Interview Patrick Kasingsing
Images Plontur Group
Hello Erick! Welcome to Kanto’s World Landscape Architecture Month special! Can you walk us through a project from your portfolio that you believe best represents your design philosophy and approach?
Erick Yambao, founder of Plontur Group (Anterra, Hello, Hortus, and ForestBuilt): Hello there! We are now working on the Kawayan Eco Farm project for a local developer in the Philippines. I am particularly fond of this project for three reasons: First, I have developed a growing appreciation for bamboo as a versatile material. Second, I enjoy the collaborative aspect of the project, where everyone’s ideas are valued. Third, we expanded the project’s scope by convincing the client to consider a larger-scale project.
Last year, I participated in a two-week Bamboo U Building Course in Bali, where I gained a deeper appreciation for bamboo as a building material. Witnessing the creative ways they used bamboo, pushing its boundaries, and showcasing its versatility was eye-opening. My interest in sustainable materials stems from their potential environmental and community benefits. The course has reinforced my desire to promote sustainable materials to our clients.
Upon returning home, I learned about a project in Cavite from a Bamboo U classmate. The Main Pavilion was designed by the renowned Elora Hardy and her team from Ibuku in collaboration with Christian Salandanan from Sangay Architects, both well-known for their impressive bamboo structures. While in Bali, I had the privilege of attending Elora’s talk, where she shared her story and discussed bamboo’s potential as a sustainable material. I also had the opportunity to learn and discuss bamboo-related projects with her brother, Orin Hardy, and her father, John.
With these connections, I was thrilled to discuss a potential project with Kawayan’s owner. Initially, she only wanted us to design a small part of the property. However, I emphasized to her the profound impact that the landscape can have on their branding, marketing, and overall experience in the development. After understanding the potential, she was convinced and agreed to expand the project scope from under 1000 square meters to the whole four-hectare development.
After receiving her agreement, we met with Ibuku and Sangay to discuss their initial concept. It was a bit challenging to get involved in the middle of the project, but we kept our focus on aligning with the entire narrative while being careful not to interfere with anyone’s work.
Our main goal was to connect all the elements and create a design that would not appear as if the landscape was an afterthought. We wanted everything to align with the architectural intent and the client’s requirements.
I think we succeeded in achieving this conceptually, as the client seemed quite satisfied with the overall design. However, the design’s success does not always translate into successful construction. We need to solve this problem in the next step.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for when that’s done! Now, what aspect of your design process do you find most enjoyable or fulfilling? How does this aspect reflect your design inclinations or ethos?
I find the ‘discovery’ stage of the design process most enjoyable. This stage involves deeply understanding our clients’ needs, pain points, goals, values, and vision. Sometimes, clients may initially request a simple design solution, but we often discover they need a more comprehensive approach to address more significant issues.
What I appreciate about this stage is the strategic thinking that comes before the actual planning and sketching of the design. It is immensely satisfying to comprehend the needs of all stakeholders, including investors, landowners, developers, and the community, and to create a design solution that works for everyone. By understanding their intentions correctly, we can ensure that everything else falls into place.
I am passionate about sustainability and am interested in going beyond carbon footprint measures. I want to explore why environmental issues occur and how they relate to our perceptions and use of capitalism.
At Anterra, we have developed a framework that starts by understanding the project’s purpose. We examine the environmental, social, and economic aspects that the project will impact. By collaborating with stakeholders, we assess their needs and create a sustainable solution considering everyone’s interests.
In what ways do you believe the current professional understanding of landscape architecture in the Philippines or the ASEAN region differs from global trends? How do you navigate this intersection between local culture and international design standards in your work?
In the Philippines, we often face limitations in executing high-end projects due to financial resources, material selection, and manpower skills. As a result, we tend to think within these constraints.
However, our problem-solving and resourceful approach to design, instilled by our background, is well-known internationally. It is a sought-after skill set that we bring to the table.
When working on conceptual projects abroad, we now have the opportunity to push our imagination a bit more without being limited by many constraints. Filipino creativity encompasses problem-solving and adaptability, which go beyond aesthetics. We can operate at a much higher level if we are not limited. We want to continue to develop in this direction.
On a technical level, we measure their feasibility, adherence to design standards, and cost implications. At the conceptual level, we evaluate outputs based on their overall idea, creativity, and alignment with the project’s vision. This is where we want to play our game.
Let’s now talk accessibility: How can landscape architects help ensure that communities, especially those in urban areas with limited access to nature, have fair access to green spaces and parks?
To reach our objectives, we need to intentionally build inclusive environments that encourage a sense of community and belonging. It’s essential that everyone feels included and no one is left out.
We also need to be innovative in finding solutions for limited space and integrate nature into all aspects of our infrastructure. Urban areas have a shortage of open spaces, so planning to incorporate nature from the outset ensures more green surroundings.
Lastly, forming partnerships with the public and private sectors is vital to achieving our vision. No single organization or industry can accomplish this alone. We must work together with the understanding that the well-being of nature is of utmost importance. If we take care of Nature, it takes care of us.
“I find the ‘discovery’ stage of the design process most enjoyable. This stage involves deeply understanding our clients’ needs, pain points, goals, values, and vision. Sometimes, clients may initially request a simple design solution, but we often discover they need a more comprehensive approach to address more significant issues.”
E R I C K Y A M B A O
In connection to equitable access, can you share a project you’ve done that embodies this commitment to diversity and inclusion in landscape architecture?
One project that stood out was a residential development in Nadd Al Hammar in Dubai. We aimed to create a modern take on traditional Emirati architecture by incorporating the details of this style into open spaces. Since this was a residential development, we had to consider the needs of people from different nationalities and cultures. We wanted to preserve the city’s cultural heritage while being mindful of modern usage.
As I have known them, the Emiratis are extremely warm, hospitable, and amicable. Dubai is a diverse metropolis that embraces the cultures of the Middle East and is as accessible as any other city in the world. Through our project’s overall design, we wanted to highlight this and allow people to experience it.
In the Philippines, we designed the DLSU Innovation Center in Laguna with a specific purpose. Our goal was to create a space inviting for college students and the companies they may partner with as future mentors or employers. We also wanted to create a platform for the local community to interact with college students. The center was a novel approach to the education sector, and we hope to see more of it in the future.
Beautiful spaces, both! Speaking of beauty, what work by a fellow landscape architect, local or international, do you consider beautiful? What are your hallmarks of a beautifully designed landscape?
There are two significant landscape design projects worth mentioning. The first one is the Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park by Kotchakorn Voraakhom, the first green infrastructure in Bangkok to address ecological issues and reduce flood risk in urban areas. The second one is the Chengtoushan Archaeological Park by Turenscape, which won the 2017 WAF Landscape of the Year award. The park was developed as a valuable tourist attraction while preserving its ancient heritage. Both projects have significantly impacted their respective communities and contributed to the cause of sustainability, which should be a core principle of every landscape design.
These two examples have contrasting stylistic approaches that I like. The first one is playful and more suitable for the city setting. It is characterized by bold colors and forms that surprise and create a visual impact. The other approach is more subdued, where the design details speak for themselves. It has a more organic form and uses natural materials. This design style is better suited for rural settings.
Forms, colors, and details characterize beautiful design, but to me, a landscape is truly beautiful when it positively impacts the world around us.
Can you discuss a project where you had to challenge traditional norms or expectations in landscape architecture? How did you navigate potential resistance or pushback, and what were the outcomes of incorporating innovative approaches into your design?
In the first few years, most of our projects are inquiries for planting design. While many believe that our work is only focused on designing planting, we can add a lot of value to a project by planning the spaces. Unfortunately, this aspect is often underrated and underappreciated in the industry. Pushback is common when we introduce elements that some clients think are extravagant, such as outdoor art pieces, outdoor furniture, or vertical elements. This is especially true for clients who approach us towards the end of the project.
Our approach involves asking questions, understanding what clients really want, and creating win-win solutions for everyone. We believe that most of the innovations we provide are small and sometimes unnoticed, but we push for minor incremental improvements in our work. We achieve this through collaboration with the client and other professionals.
Resistance is reduced when people see the advantages of what we are doing and fully trust us to address the same problem together but with a different perspective.
What are some overlooked or underestimated aspects of landscape architecture that have significant implications for the future of urban planning and development in the Philippines?
The first would be planning. I discussed earlier how we, as landscape architects and even our clients, tend to focus heavily on the technical and scientific aspects of planting. However, I believe that the planning aspect is underrated and undervalued. It has the potential to significantly impact not just our industry or real estate but also help us “architect” ecosystems in the broadest sense of the word.
Second is a deeper understanding of nature. As landscape architects, we generally work with nature, not just plants. If we can better understand how nature works, we can understand the world better. We can model nature in everything that we do—in business (holocracy), in media (virality), in engineering (biomimicry), and in design/architecture (biophilic).
If we, as landscape architects, can gain a deeper understanding of nature, we can potentially lead not just urban planning and development but also other industries that need to embrace the “nature” mindset.
All concepts of sustainability—circularity, permaculture, and regeneration—are essential concepts found in nature. By embracing nature’s principles, we can solve numerous problems across various industries.
Something a little light before our million-dollar question. What hobby or interest outside landscape design unexpectedly influences or informs your work?
I have been leaning towards entrepreneurship for the past couple of years. Both architecture and entrepreneurship allow us to create our dream worlds, systems, and environments and are tools we can use to improve our world.
Capitalism has often been portrayed negatively; however, like any other tool, its effects depend on the user. It can be used for both constructive and destructive purposes. Its impact is determined by the individuals who use it. Driven by greed, it can lead to exploitation, but when guided by compassion and ethical considerations, capitalism can become a powerful force for positive change.
We ask clients about their financial goals and targets for our large-scale projects and consider them extensively during the design process. Our strategy is to prioritize long-term financial sustainability over short-term profitability. If the client agrees and sees the merits of this approach, we adjust everything based on their financial goals and targets. When the intention, goals, and purpose change, all other elements should change to support them. Sustainability should meet not only environmental and social aspects but also economic targets.
As I delve deeper into sustainability, I realize that the root cause of the problem is greed.
Let’s end with what is possibly the most pressing issue professionals in the field of spatial design face today. As a landscape architect, what do you see as your role in addressing pressing environmental concerns such as climate change and rampant urbanization? In previous answers, you’ve talked a bit about Plontur’s sustainability agenda, but perhaps you can elaborate further on how you are walking the talk.
In practical terms, we are doing a few things. First, we are testing and implementing many sustainable business concepts in our firm. We have spun off smaller companies from the original Plontur concept. We hypothesize that this will enable us to grow more efficiently with less risk as separate entities and share our unique aspects with different brands in mind.
Secondly, we are creating a nursery, which will serve as an environmental lab. We will focus on propagating endemic and native plants. It might take some time, but we are playing the long game.
Thirdly, we are exploring how to incorporate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our large-scale projects. We aim to measure the impact of our initiatives on each of the goals.
Lastly, measuring our carbon footprint is essential, although it can be controversial and polarizing. We are working to partner with a group to help us measure it. If we can vouch for the project, we will help look for potential investors. Much of this is new and requires a long-term perspective. We keep reminding ourselves to be patient and collaborate to achieve our goals. •
