The UAP National President's Report The UAP National President's Report | Page 40

Why get an
architect?
By: Arch. Benjamin K. Panganiban, Jr., (first published in
The Manila Times last August 15, 2018)
Few people realize how complicated it is to build. More often than not, the building owner gets
lost in a convoluted labyrinth of boundless options and parameters from existing laws and codes
to the size and shape of the lot.
Given these, a registered and licensed architect is the perfect professional to call for
the job as he is equipped with proper education and training to get you through
the complicated design and construction process, whether it’s a simple renovation,
addition or starting a new construction.
Republic Act No. 9266, otherwise known as “The Architecture Act of 2004” requires
that only registered and licensed architects are allowed to practice architecture in the
Philippines, or engage in preparing architectural plans, specifications, estimates and/
or preliminary design data and construction plans for the erection or alteration of
any building located within the boundaries of this country.
Architects see the big picture. They don’t just design basic four walls and a
roof. They create total environments, interiors and exteriors that satisfy function-
al needs.
Whether you’re remodelling, adding on, or building from scratch, the architect
can guide the way. They work with contractors, construction professionals, and
design and build teams to help you end up with a well-designed project that
meets your needs, budget and time frame.
Why get or hire an architect? Architects were around in the world’s ancient history.
They were the master builders of very old structures rising from the ground. They
immortalize edifices in bricks and stones from the rising pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the
spectacular Parthenon of Greece, the splendor of Rome in the Colosseum, the majes- tic
Taj Mahal, the simplistic and symbolic houses of the Malays, the exquisite emperor’s
palaces of Thailand, Japan, China and Korea, and even the baroque, gothic, renais-
sance and modern cathedrals worldwide. Not to forget, the Vatican Cathedral and
Palace in Italy.
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All of these vertical structures meant for human habitat had the imprimatur of an architect.
Kings, queens, prime ministers, presidents, sultans and even governments of various countries in
the world have commissioned architects to do works not only to express the arts, but for these
edifices to stand the test of time.
It doesn’t mean
architects do only
projects for the rich
and famous. Archi-
tects also work for
the less fortunate.
Proof to this are the Slum Improvement Resettlement (S.I.R)
projects of our government, the houses of Gawad Kalinga (GK),
and the architect’s corporate social responsibility undertakings like
the GRACES Home for the Elderly, the rehabilitation of school complexes in
war-torn Marawi, the conservation of heritage structures and the preservation
of environment.
Architects also have projects for local governments from vertical structures to
environmental concerns and solid waste management systems.
Architecture is the only profession that looks into the future. It imagines struc-
tures for tomorrow, creates man’s environment through the architect’s aware-
ness and sensitive handling of spaces fitting the scale of human experience.
The resulting quality of a structure or building gives rise to man’s appreciation
of beauty and order.
Don’t worry when you see an architect staring at a blank wall or doodling his
pencil on a scratch paper, or even staring at you as if you don’t exist because it
only means the architect’s mind is at work.