NAtional Artist For Architecture

NATIONAL ARTISTS
FOR
ARCHITECTURE
PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE
 Philippine architecture is unique in that it
reflects its cultural heritage and the demand
to adapt to its environment. Surveying the
architectural styles in the country reveals
varieties that range from traditional Filipino
dwelling, the bahay kubo, which is a small
one-room hut built using light woven
materials to modern and stylish architectural
designs that you usually see in urbanized
areas.
 Philippine architecture reflects the country’s
cultural heritage and need to adapt to the
environment.
 The architecture of the Philippines reflects its
history and tradition. Churches and mosques across
the country, as well as buildings in the
metropolitan and rural areas have risen in response
to the growing demands of the Filipinos. Moreover,
the country is home to the best-preserved planned
Spanish colonial town in Asia. During the 300 years
of Spanish colonization, architecture in the country
was subjected to Spanish influences. The friars
built several grand churches all over the country
that continue to stand today.
 The following are five of the best Filipino
architects that have paved the way for
creative design and have become leaders in
this form of artistry.
JUAN F. NAKPIL
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR ARCHITECTURE, 1973
(MAY 26, 1899 – MAY 7, 1986)
 Juan F. Nakpil, architect, teacher and civic leader,
is a pioneer and innovator in Philippine
architecture. In essence, Nakpil’s greatest
contribution is his belief that there is such a thing
as Philippine Architecture, espousing architecture
reflective of Philippine traditions and culture. It is
also largely due to his zealous representation and
efforts that private Filipino architects and
engineers, by law, are now able to participate in
the design and execution of government projects.
He has integrated strength, function, and beauty in
the buildings that are the country’s heritage today.
 He designed the 1937 International Eucharistic
Congress altar and rebuilt and enlarged the Quiapo
Church in 1930 adding a dome and a second belfry
to the original design.
 Among others, Nakpil’s major works are
the Geronimo de los Reyes Building,Magsaysay
Building, Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain
Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino
Building, Philippine Village Hotel, University of
the Philippines Administration and University
Library, and the reconstructed Rizal house in
Calamba, Laguna.
PABLO S. ANTONIO
NATIONAL ARTIST IN 1976
1901-1975
 National Artist for Architecture Pablo Sebero
Antonio pioneered modern Philippine architecture.
His basic design is grounded on simplicity, no
clutter. The lines are clean and smooth, and where
there are curves, these are made integral to the
structure. Pablo Jr. points out, “For our father,
every line must have a meaning, a purpose. For
him, function comes first before elegance or
form“. The other thing that characterizes an
Antonio structure is the maximum use of natural
light and cross ventilation.
 Antonio believes that buildings “should be planned
with austerity in mind and its stability forever as
the aim of true architecture, that buildings must be
progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to
a purpose without resorting to an applied set of
aesthetics and should eternally recreate truth”.
 Antonio’s major works include the following: Far
Eastern University Administration and Science
buildings; Manila Polo Club; Ideal Theater;Lyric
Theater; Galaxy Theater; Capitan Luis Gonzaga
Building; Boulevard-Alhambra (now Bel-Air)
apartments; Ramon Roces Publications
Building (now Guzman Institute of Electronics).
LEANDRO V. LOCSIN
(AUGUST 15, 1928 – NOVEMBER 15, 1994)
 Leandro V. Locsin reshaped the urban landscape with a
distinctive architecture reflective of Philippine Art and Culture.
He believes that the true Philippine Architecture is “the product
of two great streams of culture, the oriental and the occidental…
to produce a new object of profound harmony.” It is this
synthesis that underlies all his works, with his achievements in
concrete reflecting his mastery of space and scale. Every Locsin
Building is an original, and identifiable as a Locsin with themes
of floating volume, the duality of light and heavy, buoyant and
massive running in his major works. From 1955 to 1994, Locsin
has produced 75 residences and 88 buildings, including 11
churches and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial
buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal building.
 From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75
residences and 88 buildings, including 11 churches
and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial
buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal
building.
 Locsin’s largest single work is the Istana Nurul
Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, which has
a floor area of 2.2 million square feet. The CCP
Complex itself is a virtual Locsin Complex with all
five buildings designed by him — the Cultural
Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater,
Philippine International Convention Center,
Philcite and The Westin Hotel (now Sofitel
Philippine Plaza).
ILDEFONSO P. SANTOS, JR.
(SEPTEMBER 5, 1929 – JANUARY 29, 2014)
THE GREEN ARCHITECT
 Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr., distinguished

himself by pioneering the practice of
landscape architecture–an allied field of
architecture–in the Philippines and then
producing four decades of exemplary and
engaging work that has included hundreds of
parks, plazas, gardens, and a wide range of
outdoor settings that have enhanced
contemporary Filipino life.
 Santos, Jr., who grew up in Malabon, made his first
mark with the Makati Commercial Center where he
introduced a new concept of outdoor shopping with
landscaped walks, fountains and sculptures as
accents. Santos, Jr.’s contribution to modern
Filipino landscape architecture was the seminal
public landscape in Paco Park.
 Santos, Jr.’s most recent projects were
the Tagaytay Highland Resort, the Mt. Malarayat
Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, and
the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Imus,
Cavite.
JOSE MARIA ZARAGOZA
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR ARCHITECTURE (2014)
(1912-1994)
THE ARCHITECT OF LANDMARKS
 José María V. Zaragoza’s place in Philippine
architecture history is defined by a significant body
of modern edifices that address spiritual and secular
requirements. Zaragoza’s name is synonymous to
modern ecclesiastical architecture.
Â Notwithstanding his affinity to liturgical structures,
he greatly excelled in secular works: 36 office
buildings, 4 hotels, 2, hospitals, 5 low-cost and
middle-income housing projects; and more than 270
residences – all demonstrating his typological
versatility and his mastery of modernist architectural
vocabulary.
 Zaragoza graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in
Manila in 1936, passing the licensure examinations in 1938
to become the 82nd architect of the Philippines. With
growing interest in specializing in religious architecture,
Zaragoza also studied at International Institute of
Liturgical Art (IILA) in Rome in the late 1950s, where he
obtained a diploma in liturgical art and architecture. His
training in Rome resulted in innovative approaches, setting
new standards for the design of mid-century Catholic
churches in the Philippines. His prolificacy in designing
religious edifices was reflected in his body of work that
was predominated by about 45 churches and religious
centers, including the Santo Domingo Church, Our Lady of
Rosary in Tala, Don Bosco Church, the Convent of the Pink
Sisters, the San Beda Convent, Villa San Miguel, Pius XII
Center, the Union Church, and the controversial
restoration of the Quiapo Church, among others.
 Zaragoza is a pillar of modern architecture in
Philippines buttressed by a half-century career that
produced ecclesiastical edifices and structures of
modernity in the service of God and humanity.
 Major Works: Meralco Building (Pasig City), Sto.
Domingo Church and Convent (Quezon City),
Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu City, Villa San
Miguel, Mandaluyoung.
RAMON VALERA
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR FASHION DESIGN, 2006
THE PHILIPPINES’ FIRST NATIONAL ARTIST FOR
FASHION DESIGN
 Valera, born on August 31, 1912 in Abra, is the Philippines’
first National Artist for Fashion Design. He finished his
primary and secondary education in La Salle, but dropped
out of his first year in college at FEU due to financial
problems.
 Valera never had any formal training in fashion design, but
his works have been the standard of fashion students for
intricate sewing, embroidery, and handiwork.
 In an interview with Ramon Valera’s nieces Paching and Aton
Valera, they mention that their Ramoning did not prefer
being called a designer, but an artist. He would put high
value on manners and propriety, and would not think twice
to call out their attention when they did something
inappropriate.
 Valera is known to the public as the “High priest of local
fashion” and wearing garments of his creation would be
considered as an honor. He was the only male counter
his contemporaries had, and he would do the designing,
cutting, pasting, and sewing all by himself. Ramon was a
fastidious worker, discarding finished garments that
weren’t of his liking when they were done, and was one
who worked directly from his imagination and never
worked with patterns.
 Ramon introduced to the Philippine society the one-
piece terno fastened at the back with a zipper, and
transformed the traditional Maria Clara outfit into a
wedding gown with bell sleeves, which at first was
considered a disgrace to the Filipina standard. Though
he received contrasting reactions to his creations,
Ramon continued to defy tradition and staples through
his creativity and unique concepts.
 To be clothed by Valera was an honor, and being
dressed by him is not by appointment, but by invitation.
He chose his clientele which included Manila’s then
socialites like Susan Magalona, Gloria Romero, Baby
Araneta-Flores, Chito Madrigal, and the Philippines’
first ladies from Aurora Quezon to Imelda Marcos.
 Ramon proved that having a college degree or formal
training in a field is not necessary for one to be
successful in life. He used his creativity, imagination,
and will to defy tradition to his advantage and came out
as the one of the Philippines’ most treasured artists.
 Ramon died at the age of 60 in 1972, and was
proclaimed National Artist for Fashion Design by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006.
 Ramon would have been 100 years old if he had lived
until present.

NAtional Artist For Architecture

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

NAtional Artist For Architecture

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

NAtional Artist For Architecture

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

NATIONAL ARTISTS

 Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr., distinguished

You might also like