Lost and Found
Ramblings around the City

June 25, 2005 ; Santa Cruz --

You just gotta love Manila's downtown.

And by this I mean the historic old district of Santa Cruz and not the Makati CBD as what a lot of locals think.

Sure it's not snazzy and maybe a bit run-down on the edges but it has buzz ( the teeming masses!) , local color (kalesa traffic, anyone?), bargains and hidden architectural delights such as this mellow taupe Art-Deco beauty!

Mr. Webster defines the Art-Deco as " a decorative and architectural style of the period 1925-1940, characterized by geometric designs, bold colors, and the use of plastic and glass." Put simply, the Art-Deco was how people in the early part of the century perceived the future to be.

In Manila, the Art-Deco has always been associated with American-colonial architecture since we were under the US of A when this type of style flourished. Among the more celebrated Art-Deco buildings in the city include the Metropolitan Theater, the Perez-Samanillo Building at the Escolta and the ill-fated Jai-Alai Fronton along Taft Avenue (now demolished).

This corner building by the north end Dasmariñas Street is just one reason why it's worth the effort to sometimes brave the heat and the crowds just to walk aimlessly in Old Manila, you chance upon fantastic jewels such as this!

Now, apart from it being an Art-Deco structure, I have no other details as with regards to this building ( tried asking the name but people dont seem to know it). Of particular note is it's corner lot position where the architect (bless him!) ingeniously maximised the small space to turn what otherwise could have been another unassuming building - in an obscure lot no less- into something as architecturally-delightful as this.

I particulary like the imposing rounded turrets and the bas-reflief (pictured), it certainly gives the facade a touch of class. And really, it's such a small price to pay for having to look up and discover what makes this corner structure truly a gem of the Art-Deco.