Anthology Festival, an annual architectural festival held by WTA Design & Studio on March 19-21, 2021. Different from previous years and adjusting to the current pandemic conditions, the Anthology Festival 2021 is transformed into a virtual event with free online accessibility through the Anthology Festival’s official Facebook page.
However, this virtual event’s concept still attracted every session that was held. The 6th Anthology Festival with the theme “Our City” brings several practitioners of architecture, city development, art, and education. The talks and discussions in this event became more diverse and came from many points of view. Even the panelists and speakers involved are from various countries in the world. From the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, to China..
Starting with some young architects on the first day, the Anthology Festival presents Benjee Mendoza (BAAD Studio) on the Scale Model Tour. Then, other young architects were also present at the Shelter Dialogues session. They discussed trends and social media among young architects. Then, the first day of the festival was closed with Anthology Talks with Martijn de Geus and Han Zhang (Maison H), as well as the announcement of the winner of the “Revamp: Our Jeep” competition.
The second day was also interesting. This time, it opened with the Scale Model Tour with Cathy Saldana (PDP Architects). In contrast to the previous day, the festival on March 20, 2021, consisted of two Anthology Sessions. First session with Jason Buensalido (Buensalido Architects) who shared how models help them in studying fluidity building designs. Then it was followed by the presence of lecturers from various countries who talked about the teaching process during the pandemic. Various panelists also attended the Shelter Dialogue. Here they believe that one of the things that make up a city is the people in it.
For the past 5 years, Anthology Festival has delved into themes that revolve around current events in the hopes of furthering the practice of Architecture and its involvement in making the city a better place for all. This year, the 6th Anthology Architecture and Design Festival is transformed into a 3-day virtual event that will reach an even wider public with free online accessibility. It is centered around the theme, “Our City”, that shines a light on the continuous transformation of architectural necessities that make our cities. It seeks to break down the shapes of our past cities to inform the adapting city of today.
A city is a complex series of cogs and wheels. One cog is seemingly unrelated to that of another wheel, but both have to be operating well for the whole system to actually work. It is an ecosystem of multi-disciplinary facets dependent within and outside of its community. The festival invites us to explore the principles of art, culture, and architecture that foster positive human behavior, and ultimately, stimulate holistic progress in the built environment. It aims to reveal these contributions in an effort to join the conversation over a badly-needed system makeover.
“Our City” highlights the continuous redefinition of architecture in the city that challenges us to explore different fields in hopes to create a more cohesive and collaborative community. It forces us to express our ideas of a better tomorrow. The festival aims to inspire the individual to affect change in the face of adversity. It acts as a point of engagement to share experiences and address our challenges together.
Archinesia invites WTA Design Studio to “MAKNA 2020 & ASA 2021” last January 30, 2021. Principal Architect William Ti and Senior Manager Arvin Pangilinan shared their challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Furthermore, they shared their hopes for a brighter 2021. This event was also in celebration of Archinesia’s 9th anniversary.
In the span of 12 hours, Archinesia was able to connect several ASEAN architects and professionals namely:
Abimantra Pradhana, Achmad Tardiyana, Adela Askandar, Adjie Negara, Alex Bayu, Alexis Dornier, Andra Matin, Andrew Tirta, Andy Rahman, Antonius Richard, Antony Liu, Arvin Pangilinan, Ary Indra, Audite Matin, Baskoro Tedjo, Boy B. Sembiring, Budi Pradono, Budiman Hendropurnomo, Charlie Hearn, Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, Cosmas Gozali, Daliana Suryawinata, Danny Wicaksono, Deddy Wahjudi, Defry Agatha, Denny Setiawan, Diana Nazir, Dirgantara I Ketut, Doddy A Tjahjadi, Effan Adhiwira, Eko Prawoto, Florian Heinzelman, Francis Surjaseputra, Gabi Osri, Gregorius Supie Yolodi, Gunawan Tjahjono, Hafiz Amirol, Her Pramtama, Jacob Gatot Surarjo, Jessica Auditama, Joe Willendra, Kamil Muhammad, Kurjanto, Lea Aziz, Maria Rosantina, Mustapha Kamal, Nguyen Hoang Manh, Paulus Setyabudi, Putu Edy Semara, Ramadhoni Dwi Payana, Realrich Sjarief, Reza Nurtjahja, Rina Renville, Santi Alaysius, Sibarani Sofian, Sigit Kusumawijaya, Stephanie Larassati, Steve J. Manahampi, Sukendro Priyoso, Tan Loke Mun, Theodore Chan, Thoat Fauzi, Vasu Virajsilp, Wendy Djuhara, Widiadnyana, William Ti, Woerjantari Kartidjo, Yu Sing.
Participants where made to group themselves into 3 person teams to solve a challenge prompt. WTA Architecture and Design Studio was represented by Senior Manager Arvin Pangilinan, who was grouped with Heidrun Milan of Heidrun Milan Design Studio, and Pia Ocampo of ReMaker Space. Their challenge focused on how to bridge the gap between architects, designers and educators with the local community. the challenge is to inspire better spaces for more local communities in terms of making cities and settlements inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
With using the compass as a framework, the team devised the Design Dialogue Kit ( D2 Kit) to inspire design solutions that responds to the needs of local communities. The kit acts as equipment for designers to spark continuous dialouge with the community thoughout the design process.
The D2 Notebook & Question Cards (also Open Source content that will be downloadable through the D2 website)
Some of the materials & tools you’ll need for the community engagement exercises found in the Notebook: ex., ribbon, giant pieces of paper, markers, blocks
The D2 backpack that gets you in the ”immersive traveler” frame of mind
D2 tsinelas! to make sure you walk in the shoes of your community.
The Design Dialouge kit shall be used as an immersive tool that explores, investigates and analyses situations between the designer and the community that can bring about creative and innovative solutions.
World Architecture Festival has launched Talking Architecture, a series of webinars in the lead-up to WAF 2020. Representing the Philippines, William Ti of WTA Architecture and Design Studio and Manny Minana of Emmanuel A. Minana & Associates joins the 7th episode of the series which discussed the impact of COVID 19 on architects, architecture and city planning in Asian countries and with an international perspective. Learn more.
Landscape architect and urban planner Paulo Alcazaren of PGAA Creative Design questioned the term event organisers used to describe the pavilions at the 2020 edition of Anthology Festival at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. In architecture literature, follies are described as whimsical, decorative and sometimes temporary, as opposed to the intentional, purposeful and permanent nature of other architecture. In an open forum, however, Alcazaren backtracked, ‘It’s not that follies don’t have meanings, they do. They often get a message across.’ Asked to design and build their own follies around the venue, a centuries-old fortress, Alcazaren’s design firm and six others came up with various commentaries.
With their project, WTA Architecture and Design Studio argued that architecture is more than the sum of its materials. Titled No Virgin, the studio’s pavilion was made of non-virgin materials — timber frames came from old wooden electric posts and the floors from shipping pallets, while recycled plastic sheets made up the walls. Recycled materials likewise made up Visionarch’s Cloudscape. Balls constructed from recycled plastic cups hung over an undulating base made of the same material. The inclusion of a slide and swing meant visitors could engage with the structure up close, while at night the constellation of balls was illuminated and visitors could control the lights via an app. In contrast, Jagnus Design Studio’s We All Shine was meant to be admired from a distance. It was an ironic twist that the aluminium cube, perched on stilts in the middle of the moat, was intended to communicate diversity, inclusivity and the designers’ message that ‘architecture thrives in collaboration, not isolation.’
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, in partnership with Intramuros Administration, presents Allies for Freedom: Portraits of Filipino and American Courage in World War II. In memory of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Manila, WTA Architecture and Design Studio is honored to support this exhibit with the exhibit design and installation. Allies of Freedom will be open from March 3 – 31,2020 located at the American Barracks, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila.
“Allies for Freedom: Portraits of Filipino and American Courage in World War II is dedicated to the memory of the heroes who fought together for freedom and honors the tens of thousands who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate the Philippines. Their courage will not be forgotten.
The photographs in this exhibition honor the Filipinos and Americans, military personnel and civilians alike, who demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of war. Most were taken by U.S. Army photographers as the events unfolded, offering an intimate glimpse of the heroism that made victory possible. Seventy-five years later, these images serve as testament to the powerfil bond between the Philippines and the United States that emerged from the crucible of war.” – Allies for Freedom Exhibit
The 5th annual Anthology Architecture and Design Festival centers around the theme “Think Architecture.” This year the festival will be building a pavilion to establish a platform for the exploration and discussion of ideas that can help evolve architecture to address the issues of a changing world. The pavilion will gather together all the speakers and lecturers from the festival to sit down and discuss their view and ideas on architecture and its developing movements.
WTA, along with Boysen, are honored to present the Anthology Pavilion that provides a forum to exchange ideas and promote architecture.
Many of our ideas have their starting point with the setting and program from which we draw inspiration. This pavilion is an exploration of impermanence and the up cycling of easily constructed and available materials. No virgin materials were used for the construction. The timber frames come from wood recovered from old electric posts while the floors are made of reclaimed wood from shipping pallets. The structure is then clad in recycled plastic sheets that can be used as a writing board for the various activities. It is meant to have no footprint and leave behind the setting as it was found.
Interesting and delightful creations usually arise from unexpected situations. The use of lightweight and discarded materials emphasizes the pavilions ephemerality and sits in juxtaposition with the permanence of the stone walls of the 400-year-old fort and the concrete ruins of the American barracks. It is a collection of stories set down to visit a place of history. This creates a kind of interplay with the past and a search for new possibilities.
In our design process, program pretty much dictates form. The 3 wings of the pavilion emanate from a program which consists of 3 spaces conjoined in a series of twisting vertices. This hub acts as the center of the pavilion from which extends the workroom, lounge, and cafe. The varying transparencies are opaque, translucent, and clear as needed, providing both privacy from and visual connectivity with the festival grounds. It also creates an interesting wall system that is adaptable to whatever short-term relief spaces we might require in times of increasing uncertainty.
Materials
Wood Frames Old Electric Posts Kuya Elie Sawmill, Laguna Wood Flooring Shipping Pallets Star Paper Corp, QC.
The proposed pavilion is intended to be a place to produce a white paper and encourage architectural discourse and dialogue. It is an installation that invites the exchange and debate of ideas. The pavilion includes a snack bar by Boysen, a lounge and a workspace during the three-day festival. As a temporary structure, the pavilion is kept light and wrapped with recycled stretched plastic. The facade has three transparencies, ranging from transparent to translucent to opaque. With the pavilion resting within the trees of Intramuros, the transparency aims to blur the built and the natural. The intersection of two pure forms serves as the meeting point of the two main spaces and functions as the apex of the structure. The transparencies expose the structural components of the pavilion – a nod to architecture’s stripping to its skeleton, its purest form. The interior will be filled with hanging lightbulbs to emphasize the Anthology Festival 2020 theme – Think Architecture
The pavilion is a temporary structure that hosted the best and the brightest minds in architecture for Anthology Sessions from Feb 7-9 at Anthology Festival 2020. It will remain in place for 3 months and serve as a space for various events and activities in Fort Santiago.
It has an area of 113.6 sqm with an apex of 3.2 m and was built in 10 days. The following is the manpower involved in its planning and construction for the pavilion.
WTA Architecture and Design Studio William Ti, Jr. Arianna Rodriguez Alyana Acacio Justin Rencer Wee Eng Isabel Padua Wilford Julio
Builders Romel Laquian Marvic Santos Osimo Santos David Domingo Estilito Martinez Carlo Martinez aga Domingo Roberto Borja Francis Carbonel Chielito Martinez
ANTHOLOGY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FESTIVALis an annual three-day event, hosted and organized by WTA Architecture and Design Studio, that showcases architecture and design within the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region. The festival serves as a platform to bring together various practitioners and stakeholders to increase awareness about the relevance of architecture and design in our urban societies.
Anthology began in June 2016 with over 2,000 guests and 65 leading built environment practitioners from seven countries. Now on its fourth year, we have grown exponentially into a base of 7,000 attendees, 30 developers, government officials, professors and 70 leading local and foreign architects and urban planners from 25 different countries.
Join us celebrate architecture at Anthology Festival 2021! From March 19-21, 2021, the festival is transformed into a 3-day virtual event that brings together architects, artists, designers, policy makers and advocates to shine a spotlight on our built environment.
The Festival theme is centered around “OUR CITY”. It shines a light on the continuous transformation of architectural necessities that make our cities. It seeks to break down the shapes of our past cities to inform the adapting city of today.
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2020
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2020 was held in February 7-9, 2020 at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. The festival hosted 150 local and international speakers, 21 lectures, 10 panel discussions, 8 exhibits, 4 competitions, 4 workshops and 5000 participants. The festival’s theme was “Think Architecture.”
THINK ARCHITECTURE is about shining a spotlight on the undervalued craftsmanship and overlooked meanings that go into architecture. It is an invitation to join us as we explore and ponder the ideals and frameworks that shape the structures that we build to house our needs and desires. The theme aims to refocus our efforts on architecture itself and implores its participants to think about architecture in order to improve our understanding and grow awareness about our practice.
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2019
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2019 was held in February 15-17, 2019 at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. The festival hosted 125 local and international speakers, 7 exhibits, 4 competitions, 27 lectures, and 5000 participants. The festival’s theme was “Impact Architecture.”
IMPACT ARCHITECTURE is about using the world of architectural creativity and imagination in the development of long-term, sustainable solutions to catalyze urban development, social inclusion, and cultural vibrancy. The theme aims to focus on the role of architects in inspiring a design-led approach with impactful value to address political, social, environmental and economic imperatives to create better cities that influence responsive buildings and stronger societies.
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2018
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2018 was held in February 9-11, 2018 at Fort Santiago, Manila. The festival hosted 125 local and international speakers, 7 exhibits, 4 competitions, 27 lectures, and 5000 participants. The festival’s theme was “Impact Architecture.”
SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE seeks to develop an architecture that promotes a network of inclusive barrier free spaces that engage communities and the people. Social Architecture flips the idea that the structures are what the people gravitate to. Instead, it brings down our institutions to engage with the people, creating a more proactively engaging urban realm rather than a separate structure.
The goal of Social Architecture really is to break down monolithic institutions which are daunting and in its place, establish a network of localized institutions that are much closer and much more relevant to their communities.
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2017
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2017 was held in March 31 to April 2, 2017 at Puerta del Parian, Intramuros, Manila. The festival hosted over 80 local and international speakers, 4 exhibits, 3 competitions, 27 lectures, and 3000 participants. The festival’s theme was “Context and Intent.”
CONTEXT AND INTENT focuses on the relationship between architecture and its constantly evolving context, as well as the ideas that help shape and define our built environment and how they are related and presented in our work and practice. It aims to increase awareness about architecture and design and how it matters in our daily lives, and to function as a venue for the sharing of ideas and experiences.
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2016
Anthology Architecture and Design Festival 2016 was held in June 17-19, 2016 at Plaza Roma, Intramuros, Manila. The festival hosted over 40 local and international speakers, 2 exhibits, 3 competitions, and 1000 participants. The festival’s theme was “Stories About Architecture.”
Architecture has always been the most definitive and visible reflection of a society and its development. As the Philippines continues to grow as a nation and prepares to become a major part of the global community, it is imperative that we strive to discover and explore the architecture that forms a crucial part of the identity of the Filipino people. We must continue to find ways with which this exploration and evolution can be made relevant not just to our own society but also as a vital contribution to the richness of humanity and its cultural growth, all of which are embedded in “STORIES ABOUT ARCHITECTURE.”
Architecture reflects the time from which it springs. This exhibit is a snapshot in time showcasing the work of the rich variety of practices who are part of Anthology Festival 2020. It is a random collection of ideas that coalesce into a zeitgeist for our times. We’ve set these panels against the backdrop of this ruin to introduce an immersive experience that invites you to explore this place of past and present.
