Mañosa on the Spotlight

In celebration of seven years of avant-garde art and design LRI Design Plaza, puts the spotlight on famed Filipino architect and National Artist Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa. 
National Artist  Francisco Mañosa
As the premiere urban design hub, LRI will showcase the fusion of indigenous and urban art through his exhibit, Beyond the Bahay-Kubo from  April 7 to 16, 2011. The exhibit will be open to the public.

 “We at Mañosa & Co. aim to preserve the unique character of indigenous art through the exhibit,” Mañosa shared. “When Ferdinand Magellan came to the Philippines, he saw first-hand the Bahay-Kubo. Today, nearly 500 years after, drive one kilometer away from the city and you will see the very same home design. Why? Because the design works—for our climate, environment, culture—it  is a house with no formal architect, and yet it is designed with a deep understanding of our living condition. That and more is what one will see at Beyond the Bahay-Kubo.”

Expect to see the best of Mañosa’s works, which highlight his design philosophy of Contemporary Filipino Architecture and Interior Design.  Known for bringing Philippine architecture to greater heights, Mañosa pioneered and advocated the use of native materials like bamboo and nipa for contemporary designs. In the last 35 years, Mañosa & Co. have modernized the bahay kubo by infusing today’s design strategies, materials and technology and yet, have retained its distinctive design elements.  Mañosa adds  “I’ve been ‘Designing Filipino’ because interpreting Filipino in design is beautiful and can stand at par with other world-class designs.” His remarkable list of work spans beautiful homes and resorts, institutional buildings and landmarks, which have been well-received by discriminating urban dwellers and the government, earning him the coveted title of National Artist in 2009. 

The exhibit will have model houses of his extraordinary projects, a confluence of the old and new featuring homes from Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao, Lantana Lane and Scallabrin. Past works comprising of institutional buildings and landmarks like the EDSA Shrine, Medical City Building and Corregidor Island will also be featured. Expect to see photos of resorts and other iconic places, as well such as world-class Amanpulo in Palawan, Pearl Farm Resort in Davao, Mactan Shangri-la and even the Philippine Pavilions in Seville, Spain and Lisbon, Germany.“Our vision as an organization is to instill national pride by showcasing the Mañosa Brand to the World,” said Bobby Mañosa. “I want to show the best of Filipino architecture.  Through this exhibit, we want every Filipino to experience our works and be able to say, ‘that is truly Filipino and that is magnificent!’”
Visit Mañosa’s exhibition and learn all about his outstanding infrastructures and many other projects. Art and design enthusiasts are invited to visit and be part of LRI Design Plaza’s 7th anniversary celebration.   The LRI Design Plaza 7th Anniversary Artist Series will feature the best of urban art through a series of exhibitions, workshops and other special events in March and April. Located at the heart of Reposo, LRI has gained a loyal following among design enthusiasts and art aficionados. Apart from premier furniture stores, there are 
also artists’ spaces and specialty design stores.
For unique artwork, exquisite furnishings and other statement home pieces, visit LRI Design Plaza at 210 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City. For more details, please call 895-1772; 895-5470 or (0922) 857-2559.

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