Lafarge names finalists of Aquino Museum Redesign Competition

MANILA, Philippines - Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines) Inc. announced the three finalists of the Aquino Museum Redesign Competition.

The contest, sponsored by Lafarge on behalf of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), aims to find the best design solution for the Aquino Museum that will capture the full impact of Ninoy and Cory on Philippine history.

Besting 15 entries are MANA Architecture+Interior Design, Palafox Associates, and Nazareno+Guerrero Design Consultancy. Each was chosen based on a brief narrative of their proposed design and the preliminary sketches they submitted for the planned renovation of the Aquino Museum in Tarlac. Criteria for the selection include creativity of solution, content and ability to meet the objectives of the foundation, cost-efficiency in terms of both design implementation and long-term operations, relevance to the subject, clarity of message delivery in the design execution and incorporation of the products of the main and co-sponsors in the design solution.

Each of the finalists will receive a stipend to develop their designs into full schematic level, which they will present to the panel of judges in a month’s time to determine the final winner.

 “We are extremely pleased with all the entries as they displayed Filipino ingenuity and creativity at its finest,” says architect Dan Lichauco, chairman of the board of judges. “The three finalists were simply a cut above the rest and we are excited to see how they will further expand on their initial design concepts.”

The rest of the competition’s board of judges is composed of Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, Ricky Abad, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Emily Abrera, Guillermo Luz, Ino Manalo, Manolo Quezon, and Renato Sunico.

With its involvement in the competition, Lafarge affirms its support for icons of Filipino identity — those historical monuments that celebrate the country’s destiny — such as the Aquino Museum. With the museum redesign, Lafarge, along with the NCAF, hopes to provide a more comprehensive coverage of the life and legacy of the late President Corazon C. Aquino that will complement the institution’s extensive permanent exhibit on Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. The redesign also intends to repackage the museum to appeal to local and foreign visitors with an interest in contemporary Philippine history.