The Lifework of Architect Antonio A. Flores

  • Br. Bela S. Lanyi, SVD University of San Carlos

Abstract

Antonio Andres Legaspi Flores, a Filipino architect and educator, strongly shaped the built environment of his clients, mostly the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). It is now time to revisit his buildings, the motivations behind them, and their acceptance by investors and users. Up to today, the person of Flores is under debate. The paper examines Flores’ major design ideas and debated solutions where design advocacy seemed to contrast with physical sustainability. In conclusion, the research presents Flores’ lifework as an out-of-the-box approach that widens perspectives of Philippine architecture.

Author Biography

Br. Bela S. Lanyi, SVD, University of San Carlos

Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD graduated from the Budapest Technological University in Hungary (Master of Architecture) and from the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Gabriel in Austria (Master of Theology). In the place of his first mission assignment, in Byelorussia, he was construction director of the four Catholic dioceses of the country, which counted some 1.5 million Catholics. He worked as a registered architect in Byelorussia (Commonwealth of Independent States). Then (2001-2007) he was handling philosophy and sacred architecture at the Sapientia School of Theology in Budapest, Hungary.


From 2007, he has been teaching at the Department of Architecture at University of San Carlos, Cebu City, first as a faculty member and later the Office-in-Charge of the Department. As Editor-in-Chief of Lantawan, the official architecture magazine of USC, he contributed to Philippine architectural communication. He handles Theory of Architecture 1.-2., Design 5.-6., Architectural Journalism and Criticism 1.-2., an elective subject. He has published the very first Philippine interview book on architecture: Architectural Communication and Criticism in the Philippines, 2015-2016. His research fields: contemporary architecture in the Philippines, international architectural education, sacred architecture.

Published
2023-12-31
Issue
Issue Number 10
Section
Articles
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