Brutalist Architecture: Cultural Center of the Philippines

               A fortress or a castle like form, linear and blockish, these are the typical characteristics of Brutalist architecture. Such structures commonly use concrete as the main material for the whole construction. Critics would often say that these types of buildings merely show a “cold appearance” due to the materials used and the look of the whole structure. Despite this negative impact of the Brutalist style, there are still a certain number of people which in fact appreciates and gives a positive view on it. They say that it is such a brilliant idea to build a structure in a ‘brutalist way’ due to the simplicity it displays.

            One of the well known appreciators of this style is Leandro V. Locsin who happened to be the designer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines or the CCP. It is one of the most familiarized brutalist structures here in the Philippines. The CCP is a government owned structure which is designed to promote and establish the arts and culture of Filipinos in performing. It is a 62-hectare building in total. The façade of CCP is subjugated by a two-storey travertine block suspended 12 meters high by deep void cantilevers on three sides. The rest of the structure is clothed in concrete and is textured with the use of crushed seashells.

            The Cultural Center of the Philippines has been an inspiration not only for artists but as well as to architects who value simplicity in terms of design. Despite the simplicity of the exterior of this structure, it has various functional rooms inside which could be used in several occasions. The physical appearance of the CCP gives a stunning impact on most people since it looks as if it’s a huge piece of a lego block floating. It looks very massive and heavy to look at.

(Front Façade)

I find this structure very proportional since every element of the composition is equal. It may not be in terms of measurement, but simply by the way you view the whole building. I find it interesting to know that a huge rectangular block stands because of a repetition of curvilinear figures underneath it.

(Curvilinear figures)

            CCP displays great symmetry since symmetry is defined as the exact correspondence of form and constituent configuration on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane or about a center or an axis and this is applied on the façade of the CCP. The right side of the façade is basically the mirror of the left portion.

(A different view of CCPs façade)

            It is such an honor to sight an example of a Brutalist Architecture especially when you know that the structure is just somehow across your school. It is really something to be proud of. CCP has been standing for almost 43 years now yet still it has been one of the great forms of architecture here in the Philippines. Though it may not be one of the tall, modern buildings we see presently, it will still be one of the finest structures ever built over the next decades.

Manifesto

Most people would define ‘Architecture’ as something vague. Well, in fact, I myself would say that the term Architecture has a lot of definitions. It does not only focus on structures alone but instead, it gives out the true story or the beauty behind a certain structure. Like what I have told in class, I define beauty as something extraordinary and by extraordinary I meant that there’s this ‘awed’ feeling we get which you yourself can’t explain. I may say that I define architecture like how I classified beauty. It is extraordinary. And I can’t help get ‘awed’ every time I think about architecture.

            No one really forced me to take-up this course but I knew that I actually want this course. From what I heard during the orientation given to frosh students by the previous batches of my course, they told us that Architecture is really fun especially when you are studying in CSB since the school has professional and serious looking yet cool professors who give the finest quality of education among other schools. I got inspired by the orientation given to us because even though they said that there would be lots and lots of sleepless nights, it would all pay off in the end. CSB is at present, innovating the materials they provide for the students to be able to cope-up with schools that are known for having the best architects here in the Philippines.

            Why did I choose architecture? Like what I have said during my first term in school, it really sounds cool to have the word “Architect” ahead of your name. But that wasn’t my deeper reason why I liked this course. In fact, when I was just a kid I used to look at different infrastructures especially tall buildings every time we pass by one during vacations or road trips. Those tall buildings never failed to fascinate me because I would always imagine how those infrastructures were built, how do people came up with those interesting designs and how long did it take for the workers to create them. Pre-historic structures back then also inspired me even though I’m not actually in to history. There was just something that struck me every time I look at them even if I don’t remember the names of the structures, a picture of it would always remain in my head. Yes, it was weird for a kid to critique buildings or structures at a young age instead of playing dolls with her sister or friends especially if you are a girl. But I guess that I am just different from other kids back then since I had a different hobby. Maybe that it was the sign that Architecture is really the right course for me to take even if I have no idea at all about any architects and any of their works.

             Why do I want to be an architect? As I was choosing from the list of courses that I want for college, my older brother approached me and helped me in picking out the best course to take. He was the one that pursued me in taking up architecture because he thinks that since he is an engineer, we could be business partners in the future for engineers and architects worked together in building infrastructures. That idea pushed me to pursue my dreams of becoming a good architect in the future. Even from the beginning I knew that this course would make me want to quit easily since I am not really artistic or whatsoever but I knew inside me that if I really want this course it would not be impossible for me to learn how to draw I should just really be determinate to do all the hard things that are yet to come. Math is also another factor that scares me in this course because I am not truly good in math but I believe that there is nothing wrong in giving your best for what you really wanted. In our family, I only know one person who took up architecture. My dad took-up the same course as I did but he had to stop during his sophomore year and shift to another course which is Business Management. My grandparents forced him to take business management for they think that it was more appropriate for my dad to be a businessman than to be an architect. I wanted to be an architect because my dad told me that he wanted me to continue his dreams in becoming an architect someday and there was no problem with that since I did want to be an architect too.

           What are my visions? As of now, I haven’t planned anything yet but maybe while I am in the process of pursuing my dreams, I will be able to think of how my future would be like and what would I do with my degree after I have graduated. As of now, I just want to continue what my dad dreamt to be and to just enjoy this course now. No one really ever said that this course would be easy but I might as well give it a shot.