The Development of Modern Filipino Architecture: Juan Nakpil

MACALAWA, Van Hexel D. / 2AR-1

ABSTRACT

Filipino Architecture is about designing for the Filipinos with respect to our culture,
heritage, and nation. Realizing the need for a more comprehensive education in
architecture, Juan Nakpil served as the Dean of Filipino Architects. As a forefront of
modern architecture in the Philippines, Juan Nakpil developed the modern Filipino
architecture with different movements to promote artistic expression and to provide a
national identity with architecture. This made our designs a mixed expression of the
modern era, and our search for identity a beacon for the world to see as a defining
moment for our architecture at the time.

1. INTRODUCTION made him set out to influence others. He

When you define Filipino
Architecture, it has no concrete meaning
or unique defining element that stems
from authentic Filipino design
uninfluenced by foreign domination. It is
more inclined to the way architecture is
designed for the people to promote social
change, to promote and influence artistic
expression.
This is where Modern architecture
flourished in defining those ideals. One of
the significant figures who fueled this
movement was Juan Nakpil who
flourished in the Art Deco movement in
the Philippines. Juan Nakpil is regarded
as the forefront of Modern Philippine
Architecture because of his incorporation
of Art Deco to Philippine cultural nuances
and his impact on making architecture
significant to Filipinos as a global
profession.
2. EDUCATION AND CAREER
Juan Nakpil’s experiences made him
understand how hard it is to have the
opportunity to study architecture and this
sought out to do Civil engineering at the
University of the Philippines, however, he
grew frustrated at not reaching out to
what he desired. He took a chance to
study in the United States to learn civil
engineering at the University of Kansas
and sought out to learn architecture at
the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts in
France. Later, he got his master’s degree
in architecture at Harvard University.
Once he returned to the Philippines, he
used his influence of studying at one of
the best schools in architecture in the
Western World to aid his fellow
countrymen in coming back to their roots
in the state of rapid development. He
taught architecture from 1927 to 1938
and at Mapua Institute of Technology and
at the University of Santo Tomas to
inspire others to be better in his stead.
3. APPLICATION OF HIS MODERN
SENSIBILITY TO FILIPINO
ARCHITECTURE.
What made architecture to be
considered ‘Filipino’ was often left vague
and to be desired by one’s interpretation
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 History of Architecture 4 / College of Architecture / University of Santo Tomas

because of the Philippines’ complex

findings of identity. During Juan Nakpil’s
time, American influence was strong due
to its colonial ties. Juan Nakpil’s
learnings came from Western masters.

3.1 Identity Exploration with Art-Deco

His projects were primarily distinct
to the Art Deco movement. Art Deco is an
international style of architecture that
became a symbol of wealth and
commerce that occurred in the West. It
was considered international because it
was a style that should have no
boundaries for domestic expression
(Ogura, 2002). However, Juan Nakpil
defied those expectations and
modernized the meaning of what is
considered as Filipino architecture during
that time.
Figure 1. Capitol Theater’s mural ‘Rising
Philippines’
On the western side of Escolta,
which was once the country’s premier
business and shopping area, the Capitol
Theater stands. Presenting an art-deco
style, the theater has double balconies
which were rare at the time. Filipino
modernists Victorio C. Edades, Carlos V.
Francisco, and Galo B. Ocampo
designed the mural (Figure 1) displayed
in the lobby.
Figure 2. Facade of Capitol Theater
Designed in 1935 by Juan Nakpil,
the Capitol theater portrays Filipinas set
within a tropical landscape that portrays
a faraway rural place on the facade of the
structure as seen in Figure 2. The details
incorporated into this structure are
examples of the attempt to suggest an
identity for the Philippines through art
(Rubio, 2014).
The Gala Rodriguez Mansion was
a gift for Doña Gregoria from her
husband Isidro Rodriguez. The mansion
is intricately decorated with exquisite
tapestries and it was furnished with
French Provincial furniture (Figure 3).
The neoclassical style was evident in the
twisted columns (Figure 4). The facade
features an Art-Deco style with intricate
details on its railings and at the cornice
which seamlessly transitions the wall to
the soffit (Figure 5). This mansion is a
fusion of modern architecture, for its
appearance and the Bahay na Bato, for
its circulation and layout (Villareal,
2014).

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 History of Architecture 4 / College of Architecture / University of Santo Tomas
Figure 3. Interior of Gala Rodriguez
Mansion
Figure 4. Twisted column
Figure 5. Gala Rodriguez Mansion
MACALAWA / HOA4
3.2 Controversial Design with
Neoclassical Architecture
Figure 6. Quezon Hall and Cranbrook
Academy of Art Museum and Library
The Quezon hall building is
controversial for it is regarded as the
copycat building because of its similarity
to the Cranbrook Academy of Art
Museum and Library. They both feature
a bronze statue, but the Cranbrook
Academy had the Trillon pools (Figure 6).
It exhibited neoclassical architecture in
its symmetry and in its fluted columns
with the absence of the capital and the
base. The building also serves as a
walkway between two buildings. It
features a corrugated ceiling (Figure 7)
and glass blocks that were included in
the building technologies of the time it
was built (Figure 8). These buildings do
may be similar in their form, but they are
entirely different in terms of style and
context (Rendon, 2012). His application
of neoclassical architecture in the
Philippines were subtle as to not
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overthrow the presence of Filipino design

in his works.

Figure 9. SSS Building

Figure 7. Corrugated ceiling of Quezon
Hall

Figure 10. Lobby of SSS Building

Figure 8. Glass blocks

3.3 Artistic expression with the

International Style
The SSS building in Quezon City
exemplifies the international style with its
brise soleil panels as seen in Figure 9. Its
lobby has an intricate ceiling design that
follows the form of the roof (Figure 10). It
has a spacious podium and an open area Figure 11. Garden of SSS Building
that adheres to tropical design as seen in
Figure 11 (Urban Roamer, 2017). 4 History and Heritage
These geometric shapes that Juan Nakpil also understood the importance
Nakpil applied to the ceiling are also of Filipino history and Heritage. He
renovated and enlarged the Quiapo Church
present on the facade of the Rufino
after it was burned in 1929. He also restored
Building podium which he Dr. Jose Rizal’s house in Calamba with
designed together with his sons (Figure research.
12) (KMCMA, 2013). Nakpil’s artistic
expression is present in his designs
through these geometric shapes.
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 History of Architecture 4 / College of Architecture / University of Santo Tomas

Conclusion

Through his works, the Philippines

became on par with the world by joining the
Art-Deco movement and by contributing to
the modern architecture of the Philippines
while staying grounded on giving Filipinos an
identity through architecture. Juan Nakpil
designed with the dedication to give back to
his mother land without straying away from
the local context. He helped educate a
generation of architects which created a
pathway for aspiring Filipinos to engage in
our heritage and culture through
architecture. He made his architecture
Filipino amidst his western knowledge. He
extended the boundaries of design and
elevating the architectural scene in the Figure 12. Rufino Building
country.
Facade

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 History of Architecture 4 / College of Architecture / University of Santo Tomas

References:

KMCMA. (2013). Rufino Pacific Tower Offers First-Class Makati Serviced Office.
Retrieved from: https://kmcmaggroup.com/research-insights/2013/rufino-pacific-tower-
offers-first-class-makati-serviced-office/

Ogura, N., Leonides, D., et al. (2002). Modern Architecture in the Philippines and the
Quest for Filipino Style. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering.
Retrieved from: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jaabe/1/2/1_2_2_233/_pdf

Rendon, R (2012). U.P. Quezon Hall Building plus Arch. Juan Felipe Nakpil
Retrieved from: https://rafaeljayrrendon.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/u-p-quezon-hall-
building-plus-arch-juan-felipe-nakpil/

Rubio, P. (2014). Capitol Theater. Arquitectura Manila. Retrieved from:

https://arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com/2014/03/

Urban Roamer. (2017). Sleek, Snazzy Skyscraper*: The SSS Building at

East Avenue. The Urban Roamer. Retrieved from:
https://www.theurbanroamer.com/sss-building-east-avenue/

Villareal, M. (2014). Gala-Rodriguez Ancestral House In Sariaya Quezon. Out of

Town Blog. Retrieved from: https://outoftownblog.com/gala-rodriguez-ancestral-house-
in-sariaya-quezon/

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