How Visionarch enhances the quality of life one design at a time
Evolution and Revolution
From his early days of coloring perspective drawings to his current work transforming skylines across the globe, architect Daniel Terence Yu, president of Visionarch, has been driven by a deep-rooted passion for architecture. His father, renowned architect Gilbert Yu, inspired the young Daniel Yu to journey into the world of architecture. A continuation of his father's firm, G&W, Visionarch represents both an evolution and a revolution. While the core values of discipline, professionalism, and business acumen remain as the guiding principles in everything the firm does, its design culture has undergone a significant shif. Ar. Yu’s team aspires to be more than just architects. They aim to unlock the unique value inherent in every project they undertake. Through a collaborative and multi-iterative process, Visionarch endeavors to create designs that are not only visually striking but also deeply meaningful and transformative.
LIFE-centric approach to Architecture
At the core of Visionarch's design philosophy lies a fundamental question: "How can we make Life better?" Beyond form and function, Visionarch goes the extra mile by incorporating a special element - a design that enhances the quality of life. This life-centric approach to architecture recognizes that spaces are aspirational objects, offering the promise of a better life to those who would use them. Visionarch seeks to understand and design around the diverse aspects of people's lives, such as social connections, spiritual enlightenment, work fulfillment, and environmental consciousness. As a result, Visionarch has been creating spaces that resonate deeply, achieving a delicate balance between aesthetics, functionality, and an enhanced quality of life.
The Spinnaker at Club Laiya
Crystal Clear Vision
Visionarch specializes in a diverse range of projects, guided by an unwavering commitment to anticipate the evolving aspirations of Filipinos. Their portfolio encompasses mixed-use developments, transport-oriented projects, and commercial and leisure destinations, reflecting an astute understanding of changing community dynamics. Take, for instance, the innovative One Ayala project, which integrates different transportation modes within a mall setting, alleviating traffic woes and promoting sustainable mass transit. Furthermore, in response to the emerging digital nomad culture, Visionarch is designing leisure projects in Batangas that provide an idyllic environment for remote work, blurring the boundaries between work, home, and play.
Visionarch’s dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. Their work has earned international recognition, placing them among the top 100 architecture firms globally. Locally, the firm has consistently ranked among the top 10 in the Philippines, demonstrating its sustained progress and commitment to delivering exceptional designs. These accolades speak to their belief in continuous growth and the pursuit of excellence.
Visionarch envisions a future where the Philippines emerges as a formidable economic power. With unprecedented economic and construction growth on the horizon, Visionarch is positioned to play a vital role in shaping cities and integrated infrastructure projects. The firm is actively expanding its regional and global presence, sharing its expertise with less developed countries and contributing to the advancement of the architectural industry. As Visionarch sets its sights on this future of boundless possibilities, its unwavering dedication to design excellence in all its projects promises to leave a lasting impact on the architectural landscape.
We have a bonus interview with Ar. Yu where he lists Visionarch’s 10 Best Practices. D+C hopes these will inspire anyone who shares their vision: a better life for all.
Aseana Parqal
D+C: What are Visionarch’s SOLID 10?
Visionarch:
1. Value-Driven: While we appreciate artistic expression, our primary objective is to create differentiated designs that add value and provide the best return on our clients' investments. With our experience as developers, having completed seven mixed-use buildings in BGC, we have learned that thoughtful design adjustments, such as wider windows and corner views, can significantly impact a project's success, sometimes even more than a bold design statement.
2. Differentiation Through Lot Context: Every piece of land is unique, and we make it a point to thoroughly analyze each site's attributes and potential. Our most successful projects have been those that seamlessly adapt to their surroundings, be it the terrain as seen in the Hamilo Coast Chapel in Pico De Loro, the vegetation at Primehomes Capitol Hills, or the historical significance at Ayala Malls Capitol Central. Rather than utilizing a one-size-fits-all template, this focus on site adaptation lends character to our projects and makes them stand out from other cookie-cutter developments.
3. Community Conscious: When we design, we always ask ourselves, "How can we make this project benefit more people and the local area?" This is why our portfolio reflects common themes such as creating expansive public spaces, fostering social interaction, and providing amenities that breathe new life into neighborhoods. This approach applies to all project types, from residential developments like Cerca Viento to commercial ventures such as Aseana Parqal. By making our work community assets, we gain public support and contribute to the revitalization of surrounding properties.
4. Asking Questions: We're strong believers in asking questions and nurturing curiosity in every aspect of our work. We enjoy challenging assumptions, questioning established norms, and uncovering new possibilities. This level of critical thinking extends to our interactions with clients and stakeholders, fostering trust, collaboration, and shared understanding through open dialogue and thoughtful inquiry.
5. Always Exploring New and Better Ways: We hate falling into a rut of doing the same thing repeatedly. If you work in our offices, you'll find it a place where new ideas are embraced and learning from one another is valued. We're passionate about research and innovation to enhance our designs and streamline our work processes. We even explore video game technologies and platforms to create architectural walk-throughs in virtual reality.
Carbon Market Cebu
6. Continuous Learning: We encourage our team members to attend conferences, workshops, and training programs to stay updated about the industry's latest trends and best practices. We even hold our own training sessions in-house as a certified CPD provider. We encourage the pursuit of diverse interests and hobbies outside of architecture, as they allow our designers to draw inspiration from various disciplines, resulting in unique and insightful design solutions.
7. Timeless Yet Forward-Looking: We aim to strike a balance between timeless elegance and visionary design. Having witnessed design trends come and go over time, we understand the importance of designing architecture that endures structurally, aesthetically, and functionally. We address the immediate needs of end-users while also anticipating future demands.
One Ayala Makati
8. Indoor-Outdoor Balance: We strive to establish a seamless connection between the interiors and exteriors, blurring boundaries when it enhances the overall experience of a place. By encouraging activities like shopping, dining, and exercise to spill over into the outdoors, we aim to create vibrant and enjoyable environments for people. For instance, all nine projects we're undertaking in Arca South connect to a nearby park or outdoor amenity area.
9. Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Life safety and regulatory compliance are non-negotiables. Our architects receive continuous training to navigate the complex regulatory landscape, stay updated with local, national, and international regulations, and become familiar with emerging standards and best practices. We implement an internal quality control process to ensure our output meets and exceeds the minimum requirements.
10. Nurturing Long-Term Relationships: Building long-lasting relationships for us means committing to our client's business goals, aligning ourselves with their interests, and advancing their agenda. It's about fostering trust and eventually winning the client's complete faith in our professional ability, enabling them to entrust us with their most challenging projects, knowing we will successfully see them through despite any difficulties.
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