Juan Felipe de Jesus Nakpil (born Juan Felipe Nakpil y de Jesus; May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986), known as

Juan F. Nakpil, was a Filipino architect, teacher and a community leader. In 1973, he was named one of
the National Artists for architecture.[2] He was regarded as the Dean of Filipino Architects.

Juan F. Nakpil

Born

Juan Felipe Nakpil y de Jesus

May 26, 1899[1]

Quiapo, Manila

Spanish Philippines

Died

May 7, 1986 (aged 86)

Manila, Philippines

Nationality

Filipino

Alma mater

University of the Philippines

University of Kansas

Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts

Occupation

Architect

Spouse(s)

Anita Agoncillo Noble

Parent(s)

Julio Nakpil

Gregoria de Jesús
Awards

Biography

Edit

He has eight children of the Philippine Revolution veterans Julio Nakpil and Gregoria de Jesús (who
married the former after the death of her first husband Andrés Bonifacio).[3] He died in Manila in 1986.

Education

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He studied Engineering at the University of the Philippines and later, at the University of Kansas, where
he received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He then studied Architecture at the Fontainebleau
School of Fine Arts in France upon the recommendation of Jean Jacques Haffner, one of his professors at
the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture.[4]

Career

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Nakpil worked at Andres Luna de San Pedro's architectural firm (1928) and at Don Gonzalo Puyat & Sons,
opening his own architectural firm in 1930.[5] Among Nakpil's works are San Carlos Seminary, Geronimo
de los Reyes Building, Iglesia ni Cristo Riverside Locale (Now F. Manalo, San Juan), Magsaysay Building,
Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine
Village Hotel, University of the Philippines Administration[6] and University Library, and the Rizal Shrine
in Calamba, Laguna. He also designed the International Eucharistic Congress altar and improved the
Quiapo Church in 1930 by erecting a dome and a second belfry. The church burned down in 1929 prior
to Nakpil's redesign of the building.[7] In the 1930's to the 1940's, Nakpil and his fellow architects
Andres Luna de San Pedro, Fernando Ocampo and Pablo Antonio started the period of modern
architecture in the Philippines.[8] Nakpil and others also established the Philippine College of Design in
1941 but the institution did not survive the Second World War.[9] He was hailed as a National Artist for
Architecture in 1973.[10]

Projects

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Theaters
Edit

Gaiety Theater, Manila (now inactive)

Rizal Theater (since demolished; the site is occupied by Shangri-La Hotel Makati City)

Capitol Theater (now inactive)

University of the Philippines Theater and carillon tower

Other buildings

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University of the Philippines, Administration Building or "Quezon Hall"

Arellano University Building

Magsaysay Building

Philippine Trust Co. Building (Plaza Goiti [now Plaza Lacson])

Geronimo Delos Reyes Building

Capitan Pepe Building

Manila Jockey Club

San Carlos Seminary

Philippine Village Hotel (closed in 2000)

University of the Philippines Administration & Library

Rizal Shrine

Gala-Rodriguez Ancestral House

University of the Philippines Los Baños Old Humanities Building

university of lasalle

References

Juan F. Nakpil
Architecture (1973)

Juan F. Nakpil, architect, teacher and civic leader, is a pioneer and innovator in Philippine architecture. In
essence, Nakpil's greatest contribution is his belief that there is such a thing as Philippine Architecture,
espousing architecture reflective of Philippine traditions and culture. It is also largely due to his zealous
representation and efforts that private Filipino architects and engineers, by law, are now able to
participate in the design and execution of government projects. He has integrated strength, function,
and beauty in the buildings that are the country's heritage today. He designed the 1937 International
Eucharistic Congress altar and rebuilt and enlarged the Quiapo Church in 1930 adding a dome and a
second belfry to the original design.

Among others, Nakpil's major works are the Geronimo de los Reyes Building, Magsaysay Building,
Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine
Village Hotel, University of the Philippines Administration and University Library, the reconstructed Rizal
house in Calamba, Laguna.