MANILA : San Sebastian + Gota De Leche

Seeing pictures of Manila in its Hay day gives me goose bumps like no other. It is only just now that I realized there is beauty and majesty in Manila, even now. Out of all the chaos and twisted metal Jeepneys that rule the streets are the Landmarks that have shaped Manila's identity all over the world. That's how powerful the Architecture was, back in the day. So immense that it made us one of the most coveted tourist destinations among others like Paris, London and European Countries. But that label is long gone, and we are now struggling to preserve it. In many ways you can see how the modernization of Manila has taken its toll, crushing Manila's scenic views, and fresh air. Burnham never planned with LRT or SM department store in mind. It is only then that Filipinos have been affected by Commercialism and has changed the Filipino ways.

It is only in Europe that you'll find iconic Gothic Churches that are known all over the world. Who would have known that one could find the same here, under the colossal concrete commercial centers in and around the University belt. The glory of San Sebastian Church is unlike no other church in the country. This monumental church completed in 1981 by Gustave Eiffel is the only all steel church in Asia. It is majestic in all its glory. It stands in this small lot covered by all the chaos, yet when approaching you would never feel that, you would feel you are somewhere in Europe and all the surrounding buildings turn into Al fresco dining places or coffee shops. Nonetheless, a perfect steel structure like this standing in the heart of Manila never gets noticed, and is seldom recognized by passersby. I can say it is wonderfully preserved. The stained glass windows are still intact despite all the climate changes. The beautiful steel interiors and furnishings are still there and are well taken care of by the Administration. Although its is beautiful in itself only, there is this extension beside it that personally, I really hate. The Chartres Cathedral didn't have an extension, didn't it? Restoring for that manner is one way Architects are able to bring back the glory and life of as structure. You can see that being done in the Church. The intricate details are still there. You still encounter the feeling of awe walking in the Church, and other than the Tangible factors of restoration there is still the need to restore the feeling a structure can impose on people.

Got Milk? Well, might as well drop by Gota De Leche, a clinic established in 1907 for children to prevent malnutrition. Designed by Juan Arellano and Arcadio Arellano, this building has been recognized and now holds the 2003 Heritage Award of the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This Beautiful Renaissance style building has been restored a number of times and is now planning to undergo a 3rd one. The beautiful Rounded Arches greet you before coming inside the building. The original wooden doors, windows and furniture are placed inside and are still there, in their original position. The most eye catching part of the building for me was the intricate wooden beams upstairs, as well as the carved furniture. Personally, It is a beautiful building. But it has lost all its majesty and is not even recognized by people outside. At its current state, I think the restoration process was not done do restore the building yet it diminishes the character of the structure. Restoration is a continuous process, it should not have been done hastily. The paint job wasn't even nicely done. Doing the extensions behind the building even adjacent to it is just plain wrong for me. The rooms has very significant historical value, why put an extension on it when it doesn't have any particular purpose? I would've left the building stand on its own. It doesn't need to have a label, or a sign. You would know how a building is beautifully done when you know exactly what it is without even asking. This building is very historically significant, we should always know how to treasure the things we have and not ruin it further by modifying it to an extent.

I'am very sensitive in dealing with structures in Manila. I think its clear now. It is here and now that we face the hard truth between separating values and tradition. We should always treasure the past, what we have. Because once in our lives we have been the Paris of Asia. So to speak, It is a dream of mine to see that again, and to feel it again. What better way to start than now.

Ideas : SKYWOOD AND PAXTON

A house is the simplest yet complex piece of Architecture one could ever encounter. It is a matter of putting all the most basic principles and mixing it well with good design that can significantly increase the state of living of a person. The common perception of a house is a box with a roof on top, which is not always the case especially today. We now live in a modern world. Each day is a different day and nothing is ever the same as yesterday. There is an incredible influence of technology in all of the things we do nowadays not to mention we all started out in a box with a roof. Out of all the chaos that is Technology, Architecture maybe if not is one of the most necessary things man can’t live without and probably the most that is affected by Economic, Social, and Political problems. With that being said, it’s just hard to constrain ourselves in a box, whereas people’s lifestyles change along with everything in their environment. So what exactly is a “house” in our time today?

Well maybe for some, it’s not that of a big deal but a house’s efficiency and design affects the people living in it. It is so vital for us to design houses that are liveable and flexible. Spaces are most important to consider because this is where you reside inside the house. It dictates the way you move and experience the house. For some reason I thought the Skywood house has a brilliant minimalist character at least everyone in the class does. But for me that’s all there is to it. It is brilliant in a way that it kind of resonates the whole idea of Minimalism into more of an experiential concept. I think having to stick with the minimalist concept limited the exploration of spaces that could make the house more like a house. Another thing is having to cram up spaces in order to fit it in the floor area. Personally, Planning the spaces is everything. If you start off with a good concept and plan then you can achieve what needs to be achieved, in this case I feel it could’ve reached its potential if the planning was good then it can be a good house. I mean who wants an airplane bathroom sized bathroom in your house. I’am not so much of a minimalist myself though for me this house is a good example of the concept it’s just that, having to stick with that concept prevented it from growing.

So maybe a house doesn’t have to be big to be livable. It’s our job to make a space work in its own worth. Some houses are just plain and simple but none the less, it works, But not he Paxton house. Not even a tile in this house is simple. It is the house of the future as they say. But is the so called “house of the future” considerate to human needs and necessities? Or is it just a label.

The future holds a lot of things for us but it surely is unpredictable, isn’t it? For a house like this, the unpredictable acts as a tool for the designer to achieve a home for them to live in. It’s not just called the house of the future for its futuristic appearance and furniture but the fact that it is moving forward, opening new ways and means of living and redefining the stereotype. It’s not a simple house because of the structural and technological components, but the idea is somehow simple. The hierarchy of spaces show the Private vs. Public spaces. What I like about this house is that the kids have a separate space that they could grow in. The most alluring part of the house is the indoor pool, hovering around the living room. The retractable roof allows for natural lighting and ventilation. We are certainly not robots. We need sunlight, air even rain to live and it is dramatically shown in this house. It’s a matter of putting the right things together. Not just putting something because it looks nice or it looks futuristic. Futurists look into the world or see the world as a blank canvass where they could create things beyond reality. It is a matter of exploring what we can do to improve our quality of life and it’s our job anyway.

Architects are not just responsible for buildings. The power vested in us are far more powerful, Whether it’s just a house or a High rise condominium it all depends on how it works its magic with the people around it.