Interview with the 1st Placer : MARK STEVEN VALDE


“The Best practice for an architecture student is to point your pen on a piece of paper then and start to draw simple lines without looking down at your paper. And when you look at your paper, you will see a line without direction, but after a while you will learn how to see and how to improve architecture better that way.”                                               
                                                                                               - Mark Steven Valde



A senior Architecture student from Cebu Institute of Technology, Mark Steven Valde won the 1st place of the 2nd Polycarbonate Sheets Architectural Design Competition organized by S.E.A Olympus Marketing Incorporated held last July 2013 and sponsored by Sunshield Polycarbonate Sheets, Sunlite Polycarbonate Sheets and Shutter Polycarbonate Sheets.



The competition challenged Architecture Students to submit a modern house design that best demonstrates the utilization of eco-friendly technologies in a holistic environmentally sustainable and contemporary manner. The design approach should also integrate the modern trends in architecture and the most innovative and original use of Shutter Canopy System.



 In our interview, he humbly shared his thoughts and his dream.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

     I am the third of five siblings of Mr. Jessie and Mrs. Trinidad Valde and currently a senior student of Cebu Institute of Technology-University. I'm a sports fan and I love music. Apart from that, I spent much time on the computer doing design work. When I was a kid I did a lot of sketching consuming pads of paper on it that my mom has to buy me several pads a week. She then realized how I love drawing and design now that I'm pursuing a career in architecture

Why did you decide to become an architect?
Mark Steven Valde's Winning Design

Architecture has always fascinated me. I realized that architecture is more than just sketches and drawings. It is a responsibility to provide people with shelter and communities for a healthy and sustainable life. I want to be part of those who make this great contribution to society that's why I took up architecture.

What are the essential things that you learned in architecture?

 In architecture one has to integrate the three important aspects in design: Utilitas, Firmitas and Venustas. These three elements should altogether be present in design if architecture is to exist. I believe that as architecture is the highest form of art because you do not only visually appreciate it, you experience architecture. People influences architecture and vice-versa and it becomes part of our daily lives.

 As an Architecture Student, what have you found to be the most interesting and challenging aspects of your education?  

One of the most interesting and challenging part of being an architecture student is crossing through the edge of tomorrow's deadline and passing through the standards of every instructor. Sleepless nights for a whole week is one of the most common habits of every architecture student and sometimes we miss our other subjects just to finish the plates to be passed on the next day. However, those are the facts that we learned to accept as part of our profession because sooner or later it abides us for the rest of our lives. Time management is one of our teachers' advice in order to cope with all our obligations but we cannot deny that it is literally in our "DNA" that sometimes we feel tired and lazy.

Talk to me about your design philosophy.

My philosophical point of view of designing structures is to find the equilibrium of building elements and appropriate design measures. Consideration of the three fundamental factors of design is very important. A building will be called good, appropriate and balanced when it is aesthetically appealing, functionally designed, and economically constructed. As a planner and a designer in the near future, I am starting instilling a deep sense of responsibility between people around and their built-environment. Part of my design philosophy is to bring back the presence of the design to the environment, not the environment to the design to create a new sustainable architectural gestalt so that we are free to design a building without compromising the inhabitants of future generations.

How did you discover your love for architecture?

I believe it is innate. As far back as I can remember, sketching the dragonballz, super heroes, creating helicopters, ice cream machines, toy cars and so many to mention when I was still in grade school was my hobby my 2 younger brothers would even cry because I already destroyed their toys due to the inner drive in me to create new designs out of anything. My mom also told me that I have a spatial intelligence because even if I was sleeping while travelling, it's so easy for me to recognize the place where in, and when where home from a vacation, I used to draw the buildings, cars, parks and etc that I saw during the travel. I learned to love creating new designs. So I believe, it was only enhanced as time passed by because a remarkable stage in my life where in my architectural skill was challenged, was when our school mandated us to take drafting and civil technology as our t.h.e. subject, and I was the only contingent of our school to participate in the regional contest for house planning and design which took place when I was in 3rd and 4th year high school only. I really enjoyed it and I excelled in drafting, house planning and design. By then, it triggered me to take up architecture in college. so, all of these convinced me that an architect is what I wanted to be even though I'm not yet certain of what it would offer me. all I'm doing now is giving the best I can, for surely God has the best plan for me. I also believe that this is the field where God can use me as a channel of blessings to other people for he is the best architect at all times.

 If you could take an architectural tour of any place in the world, where would you go? And Why

I want to visit Venice, California because I want to meet my favorite architect named architect David Hertz so I can see his green and sustainable house and his awesome residential building projects especially the one that is made up of different wings from scrapped airplanes. if time allow me to travel outside the country, I will visit PETRONAS tower of Malaysia, Burj Khalifa tower of Dubai, Angkor  Wat in Cambodia, Pyramid of Egypt and etc.

Name your favorite architects and what do you admire about their work?

As mentioned above, my favorite architect is Arch. David Hertz. I always admire him because he has a brilliant mind about thinking radical design concepts and solutions to all his projects. He is actually a very smart architect. He is very particular about the environmental impact of his designs. One of his projects that made me so impressed is the 747 Wing House that is made up of different wings from scrapped airplanes. in addition, I admire architect, engineer and sculpture Santiago Calatrava, architect Zaha Hadid, architect Kenzo Tange, architect Frank Gehry, architect Le Corbusier and architect Richard Meier to their apparent works.

How do you keep up with new technologies and trends in the world of
Architecture and design?

I purchased some architectural books that I think beneficial for me. Also, I read books, magazines, journals and surfing the net. These provide me the needed access to be updated in the current trends in the design industry.  

Do you have a dream project? If so, can you share what that is and why?

I want to design complexes and high rise building. The complexity and stage of these projects is a challenge for aspiring architects. Besides, I imagine on how to handle big projects so that in the near future if I already have a license to design a building, there, I can say I am ready to face the small and big challenges in life in the field of architecture. I could say that I am capable enough to compete with some other architects, planners and designers in the real world of profession. My ultimate dream project is to create an ecological city that makes life comfortable within the perimeter.
  
What advice would you give someone wanting to break into this career?

Determination, perseverance, patience, hard work, time management and knowing the priorities are essential things that an architecture student needs to consider. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Be prepared for new challenges might come unexpectedly. Don't plan on having much in life but rather be humble and live just like ordinary person but has extraordinary ability. Do not limit your mind, think beyond the box. Keep yourself grounded and be fair to everyone. Always bear in mind that what you have and  who you are now, it is because God gives you the strength to cope with all the pressures you encounter every moment of your life, To God be the glory.






Tags

academic forum (1) accessories (1) advantage of polycarbonate sheet (3) Alner Pablo (1) architect partosa (1) architects (3) Architectural Competition (2) architectural polycarbonate sheet (1) Architecture Contest (3) Architecture Designs (1) Bataan Peninsula State University Architecture (1) blog (1) buy plastic roofing online (6) CAFA Industry Forum 2012 (1) card (1) Cebu Institute of Technology Architecture (1) cebuano architects (4) contact sunshield (1) design challenge (1) Design Entry (1) Design of the Future (1) dirt (1) email contact sunshield (1) facebook sunshield philippines (2) green architecture (1) holidays (1) how to (1) Innovation (1) installation (1) instruction (1) merry christmas (1) Michael Luigi Manzano (1) official website (1) Onginev Jimenez (1) philippines (2) plastic (1) plastic roofing (2) plastic roofing online philippines (2) plastic roofing philippines (1) plastic sheets for roofing (2) Polcarbonate Sheets (2) Polcarbonate Sheets in Cebu (5) polycarbonate (5) polycarbonate eye wear (1) polycarbonate glasses (1) polycarbonate philippines (1) Polycarbonate Sheets (10) Polycarbonate Sheets Architectural Design Competition (2) polycarbonate sheets philippines (4) polycarbonate sunglasses (1) polycarbonate sunshield philippines (1) polycarbosunshield philippines (1) practical for riot shield (1) practical use (1) relaxation (1) relieving roof tip (1) riot shield material (1) riot shield purposes (1) roofing (2) SEA Olympus Marketing (1) Sea Olympus Marketing Inc. academic involvement (1) sheet (2) Shutter (1) Shutter Polycarbonate Sheets (1) Shutter Twinwall Sheets (1) signage material (1) sky-viewing roof (1) solid sheets (1) sunshield (8) sunshield philippines (7) sunshield plastic roofing (3) sunshield polycarbonate sheets (4) transparent roofing philippines (1) twinwall (3) twitter sunshield (1) University of Santo Tomas Architecture (1) USC-CAFA Industry Forum (1) uv protected (1) World Trade Center (1) Worldbex (1) Worldbex 2012 (1)