Architectural Design 1 (ARCDES1) is my first official subject in designing. Our first meeting was a blast! It was unexpected because we were asked immediately to design a compact house. As we took the introduction to design last year, I have learned the process in designing. Our manifestos are important because this will be our basis in designing. We were asked what’s our philosophies’ about. Long story short, what is your life about? I had a hard time answering that question. Perhaps, I don’t know myself yet. As we grow, we have a propensity to change. And we’d know ourselves so deeply like we’ve never known ourselves before. The philosophies I have now may not be my philosophies in the future. But for now, architecture for me requires security.
I have a secured life from the day I was born. I wasn’t allowed to go out and play. Never ride a public utility vehicle until I was college. And until now, I have my own driver/bodyguard. So as I applied it in architecture, security is utmost important. Security makes our life comfortable. It protects us and shelters us. Security in architecture is essential because it gives us privacy and protection.
The approach of architecture for me when I first enter this course was just plainly art and science of building something. It is also building out of nothing. And architecture is a way of communication. I know all of this is true. But what’s behind the word architecture is a way more complicated than what I have expected.
Architecture is a big word. It has a different meaning when it comes to different people. Architecture is perceived based on our experiences and how one understands it. It deals with science, mathematics, engineering, aesthetic, communication and a lot more. For many people, Architecture is an art or expression of themselves. Probably, what we don't understand is that architecture is the combination of everything. Architecture is not just simply art or science or the combination of the two. It's the culture in a specific place and how they interact in it. It's based on religion, nature, climate, cuisine, colonial history and many more. And once we understand how things work in that place, and then we'll know how they live and participate in that community. And then we'll know what they'll need. And then we'll know how to build, what to build and they can accept architecture completely. So since architecture is cultural, it's different everywhere. They can't say there isn't architecture in the Philippines because there's no proof of its existence. The Philippines has a rich culture because of its colonial history. So its architecture is based on it and later subliminally evolved to a more tremendous type of architecture. Architecture is also evolving. From tents to Greek architecture to Romans to Gothic to Neo Classical to Modern and to futuristic style of Architecture. But what I can say is that, it never goes out of style. We love architecture, many people do love architecture whether it’s fully ornamented or without any ornamentation, because it conveys culture and we are connected to it.
The type of architecture that I would follow will probably be the modern and the post modern movement. I think it's very practical yet attractive. It's very honest and straightforward. I am comfortable using it because there's no certain rule compared to neoclassical and classical designs. Modern architecture is also well embraced by many people. I also like the use of steel, glass, concrete and wood. I admire it in its simplest way because of its texture, color and the elegance it provides to a building.
But I also like the neo-classical style because it evokes respect and security. Neo-classical style is really a type of architecture that will never go out of style. Its ornamentation is simple yet lucid. It always looks sturdy and pure. On the other hand, it is not very practical use due to the massive use of steel and concrete. However, I’m not closing myself to modern and neo-classical architecture only. As I’ve said earlier, people change.
Architecture is engaged with many different aspects of life. It speaks louder when we pay attention to it. There are no really rules in designing. Somehow, it’s our invention and the reflection of ourselves that we create in able to produce extravagant work of architecture. We should not limit ourselves to one type of architecture or in designing because these ideas will develop subconsciously. As future architects, we should be able to express and connect our concepts and philosophies to our designs so everyone could understand what we are trying to implicate.
