, the international architecture and design platform, Architizer, unveils eight leading Filipino architecture firms evaluated using over a decade of comprehensive data. These powerhouses have proven their impact and contributions to both local and global design dialogues, shaping the very fabric of communities across the archipelago. 

Architizer’s Five-Point Criteria

Architizer has built an extensive database of over 30,000 firms and more than 130,000 projects around the world. With years of accumulated submissions and awards, this dataset becomes the framework for its five-point criteria to meticulously analyze and compare Filipino architecture firms in the Philippines.

Specifically, the criteria entail:

• The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)
• The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)
• Total projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2025)
• Total projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2025)
• The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)

Beyond internal metrics, Architizer emphasized that each facet of the criteria involved the global design community to ensure fairness and a holistic perspective in their rankings. 

For instance, over 400 jurors and the collective voice of hundreds of thousands of public votes decide on the A+Awards. 

Similarly, “Project of the Day” and “Featured Project” selections, while curated by Architizer’s editorial team, gain engagement from their vast audience of architects, designers, and enthusiasts. The Featured Project is promoted on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Project of the Day is published across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Stories, and included in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter, which circulates to 170,000 subscribers.

This blend of expert judgment and public participation ensures that the selected firms are not solely recognized by an algorithm, but celebrated by the broader architectural world.

The 2025 Best Architecture and Design Firms in the Philippines

8th Place: hearthgroup

Led by Principal Architect Jaime W. Hermogenes, this Filipino architecture and design firm in Makati was established in 2019. Its services include architectural design and digital architectural photography to homeowners, business people, and property developers.

hearthgroup has a total of four projects uploaded to the Architizer website, namely: Eco Life Seaweed Plant; Q Square; HB Mausoleum and; Chapel of Nativity. 

Notably, their HB Mausoleum project earned a Special Mention in the Architizer A+Awards for the Architecture +Small Projects in 2022. It was also the firm’s sole Featured Project on Architizer’s Facebook page in that same year. 

Building on their recognition among the best firms in the Philippines in 2024, these significant contributions and achievements ultimately secured hearthgroup the eighth position in this year’s evaluation.

7th Place: Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates

Founded in 1995, the efficiently-sized Filipino architecture firm has completed hundreds of projects across various typologies. It provides comprehensive design services, guiding projects from initial concept and schematic design through to construction coordination and supervision.

With Jorge Yulo Architects and Associates’ (JYAA) affiliation with select Technical Consulting Firms, it also offers extensive comprehensive technical services. Add its strengthened interior design services and the firm now boasts a diversified portfolio ranging from high-rise developments to luxury residences.

JYAA has only one project submitted to Architizer: the Hacienda Community House in Santa Rosa, Laguna. This recreational space for the homeowners of Hacienda Sta. Elena was also a Featured Project in 2015. 

Even with just one project highlighted nearly a decade ago, its lasting impact on modern Filipino architecture placed JYAA on seventh spot.

6th Place: DST Design + Build

Founded by its CEO Dryan Suiza Tria, this architecture firm started in 2004 centered on real estate development to serve urban Filipinos. This strategic focus eventually led to them becoming one of the most trusted developers in the Philippines. Today, they vow to modernizing Filipino design through the integrated application of architecture, interior design, furniture, and landscaping. 

DST Design + Build has a substantial presence on Architizer, with a total of 15 projects uploaded to the platform’s database. From this extensive portfolio, Architizer selected five of their prominent projects to highlight, all of which are located in San Mateo, Rizal. These consist of Unfinished Basket, Modern Nipa Hut Family Villa, Modern Nipa Hut Honeymooners, Bahay na Bato Stone and Wood Villa, and Tree House. 

The latter is a distinguished finalist in the A+Awards 2022 under the Residential – Unbuilt – Private House category. Adding to its accolades, the Tree House was also a Featured Project in 2023.

5th Place: DEQA Design Collaborative

Upholding human-focused approach, the architectural studio in Makati designs across all scales, integrating external and internal perspectives from the smallest detail to the largest urban impact.

Spearheaded by its Principal Architect Denise de Castro, DEQA Design Collaborative (DDC) specializes in experience design, design exploration & feasibility, innovation workshops, spatial + digital integrated design, planning, architecture, interior design, furniture design, product design, exhibit design, sustainable design, and BIM.

Among its 21 projects recorded in Architizer’s database, five prominent projects stand out. These are Hyve, Hyphy’s, Contemporary Museum of Art and Design Competition Entry, Vyne, and the Rizal Eco Center. 

The Rizal Eco Center, in particular, was hailed a Popular Winner in the 2019 A+Awards in the Cultural – Unbuilt Cultural category. It was also a Featured Project in 2020.

4th Place: LLG Architects

The Cebu-based interdisciplinary firm believes in balancing aesthetics and functionality to achieve a unique holistic approach to their works. Led by architect couple Patrick Lendel and Leizle Marie Go, it prides itself with combined experiences in national and international architecture firms with strong attention to detail and execution. 

LLG Architects practices architecture, interior architecture, and facade design and even provides consultancy services in aesthetics, facade, and space planning. With prominent use of stone, marble, and wood, it turns and perfects the clients’ vision into reality.

Similar to JYAA, the firm has a single entry in Architizer’s database—The Rise at Monterrazas in Cebu City. But with its standing as the Jury Winner in 2024 A+Awards in the Residential – Unbuilt – Multi-unit Housing Category, the project has placed LLG Architects among the Top 5. This was also came out as the Project of the Day and Featured Project in December 2024.  

3rd Place: Jim Caumeron Design

Known for its imaginative minimalist designs, the Makati-based architecture firm focuses on designing ascetic-clinical residential spaces. Its Principal Architect Jim Caumeron, being an aspiring essentialist, describes his architectural style as “undiluted, abstract, concept or idea-based.”

Bearing this design philosophy, Jim Caumeron Design prioritizes the expression of the space’s idea with fewer materials used. This is evident in its three uploaded projects in Architizer, which are: Through House, Viewpoint House, and Panorama House. 

Remarkably, the Viewpoint House and Panorama House were both Featured Projects in 2021 and 2020 respectively. This recognition and broad exposure earned the Filipino architecture firm the third spot in the list. 

2nd Place: TJSO ARCHITECTS

This private architecture practice was established in 2007 when its founder Architect T. Jordan Ong began his own practice after working in several reputable architecture firms. By adopting a modern minimalist style, TJSO ARCHITECTS developed its portfolio, varying between high-end residential projects, townhouses, mid-rise and high-rise buildings, restaurants, and commercial buildings. 

This commitment to progressive architectural design allowed the firm to showcase seven projects in Architizer. Among them are the Cogeo Commercial Building, Uno Resort Hotel and Yu House. But two of their standout works are Scrap House and Modern Tropical House, which were both Featured Projects in 2022. 

1st Place: WTA Architecture and Design Studio

This diverse team of young and idealistic architects and designers in San Juan is unified by shared passion and curiosity to be the frontrunner of modern Filipino architecture. Through its Principal Architect William Ti Jr., WTA Architecture and Design Studio formally started in 2007.

Since then, the multidisciplinary group envisioned a design-focused society, upholding sustainable planning and urban living. Having that pursuit of social architecture, they approach each of their projects with social intimacy, freedom of movement, and localized network in mind.

This socially-driven goal resulted in 161 projects spotlighted in Architizer, with three of them bagging A+Awards. One of these distinguished projects is The Book Stop, which was a Featured Project in 2016 and a Popular Winner and a Jury Winner in the 2017 A+Awards – Institutional Libraries category. Another is El Museo del Prado En Filipinas, a Popular Winner in the 2018 A+Awards, Cultural – Museum category.

With such a significant volume of projects and accolades, they are undoubtedly leading this year’s rankings. 

Architizer will be update this list annually to factor in new milestones of Filipino architecture firms in the Philippines. In a span of a year, who will maintain their lead and who will rise through the ranks?

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