Architecture for the People.
Time was when architecture, by virtue of its bent on aesthetics, was regarded as a vocation for the affluent.
Similarly, the architect, by virtue of his association with the upper class, as always thought to be a notch above the ordinary. It was as if his life’s worth was measured by how effectively he served the select few.
“Times have changed.” Says Gilbert Yu, president of the country’s foremost architecture, engineering and project development firm, G&W. Stressing the pivotal role that architecture plays in the development of the society and the nation, Yu contends that the architect must descend from his “ivory tower” and fulfill his fundamental mission – that of providing man with shelter and a comfortable workplace.
Driving home his point, Yu asserts his builders have an important role in the country’s development efforts particularly in the provision of sensible housing for its growing population.
Gilbert Yu maintains that architects can lend help to the middle group by creating for the investor groups composing of landowners who are willing to invest in mid-range housing facilities. They can also assist this market by designing quality and efficient housing complexes and by convincing banks to provide borrowers with longer, more affordable payment terms.
This, according to Yu, is something he has committed to advocate as he understands its merit as well as its viability. Back in 1992, one of G&W’s clients commissioned the company to design an upscale condominium to serve the high-end market in the bustling trading district of Binondo. Having the knack for seeing the proverbial jade in the heap of the dust, he convinced his client to invest in compact 90-sqm condominium units that would be sold for P1.6 million. Yu’s pricing package was a giveaway considering that the cost of upscale condominium units at that time was pegged between P3.5 to P4 million. As a result, all 390 units of Galleria de Binondo were sold out in no time. Its nine towers, which stand proud on the corner of Muelle de La Industria and Numancia Streets, are virtual showcases of G&W’s pioneering spirit.
To date, G&W has giving rise to several condominium buildings of this variety, among them, 17 Atherton Place and Crowne 88. The company hopes to do more of this type of projects in the future.
Atherton Place |
|
Crowne 88 |
Yu is hopeful that banks will see the advantages of offering low interest rates and long repayment terms. The Central Bank can do its part by requiring all private banks to allocate 5 to 10 percent of their loanable funds to assist prospective homeowners.
If this is done, Yu foresees a very optimistic outcome. Developers will them be able to mass produce condomiums at a lower costs as well as cut down on profit margins and contingency cost because of the assurance of demand. In all, Yu projects 20 percent on savings on the cost of each condominium.
He admits, though, that this idea is not popular among developers because projects of such magnitude command a lower profit margin compared to high-end condominium projects. In a boom situation where real estate investments get sold easily, developers would rather invest on projects where they will earn more and in shorter period of time.
The master-builder, however, would not stop rallying for the provision of sensible housing for middle class. "It is trade-off. We will have to sacrifice a little but of our profit in return for serving the public. That is why I never stopped convincing the banks to heed my suggestion and help the niddle-income sector," Yu says.
Aside from looking at the middle-income housing requirement. The outspoken head of G&W laments the fact that Philippine businesses seem to take challenges of the opening global market lightly. Dissatisfied with the protective stance of the business community, he broods over the fact that many Philippine businesses, including a number from the construction industry, refuse to shape us and instead allow themselves to be overtaken by foreign professionals who have the edge over them in terms of management skills and technological knowhow.
Having worked with some of the leading construction companies in Asia, Yu is privy to maneuverings of successful Asian businesses. He cites that Korean companies, after welcoming foreign partners in joint ventures, try to learn everything they can in the course of partnership. Once they have learned the ropes of the businesses, these companies do it on their own. "The reverse is the case in the Philippines. "We’re the ones who get swallowed by foreign firms," Yu wittingly infers.
He goes on to project the scenario once the AFTA is implemented. “There will not be any distinction of nationality or race, once the economy globalizes. If we, Filipinos do not work together and face the challenges, we will be overtaken by foreigners. The Philippines may not look like a boom country from the outside, but our people will just be employees of big international firms. This will happen if we do not learn to manage and work aggressively and instead passively opt for government protection.”
And if he thinks that foreign domination is irreversible, Yu says that there is still hope. Drawing analogy from a basketball game, he cites the advantages of playing in the homecourt. “At first we will be owned by foreign capitalists but we will eventually realize that we do not want to be foreign-employed. We will then work hard to retrieve our reign over our own business. There is not time limit to is, but Filipinos will wake up.”
We operate under a collaborative and multi-disciplinary team approach in the design. Teamwork and organizational efficiency are the keys. Each complemented project is a conscious and logical product of an integrated project management system that undertakes in-depth analysis of the social fabric, functional and economic aspect of every project.