Leandro Locsin
- A Filipino Architect, Artist and Interior Designer.
- Born on August 15, 1928 in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
- Proclaimed National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture in 1990 by President
Corazon C. Aquino.
- Known for his use of concrete, floating volume and simplistic design in his
various projects.
- On his visit to the United States, Locsin met some of his influences, Paul
Rudolph and Eero Saarinen. It was then he realized to use concrete, which was
relatively cheap and easy to form for his buildings.
- He studied at the De La Salle Brothers in 1935 before returning to Negros due to
the Second World War. He returned to Manila to study Pre-Law, before shifting to
pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Music at the University of Santo Tomas. Although
he was a talented pianist, he later changed again to Architecture, just a year
before graduating.
- Locsin died early in the morning of November 15, 1994.
Works
● The Parish of Holy Sacrifice (Simbahang Bilog)
- The landmark Catholic chapel in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
- It is recognized as a National Historical Landmark and a Cultural Treasure
by the National Historical Institute and the National Museum respectively.
- The first round chapel in the Philippines with the altar in the middle, and
the first to have a thin shell concrete dome.
- The floor of the church was designed by Arturo Luz, the Stations of the
Cross by Vicente Manansala and Ang Kiukok, and the double-sided
crucifix and altar base by Napoleon Abueva, all of whom are now National
Artists. According to a post from the UP Diliman website, it is the only
structure in the country where the works of five national artists can be
found.
● Mandarin Oriental Manila
- The hotel was designed by Leandro Locsin and a British design
consultant. The 18-storey building was built on a site which was known as
the Diamond Triangle.
- It made its grand opening in September 1976.
- It was one of the first Mandarin Oriental hotels built outside Hong Kong,
after the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
- The iconic building is shaped like a fan, the hotel’s highly recognised logo.
It also symbolizes the group’s image of luxury, elegance, and comfort.
- The hotel saw its last day of operation on September 9, 2014.
● Philippine International Convention Center
- A convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.
- It offers excellent facilities for meetings, conventions, exhibits and special
events – a Plenary Hall that can seat more than 3,500, an elegant
Reception Hall, Exhibit Areas and various Meeting Rooms.
- Served as the office of the Vice President of the Philippines until 2005. It
also previously housed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
- Composed of five building modules: the Delegation Building, Secretariat
Building, Plenary Hall, Reception Hall and The Forum. The facility was
built in reclaimed land and has a floor area of more than 65,000 sq ft.
● Istana Nurul Iman
- The official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the
seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside
sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few kilometers
southwest of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital city. The palace is
often at the center of state occasions and royal hospitality.
- It was designed by Filipino Visayan architect Leandro V. Locsin, who
utilized the architectural motif of golden domes and vaulted roofs to echo
Brunei's Islamic and Malay influences.
- The name "Istana Nurul Iman," is taken from Malay Istana and Arabic
Nur-ol Imaan and means Palace of the Light of Faith.
- The palace is not open to the public except on the annual Islamic
celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr. The palace is also open to Muslims during 10
days of the Ramadhan period for Tadarus and Tarawih prayer gathering.
