Table of contents for Volume 2, 2021 in BluPrint

“Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space… On the one hand it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure.” - Zaha Hadid There’s a cliché comfort in that characteristic shared when we work hard to play harder. Arguably, this manifesto has been around for a long time and is effectively behind the attraction to accomplishment and leisure, or work and play. That is what this whole issue is all about. We want to give you connections into different playful spaces around the country that reflect some of the industry’s creative thinkers with distinctly innate panache that radiates to their way of living. Through a mix of unique design aesthetic and vibrancy, profiles and writings, we highlight the homes of architects, artists,…

At the height of Art Nouveau in the French Capital, there was an overflowing enthusiasm for sinuous forms and organic shapes. Along with the celebration of feminine curves, the art movement also lauded animals including bats, birds, and insects. The cycle of life is apparent in these creatures, and that was central to the idea of Art Nouveau. Decades after the decadent era, Studio ROOF continues to forward the interest for these winged critters. However, unlike the richness of real-life detailing enhanced with fantasy that is inherent of the French art, this Dutch company hopes to ensnare the childlike representation for these organisms. While offering multiple design possibilities, the pieces from Studio ROOF also promote sustainability by using recycled cardboards and papers, and vegetable inks. “Care for the earth means…

A lot of us may have pre-conceived notions of what a visual artist’s workroom would be—inspired, energetic, chaotic. Yet, there is not a single formula that exists to tie in the creative spaces of different artists. Since a creative space is fashioned by choice and necessitated by certain predilections, it should come as no surprise that purpose and intention are the cornerstones of its design. For Parsons-trained artist Mikko Sison, his instinctual art takes shape through his own thoughts, beliefs, and ethos. “I find that mood and ambiance are key,” he says. “I paint what and however I feel at the time with minimal predetermination under vague guiding thought or visage to limit,” he continues. Like other individuals, Sison saw the two-sided effects of the prolonged lockdown and how it…

With the economic recovery gaining momentum, established companies are experiencing solid growth in the construction industry. One of the leaders in this industry is Mike Lagman, co-CEO of MC Geometric Proportions, Inc. Lagman had previously shared with BluPrint the three R’s which led him to build a company that will last: relationship, responsibility, and retention. His insights made such a remarkable impact on readers that BluPrint invited Lagman to revisit the discussion. In this interview, he expounds further on the current situation in the construction industry and what he has been doing to stay ahead of his competitors. Anyone can give advice about business and life, but not everyone has credentials to back it up. Lagman has definitely been tried and tested when it comes to the issues he tackles…

Meditation rooms, gyms, and ball pits: TaskUs is not your typical company, and this is clearly reflected in their workplace design. We interviewed TaskUs CEO and Co-Founder, Bryce Maddock; Vice President of Growth and Shared Services, David Ford; and digital marketing supervisor, Jhanna Katryce Godoy, to find out what inspires TaskUs employees to have fun and work hard. At TaskUs, we offer best-in-class employee benefits such as exceptional health coverage (extended to dependents), scholarship programs for our teammates’ children, tuition reimbursement programs, and free mental health programs. However, to Us, Culture is not just about these benefits; it is about how we come together as a team to produce incredible results. Our core values exemplify the Culture we foster: 1. Inspire Others by Believing in Yourself 2. Teamwork Makes the…

Maria Rebecca Abaya is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas and is the Principal Architect of her start-up small firm, Mycad Architectural Services. She also acts as the vice-president for Operations and the Corporate Secretary of their family business, RightMetal Industrial Corporation. She’s also an active member the United Architects of the Philippines – Quezon City Chapter. Prior to her own business, she worked as a Junior Architect at Jonathan O. Gan + Associates and as an Architectural Coordinator in Singapore under the partnership of Seishin Pte Ltd and Takenaka Corporation. While working overseas, in 2015, she also took a 6-month course from Singapore’s BCA Academy, the Certificate in Interior Finishing Coordination. Germaine Ann Dilay is a professional civil engineer with a strong passion for marketing and content…

For Pauline Montironi and Alexis Verstraeten, the creative duo behind Belgian brand AP Collection, it is important to be driven by one’s passion and belief, and this allows them to become a refreshing break from mainstream codes by offering something utterly unique. “We want our clients to feel special and not be considered as a number code,” says Montironi. “This is why each creation that comes out of our atelier is truly a limited edition, and not just a marketing ploy. It really means that you will rarely see twice the same AP Collection design in the same city,” she continues. Staying true to their vision, Montironi also shares that AP Collection designs are not dictated by market trends but a strong reflection of their personalities and brands of creativity.…

Interaction and innovation are the two words serving as the bedrock of globalization. The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI)’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is currently leading the country’s Philippine talents for home, fashion, and lifestyle sectors towards the international stage. With this leap towards a wider arena for design, CITEM has given executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan the reins to lead these talents through events like Manila FAME which is CITEM’s signature event for promoting the export sectors. So far, this event has presented 70 unique editions that established Manila FAME as the Philippines’ premier design and lifestyle event. However, in the era of a global pandemic that came hand in hand with the 21st-century online culture, the ability to adapt would come first before the…

The pandemic has taught us that there are so many ways to do work outside the four corners of our offices. With today’s technologies, work-from-home set-ups or other hybrid work conditions are all possible. For the architecture and construction industry that heavily relies on physical work collaborations, it was a challenge, but it is doable. Pandemic or not, establishing a reputable architectural firm is sure to be a lot of hard work. And to continue to thrive in this season of the economic challenge is truly commendable. Two of the country’s distinguished architects, William Ti Jr. of WTA Architecture + Design Studio, and Luther Sim of Sim Ateliers, with their diverse personalities and experiences, share with us their wisdom and learnings throughout their practice and as well their approaches on…

Living in the season of the pandemic, more people are still obligated to continue to stay in their homes not just for their own safety but for others as well. Moments like this make us realize what is really important in life and help us find out more about how we can improve our daily lives. But even before the pandemic, the homeowner wanted to build a house that will become a tropical haven for the family even though it’s located right in the middle of the metro. He wanted a complete home where they can rest, relax, and enjoy without having to travel. A blessing in itself, completing their dream house was like an unexpected preparation for the upcoming lockdown season. Located in Quezon City, the lot of the…

Fresh works and new exhibits show how artists turn difficult experiences into creative expressions and invite others towards a more hopeful vision of the future. Emerging talents Allan Balisi, Is Jumalon, Jay Torres, Jel Suarez, Nice Buenaventura, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, and Ryan Villamael discuss the impact of the pandemic on their creative process, the role of art in society, and the continuation of their work. Through the adroit usage of various forms of media, the artists capture a microcosm of our collective situation, and draw the connections that link individuals and societies to one another and the multiplicity of the epochs of their lives. ALLAN BALISI For Allan Balisi, making art is a social act. “We’ve all felt isolated at some point or another,” he says. “Art is a means…

Nations, both poor and advanced, are still grappling with the effects of the global health crisis. As the virus is seen to be constantly mutating, there is absolutely no certainty as to when this would end. While the global lockdown scenario has caused a noticeable improvement on outdoor air quality, this restriction on outdoor mobility has presented a huge challenge on maintaining the quality of indoor air in different structures including the home. The air quality in your home can be far more toxic than the air outside. The levels of a few air pollutants can be up to five times higher than their typical outdoor levels. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and…

After the cancellation of the annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile and the Milan Design Week events in 2020, the world’s most awaited design fair filled with exhibitions, talks, performances and events has finally opened. Albeit delayed from its usual spring schedule because of the ongoing pandemic, Milan Design Week 2021 successfully hyped the global capital of fashion and design last September 4 to 10. Coinciding with the Salone del Mobile, Fuorisalone is a simultaneous event that takes place across several districts in Milan, Italy. It’s no wonder why Milanese and tourists flock the city on the dates of this much-anticipated event; Fuorisalone has expanded its reach beyond the notions of fair and market, enough to pull people of varying interests together and celebrate design in prevalent ways possible. Here are…

Sure, it is still bad—and no one can absolutely be certain if the worst is over. The several rounds of essential lockdowns have driven us to find ways to cope with the status quo. Through our mobile gadgets, social media became our primary tools in earnestly seeking for human connection, and for a while, they provided comfort. Yet, with every surge and every identification of a new strain, they quickly turn into a traditional broadsheet complete with the obituary, but without the essential fact-checking. We were, are, and will be in mad scramble for the unforeseeable future. Despite the numerous challenges, the collective human spirit, though dampened and crushed multiple times for most of recent memory, remains unyielding. In this regard, it seems fitting that the future of design veers…

Italian architect Antonio Citterio was born during the post-war era—a notable time in the design timetable when idealism was the central theme. As the world’s economic leaders were left in shambles because of the second world war, there was a uniting force that urged the rebuilding of nations. A new sensibility arose from the ashes that is more open, sensible, and democratic. Fast forward to more than half a century later, Citterio now aims to design a better future through instinctive blueprints. For his latest collaboration with B&B Italia, the master perfectionist derives his inspiration from the dramatic colors of Maldives. Named after an atoll, Noonu is a system of upholstery in wich large sizes meet impressive flexibility. It is made up of four basic elements—a square, a rectangle, the…

The rigor and vitality of the travel sector has been to a halt for obvious reasons, yet, like retail who has found a solution with e-commerce, it wouldn’t be long until the field of aviation learns of new ways to cope with the present conditions—and it is a must that we prepare not only the manpower for its return, but also the infrastructures that will support its future operations. In August 2021, the Clark International Airport was unveiled to the public. Occupying an area of 110,000sqm, this four-level terminal is seen to have the capacity to comfortably service around eight million passengers annually. As the airport is surrounded by the glorious peaks of Mt. Arayat and the Zambales Mountains, the designers—Casas+ Architects, in partnership with global design firm Populous, pay…