Four Filipino architects gear up for world recognition

Four Filipino designers prove that the Philippines has no shortage of talent when they recently presented their innovative architectural designs which have been shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Amsterdam in December 2019. The presentation took place during the technical rehearsal and send-off event organized by GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, held at the GROHE Showroom at the Wilcon IT Hub.

The World Architecture Festival is where the world architecture community gathers to celebrate, learn, exchange, and be inspired. It is the only architecture event where keynote talks from the industry’s most influential figures sit alongside live crit presentations from 534 award finalists. The WAF is also one big global networking and features an international product exhibition.

Bringing pride to the Philippines are illustrious Filipino names including Carlo Calma for his The Infinity House design under the Future Projects: Home Category, and Kenneth Cobonpue who partnered with Buck Sia for the Cor Jesu, an abstract heart-shaped bamboo-clad oratory qualified under the Completed Buildings: Religious Category.

Joining them are first-time short-listed entrants, Ryan Santos of John Ryan Santos and Partners for his Sagip Kanlungan, a compact hospital model for disaster-prone Rural Philippines in Pangasinan, shortlisted under the Future Projects: Hospital, and Jaemi and Jesy Cruz of Alero Design Studio for their Baliuag Community Center under Future Projects: Civic and Community Category.

The four Filipino presenters were given all-out support by the local design community during the send-off by their peers, thanks to the support of GROHE which has been recognizing and supporting local designers become part of the WAF. Among those who generously shared their insights during the event were WAF 2017 winner Sudar Khadka who won for his Project Streetlight Tagpuro under the Civic and Community Completed Building category, and reputable designers like Budji Layug, Jorge Yulo, and Jason Buensalido to share their words of encouragement, tips and recommendations for improvement to help them bag the awards.

Experiences, insights and ideas were freely shared over overflowing drinks and food, as four prestigious firms presented their entries. The four presenters are proving once again that the Philippines is, without a doubt, home to world-class design talents.

 (L-R) Jaemi Cruz and Jesy Cruz of Alero Design Studios, Buck Sia of Zubu Design Associates, John Ryan Santos and Pauline Cueva-Bato of John Ryan Santos + Partners