Fiona Patricia S. Escandor takes a closer look at what makes rising architect Buck Sia click
Buck Sia is regarded as one of Cebu’s new generation of progressive architects—with works that are applauded for its sensible functionality and its designs that stray away from what is conventional.
A former apprentice of renowned architect Alex Medalla, 32-year-old Buck is building a name for himself in the industry as he leads his own design firm, Zubu Design Associates. Now on its eighth year of operations, Zubu comprises seven architects, and boasts of conceptual, innovative outputs that have sparked interest around the country and abroad.
An alumnus of the University of San Carlos’s architecture department, Buck was a ninth-placer in the 2003 Architecture Licensure Exam. He was under the mentorship of Medalla for four years prior to starting his private firm in 2005.
With mostly residential structures in his portfolio, Buck’s works are distinct because
of how it reflects his admiration of modernist designs, and how he integrates it with sustainability. He nails creativity over functionality, yet doesn’t sacrifice vital aspects such as ventilation, flow of movement and practical space planning for the sake of aesthetics.
Pushing the envelope
“We have a strict quality control to the designs that come out of this office,” says Buck, who was recently included in BluPrint Magazine’s 20 Outstanding Filipino Designers Under 40.
“We are the ones pushing more rather than our clients. Each of our projects exceeds who we are, as we always challenge ourselves and we’re very particular in advancing our ideas.”
Rather than creating a theme that would establish uniformity in his works, Buck stresses the importance of working around a philosophy that allows him to flex his creativity and to constantly take his designs a notch higher.
Some of his ongoing commercial projects include remodeling the Department of Trade and Industry’s provincial headquarters, which is a 40-year-old building downtown, and a large-scale hardware depot in Danao.
Inward looking out
Buck and his team also actively join international design competitions, such as the Who’s Next Housing Competition in the United States and the Earth Awards 2010 in the United Kingdom, to which they submitted a concentric shift house model. Earlier this year, they also sent an entry for the NYC Aids Memorial Design Competition.
On the side, Buck is currently president of the United Architects of the Philippines–Cebu Chapter and is incoming president of the Creative Cebu Council. He is also involved with his family’s businesses, the Cebu Bionic Group of Companies and iTrade Intranet International.
Vision: A people-friendly city
As an architect, Buck envisions Cebu to be a “people-friendly” city that is grounded on heritage. And with all the activities going on for the Mega Cebu movement, he says he is more than optimistic it won’t be far off before his vision will turn into a reality.
“The beauty of Cebu is that we’re rich in tradition and culture, and as much as I am a modern architect, we should be rooted in our heritage and preserve it,” Buck says.
“It’s not just about office buildings and commercial viability. We should also invest in other aspects that make our city more livable, like instilling arts and culture and by making it pedestrian-friendly,” he adds.
For the love of design
At the age of eight, Buck already knew he wanted to be an architect. He was fond of illustrating since he was a child, and with his parents’ encouragement, he honed that talent over the years.
When asked what keeps him going, Buck easily replies, “I really do love design.”
He believes there is an intellectual pursuit in architecture—how to envision a space that is far from the usual, and how to manipulate it to give a new experience. This, he says, is his philosophy and advocacy.
“I want to push the boundaries of architecture,” Buck says. “I have the drive to continue pursuing works that are progressive, and it inspires me a lot knowing that I’m instilling a nice culture with my associates and the rest of the architectural society.”