One fine example of architecture conservation in the Philippines is the first ever Fine Arts School of the University of the Philippines called the Escuela de Bellas Artes.

Built in 1867, the two-story stone structure was designed by Felix Rojas, the first Filipino to earn an architectural degree. Situated on R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, it served as the residence of the first dean of the school of fine arts. When the school moved to the Padre Faura campus of the University of the Philippines, the Bellas Artes building was left in a state of neglect, disrepair, and abandonment.

To save the quintessential structure, a team of architects moved each brick, stone, and mortar to the Ciudad Real de Acuzar Heritage complex in Bagac, Bataan, and, under the auspices of the Acuzar family, reconstructed and restored it to its former glory.

The team’s architect in charge, Joel Rico, will discuss architecture conservation and talk about his experience in the reconstruction and restoration of the Bellas Artes on August 16 at the Lopez Museum.

The lecture complements the exhibition “The Sum of Its Parts,” which runs until September 2008. The exhibition features works that have undergone or are slated to undergo conservation at the Roberto M. Lopez Conservation Laboratory of the Lopez Memorial Museum.

Architecture conservation lecture
August 16, 2008 (Saturday), 2-4 p.m.
Lopez Museum
G/F Benpres Building
Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone: (+632) 6312417