Monday, February 28, 2011

3 young filipino architects(architectural group) to watch out for

The practice of architecture in the Philippines is currently undergoing a revolution, with the impending threat of globalization and the new trends in materials and systems brought about by the need for sustainability, the field as we know it is now a battleground for survival. Architects either have to evolve to keep up or stagnate and lose their edge.

"Modern" is a word thrown around a lot during design meetings, the Clientele much like the society they thrive in has become dynamic. The advent of the matrix has made the world smaller and our tastes are no longer confined to what is available locally, Filipinos have acquired a new taste for all things global, not only with food, fashion, media, the arts and with that architecture as well, will never be the same!

Gone are the days when architects can play it safe! Personally I don’t think I will ever design another Mediterranean house ever again.

Among the run-off-the-mill architects practicing locally below are 3 examples which for me bests embodies the future of Philippine architecture:

JAGNUS DESIGN group – People know little about this group but, Man! these guys are fucking sick! Their pilot project the RONAC Art Center in San Juan is a statement! Sculptural, Bold, and to put it simple is a massive piece of art itself such a good example of “form follows function”. Hopefully their recent exposure on BLUPRINT’s December cover story would do them well.

RONAC ART CENTER – from RONAC ART CENTER facebook page.

JASON BUENSALIDO – This Board top-notcher kicks ED Calma’s ass regularly in design competitions, yes ED Calma, not ES Calma! Barely 30 years old this kid is a radical thinker constantly outdoing himself every time. His style interestingly is blatantly loud but at the same time practices constraint in such a delicate balance. I would personally like to see Jason be commissioned to design bigger projects our cityscape needs a drastic makeover!

KASOY HOUSE – from B+A facebook page



ANGELO MAÑOSA – Dinos Manosa may have taken charge of his father’s practice, but for me I think its Gelo who will carry the torch his father will abandon once he officially retires. Dinos continues the firm in the way his father had run it before him, but its Gelo who among the siblings who as much as he was influenced by his father’s signature Filipino style maintains his own personality in his designs. Glad that we still have architects like the 2nd generation Manosas who still hold on to classic Philippine architecture, sometimes we don’t need something new when we can take something were used to and adapt it to the present. An Old solution to a New problem, an Old approach to the new Future.

http://thesoultrain.net/2010/09/18/made-to-win/

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