Sunday, July 8, 2012

How do Post Modernism affects Philippine's Identity?


How can Post Modern buildings affect the Philippine's Identity?

Postmodern architecture evolved from the modernist movement, yet contradicts many of the modernist ideas. Combining new ideas with traditional forms, postmodernist buildings may startle, surprise, and even amuse. Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways. Buildings may incorporate symbols to make a statement or simply to delight the viewer. Post-modern building here in the Philippines are influential buildings for present day buildings.
The characteristics of postmodernism allow its aim to be expressed in diverse ways. These characteristics include the use of sculptural forms, ornaments, anthropomorphism.

As I researched and gathered information around the city about Post modernism, I just saw the beautiful role of these buildings in the run for the image of our country. Philippine’s identity can be defined through the cultures, images, and other traditions; these can affect the Philippines’ figure among other countries.

The question is how will these postmodern buildings in Philippines affect the wholeness of our country? Will these buildings are helpful and accessible also into the environment and to the people around it? Or just a sculpture needed in order to make the figure of our country pleasing to the eye which is not convenient enough for the society?
Defining Philippine building usually post-modern may also induce the culture of Filipinos, especially in giving their aesthetics point of view with regards into buildings and other post-modern structures.
Few characteristics of Filipinos can also be contemplated in some of the post-modern structures which are present in the country. Playful, quirky and something distinct are the ideas that come into my mind when I heard Post-modernism. Thus, this following aspect can also be seen in lot of Filipinos out there.

As I go and search some structures around Makati- a place for every man’s business, I have observed the buildings (modern and post-modern styles) also affect the surroundings itself. It makes the road worth the ride while I am just sitting on the passenger seat of my Daddy’s car. Tallest buildings can be seen like worm’s eye view. As I passed along the Makati Avenue, because of the said style of these following structures, plainness and simplicity turns into remarkable one!
Maybe most businessmen from other country would probably say, “Oh, this country is also in!”  In in a way that our country fit in into the changing and evolving world as of these generation takes place.

Filipinos are very well-known because of active and energetic aura wherever they are. So most probably, Filipino architects may easily put those adjectives in constructing and in designing a particular structure and buildings. Wherein in my own discernment, buildings that has the lively aura may be seen in most post-modern building for it is described as the era for rebellious one for it contradicts the idea behind Modernism.

Following Robert Venturi’s principle, “Less is a bore” which disputed Mies Van de Rohe’s “Less is more”, post – modern buildings are usually: hybrid rather than pure, compromising rather than clean, distorted, rather than straightforward, ambiguous, rather than articulated, perverse as well as impersonal.

Though other Filipino’s choose to be lucid and simple, the essence and the real distinction of them may exhibit in some post- modern buildings. When talking about Post- modernism, it does not mean that the design must exaggerate the whole idea and concept at all; thus, other building having curvilinear facades, rhythm and unity through different ideas which can be found in a certain building may be called as post-modern buildings or structures.

As you riff through my blog, I included pictures of the buildings that I took while I go around Makati and Pedro Gil. As I examined and glanced at the following pictures, the fundamentals of Post- modern characteristics may also see. 

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1. Hotel's Kimberly 
Manila, Philippines


I love the part wherein the edgy part of it mixed with along the curvy part on its façade. And also Hotel Kimberly Manila is spacious and well-kept. Each guest room at Hotel Kimberly is designed to give you the perfect tandem of home-style comfort and hotel convenience.

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2. Greenbelt 3
Ayala, Makati




This is the place where I and my friends love to hang out. It is because of the natural air and light ventilation which causes the interiors and exterior made us feel comfortable every time we’ll walk in there.

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3. Ayala Museum
Ayala, Makati 






I love this building! Out of all the buildings that I’ve gathered, I love the essence of being creative, hence the edgy-ness of the building may clearly see. Ayala Museum is beautiful inside and out. Its façade makes the surroundings alive while when you were in, you feel like walking in heaven because of wide and spacious interiors.

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4. L. V. Locsin Building






Parallel lines are the subject for this building. Though it is quite simple, lines defined the clearness and boldness that also mixed with in the surroundings.

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5. The Peninsula 



Boldness and tough can see on this structure. As I saw this building, I was like.. “U yang cute, may malaking fountain sa gitna!” Me and my friend laugh together as we’ve realized that it was also a part of the peninsula, connecting to the other part of it. Unity and rhythm can see by its color and linear ornamentation.

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6. ShangRi-La








Plain and simple yet the pointed angle give emphasis to the left and right part of the building. It also describes the simple fundamental of a Post- modern design.

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7. Allied Bank
Makati, Philippines 





I love this curvy part of this building wherein it gives shape into a plane rectangular building, thus it also give direction towards somewhere through the help of the unity between its lines.

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8. Phil. Insular Stock Exchange, Tower 1
Makati, Philippines 






Though the shape of this building was so typical, the top most part of it gives beauty plus the right combinations and partition of window glass and parallel lines added to a curvy top make this building such a beautiful one.

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9. HSBC- AYALA
Makati, Philippines 





The edgy parts in each corner of it are just the one that defines it.  For me, it’s plain and not that nice and not pleasing to eyes yet it may be also beautiful for some because of its emphasis into its height. I think there is something that can be squeezed- off in this kind of structure to make it more awesome and beautiful.

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10. Insular Life -AYALA
Makati, Philippines




Honestly, when I first saw it, I liked it for the fact that the plainness in a typical building had been removed through making its exterior C-shaped. Thus, it did not combined well into the surroundings, windows and such lines defined its beauty as a whole.

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11. Export Bank- Ayala
Makati, Philippines






When I first saw this, the first idea that comes into my mind is that, “Wow! Posible pala yung design!” though some shapes are added into its façade, contradiction takes place. Hence, idea did not hinder the aim to be beautiful as possible. True spirit of combining unlike things can come across into this kind idea to come up with this kind of structure.


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12. Robinsons Summit Center
Makati, Philippines



This building is located beside Insular Bank, and it matches into its surrounding the cemented part in the center make this structure strong as the light besides through off showing its window gives meaning into the lightness and coldness of the said building. Height is also emphasized to show the totality of it.

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These following component grandstand the effectiveness to the surroundings not only by its appearance but also the effect and in contributions to the Philippine identity.

Philippine identity can be connected also into branding of countries for it manifest to show the edge of our own country among other. Describing our own culture together with the other good practices that can found in the Philippines make our identity as a whole.

Buildings can be found everywhere and because of the idea behind the post- modern architecture in the said country, I as an architectural student can totally say that the innovative way of designing a building can also reflect the image of a certain country. 





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