Adamson University

College of Architecture

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 03

Reflection paper

Corona, King Marco B.

BS Architecture 401
TTH (12:00-1:30)

Dr. Edgar M. Chavez

Instructor

Architecture of the Future is Not a Style

Personally, whenever I hear or see about the architecture of the future, the first I
can visualize are high-rise buildings and high technology structures, all about modern
and sustainable style. But after I read the article Global Approach Toward Architecture
of the Future by Koichi Nagashima, I realized that it is not all about the architectural
style but about the methods and ways on how architects design. Every part of the world
is connected to each other through the evolution and advancement of technology, by
this, globalization breaks through before our own eyes. Architecture is a part of it that is
why we are having ASEAN and APEC integration resulting to the formation of ASEAN
Architects and APEC Architects. When we invite foreign architects in our country or
when we send Filipino Architects to other countries, it is not the style of their country
that they are sharing, it is the skills and technology that can help to achieve humanitys
needs and aspirations. Our world is constantly changing so our practice needs to keep
in pace with the changes that is happening, whether positive or negative. There are
things in the future that we cant avoid and architecture will adjust to it. Architecture is
not just a job but a vocation. It is a tool that is concern with the improvements of
humanity and the environment they are living. In the future, the case will not be just on
how the design look aesthetically, but on how will affect the users, the people. Yes, as
architects, aesthetic is one of the most important considerations in designing. But, we
should put the same importance to people. As my personal observation, architectural
styles emerge because of the needs of the people. The trend today is about
sustainability, but think of it. Do these sustainable designs came out just because of
mere aesthetics? No, it materializes because it is what the situation is bringing. One of
the most serious and critical issues today is about climate change. With this type of

issue, our future is at stake. Architecture must answer the call and develop a design that
will cater for the future needs not just by plain design. Architecture is a dynamic
profession, meaning, it continues to grow according to its environment. It cannot afford
to be a stagnant career because it will die eventually. As it grows, it becomes more
complicated. A lot of things must be considered with the evolution of the profession. As
architects jive with the development, they should not just be better design-wise but
smarter on their considerations and solutions. In the end, architecture of the future will
not be measured on just how beautiful it is to the eyes, but it is how it impacted and
benefited the people and the environment both locally and globally.

Architect as Problem Solver Rather Than Mere Designer

When we know someone who is an architect, we always thought that they are
the one who design, only. In my personal experience, before I enter architecture, my
perception of being an architect is someone who designs structures like houses and
buildings. But as I progress in my degree, I learned that the career I am taking is full of
complexity and has a wide range. The most common job of an architect is planning and
designing. But being a good architect, it is essential to consider different things before a
design to materialize. As an architecture student, we are given design problems in our
architectural design subjects. Before we come to plan or concept, we tend to analyze
first the problem. We formulate different questions and solutions and study if it will be
the best resolution for the project problem. By that, an architect starts his/her job by
being a problem solver. Design has its own process starting from a plain thought to a
visual representation up to its actual project construction. Design process requires an
architect to be more of a problem designer than just a designer. Effective and efficient
design will be achieved once an architect starts to be a problem solver. He/She needs
to evaluate even the smallest things concerned with the design to be able to come up
with the best possible and feasible solution. An architect must be critical thinker, and
what most professors say, we must think outside the box. A successful design will not
be achieved when an architect does not play as a problem solver. And as globalization
continually takes place, more and more problems will emerge and architects will play a
major role in solving it. There are a lot of problems nowadays that can be related to
architecture. With the population explosion happening, one of the problems resulted is
housing. Architects as planners are one of the most credible professionals that can
analyze and solve this problem. Global growth and problems are directly proportional to

each other. Thus, architects must evolve together with these two. They cant be effective
architects if the only thing they do is design and plan without being a problem solver
first. Everybody can design, even non-architects but not everybody can solve a problem
architecture-wise. Architecture, as noble as it is, is more than just a profession, but more
of a vocation, a social work. As being a designer as a natural skill, being a problem
solver also should be one of the major skills of an architect. It should be a chief
qualification. It is a must. A design can be impractical and inefficient if it does not help to
solve problem. Being a designer and a problem solver must co-exist within an
architects heart, soul and mind. It should be in his/her system. In that way, he/she can
be an architect whom the humanity needs.

REFERENCES:
Nagashima, K. (1999) Glocal Approach Toward Architecture of the Future. Retrieved
from http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/NagashimaGlocalApproach.pdf