Aesthetics in Architecture and Design
BOCALID Collaborate, Listen, Create
According to transcendental essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, when one builds a house, they have a task for life. "[H]e is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.” Beauty, then, becomes a process of upkeep and improvement. When one creates a house, it will ideally become a part of who you are as it evolves to become a home. However, before one maintains, one must first build.
We spoke to two architects who have profound perspectives on this idea of beauty through consistent effort. Both have diverse portfolios and a wealth of professional history that make them uniquely qualified to speak on this topic. For them, beauty in architecture is not just about aesthetics but also about the functionality, sustainability, and emotional resonance that a well-designed home can bring to its occupants.
Ar. Mary Neil Velasco Bocalid isn’t just designing houses; she’s crafting sanctuaries. For her, architecture transcends blueprints and CAD models—it’s an art form, a delicate balance of aesthetics and function, molded by the needs and dreams of the people who inhabit these spaces. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Music is liquid architecture; Architecture is frozen music.” Mary’s approach embodies this sentiment, creating harmonious spaces that resonate with the lives and aspirations of their occupants and are futureproofed to last.
Agda Beach Villas
“Every person has different needs,” she explains. “What may be beautiful to me might be different for someone else. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as architects, we must listen to our clients to translate their needs into our designs.” For her, a beautiful home extends beyond aesthetics—it evokes positive emotions, whether you reside within its walls or admire it from afar. Two distinct user groups shape this perception: the homeowners who inhabit the space and the onlookers—neighbors, passersby, or even fellow architects—who glimpse it from the outside.
Every client brings a unique vision to the table. Some crave security, others comfort, and a few yearn for grandeur. Ar. Bocalid and her team’s role is to take these diverse desires and transform them into physical forms. “We interpret these desires through our technical expertise,” she said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke about the collaborative process
that fuels her work. Balancing aesthetic appeal and functionality is key to Ar. Bocalid's work. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration in creating a successful home. “Building a home is a collaborative effort.
The best projects are those where the builder, designer, and owner work together harmoniously,” she notes. For her, a project’s success is not just in its completion but in its lasting impact. When clients express satisfaction and gratitude years after the project's completion, she knows she has succeeded. Ar. Bocalid's designs seamlessly incorporate the surrounding environment and landscape, especially when considering the local climate.
“We created a home that perfectly balanced the client's need for a statement house with functional living spaces,” she recalled. The key to this success was understanding the client's lifestyle and future plans, ensuring that the design would remain functional and beautiful over time. “After five years, the client contacted me to express their continued satisfaction with the home,” she said, smiling at the memory. This long-term success is a hallmark of a well-designed home, one that continues to serve its occupants' needs and reflect their aspirations.
Ar. Bocalid's designs seamlessly incorporate the surrounding environment and landscape, especially when considering the local climate.
charm but also serves the practical purposes of providing insulation and encouraging airflow. Repurposed wood and stone are abundantly utilized for the balcony and window frames, the floors, and ceilings, adding warmth and a visual connection with the surrounding nature.
From tropical vacation homes to elegant residences, Ar. Bocalid and her team boast range and versatility while maintaining a tropical aesthetic. She takes a more modern tack with the Tahanan Homes project, again using natural materials, but transmuting them to create a sophisticated yet inviting living space. The exterior features clean lines and a minimalist design, balancing the colors and textures of wood and stone, and steel. Despite the modern openness, strategic elements ensure privacy, such as the wooden slatted gate and carefully positioned greenery. The interior is a minimalist paradise of brown, black, and white--high ceilings ensure proper heat distribution while the marble finish guarantees a baseline cool temperature even during the hottest of summers.
These are but two of the many projects Ar. Bocalid has accomplished. Whether it's an equatorial chic vacation home or a modern urban residence, she manages to stay true to her personal philosophy of beauty is what you value. This versatility is a premium in the architecture and design spheres, showcasing her ability to adapt to diverse client needs while maintaining a cohesive vision.
Balancing aesthetic appeal and functionality is key to Ar. Bocalid's work. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration in creating a successful home. “Building a home is a collaborative effort. The best projects are those where the builder, designer, and owner work together harmoniously.
Looking to the future, Ar. Bocalid envisions
sustainable and thoughtful design principles continuing to shape home design. “The concept of a beautiful home will continue to evolve with new materials and technologies,” she said. Innovations in sustainable materials and smart home technology are making homes easier to maintain and more efficient. Yet, she believes that the core principles of functional and thoughtful design will remain constant. “In planning homes, we consider the long-term needs of the occupants, designing spaces that can adapt to changes over time,” she added.
From tropical vacation homes to elegant residences, Ar. Bocalid and her team boast range and versatility while maintaining tropical design principles.
For homeowners looking to enhance
their homes, Ar. Bocalid's advice echoes
her company's vision and her own personal
philosophy: collaborate and listen. “List down your needs and wants, think about how your lifestyle may change in the next five to ten years, and hire the right professionals to translate those needs into reality,” she said. It is crucial to get renovations right the first time--there are many things to consider, and some of these considerations arise midway through the undertaking. As such, flexibility in design is important to accommodate future changes, ensuring that homes remain beautiful and functional as families grow and lifestyles change. Architecture is a deliberate art. Every drawn line drawn and every carved space tells a story and play a measure. Ar. Mary Neil Velasco Bocalid’s work stands as a melody of sincerity and teamwork.
Pandan Villas
Tahanan Residence
VOB Apartment
Ar. Bocalid's approach to incorporating the surrounding environment into her designs is both practical and poetic. She stresses the importance of adapting to the site's unique features, especially in tropical settings where passive cooling and tropical design are essential.
All through the interview, she spoke glowingly of collaboration, among her team and between her clients. And just as Goethe eloquently described music and architecture as two forms of the same essence, Ar. Bocalid's creations freeze the melodies of her client's lives into tangible, beautiful homes. Her sensitivity to the unique needs of each family, her ability to balance aesthetic appeal with practical functionality, and her commitment to collaboration all contribute to her humility and success. Through collaboration, architecture becomes not just a profession but a musical piece with flourishes and movements that continually shape and are shaped by the lives they touch. D+C
Architect Mary Neil Velasco Bocalid leads a multidisciplinary firm composed of architects, designers, engineers, and thinkers involved in planning, architectural and engineering design, project management, and building information modeling. The firm began in 2008 with freelance work and officially established its office in 2013. Before founding her own firm, Mary worked with Leandro Locsin Partners for almost five years, gaining valuable experience in high-end residential and resort design. Mentored by architect Ed Ledesma, Mary cultivated her passion for design. Her firm believes that design innovation is born from the collaborative ideas of various professionals and the client. Sensitivity is their strength, driving their concepts and solutions.
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John Duanan
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Bocalid
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