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Renowned Japanese architect Paul Noritaka Tange praises PH talents

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Paul Noritaka Tange is the chairman and principal architect of Japan" s="" Tange="" Associates.="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/09/22/noritaka-tange.jpg"/><figcaption>Paul Noritaka Tange is the chairman and principal architect of Japan&#x27;s Tange Associates. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Renowned Japanese architect Paul Noritaka Tange publicly acknowledged the talents of Filipino architects and students, saying in jest that he needs to make sure he is always &quot;creative enough&quot; to compete with them.</p><p>The chairman and principal architect of Tange Associates made the statement after working with Filipinos for Federal Land&#x27;s Grand Midori Ortigas condominium project. </p><p>He also cited his experience as a jury member for an Asian competition for student designers. </p><p>&quot;I am very scared because they are very talented,&quot; he said in jest during a webinar organized by Federal Land. &quot;I had a great working relationship and it was a great journey going through the project.&quot;</p><p>The son of 1987 Pritzker Laureate Kenzo Tange also noted that Filipinos are &quot;very fortunate in the educational system&quot; for architecture in the country, and also pointed out their English-speaking skills as another advantage. </p><p>&quot;The Philippines has a great potential and the architecture is very much advanced,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m half-joking and half-serious, I have to watch out and make sure that I am creative enough to compete with all the very talented Filipinos.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/08/17/21/ph-stadium-in-world-architecture-festival-shortlist">PH stadium, other structures shortlisted in World Architecture Festival</a></li></ul><p>Founded by his father, Tange Associates is known for projects such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Yoyogi Gymnasium.</p><p>The younger Tange designed the Tokyo Aquatics Centre for the recently held 2020 Olympic Games.</p><p>The Japanese architectural firm&#x27;s project with Federal Land is Grand Midori Ortigas, a two-tower condominium that incorporates lush greenery, light-filled interiors, and weave patterns. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="An artist" s="" perspective="" of="" a="" bedroom="" at="" Grand="" Midori="" Ortigas.="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/09/22/midori-(1).jpg"/><figcaption>An artist&#x27;s perspective of a master&#x27;s bedroom at Grand Midori Ortigas. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>When asked what makes the Japanese aesthetic adaptable to other cultures such as the Philippines, Tange replied: &quot;It&#x27;s the simplicity and subtleness. It&#x27;s all about engaging environments.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We want the building to be part of the landscape, the cityscape... So it&#x27;s not offensive, and it gives us the right scale,&quot; he explained.</p><p>As to how he thinks architecture and design will move forward given the pandemic, Tange mentioned the importance of creating spaces where people will be &quot;happy and comfortable.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We don&#x27;t know what to design anymore,&quot; he admitted, speaking on behalf of architects. &quot;Do we need an office? Do we need a hotel?&quot;</p><p>&quot;The residence is changing its functionality. For children, it is a school. For us, it&#x27;s a work space and, of course, a family space. So the room has to transform itself,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;We have to think out of the box, in a sense, that we cannot have typical thinking of houses and offices.&quot;</p><p>Related video:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BEdtB4GW1jw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

'I'm half-joking and half-serious, I have to watch out and make sure that I am creative enough to compete with all the very talented Filipinos.'