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Architecture and Landscape: Lessons
learned and Achievements Earned
Cross-border Design Collaboration
Glenn Jon Tiong Bontigao, UAP
Abelardo M. Tolentino, Jr., UAP
Arch. Bontigao has been involved in many aspects
of landscape design, horticultural implementation,
and site coordination works in the tropics for the past
twelve years. He has many years of experience dealing
and negotiating with suppliers and contractors including
project management and site coordination until handover to the client and their management team. He also
has considerable experience in various disciplines
of the architectural, interior design, space planning,
graphic design and advertising industry and his project
involvements are spread across Singapore, Syria, Abu
Dhabi, India, Dubai, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Arch.
Bontigao finished his Bachelor of Science in Architecture
degree from the Institute of Architecture & Fine Arts, Far
Eastern University.
Architect Abelardo M. Tolentino, Jr. is the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Aidea Philippines, Inc.
Abstract
Abstract
This presentation will focus on how architecture
and landscape can effectively work hand-in-hand with
today’s “Integrated Building Design” concepts through
a showcase of the speaker’s project involvements as an
expatriate Landscape Consultant in Singapore. He will
share not only lessons learned from his experiences in
Island Resort, Hotel, Airport, Botanic Garden, Master
Planning, and Waterway projects but also the advantages
of being a trained architect in designing, detailing,
coordinating, and implementing landscape projects in a
holistic way. These notable projects include Singapore’s
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Healing Gardens at the
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Changi Airport Terminal 1
Upgrading, and the Marina Bay Sands; and the Shangrila Villingili Resort and Spa in Maldives. Arch. Bontigao
will also share the achievements earned by these project
involvements and how they could serve as a model and
benchmark for relevant projects which architects may
find useful in order to improve and uplift the standards of
professional practice.
Having done projects in 40 countries and 90 cities
worldwide, Arch. Abelardo Tolentino and his firm, Aidea
Philippines, Inc., believe that the Filipino architect is wellpositioned to expand to the international design scene
through Cross-border Design Collaboration. Equipped with
skills, talents and the ability to easily adapt, the Filipino
architect can come face-to-face with design professionals
overseas. The talk will give insights on how working on a
global scale has changed his architectural practice.
What started as RMJM, a local field office of a
UK based architectural firm, Aidea Philippines took
form when Arch. Tolentino took over its reigns in 1995
and turned it into one of the leading design practices
in the country with now over 160 architects, interior
designers, planners and graphic designers under its
employ. Today, Aidea’s practice spans over 5 continents
in 40 countries and 90 cities worldwide, servicing its
multinational clients globally.
Arch. Tolentino’s contribution in the UAP as a Filipino
architect showcasing Filipino talents and in the global
world was when Aidea was included for 3 consecutive
years in the World Architecture’s (WA) top 100 ranking
86 in 2012.