Building Forever: Jason and Nikki Buensalido of Barchan Architecture

Architecture firm Buensalido Architects (now Barchan Architecture) is currently known for their colorful and detail-oriented Filipino structures that have garnered both local and global recognition. What we recently found out is that this would not have been the case if it weren’t for the union and collaboration between architects and husband and wife Jason and Nikki Buensalido. “Back then, Jason was keen on only using black and white in his designs. He swore that he would never use color,” Nikki narrates, to which Jason replies: “It was Nikki who convinced me to slowly introduce something bright and festive in our portfolio—and look at our projects now! The running joke for this is that she brought color to my world.”

The couple shares this and more in our Building Forever conversation, a 2024 Kanto Valentine’s Day special. Here, they unpack the story from when they first met as young professionals in the industry to building a family, all while revealing their secrets to nurturing their hearts and craft.

Kanto: Hi, Jason and Nikki! Happy Valentine’s Day! Your practice, Barchan Architecture/Buensalido Architects, has achieved quite a lot since its foundation in 2006. Can you tell us more about your journey of growing it together?

Jason: Hello, Kanto! Thank you for inviting us to do this. It’s a good way for us to look back on our journey together. The truth is, I started Buensalido Architects on my own. It wasn’t until Nikki and I were engaged that she officially joined the firm. We grew the practice together over time.

Nikki: We like to say that B+A is our first child because it matured as our relationship did. Adding to what Jason said, I was an unofficial consultant for the firm before all of this happened. Even if we were already a couple, I worked under Joey Yupangco as I wanted to gain experience first. We talked about it in such a way that he would be able to establish the firm first, and I would be willing to explore before settling down (life and workwise). I was still a student and Jason was just starting when we first met—here we are more than a decade later!

Interesting! Do you still remember your very first meeting?

Jason: I do! And I still have a clear picture of what Nikki was wearing during her first day as an intern in the firm I was working for then. I can even recall warning a colleague not to make a move on her, because I will. But our relationship didn’t happen in a snap.

To summarize, I courted her for two years, but we eventually lost contact. We reconnected after nine months of no communication. I sent her an architecture book so she asked if we could meet, and we stayed in touch since. I like to joke that technically, Nikki was the one who asked me out.

You two seem to have very healthy relationship! How do you juggle time between being business partners, parents, and husband and wife? Was there ever a time that your personal life affected your professional life and vice versa?

Nikki: The arrangement we currently have is that I mostly take care of everything at home, and Jason manages things at the office. Still, I am passionate about my profession, and I don’t want to lose sight of the practice, so I make sure to provide my input in our projects and handle paperwork when I need to. I take care of our two daughters here at home, but I also make sure to take care of everyone at the office!

Jason: Project designs go through various approvals, including Nikki’s. We set time for all the tasks we have to do together and keep each other informed of all our individual tasks. As the dad, I am also in-charge of taking our eldest daughter to school, while Nikki is the one who fetches her after. As for the two of us, we commit to weekly date nights. We make sure not to miss them and even came up with date-from-home ideas during the pandemic!

I guess the simple answer is strategic planning. We’re architects. We’re planners. We plan for a living. It would be a pity if we weren’t able to plan our own lives. For everything we do together, we share a vision and we come up with strategies on how we can get there.

Nikki: One thing that came to my mind when you asked the question is the back-to-back scene in the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith where they hit targets one at a time. I like how Jason and I have established a dynamic where we just have each other’s backs, be it at work or at home. If the task has to do with a strength of his, then I’ll let him take it. If he thinks I’m the best person for the job, then he’ll call me.

Jason: To add, arguments are normal and it’s hard not to mix our personal and professional relationships, but it all boils down to proper planning and communication, trust, and balance.

I admire your dedication and how you’ve established a dynamic to make everything work! What would you say are the qualities that make your significant other an ideal partner at work and at home?

Nikki: Jason is a planner and a strategic thinker! As a working mom, it’s hard for me to not get rattled when everything gets overwhelming. At times like these, I’m glad I have a partner who will help me calm down and sort things out one by one.

Jason: What makes Nikki ideal? Everything! Whatever I lack, she completes. She complements me, and I’d like to believe that I complement her.

At work, I usually come up with crazy ideas, and Nikki reminds me to be realistic. I see the bigger picture and she pays attention to detail. I’ll be cool once a project is good to go, but Nikki will make sure that documents and other paperwork are in place.

It’s also a matter of adjusting. For example, I love to talk about work because it’s also my passion and it doesn’t drain me. Nikki, on the other hand, grew up in a business-minded family, so she doesn’t really like work discussions over the dinner table. We respect each other’s boundaries and understand each other’s differences.

Nikki: We feel blessed because whatever the other is weak at, the other is strong at. We respect when one thing can be too much for the other person to handle. I appreciate how Jason takes the lead whenever he needs to, and I try to do the same in return.

Work discussions over the dinner table still happen sometimes, but only when necessary! At the end of the day, we know that it’s always about figuring things out together.

You went from architecture visionaries to successful professionals, to business and real-life partners, to parents. What other goals do you have for the future? Is there anything that you particularly want to do together?

Jason: For the practice, we want to continue the vision of creating a positive future through architecture. We want to continue taking on projects that represent our civilization, our dreams, and our goals. We’re honored to have started the Pangasinan Barangay Centers, and we hope we can design more nation-building projects such as city halls, government institutions, and the like. We hope that in 200 years when someone looks at our architecture, they will be able to understand who we are now based on the design wisdom and/or structures we left behind.

Nikki: The goal for the practice has always been to affect lives and influence positive change, and hopefully equip the next generation. The same goes for our children. While I miss being at the office almost every day, our daughters are not going to be two and eight forever, and we want to take this time to hone them with critical thinking and grit.

For Jason and I, I hope we can travel more! We used to travel a lot together and sometimes we get to squeeze in a travel with our kids because of work, but I hope we can have a proper family vacation. An exclusive husband-and-wife vacation would be nice too!

Jason: We want to raise our children to be God-fearing individuals and arm them with critical thinking and grace. We’re a lot of things now, but we really want to be hands-on parents. I am excited to travel with the family and with only Nikki too! We play plenty of roles nowadays, but the important thing is we make plans and dedicate time to whatever is important. It’s hard, but we see to it that no aspect of our lives gets left behind. •

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