It was a memorable night celebrating the best in local architecture, building and design industry as country’s most remarkable architecture firms and property developers were feted at the annual BCI Asia Awards ceremony held last June 14 at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City.
The BCI Asia Awards, now in its 15th year, are bestowed on top architectural and real estate companies in seven Asian territories, namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Winners of BCI Asia’s Top 10 Awards are chosen based on the greatest aggregate value of projects under construction during the last full calendar year, weighted by the extent of their sustainability efforts. For architecture firms, pre-tender projects are included to recognize early incorporation of green design efforts.
The portfolios of the recognized architecture firms from the Philippines comprise $22.58 billion worth of properties scheduled to start construction this year, while the portfolios of the top developers are valued at $4.03 billion.
The BCI Asia Top 10 Architects for 2019 are the following: Aidea, Inc.; ASYA; Budji+Royal Architecture+Design; Casas + Architects, Inc.; Edward Co Tan + Architects (ECT+A); FSL & Associates, Co.; GF & Partners Architects; JSLA Architects; Jonathan O. Gan + Associates; and Visionary Architecture, Inc.
While this year’s BCI Asia Top 10 Developers are: 8990 Holdings, Inc.; Ayala Land, Inc.; Cebu Landmasters, Inc.; DMCI Homes; Eton Properties Philippines, Inc.; Federal Land, Inc.; Filinvest Alabang, Inc.; Megaworld Corporation; Robinsons Land Corporation; and SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Also presented during the awards night were the FuturArc Prize, FuturArc Green Leadership Award and the Interior Design Awards.
The FuturArc Prize is a leading green design competition launched in 2007 to generate forward-thinking, innovative design ideas for Asia. This year, professionals and students were asked to submit their forward-thinking ideas in imagining a hyper-dense city.
Two teams from the Philippines received the FuturArc Prize 2019 Merit Award for their entries in the professional category. These were the team composed of Karl Frederick I. Taberdo, Bryan M. Ibanez and Micca P. Rangasa, and the team of Yonni Habulan, Maricris B. Ngo, Nicole M. Omac and Giselle Sta. Ana.
The FuturArc Green Leadership Award is a competition launched in 2009 to seek out innovative and ecologically responsible buildings in Asia. It recognizes the teams behind “green” built projects that have demonstrated the best in architectural innovation and environmental stewardship in the region.
The Interior Design Awards, on the other hand, is a competition launched in 2016 to recognize great interior architectural designs that stand out aesthetically, functionally and ergonomically. It lauds excellent interior architectural designs in seven countries.
The prestigious awards ceremony was graced by BCI Media Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Matthias Krups; BCI Asia Chief Executive Officer Robert Krups; BCI Asia Philippines, Inc. General Manager Stanny Pamintuan; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Rowel S. Barba; and Mañosa & Co., Inc. Chief Executive Officer Gelo Mañosa.
In a speech, Mr. Barba shared that construction has been the fastest-growing industry in the Philippines in the last six years.
“It is the only business sector which posted double-digit growth of 15.9% in 2018 and an average growth of 11.4% for the last six years,” he said.
He continued, “The future of the construction industry will largely depend on our collective actions as industry players and stakeholders. Thus we invite all of you to be part of the crafting of our action plans for 2020 up to 2030 through the Philippine Overseas Construction Board.”
In closing, Mr. Barba assured that the DTI and the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines are open to mutual partnerships with industry players to further grow and develop the country’s construction industry.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mañosa pointed out that architects and developers play a special role in building the nation, with results that reach far beyond their lifetimes.
“How do we move forward? How do we give continuity to the evolution of our culture as people? How do we elevate this sense of pride in innovative Philippine design?” Mr. Mañosa said. “These are questions we will all need to answer in our own ways.”
At Mañosa & Co., he said that they continue to challenge themselves with these queries, guided with the ideology that “architecture must be true to itself, its land and its people.”
“May we all continue to work together to keep pushing the boundaries, to keep innovating, and build through our structures a nation we can be proud of,” Mr. Mañosa concluded.
The BCI Asia Awards Philippines 2019 was presented by awards and event partners Concepcion Midea, Inc., Boysen Paints, Panasonic Philippines (Life Solutions), and World Home Depot Corporation; exhibitors: Holcim Philippines, Honeywell Philippines, Playpoint, and USG Boral; sponsors: FC Floor Center, Inc., and Inewvation International; FuturArc Prize platinum sponsor Schüco; and BCI Asia Interior Design Awards platinum sponsor An Cuong Wood-Working JSC.
