U.P. Diliman Quezon Hall

Arch 16 TDE-A

Salsalida, Laurence Marco P.

Prof. E.U.Ozaeta

Quezon Hall: The Pride of the University

Everyday, commuters and motorists who enter U.P. through the University

and Commonwealth Avenues hardly fail to notice the towering building that

signifies a very honorable welcome. The famous Quezon Hall, being a synthesis

of classical and modern architecture, is the most visible and recognizable

structure of U.P. Diliman (Canete et. al. 17). Also known as the Administration

Building, it was named after the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth,

Manuel L. Quezon. The Quezon Hall represents one of the U.P. Diliman

campus' impressive arrays of tall, imposing edifices designed along

modernistic and functional lines (U.P.D. campus 5). As architecture students, we

should try and find out the relationship of context and architecture in studying

such a marvelous masterpiece.

Quezon Hall is located in the gateway of the 493-hectare U.P. Diliman

Campus. The tropical climate and the rich fertile soil allow trees to flourish best in

the area. The climate is stinking hot during dry seasons and relatively cold during

rainy seasons. The vast landscape allows many possibilities for architectural

design. Since the campus was rebuilt during the rise of modern architecture, the

forms of the buildings were much more influenced by expressionism and

symbolism rather than native traditions.

The grandeur of the Quezon Hall is best reflected by its noticeable

colonnaded open portico, or peristyle (Canete et. al. 17). The open portico, fluted

columns, tiled roof, paired columns on the Observatory Deck, and relief details

on its corners point to its classical origins, while its use of floor-mounted

floodlights, a curvilinear cantilevered walkway, geometric grillwork and a

simplified entablature frame points forward to a more modern persuasion

(Canete et. al. 18). Yet, it was a fact that Quezon Hall's architect, Juan Nakpil

based the peristyle concept from Finnish-born American architect Eliel

Saarinen's Main Hall. However, he made it genuine and unique by duplicating

the building's strategic location at the terminus of the University Avenue,

horizontally orienting the volumetric arrangements punctured by a classic grand

peristyle at the center, and utilizing landscape elements such as reflecting pool

and Oblation as counterpoint (Lico vol. 5).

The use of light colors, large windows, raised floor, opaque waterproof red

brick-tiled roof and the open