An Architecture Student's Memoir

Up until today, "Philippine Architecture" has been a big controversy. Is there such thing as "Philippine Architecture"? Having said that, it was a difficulty for me to pinpoint the Filipino context of the SDA building.  So after some deep observations and a lot of thinking the things I have noticed are:  How the entrance of the building is elevated which can be incorporated of how a bahay-kubo (not to conclude that bahay-kubo is originally filipino) is elevated or on stilts, Not to miss the windows around the building look like the windows of yet again, the bahay-kubo (though SDA got glass as per being a modern structure), Philippines is a tropical country so technically, architecture should adapt to the need of proper ventilation and the use of natural light. SDA got a very good grade for that part. (For me it is considered to have the Filipino context in this modern architecture). Plus the vibes of SDA especially when you go insi

WHO IS JEAN NOUVEL?   Jean Nouvel is a French Architect and known to have designs which creates "a visual landscape" that fits the surrounding area of the building. He is said to have  exuberant, imaginative,  bold experimental designs that gave him a character in the field (the internet and the world say so) and made him won awards like his 2008 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Though I can't say that he deserves the award, he is aligned with other architectural superstars.  Nouvel lacks a signature style and that being said is his "trademark" (Again, the world says so and the other known architects as well)  Architect  Frank Gehry  summarized Nouvel’s strengths and weaknesses in this way: “He tries things and not everything works. There’s a mixture of things that are extraordinary, things that are experiments, things that don’t come off aesthetically. But Jean is willing to jump in and take on things and try. That’s a great quality.” “Since th

About Brutalist Architecture  Declining from the architectural approach of modernism of the early 20th century, Brutalism is the known movement that proliferated from the 1950's to the mid-1970s. This architectural style arrived to show ruggedness and simplicity. It is an approach that is direct to the point, no pretensions. It is what it is. Brutalism seems to manifest lack of concern to show comfortability and seriousness.  Brutalist buildings are generally made of concrete that exhibits rawness and honesty. The concrete  façade made the surfaces uncover the basic nature of its construction. The Brutalist quality of a building is achieved through the rough, block-like appearance and the articulation of the form, materials and the exterior (as a whole). Brutalist Buildings in the PHILS  CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES  The man behind this massive concrete structure is Architect Leandro V. Locsin.  The very first time I saw CCP, I could s

Two great Architects that embody the energy of modernism.  Remment Lucas Koolhaas, popularly known as " Rem Koolhaas ", is a Dutch architect, architectural theorist and urbanist but then once worked as a journalist. He co-founded the architecture firm, OMA , in 1975.                                                                    Rem Koolhaas  His notable works are:    Casa da Música Seattle Central Library  CCTV Headquarters  One thing that you can evidently observe from his designs is how he explores and experiments with different forms. His playful approach empowers creativity in the field of architecture. Maybe it is real difficulty to define a Koolhaas structure, for you to   understand him you need to look further through him and see the world of models, processes, exploration and a whole lot of ideas. I like his research-based design process that creates original ideas and innovative forms and manufactures buildings that d