VOLUME 2 2015 | PHP19 9

S I G N A L L I N G

tHE fUtUrE MArrYING INHErItED WISDOM

WItH tHE StAtE Of tHE Art

SPArk brAIDS
PASt WItH fUtUrE
The loom of tradition weaves
a modern faade for Jing Mian
Xin Cheng in Beijing

GALIcIAS
trEE Of LIfE
The adaptive evolution
of the National Museum
of Natural Historys
iconic centerpiece

AIDEAS GLObE
tELEcOM bUILDING
LEED Gold and a leading
example of Integrated
Project Delivery

Plus
Architecture Edwin Uys best work to date is in Camiguin Ranke Lim does a nature lovers eyrie on Mt. Malasag
James Jaos Stiletto House in Cebu Post Mortem Ian Echanos unconventional residential project in Cagayan de Oro
Art Graphika Manila 2015 Carpe Diem Shadowing Roy Villarosa for a day First Principles Tobias Guggenheimer on
explorations in lighting design Competition Winning designs of BluPrints 6th Design Competition
Volume 2 2015

08 EdItorS NotE

Events
12 15 yEArS
BluPrint celebrates its 15th anniversary
16 FUtUrE GAME CHANGErS
The winning designs of the 2014 BluPrint
Design Competition

In My Opinion 62 LoFty rANCH HoUSE

20 AN ArCHItECtUrE LEGENd
Edwin Uys best work to date is a tropical
I WoULd LovE to CoLLAborAtE WItH
version of a mid-century ranch house in Camiguin
76 NAtUrE LovErS EyrIE
Art Ranke Lim collaborates with a naturalist to
22 (rE)INvENt WItH FEAr
create a sprawling, tranquil residence on
12 local and foreign speakers at Graphika Manila
the slopes of Mt. Malasag in Cagayan de Oro
2015 share how they keep their edge
88 toWErING HILLSIdE brAWN
32 LA HAdId PoUr LALIQUE
James Jao challenges norms with his cliffside
Zaha Hadid designs fluid crystal architecture
Stiletto House in Cebu
for Lalique

Technology Post Mortem

34 NAtUrAL SELECtIoN
The evolution of and the technology supporting
the National Museum of Natural Historys
Tree of Life
Architecture
42 SIGNALLING tHE FUtUrE
AIDEA utilizes smart technology and efficient
planning to deliver a high-performance
headquarters for Globe Telecom
56 WovEN
SPARK looks to the past to create a unique
faade treatment for the Jing Mian Xin Cheng
mixed-use development in Beijing
98 SHoWING oFF IN SUbUrbIA
Ian Echanos uncomfortably unconventional
residential project in Cagayan de Oro
Carpe Diem
106 FULL AttENtIoN
Following Roy Villarosa of RVA as he attends to
projects big and small
First Principles
112 ACtIvAtING INtErIor SPACE
Tobias Guggenheimer on technological
advances in lighting design
Something Light

42
117 A QUEStIoN I HAtE to ANSWEr AboUt
My Work

Name The Architect

118 HIGH tECH
Guess the architects of skyscrapers that flaunt
their technological DNA

Globe Tower by AIDEA 120 SoUrCES

 ExEcUtIVE VIcE PrESIDENt
ArCHIE CArrAsCo

OPErAtIONS

rESEArcH & fINANcIAL ANALYSt

soPHIE MENor
ADMIN ASSOcIAtE
ANGELA JACoB

ADVErtISING SALES

SALES & MArkEtING MANAGErS

rYAN ros CALMANTE, MAITE TAMPAroNG-UY,
JoJI CoLoMA
SENIOr SALES & MArkEtING SUPErVISOr
JAMEs CrUz
kEY AccOUNt ExEcUtIVES
MoI BUsTo, EzEKIEL DAVID
AccOUNt SPEcIALISt / OIc
fASHION & LIfEStYLE KATHLEEN AMANTE
SENIOr DIrEct AccOUNt ExEcUtIVE
CHATTIE sALUDo
DIrEct AccOUNt ExEcUtIVES
FENELLE VICTorIA, FAYE ABUYo,
ANGELA DE JEsUs, NICoLE VErGArA,
ArVIE DIzoN, MIKE CABBo
SALES SUPPOrt SUPErVISOr
CArMELLI DAET
ADVErtISING trAffIc ASSOcIAtE
GAB MArTINEz
ADVErtISING trAffIc ASSIStANtS
YHE PErUCHo, EUNIzEL CArBoNELL

MArkEtING SErVIcES

AD & PrOMO ASSOcIAtE AKINA TIMBoL

MEDIA rELAtIONS ASSOcIAtE LArIzE LEE
B r i d g e s A n d

StorieS

Editor-in-Chief
EVENtS PHoToGrAPHED BY roN MENDozA AND MArK JACoB oF sTUDIo 100

BluPrint at 15
Celebrating 15 years of the countrys design sourcebook

From left: Arch. Nikki Escalona-Tayag of WE Design, Dean of SOFA

Tobias Guggenheimer, Arch. Ed Calma, IDr. Mark Wilson of WE Design,
Pia Yupangco, Dean of CSB-SDA, Joey Yupangco and Arch. Manny Miana.

It was an initmate gathering of new and long-time friends and supporters
last february 17, a chance to say thank you and catch up over wine and
an excellent cocktail spread served up by our host, Madisons bistro
Moderne at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong.
During the short program, BluPrint publisher, Maite Tamparong-Uy, and editor,
Judith Torres, announced and handed out trophies to the winners of the 2014
BluPrint Design Competition (see Future Game Changers in this issue for the winning
designs). some of the magazines biggest advertisers were given special recognition
for supporting BluPrint for over a decade: Mariwasa, Kuysen Enterprises, Megamax
(Bo Concept) and James Hardie. Ace Hardware, which has been supporting BluPrint
since its very first issue in 1999, received the loudest round of applause. Then, the
audience was given a sneak peek into BluPrint Conversations, a series of videotaped
interviews by Torres with architects and designers on a variety of topics and design
issues, that will soon be available online. And lastly, Uy announced that BluPrint
issues are now downloadable in digital format via Magzter Digital Magazines on
magzter.com, beginning with Volume 1, 2015.
The event, which was capped by much mingling, conversation and laughter
to the accompaniment of light jazz performed live, was made possible through
the generosity of Veritown Fort by Federal Land, Kuysen, sharp, Quadro and the
Madisons Bistro Moderne.

Left to right: Arch. Royal Pineda, IDr. Onet Coronel, BluPrint EIC Judith Torres, Roslu Von Kauffman, IDr. Budji Layug; IDr. Tina Periquet-Galicia and
Arch. Dominic Galicia; Furniture designer Benji Reyes and wife, Careng

12 BluPrint
EVENtS

tHE
trOPHIES

victorious trophy by
Jinggoy buensuceso:
In every battle, a hero maybe
scarred, with wings bearing
the marks of a noble fight, but
good will emerge victorious in
both heart and being.

Ember trophy
by Alab Pagarigan:
A glowing coal is like an
emerging artist. A steady but
gentle breeze is needed to fan
an ember into flame. While
finding his own unique voice,
lack of self-belief is the enemy
from which his dreams must
be protected, just like the
hands in the sculpture cupping
the embers.

First row from left: Michael Bugayong of Homestudio, EJ Valerio, publisher of MTU, Archs. Sonny Sunga and Arnold Austria of Jagnus,
and OMG publisher, Maite Tamparong-Uy; Archs. Jason and Nikki Buensalido, and urban planner Karmi Palafox; Arch. Philip Recto of Philip
Recto Architects Second row: Graphic designer AJ Dimarucot and Michael Bugayong of Homestudio; Arch. Topy Vasquez of TVA&P; Jesy
Cruz, grand prize winner for Furniture Design student category third row: Venice Achurra, grand prize winner for Industral Design student
category; Francis delos Reyes and Glen Ymballa, grand prize winner for Industrial Design professional category; Charyn Lim, grand prize
winner for Graphic Design professional category Fourth row: Gerard Paolo Mendoza, grand prize winner for Furniture Design professional
category; Katrina Go and Jomar Peafiel of Mariwasa; Kuysens Edison Go and wife
Future Game Changers
Winners of the 2014 bluPrint design Competition
22 BluPrint
BluPrint 23
 trEE
SUPPOrt
Early studies showing
columns along courtyard
perimeter were discarded as
they violated project principle of
structural independence of the
Tree of Life from the existing
Antonio Toledo building.
 owner:
National Museum
(Jeremy Barns, Director;
Arch. Evelyn I. Esguerra,
Head of Facilities Management
Development Section;
Arch. Nelson L. Aquino,
Project In-Charge)

Architect:
Dominic Galicia Architects
(Dominic Galicia, Robert
de Mesa, Stephen George
Sy, Don Isaac Ramos, Jose
Evelio Bernabe, Franz Miko
Verzon, Karl Stephen Go, Gene
Alfajaro, Joshua Sanico, Pia
Maranan, Juan Carlos Alcaraz)

Interior designer:
Periquet Galicia, Inc.
(Tina Periquet, Kristel Blancas,
Katrina Galiste, Bryan Galang)

Museum Consultant:
Cultural Solutions

Project Manager:
DCCD Engineering Corporation

Structural, Mechanical,
Electrical, Sanitary, and
Fire Protection Engineer:
Ove Arup & Partners Hong
Kong Limited (Philippine Branch)
1 2

3 4

5 6
The rug, Global Warming by nanimarquina, shows a tiny polar bear marooned
on a shrunken patch of snow.
 13
3

12

11

10

9 8 5 2

7 4

1
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6

11 9
5 8 5

13 4
4
5 5
3
8 2
12 5 10 1
6

7
7

14
12
15

4 15

16

15 5 14

1 Entrance porch 9 Dining area

2 Powder room 10 Living area
3 Coat room 11 Kitchen
4 Hallway 12 Master bedroom
5 Toilet and bath 13 Maids room
6 Guest room 14 Gazebo
7 Terrace 15 Balcony
8 Japanese garden 16 Walk-in closet
 3
1

5
2 2
6
7

4 8

10 8

15 16
10 10

11 12 17
10 10 8 13

8 6

13 14 14 13 13

8
10

1
 4 9
5 8

2 3 4
7

4
4 16

10 12 12
14

15

11
13

17

18

1 Lawn 7 Maids room 13 Master bedroom

2 Living area 8 Dirty kitchen 14 Walk in closet
3 Mini bar 9 Storage 15 Master bathroom
4 Toilet and bath 10 Gym 16 Guest room
5 Main kitchen 11 Recreation room 17 Kids room loft
6 Dining area 12 Kids room 18 Game room
08 02

08 16 08 45

09 33 10 13 11 25
08 52 09 03 09 30

12 25 12 46 12 55
14 36 14 42 14 45

16 05 17 00 17 14
15 10 15 17 15 20 15 40

17 45 20 01 20 21
fIrSt PrINcIPLES

Many, perhaps Most, designs

are not destined to becoMe
the thing envisioned. all the
vicissitudes of life deterMine
with a blind randoMness the
fate of those scratches on
the velluM or the pixels in
the Monitor.

tHE WrItEr
tobias Guggenheimer is principal of the
New York design firm, Tobias Guggenheimer
Architect, PC. He taught Architecture and
Interior Design at Pratt Institute, Parsons
School of Design, and Fordham University,
and is currently Dean at SoFA Design Institute
in Makati. Guggenheimer is the author of
A Taliesin Legacy: The Architecture of Frank
Lloyd Wrights Apprentices, published in 1995.

114 BluPrint
tHE PrOJEctS
The following two pages show a few of the designs that the SoFA team drew up for the competition. We were recently
advised that two of our students, Tisha Montfort and Abee Sy, were selected by the German board of jurors to attend
a week-long symposium in Berlin. The jury was impressed with their idea of treating three-dimensional space as
a volume built of individual, pixel-like modules. We were further advised that the entire SoFA student submission
represented the finest work from among all the participating international design schools.

bryan Galang and

billy Joe Agulto anticipate
the evolution of a single source of light
into a multi-functional toolfor defining
enclosure, for projecting information and
for controlling the placement of illumination.

BluPrint 115
 01
John Hancock tower
This Chicago landmark was
the worlds tallest building outside
of New York in 1968, topping out at
344 m. It is a well-known example of
high-tech architecture (or Structural
Expressionism, where structural
elements of a building are kept visible or
made part of the faade or form), seen
in its iconic X-braced faade which is an
integral element of the buildings tubular
system developed by our Colombian
architect and Bangladeshi engineer
tandem. The system enables the tower
to stay upright despite heavy winds and
earthquakes, with the X-bracing allowing
for column-free floor plans. A pair of
antenna masts installed on top of the
tower completes its distinctive form, and
brings its total height to 459 meters.

02
Willis tower
Our next entry is also a Chicago landmark, having the distinction of being the worlds tallest
tower for 25 years before it was eclipsed by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in
1998. Masterminded in 1969 by Sears, Roebuck & Co., then the worlds largest retailer, to consolidate its
operations in a single building, the architect-engineer duo from this distinguished American firm came
up with the bundled tube system that gave the tower its monolithic appearance. This system divided
the tower into nine tubes, which are basically separate buildings laid out in a 3x3 grid. This enabled the
creation of one of the worlds largest office spaces, with a total floor area of 416,000m2 distributed within
108 floors aboveground at an economical cost. The bundled tube system proved to be effective that it was

High Tech
used by many supertalls including the Burj Khalifa, currently the worlds tallest building.

03
bank of China tower
Another Hong Kong landmark whose geometric
profile is an easily recognizable part of the skyline, the
Bank of China Tower was for a time Hong Kong and Asias
tallest tower at 315m (367.4m high to tip of its twin masts)
when it was completed in 1989, until it was overtaken by the
neighboring Central Plaza tower. Designed by our Chinese-
American Pritzker laureate, whose oeuvre include the Suzhou
Guess Who Designed these Skyscrapers that Museum and the JFK Library, its structural expressionist
form reminds one of bamboo shoots, Chinese symbols of
Flaunt their Technological DNA growth and prosperity. The buildings sharp profile and motif
of triangles and Xs made it a subject of controversy after its
completion, as the sharp edges and shapes were considered
HSbC building bad feng shui and a source of negative energy. This prompted
04 neighboring bank tower HSBC to build cement cannons
The fourth building in its historic address (HSBC has had three
headquarter buildings on the same site since 1865), the present HSBC Building pointed in the direction of the Bank of China Tower to balance
in Hong Kong was built from 1978 to 1985, when it was considered the worlds the negative energy said to be emanating from it.
most expensive building upon completion, costing roughly $668 million dollars.
The cost, however, led to the construction and development of one of the most
technologically advanced and eco-friendly buildings of its time. Designed by our
British Pritzker laureate, the HSBC Building is composed of five steel modules
constructed in Glasgow, and shipped to Hong Kong. Most of its different
components and elements had to be prefabricated offsite to ensure an on-time
finish, with steel parts from the UK, glass, cladding and flooring from the US
and the service modules done in Japan. Another special characteristic of the
building is its lack of internal supports, enabling the maximization of floor space.
To conserve energy, sunlight is a major source of lighting, and seawater is used
as coolant instead of freshwater for the buildings airconditioning system. A
faade of exposed steel trusses and columns has made the HSBC Building a
memorable fixture in the Hong Kong city skyline.

118 BluPrint
 05
torre Agbar
Youll be forgiven for thinking that this tower is a virtual clone of Londons Gherkin, but
the Torre Agbar is more than a copy. Inspired by the form of a geysers spout out at sea, the French
Pritzker laureate responsible for the design paid homage to icons of Catalan culture and Barcelona
the tower was designed to have optimal views of the Sagrada Familia and the Montserrat mountains,
the latter of which is home to Catalonias patron saint, Our Lady of Montserrat. The building is
sheathed by a glass and metal faade with 4,500 window openings, painted in varying hues and
opacities that give the building skin its unique mosaic-like faade. Temperature sensors outside the
tower control the opening and closing of window blinds, helping lessen energy use. The third tallest
tower in the city at 144m, Torre Agbar is a memorable fixture in the Barcelona skyline and has become
one of its most-visited tourist attractions.

06
Leadenhall building
A recent addition to Londons off-kilter skyline is the
225-meter Leadenhall Buildingaffectionately called the
Cheese Grater by Londonersdesigned by this renowned
British firm headed by a Pritzker Laureate responsible for
the Madrid Barajas Airport. Like its structural expressionist
neighbor, the Lloyds Building, the Leadenhall Building bares
its structure and innards with pride, from its steel bracings
to elevator shafts and motors that make up part of its faade.
Unlike a conventional skyscraper which makes use of a
concrete core for stability, a steel megaframe holds up the
Leadenhall, an innovation developed by Arup. The skyscraper
also features a 30m high atrium which is open to public use.

07
Lloyds building
Nicknamed the Inside-Out Building for literally looking a building with its innards bared on its
faade, the Lloyds Building is a distinctive London landmark that drew attention to itself not through
its height (topping out at only 88m) but by its sheer presence. Stairs, lift shafts, ducts and other building
elements are relocated to the exterior to ensure maximization of floor space inside. Completed in 1986,
this building is essentially six separate towers, three connected by a shared rectangular space. This
formed a 60m-high atrium at the buildings core called the Underwriting Room lit by a glass ceiling.
All of its floors are modular in nature in that partitions can be added and removed to accommodate
the users needs. The radical design and features of the Lloyds Building has led to its inclusion in
the English Heritage in 2011, protecting it from demolition or alteration without special permission.
The British architect responsible for this London fixture is one third of the trio who designed the
groundbreaking Centre Pompidou, and was also responsible for the citys Millennium Dome.

08
30 St. Mary Axe
Built on the site of a destroyed historic building, the Gherkin, as the 30 St.
Mary Axe building is called by Londoners, had a lot to live up to. Designed by our British
Pritzker laureate of Apple Campus fame, the 30 St. Mary Axe was commissioned to
be the London headquarters of Swiss reinsurance company SwissRe. Standing 180m
above the streets with 41 floors, its unusual shape turned it into a celebrated local
landmark that can be seen 32km away from the M11 motorway. The SwissRe packs
technological and eco-friendly features that allow it to cut its energy consumption to
half as compared to buildings of a similar size. Floor shafts that promulgate a double
glazing effect ensure the tower stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Because of the towers many virtues, it garnered the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in
2004, its year of completion, garnering unanimous praise from the jury.

BluPrint 119