Essay About Towering Building And Tropical Climate

U.P. Diliman Quezon Hall
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Arch 16 TDE-A
Salsalida, Laurence Marco P.
Prof. E.U.Ozaeta
Quezon Hall: The Pride of the University
Everyday, commuters and motorists who enter U.P. through the University
and Commonwealth Avenues hardly fail to notice the towering building that
signifies a very honorable welcome. The famous Quezon Hall, being a synthesis
of classical and modern architecture, is the most visible and recognizable
structure of U.P. Diliman (Canete et. al. 17). Also known as the Administration
Building, it was named after the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth,
Manuel L. Quezon. The Quezon Hall represents one of the U.P. Diliman
campus impressive arrays of tall, imposing edifices designed along
modernistic and functional lines (U.P.D. campus 5). As architecture students, we
should try and find out the relationship of context and architecture in studying
such a marvelous masterpiece.
Quezon Hall is located in the gateway of the 493-hectare U.P. Diliman
Campus. The tropical climate and the rich fertile soil allow trees to flourish best in
the area. The climate is stinking hot during dry seasons and relatively cold during
rainy seasons. The vast landscape allows many possibilities for architectural
design. Since the campus was rebuilt during the rise of modern architecture, the
forms of the buildings were much more influenced by expressionism and
symbolism rather than native traditions.
The grandeur of the Quezon Hall is best reflected by its noticeable
colonnaded open portico, or peristyle (Canete et. al. 17). The open portico, fluted
columns, tiled roof, paired columns on the Observatory Deck, and relief details
on its corners point to its classical origins, while its use of floor-mounted
floodlights, a curvilinear cantilevered walkway, geometric grillwork and a
simplified entablature frame points forward to a more modern persuasion
(Canete et. al. 18). Yet, it was a fact that Quezon Halls architect, Juan Nakpil
based the peristyle concept from Finnish-born American architect Eliel
Saarinens Main Hall. However, he made it genuine and unique by duplicating
the buildings strategic location at the terminus of the University Avenue,
horizontally orienting the volumetric arrangements punctured by a classic grand
peristyle at the center, and utilizing landscape elements such as reflecting pool
and Oblation as counterpoint (Lico vol. 5).
The use of light colors, large windows, raised floor, opaque waterproof red
brick-tiled roof and the open