Architect Ildefonso Santos Jr. has both the trained eye and the fighter’s spirit that have earned him accolades from his peers as well as younger architects whom he took under his wing. His prestigious firm, I.P. Santos and Associates, is one of the pioneers in landscape architecture in the Philippines. Since the firm’s inception in 1963, it has worked on several projects ranging from simple residential areas to complex sites such as memorial parks, shopping centers, hotels, schools, office buildings and resorts here and around the globe.
Despite his being an institution in the field of landscape architecture and receiving numerous awards and citations here and abroad, Santos finds pleasure in simple things. He says he finds joy in "seeing the fruits of his labor."
Santos’ body of work speaks of his talent and determination. Forty years of experience have made him one of the most respected and most awarded practitioners of architecture in the country. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Speciality Board of Landscape Architecture at the Professional Regulatory Board. He says he found landscaping and architecture a "perfect combination" so he decided to make it his career. After graduating from the University of Santo Tomas with passing marks, he barely made it to the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture to pursue another degree in the field. The dean had intended to block his acceptance into the undergraduate program because of his not-so-impressive credentials. As fate would have it, he would get in and prove to the dean and to his peers that he was an excellent student. His thesis was signed by no less than the university’s visiting critic Bob Alexander who, along with partner Richard Neutar, was one of the giants in the field at that time. Santos went to finish his masters’ degree in Architecture in the same university. This impressive show of talent and tenacity began for him a thriving career in the United States and gained him iconic stature in the Philippines.
He returned to the country to be with his family as his wife was offered a lucrative position in the University of the East. Thus, I.P. Santos and Associates was born.
Santos was also an educator as he taught in the University of the Philippines from 1963 to 1999. He was a frequent speaker in various fora all over the world including ones in Spain, Malaysia and Greece. Among the famous designs he is credited for are the Los Angeles Music Center, which he worked on before returning to the Philippines, the San Miguel Corp.’s head office complex, Rizal Park, Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club and the Taikoo Shing in Hong Kong. One of his firm’s current projects is the Clearwater Country Club Resort that is being constructed in the Clark Special Economic Zone. This exclusive resort is being patterned after the camping sites in the Adirondack Mountains in the United States. This concept poses some challenges to the landscape architects. Challenges that they welcome.
John Evangelista, a partner in the firm, says the task is to achieve the upland ambience that the Adirondacks are famous for. He adds that the choice of materials is crucial to the creation of the desire effect. Instead of pine trees (they grow only in cold places) the team will use tall trees like eucalyptus and mahogany to get the desired forest effect. They also see to it that there are "quiet" places within so people who want peace and tranquillity will have a nook of their own.
Architect Santos is on the helm of Clearwater’s landscape so we can be sure that this resort will be world-class and Filipino-inspired at the same time.
"You need to see the big picture," he says. "Landscaping is not just about planting trees. It’s learning how to take advantage of the site."