WHO IS DANIEL BURNHAM?

American architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham is regarded as one of the best in the field.
He is known as the "Father of Skyscraper" because he was a pioneer in the development of the
skyscraper and was also one of the most significant figures in early 20th-century architecture. He
was renowned for his effective management of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, which he
dubbed "White City." San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Manila are just a few of the
cities he designed. His creations are neoclassical, which shows the architecture of classical Greece
and Rome served as a major source of inspiration. The designs incorporate contemporary
skyscrapers together with features like columns and triangular pediments similar to an old
temple. His most iconic design is the Flatiron Building which is located in New York.

DANIEL BURNHAM IN THE PHILIPPINES

He was requested by the federal government, specifically Governor General William Howard Taft,
to create a "Beautification Plan" for Manila and to develop a new summer capital, Baguio, in the
Luzon highlands when the Philippines were ceded to the United States following the Spanish-
American War. He spent a few weeks in the Philippines getting to know the layout and
requirements of this country. He proposed his concept for Manila's beautification in 1905,
modeling it after Venice, Paris, and Naples. Burnham claims that Manila, which has Venice's
canals, Paris's winding river, and Naples' bay, has an opportunity that is unparalleled in modern
history: the chance to build a unified city similar to the best in the Western world with the
unmatched and valuable addition of a tropical environment.
In both towns, he used the well-known elements of City Beautiful: a system of parks, a network
of diagonal roadways for traffic efficiency, and a civic center complex, formally placed as the heart
of the community. He also pushed for the preservation of Manila's historic walled Spanish city.
His design includes a government center, an abundance of greenery, and broad radial streets.
He put out five primary ideas, the first of which was to make the waterfront a main location for
recreation. He considered the re-envisioned Luneta Park, which would be built on reclaimed land,
to be an aspect of urban design. His second main point is that the city's roadway grid makes it
simple to move between its many neighborhoods. His third concept, which includes a new hotel
that serves as both a resort and a casino, boat clubs, and schools, focuses on the best locations
for various program structures. His fourth proposal calls for turning the Pasig River into a canal
for transportation. The development of summer resorts in Laguna and Bataan is the final feature.
Unfortunately, his idea for Manila could not be implemented because of World War II. Today, just
a few elements of his concept, such Roxas Boulevard and Luneta Park, are still visible. Even while
his idea for Manila was only partially achieved, his plans for Baguio are far more successful.

NOTABLE WORKS OF DANIEL BURNHAM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Roxas Boulevard

Burnham's master plan for Manila includes a variety of buildings and road networks. Only a few
of his designs were implemented; the majority were completed by various architects of the time.
The well-known Manila Bay beachfront promenade known as Roxas Boulevard is situated in
Metro Manila. It became a symbol of Philippine tourism, recognized for its yacht club, eateries,
hotels, parks, and commercial structures. It is known for its stunning sunsets and profusion of
coconut trees.
The bayfront stretching from Luneta southward is intended to be a single continuous parkway
that eventually reaches the Cavite Navy Yard in Burnham's original design for Roxas Boulevard
(formerly known as Cavite Boulevard). The boulevard should be accessible for all classes of
individuals in all types of transportation, with tramways, roadways, wide sidewalks, bridle paths,
and rich plantations. It should also be well-shaded with bamboo, coconut trees, and mangoes to
provide protection from the elements at all times. A quick-growing tree, like the acacia, must be
planted, alternating with trees of slower growth, and replaced once the latter develop, he
continued, for the purpose of making the boulevard useful and attractive as soon as possible.

National Museum Complex

According to the National Museum Act of 1998, it is the collective name for the main museums
of the National Museum of the Philippines. Burnham created the government structures that
encircle Rizal Park since it is the focal point of his plan for Manila. His plan calls for the neoclassical
National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Natural History, and National Museum of
Anthropology, most of which were created by architect Ralph Harrington Doane.

Burnham Park

Daniel Burnham created Burnham Park, commonly referred to as Burnham Park Reservation, a
historic park in Baguio, Philippines. After creating the initial blueprints for Baguio and Manila, he
handed the drawings over to William E. Parsons for interpretation. 'Baguio Meadow' was the
previous name for the location where the park is presently found. The design, which draws
inspiration from the City Beautiful Movement, includes a small lagoon or pond in the middle of
the open area as well as regimented rows of grass and sidewalks.

Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol

The provincial capital of Negros Occidental is located in Gatuslao, St. Bacolod, Philippines, and
serves as the provincial government's headquarters. Located inside its complex are the Capitol
Park and Lagoon. The structure was designed in Burnham's Beaux-Arts style and features
cornices, columns, and pilasters. The building is shaped like an E, with the centre portion being
the center and the wings on either side. Its middle section, which has wide stairs leading to
colonnades that are three stories high and features Corinthian capitals at the upper level, is its
most notable feature.

Pangasinan Provincial Capitol

The current seat of Pangasinan's government is the provincial capitol, which is situated on
Lingayen Gulf. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts listed it as one of the eight
Philippine architectural treasures. The building's exterior is composed of limestone and poured
concrete, allowing its warm hue to be seen. The concept contains hospitals and residences for
the governor and provincial treasures, as well as a jail, courthouse, and garage. It has magnificent
entablatures, pediments, and columns.
Conclusion
Daniel Burnham has a lot of contributions to the urbanism and design of our cities, Manila and
Baguio. With his design, we were able to improve our structures and roadways. As an architect
from another country, he could have used the similar design that he made before but when he
was designing the cities of the Philippines, he made sure to make a lot of considerations to our
surroundings and apply his style at the same time. As an architecture student, I think it is
important to research on the site of our project just like Daniel Burnham did. It is also notable
how he applied his neoclassical and Beaux-arts style to our structures as these designs are not
commonly used in our country. He is truly an inspiration for many students who are pursuing
architecture and urban planning.

References
Chua, P. (2020, May 7). This 1905 city plan shows us what Manila could’ve look like.
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/daniel-burnham-plan-of-manila-a00297-
20200507
Chua, P. (2020, June 1). 5 notable works of urban planner Daniel Burnham in the Philippines.
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/best-building-architecture-daniel-burnham-
a00297-20200601
McBrien, J. P. (2022, August 31). Daniel Burnham. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Daniel-
Burnham/The-Worlds-Columbian-Exposition-of-1893