Amalgam of Architecture

Take a mental picture of this: A colonnaded beauty of ivory and marble, an imposing arch inlaid with curlicues of the brightest hues, an arcade of ample space filtered by the golden streaks of the afternoon sun, and the criss-cross of garden paths, offsetting the steady rhythm of concrete converging at a central point of visual relief—a fountain of grand proportions. Caught between the conundrum of traffic and the cadence of the hustle and bustle in the city, man-made works of art coexist with the chaos of urban life and are left to the judgment or appreciation of the wondering public eye. 

Like living creatures they hold their breaths in their places, waiting earnestly for that spark of recognition among the community as if their very lives depend on it. Their shadows loom over bare spaces, offering an instant shade of relief. Their kind pervades in every nook available in the sparse lands of the city. And they are our own safe refuge in this world of instant and rushed activity.

Architecture will always and forever remain a constant in this ever-changing world. It may vary and develop into something more appropriate for the next era, but beneath the glamour and the changeable façades, architectural design and planning remains pervasive and relevant for every generation to come. In this year’s World Architecture Day theme: “Architecture for A Better Philippines” we traverse the path of architecture and how it upholds the name of the country as well as how it plays a role not only in the betterment of the economy but more so within the society. It’s high time for us to reiterate the importance of architecture as a marker of historical change and a creator of a nation’s identity.

“To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history but to articulate it.” – Daniel Libeskind

Filipino architecture is a shapeshifter. All thanks to the hundreds of years of colonization from different nations, the Filipino architecture is smeared in varying shades of influences and it is indeed hard to pinpoint what our identity truly is in terms of this field. Like a child unable to distinguish her foster parents from her biological ones, our own architectural identity is hard to identify, but this does not also necessarily mean that we are hollowed out versions of different countries instead. Like our own selves, we aren’t defined solely by our origins; rather we are the product of our own experience, our own pains, and triumphs in life, our very own histories; and in a way, our nation’s architectural identity can be translated in this aspect too. The Philippines is an amalgam of the hundreds of years of injustice from our colonizers and is also defined by the times of our triumph for independence from these shackles.

However, this does not also mean that Filipino architecture is just a hybrid of our colonizers' influences. Before our nation fell into the wrong hands, there is already a sense of regionalist architecture pervading in our own soil. From pitched and boat-like roofs to ornamental stilts with rat guards, there already exists identifying hallmarks of our own lifestyle in our architecture. They were only suppressed when our own independence was stripped away from us. Fortunately for Filipinos in this modern age, we finally have the chance to bask on the creation of local architects that modeled their works from both traditional themes and the conduciveness offered by technology and modernity. Renowned architects Leandro Locsin and Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa perfectly portrays this kind of identity in their masterpieces and is now embedded in our history as profound works of art. The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Coconut Palace are indeed reminiscent of the post-modern Filipino design and we aspire to continue such a legacy.

The works of architects like these two have always reflected the modern condition, while still effectively exhibiting the capacity to overcome problems through creative endeavor, and resulting in cultural adaptation. In this aspect, it clearly shows how a firm grasp of our own history is relevant in conveying architecture with depth and substance. This remains as concurrent problem architects of our time continually seek to realize and it is only through active learning can one achieve this.

However, this also begs controversial questions for the legitimacy of our own field. Is architecture purely for the elite? Is it only for the privileged and educated that can only exclusively understand what it wants to convey? In the current situation of the Philippines, a third world country, ridden in poverty and political turmoil, how is architecture deemed to be important and a poor country like the Philippines, that is barely getting by?

“Everyone wants the same thing, rich or poor, not only a warm, dry room but a shelter for the soul”- Sam Mockbee

Architecture does not exist solely for the benefit of the elite. First and foremost, mankind had discovered architecture in the forms of shelter and in the hopes of survival. For an average person to completely understand this, one should first eliminate the common misconception that the profession is simply about designing a building’s aesthetic features. If architecture is just about beauty without functionality, it simply implies that architecture lacks depth and disregards the importance of the comforts of the users occupying it. If so, then architecture defies its founding principles: beauty, utility, and durability. It is so much more than about a mere structural beauty put upon the cities for visual appreciation; it requires a careful and delicate approach in order to conjure a fail-safe plan for the concern of everyone. Contrary to popular belief, architecture does not start and end with twisty skyscrapers and monumental buildings. Architecture begins with the home, with the people; and it would be a shame if architects would rather paint picture-perfect facades instead of extending their expertise to everyone in all walks of life.

“Indifference towards people and the reality in which they live is actually the one and only cardinal sin in design”-Dieter Rams

Architecture is designed by people for people, now and for generations to come. It is only fitting that in designing such, the building should evoke something profound to the users and leaves an indelible mark in society. An architectural space being intended for the public use and for the viewing of the public eye has after all the limitless capacity to weave its own story, to send out its message, to voice an advocacy; because, without it, architecture is purely meaningless. The beauty in architecture, after all, does not solely rely on the aesthetic value of the structure; it is rooted in its deeper meaning and relevance to the public and the community. When you look at it closely, this profession is also regarded as a form of social art. Everyone sees it every day whether it is when they go to school, go to their jobs, or just generally everywhere. It’s a fixture in society and is a part of what a “community” is known for.

Like revolutionary art you see painted in the walls, like the delicate portraitures you find in galleries, and like the distinct monumental sculptures you gawk at in public parks, architecture predominates society and is an inescapable form of art one could find wherever they go to. Robin Boyd had eloquently once said, that it is in this aspect that we find architecture as not just an art, in the same way, painting, music, and sculpture are arts, but rather an art that is tied to people and is consequently tied to life. A building, after all, could never be materialized without the necessity for it demanded by the people. And it is in this sense that we can now clearly see how architecture can effectively contribute to the betterment of the way of lives of people.

Edmund Burke, one of the first and most perceptive critics of the French Revolution once said: “Society is indeed a contract, a partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born.”

No single generation, or an exclusive clique, has the right to rewrite that contract without reference to the achievements of the past and obligations to the future. This encapsulates how important architecture interlaces with society. It is the architects’ social responsibility to not only think of the conduciveness for the people occupying a building today, but they should also be able to have the foresight for the possible necessities of the future generations using their design. This is the reason why the profession of architecture is such a crucial and daunting task to do.

Architecture ultimately shapes a nation’s identity and the people’s way of life. And consequently “shape” equates to form, but it’s not just a question of form; rather it is a question of communication: the way people and things connect to each other. Architecture is much more than a profession. It’s a discipline. And it is a discipline wherein one has to analyze small-scale to large-scale situations. In order for an architect to achieve the most desirable outcome, he/she has to fill in the shoes of multiple possible occupants of an architectural space. It is about understanding, discovering, and finally proposing a solution. It’s a very particular discipline, which could be very effective for the betterment of a community.

The whole concept of architecture is rooted in making a change and making things better for everyone. It’s the duty of the architect to stitch his/her own narrative of a building and make it come to life. Architecture is after all the only art that affects relationships, people and towns. It skirts every aspect of every mundane activity. It ranges from how efficient a working environment is for a certain type of people. It also affects a patient’s recovery and disposition due to psychological factors present in the environment. It takes into account the traffic patterns people will most likely do and designs a plan fit for this kind of situation. It recognizes the spatial comforts that are necessary to make individuals feel at ease and safe. It evokes a human connection from the users occupying it, and ultimately, it creates the centers for human civilization. Architecture aims to make the environment seamlessly settle with our fast-paced world. It is the only applied art that changes how we perceive the world around us. It is in fact, the changing force in society.

Architecture plays a large role in nation building and it is not solely about urban planning or how aesthetically pleasing and coherent every space available in our country is. As a third world country, suffering the blows of corruption and prejudices, architecture remains a monumental constant that strives to build a nation of comfort and empowerment. It may not be as loud and striking as the political uprisings and graffiti’s streaking in our country. It may not necessarily put to justice every fault present in our judicial system. It may not be the solution to every problem in the Philippines. And maybe this is why the profession of architecture gets so much flak from the majority, maybe this is the reason why architecture has always been degraded and devalued. But make no mistake, because architecture in all its subtle meanings and bold designs has the sole capacity to make an ideal community that upholds both the standards of beauty and comfort. Through aptly wielding the weapons of design and planning and applying it effectively in every architectural creation, the people of the Philippines can still appreciate the comforts and safety of such in contrast to the drastic turmoil happening outside their homes. In order to contribute to making a country a better place, architecture does it quite literally and simply effective.

As what Norman Foster once said: “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.”

Truly great architecture is not controlled by catchphrases of the times. It transcends time and space. It shows genuine respect for the environment, for people and for the universe. If not for the safety and beauty architecture offers, then where else can the people of a nation turn to for refuge? In the end, architecture simply goes back to the very principle that makes humanity whole—home.