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WHEN
people talk about road trips, I automatically think
about the drives I’ve taken abroad. I took the 101 from
Los Angeles
to San Francisco, which offered interesting views, such
as perfectly lined orchards, flocks of cows and stark
white windmills that create a nice contrast against the
green horizon. I also took a road trip from LA to Santa
Inez, an old town in California which used to be a Dutch
Colony. Along the way, I enjoyed the beautiful
architecture of Santa Barbara and Malibu Beach. I was
also kept awake by the beautiful sea and sunset views
that we could see half the time we were on the road.
I never
thought I would enjoy a long drive here in the
Philippines, until recently. When a prospective client
invited me to take a look at his property in La Union, I
hesitated at first because it meant that I would have to
be stuck in the car for at least seven hours to get
there. I thought it was going to be another mundane
trip, but it turned out to be surprisingly interesting
as well.
THE
welcome arches that are located in between the towns of
La Union were designed according to context, as their
shape is based on the profile of the Paoay church, an
architectural heritage in the north.
Being a
fan of green architecture (architectural design that is
sensitive to nature), I appreciated the simple
compositions that Mother Nature creates. Half the time,
the road we took was flanked by an endless stretch of
rice lands and full-grown trees. It was a great time to
take a drive to La Union because the fields were a
perfect lush green. I guess that’s why I didn’t mind
doing the long drive because the greens literally
soothed my eyes all throughout the drive. It’s also the
time of the year when the farmers are about to harvest
their crops, so if I were to suggest when to plan a road
trip, plan it right before harvest. Otherwise, all you
would see are brown rice fields that appear dry.
One of
my favorite parts of the drive was a particular stretch
in the Urdaneta area where full-grown trees from both
sides of the road form a continuous canopy above. It
blocks most of the sun, providing a cool shade and an
ambiance that made us feel like we were in a peaceful
forest. It is small but unique experiences like this
that make me realize that earth’s inhabitants should
really take care of nature.
IN the
town of Agoo, you’ll even see a Jollibee designed to
look like a
bahay na bato, complete with adobe accents, capiz
windows and a gable roof.
We also
saw a lot of interesting architecture. The welcome
arches that are located in between the towns of La Union
were designed according to context, as their shape is
based on the profile of the Paoay church, an
architectural heritage in the north.
In the
town of Agoo, where the famous miracle during the ’90s
occurred, we were able to catch a glimpse of the town
center. The Basilica of Our Lady of Charity is a
simplified baroque church that is finished with a simple
adobe stone, creating a simple but solid aesthetic. The
town hall’s architecture is based on the bahay na
bato, which is usually designed with a heavy stone
base and a “floating” wooden second floor. Seeing these
town-center structures, it made me remember the role of
architects, which is to always design according to
context. This will preserve the cultural heritage and
history of a certain place. In the town of Agoo, you’ll
even see a Jollibee designed to look like a bahay na
bato, complete with adobe accents, capiz windows and
a gable roof! This means that, simply, the people of
Agoo really give importance to their history—and ours as
well—even if this means going against what is “in” in
terms of design.
THE Basilica of Our Lady of
Charity is a simplified baroque church that is finished
with a simple adobe stone, creating a simple but solid
aesthetic. The town hall’s architecture is based on the
bahay
na bato, which is usually designed with a heavy stone
base and a floating wooden second floor. Seeing these
town-center structures, it made me remember the role of
architects, which is to always design according to
context.
After
seven hours of driving, we managed to arrive in La
Union. After performing our routine site inspection, we
hurried to the famous beach, where people would go to
surf. I was so excited to get a preview of the
excitement that I could get from surfing when I found
out that the waves were calm that particular day. Talk
about irony! One of the things that kept me going during
the long drive was the thought of finally riding the
famous waves of La Union. Instead, I took consolation in
the gentle breeze, the feel of the white sand of the
beach, the view of the calm—actually, frustratingly calm
would be a more apt description—ocean, and, of course,
the steak that served as comfort meal.
Each
town that we passed had its own “vignette.” There would
be monuments of their heroes, a strip of art deco houses
and views of the ocean. Even if those vignettes differ a
great deal from one another, the only thing constant
about each one—aside from the Iglesia ni Cristo churches
that we would see every 15 minutes—was how it painted a
picture of the unique character of each town we passed.
So even if I didn’t get to surf in La Union, at least I
got to know a little bit about the flavor of each town
along the way.
You may e-mail the author at design@buensalidoarchitects.com,
or visit his web site at www.buensalidoarchitects.com. |
