LEANDRO V.
LOCSIN
National Artist for Architecture, 1990
(August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)
1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75
Leandro V. Locsin reshaped the urban residences and 88 buildings, including 11
landscape with a distinctive architecture churches and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48
reflective of Philippine Art and Culture. He commercial buildings, six major hotels, and an
believes that the true Philippine Architecture airport terminal building.
is “the product of two great streams of
culture, the oriental and the occidental… to Locsin’s largest single work is the Istana Nurul
produce a new object of profound harmony.” Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, which
It is this synthesis that underlies all his works, has a floor area of 2.2 million square feet. The
with his achievements in concrete reflecting CCP Complex itself is a virtual Locsin Complex
his mastery of space and scale. Every Locsin with all five buildings designed by him — the
Building is an original, and identifiable as a Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts
Locsin with themes of floating volume, the Theater, Philippine International Convention
duality of light and heavy, buoyant and Center, Philcite and The Westin Hotel (now
massive running in his major works. From Sofitel Philippine Plaza).
JUAN F. NAKPIL
National Artist for Architecture, 1973
(May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986)
Eucharistic Congress altar and rebuilt and
Juan F. Nakpil, architect, teacher, and civic enlarged the Quiapo Church in 1930 adding a
leader is a pioneer and innovator in Philippine dome and a second belfry to the original
architecture. In essence, Nakpil’s greatest design.
contribution is his belief that there is such a
thing as Philippine Architecture, espousing
architecture reflective of Philippine traditions Among others, Nakpil’s major works are the
and culture. It is also largely due to his Geronimo de los Reyes Building,Magsaysay
zealous representation and efforts that private Building, Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater,
Filipino architects and engineers, by law, are Captain Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club,
now able to participate in the design and Rufino Building, Philippine Village Hotel,
execution of government projects. He has University of the Philippines Administration
integrated strength, function, and beauty in and University Library, and the reconstructed
the buildings that are the country’s heritage Rizal house in Calamba, Laguna.
today. He designed the 1937 International
JOSÉ MARÍA V. ZARAGOZA
National Artist for Architecture (2014)
(December 6, 1912 – November 26, 1994)
José María V. Zaragoza’s place in Philippine
architecture history is defined by a significant Zaragoza graduated from the University of
body of modern edifices that address spiritual Santo Tomas in Manila in 1936, passing the
and secular requirements. Zaragoza’s name is licensure examinations in 1938 to become the
synonymous to modern ecclesiastical 82nd architect of the Philippines. With
architecture. Notwithstanding his affinity to growing interest in specializing in religious
liturgical structures, he greatly excelled in architecture, Zaragoza also studied at
secular works: 36 office buildings, 4 hotels, 2, International Institute of Liturgical Art (IILA) in
hospitals, 5 low-cost and middle-income Rome in the late 1950s, where he obtained a
housing projects; and more than 270 diploma in liturgical art and architecture. His
residences – all demonstrating his typological training in Rome resulted in innovative
versatility and his mastery of modernist approaches, setting new standards for the
architectural vocabulary. design of mid-century Catholic churches in
the Philippines. His prolificacy in designing
religious edifices was reflected in his body of
work that was predominated by about 45
churches and religious centers, including the
Santo Domingo Church, Our Lady of Rosary in
Tala, Don Bosco Church, the Convent of the
Pink Sisters, the San Beda Convent, Villa San
Miguel, Pius XII Center, the Union Church, and
the controversial restoration of the Quiapo
Church, among others.
Zaragoza is a pillar of modern architecture in
the Philippines buttressed by a half-century
career that produced ecclesiastical edifices
and structures of modernity in the service of
God and humanity.
Major Works: Meralco Building (Pasig Cty),
Sto. Domingo Church and Convent (Quezon
City), Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu City,
Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyoung.