The Cultural Center of the Philippines or simply the CCP is one great example of a brutalist architecture style of building in Manila. Brutalism in architecture could be defined as buildings that are massively built with the prevalent use of concrete. The CCP, as I have noticed, consists of five main parts; the base, the ramp, the cantilevered, the rear and the fountain.
The base is the largest portion of the building where the minor entrances could be found. It’s made of massive concrete. It was also used to elevate the whole structure. It holds everything together as the main support. It has simple design; vertical extruded lines that creates the rawness and masculinity of the building. It also creates depth and shadows. Its quite dramatic because individuals that would enter here could see and touch it. The texture is rough and rigid as well. It is concrete in color too, most likely a shade of gray. The base can hardly be seen in the front facade making it look like floating. It plays the largest part of making it look like float because it supports everything together.
The ramp is where the vehicles go that leads to the main entrance. It is immensely made of concrete as well, but vey flexible in terms of the form. The form is a semi-circle in shape, that symbolizes a welcoming embrace to the guests. It is very fluid and overwhelming as well. It evokes salutation and hospitality to the guests because of extravagant welcome it connotes. The texture is smooth and the color is concrete. It is very practical of its use. Aside from its use as a ramp for vehicles, people from all walks of life could experience walking or jogging here. Every morning and afternoon, many do go here and jog with their friends and families.
The cantilevered is the part of the building that is overhanging. Its purpose is to roof the entrance and gives a larger space inside. The texture is smooth. It is plain and lucid yet it gives the momentum of the building. It creates depth and dramatic feeling being under it. It also creates a beautiful shadow down, where the entrance is. The design is simple but effective. It can be designed and redesigned depending on how you want to design it. Last Christmas, It’s design really blended well with the building. And it gives the building more attention and life. It also accentuate the overall structure because of the prominence it gives to the entrance.
The rear is the back part of the building. It is where the hidden parts of the building is; the backstage and offices. It is huge and made out of concrete. It has windows that are made from steel that creates accent to it. It is rectangular in shape and has a color of concrete as well. It also holds the highest level of the structure where it is visible in the front facade. That small portion of the building made the CCP more interesting than ever. It may be small, but that creates illusion of how the building is assembled to many different volumes. The play of volumes can be really seen from any angle of the building. It has different volumes and shapes. It also made the whole structure rigid and at the same time fluid.
The cultural fountain is also one of the great features of the CCP. Its shape is round and flexible. It blends well with the ramp and water. It really makes sense that when there is an event, this fountain is alive, and when there is none, it isn’t. Its really making the CCP alive and cooler. It gives the CCP the attention it should have. The fountain also creates dazzling movements and light during night. The play of colorful lights made it really cultural and artistic.
Inside CCP, is a huge space divided into smaller spaces. These smaller spaces creates unique feeling because of how lights played inside. Windows are minimal but the spaces provided passage way for light. When I entered it from the ground I first noticed the extravagance use of concrete with beams, posts and staircases. It was dark inside but the small passage way of light from the staircase creates a dramatic feeling of walking up, knowing that the next level would be a different place. And yes, it is. The main area is well-lighted and has high ceiling. The chandelier is very striking as well. The red carpet and marble floor tiles also signifies power and authority. The wooden door of the main entrance to the theatre also is a piece of artwork itself. Artworks that are allover the building also creates focus and attention because of the neutral color of the building. The walls are thick and rough. I also have noticed the narrow escalator that really feels like being in a vacuum and later on be released to a huge space. The hallways are also wide. You can also view from the upper level what is happening in the ground. The highest level also has an open space enclosed with glass and gives beautiful lighting and shadows.
I’ve noticed four prevalent materials; concrete, wood, glass and steel. The use of concrete is consistent throughout the whole building. Outside it is purely concrete, but inside is a combination of different materials. Wood was used as doors, walls and ceiling. Glass was used as windows and walls as well. Steel was used as frame of the glass. All of them worked beautifully together because everything blends well with concrete.
The CCP itself speaks for itself. It is well shown on how it was built. It is a kind of building that is very representational of its use and the people who use it. The Cultural Center of the Philippines always remained as how Filipinos are as a culture and what culture the Philippines has. The building is immensely powerful, consistent and well balanced. And this building shows what filipino values and cultures they have. It is a representation of what Filipinos are. The entrance symbolizes the Filipino values of hospitality. The fountain symbolizes the life of Filipinos, Filipinos are lively and can outshine the rest. The small windows represents privacy and intimacy between their families.The way it was built represents that Filipinos are strong and independent. And the magnificent artworks and exciting features of the CCP symbolizes that Filipinos have different talents inside them, that Filipinos are unique from different nationality.
No comments:
Post a Comment