Leandro Locsin

Leandro Valencia Locsin
Born	August 15, 1928(1928-08-15) Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Died	November 15, 1994(1994-11-15) (aged 66) Makati City, Philippines
Nationality	Philippines
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas
Work
Practice	L. V. Locsin and Partners
Buildings	Church of the Holy Sacrifice, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center, Istana Nurul Iman

The Church of the Holy Sacrifice in the University of the Philippines Diliman was the first building designed by Locsin to be constructed. Built by Alfredo L. Juinio and fellow UP professors, it is the first circular church and the first thin-shell concrete dome in the Philippines

Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 - November 15, 1994) was a Filipino architect, artist, and interior designer, known for his use of concrete, floating volume and simplistic design in his various projects. An avid collector, he was fond of modern painting and Chinese ceramics. He was proclaimed a National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture in 1990 by President Corazon C. Aquino.

Life and career

Leandro V. Locsin was born August 15, 1928 in Silay City, Negros Occidental, a grandson of the first governor of the province. He later studied at the De La Salle Brothers in 1935 before returning to Negros due to the Second World War. He returned to Manila to study Pre-Law, before shifting to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Music at the University of Santo Tomas. Although he was a talented pianist, he later shifted again to Architecture, just a year before graduating. He was married to Cecilia Yulo, to which he had two children, one of whom is also an architect.

The Main Building (Tanghalang Pambansa) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, one of Locsin's most recognizable works.

An art lover, he frequented the Philippine Art Gallery, where he met the curator, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who recommended Locsin to the Ossorio family, who was planning to build a chapel in Negros. Unfortunately, when Frederic Ossorio left for the United States, the plans for the chapel were canceled. However, in 1955, then University of the Philippines, Diliman Catholic Chaplain, Fr. John Delaney, S.J. commissioned Locsin to design a chapel that is open and can easily accommodate 1,000 people. The Church of the Holy Sacrifice is the first round chapel in the Philippines with the altar in the middle, and the first to have a thin shell concrete dome. The floor of the church was designed by Arturo Luz, the stations of the cross by Vicente Manansala and Ang Kiukok, and the cross by Napoleon Abueva, all of whom are now National Artists. Alfredo L. Juinio served as the building's structural engineer. Today, the church is recognized as a National Historical Landmark and a Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute and the National Museum respectively.

In his visit to the United States, he met some of his influences, Paul Rudolph and Eero Saarinen. It was then he realized to use concrete, which was relatively cheap in the Philippines and easy to form, for his buildings. In 1969, he completed what is to be his most recognizable work, the Theater of Performing Arts (Now the Tanghalang Pambansa) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The marble façade of the building is cantilevered 12 meters from the terrace by huge arching columns at the sides of the building, giving it the impression of floating. A large lagoon in front of the theatre mirrors the building during daylight, while fountains are illuminated by underwater lights by nighttime. The building houses four theaters, a museum of ethnographic and other temporary exhibits, galleries, and a library on Philippine art and culture. In 1974, Locsin designed the Folk Arts Theater, which is one of the largest single span buildings in the Philippines with a span of 60 meters. It was completed in only seventy-seven days, in time for the Miss Universe Pageant. Locsin was also commissioned to build the Philippine International Convention Center, the country's premiere international conference building and the seat of the Vice Presidency.

In 1974, he was commissioned to design the Ayala Museum, which housed the Ayala's art collection. It was known for the juxtaposition of huge blocks to facilitate the interior of the exhibition. Locsin was a close friend of the Ayalas. Before taking the board examination, he took his apprenticeship at Ayala and Company (Now the Ayala Corporation) and was even asked to design the first building in Ayala Avenue, and several of their residences. When the collection of the Ayala Museum was moved to its current location, the original was demolished, with Locsin's permission. The current building was dedicated in 2004, and was designed by the L. V. Locsin and Partners, led by Leandro Y. Locsin, Jr. Most of Locsin's work has been inside the country, but in 1970, he designed the Philippine Pavilion of the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. His largest single work is the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei. Locsin also designed some of the buildings at the UP Los Baños campus. The Dioscoro Umali Hall, the main auditorium, is clearly an example of his distinct architecture, with its large canopy that make it resemble the main theatre of the CCP. Most of his work is concentrated on the Freedom Park, with the Student Union Building, once damaged by a fire, the Carillon, the Continuing Education Center and the auditorium. He also designed UPLB's Main Library, SEARCA Residences, and several structures at the National Arts Center (housing the Philippine High School for the Arts) situated at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. In 1992, he received the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize from Fukuoka City.

Locsin's last work, ironically, was also a church in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Leandro V. Locsin died November 15, 1994 in Makati City. The campus of De La Salle-Canlubang, built in 2003 on a land donated by his family, was named after him.

Works

Churches

• Ozamis City Cathedral, 1960
• Manila Memorial Park Chapel, Paranaque, 1965
• Doña Corazon L. Montelibano Chapel, Bacolod City, 1965
• Church of Saint Andrew, Bel-Air Village, Makati, 1968
• Holy Cross Memorial Chapel, Novaliches, 1969
• Chapel of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Magallanes Village, Makati, 1970
• Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Teacher’s Village, Quezon City, 1971
• Cadiz Church, Negros Occidental, 1972
• St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church, Bacnotan, La Union, 1994
• Church of the Monastery of the Transfiguration, Malaybalay, Bukidnon, 1996
• Church of the Holy Sacrifice, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Public Buildings

The Tanghalang Maria Makiling of the National Arts Center is Locsin's neo-vernacular interpretation of the Nipa Hut

Davao International Airport passenger terminal until 2003

Renovation of the Old Manila International Airport Terminal, Phase 1, Pasay City, 1972 Design Center of the Philippines, CCP Complex, Manila, 1974 SEARCA Dormitory, U.P. Los Baños, Laguna, 1974 Fast Food Center, CCP Complex, 1976 Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions, CCP Complex, Manila, 1976 Davao International Airport Terminal Building, Davao City, 1980 Rizal Park Amphitheater Girl Scouts of the Philippines Headquarters, Manila, 1993 Ayala Museum (Demolished) Complex of Social Welfare Agencies Population Center Nutrition Center of the Philippines Asian Center for Training and Research for Social Welfare Cultural Center of the Philippines - Folk Arts Theater National Arts Center, Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna

Cultural Center of the Philippines - Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions Cultural Center of the Philippines - Philippine International Convention Center Cultural Center of the Philippines - Theatre of Performing Arts Expo '70 - Philippine Pavilion Citibank Makati Istana Nurul Iman, Brunei Darussalam Makati Stock Exchange Building Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 1 U.P. Diliman - UP Film Institute U.P. Los Baños - Rizal Memorial Centenary Carillon U.P. Los Baños - Continuing Education Center U.P. Los Baños - Dioscoro L. Umali Hall U.P. Los Baños - Main Library U.P. Los Baños - SEARCA Dormitory and Hotel U.P. Los Baños - Student Union Building

Hotels

• Davao Insular Hotel, Davao City, 1960
• Manila Inter-Continental Hotel, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1969
• Hyatt Regency Hotel
• Mandarin Oriental Makati
• Manila Hotel (New Building)
• Philippine Plaza Hotel

Commercial Buildings

Ayala Building 1, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1958 Filipinas Life Assurance Company Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1958 Commercial Credit Corporation Building, Buendia Avenue, Makati, 1962 Integrated Realty Building, Buendia Avenue, Makati, 1962 Philamlife Company Building, Cagayan de Oro City, 1963 Sarmiento Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1965 American International Underwriters Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1965 Sikatuna Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1966 J.M. Tuason Building, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1966 Locsin Building, EDSA, Makati, 1966 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Iloilo City, 1969 Philippine Bank of Commerce, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1969 Magnolia Dairy Products Plant, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, 1969 Amalgamated Building, Makati, 1969 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Mandaue, Cebu, 1969 Union Carbide Philippines, Mandaue, Cebu, 1970 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Naga City, 1970 Filipinas life Assurance Co. Building, Cagayan de Oro City, 1971 Filipinas Life Executive Center, Mandaue City, 1971 Romago Building, Mandaluyong City, 1971 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Batangas City, 1971 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Dagupan City, 1971 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building Annex, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1972 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Davao City, 1972

Asian Reinsurance Pool Building, Legaspi Village, Makati, 1972 Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Building, Greenhills, Mandaluyong, 1972 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Tacloban City, 1976 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Cabanatuan City, 1976 EEI building, Pasig, Metro Manila, 1978 Canlubang Golf & Country Club, Canlubang, Laguna, 1978 Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig, Metro Manila, 1978 Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Building, Batangas City, 1978 Canlubang Sports Complex, Canlubang, Laguna, 1979 PLDT Building (Ramon Cojuangco Building), Makati Avenue, Makati, 1982 Greenbelt Square Cinema, Paseo de Roxas, Makati, 1982 Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Building, Makati Avenue, Makati, 1983 Benguet Center, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, 1983 Island Development Bank, Brunei, 1983 L.V. Locsin Building, Makati Avenue, Makati, 1987 Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Tower 2, Makati Avenue, Makati, 1992 Samba-Likhaan AILM, Quezon City, 1992 Ayala-Laguna Technopark Administration Building, Sta Rosa, Laguna, 1993 Hi-Cement Administration Building, Norzagaray, Bulacan, 1994 Business World Publishing Corporation Building, 1994 Bacnotan Cement Plant Administration Building, Bacnotan, La Union, 1995 Philippine Stock Exchange Plaza, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1995 Ayala Triangle Tower one, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1996 Ayala Avenue Pedestrianization Underpass, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1966

Sets for Theatrical Production

• Sets for Various Ballets by Ricardo Casell, 1954
• Lady Be Good production by Frederico Elizarde, 1954
• Noche Buena, CCP Dance Co., 1970
• Jewels, CCP Dance Co., 1970
• Madame Butterfly, CCP Dance Co., 1972
• Lucifer, Martha Graham Dance Co., for its 50th Anniversary Celebration, New York, 1975
• Adoration, Martha Graham Dance Co., New York, 1976
• Point of Crossing, Martha Graham Dance Co., New York, 1976
• Larawan ng Pilipino Bilang Artista, CCP, 1989
• La Traviata, CCP, July 1990
• Madame Butterfly, CCP 1994
• Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ballet Philiipines, 1994
• Suite for Lindy, from Ballet Philippines’ Ellias, CCP, 1995

Interior Design

Leandro V. Locsin Residence, Forbes Park, Makati, 1963 Locsin Architectural Offices, Edsa, Makati, 1966 Laguna Estate and Development Corp. Office, Makati, 1966 Theater for the Performing Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Manila, 1969 C.J. Yulo and Sons Executive Offices, Pasong Tamo, Makati, 1970]] Philippine Bank of Commerce Executive Suites, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1971 U.S.I. Executive Offices, Makati Stock Exchange Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati 1971 Filipinas Life Assurance Co. (Annex) Executive, Makati, 1971 Ayala Corporation Offices and Penthouse, Makati Stock Exchange Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1972 Leandro V. Locsin Beach House, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, 1972 Kodak Philippines Ltd. Offices, Pasong Tamo, Makati, 1974 Ayala Museum Executive Offices, Makati Avenue, Makati, 1974 Population Center, Makati, 1974

Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Makati, 1975 Asian Center and Research for Social Welfare, Makati, 1976 Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex, Manila, 1976 Philippine Plaza Hotel, CCP Complex, Manila, 1976 Manila Hotel, Luneta, Manila, 1976 Locsin Offices, Locsin Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1989 Supreme Court Building, Taft Avenue, Manila, 1991 French Embassy Headquarters, Makati, 1992 Phinma Group of Companies HRD, Makati, 1994 Hi-Cement Administration Building, Norzagaray, Bulacan, 1994 Philippine Stock Exchange Plaza, Makati, 1994 Filipinas Heritage Library (formerly Nielsen Tower), Makati Avenue, Makati, 1996

Gallery

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  Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Building (Tanghalang Pambansa)

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  The CCP Tanghalang Pambansa Building was completed in 1969.

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  Entrance to the Cultural Center.

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  Cantilevers supporting the façade of the Cultural Center Main Building.

• Picc2.jpg

  The Philippine International Convention Center

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  The Church of the Holy Sacrifice

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  Interior of the church

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  Skylight and triangular frame that supports the crucifix of the church.

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  Student Union Building at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños.

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  The UP Film Center at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

• 

  Now known as the Cine Adarna, the building was originally designed to house the UP Film Institute and the College of Fine Arts.

• 

  Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

See also

• Culture of the Philippines

References

• The Architecture of Leandro V. Locsin, Nicholas Polites, Weatherhill Books.
• Parish of the Holy Sacrifice declared a National Treasure, Francezca C. Kwe. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
• Leandro Locsin. Arkitekturang Filipino. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.

External links

• Architects | Leandro "Lindy" Locsin :: The "Poet of Space"
• Arkitekturang Filipino - Leandro V. Locsin