Architecture • Heavy materials - include hardwood, stone,

concrete (combination of cement, gravel, and sand),

Definition
brick, steel, and cast iron. They always form part of
 The art and science of designing and constructing high-rise buildings, for example, condominiums. The
buildings, bridges, and other structures to satisfy trend now is towards the use of heavy materials
individual and communal needs. which are not only fire-resistant but also durable and
 It is a complex art inasmuch as the task of the able to withstand natural forces such as
architect is not only to create the design of the earthquakes, landslides, storms and floods.
exterior of the building or similar structure, but also
History
to do the design of its interior
1. Prehistoric Period. The caves used to be the first
Kinds of Architectural Construction
dwellings of the Stone Age men. They constructed
- Post and Lintel. This kind consists of a horizontal their tree houses with the use of materials
beam called lintel and two vertical posts to support indigenous in their surroundings. The Egyptians were
it. It is usually found in doors and entrances. The among the ancient civilizations who came up with
prehistoric “Stonehenge” illustrates this type of enormous architectural works. Their pyramids built
architectural construction. to entomb their leaders, the pharaohs, are one of
- Cantilever. This also has two vertical posts for the wonders of the world. The Babylonians also
support and a horizontal beam with one end more constructed their own structures, the famous of
extended than the other. Oftentimes, steel is used which are the Hanging Garden of Babylon (another
for this type because of its tensile strength. At times, ancient wonder) and the Tower of Babel, a ziggurat.
wood is also used because of its tendency to warp, 2. Greek Period. The Parthenon typifies the
sag, and rot. architecture of this period. Adorned with relief
- Arch. The arch consists of several wedge-shaped sculpture by Phidias and his assistants, it exemplifies
blocks of stone called “voussoirs” held together by a the post-and-lintel system of architecture. Other
key stone. It serves to support other structures such well-known buildings are the Temple of Diana
as roofs and to be a symbolic gateway. The Arch of (another ancient wonder), Erechteum, and the
Triumph in Paris, France, illustrates this type of Temple of Winged Victory. The Greeks are famous
architectural construction introduced by the Romans for their architectural orders: the Ionic, the Doric,
and dominant in Roman architecture. and the Corinthian.
- Dome. The dome is a large hemispherical roof or 3. Roman Period. The greatest contributions of the
ceiling that looks like an inverted cup. It is an Romans to Western civilization are in the field of
extension of the principle of the arch capable of architecture. While they adopted the classical orders
enclosing a wide area of Greek architecture, they added the Tuscan order
- Vault. The vault is an arched structure of masonry and the composite order. Unlike the Greeks, the
usually forming a roof or ceiling. Similar to the dome, Romans combined the orders in one building. They
it is an extension of the principle of the arch capable also introduced the dome, a structure exemplified by
of enclosing a vast expanse of space. It has several the Colosseum.
types: barrel vault, groined vault, cross vault, Welsh 4. Medieval Period. The architecture of the Middle
vault, and cloister vault. Ages is divided into four artistic styles:
- Truss. The truss consists of a braced framework of a. Early Christian – typified by the old Basilica
beams or bars forming one or more triangles. An of St. Peter in Rome (326 A.D.), dedicated
assemblage of beams forming a rigid framework is by Emperor Constantine and known to be
usually used to support the roof. the first Christian church.
b. Byzantine – exemplified by the 6th century
Mediums Hagia Sophia, built in Constantinople.
c. Romanesque – has a massive, horizontal
The mediums used in architecture are classified into:
emphasis, an east west orientation of the
• Light materials - include paper, nipa, bamboo, and basilica, and a cruciform shape, with a long
other light wood. All, except paper, form part of nipa central aisle, the nave, traversed by the
huts and similar dwellings in tropical countries. The transept at right angles.
advantage of these materials is that they allow for d. Gothic – has a vertical emphasis, with its
good ventilation, but their disadvantage is that they high, pointed spires.
are not resistant to fire and other natural elements.
 5. Renaissance Period – involved the construction of the Philippines. His other works are the Church of
aristocratic residences called palazzos and churches. the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman, Antipolo Church,
6. Mannerist Period – exemplified by the works of and the Philippine International Convention Center.
Giorgio Vesari, Bartolommeo Ammarati, and Andrea 9. Lira Luis – the first Filipino Architect conferred with a
Palladio. Master of Architecture degree at the Frank Lloyd
7. Baroque Period – exemplified by the Church of San Wright School of Architecture; an award-winning
Carlo alle Quatro Fontane designed by Francesco architect; she completed her first audio-book
Borromini. Baroque architecture is characterized by entitled “FRANKly Speaking: It’s the wRIGHT Way.”
a highly ornamented façade, giant and twisted 10. Nestor S. Mangio – an internationally famous
columns, broken pediments, and common architect; he is an environment planner, a successful
decorative motifs. real estate and community developer. He was
8. Classic Period – The classical style found its full appointed by Pres. Fidel Ramos as a director of the
expression in 17th century architecture in the Palace Bases Conversion Development Authority, Clark
of Versailles, built for the court of King Louis XIV by Development Corporation, and Fort Bonifacio
Mansart and Le Vau. Development Corporation.
9. Modern Period – The Bauhaus, a school of design 11. Francisco Manosa – famous for his design of the
founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany in Coconut Palace in Tagaytay. He is the most
1919, was responsible for the development of an outspoken champion of an indigenous Filipino
International Style of architecture and design, which architecture.
gradually spread throughout the industrial world. 12. Jose Manosa – known for designing the San Miguel
Frank Lloyd Wright, an American pioneer in early 20th Corporation Building. He believes that not only the
century architecture affected the International Style, prominent and well-to-do families deserve the
but he developed his own style that never fit into services of an architect.
any category. Most of the skyscrapers built during 13. Tomas Mapua – one of the founders of the Mapua
the 20th century and the early years of the 21st Institute of Technology and the first registered
century are applications of the modern style. Filipino architect; he also supervised the designing of
the Philippine General Hospital.
Local Architects
14. Juan F. Nakpil – a teacher and a civic leader; he is a
1. Carlos D. Arguelles – contemporary of Juan Nakpil; pioneer and innovator in Philippine architecture; he
he designed the Philamlife Bldg. in United Nations designed the 1937 International Eucharistic
Ave. He also designed the Development Bank of the Congress. He rebuilt and enlarged the Quiapo
Philippines and the Philippine National Bank in Church in 1930, and added a dome and a second
Escolta. belfry to the original design.
2. Armando Dominador Alli Jr. – an architect, planner, 15. Fernando Ocampo – designed the Manila Cathedral,
environment consultant; he has been a practitioner the Antipolo Cathedral, and the UST Chapel.
in technological professions, preparing 16. Genaro O. Palacio – designed the San Sebastian
comprehensive land use plans, development master Church
plans, site master plans, etc 17. Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. – known as the “Father of
3. Pablo S. Antonio – named as the National Artist of Landscape Architecture”; a recipient of the National
the Philippines for Architecture in 1976 by Pres. Artist of the Philippines award; he designed the
Marcos; he is a pioneer of modern Philippine Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City, and the Paco
architecture. He designed the Ideal Theater, Life Park and the Rizal Park in Manila, as well as the
Theater, Manila Polo Club and the FEU Campus. Tagaytay Highlands in Cavite, and the Crystal Springs
4. Cesar H. Concio – designed the Redemptorist Church in Los Baños, Laguna.
in Baclaran and the UP Protestant Chapel. 18. Carlos A. Santos-Viola – a well-known “kapilya”
5. Juan M. De Guzman Arellano – best known designer. A devout Catholic, he designed the first
6. for his design of Manila’s Metropolitan Theater, the chapel of the Christian evangelical group Iglesia ni
Manila Post Office Building, the Jones Bridge, and Cristo in Cubao, which marked the start of his long-
the Executive House (1926), which now houses the lasting work relationship with the INC.
National Museum. 19. Antonio Toledo – designed the Legislative Building,
7. Gregorio Gutierrez – designed the Sta. Cruz Church. Manila City Hall, and Agriculture and Finance
8. Leandro Locsin – named as the National Artist of the Building.
Philippines for Architecture in 1990 by Pres. Corazon
Aquino; he is best known for the Cultural Center of
 Foreign Architects 11. Frank Lloyd Wright – a world-renowned American
1. Alvar Aalto – a Finnish modern architect; he architect; he is one of the architects in the world
displayed in his works a carefully crafted balance of whose designs are studied by students and
intricate and complex forms, spaces, and elements. professionals in the field. One of his major works is
Among his works are Bell Tower, Vlipuri Library, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2. Gottfried Boehm – a German architect; he worked
for Rudolf Schwarz, another prominent German
church architect. Among his major works are Zublin
Office Building, Town Hall, Deutsche Bank, and Public
Library, all in Germany.
3. Walter Gropius – a German architect; he designed
the Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany, and Harvard
Graduate Center in Cambridge.
4. Adolf Loos – an Austrian architect; he was one of the
most important pioneers of the modern movement
in architecture. Among his major works are Cafe
Museum, Wohnung Leopold Langer, Steiner House,
Scheu House, all in Vienna, Austria.
5. Fumihiko Maki – a Japanese architect; he is a major
figure in Japanese architecture because of his
architectural and urban design and his contributions
to architectural theory. Some of his major works are
Hillside Apartment Complex, National Museum of
Modern Art, and Tokyo Church of Christ, all in Japan.
6. Kevin Roche – one of the founders of the firm Kevin
Roche, John Dinkeloo, and Associates. Most of his
major works are in New YorkAldo Rossi – one of the
most influential architects during the period 1972-
1988; he is recognized internationally in the areas of
theory, drawing, and architecture. His major works
include the Asaba Design Studio in Tokyo, and the
Disneyland Office in Orlando.
7. Eliel Saarinen – a Finnish architect; he has a career
spanning for 50 years. Some of his major works
include the Finnish Pavilion in Paris, and Christ
Church Lutheran in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
8. Carlo Scarpa – an enigmatic character in the history
of modern architecture and design. His major works
include Palazzo Chiaramonte in Palermo, Palazzo
CaiForcari in Venice, Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence,
all in Italy.
9. Alvaro Siza – a Portuguese architect; he is one of the
best-known architects in Portugal of the 20th
century. He designed the Residential Complex
Schilderswijk West in The Hague, Netherlands, and
Centro Galiziano (Museum of Modern Art) in
Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
10. Kenzo Tange – a world-renowned Japanese architect
of the second half of the 20th century. His major
works include Peace Memorial Park of Hiroshima, St.
Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo, Nanyang Technological
University in Singapore, and Tokyo Dome Hotel.