3D Model: Beach House with Infinity Pool

The sweltering summer heat inspired me to create a new 3D Sketchup Model. This time, a modern Beach House complete with beachfront, garden and infinity pool. Like my other 3D models, I made this beach house without any clear vision in mind. Every detail came from scratch and just flowed naturally as I played around with Sketchup's myriad features. So please, be gentle to the newbie. :-s

The house is a two-story structure with an interesting interplay of geometric figures. I used stone and wood materials that give the house a solid but homey look. Since it's a beach house, I put in wide windows to let in the expansive views of the sea. I also used a lot of glass to take in as much natural light as possible. There's a wide multi-faceted bay window at the back to take advantage of the excellent beachfront location.

A flagstone deck connects the main house to the infinity pool with a whirlpool tub or jacuzzi. A balcony at the second floor is a perfect location for lounging around while watching the sun set or breathing in the sea breeze. I also inclued a lush tropical garden with fruit trees and gazebo to the left of the house.

Here are some more screenshots of my 3D Beach House model (click to enlarge):

Overhead view from the back, above the waterfront

View of the house from the beach

Deck and infinity pool

Back view

Right-side view

Left-side view

Next time I'll try to experiment with elevations and probably start doing interiors. This 3D Sketchup Model is available for download here. You can also view my other 3D models here.

3D Model: House with Tiered Gabled Roof

Isometric View

As some of you may well know by now, I've always wanted to be an architect. As a kid, I used to sketch a lot of houses, from simple "bahay kubos" to grandiose mansions. I loved making my own floor plans where I can create habitable spaces for people. I even made an entire city plan complete with wide avenues and parks. Back then, I would consume several sheets of pad paper drawing my 'masterpieces'. Haha!

That interest has never really waned. That's why Google Sketchup is one of my favorite programs. SketchUp has allowed the kid in me to move on from doodles of houses to 3D models complete with architectural details and textures. Here's one of my recent 3D model creations on SketchUp: a two-storey house with a tiered gabled roof.

Detail of balcony, courtyard and fountain

It's best to call the style of this house as "eclectic", haha. Some highlights include decorative tiles and stucco walls reminiscent of Tuscan villas and a courtyard with fountain that evokes a Spanish-Mediterranean flavor. But the three-tiered slate roof has a slight modernistic touch.

I didn't really have a specific style in mind when I created this model. I worked on the portico first, experimented with the different textures and colors available, then it all took off from there. I think the result isn't that bad, hehe.

Here are some more screen grabs of this SketchUp 3D model.

View of garage and portico

Another view of the courtyard with fountain (and yeah, that's a cocker spaniel near the french doors, hehe)

Tiered gabled slate roof

View of the balcony and garage.

You can download a copy of this 3D Model from here. To view some of my earlier models such as the Legazpi Railway Station and St. Agnes' Academy, click here.

The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube

One of the most anticipated events this year is the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing, China. With the slogan One World, One Dream, the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will draw thousands of athletes from around the world to compete in 302 events in 28 sports.

The Beijing Olympics also holds a special significance because it is widely seen as China's monumental step into world prominence, a chance for the giant nation to build goodwill and showcase itself to the world. To make Beijing worthy of its role as Olympic host, the Chinese built a number of new structures and landmarks for the games.

More than the spectacle of sports and fanfare, I am looking forward to these two new structures that are sure to become architectural icons: the new Beijing National Stadium and the Beijing National Aquatic Center.

The Beijing National Stadium, the centerpiece of Beijing's Olympic Green, is nicknamed the 'Bird's Nest' because of its unique nest-like design composed of an interweaving grid-like enclosure and retractable roof. This astounding feat of engineering is designed to embody the 'Randomness of Nature'.

Not only is it an engineering and architectural marvel, it's also environmentally-friendly - with its own rainwater collection system, a translucent roof that provides essential sunlight for the grass below, and a natural, passive ventilation system. The $500 million stadium is designed by Herzog & De Meuron and will hold 100,000 spectators.


Meanwhile, the Beijing National Aquatic Center, standing opposite the 'Bird's Nest', is destined to be one of the most exciting venues at the 2008 Games. Nicknamed the 'Water Cube' or [H₂O]³, it features a soap bubbles-inspired architecture achieved by using a steel spaceframe clad with hundreds of square meters of ETFE, a kind of plastic.


The ETFE cladding makes the Water Cube 30% more energy efficient by allowing more light and heat penetration than traditional glass. At night when the structure is lit from within, the Water Cube would be a stunning sight.

I hope the Philippines will also have an iconic stadium of its own soon. We definitely need a new world-class stadium to hold world-class events. The historic but antiquated Rizal Memorial Stadium simply wouldn't suffice anymore.

Click here for more information and photos
Check out construction photos here

Legazpi’s Embarcadero On the Rise

Bird's Eye view of Embarcadero

A few months ago, I wrote about Legazpi City’s newest world-class destination on the rise – the Embarcadero, an ambitious project spearheaded by Misibis Land Inc. (MLI). Now, MLI’s latest official newsletter, Misibis Today, reveals more details about this Marina-inspired development in the Legazpi Port area. Construction of Phase I (which already cost P450-500 million) is now in full swing and is expected to be completed next year.

Master-planned by BN Group Pty of Australia, the Embarcadero will have a total of nine structures within the 2.5 hectare site, including a four-level commercial and lifestyle center that will house specialty shops, restaurants, bars, a supermarket and an 800-seat call center, among others. Six other structures ranging from 1 to 2 storeys each will be spread out across the site located at the foot of the Kapuntukan or Sleeping Lion Hill.

The entire complex will be punctuated by a 30-meter, intricately-designed steel and concrete lighthouse that will undoubtedly become a new landmark for Legazpi. Since I happen to love lighthouses, I can’t wait to see how this new modernistic structure will turn out. Closer inspection of the architectural renderings reveal a possible spiral staircase within the structure that could lead to an observation deck at the top. This will undoubtedly provide a breathtaking panorama of Legazpi, Mayon Volcano and the wide expanse of the Albay Gulf.

Celebration Plaza and Lighthouse

An expansive civic space amidst the structures will be called the Celebration Plaza. Aside from the lighthouse, the plaza will be the centerpiece of the Embarcadero and will provide a venue for conventions, concerts, expos, trade fairs and other events. The wooden boardwalk furnished with benches, food stalls, and kiosks will provide Legazpeños and tourists with a place for relaxing, strolling, biking, simply enjoying the sea breeze and other activities.

Meanwhile, to address concerns about safety, with the city being on the typhoon belt, the company made sure the waterfront facility has typhoon-resistant buildings and will be elevated from the natural ground line. The bay walk will also serve as an elevated and inclined seawall. Also, Phase III of the project requires reclamation of about 500 meters of the shoreline which will surely widen the land area for the facility.

Majority of Legazpeños are not yet aware that such a project is now being built in an area that once had a bad reputation as a place for brawls and pickpockets. With the recent disasters, some are even doubtful of the safety of building a waterfront structure. Still, I think we can expect that MLI, being a genuine Bicolano company, fully understands the safety needs and will implement measures to protect their multi-million peso investment.

Shops and Restaurants within Embarcadero

I hope the success of this project will have a ‘ripple effect’ throughout the entire city and help boost its economy and rejuvenate the port district. This project may be ambitious but it certainly is not quixotic. I wish other sectors of the Legazpi community will be as audacious and forward-looking as MLI.

Photos from the Misibis Today Newsletter, July 2007 Edition (click to enlarge)
For construction photos and more updates click here.

3D Model of Legazpi Railway Station

Finally, I have a new 3D Model created through Google Sketchup. It's been over a year since I made my last model (which has already been featured in Google Earth's Best of 3D Warehouse Layer) and at last, I now have a new one to add to my collection. Making this model was actually a spur of the moment. With all the bad news that came crashing down on me earlier today, I felt I needed a diversion. Hehe.

Well, I found myself ‘exploring’ my hometown, Legazpi, through Google Earth (which has updated its database of satellite imagery, recently, by the way) and I figured maybe it's time to make another 3D model of a Legazpi landmark.

I chose to create a model for the Legazpi Railway Station mainly because I thought the building is structurally simple and thus, easier to model. The building is also an important landmark because it is the southernmost terminus of the Philippine National Railways.

So there, I started making the model at, say, quarter past 8PM and finished it by 1AM, Haha. I’m a consummate geek when it comes to Sketchup; it must be the frustrated architect in me kicking in. I wanted a more detailed 3D model so I consulted some photos, courtesy of Yves, one of the city's best photographers.

The real thing

Of course, the model is only a rough approximation and it’s not really an accurate representation of the real building. That's because I relied mainly on common sense and my memory of this edifice, instead of actual measurements. There are slight mistakes that almost made me want to start from scratch. But overall, I think I made a fairly convincing 3D model. More importantly, I had fun making this model and was totally engrossed with it for a few hours.

If you have G. Earth please do visit our city and check out my new model. Legazpi now has seven 3D buildings on Google's 3D Warehouse; just activate the 3D Buildings mode so you can view them. Meanwhile, here are some more pictures of my 3D Legazpi Railway Station:

Close-up of facade
Front view
Rear view
On Google Earth

On Google Earth (with Mayon Volcano)

Embarcadero in Legazpi City

Citizens of Legazpi will soon have another prime destination right within the city – the Embarcadero. Formerly called Sunwest Wharf, the Embarcadero is a project of Misibis Land Inc, the developer of Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spas. This wharf development will be located in the Legazpi Port Area near the unique Kapuntukan Hill (also called the Sleeping Lion because of its shape).

The Embarcadero is a waterfront project that is envisioned to be a new world-class destination for local and international tourists with retail areas, restaurants, a civic space and a landmark lighthouse. Embarcadero will be designed by BN Group Pty Ltd, an Australian-based architectural and urban design firm which is also involved with the Suria KLCC Retail Podium in KL, Malaysia and the East Darling Harbour in Sydney.

As its name implies, Embarcadero will not just be a destination in itself but will also be a jump-off point to other destinations within Bicol including Mayon Volcano, Vera Falls in Malinao, Sula Channel, the underground river of Pototan Cave, the giant Manta rays of Ticao Pass, the whalesharks of Donsol , Nag-aso Boiling Lake of Manito, Camarines Sur Watersports Complex and Misibis Resorts, Estates and Spas. The company is already looking for a Marketing Manager for the retail area.

I hope this new development in Legazpi City will be successful and will win the support of Legazpeños and Albayanos. Along with other projects such as the Southern Luzon International Airport in Daraga and the rehabilitation of the mothballed Mayon International Hotel, these developments can further spur tourism here in our province.

Eco-tourism can do wonders to our local economy and will certainly create more jobs and business opportunities. Now that the private sector is doing its part by investing in our own natural wonders, I hope every Albayano will also do their part in making our place more tourist-friendly and progressive.

Sometimes the problem lies not only in the lack of infrastructure or the lack of government funding but also in the cynical attitude of some.

Sadly, many of our kababayans do not give a damn about their own city and province. We need 'pride of place', belief in the beauty of our natural resources and our capability for progress despite whatever problems and disasters. The site of the Embarcadero may not look promising at present, but it takes people with vision and determination to create progress and change. If we work together, nothing is impossible.

Green Skyscrapers

Maybe because of my love for architecture and skyscrapers combined with my heightened awareness of environmental issues, ‘Green Skyscrapers’ or environmentally-friendly towers naturally captured my interest. Skyscrapers aren’t really known to be environmentally benign. I’m sure the amount of energy needed to power the lighting and air-conditioning needs alone of such huge structures takes a sizeable chunk from the power generated by coal-fired plants that produce toxic emissions.

But apparently, skyscrapers can be sustainable environmentally-friendly structures that can actually help conserve and even produce renewable energy, and minimize waste materials through recycling and reuse.

One such skyscraper is the new Hearst Tower in New York, featured in this article. The Hearst Tower, a soaring glass and steel landmark with distinctive triangular frames built on top of an older building, is NY’s first green building incorporating a number of environmentally-friendly features in its design. The building’s structure itself uses 80% recycled steel. To reduce the energy used for air conditioning by 22%, the building uses outside air for heating and cooling and uses a system of polyethylene tubing embedded in the floor filled with circulating water collected from rain at the tower’s roof.

The collected rain water is also used to irrigate plants and for use at a three-story waterfall at the main lobby (which in turn, helps cool down and humidify the lobby). Its unusual triangular framing pattern or diagrid also has a purpose: It helped reduce the amount of steel needed to construct the building by as much as 20% compared to conventional steel frames. Hearst Building is designed to use 25% less energy than the minimum requirements for New York.

I hope more skyscrapers like the Hearst Tower will be built all over the world. Here in the Philippines, I have yet to see a truly energy-efficient skyscraper that uses a number of environmentally-friendly features. In the near future, I’d like to see perhaps a tower with built-in solar panels to capture the energy from the hot tropical sun, or a building equipped with turbines that will harness the wind to produce sustainable energy. I hope our new breed of architects and engineers will also prioritize environmental-friendliness and energy efficiency in their designs.

My Top Ten Favorite Philippine Skyscrapers

Being a skyscraper and architecture buff, I came up with my own list of favorite skyscrapers located within the Philippines. While everybody else is listing down their favorite songs, movies, celebrities and what-not, my first ‘top ten’ list will be all about skyscrapers. But first, I’d like to establish that I have no formal training whatsoever in architecture, much less the technical know-how to really judge a building in all its merits. So the basis for this list is purely subjective, with aesthetics, location, form and function as well as the building’s general effect on me as the main criteria. (For more information and photos, please click on the links provided)

So here goes my top ten fave ‘scrapers here in our country:

1. GT International Tower, Makati

Soaring up 217 meters or over 711 feet, the GT (George Ty) International Tower is probably the most iconic of all Philippine skyscrapers. I think it has a very simple form but the execution is stunningly spectacular and modern. It’s most distinctive feature, aside from the all glass cladding, is the bold 10-story razor sharp vertical fin crowning the tower. GT Tower is easily the most recognizable tower when viewing Makati from afar, especially at night when rope lights outline it's distinctive shape. The building was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, GF & Partners and Recio+Casas.



2. Ayala Tower One, Makati

Tall, glassy and powerful, the Ayala Tower One fittingly performs its role as the headquarters and crowning glory of one of the most prestigious conglomerates in the Philippines, the Ayala Group of Companies. The story of how Ayala Tower One was proposed and built is one for the books. In the early ‘90s, the Philippine Stock Exchange was planning to relocate from Makati to the Tektite Towers in Ortigas, which was, at that time the only building big enough to hold the PSE trading floor. The Ayalas quickly proposed this new tower in a bid to keep the trading floor in Makati. They didn’t really fully succeed since the PSE ultimately decided to have two trading floors: one each in Makati and Ortigas.

3. PBCom Tower, Makati

Rising from Ayala Avenue 259 meters (849.7 feet) into the sky, the PBCom Tower is the tallest building in the country today and the 70th tallest in the world. This tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, also the architectural firm behind the erstwhile tallest building in the world, Sears Tower in Chicago. Although relatively straightforward in its design, PBCom definitely conveys strength and power, soaring 55 stories above the busy Ayala Avenue below. As the headquarters of the Philippine Bank of Communications, some may jokingly refer to it as a giant cellular phone, given its shape. Still, if only for its simple grandeur and height, the PBCom Tower deserves a place in any top ten Philippine skyscraper list.

4. The Enterprise Center, Makati

The Enterprise Center, a complex composed of two towers of varying heights, is probably one of the grandest-looking and most beautiful buildings in the entire Makati area. The Enterprise stands out from the rest of the rather generic-looking glass clad giants around it through its impressive Art Deco styling. At night, the floodlit Enterprise Center is truly a sight to behold. I have also heard that its interiors are very luxurious – definitely a prestigious address for any office.

5. Pacific Plaza Towers, Bonifacio Global City

Rising majestically at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, the Pacific Plaza Towers are iconic in their own right. This is one of those projects I was referring to in my previous post that I used to ogle at on full-page ads. At that time, I thought these towers were the most modern in terms of design. I marveled at the modern configurations of the two towers – one is a curve and the other, a wave. The gorgeous blue glass facade also makes a proud statement in the newly developing Global City.

6. 1322 Golden Empire Tower, Manila

For anyone visiting Manila’s famed Roxas Boulevard, this gleaming golden tower is hard to miss. The 1322 Golden Empire Tower is the tallest building in the country’s capital. It being located practically on the shores of Manila Bay, makes it a stunning landmark. It rises from the seafront area and perpetually gazes at Manila’s famed sunsets, the golden colors of which impart its gleaming tinge upon the tower’s fantastic glass cladding.

7. RCBC Plaza

Massive is one word to describe the Makati’s RCBC Plaza. Launched at the turn of the millennium, the RCBC Plaza is also composed of two towers (46 and 41 storeys) as well as a 450-seat auditorium, the Yuchengco Museum, a food court and a host of other amenities. It is a modern office building equipped with advanced system making it a most preferred address for many of the country’s top corporations. RCBC is also the first IT Zone in Makati, where its tenants can enjoy tax incentives.

8. Insular Life Corporate Center, Filinvest Corporate City

Clad in cool greenish glass, the towers of the Insular Life Corporate Center looks spectacular in almost all angles. These towers are probably two of the most photogenic buildings in the metropolis, Especially because of its location amid the still vacant lots of the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Its curved façade and cut corners give it a sleek and modern touch.




9. Robinsons Equitable Tower, Ortigas Center

The 45-storey Robinsons Equitable Tower is one of two of my favorite buildings within the Ortigas Central Business District. The best aspect of this tower is the sleek semi-circular, almost cylindrical portion rising majestically from the corner of ADB Avenue and Poveda Drive. Another plus factor about this tower is its cool blue glass cladding which makes it always a sight to behold anytime of the day. The Robinsons Equitable Tower was designd by Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum.

10. Unionbank Plaza, Ortigas Center

The multi-faceted Unionbank Plaza is a geometric wonder. The tower rises from a rather nondescript podium to a series of step-like levels clad in magnificent blue and gold glass cladding. Unionbank Plaza presents a different facet in every angle from which it is viewed. That’s why it is a favorite among photographers and skyscraper enthusiasts. It surely deserves a place in my own ‘top ten’ list.


So there you have it folks, my top ten favorite Philippine skyscraper list. Of course, it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the other skyscrapers. Actually, I’d love to make a longer list but I guess I would be rambling by then. Anyway, bubbling up my list of fave Pinoy ‘scrapers are: (in random order)

• Petron Megaplaza, Makati
• LKG Tower, Makati
• One Roxas Triangle, Makati
• Rizal Tower, Rockwell Center
• Rufino Pacific Tower, Makati
• The Shang Grand Tower, Makati
• One McKinley Place, BGC
• Orient Square, Ortigas Center
• One San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center
• Philippine Stock Exchange Center (Tektite Towers), Ortigas Center
• Philamlife Tower, Makati

Credits to the photographers who took these incredible pictures. I hope you don't mind if I used them here. :-)

SkyscraperCity

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by architecture, urban planning and the art of building habitable spaces. I remember I used to doodle my own versions of skyscrapers and houses on the last pages of my school notebooks, especially when the lessons get all too boring. And in the really boring subjects, I think there were more doodles than notes. LOL. Even before PC games such as SIM City were popular, I already had my own city, complete with wide avenues, seaports and airports, residential and commercial zones, etc. haha.

I also used to pore over news articles of new and upcoming building projects in Manila, even though I barely understood some of them. I actually kept some of those full page ads of new skyscraper projects (though I have already lost them). I’d really get hyped up when a new project was announced through the papers. Back when the Petron Megaplaza was still the tallest building in the country, I conceptualized my own tallest building on the back of a pad paper using a ballpoint pen. (You may be wondering why I didn’t pursue architecture in college, but that’s a different story altogether, LOL.

Anyway, I still love architecture, urban planning and skyscrapers. Thus, it is no wonder that one of my favorite websites is related to these interests of mine. I have been a member of SkyscraperCity forums for almost 2 years now. I discovered the site while browsing for aerial photos of the Philippines. Since then, I have been hooked by the huge wealth of information (and photos) of skyscrapers, cities, towns and other development-related topics. Some of my co-forumers have also become my friends too, although only through the web. So there, if ever you have the same interest in architecture, urban planning, photography, history and general development topics, I highly recommend SkyscraperCity forums, my fave online tambayan.