Simplicity, the father of sophistication
MANILA, Philippines - What simplicity in design has achieved for architect Eduardo Gallego is the fulfillment of sophistication in his artistry. He has been into practice for 35 years and always — as his works in the local scene and international landscape will showcase — he subscribes to “simplicity as the highest form of sophistication.”
The man who simply wants to be called Ed towers with style and elegance — in thought, deed and appearance. “It’s amazing how something very simple can inspire you profoundly.”
Ed reasons that the simplicity in details brings out the timelessness of his design. “The simpler the design becomes, the more acceptable it is to a greater number of people because they can relate to it. Simplicity makes the design timeless and elegant,” says the principal architect of the Cebu-based firm Gallego Architects.
The dream architect of many, Ed is known for incorporating open spaces as a prime factor in his projects. “Basically, we put a lot of emphasis on how a space functions more than anything else,” Ed reveals the design philosophy of his firm. “At the end of the day, the open spaces affect how you live, how you behave and how you feel.”
In Cebu City, Ed is the chief architect of 32 Sanson, an ongoing development by Rockwell Land on the former 3.2-hectare property of the Aboitiz family. “The people behind Rockwell and I have the same mindset: we achieve for excellence.”
“My personal philosophy is to strive for perfection. I know it is almost impossible to achieve that but it gives me the drive all the time to get close to it as humanly possible. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I have done my best,” says Ed who first took Architecture at the University of San Carlos in Cebu before transferring to Cebu Institute of Technology.
His late father Celso was his inspiration to take up Architecture. His father was a lawyer who had a penchant for building structures or anything his hands laid on. Celso’s craft was honed when he became a draftsman of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio while the former was studying Law at the Far Eastern University.
Ed’s 90-year-old mother, Angeles, continues to be the light of his world. “She taught me the value of work. My mom has always been in the food business. She just retired recently,” says Ed, who also owns a café called La Marea.
Growing up, Ed was exposed to working in the family restaurants. Every summer, since he was six years old until the time he finished college, Ed would help in the family business as cashier, waiter or assistant to the cook. “I resented it when I was younger but now I am grateful for the experience,” he says, cracking into a simple, sincere laughter.
The best lesson he and his wife Bernadette have taught their children Mirella, 28, and Martin, 25 is to be considerate of other people. “It makes us happy to see them automatically attending first to the driver and helpers every time we go out of town. The first thing they think of is to buy lunch for the help.”
Ed’s being Filipino is not only proudly displayed in his design. It is also felt in his soul. “Let’s act more Filipino. Let’s be more considerate,” says the winsome architect who never forgets to say “Thank you” to the elevator girl, the bellboy, the waiter he meets every day or the more than 200 members of the fishing folk of barangay Atabay in Cebu whose community he has adopted.
For Ed, the responsibility of being kind and considerate to others should be a genuine concern of everyone. With that, a man’s simplicity is factored in. Then the sophistication of the spirit is achieved. And that becomes the ultimate design of the human DNA.
Photography by RITA MARIE • Creative direction and overall styling by Luis Espiritu Jr. • Grooming by BABA PARMA • Hairstyling by RONNIE TUMAMAK
• Shot on location at THE GREAT LAWN, THE GROVE BY ROCKWELL
