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Leandro Locsin

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Valencia and the surname or paternal family name is Locsin.

Leandro V. Locsin
Born(1928-08-15)August 15, 1928
Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippine Islands
DiedNovember 15, 1994(1994-11-15) (aged 66)
Makati, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Alma materUniversity of Santo Tomas (BS)
OccupationArchitect
Awards Order of National Artists of the Philippines
Practicewww.locsinarchitecture.com
BuildingsChurch of the Holy Sacrifice, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center, Istana Nurul Iman, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and The Philippine Plaza

Leandro Valencia Locsin, Sr. (August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994), also known by the initials LVL and the nickname "Lindy", 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[1] in 1990 by the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

Life and career

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Locsin was born on August 15, 1928, in Silay, Negros Occidental, a grandson of the first governor of the province. He completed his elementary education at De La Salle College in Manila before returning to Negros due to the Second World War. Locsin then returned to Manila to finish his secondary education in La Salle and studied 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 to Architecture.

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.

In 1955, Fr. John Delaney, S.J., then Catholic Chaplain at the University of the Philippines - Diliman, commissioned Locsin to design a chapel with an open plan and can easily accommodate 1,000 people. The Church of the Holy Sacrifice is the first round chapel in the Philippines to have an 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.

Cantilevers supporting the façade of the Tanghalang Pambansa

On his visit to the United States, Locsin 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 was 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 metres (39 ft) from the terrace by huge arching columns at the sides of the building, giving it the impression of being afloat. A large lagoon in front of the theatre mirrors the building during daytime, while fountains are illuminated by underwater lights at nighttime. The building houses four theaters, a museum of ethnographic art 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 metres (200 ft). It was completed in only 77 days, in time for the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant. Locsin was also commissioned to build the Philippine International Convention Center, the country's premiere international conference building.

After the Federico Ilustre-designed original terminal of Manila International Airport was destroyed by a fire in 1962, the Philippine government chose Locsin for the rehabilitation design. Serving as an international terminal for 10 years, it later became a domestic terminal upon the opening of what is now the present-day Terminal 1, which was also designed by Locsin. A second fire later damaged the rehabilitated domestic terminal in 1985 and the site is currently occupied by the present-day Terminal 2.

Locsin was also commissioned in 1974 to design the Ayala Museum to house the Ayala art collection.[2] 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 asked to design the first building on Ayala Avenue, and several of the Ayalas' 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 designed by his firm, L.V. Locsin and Partners, led by his son Leandro Y. Locsin, Jr.

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 makes it resemble the main theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Most of his work is concentrated in the Freedom Park, with the Student Union Building which was once damaged by a fire, the Carillon, the Continuing Education Center and the auditorium. He also designed the SEARCA Residences, and several structures at the National Arts Center (housing the Philippine High School for the Arts) at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna.

Most of Locsin's work has been within 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. In 1992, he received the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize from Fukuoka.

Locsin's last work was a church in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Personal life

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Locsin was married to Cecilia Yulo and had two children. One of them, Leandro Yulo Locsin, Jr., nicknamed Andy, is also an architect and currently serves as the owner and head of the L.V. Locsin and Partners.

Death and legacy

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Leandro V. Locsin Senior High School (Kaligayahan, Novaliches)

He died in the early morning hours on November 15, 1994, at the Makati Medical Center in Makati after suffering a stroke 10 days earlier.[3] The campus of De La Salle-Canlubang, built in 2003 on a land donated by his family, was named after him. A senior high shool in Novaliches, Quezon City is named in his honor.

Works

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Churches

Public Buildings

  • Renovation of the Old Manila International Airport Terminal, Phase 1, Pasay, 1972 (site is now occupied by NAIA Terminal 2)
  • Design Center of the Philippines, CCP Complex, Manila, 1974
  • Fast Food Center, CCP Complex, 1976 (renovated in 1996, 2006, 2011 & 2016)
  • Folk Arts Theater, CCP Complex, 1976 (Formerly occupied by Day By Day Christian Fellowship in 2005 until closed in 2020; the theater building now closed also in 2020 during the COVID 19 pandemic and soon to be reconstruction by the CCP Management)
  • Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions, CCP Complex, Manila, 1976 (now demolished in 1995, replaced by an amusement park)
  • Francisco Bangoy International Airport Terminal Building, Davao City, 1980[8]
  • Rizal Park Amphitheater "now renamed as Rizal Open Air Auditorium" (1981; renovated in 1991, 2001, 2011 & 2021)
  • Girl Scouts of the Philippines Headquarters, Manila, 1993
  • Original Ayala Museum[9] (Demolished, now replaced a new bigger museum and designed by his son, Arch. Leandro "Andy" Locsin, Jr. in 2004)
  • 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[10]
  • National Arts Center,[11] Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna

Hotels

Manila Hotel's 1975 high-rise building
  • Davao Insular Hotel, Davao City, 1960 (now renamed as Waterfront Insular Hotel)
  • InterContinental Manila, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1969 (closed on December 31, 2015 [Hotel site redevelopment is being studied with Locsin's firm L. V. Locsin and Partners according to Ayala Land & now currently replaced by Ayala One Building])
  • Hyatt Regency Hotel (now occupied by Midas Hotel & Casino Manila in 2011)
  • Mandarin Oriental Manila[15] (closed on September 9, 2014 [Hotel site redevelopment is being studied with Locsin's firm L. V. Locsin and Partners according to Ayala Land])
  • Manila Hotel (New Building) [16]
  • Philippine Plaza Hotel,[17] 1976 (now Sofitel 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, 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, 1970
  • Filipinas life Assurance Co. Building, Cagayan de Oro, 1971
  • Filipinas Life Executive Center, Mandaue, 1971
  • Romago Building, Mandaluyong, 1971
  • Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Batangas City, 1971
  • Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Dagupan, 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, 1976
  • Filipinas Life Assurance Co. Building, Cabanatuan, 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 (now renovated in 2002 and now renamed s Greenbelt 1 Ayala Center)
  • Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Tower 1; Philippine Commercial International Bank (PCIBank), Makati Avenue cor H.V. Dela Costa, Makati, 1983 (now BDO Corporate Center North Tower)
  • Philippine Commercial & Industrial Bank Tower 2; Philippine Commercial International Bank (PCIBank), Makati Avenue cor H.V. Dela Costa, Makati, 1992 (now BDO Corporate Center South Tower)
  • Benguet Center,[18] Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, 1983 (now demolished in 2011); BDO Ortigas Center
  • Island Development Bank, Brunei, 1983
  • L. V. Locsin Building, Makati Avenue, Makati, 1987
  • 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,[19] Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1996
  • Ayala Avenue Pedestrianization Underpass, Ayala Avenue, Makati, 1966

Sets for Theatrical Production

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 (now renovated in 2004 by his son Arch. Andy Locsin)
  • 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 (now Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel)
  • 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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Order of National Artists: Leandro V. Locsin". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ayala museum - History". ayalamuseum.org. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  3. ^ "Did you know", Philippine Daily Inquirer", August 15, 2016.
  4. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  5. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  6. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  7. ^ Andrade, Angelo (April 14, 2017). "Monastery of the Transfiguration: A place for reflection in Bukidnon". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  9. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  10. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  11. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  12. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  13. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  14. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  15. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  16. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  17. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  18. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".
  19. ^ "Arkitektura.ph - arkitektura Resources and Information".

Further reading

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