MODERNISM AND CONTEMPORARY PHILPPINE ARCHITECTURE

Architecture of the Philippines

The architecture of the Philippines is a reflection of the history and heritage of the
country. The most prominent historic constructions in the archipelago are from the
Spanish Colonial period, though much Philippine architecture is also influenced by
Japanese, Malay, Hindu, Chinese, and American cultures.

After the Philippines was ceded to the United States as a consequence of the Spanish–
American War in 1898, the architecture of the Philippines was dominated by American
aesthetics. In this period, the plan for the modern City of Manila was designed, with many
neoclassical architecture and art deco buildings by famous American and Filipino
architects. During World War II, large portions of Intramuros and Manila were destroyed.
Many heritage districts in the provinces were burned down by the Japanese before the end
of the war.

RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD

The U.S. war damage rehabilitation fund was instrumental in resurrecting manila’s
pre-war neoclassical splendor. The Manila city hall, Post office bldg., Agricultural and
finance bldg., Legislative, Group of buildings in UP Manila were rebuilt approximating their
original plans.

When the rehabilitation fund reached its beneficiaries, Construction boom followed suit.
The architects joined the reconstruction euphoria. Post-war austerity meant
straightforward and no non-sense architectural forms.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES (1950s and 1960s)

MODERNISM - Rejecting ornament and embracing minimalism, Modernism became the

single most important new style or philosophy of architecture and design of the 20th
century. It was associated with an analytical approach to the function of buildings, a strictly
rational use of (often new) materials, structural innovation and the elimination of
ornament. It was also known as International Modernism or International Style, after an
exhibition of modernist architecture in America in 1932 by the architect Philip Johnson.

The style became characterized by an emphasis on volume, asymmetrical compositions,

and minimal ornamentation. In Britain, the term Modern Movement has been used to
describe the rigorous modernist designs of the 1930s to the early 1960s. Walter Gropius
and Le Corbusier were the pioneers of the movement, with the latter having a profound
impact on the design of many public housing schemes in Britain.

MATERIALS USED IN MODERNISNT STYLES

Modernist architects tried to present an honest expression of how they used

materials in a building's construction, frequently using reinforced concrete, steel frames,
ribbon windows and curtain walls.

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION was the new doctrine proclaimed by the 3rd generation of
Filipino architects: Cesar Concio, Angel Nakpil, Alfredo Luz, Juan Arellano, Felipe Mendoza,
Gabriel Formoso, Carlos Arguelles, Leandro Locsin, Francisco Manosa, Juan Nakpil.

Designs are based purely on the building's purpose. It is common to find asymmetrical
compositions and the use of geometric forms, often with flat roofs, linear elements and
projecting cantilevers.

LESS IS MORE. Buildings have clean and crisp lines with minimal or no ornamentation. This
included an absence of moldings and a tendency towards white or a neutral palette.

 Tropical modernism

Tropical Modernism is known for its wide, open spaces, increased ventilation, a
focus on local resources, and building materials with cooling factors.

In 1947, the Philippine government formed a core of architects: Juan Arellano, Cesar
Concio, Manuel Manosa and Juan Nakpil. They formulated the master plan for the modern
capital city of Philippines getting inspiration from the capital cities of United States of
America and the Latin Americas. Works of Oscar Niemeyer, an architect of South American
modernism became its paradigm.

Palma Hall was designed by architect Cesar Concio and was built in 1951. It was named
after the fourth UP president, Rafael Palma. It was one of the first buildings to be
constructed in the Diliman Campus after the University of the Philippines administration
decided to move its flagship campus from the Manila campus in 1939. Palma Hall houses
the Anthropology, Geography History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology,
Sociology and Population Institute – departments which were collectively known as the
CSSP.

Melchor Hall, the current main building of the University of the Philippines Diliman College
of Engineering is the work of Architect Cesar Concio. The building is heavily influenced by
the Bauhaus school of design and the challenge of building design without frills. It is a long
horizontal, five-story reinforced concrete building designed in planar forms tempered with
Filipino design expression. Internal spaces flow rather than being rigidly boxed.
The Church of the Risen Lord is a Protestant church located at the University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. It arose about 50 years ago through a Protestant student
group named the Christian Youth Movement (CYM). It is also a work of Architect Cesar
Concio.

QUEZON CITY as the new Philippine capital

In the early 20th century, President Manuel L. Quezon dreamt of a city that would
become the future capital of the country to replace Manila. It is believed that his earlier trip
in Mexico City, Mexico influenced his vision.

The group of government architects such as Juan Arellano passed a detailed framework
using the scheme of Washington’s constitution hill for the city master plan of Quezon City.
In the plan, government buildings would be located in an elevated part of the city.

The New Capital City Master Plan

  New Government Buildings

GSIS Building was completed in 1957 – it

belonged to the 1st batch of new government
buildings project. The architectural style
showed a shift from classical to modernist
style.

Veterans Memorial Building

Old Capitol Site – hosted several government

agencies.
People’s Homesite and Housing
Corporation

Department of Agriculture and Natural

Resources Bldg.

Quezon Memorial Monument Art Deco is a 66 meter high

center piece of the elliptical core which is composed of 3
pylons with 3 winged female figures representing Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao.

Rizal Provincial Capitol

QC Assembly Hall SSS Building – by Juan F. Nakpil and sons

 SPACE AGE - buildings became sculptures

Googie architecture is a type of futurist architecture influenced by car culture, jets,
the Space Age, and the Atomic Age. These stylistic conventions represented society's
fascination with Space Age themes and marketing emphasis on futuristic designs.

THIN SHELL (1955) – was first used by Ar.Leandro Locsin

Church of The Holy Sacrifice

Philippine Atomic Research Center – designed by

Ar. Cresenciano de Castro
Araneta Coliseum – world’s largest dome coliseum until 1963

FOLDED PLATE – roof structure with assemblies of flat plates, or slabs, inclined in different
directions and joined along their longitudinal edges. In this way the structural system is
capable of carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along mutual
edges.

U.P international Center – Arch. Victor

Tiotuyco

1960s Rufino building Commercial Bank and Trust Company Bldg., SSS building
Rizal theater Union church – anahaw like cantilevered folded
plate roof

Church of St. Andrew the Apostle –

biomorphic roofs designed by Arch. Leandro
Locsin

Artemio Reyes’ Saucer Shape Residence by

Ar. De Guzman

Residence of Ignacio Arroyo

National Press Club Building – by Ar. Angel Nakpil

MODERN PLACES OF WORSHIP

Aglipayan Cathedral of the Holy Child –

Iglesia Ni Cristo – by Ar. Carlos Santos Viola

Brise Soleil, pierced screens and sun baffles

UST Engineering and Architecture Bldg. – by

Ar. Julio Victor Rocha

Caltex Philippines, INC

World Health Organization Bldg. – Allfredo Luz

Ermita Center Insular Life Bldg. – Cesar Concio

Philam Life Bldg. – Carlos Arguellaes

Meralco Bldg. – Jose Zaragoza

PIERCED SCREEN – extensively adapted in Manila 1960s

Functioned mainly as diffuser of light and decorative layer for the exterior

Materials: perforated concrete or ceramic block, pre-cast concrete or aluminum bars with
various ornamental punctures
US Embassy Bldg.

Department Of Agriculture Bldg. – cubist carabao head – manifestation of nativist impulse

TROPICAL REGIONALISM. Architects designed energy efficient bldgs. – design that are
responsive to local climate and culture

San Miguel Corporation Headquarters Bldg.

Development Academy Of The Philippines –

Felipe Mendoza
Benguet corporation bldg. – locsin

GSIS bldg. – jor heramus

HIGH RISE FEVER

High rise was limited to 30 meters

Picache bldg. – angel nakpil

Insular life bldg. – cesar concio – 1st bldg. to surpass the 30 meter

Ramon Magsaysay center – alfredo luz

Cresenciano de castro introduced the use of exposed aggregate finish – the need to paint
the exteriors

Brutalism

Asiand development bldg. in roxas boulevard

Cultural center of the Philippines

Central bank of the Philippines

SUBDIVISON DEVELOPMENT – to address widespread homelessness

Patterned from American suburban communities

Bungalow – convenient model of the post-war architecture

Philam life homes – one of the best planned subdivision at the time

Monterey apartments

Carmin apartments

Middle of 1960s – NEO VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

Marano and southern Philippine motifs were adapted

Sulo hotel

Max’s restaurant – Francisco Fajardo

Luel restaurant

Esso gas station – manoso brothers

Holiday hills golf club house – felipe Mendoza

PHILIPPINE PAVILIONS for international expositions – phil. Internwtional fair

Brussels
1962 seattle world exposition

1964 new York worlds fair – otilio arellano

1970 world exposition in japan – locsin

“isang bansa, isang diwa”

BAGONG LIPUNAN

Search for the country’s identity and nation building

Cultural center of the Philippines complex (locsin) – main theater, folk arts theater,
Philippine internation conventon center, Philippine center for international trade and
exhibitions
National arts center – locsin

Batasang pambansa

Baguio convention center

Tahanang Pilipino (Coconut palace) - Francisco manoso

Ateneo professional school

Ateneo educational bldg.

Pro-farm resort
Mary immaculate parish church

Aquino center

Bamboo mansion – francisco’s own residence

Francissco Manoso – father of neo vernacular arch

POST MODERNISM

1980s
Stimulated the resurgence of ornament and bldgs.

Auster bldgs. Were boring

“less is more” was replaced by “less is a bore”

Classical revivalism to visionary deconstructivism

Metrobank bldg.

People support center

Postmodern Skyscrapers – adopted the tripartite division of columnar architecture

partitioning the tall structure into vertical segments – the podium, the shaft and the
crown.

“tower on the podium” is predominantly adopted for commercial and corporate bldgs.
Because of its mixed-use potential

Post modern cosmetic salvation – the ones neglected parts of manila are reborn and now
full of urban activity
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

is definable broadly as the building style of the present day, however, examples do not
necessarily have similar or easily recognizable features because the “style” is really quite
varied and has a number of different influences.

Materials used in Contemporary designs

Cast iron – is a group of iron-carbon alloys with a carbon content greater than 2%. Its
usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) – is a composite material in which concrete’s relatively loew

tensile strength and ductility are counteracted by the inclusion of reinforcement having
higher tensile strength or ductility.

STRUCUTRAL DEVICES

Post and Lintel – also called prop and lintel or trabeated system is a building system where
strong horizontal elements are held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces
between them.

Cantilever – is a rigid structural element, such as a beam or a plate, anchored at only one
end to a vertical support from which it is protruding.

Truss System – a truss is a structure that “consists of two force member only, where the
members are organized so that the assemblage as a whole behaves as a single object”

4 arch – as arch is a curved structure that spans a space and may or may not support
weight above it.

Dome – a dome is an architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a
sphere.

Shell structures – Thin shell structures are also called plate and shell structures. They are
lightweight constructions using shell elements