Architects: Projects must be planned, designed
ASTER builders in the country
of architecture amid the aggressive infrastructure campaign in the country.
“It is important to get all of these (infrastructures) done fast, but the way we do so must be planned and designed,” Rebecca Plaza, president of architectural
- ing the launching of Architecture
Architecture + Design is an event held by Anthology Festival to promote awareness on architecture’s role in nation building and heritage preservation.
In a press conference, Plaza cited what architecture can do for the development of the country’s landscape today and in the future. “I think, architecture can really take a great role in nation-building moving forward, integrating cities for the 21st century,” she added. William Ti, principal architecture of WTA Design Studio, said architecture helps in promoting Philippine culture. Describing the profession as “the mother of all arts,” Ti said it could emphasize the uniqueness of the country for having a catholic-Spanish heritage. He said such distinct Filipino heritage is shown by the design of churches in the country.
For her part,
The Filipino’s distinct catholic-Spanish heritage is shown in the design of Philippine churches, among them Miagao church in Iloilo (above). Cathy Saldana, managing director of the PDP Architects- Arco Group, stressed the need to protect the environment in the process of building.
“As an architect doing a lot of hotels and resorts in the country, I believe we should be taking note of islands,” she said, referring to the issues concerning Boracay. Last year, the island was shut down for six months to undergo rehabilitation.
Saldana said failure to build sewage treatment plant, noncompliance of state regulations and other factors led to Boracay’s woes. She said people were affected by what architects design.
Architecture + Design will run for three days from February 15 to 17 in Fort Santiago, Intra- different faces of architecture.
There will be series of lectures and panel discussions that will tackle topics on sustainable planning and design and architecture as a profession.
With the theme “Impact Architecture,” the occasion will have for speakers Buro Ole Scheeren Principal Architect Ole Scheeren, School of Architecture (Taliesin) President Aar-
Spam Chairman Qin-
Workshops will be conducted by world- renowned architecture and
Arup, Sofa Design Institute, Shau and Arcadis.
Around 5,000 practitioners and delegates from 25 universities here and abroad, developers, government agencies and foreign embassies are expected to attend the event.