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| "The Poet of Concrete: The Architecture of National Artist Leandro Locsin" |
Last
April 30, members of media were invited to a guided tour, led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) College
of Architecture, of 'The Poet of Concrete: The Architecture of National Artist
Leandro Locsin" Exhibit (which opened last April 27) which spotlights his
exemplary life and stellar works of the late National Artist for Architecture (1990),
an alumnus of the UST College of Architecture. The exhibit, at the UST Beato
Angelico Gallery, will run until May 22.
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Beato Angelico Gallery
Curated
by Arch. Gerry Torres, Arch. Caryn Paredes-Santillan and Arch. Noel Cruz, “The
Poet of Concrete” Exhibit, in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde Center for Campus
Art, displays blueprints, photographs, and memorabilia that celebrates the life
of the renowned Thomasian Architect. It aims to deepen appreciation for local
design by highlighting Locsin’s mastery of scale and space and invites the
viewers to muse upon his language, particularly his use of concrete.
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Media tour of the exhibit
The
title “Poet of Concrete” reflects Locsin’s ability to turn rough, heavy
concrete into light, floating (conjuring the illusion of weightlessness), and
artistic structures, which redefined the country’s skyline with its stark but
simplistic silhouettes. His buildings often utilized extensive chipping and
bush-hammering techniques to manipulate concrete. Locsin
melded vernacular traditions with the modern architecture, defining the
contemporary Filipino architecture.
Scaled model of Casa de Nipa and the Locsin and PLDT Buildings
In
her speech, Ms. Caryn Paredes-Santillan, International Relations coordinator at
UST’s College of Architecture, said “That contributions of second-year
architecture students (who created scale models inspired by Locsin’s design
principles featured in the exhibit) was an attempt to deepen their appreciation
of local design.”
Church of the Holy Sacrifice
Locsin
is known for his Brutalist and floating architecture featuring "floating"
volumes, simple forms, and a fusion of Oriental and Occidental styles. He has produced, throughout his career, 244
buildings, 108 residences, 53 public and private establishments, 48 commercial
structures, 40 offices, 21 churches and chapels, 13 hotels and resorts, six
housing projects, and an airport terminal.
Ayala Museum and Philippine Osaka Pavilion Expo '70
Among
his works that sprung from his blueprints (ranging from commercial to
residential spaces), are the Brutalist edifices such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines (1969), Philippine International Convention Center (1976),
Folks Arts Theater (now Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, 1974), Church of the Holy Sacrifice (University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1955), National Arts Center (now Tanghalang
Maria Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, 1976), Makati Stock Exchange Building (1971), and Villa Locsin
(1962), to name some.
Scaled model of CCP Main Theater
The
retrospective exhibit features Brutalist scale models and photos of buildings such
as the CCP Main Theater; the eye-catching and rather intriguing Philippine
Pavilion design for the 1970 World Expo in Osaka, Japan (Its sweeping roof,
which spiked through the skies, made the building an attraction in itself); and
the Saint Andrew the Apostle Church in Bel-Air Village, City of Makati, which
was based on the martyr’s crucifixion on an X-shaped cross. There’s also a
separate section for a coveted collection of medals for all of his past awards,
all neatly lined up.
Villa Locsin and Zobel Residence
Throughout the decades, he also designed the residences of the who’s who of the country, such as the Zobel de Ayalas, Lacsons, Aranetas, Cojuangcos, Montinolas, Consunjis, Jalandonis, Magsaysays, Neris, Siys, Cosetengs, Yaps, Foreses and Chongbians, to name a few.
Locsin’s
last projects included the Church of the Monastery of the Transfiguration in
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The Aquino Center, in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City,
which remained unbuilt, was a reminder he never stopped until his last dying
breath (he died in 1994).
The Last Locsin
The
“Lost Locsins” features the blueprints and images of structures he once designed
and built but have since been torn down. These include the HotelIntercontinental Manila, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the former Ayala Museum,
and the Philippine Center for International Trades and Exhibition (familiar to
those from the travel and tourism and trade industry). In addition, a number
are also on the brink of demolition and have been identified to be endangered such
as The Folk Arts Theater, the PLDT Building, and the Sofitel Philippine Plaza
Manila.
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