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.