Archi[types/text] 2013, the flagship project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, will once again, on its fourth year, showcase Philippine architecture and the production space in the country.

The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts is under NCCA’s Subcommission on Arts. This project is of the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) in celebration of the National Arts Month (NAM) every February. The theme of PAF is “Ani ng Sining” with this year’s subtheme “Celebrating Icons.”

The distinct and appealing architecture of our mosques will be featured in Archi[types/text] 2013 in an exhibit titled MASJID: Jewels of Filipino Islamic Faith Exhibit at the University of Santo Tomas Museum on February 5. This place of worship by the Muslims has been an important part of their religious life and it also plays an integral part in the culture of the Filipino Muslims.

Also, the Filipino landscapes that witnessed the history of the Philippines will be exhibited through Hardin: Filipino Landscape Architecture in History. This exhibition will showcase the landscapes that Filipinos have done through out the years such as small residential gardens, public parks, streetscapes, industrial sites and cityscapes. These works have become an important part of the Filipino culture as it provided the people with an aesthetical and practical purpose. Hardin will be held in Far Eastern University on February 6.

Other exhibitions that will be installed are Sacred Spires: Iglesia Ni Cristo Architecture of Carlos Santos Viola which features the story behind the Iglesia Ni Cristo architecture, and SIGLO XX: Retrospective of 20th Century Design Exhibit which details the designs in the Philippines made in the 20th century.

The book ISTILO: Guide to Architectural Styles in the Philippines will be launched along with an exhibition in Negros Museum on February 19. The book covers the architectural style in the Philippines and is an attempt to bring order to the semantic confusion of style in the country.

Other activities of Archi[types/text] 2013 include the conference on Architectural research and education in Bicol University titled “ACARE 12” from February 7 to 8 and the film viewing and launch of the documentary “Lunan: A History of Filipino Built Environments” which is about the evolution of urban planning, interior design and landscape architecture in the Philippines. The film viewing will be on February 4 and 18 at University of the Philippines Theater and SM Iloilo, respectively.

Contests will also be conducted such as “Critical Architecture: the Honrado Fernandez Architectural Writing Competition” and the interscholastic quiz show “Arkwiz 2013.”