Architectural Gems Around Manila: Art Deco Buildings To Know

Gaze upon the slew of beautiful art deco gems that can only be found in Manila.

Arts Décoratifs or Art Deco is an architecture design that first appeared in France before the First World War. The style used linear motifs, thick, geometrical patterns, and zig-zags meant to represent the 1920s to the 1930s machine age.

The movement reached the shores of the Philippines in the 1930s. Local artists like Juan Nakpil, Andres Luna de San Pedro, and Juan Arellano are some of the most preeminent art deco architects. Today, few of their most notable works still stand tall in modern Manila.

Designed by architect Juan Arellano, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum served as the main stadium of the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games on three occasions. ┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

The Manila Metropolitan Theatre is an art deco building designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. de Guzman Arellano, and inaugurated on December 10, 1931, with a capacity of 1670 (846 lower, 116 in loge, and 708 in balcony). During the liberation of Manila by the United States and Filipino forces in 1945, the theatre was severely damaged, losing some of its roofing and walls battered. ┃Photo: John Tewell on Flickr

The First United Building is formerly known as the Perez-Samanillo Building. Located in the street of Escolta, this art deco structure was was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro ┃Photo: Charles Datuin

Built in 1914, the El Hogar is an early skyscraper at the corner of Juan Luna Street and Muelle dela Industría in Binondo, Manila. It was designed by architects Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz.┃Photo: Keith Kelly on Flickr

The Times Theater was built in 1939, and it was designed by architect Luis Z. Araneta. Scheduled to open in December 1940 but the construction of the new Quezon Boulevard fronting it may have led to its opening only in March 1941. ┃Photo: John Tewell on Flickr

This landmark in Manila is part of the Far Eastern University (FEU) campus. It features the art deco design of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio Sr. The building was completed in 1939. Some architectural scholars have likened this structure to the proto-deco creations of Frank Lloyd Wright.┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

The Neilson Tower in Makati is formerly the old Manila International Airport 1937-1948 (Nielson Airfield). It was built on a 42-hectare piece of land in Makati owned by Ayala y Cia. Over the last decade, this art-deco building has been leased to restaurant operations and is now the highly rated Blackbird restaurant.┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

Photo 1 of 7 Designed by architect Juan Arellano, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum served as the main stadium of the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games on three occasions. ┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

Photo 2 of 7 The Manila Metropolitan Theatre is an art deco building designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. de Guzman Arellano, and inaugurated on December 10, 1931, with a capacity of 1670 (846 lower, 116 in loge, and 708 in balcony). During the liberation of Manila by the United States and Filipino forces in 1945, the theatre was severely damaged, losing some of its roofing and walls battered. ┃Photo: John Tewell on Flickr

Photo 3 of 7 The First United Building is formerly known as the Perez-Samanillo Building. Located in the street of Escolta, this art deco structure was was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro ┃Photo: Charles Datuin

Photo 4 of 7 Built in 1914, the El Hogar is an early skyscraper at the corner of Juan Luna Street and Muelle dela Industría in Binondo, Manila. It was designed by architects Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz.┃Photo: Keith Kelly on Flickr

Photo 5 of 7 The Times Theater was built in 1939, and it was designed by architect Luis Z. Araneta. Scheduled to open in December 1940 but the construction of the new Quezon Boulevard fronting it may have led to its opening only in March 1941. ┃Photo: John Tewell on Flickr

Photo 6 of 7 This landmark in Manila is part of the Far Eastern University (FEU) campus. It features the art deco design of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio Sr. The building was completed in 1939. Some architectural scholars have likened this structure to the proto-deco creations of Frank Lloyd Wright.┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

Photo 7 of 7 The Neilson Tower in Makati is formerly the old Manila International Airport 1937-1948 (Nielson Airfield). It was built on a 42-hectare piece of land in Makati owned by Ayala y Cia. Over the last decade, this art-deco building has been leased to restaurant operations and is now the highly rated Blackbird restaurant.┃Photo: Eduardo de Leon on Flickr

Tatler Asia

Architectural Gems Around Manila: Art Deco Buildings To Know